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:         William L. Richmond & Co. (Hopkinton, R.I.)

Title:               Business papers

Dates:             1843-1850

Call No.:         Col. 1010       

Acc. No.:        2019x53

Quantity:        86 items (5 folders)

Location:        34 J 6

 

 

 

BIOGRAPHICAL STATEMENT

 

William L. Richmond & Co. was a textile manufacturing firm in Hopkinton, Washington County, Rhode Island.  The principal of the firm was William Leavens Richmond, born in Connecticut in 1814, the son of Marcia Leavens and Silas Richmond.  His brother George Waldo Richmond (born 1817) was associated with him in the firm.  William Richmond died in Holyoke, Massachusetts, in 1896.  Nothing was learned about the firm, other than what the papers in this collection reveal.

 

 

SCOPE AND CONTENT

 

Collection of business papers addressed to the textile manufacturing firm William L. Richmond & Co. of the town of Hopkinton, Rhode Island, with many of the letters addressed to Brand’s Iron Works, which was an area of Hopkinton.  The firm wove cotton cloth, apparently mostly sheeting and batts.   The letters often discussed the quality of the sheetings being woven; the quality of the cotton bales being purchased for the mill; or overdue bills.  Several letters concern the purchase of textile manufacturing equipment, such as looms, mules, cards, and speeders.   Some letters mention of the slowness of the economy; one expressed the hope that a new Whig administration would encourage an upswing in the economy.  Richmond & Co. could be slow in paying its bills, and this caused distress to the people to whom it owed money.  A few letters and invoices mentioned the purchase of food items, such as dried apples, raisins, flour, and corn [perhaps cornmeal was meant].  The collection includes a group of invoices from the Providence Dyeing, Bleaching and Calendering Company, listing quantities of goods calendered for Richmond & Co. 

           

ORGANIZATION

 

The invoices and the correspondence are in separate folders; each group is 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

 

Purchased from Michael Brown Rare Books.

 

 

RELATED MATERIALS

 

A dye book kept by William Cory Snow of the Providence Dyeing, Bleaching and Calendering Co. is found in this repository, call number Col. 50, acc. 2017x85.77.

           

 

ACCESS POINTS

 

Topics:

            Providence Dyeing, Bleaching and Calendering Co.

Business correspondence.

Cotton.

Cotton textile industry - Rhode Island.

Textile finishing.

            Textile machinery.

Textile manufacturers - Rhode Island.

Invoices.

           

           

 

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE COLLECTION

 

Location: 34 J 6

 

 

All accession numbers begin with 2019x53.

Most items are addressed to W.L. Richmond & Co. with some to W.L. & G.W.  Richmond, and others simply to W.L. Richmond.

 

 

Folder 1: Invoices and other financial papers, 1843-1849

 

.1-.15   invoices from Providence Dyeing, Bleaching and Calendering Company, Providence, Rhode Island, June 9, 1843-March 17, 1845, plus two partial invoices, not dated, all except one are addressed to W.L. & G.W. Richmond, Brands Iron-works, Richmond, R.I. (the remaining one is addressed only to W.L.. Richmond):

            The invoices are for calendering textiles; work was done for Hopkinton Mills and for Constitutional.

            [printed forms]

 

.16       bill from Richmond & Clark, Providence, with short letter dated June 30, 1845; unable to discern what the bill was for

 

.17       bill from Oliver Johnson, March 17, 1847, for tobacco, dried apples, lead, window glass, and other goods

 

.18       bill from Oliver Johnson, Providence, April 29, 1847, for pain killer, Godfreys cordial, cream of tarter, Epsom salts, essences of peppermint and wintergreen, croup syrup, snuff, shuttles, tea, sugar, lead, and other goods, which were shipped by railroad

 

.19       notice from public notary to W.L. Richmond & Co. that a note endorsed by it had not been paid, done for the Eagle Bank, Nov. 4, 1847

            [printed form]

 

.20       bill from N. T. Morse, Providence, January 1, 1848: for sundries, Aug.-Oct. 1847

 

