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:          Akin, Bartholomew.                 

Title:               Account books

Dates:             1771-1825, bulk 1775-1800

Call No.:         Fol. 118

Acc. No.:         77x48, 78x263

Quantity:        2 volumes

Location:        5 E 10

 

 

 

BIOGRAPHICAL STATEMENT

 

Bartholomew Akin was a cabinetmaker and joiner active from 1771 to 1825.  In 1771, he was residing in Dartmouth, Bristol County, Massachusetts.  By 1790, he had moved to New Bedford, also in Bristol County.

 

 

SCOPE AND CONTENT

 

Consists of two account books that record debits and credits accrued by Bartholomew Akin from 1771 to 1825, although the bulk of the entries have dates ranging from 1776 to 1800.  The first volume covers his activities from 1771 to 1784.  It was used as a daybook in 1775 and 1776 and from 1779 to 1784, with miscellaneous transactions noted for the other years.  The later set of daybook listings correspond to ledger entries in the second volume, kept from 1776 until 1828.  Both volumes document Akin's work as a house framer, shingle maker, loom builder, white washer, ship carpenter, repairer of plows, and maker of many forms of furniture, including bedsteads, chests, tables, chairs, bread troughs, cupboards, trundle beds, sink bottoms, curtain rails, etc.  Whatever was needed that required a person who would and could work with wood, Akin seems to have had the abilities to perform the job.  His business records note dealings with joiner Ebenezer Allen, as well as blacksmiths, shoemakers, coopers, masons, and tanners.  He also notes amounts owed to him for days of labor for someone he hired out named Elnathan.  In return for his labor, Akin received such things as farm produce, candles, wool, cloth, leather, timber, nails, earthenware, etc.  Also featured are a recipe for cement and instructions on the care of tools.

           

 

ORGANIZATION

 

 

LANGUAGE OF MATERIALS

 

The materials are in English.

 

 

RESTRICTIONS ON ACCESS

 

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

           

 

PROVENANCE

           

Accession 77x48 purchased from Rockwell Gardiner.

Accession 78x263 purchased from Joseph Rubinfine.

 

 

ACCESS POINTS

 

Topics:

            Framing (Building).

            House painting.

            Dwellings - Massachusetts - Bristol County - Maintenance and repair.

            Agricultural implements - Maintenance and repair.

            Ships - Maintenance and repair.

            Shipbuilding.

            Pottery.

            Lumber.

            Joinery.

            Casual labor.

            Tools.

            Household supplies.

            Hardware.

            Farm produce.

            Furniture making.

            Furniture industry and trade - Massachusetts - Bristol County.

            Workshop recipes.

            Woodwork.

            Business records - Massachusetts - Dartmouth.

            Business records - Massachusetts - New Bedford.

            United States - History - Revolution, 1775-1783 - Finance, commerce, confiscations, etc.

            Account books.

            Daybooks.

            Ledgers.

            Cabinetmakers.

            Joiners.

           

 

 

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE COLLECTION

 

Location: 5 E 10


 

 

 

Partial list of names found in Fol. 118, vol. 1 (acc. 78x263)

(name list for vol. 2 follows)

 

Adventure (schooner)

Akin, Bartholomew

Allen, Ebenezer

Aulden, John

 

Chaddock, John

Clark, David

Cushman, Seth

 

Darthmouth (sloop)

 

Endever (sloop)

 

Fish Hawk (schooner)

Freedom (sloop)

 

George (schooner)

 

Hambleton (brig)

Hathaway, Clark

Hathaway, Emieah

 

Industry (sloop)

Isaac (schooner)

 

Jeremiah (schooner)

Joseph, Christopher

 

Keizah (brig

 

Mary (brig)

Meetinghouse

 

Neptune (sloop)

No Duty  (brig)

North Britan (sloop)

 

Oxford (sloop)

 

Patience (brig)

Phenex  (sloop)

Polly  (sloop)

 

Reliance (sloop)

Rotch

 

Sally (sloop)

Sarah (schooner)

Seaflour (schooner)

Sherman, Samuel

Smith, William

Supply  (schooner)

Susan  (sloop)

 

Taber, Jacob

Taber, Thomas

Tryal  (sloop)

 

United States Lottery

Unity  (schooner)


 

Object list for Fol. 118, vol. 1 (acc. 78x263)

 

bedstead

bedstead, trundle

beehive

bread trough

brush handle

 

cedar, red

chair bottoming

chair, rocker

chamber pot

chest

cider mill

coffin

cradle

cradle, rockers

cupboard

curtain rails

 

desk

 

flags

frames, window

 

glass, window

 

headboards

 

jointer

 

loom

 

mahogany

maple

milk pan

 

pan, milk

press

 

shoe buckle, silver

sieve bottom

sign

sink bottom

stand

 

table

table leaf

teapot handle

tools, molding

 

window frames

window glass


List of names found in Fol. 118, vol. 2 (acc. 77x48)  

(see also index in front of volume)

 

Allen, Ebenezer

Allen, Eleazer

Allen, Rufus

Allen. Samuel

Aulden, John

 

Bedford, Town of

Benjamin, Daniel

 

Chaddock, John

Chimbley, William Allen

Church, Comael

Claghon, George

Claghon, William

Clard, David

Crowell, John

 

Dartmouth, Town of

Davis, Abraham

Delan, Nathan

Delan, Richard

Delan, Seth

Delano, Ephraim

Drew, Isaac

 

Eldredge, Elnathan

Ellis, Du(?)

Ellis, Luke

 

George (schooner)

 

Hathaway, Briget

Hathaway, Clark

Hathaway, Humphrey

Hathaway, Micah

Hombs, Joseph

 

Jarvis, Leonard

Jenne, Huber

Jenne, Nathaniel

Joyner, Ebnezer Allen

 

Kemton, Jonathan

Kempton, William

 

Langworthy, John

Lelane, Ephraim

 

Merithew, Benjamin

 

Nye, Obed

Nye, Stephen

Nye, Thomas

 

Russell, Joseph

Ruth (Schooner)

 

School House

Serverance, Niesion

Shiptimber

Smith, Henry

Smith, Jacob Taber

Smith, Lemuel

Smith, William

Stephens, Elisher

Summonton, John

 

Taber, Ameziah

Taber, Amos

Taber, Jacob

Taber, Jonathan

Taber, Lewis

Taber, Pardon

Taber, Stephen

Taber, Thomas

Taber, William (Cpt.)

Taulman, William

Terry, Isaac

Tincom, John

Tobey, Elisher (Doctor)

Tobey, Seth

 

West, John

West, William

Wing, Jacob

Wing, Paul

Wood, Jeruiah