The
The Joseph Downs Collection of Manuscripts and
Printed Ephemera
Henry
Francis du Pont
5105
Kennett Pike, Winterthur, Delaware 19735
302-888-4600 or 800-448-3883
OVERVIEW OF THE COLLECTION
Creator: Williamson, Abraham, 1745-1816.
Title: Account
book
Dates: 1791-1812
Call No.: Fol. 38
Acc. No.: 79x274
Quantity: 1 volume (ca. 65 pages, plus blanks)
Location: 5 B 3
BIOGRAPHICAL STATEMENT
Abraham Williamson's identity is established by a receipt laid in at page 6, settling his account with John Barcroft on 27 May 1799, and also a settlement made at the bottom of page 9 (where he signs his name Wmson). Although he was reported to have live in Montclair, Essex County, New Jersey, other records list him in Amwell township, Hunterdon County. He is believed to be that Abraham Williamson who was born in 1745, married Catherine Ten Broeck in 1773, and died in 1816.
SCOPE AND CONTENT
Contains accounts of Abraham Williamson with entries for foodstuffs (e.g., potatoes, rye flour, wheat, oats, corn); veal, beef, mutton, turkey, and shad; flax and flaxseed, hay, wool, and straw; and building supplies (lath, wood, board, plank, nails, and plaster); clothing, shoes, and candles; all between 1791 and 1812. (Most of the accounts are for food and agricultural products.) Included among the accounts are references to craftsmen in the building, clothing, furniture, metalworking, textile and woodworking trades, including two laid in items regarding cabinetmaking, 1799-1800. Page 4 contains references to settling accounts "By 1 Negro Boy bout of him," and "By 1 Negro Man Named Dick." (See also p. 28, where is recorded the purchase of Dinah and her daughter.) A number of entries (e.g., on pages 10, 12, and 19) record rent received "for Grist and Saw Mills." People often paid their bills with cash, labor or spinning.
Laid into the volume is an undated bill from an unknown furniture and coffin maker. The bill was for a bedstead and 4 coffins (2 for grandchildren, 1 for a "wench," and 1 for a "black child"). A bill from John Barcroft, dated May 24, 1799, lists several pieces of furniture, including tables, dresser, dough trough, candle and knife box, and bureau cupboard, plus charges for mending a sleigh. At the end of the volume are 4 ˝ pages of accounts in chronological (i.e. day book) 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 Avis & Rockwell Gardiner.
ACCESS POINTS
Topics:
Agriculture - Accounting.
Artisans - New Jersey.
Building materials -
Coffins - Prices.
Grain - New Jersey.
Mills and mill-work - New Jersey.
Slave records - New Jersey.
Slaves - New Jersey.
Account books.
Millers.
Farmers.
Name, occupation, and object indexes to Fol. 38:
Location: 5 B 3
Name index to
Fol. 38 (acc. 79x274)
(
This list
includes names mentioned within the accounts, not just the names at head of
accounts.
Abbott,
Joseph back of vol.: 2
Abraham back of vol.: 2
Ande,
Miss 7
Angus,
John 13
Anthoney,
Jacob 2
Anthoney,
John 10, 19, 23, 25
Anthoney,
Margaret 2
Barcroft,
John 6, 6a, 9, 12, 16, 28
Basset,
Jerm. 7
Belleffelt,
Adam 10
Benham,
Joab 27
Biles,
Mr. 28
Bishop,
David back of vol.: 4
Bishop(s) 1, 6a, 9, 21
[this is a store]
Bodine,
Peter back of vol.: 2
Brooks,
James back of vol.: 4
Brooks,
William 29
Buck,
Mrs. [31]
Burk,
Edward 9, 18, 28
Burk(s),
Mr. 27
Buzzerd,
Timothy 19
Cain,
Gabril 16
Carr,
John 10
Case,
Margaret 13
Closs 18
Cook,
Isaac 18, 21; back of vol.: 3
Corshom[?]