.21       notice from public notary to W.L. Richmond & Co. that a note endorsed by it had not been paid, done for the Eagle Bank, August 18, 1848

            [printed form]

 

.22       notice from public notary to W.L. Richmond & Co. that a note endorsed by it had not been paid, done for the City Bank, August 18, 1848

            [printed form]

 

.23       notice from public notary to W.L. Richmond & Co. that a note endorsed by it had not been paid, done for the Merchant[?] Bank, January 23, 1849

            [printed form]

 

.24       invoice of goods, from Providence Dying [sic], Bleaching & Calendering Co., Providence, January 23, 1849, for calendering brown sheeting and burlap;

            Inside: short letter from W. C. [William Cory] Snow about delivery of goods;

                        [printed billhead]

 

.25       invoice of goods, from Providence Dying [sic], Bleaching & Calendering Co., Providence, March 6, 1849, for calendering brown sheeting and burlap

            Inside: short letter from W. C. [William Cory] Snow about delivery of goods;

                        [printed billhead]

 

 

Folder 2: Incoming correspondence, 1844

[Some letters are addressed to W.L. & G.W. Richmond, but most are to William L. Richmond or to W.L. Richmond & Co.]

 

.26       from Read & Chadwick, Boston, April 15, 1844: about looms and loom parts

 

.27       from H. Blashfield, Boston, May 11, 1844: not able to get out to sell his looms, but if go to Killingly, Norman Kelley can assist him; he might also sell jenny mules

 

.28       from Oliver Johnson, Providence, May 13, 1844: about an order for dried apples, raisins, and something else; Mr. Sanford of North Kingston might sell looms

 

.29       from Asa Pierce, Providence, May 17, 1844: Mr. Bancroft will be there to take dimensions for main shafting of the new Hopkinton Mill

 

.30       from John Davis, Methuen, May 31, 1844: sending cards and some kind of box via railroad

 

.31       from Tenney & Cowles, Boston, June 1, 1844, letter to William Richmond, but sent to Silas Richmond, postmaster: thinks a customer for his looms has been found

 

.32       from Read & Chadwick, Boston, June 4, 1844: when shall we ship your looms?  Do you want the other articles [loom parts]?

                        Inside: bill for cards and shipping

 

.33       from John Davis, Methuen, June 5, 1844: send cards and boxes of parts belonging to them

 

.34       from Read & Chadwick, Boston, June 19, 1844: about looms and other equipment (such as treadle irons, picker pulleys, etc.) necessary for a mill;

                        Inside: bill for dressers, section beams, looms with loom beans, and shipping

 

.35       from Methuen Company, John Davis, agent, by W. Thaxter, Methuen, July 25, 1844: shipping copper heads for dressers and other goods

 

.36       from John Davis, agent, Methuen, August 9, 1844: have shipped dresser brushers;

                        Penciled inside: work done by Joseph Church (nothing to do with Davis’ letter)

 

.37       from Read & Chadwick, Boston, August 23, 1844: adjustment to bill

 

.38       from Asa Pierce, Providence, September 21, 1844: Mr. Shaw coming to make a finish of the shafting; inquires if the store cellar is finished; printing cloths had fallen in price but are now rising again; severe drought causing mills to close

 

.39       from A.D. & J.Y. Smith, Providence, December 5, 1844: accept offer on speeder; gives directions to Willimantic; can have as many bobbins as wish;

                        Inside: copy of order from Smiths to Whiting Hayden, Willimantic, Conn., requesting him to deliver belted speeder and bobbins to Richmond & Co.

 

.40       from Joseph T. Barber, Hopkinton, December 10, 1844: writing on behalf of Miss Laura Tefft: her brother threatened her that she had to come work for Richmond, which she finally agreed to do, but now has changed her mind because she had promised Shepardson to work there until spring

 

 

 

Folder 3: Incoming correspondence, 1845

            [Some letters are addressed to W.L. & G.W. Richmond, but most are to William L. Richmond or to W.L. Richmond & Co.]

