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:          Stevens, John                          

Title:               Account book in facsimile

Dates:             1705-1767, bulk: 1721-1735

Call No.:         Doc. 1243

Acc. No.:         Ph 967

Quantity:        1 v. (94 p.)

Location:        31 I

 

 

 

BIOGRAPHICAL STATEMENT

 

Apparently, two different men named John Stevens kept this account book.  They lived in Newport, Rhode Island, in the 18th century.  The elder Stevens was a stone mason and builder.  His shop was at 29 Thames Street and passed down through several generations of his family.  It was still standing in the 1950s, as was his residence at 30 Thames Street.

 

 

SCOPE AND CONTENT

 

Two facsimile copies of an account book, labeled on the outside “John Stevens, His Book, 1705” (the date inside the book is 1727), although most of the accounts date 1721-1735.  Charges were recorded for building cellar walls and chimneys, putting in windows, laying hearth stones (one was marble), setting pots aboard ships, cutting and setting up tombstones (he charged by the number of letters carved; there were extra charges for carving coats of arms or angel heads), plastering and whitewashing rooms, making and mending shoes, building ovens, and other tasks.  He also charged for materials such as brick and lime.  Stevens was paid with produce, clothes (he had leather britches made, as well as cloth jackets and britches), cash, furniture (from Job Townsend), and textiles.  The accounts record the use of laborers, including an Indian, a Negro, his son Philip, and others.  Stevens worked in partnership with John Sims on several jobs.

 

In the 1760s, John Stevens (probably a different one from the stone mason and builder) used the account book to list the books he had read, mostly histories and religious works.  He also wrote in poems (unclear whether they were written by him or by others), recorded epitaphs (probably copied from old tombstones), and recounted two fables.  As well, someone drew several floral designs in the book.

           

 

LANGUAGE OF MATERIALS

 

The materials are in English.

 

 

RESTRICTIONS ON ACCESS

 

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

           

 

PROVENANCE

           

Location of original document is unknown.

 

 

ACCESS POINTS

 

            People:

                        Sims, John.

 

Topics:

            Sepulchral monuments - Rhode Island.

            Masonry.

            Building.

            Shoes - Prices - 18th century.

            Men’s clothing - Rhode Island.

            Dwellings - Rhode Island - Newport.

            Decoration and ornament - Plant forms.

            Ships - Equipment and supplies.

            Construction workers.

            Books and reading - Rhode Island - 18th century.

            Stone-cutters - Rhode Island.

            Drawings.

            Account books.

            Masons.

            Shoemakers.

 

 

INDEX TO THE VOLUME:

 

[see also the indexes to people who purchased gravestones and tombstones, and the index to people for whom houses were built or repaired, both of which follow; also following are notes about the epitaphs, poems, and fables which are found in the volume]

 


Allen, alias Alling    26

Anson, George    7

Arnold, Ben.    87

Arnold, Sion    1

 

Baker, Abraham    87

Barker, P.   50

Barney, Joseph    5

Bennet, John   7, 58, 67, 69, 82

Bennet, William   14, 15

Bent, Mr.   33

Boise, Capt.   32

Bosworth, Joseph   10

Bramble, William   7

Brayton, Francis   18-19, 22-23, 60

Brayton, Israel   10, 54

Brenton, Jaheel   42-43

Brooks, Capt.   32-33

Brown, James (Maj.)   66

Brown, John (Capt.)   5, 16, 27, 84

Brown, Mr. Thomas   10, 52

Bull, Benjamin (Maj.)   25

Bull, Henry (Capt.)   23-24

Bull, Mrs. Benjamin (widow)   29

Burdin, William   19

Butler, Capt.   33

 

Carr, Caleb   26, 40-41

Carr, John   50

Chace, Capt.    33

Chace, Jonathan (Mr.)    44

Chafey and Swift    48

Chapman, Ann (Mrs.)    47

Chapman, John    32

Chapman, Walter    6

Cheeseborough, David    44

Church, Patience   24

Clagett, Caleb   46

Clagett, William   46-47

Clapp, Mr. (of Rochester)    38

Clark, John    24

Clark, Weston    52

Coddington, John (Mr.)    27, 30, 51

Coddington, William (Col.)    54

Coe, Samuel    56

Coggshell, Caleb    51

Coggshell, Joshua   49

Coggshell, Peter    21

Cole, Joseph   53

Cook, John (Mr.)   2

Cotterell, James   50

Cranston, Caleb   14-15

Cranston, John (Col.)   66

Cupitt, John (Mr.)   34-46

Curtis, Samuel    2

 

