The Winterthur Library

 The Joseph Downs Collection of Manuscripts and Printed Ephemera

Henry Francis du Pont Winterthur Museum

5105 Kennett Pike, Winterthur, Delaware  19735

Telephone: 302-888-4600 or 800-448-3883

 

 

OVERVIEW OF THE COLLECTION

 

Creator:         Brett, William French, 1816-1882     

Title:               Invoices to H.K. Keith & Co.

Dates:             1849

Call No.:         Col. 846

Acc. No.:        09x6

Quantity:        14 items

Location:        34 J 5

 

 

 

BIOGRAPHICAL STATEMENT

 

William French Brett was a merchant in Boston, Massachusetts.  He was born in Plymouth County, Massachusetts, in 1816, the son of Sybyl French and Zenas Brett.  One of his brothers was Zenas Franklin Brett, who was in the clothing business in Boston.  William was a dry goods merchant, first in his hometown (Bridgeton when he was born, later it became Brockton), and then in Boston; at the time of these bills, his store was located on Federal Street, and he lived at 4 Milton Place, Boston.  He also owned small country stores around eastern Massachusetts, including in Duxbury, Foxboro, Quincy, Bridgewater, and other places.  Later, he established businesses in Washington, D.C., and Chicago, Illinois.  He married Rebecca Packard, and had a number of children.  He died in 1882, and was buried in Brockton.

 

Henry Kingman Keith (1826-1909) was a merchant in Kingston, Massachusetts.  He was the son of Mary Kingman and Bela Keith, and married Vesta Snell Cary.  He first worked for Zenas Franklin Brett in Dubury and later bought his store, before setting up in business in Kingston. 

 

 

SCOPE AND CONTENT

 

Fourteen bills or invoices for purchases made by H.K. Keith & Co. of Kingston, Mass., from William F. Brett of Boston, in 1849.  Most of the purchases were textiles and dressmaking goods.  Among the textile fabrics specified were French sprigs, plaid alpaca, changeable Lyonese cloth, drab kersey, brown beaver cloth, and others.  Also purchased were fringe, ribbons, braid, buttons, shoes and boots, hose, gloves, etc.  As well, Keith bought books (only very short titles given), flour, raisins, some tools, willow chairs, hooks, band boxes, and other household goods and food items.

 

           

ORGANIZATION

 

In chronological order.

 

 

LANGUAGE OF MATERIALS

 

The materials are in English.

 

 

RESTRICTIONS ON ACCESS

 

Collection is open to the public.  Copyright restrictions may apply.

           

 

PROVENANCE

 

Gift of David Doret.

 

 

RELATED MATERIALS

 

The Downs Collection also holds papers of Zenas Franklin Brett, brother of William F. Brett, in Col. 280.  Letters from William F. Brett to his brother are included in that collection.

           

 

ACCESS POINTS

 

            People:

                        Keith, Henry Kingman, 1826-1909.

 

Topics:

            H.K. Keith & Co. (Kingston, Mass.)

            Business records - Massachusetts - Boston.

            Dry-goods.

Dry-goods - Prices - 19th century.

Food prices - 19th century.

Hardware – Prices – 19th century.

House furnishings - 19th century.

Notions (Merchandise).

Textile fabrics - Prices - 19th century.

Invoices.

Merchants.     

 

 

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE COLLECTION

 

Location: 34 J 5

 

 

All invoices are from W.F. Brett, Boston, to H.K. Keith & Co., Kingston.

All accession numbers begin with 09x6.

 

 

Folder 1 of 1:

 

.1         Sept. 3, 1849: for blue cloth, gold mixed cass [cassimere], Bogles Fluid, tweed, barrel of ham; with a notes about a bill of crickets, which have not yet been received

 

.2         Sept 11, 1849: for black silk fringe and hose, a box of French sprigs, English patch, prints, delaine, plaid alpaca, changeable Orleans, Lyonese cloth, Thiber[?], and Rept. Fashions; with credit give for a bale of Northboro sheetings and for matts

 

.3         Sept. 12, 1849: for a firkin of butter, barrels of various kinds of flour (Fields, Ohio, family, Shawmut), willow chairs, soda biscuits, cheese, indigo, small pails, barn door wheels, tapets, drab kersey, brown beaver cloth, flannel, cashmere, blankets, underskirts, prints, damask covers, white yarn, boots and shoes, belt ribbons, buttons, hose, braid, needles, hooks & eyes, claw hammers, knobs, almanacs, a poem, Proverbial Philosophy, bell kettles, 3 inch F.I. butts, chisel handles, pairs of shovels and tongs, knives, etc.

 

.4         Sept. 13, 1849: green curtain paper, twilled cloth, wool long shawl, prints, Tuppers Poems, shovels & tongs, boxwood ruler, bed rim locks, emeries, dress buttons, cambric, child’s dining chairs, etc.

 

.5         Sept. 15, 1849: canvass, watches, delaine, prints, fancy cass [cassimere], stoves, rocking chairs, tables, desk stools, brooms[?], etc.

 

.6         Sept. 24, 1849: twilled prints, wool hose, box of crayons, fringe, shirts, gents silk gloves, shoes and boots, wardrobe hooks, edging, veils, band box, corn meal, linseed oil, sugar, pails, tea, butter, bars of round iron, flannel, etc.

 

.8         Oct. 10, 1849: for polkas, kid walking shoes, buskins, pocket memos, safety pins, taffeta, umbrellas, jackets, wadding, letter stamp, soap, cravats, wool shawls, hats, yarn, cheese, rocking chairs (cane back, nurse, and another kind), matts, a trunk, etc.

 

.9         Oct. 19, 1849: for drab bonnets, a band box, mirrors, a gallon of cologne, bags of salt, chest handles, razor strops, horn combs, York Silesia, brass butts, taffeta ribbon, delaine, prints, purses, boots, steel belt slides, mourning shawls, etc.

 

.10       Oct. 25, 1849: for youth’s boots, caps, red padding, mohair luster, cowhide boots, dress buttons, oil carpet, etc.

 

.7         Nov. 2[?], 1849: auger bitts, screw drivers, saw files, rasps, lamp wicks, child’s polkas, hose, linen, prints, hat, collars, screws, broad batts, lard, peanuts, pails, straw matting, etc. 

 

.11       Nov. 9, 1849: for prints, spirit levels, embossed velvet ribbon, striped tapes, dress buttons, steel and gilt belt slides, Fabers pencils, cherry silk, R 7 Ready shawls, Bay State long shawls, delaine, misses’ and ladies’ rubbers, gaiters, kid walking [shoes], comforter, carpet warp, trunk, etc.

 

.12       Nov. 10, 1849: for tubs of butter, boxes of cheese, hats, coats, sacks, coat buttons, gents gloves, gold earrings, chain slides, cashmere scarfs, Petersham binding, misses’ cashmere gloves, bonnets, hat boxes, pepper, saleratus, cassia, lozenges, etc., with credit given for returned prints and sugar tongs 

 

.13       Nov. 14, 1849: for raisins, axe handles, sugar, sperm oil, soap, linseed oil, corn dusters[?], butts, screws, saw files, safety ink stands, rosewood knobs, paint brushes, ribbons, yarns, check, writing books, sating, childs polka sacks, twine, child’s velvet caps, shoes, oil carpet, hat box, Fields Flour, etc.

 

.14       Nov. 26, 1849: 6x8 glass, sacks, comforters, bibles, patch, back ling for stove, trace chains