The
The Joseph Downs Collection of Manuscripts and
Printed Ephemera
Henry Francis du Pont
5105 Kennett Pike, Winterthur,
Delaware 19735
Telephone: 302-888-4600 or 800-448-3883
OVERVIEW OF
THE COLLECTION
Creator: Dutilh, Etienne, 1751-1810.
Title: Papers
Dates: 1785-1803
Call No.: Col. 662
Acc. No.: [various – see detailed
description]
Quantity: 32 items
Location: 34 J 4 and Map Case 3,
drawer 2
BIOGRAPHICAL
STATEMENT
Etienne Dutilh was a merchant. Born in France, he came to Philadelphia,
Pennsylvania, in 1783 after having been a merchant in Rotterdam and
London. By 1784, the firm E. Dutilh
& Co. was established and active in trade with the West Indies and ports
throughout Europe. In 1790, the firm
became Dutilh & Wachsmuth, with John Godfried Wachsmuth as the
partner. Dutilh seems also to have been
in business with a Mr. Soullier.
Near the end of the century, Dutilh anglicized his first
name to Stephen, perhaps when he became an American citizen. Dutilh remained active as a merchant until
his death in 1810. His widow Catherine
Madeleine married John G. Wachsmuth and raised three sons in Germantown, Pa. Dutilh’s birth year is given as both 1748 and
1751. Both Maria Stevens and Henry
Stevens are mentioned in accounts; a genealogy web site indicates that these
are children of Etienne Dutilh, but by a different woman from his wife
Catherine.
SCOPE AND
CONTENT
A collection of bills, sight drafts, legal
documents, shipping documents, and an account book relating to Etienne
Dutilh. Most of the papers are business
related, but some of the bills are for personal expenses. Included in the collection is a set of
documents filing a claim for damages caused by a French privateer which had
captured a ship carrying cargo for Dutilh.
Personal items purchased include textile fabrics, trunks, Venetian
carpeting, a floor cloth, lamp oil, sugar, napkins, candlesticks, chairs
(purchased from Anthony Steel), and knife cases. He also paid for such services as having wallpaper
hung, having towels and table cloths bleached, and having a silver socket seal
made. A bill from Thomas Watson contained charges for tutoring Henry Stevens
and for ink, pens, maps, and a copying book.
One bill was for carving work done on a brig, including a female
figurehead, brackets, taffrail, trailboards, and other parts. Shipping documents include lists of cargo.
As well, the collection contains an account book
with entries having to do with the import-export business, particularly
insurance covering goods shipped to and from Jamaica. Duties, notes receivable and payable,
payments for portages and pilotages, and the purchase of stock in the Union
Insurance Co. are also noted. A number
of the entries pertain to house hold expenses and resulting transactions with
the Bank of the United States. Checks
recorded often mention Mrs. Dutilh.
ORGANIZATION
The items are divided by type (bills, shipping
records, etc.), and then are arranged chronologically.
LANGUAGE OF
MATERIALS
Most of the materials are in English, but some are
in French.
RESTRICTIONS
ON ACCESS
Collection is open to the public. Copyright restrictions may apply.
PROVENANCE
Gifts and purchases from various sources.
REALTED
MATERIALS
Additional Etienne Dutilh materials may be found in
the Aubrey C. Land collection at the University of Maryland.
Additional documents relating to both Dutihl and
Wachsmuth are located in Col. 69 in this repository. A finding aid to that collection is
available.
Duthilh bought various kinds of chairs from Anthony
Steel, and photos of chairs made by Steel are found in the Decorative Arts
Photo Collection (DAPC) at Winterthur.
The Hagley Museum Library also holds papers of Etienne
Dutilh and the partnership of Dutihl and Wachsmuth.
ACCESS POINTS
People:
Matthews, John, papermaker.
Wachsmuth, John Godfried, 1748-1828.
Steel, Anthony, d.1817.
Topics:
Delaware Insurance Company.
Union Insurance Company.
Dutilh & Wachsmuth
Eliza (Schooner)
Young Charles (Schooner)
Banks and banking - United States.