Davenport, Mrs.   56

Davis, James   29

Draper, John   61

Dyer, William    37

 

Easton, Edward    20-21

Eastern, James    8, 10

Easton, Peter    26, 67, 69, 82

Easton, Samuel    30

Ellerton, Roger    16

Emmet, James   24

 

Forester, John (Mr.)    37, 42

Fortinate (alias Fourtane), Daniel   64-65, 67, 84, 86

 

Gardner, Benoni   35-36

Gardner, James (Mr.)    4 

Gardner, John (Capt.)    34

Gardner, Joseph (Mr.)   25

Gardner, Thomas (Mr.)   38

Gibbs, Hannah    46

Gidley, John (Mr.)    4, 36  

Godard, Ebenezer    7

Godfrey, John (Capt.)    32-33

Gould (alias Gold), Capt.   32

Green, James    52

 

Hall, Benjamin    50, 67, 69-70

Hall, William (Mr.)    56

Hammet, Thomas    45

Hart, Robert    16

Hatch, Mrs.    10

Haydon, Samuel    6-7

Hedges, John    46

Hill, Thomas    48

Hitt, Henry    14-15

Holmes, Samuel    19, 62, 77

Hookie, Stephen   12

Howland, Jabez   34

 

Ingraham, John     12, 54

 

James, William   20-21

Jeffers, Joseph   28

 

Lawton, Isaac    67, 69, 83, 84

Lawton, Job    48

Leonard, Seth (Mr.)    10

Lyon, John (Mr.)    54

 

Malbone, Mr.   44

Martin, Joseph   77

Martindale, John    84

Millard, John   10

Millard, Mary   12

Miner. Ephraim   16

Morgan, Capt.    32

 

Newdigate, Nathaniel (Mr.)    52

Nichols, Kendal   34

 

Palmer, Job    22, 54

Paul, Joshua   28

Peckham, Caleb    80

Pelham, Edward    88

Pettiface, Rebecca    45

Phillips, Mial(?)   51

Place, John    8

Platts, Thomas    9, 54

Prince, Mr.    33

 

Records, John (Mr.)    3

Richardson, Eben    89

Roads, John (Mr.)    48

Roades, Samuel (Mr.)    66

Rodnan, Clark    23

Rogers, John (Capt.)   44

Rogers, Joseph    12

Rossam, Mr.    4, 15, 81

Rothbotom, Capt.   32

 

Salter, Thomas    37, 67, 86

Sanford, Ezbon   52, 53

Scott, Edward   64

Sheffeld, James (Maj.)    7, 19

Sherman, Capt.   32

Sims, John   37, 64, 67, 69, 70, 72, 80, 82

Slocum, John    30

Stanton, Benjamin   9, 28, 44, 56

Stevens, James   85

Stevens, Phillip (brother of John Stevens)    37, 58, 67, 69, 72, etc.

Studson, Joshua   60

Sypeo  (a servant or slave)   26-27, 54-55

 

Thomas, Thomas   16

Thompson, Robert   68, 80

Thurber, Bethia   46

Thurston, Edward (Capt.)    38, 42

Tillinghast, Joseph    4, 67, 69, 72, 91

Townshend, Christopher   50, 56

Townshend, Job   30, 40, 62-63, 67, 69, 80

Tripp, Peleg   45

 

Vaughn, John   67, 69, 84

 

Waite, David   24

Wanton, Col.   33

Wanton, Edward   92

Wanton, George   36

Wanton, John (Capt.)   32

Wanton, Philip (Capt.)   33

Wanton, William (Maj.)   32-33

Warin, Joseph   48

Watson, Matthew   67, 69-70

Weaver, Clement   61, 76, 77, 85, 94

Weeden, Jonathan   51-52

Whipple, Joseph (Mr.)    40

Wigneron, Norbert (German Doctor)    56

Wightman, David (Mr.)    48   

Williams, Palsgrave    6

Willson, Joseph   67, 69, 82

Winpenny, Robert   36, 51

Woodwards, Isaac   38, 56, 67, 69, 79

Wyatt, Benjamin   67-69, 88

(also spelled Wiatt)



References to gravestones and tombstones are found under the following names and page numbers:

 

Bennet, John                 Page 7: 1 pair Gravestones, 1728.