 

.41       from Oliver Johnson, by Daniel Remington, Providence, February 3, 1845: have sold bales of the company’s goods; please send more

 

.42       from Charles F. Tillinghast, Providence, February 15, 1845: Mrs. Low disappointed that her note was protested for non-payment; please attend to this

 

.43       from Asa Pierce, Providence, March 29, 1845: please bring orders and receipts when you meet with Mrs. Low; mentions that an old mill was burned

 

.44       from Oliver Johnson, by Daniel Remington, Providence, April 10, 1845: please send bales of goods by first team

 

.45       from Oliver Johnson, by Daniel Remington, Providence, April 14, 1845: if haven’t already done so, send bales of goods to  Narragansett Print Works, East Greenwich, by train

 

.46       from Oliver Johnson, by Daniel Remington, Providence, May 14, 1845: send some more bales to Narragansett Print Works; last shipment not as handsome as previously; advises use of 60 picks in making the goods

 

.47       from Nathaniel G. Helm, Providence, May 22, 1845: needs to know weight of old iron so can determine what kind of team to send to haul it

 

.48       from E. & J. Seay[illegible], Providence, July 15, 1845: do not plan to increase their output “for it is our opinion there is more of this kind of good making than will be wanted”

 

.49       from J. H. Gilbert & Co., Peekskill, N.Y., August 22, 1845: will not be able to ship his order until next week;

                        With addition: from H.[?] Torrey Gilbert: message delivered to Morris; mentions someone had a face ache, but rest are “well as usual”

 

.50       from J. H. Gilbert & Co., Peekskill, September 19, 1845: did the forge arrive safely? do they like it?  do they think they can make it to sale?

 

.51       from Oliver Johnson, Providence, October 27, 1845: copies a letter from a customer, who had bought Richmond’s printing cloths; the goods were not the quality the customer had expected; Johnson recommends that Richmond improve the quality of his goods

 

.52       from Wm. S. Spencer, Lippitt, R.I., November 24, 1845: has only received a small part of the goods for which he had contracted

 

 

 

 

Folder 4: Incoming correspondence, 1846-1847

            [most letters are addressed to W.L. Richmond & Co., with a few to William L. Richmond]

 

.53       from Oliver Johnson, by Daniel Remington, Providence, February 9, 1846: asks that Richmond & Co. examine the bales of cotton which they recently brought away from Johnson’s to see if some bales not belonging to them were taken by mistake

 

.54       from Oliver Johnson, by Daniel Remington, Providence, May 28, 1846: advises them to make their goods with 56 picks as that is what buyers want; believes print goods will begin to sell soon

 

.55       from Caleb Mosher, Jr., Boston, June 25, 1846: inquires if Richmond still has speeder, mules, or other machinery for sale; gives list of machinery he has and their prices

 

.56       from Henry Barton & Co., Providence, December 3, 1846: sent Richmond’s goods to Oliver Johnson since he had neglected to provide another address

 

.57       from Oliver Johnson, by Daniel Remington, Providence, December 5, 1846: have sold pieces of goods and needs Richmond to send them as soon as receives this letter

 

.58       from Laughlin & Avery, New York, December 9, 1846: he sells cotton sheetings, twine, ticking, batts, yarn, and carpet warps on consignment; brown sheetings are easiest to sell, then batts, then twine

 

.59       from Isaac F. Kirby, per Leonard W. [illegible], New York, January 8, 1847: requests prompt payment of bill

 

.60       from [?] Low[?], Providence, January 9, 1847: asks for settlement of a note

 

.61a-b  from Lewis Leavens, New York, January 24, 1847: about getting payments from various people, and batts; in awaiting payment, “my patience is about exhausted”;

 

.62       from Laughlin & Avery, New York, February 20, 1847: do not wish to accept his draft as Richmond did not ask permission to send it and they do not know his company well enough to know if he is good for it

 

.63       from J.H. Mason & Son, per Geo. Lewis, Providence, February 26, 1847: bales of cloth received, but one torn, probably because it was not bagged; believe cloths will be lower; am getting in cottons of the grade Richmond uses

 

.64       from John H. Mason & Son, Providence, October 5, 1847: about the Godfrey note

 