Beverages -
Commerce.
Business records -
Pennsylvania - Philadelphia.
Education - Finance - 19th
century.
Finance, Personal.
Floor coverings - Prices - 19th century.
Groceries -
Commerce.
Insurance.
Paperhanging - Prices.
Privateering.
Ship decoration.
Shipping -
Accounting.
Shipping - Pennsylvania - Philadelphia.
Ships – Cargo.
Silverware - Prices.
Stationery.
Textile fabrics
- Prices - 18th century.
Jamaica - Commerce - Pennsylvania - Philadelphia.
Philadelphia (Pa.) - Commerce - Jamaica.
Account books.
Negotiable instruments.
Invoices.
Shipping records.
Bills of sale.
Merchants.
DETAILED
DESCRIPTION OF THE COLLECTION
Location: 34 J 4
Folder 1: Account book (acc. 81x149; trex 8627)
Covers
January 2-April 4, 1804.
Name
and occupation index to account book is appended to this finding aid.
The paper is watermarked with a sheaf of wheat within a
circle, representing the firm of John Matthews.
Folder 2: Privateering claim, for
action on Jan. 19, 1801 (acc. 77x531)
Dutihl’s claim against
the captain, owners, and crew of the French republican privateer La Porto Riccine[?], Francois Bonterin,
commander, for plundering the American ship Fair
American, John C. Brevoor, master.
The claim includes a list of the cargo aboard the Fair American, which was bound for Havana before being taken by the
French.
Folder 3: Bills, 1785-1805 and
undated
70x91.114 receipted bill, from N. & David Sellers, Philadelphia, to
Messrs Dutilh & Co., Nov. 29, 1785; for cotton cards and porterage of
them. On back: receipt signed by George
Cragar.
68x25.1 receipted bill, partly in French, for 24 pieces of paper
hanging, Philadelphia, Nov. 30, 1785.
68x31.15 bill, from Hewes & Anthony to J.G. Wachmuth, Aug. 15,
1788, for whale oil.
68x31.12 receipted bill, Joseph Meisson received payment from Dutilh
& Co., May 27, 1789, for candles and box.
[once mounted in an album; endorsement on back partly covered]
65x25 receipted bill, James Smither paid by E. Dutilh & Wachsmuth,
March 17, 1790, for making a silver socket seal and engraving it with J &
ED & Co
83x208.2 receipted bill, Joseph Fearon paid by E. Dutilh &
Wachsmuth, March 28, 1793, for rendered tallow and a barrel.
79x6 receipted
bill, Thomas Humphreys paid by E. Dutilh & Wachsmuth, bill dated July 20,
1790, and paid Jan. 3, 1791, for weighing 10 casks of kettles.
77x566 bill, Wm. Rush Merriam, to Dutilh & Wachsmuth, June
10, 1793, for carving the brig, including head of a woman [apparently for
figurehead], brackets, quarterpieces, taffrail, quarter badges, trail boards,
scrolls, supporters, drops for storm windows, and catpaws. Penciled note: “Received the above work for
the brig. William Belcher.”
68x31.14 bill, Pual Beck, Jr., Philadelphia, to Dutilh &
Wachsmuth, Jan. 12, 1795, for lamp oil.
70x91.115 bill, Waddington & Harwood, Philadelphia, to Dutilh &
Wachsmuth, April 11, 1795, for textile fabrics (fancy and plate calicos,
dimity, chintz, cassimeres).
On printed
billhead.
70x89.13 bill, Jno. Merriman & Sons, at the two trunks &
chest in Leadenhall Street, London, to Mr. Dutilh, April 19, 1796, for leather
trunk with inside straps and false bottom and a hair trunk.
On printed and illustrated billhead:
name and address of company and picture of its shop sign.
85x145 bill, Felix Imbert, Philadelphia, to E. Dutilh, Sept. 18,
1799, for brown soap and white soap.