Bosworth, Joseph         Page 10: 1 pair gravestones, 1728.

Brayton, Francis           Page 19: 1 tombstone, 1726.

Brayton, Israel Page 10: 1 gravestone for his child. 1726.

Brenton, Jaheel.            Page 42: 1 tombstone for the Governor. Building base and coat of arms extra.  1727

Brown, James (Maj., of Newport)        page 66(?): 1 tombstone, cut 366 letters, 1728.

Brown, Thomas.           Page 10: 1 gravestone, 1726.

Bull, Henry (Capt.)       Page 23: 1 pair gravestones for his son, 1727.

Bull, Mrs. Benjamin.     Page 29: 1 tombstone for her husband, 1729.

(This stone is in the Arnold Graveyard on Pelham Street.)

 

Chapman, Ann (Mrs.)   Page 47: 1 pair gravestones for her husband and 2 pair for her children. 1729. 

Church, Patience.         Page 24: 1 pair gravestones for child. 1726.  

Claggett, William.         Page 46: 1 gravestone. 2 pairs small stones. 1728.

Clapp, Mr., "of Rochester"       Page 38: 1 pair gravestones. 1729.

Clark, John.                  Page 2: 1 pair gravestones for wife and 1 pair for child. 1727.

Coe, Samuel                 Page 56: 1 pair gravestones for his father. 1729.

Coggshell, Joshua         Page 49: 1 pair gravestones for wife. 1729.  

Cole, Joseph.               Page 53: 3 pair gravestones. 1730.

Cranston, Caleb           Page 14: 1 pair gravestones for his children. 1726.

Cupit, John (Mr.)          Page 34: 1 tombstone with epitaph and cherub heads. 1727.

Curtis, Samuel.             Page 2: 1 pair gravestones. 1728.

 

Davenport, Mr.            Page 56: 1 pair gravestones. 1729.

Davis, James.               Page 129: 1 pair gravestones. 1729.

 

Forestir, John (Mr.)      Pages 37 and 42: 2 pairs Gravestones.  1729.

 

Gibbs, Hannah.             Page 46: 1 pair gravestones. 1730.

Gidley, John (Mr.)        Page 37: 1 tombstone, coat of arms, epitaph. 1728.

Green, James                Page 52: 1 pair gravestones. Cutting 73 letters. 1729.

 

Hatch, Mrs.                  Page 10: 1 pair gravestones. 1726.

Hiel, Thomas                Page 48: 1 pair Gravestones. 1728.

Howland, Jabez.           Page 34: 1 pair gravestones with epitaph. 1727.

 

Ingraham, John.            Page 12: 1 pair Gravestones.  1712.

 

Leonard, Seth. Page 10: 1 pair gravestones, 1725

 

Millard, John.               Page 10: 1 pair gravestones, 1726

Minor, Ephraim, Esq.    Page 16: 1 tombstone, charged to Roger Ellerto, 1726

 

Newdigate, Nathaniel.  Page 52: 1 tombstone, 300 bricks. 1728

 

Sims, John                    Pages 70, 72: 2 pairs gravestones for his children. Epitaph. 1731, 1733.

Slocum, John.               Page 30: 1 pair gravestones. 1723.

Thurston, Edward.        Page 38: 1 pair gravestones. 1727.

Tillinghast, Joseph.        Page 4: 1 pair gravestones. 1724.

Wanton, George.          Page 26: 1 tombstone, coat of arms. Epitaph of 528 letters. 1726.

Wanton, William (Col.) Page 33: pair of gravestones for son, 1711; and a tombstone, 1725.

Wiate (Wyatt), David.              Page 24: 1 pair gravestones. 1729.

Wigeron, Norbert (German doctor)      Page 56: 1 pair gravestones for daughter, one pair for son Norbert, and one pair for the Indian. 1729 and 1722.

Wightman, Daniel.        Page 48: 1 pair gravestones for his wife and 1 pair for his son. 1729.

Williams, Palsgrave.      Page 6: 1 pair gravestones for his child. 1727.

Woodward, Isaac.        Page 38: 1 pair gravestones. 1731.