.65       from William Lemons[?], Peekskill, November 29, 1847: am tired of waiting for a draft from Richmond, and this is causing difficulties in his business; Richmond’s father was always honest in his dealings; please pay bill immediately   

 

 

 

Folder 5: Incoming correspondence, 1848-1850 and no date

            [most letters are addressed to W.L. Richmond & Co., with a few to William L. Richmond]

 

.66       from Lewis Leavens, postmarked New York, January 13, endorsed Jan. 18, 1848: was determined to demand his money when he visited Richmond, but his courage failed him, and he is suffering from lack of money; Lewis’s father will be “hopping mad” because he hasn’t gotten the money; please write immediately about this

 

.67       from John H. Mason & Son, Providence, June 3, 1848: sending bales of cotton, one of which includes a sample of a bale of fals-packed[?] cotton; price of cotton has gone up

 

.68       from John H. Mason & Son, Providence, June 5, 1848: the goods are not the quality that was contracted for

 

.69       from John H. Mason & Son, Providence, June 10, 1848: have sent cotton and enclose bill; more about a transaction

 

.70       from Lewis Leavens, New York, June 28, 1848: disappointed in Richmond’s recent letter; mentions a current panic and his financial distress because of Richmond’s non-payment

 

.71       from Thos. C. Gladding, Providence, June 30, 1848: encloses account for flour and corn

 

.72       from Joseph [illegible]cet, Providence, endorsed July 1, 1848: encloses his account, which is long overdue; requests prompt payment

 

.73       from John H. Mason & Son, Providence, September 21, 1848: advises Richmond to come see Mrs. Low now as need to set a time; father has been ill

 

.74       from John H. Mason & Son, Providence, September 28, 1848: father still ill and eager to see business settled; mentions Wheeler; cannot give him any more money

 

.75       from Russel Wheeler, North Stonington, October 6, 1848: saw Mr. Thayer about selling mules [machinery, not animals] to Richmond; reviews accounts; let me know when you and Mason will be at Mr. Dixon’s at Westerly

 

.76       from Russel Wheeler, North Stonington, October 18, 1848: when ordering cotton from New York, must allow 6 days for shipping; cotton is not shipped on steamboats but on sailing ships; mentions state elections and anticipation of Whig administration after national election; would like to see Richmond before he [Wheeler] goes to New York

 

.77       from Russel Wheeler, North Stonington, December 1, 1848: received invoice, but knows nothing of the whereabouts of the bales entrusted to Mr. Brown or what Brown was  to do with them; has agreement with Tefft to take cotton to Richmond; hasn’t kept record of contract with Randall; please advise what kind of cotton he should buy for Richmond; prefers flat bales, but sometimes round bales are cheaper

 

.78       from Charles Dyer, Jr., Providence, December 20, 1848: enclosed is his account

 

.79       from Watuppa Manufacturing Co., by Linden Cook, Fall River, August 24, 1849: would like Richmond to send someone to supervise shipping of his eight ring harness from Cook’s  company to his factory

 

.80       from Russel Wheeler, North Stonington, July 17, 1849: encloses invoice for cotton, and copies a letter from R. & D.M. Stebbins & Co. of New York, which bought the cotton for Wheeler;

            Stebbins letter: purchased Apalachicola cotton; have noticed a difference in his sheetings, and they are less desirable; little trade right now

 

.81       from Henry Cushing & Co., Providence, July 27, 1849: please pay your note

 

.82       from P.D.B. & Calendering Co. [Providence Dyeing, Bleaching and Calendering Co.] per W. C. Snow, Providence, August 22, 1849: please pay your bill

 

.83       from Charles Dyer, Jr., Providence, December 22, 1849: please pay your bill

 

.84       from Alexander F. Adie, Providence, December 24, 1849: bill for merchandise, etc., and request that Richmond pay his bill

 

.85       from [?] B. Darling & Co., Providence, April 7, 1850: does Richmond intend to pay his bill for corn and flour?

 

.86       from Oliver Johnson, , by Daniel Remington, no place, no date (and no postmark): enclosed is a bill from Wom[illegible] Co.; sends bales of cotton; has been displeased with quality of some of the cotton