12x32.8 bill, Anthony Steel, to “Dutel,” May 8, 1800, for new
fahion chairs, arm chairs, and child’s chairs (“for Mr. Watmough”)
70x91.116 bill, William Davy to Duilh, June 17, 1800, for bleaching and
calendaring towels and table cloths.
With note on back about bill.
81x24.4 receipted bill, Anthony Simmons, Philadelphia, paid by E.
Dutilh, Oct. 20, 1801, for candlesticks, a pair of branches [perhaps for
candlesticks], mahogany knife cases, silver bodkins, mending castors.
70x91.117 receipted bill, Josiah Lusby paid by Dutihl, Nov. 17, 1801,
for Venetian carpeting and a floor cloth.
70x91.118 receipted bill, S. Potter & Wm. Page, Philadelphia, paid
by Dutihl, Feb. 9, 1803, for napkins and table cloths.
85x154 receipted bill, Thomas Watson paid by Dutihl, Feb. 8,
1805, for tutoring Henry Stevens, ink, pens, library & maps, copy book.
12x37.7 receipted bill, Anthony Steel paid by Steven Dutill, Nov.
13, 1805, for 18 yellow chairs.
68x31.13 bill, Isac [sic] Roush, to Dutilh &
Wachsmuth, no date, for whale oil.
Folder 4: notarized document, in
French (acc. 62x37)
Dated Philadelphia, April 2, 1790;
endorsed on back: “1re expedition procuration David & Francis Clark au
Sieur Etienne Dutilh.”
The Clarks were carriage
makers. The document was signed by Peter
S. du Ponceau, notary public, and by French consul Pierre Francois Barbe de
Marbois.
Folder 5: agreement about gold (acc. 74x378)
Dutilh & Waschsmuth agree to
reimburse S. Chaudron for some gold which he gave to Jackson & Evens. Dated Philadelphia, April 15, 1793.
Folder 6: Sight drafts (printed forms)
84x31.1 addressed to Messrs J.T. & J. Dutilh, Amsterdam,
signed by E. Dutilh, Philadelphia, July 2, 1798.
84x31.2 addressed to John Safford, merchant, Philadelphia, signed
by Lavise Munroe, Cape Francois, Nov. 23, 1800.
Dutilh’s name found on back.
Partly in French.
Folder 7: Shipping records
66x86.1 list of goods “shipped in good order and well conditioned,
by E. Dutilh & Waschsmuth…” in the brig Betsey
under master Robert Rice, bound for Cap Francois, dated Philadelphia, Oct. 23,
1790. Signed by David Hardie for Robert Rice.
The shipped goods include sugar,
iron ware, apples, potatoes, butter, wine, beef, chairs, porker, saws.
Printed form, illustrated with a
ship.
70x91.119 Johann Gerhard Gracque[?] of Hamburg shipping linen on board
the Jean, Daniel McPherson, master;
being shipped to Philadelphia for Dutilh and Wachsmuth; Sept. 13, 1794.
Printed
form.
83x208.4 shipping record, in French, mentions E. Dutilh in
Philadelphia.
Folder 8: receipt for money (acc.
83x208.1)
Salm. De Water received
money from E. Dutilh, Philadelphia, Jan. 21, 1786. In French, with endorsement on back in
English.
Folder 9 (oversize file):
78x204 French shipping papers, for goods
shipped from Marseilles to Dutilh & Waschsmuth in New York, aboard the ship
Les Deux Jacques, under Capt.
Christophe Sicard, Oct. 11, 1792. Among
the goods shipped were olives, perfume, white vinegar, and red wine.
On printed
form, illustrated with a ship.
Form has
been mounted on paper.
74x16.26 “Peter Brown’s bill,” for hardware
purchased by E. Dutilh & Wachsmuth from Peter Brown, for building or
refitting the ship Hannibal,
June-Aug. 1793.
Among
the items purchased were bolts, mopnails [?], hooks, thimbles, chisels, deck
nails, drawing nails, clamps, scrapers, wharf bolts, plate nails, plates, pins,
ruddernails, spikes, staples, etc.