Woorwarth, Elisha.       page 56:  1 pair gravestones, 1729


Houses built or repaired by John Stevens and his associates Benjamin Wyatt, John Simms, Philip Stevens, etc.:

 

Bennett, John                page 18, in 1728

Burdin, William             page 20, in 1727

 

Carr, Caleb                  page 20, 1?27

Carr, John                    page 56, 1728

Chapman, Walter         page 6, in 1727

Cheeseborough, David page 84, in 1730

Coddington, Col.          page 54, in 1729

Cook, John                  page 2, in 1726

Cranston, John             page 60, in 1730

Cupit, John                   page 46, in 1729

 

Easton, Edward            page 20, in 1728

Easton, James               pages 8 and 10, in 1726 and 1730

Easton, Peter                page 50 and 82, in 1729

Easton, Samuel             page 30, in 1724, 1725, and 1728

 

Fortunate, Daniel          page 64, in 1729

 

Gardner, Benoni           page 36, in 1728

Gardner, James            page 4, in 1729

Gardner, Joseph           page 25, in 1729

Gardner, Thomas          page 38, in 1728

Gidley, John                 page 4, in 1724

Goddard, Ebenezer      page 18, in 1728, 1729

 

James, William page 20, 1726

Jeffers, Joseph page 28, 1726

 

Lawton, Isaac               page 83, in 1730

 

Pelham, Edward           page 88, in 1731

 

Records, John              page 3, in 1717

Rhodes, John                page 48, in 1724

Rhodes, Samuel            page 66, in 1729

Rodman, Clark             page 23, in 1726

Rossam, Mr.                page 14, in 1728

 

Sanford, Ezbon             page 52, in 1729

Sinpenny, Robert          page 36, in 1727

Slocum, John                page 30, in 1723

Stevens, Thomas          page 16, in 1727

 

Thurston, Edward         page 38 and 42, in 1725 and 1729

Townsend, Job             page 62 in 1729

Vaughn, John                page 84, in 1733

 

Warin, John                  page 48 in 1728

Whipple, Joseph           page 20 in April, 1729

Wiant, Benjamin           page 88, in 1732

Woodward, Isaac         page 38, in 1731

 


Some matters of local interest:

 

Almshouse        page 34: Stevens paid Kendal Nichols to “valueing and measuring the mason’s work of the almshouse,” 1726

 

Anson, George page 7: brief note in regard to “the treasures that he took in the South Seas

 

Court house work         page 44: “Capt. John Rogers, to one stack of chimneys, to work and stuff at the court house,” 1728

 

First Congregational Meeting House, Mr. Clap’s Meeting House

                        Page 60: work done on the house, listing names of workers, 1729-1730;

                        Page 80: whitewashed meeting house, 1732

 

Furniture           page 58: Stevens bought a desk made by Job Townsend from Jonathan Bennet, 1730;

                        Page 63: Stevens bought a bedstead from Job Townsend;

                        Page 63: Stevens bought two desks, 1730, 1732

 

Leather clothing            page 37: jacket, breeches, etc., made in Newport by Robert Winpenny,1727

 

Marble hearth   page 44: billed Mr. Malbone for cutting one marble hearth, 1730

 

Sloops outfitted            pages 32-33: “setting pots on board sloops” belonging to Maj. William Wanton; putting holes in grindstones, etc., 1705-1713


Index to literature (epitaphs, fables, etc.):

 

[note: mostly not dated, but the years 1766 and 1767 appear when dated]

 

Epitaphs:

“See here, all pale and dead she lies,” page 57

“Think, O my friends, if yet there be,” page 71

“In Faith she died, in Dust she lies,” page 83

“Beneath this stone Death's prisoner lies,” page 83

“Hir Soil is Plead, she Gorn to Dust,” page 83

“Let all who read consider well in me,”  page 92 - Epitaph on Franklin Morton

“Far from my native home and parents dear,” page 92 - Epitaph on Edward Wanton

“Here lyeth dust that as we trust,” page 92 - Epitaph on William Sanford

 

 

Fables:

“Huntsman and Stork,” page 83

“Dialogue between a man and a toad,” page 93.

 

 

Other verses (not epitaphs):

“On the Divine use of Music,” pages 1-2

“The nation free, despotic rule that craves,” page 13.

“The man that is poor may be void of all care,” page 45

“In search of Wisdom far from Witt I fly,” page 45

“The Easy Lover,” page 79

“The Drunkard,” page 81

“A New Song,” page 73

“A New Song,” pages 74, 75, 77

“A New Song,” page 78, dated 1765.