& Wurts 1
Covenhaven,
Albert 27; back of vol.: 1, 3
Covenhaven,
James 21
Craven,
Gershom 5; back of vol.: 2 [entry
crossed out], 4
Craven,
Dr. 1, 13, 16
Crouser,
Dr. back of vol.: 1
Crum,
Benjamin back of vol.: 2
Danbury,
Samuel 18; back of vol.: 1
Danbury,
William back of vol.: 1, 3
Dawson back of vol.: 1
Dawson,
Thomas 4, 5, 6, 10
Day,
(Mr.) 7
Dick 4
Dinah 28
Drake,
Edward back of vol.: 4
Egerton,
Luke 1
Everitt back of vol.: 1
[his surname may be Hogeland]
Evins,
Mr. 29
Faulker,
George back of vol.: 3
Field,
Benoni back of vol.: 1
Fisher,
C. 10
Fisher,
Christopher 5
Fisher,
J. 26
Fitzpatrick,
Mr. 16
Garret,
Jno. 9
Godown back of vol.: 2
Grant,
Mr. 15
Gregg,
James 7
Hannah,
William 5, 9
Hevinor,
Henry 12, 18; back of vol.: 3, 4
Higgins,
James 21; back of vol.: 1, 2, 4, 5
Hill,
Mr. 5
Hixon[?],
Samuel back of vol.: 1
Hoffman,
Andrew back of vol.: 4, 5
Hogeland,
Andrew back of vol.: 1
Hogeland,
Jno. 14, 20
Holcomb,
G. 22
Hortman,
William back of vol.: 1
Houshel,
John 1
Houshel,
M. 11
Hughs,
Thebedi back of vol.: 3
Huhl,
Paul 14
Hunt,
John back of vol.: 1, 4
Jewell,
John 29; back of vol.: 2-4
Joab
- see Benham and Williamson
Johnson,
Benjn. 1, 14
Johnson,
Charles 26
Johnson,
G. 16
Johnson,
George 9, 16
Johnson,
Isaac 11
Johnson,
Jacob back of vol.: 2, 4
Johnson,
Martin 9
Joshua,
John 22
Landis,
Joseph back of vol.: 1
Lanshe,
Abraham 8
Lanshe,
Henry 12
Latourrette,
John back of vol.: 3
Latourrette,
Peter back of vol.: 3
Lequear,
John – see Lequire
Lequire,
John 4, 20
List,
Mr. – see John Lyst
List,
John - see Lyst
Liverton,
John back of vol.: 1
Lyst,
Jacob 6
Lyst,
John 1, 6, 13, 16, 24, 27
[a tailor]
Mathew 16
[surname probably Watson]
Medler,
Levi 1, 2, 14, 19, 20, 23
Medler,
Saml. 1
Meldrum,
John 8
Metler,
Levy - see Medler
Metler,
Henry 14
Metler,
Mary back of vol.: 2
Metler,
Reubin 21
Milnor 4, 5
Nanc 22
[a “Negro girl”]
Nean[?] 9
Nun[?] 24
Ott,
Joseph 4; back of vol.: 2-5
Ozburn,
Uriah 7
Phillips
, Joseph 11
Prall,
Isaac back of vol.: 5
Prall,
Peter back of vol.: 3
Prall,
William, (Dr.) 19
Price,
Jno. 1
[see also Prise]
Price,
Nathan back of vol.: 1-4
Prices 3, 9
Prime 9
Prise,
John 10
[see also Price]
Quick,
Abraham 19; back of vol.: 2
Quick,
Cornl. 1; back of vol.: 1
Quick,
Cornelius, Jr. 2
Quick,
J. 1
Quick,
John 3, 17, 19, 24
Quick,
Mary back of vol.: 1
Quick,
Tunis, Jr. back of vol.: 1
Quick,
William 21, 22, 27, 30; back of vol.: 2
Read,
Ephraim back of vol.: 1
Reading,
Charles (Col.) 6a
Reading,
George 23; back of vol.: 3, 4
Rizler,
Peter back of vol.: 1
Runyan,
Cornelius back of vol.: 1
Runyan,
Hill 2
Runyan,
John back of vol.: 1
Runyan,
Joseph 4
Rockfeller 14
Rockfeller,
Christr. 4, 15
Samuel 13
[surname possibly Angus]
Schanck,
Capt. 27
Schanck,
Maj. 19
Schanck,
Arthur 14, 17
[also spelled Schenck]
Schanck,
Jacob back of vol.: 2, 3
Schanck,
John 5, 13, 14, 15, 20; back of vol.:
3, 4
Schanck,
Jno. (Junr.) 13
Schanck,
Josiah 4
Schanck,
William 7; back of vol.: 2
Servis,
Abraham back of vol.: 1, 2
[also spelled Serviss]
Servis,
Isaac 21; back of vol.: 4, 5
Shaw
[owns lime-kiln] 6
Smith,
Amos back of vol.: 3
Smith,
John back of vol.: 1-4
Smith,
Lawyer 10
[lawyer is probably occupation, not
name]
Smith,
Thaddius back of vol.: 1
Snook,
John back of vol.: 2
Snook,
Peter 8, 19, 20, 25
Snook,
William 20
Snook,
William, Jr. back of vol.: 3
Stevenson,
John back of vol.: 1, 3
Stewart,
Philip 22
[under-sheriff]
Stockton,
Mr. 20
Stout,
Aaron 15
Sund[?],
J. 13
Sutphin,
Jacob back of vol.: 1, 2
Sutphin,
Richard back of vol.: 3
Sutton,
Amos 12
Sydam,
John 12, 19
Taylor,
Isaac 10
Taylor,
J. 19
Taylor,
John List - see Lyst
Ten
Broeck, Jno. 7
Ten
Brook, Mr. 2
Thompson,
Elijah 1, 6, 12
Tidd,
Jacob 12; back of vol.: 1
Van
Camp, Elias back of vol.: 2
Van
Camp, Gilbt. 2
Vandyke,
Henry 8
Vanpelt,
Christr. 2
Venmeter,
John back of vol.: 1
Watson,
James 16
Welch,
John back of vol.: 1
[son of John Welch, the blacksmith]
Williams,
Jennie [31]
Williamson,
Abraham 6a, 9, 19, 19a; back of vol.: 2
Williamson,
Abraham, Jr. 21, 29
Williamson,
Abraham J. 19, 29; back of vol.: 4, 5
Williamson,
Garret back of vol.: 1
Williamson,
I.S. [31]
Williamson,
Jacob 5, 8, 11, 20, 23
Williamson,
Jacob, tailor back of vol.: 4
Williamson,
Jacob, wheelwright back of vol.: 3
Williamson, Joab back of vol.: 5
[only the first name is given, but is
under an account for Abraham J. Williamson]
Williamson,
John 11
Williamson,
William 7; back of vol.: 4
Wombock,
William 10, 22
Woolverton,
John back of vol.: 3, 4
Yager,
Philip 1
Young,
Jacob 26
Young,
Philip, Jr. back of vol.: 2
Young,
Philip, Sr. back of vol.: 1, 2
Occupation
The index does
not include entries for unspecified “work,” nor for the payment of rent on
unknown properties.