Name and
occupation index to Dutihl account book, acc. 81x149
Name index:
Allebone,
Thomas & Son 12
Amsterdam (Schooner) 16
Annesley (of Tunis & Annesley) 19
Argous 26
Ashbridge,
Geo. G. & Wm. 20
Bank
of Pennsylvania 29
Bank of Philadelphia 4-6, 7, 12-13, 16
Bank
of the United States (Philadelphia) 1, 3-9, 11-13, 15-30
Banker,
G. V.
28
Barney,
John
16
Beck
& Buxton 16
Bell, Wm. 14, 17, 21
Biddle,
Clement 29
Bird
(of Riddle & Bird) 18
Blanchard,
B.
13
Bongard,
L. D. 22
Bonneuil,
J. 8
Boyer,
T. G. 10
Brown,
J. 20
Brown,
Wm. 14
Brutus (ship) 9
Buck,
C.N. 1
Butcher,
John 25
Buxton (of Beck & Buxton) 16
Carmat,
David 17
Carpentier,
L. D.
17
Cassan, Wm. 26-27, 29
Casst,
John S. & Co. 24
Clapier
& Co. 22
Clapier,
L. 29-30
Clark
& Greiner 16, 25
Connelly,
Jno.
6
Cook,
A. 27
Corless,
Mr. 17
Cowper,
Dr. 18
Davis,
Wm. 20
Degalon,
Henry 4-5
Delaware Insurance Co. 2-3, 8-9
Delaware
[Insurance] Co. of Philadelphia 9
Desabaye,
Peter 13
Desaugues,
Lewis 18, 25
Diehl (of Guier & Diehl) 8, 23
Donath,
Jos. & Co. 7, 12, 16, 18, 21, 27
Dorey,
M. 18
Dorey,
Peter V. 4, 18
Douglas (of Morgan, Douglas & Schaffer) 1, 14
Drewis,
A. (Capt.) 4
Drewis,
Adam (Capt.) 16, 30
DuBarry 21
DuBarry & Primatt 19
Dubs, Martin & Co. 15
Dumas, G. F. 18
Dumas (of Faussat & Dumas)
18
Dutilh & Wachsmuth
14, 17, 25
Dutilh, John 29-30
Dutilh, Mrs. 3, 6, 8, 13,
19, 23, 26, 28
Duval, J. L. 6
Duval, James L. 15, 17
Eckendorff, Martin 6
Edward
& Edmund (Schooner) 10
Eliza (Schooner) 6-7, 11, 13-14,
16, 18, 20-21, 27-30
Example
(Schooner) 27
Evans, J. B. & E. 1
Evans, Oliver 1
Faussat & Dumas 18
Faussat, J. W. 18-19, 23
Fearis (of Rudolph &
Fearis) 8
Fellowes, Nath’l & Son
13
Field, Nathan 21
Fisher, E. & Co. 3
Fougeray 14
Fraissinet, G G. 27-28
Fraissinet, J. T. 10
Genervais, J. 29
Graff, Chas. 6
Gratz , Simon & Hyman 11,
23
Griffith, Jos. 13
Greiner (of Clark & Greiner)
16, 25
Guier & Diehl 8, 23
Harland, G. 14
Hampden & Sidney 4
Harmony (Schooner) 16, 21-23,
25, 27-28
Havarte 15, 22
Hayley, Geo. 9
Hazelhurst, Isaac & Sons
12, 23
Hertings, S. 21
Hill (of Knorr & Hill)
7
Himeley, John G. 1, 3, 8,
13, 26, 28
Hollingsworth & Son 28,
30
Homes, John Jr. 22
Huddell, Jas. 7
Hughes, Benjamin 14
Hupfeldt (of Ley, Hupfeldt & Co.) 25
Hyde
Parker (Schooner) 26
Imlay, Robert 16
Kintzing (of Pratt, Son & Kintzing) 11, 19
Knorr & Hill 7
Kuhn, P. 7
Latimer, Wm. G. & R. 8
Laubie, James 14
Lautre, P. A. 7
Lee, Robert 19
Ley, Hupfeldt & Co. 25
Little Robert (Schooner) 21
Loury, Jane 30
Ludlam, G. 15
Lusby, Josiah 11
