The Winterthur Library

 The Joseph Downs Collection of Manuscripts and Printed Ephemera

Henry Francis du Pont Winterthur Museum

5105 Kennett Pike, Winterthur, DE  19735

302-888-4600 or 800-448-3883

 

 

OVERVIEW OF THE COLLECTION

 

Creator:         Osborn, Shadrach, 1747-1838.                                              

Title:               Bills and letters

Dates:             1771-1804

Call No.:         Col. 885

Acc. No.:        11x34, 11x35

Quantity:        18 items

Location:        34 J 5

 

 

 

BIOGRAPHICAL STATEMENT

 

The firm of Hinman & Osborn was a general or dry-goods store located in Connecticut, probably in Southbury or Woodbury.  The partners were Shadrach Osborn, and Truman Hinman.  Shadrach Osborn was born on April 14, 1747, in Southbury, Connecticut.  During the Revolutionary War, Osborn was involved with the commissary department.  At the end of the war, Osborn was appointed a state purchaser of provisions for the army. He died on August 27, 1838.   He had at least one son, Erastus Osborn (1785-1868).  Nothing is known about Truman Hinman, other than he was a partner of Osborn.

 

 

SCOPE AND CONTENT

 

Eighteen bills and letters, mostly pertaining to purchases made by Hinman & Osborn or by one of the partners in that store, Shadrach Osborn, and Truman Hinman.   They purchased textile fabrics, some clothing accessories, tools, dishes and glassware, combs, hour glasses, personal items (including razors and spectacles), etc.  The letters discuss various business matters.  One document concerns the rape of a servant, which left her pregnant.

 

           

ORGANIZATION

 

The items are 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 from John Walton of Connecticut.

           

 

ACCESS POINTS

 

People:

Hinman, Truman, \d b. 1731.

 

Topics:

            Hinman & Osborn (Conn.)

            Business records \z Connecticut.

Dry-goods \z New York (State) \z New York.

House furnishings \x Prices \y 18th century.

Rape \z Connecticut \y 19th century.

Textile fabrics \x Prices \y 18th century.

Wholesale trade \z New York (State) \z New York.

            Bills.

            Writs.

           

 

RELATED MATERIALS

 

Additional papers of Shadrach Osborn are held by Yale University and the New Haven Museum.

 

 

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE COLLECTION

 

Location: 34 J 5

 

Truman Hinman:

 

11x34.1           receipted bill: Oct. 17, 1771, Truman Hinman bought of Frederick Rhinelander of New York:  white tea cups and saucers, agate sugar dishes and bases(?), half-pint tumblers, “Nothingham qrt. Mugs,” a basket, and bottles.  Receipt signed by Christian Stadel[?].

 

11x34.2           bill: Oct. 18, 1771, Truman Hinman bought of William Ustick of New York: steel knee buckles, rimlocks, combs, and hour glasses

 

 

Hinman and Osborn

 

11x34.3           receipted bill: Oct. 17, 1771, Hinman and Osborn bought of Isaac Sears: German steel.  Receipt signed by Elim. Raymond, Jr.

 

11x34.4           bill: Oct. 17, 1771, Hinman and Osborn bought of William Butler of New York:  a variety of textile goods (including coating, baize, broad cloth, linen, and velvet), blankets, handkerchiefs, shoe binding, buttons, silk twist, and hats

 

11x34.5           bill: Oct. 18, 1771, Hinman and Osborn of Charles McEvers of New York: a variety of goods, including gimp, fringe, playing cards, mitts, duffels, other fabrics, nails, and tea.                        

(This bill exists in this collection only as a photocopy; location of original is unknown.) 

 

11x34.6           Oct. 15, 1773, Jacob Rhinelander of New York received 33 barrels of pork from Hinman and Osborn, by the hand of Capt. Henry Whitney, for William Butler.

 

 

Shadrach Osborn:

 

11x35.1           bill, Nov. 29, 1785: Shadrach Osborn bought of Andrew Van Tuyl of New York: blue coating

 

11x35.2           letter, Feb. 1787: Anthy. Perit[?] to Shadrach Osborn, Woodbury. 

Kegs of hog lard received but cannot send money at this time.  Mentions having an agreement with Osborn’s brother.  Also mentions Mr. Pearsall and Mr. Glover.

 

11x35.3           short letter, June 4, 1787, Canfield Gille[torn], to Shadrach Osborn, Woodbury.  Please send the fowls[?] as soon as possible.  Mentions Joseph Davies and Capt. Edward Gibbs.

 

11x35.4           bill, Oct. 23, 1790: Shadrach Osborn bought of Abm. Herring of New York: India calico

 

11x35.5           promissory note, Jan. 10, 1791: Shadrach Osborn promises to pay Samuel Delaplaine on or before Dec. 30, 1791.  Witnessed by James Mackie. 

                        On back: receipts for payments received, signed by Sam. Delaplaine, 1791-1792.

 

11x35.6           receipt, May 1, 1792, on behalf of Sam. Delaplaine, Phila Delaplaine received a note from Shadrach Osborn.

 

11x35.7           letter, July 25, 1792, from Oliver[?] Parmilee, Jr., Bethlem [i.e. Bethlehem, Conn.?], to Shadrach Osborn, Woodbury.  

Wishes Osborn to come to Bethlem; thinks it will be profitable for him; William Bellamy also would like him to come.  If Osborn not interested in Parmilee’s father’s property, others are.

 

11x35.8           bill, Nov. 19, 1800, Shadrach Osborn bought of Bogert & Glover, New York: textiles, such as book muslin and satin; also worsted hose, shoe binding; and china, satin, and thread ribbons.

 

11x35.9           bill, May 27, 1802, Shadrach Osborn bought of Rogers & Lambert: textiles (blue nankeen, fancy calico, white millinet, black India lustring) and men’s cotton gloves

 

11x35.10a-b    legal document, Jan.-June 1803, Southbury, Conn.  Addressed to sheriff of Litchfield County, Conn.  Order to attach the goods or estate of Commy Tyman [or Syman], Jr. of Southbury.  Tyman raped Polly, a Negro girl in Southbury, a servant of [torn, but a servant of Park Brown, named earlier in the document], and got her pregnant.  Brown is suing Tyman because he [Brown] has lost the services of his servant because, being pregnant, she is unable to perform them.  The document is signed by Justice of the Peace [illegible] Hinman.  Some conference about this case is to take place at Shadrach Osborn’s store.

 

11x35.11         bill, July 15, 1804, Shadrach Osborn bought of Timothy Dwight, New Haven, a variety of goods: pocket books, candlesticks, razors, spectacles, knives and forks, shoe brushes, gimlets, combs, spoons, toothbrushes, various kinds of knives (pen, jack, etc.), shaving soap, table butts, flat and round files, handsaws, etc.

 

11x35.12         letter, June 29, 18[torn], Shadrach Osborn, Southbury, to Messrs. Franklin Robinson & Co., New York. 

                        Osborn had recently been in Stratford, New Hampshire, where Robinson & Co. owned land.  Elijah Hinman wished to buy some of the company’s land, and as Osborn will not be in New York as soon as he expected, he is forwarding this request to the company and wishes them to correspond with Hinman on the subject.