Agricultural
labor 2, 4-7, 10, 14, 18-20, 22; back
of vol.: 5
[includes sowing, harvesting,
threshing, cutting grass, cradling]
blacksmith back of vol.: 1
[see also smith work]
boarding
people 13, 16
building 9, 21[?]
carting, hauling 6, 7, 12, 28; back of vol.: 3
collector 16
cooper 12
fulling 7
grinding 5
gristmill 10, 19
“hire
of a chair” back of vol.: 4
knitting 7, 13
mason 11
mill 5, 7,
12, 15
nurseryman
12
pedlar 1
printer 7
recording
deeds 20
saw
mill 10, 19
sawing 4-6, 10, 12, 15, 19; back of vol.: 1
sheriff 22
shoemaker 14, 16, 17, 24
slaves 4, 22, 48
smith
work 19, 22
spinning 2, 7
store 2, 4, 14
tailor 13, 16, 4b
thatching 7
watchmaker 1
wood
cutting, rail splitting 20
weaving 8, 12, 21; back of vol.: 3-5
wheelwright back of vol.: 3
Object index to
Fol. 38
Note: most items
mentioned are agricultural products (e.g. rye, corn) or food (e.g. butter, bacon),
and these are not indexed.
The list may not
be complete.
Alcoholic
beverages, cider 2-8, 14-15, 19, 22, 25,
27
Barrel, tub 12
Bedspread back of vol.: 4
bolting
cloth 8
books 16
bricks 13
bridge 4
broom 15
candle and knife
box 6a
candles 2, 3, 6, 11, 15, 18-20, 23-26; back of vol.:
4-5
carpeting 21
cloth 13, 16; back of vol.: 3
clothing 1, 13, 14, 16, 18, 22, 25
coffin 19a
cradle back of vol.: 2
[unclear if this a tool or a baby’s
bed]
dough trough 6a
feriton 16
firewood and
wood 2, 18, 19; back of vol.: 1-3
flannel 16
furniture:
Bedstead 6, 16, 19a
furniture:
Bureau cupboard 6a
Furniture:
Chair 6
Furniture:
Chest 16
Furniture:
Desk 13
Furniture:
Dresser 6a
Furniture:
Table 6a, 8
Furniture:
Work bench 10
fustian 8
“gate
stuff” 15
Handkerchief 22
Hats 16, 22, 27
knapsack 1
leather,
hides, skins 4, 10, 12, 14, 17, 27
lime 6
linen, flax, tow,
linsey 1, 3, 4, 8, 9, 12, 16, 18, 21,
22, 25; back of vol.: 5
livestock 2, 4, 6-9, 13-17, 19-21, 23, 24, 28, 29;
back of vol.: 1-4
lumber, timber,
boards, planks, shingles, lath 4-7, 10,
13, 15, 16, 18, 28; back of vol.: 1-3
nails, nail rods 13, 19; back of vol.: 1
oil cloth 8
paper 1, 16
pen knife 16
pigeon net 7, 18
plaster, plaster
of paris 5, 27; back of vol.: 1-3
pot 22
quills 16
rails 20
rope 7
sand 6
shoes and
boots 1, 13, 14, 16, 18, 19, 22, 27;
back of vol.: 1
soap 6, 15
stone 6
stove
pipe 8
tallow 20
tar
and rosin 15, 17
tobacco 1, 3, 14, 21
tools 3, 4, 6, 7, 9, 16, 18, 26; back of vol.: 4
trunk 16
wagons, sleighs 2, 6, 6a, 9; back of vol.: 1, 4
white lead 28
wool 2, 6, 9, 10, 14, 20, 21, 23, 25; back of
vol.: 3-4
wool
cards 14