McCalmont (Dr.) 18
McFarland (of Park & McFarland) 23
Marik, Geo. (Capt.) 12
Martin, E. 22
Marvereau, Nicholas 25
Mazurie, James J. 9, 25-27
Midlen, Walter (Captain) 16, 21, 25
Minerva 12
Monk, G. 24-25
Monk, Geo. (Capt.) 29
Montieth, B. (Capt.) 0
Montgomery & Newbold 25
Morgan, Douglas & Schaffer
1, 14
Morgan, Thomas 13
Muhlenberg, P. 24, 28
Murray, Wm. 17, 26
Newbold, M. T. 23
Newbold (of Montgomery & Newbold) 25
Oakeley, Robert 21, 28
Ogilby, Jos. 13
Park & McFarland 23
Parrot, E. & G. 17
Pennington, Edw. 19
Peticolas 7, 14
Philadelphia
Gazette 24
Plique, A. 18
Plique, Charbonnet 3, 18
Pratt, Son & Kintzing 11,
19
Price, B. 6
Primatt (of DuBarry & Primatt) 19
Riddle & Bird 18
Robertson, Wm. 30
Rogers, Robert 5, 7, 20,
27
Rolf, Sam’l 24
Rudolph & Fearis 8
Russell, F. 17
Sandoz, Francois 26
Saunders, Francis -- see Sandoz
Schaffer (of Morgan, Douglas &Schaffer)
1, 14
Scheer, John 22
Seaflower (Sloop) 1, 17, 22, 24-25
Shelton, Wm. 30
Sidney (of Hupfeldt & Sidney) 25
Simpson, G 28
Simpson, George 3, 18
Sims, Walter 9
Smallback 15
Soullier, W. T. & Co. 24
Stemper, H. 21
Steven, Maria 7, 14
[surname should
be Stevens; a genealogy web site lists her as Dutihl’s daughter]
Stilwell, Dan’l 30
Taylor, James Cummings 14
Taylor, John R. 11
Tregent, Peter 22
Tunis & Annesley 19
Union Insurance Company 4
Union Insurance Co. of Philadelphia 10, 21
VanBonckhorst, Mme. 15, 22
Vanuxim & Co. 13
Venus (Schooner) 8
Viaude, Chappotin 4, 19, 22, 24, 29
Viaude, Jean 4, 23
Wachsmuth & Co. 5
Wachsmuth, John C. 17, 20
Wachsmuth & Soullier 12-13
Watmough, J. H. 5, 15, 24,
27
Watson, Richard 21
Wharton, P. A. 28
White, Daniel 1, 6, 18
Whitney, Thos. 14
Young
Charles (Schooner) 3, 5, 7-8, 11,
14-15, 17, 19-21, 23, 27-28, 30
Young, Wm. 14
Occupation
index to account book:
Auctioneer 6
Baker 14, 17, 21
Bank 1, 3-9, 11-13, 15-30
Banker 14, 17, 21
Blacksmith 6, 14
Carpet merchant 11
Confectioner 18, 25
Coppersmith 25
Doctor 18
Dry Goods merchant 6
Gardener 3
Government official 24, 28
Grocer 15-17, 22-23,
25-27, 29
Hairdresser 6
Harbor master 14
Hardware merchant 18
Instrument maker 14
Insurance company 2-4,
8-10, 21
Ironmonger 3
Lumber Merchant 7
Merchant 1, 5-9, 11-21, 23-25, 27-30
Musician 7, 14
Newspaper 24
[Painter, Miniature]
7, 14
Physician 18
Porter 5, 7, 20, 27
Sailmaker 11
Ship builder – see Ship joiner or Shipwright
Ship carpenter 14
Ship captain 4, 10, 12,
16, 21, 25, 30
Ship chandler 20
Ship Joiner 13
Ship Wright 13
Shoemaker 17, 26
Soap Boiler 27
Stove Merchant 7