The
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
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 -
Masonry.
Building.
Shoes - Prices - 18th century.
Men’s clothing -
Dwellings -
Decoration and ornament - Plant forms.
Ships - Equipment and supplies.
Construction workers.
Books and reading -
Stone-cutters -
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
Bosworth, Joseph 10
Bramble, William 7
Brayton, Francis 18-19,
22-23, 60
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
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
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
Cupitt, John (Mr.) 34-46
Curtis, Samuel 2
Davis, James 29
Draper, John 61
Dyer, William 37
Eastern, James 8, 10
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
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, 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.
Brenton, Jaheel. Page 42: 1 tombstone for the
Governor. Building base and coat of arms extra.
1727
Brown, James (Maj., of
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
Chapman, Ann (Mrs.) Page 47: 1 pair gravestones for her husband and
2 pair for her children.
Church, Patience. Page 24: 1 pair gravestones for child.
1726.
Claggett, William. Page 46: 1 gravestone. 2 pairs small
stones. 1728.
Clapp, Mr., "of
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.
Cupit, John (Mr.) Page 34: 1 tombstone with epitaph and
cherub heads. 1727.
Curtis, Samuel. Page 2: 1 pair gravestones. 1728.
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 (
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
Cook, John page
2, in 1726
Cupit, John page
46, in 1729
Fortunate, Daniel page
64, in 1729
Gidley, John page
4, in 1724
Goddard, Ebenezer page
18, in 1728, 1729
James, William page 20, 1726
Jeffers, Joseph page 28,
1726
Pelham, Edward page
88, in 1731
Records, John page
3, in 1717
Rodman, Clark page
23, in 1726
Rossam, Mr. page
14, in 1728
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
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
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.