The Winterthur Library

The Joseph Downs Collection of Manuscripts and Printed Ephemera

Henry Francis du Pont Winterthur Museum, Winterthur, DE 19735

302-888-4600 or 800-448-3883

OVERVIEW OF THE COLLECTION

Creator: Coleman, Robert, 1748-1825.

Title: Account book

Dates: 1810-1826, 1836-1848

Call No.: Doc. 572

Acc. No.: 63x93

Quantity: 1 volume (97 pages, plus blanks)

Location: 31 E

BIOGRAPHICAL STATEMENT

Robert Coleman was an ironmaster in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. Born in Ireland on Nov. 4, 1748, he emigrated to America in 1764 and settled in Reading, Pa. He learned the ironmaking business as a clerk at forges owned by Curtis and Peter Grubb. In 1773, he married Ann Old, the daughter of James Old, also a forge owner. In 1776, he took over the lease of the Elizabeth Furnace and was a major supplier of cannon and shot to the Revolutionary armies. After the war, he expanded his operations and purchased shares in several other furnaces, including the Cornwall Furnace in Cornwall, Pa. Coleman was also a leader of the Federalist Party in Lancaster County and held several public offices. He died in Lancaster on Aug. 14, 1825.

SCOPE AND CONTENT

Records various miscellaneous accounts kept by Coleman, including wages paid to household help (a waiter, gardener, coachman, "negroe Richard," and others whose functions are not identified), accounts of cash paid for sundry articles of furniture, accounts of grain and wood purchased, and accounts for brick purchased and masonry work. Several of the later entries contain notes about the length of service of domestic workers. One dated 1826 contains the note in account with Ann Coleman. The volume also features a separate section documenting wages paid to masons for work on building a house. A series of receipts signed by Stephen Hills indicates he was constructing buildings and houses for Coleman. From 1836 to 1848 the volume was used to note wages paid to James Firman, a coachman.

LANGUAGE OF MATERIALS

The materials are in English.

RESTRICTIONS ON ACCESS

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

PROVENANCE

Purchased from Edgar Sittig.

ACCESS POINTS

People:

Firman, James.

Hills, Stephen.

Topics:

House construction.

Building materials.

Wages - Domestics.

Wages - Building trades.

Coach drivers.

African-Americans - Employment - History - 19th century.

Furniture.

Home economics - Accounting - Pennsylvania - Lancaster.

Account books.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE COLLECTION

Location: 31 E

Index to names in Doc. 572 (acc. 63x93)

Abner 61

Barney 85

Barton, P. 23

Benedick, Philip 21

Brien 51

Brien, John 51

Brown, Nicholas 59

Burd, John 69

Bush 43

Butler, Charles 3

Clandoning, James 51

Coleman, Ann 75

Coleman, Edward 36

Coleman, R. 76

Coleman, Robert 89, 91, 93, 95-97

Dorwart, Jonas 15

Ebe 5

Eshleman, J. 13

Eshleman, John 39

Esleman, Jacob 31

Everman, Philip 11

Firman, James 67, 77, 79, 81-84

Gordon, William 7

Graff's Mill 13

Hamilton, John 71

Henry, James 53

Hill, G. 23

Hills, Stephen 17, 41, 43, 89, 91, 93, 95-97

Holman 85

Humes, Saml. 23

Hyde, David 41, 89

Isaac 85

Jamison 85

Jefferies, Thomas 51

John 49

Kirkpatrick 51

Kirkpatrick, Wm. 23

Landis, John 35

Landis, Jos. 35

Lee 63

Lockerman, Henry 65

Mayers, C. 23

Mayers, Geo. L. 51

McCaslin 85

McDonnald, Robert 37

McGaughlin, J. 31

McGlaughlan, John - see McLaughlin

McGlaughlin 51

McGlauglin, John - see McLaughlin

McGlaughlin, John - see McLaughlin

McLaughlin, John 19, 45, 55, 75

(spelled variously as McGlaughlan, McGlauglin, McGlaughlin)

Miller, J. 13

Miller, Jacob 31

Myers, Adam 69

Newman 85

Powell, Edward 85

Powell, John 95

Richard (Negro) 5

St. James Church 51

Samuel 85

Scott, John 85

Shivier, Michael 25

Sloan, Elijah 51

Slough 22, 85

Slough, Jacob 9, 23, 24, 47

Steitz, Peter 32

Stoner 1

Swam, Stacy 23, 29, 43

Swayer, John 31

Swayer & Co., John 31

Tilgman 49

Tristler, Adam 33

Warfield, Henry 57

Weiley, John 27

Weiley, Wm. 27

Wright, James 51