The
The Joseph Downs Collection of Manuscripts and
Printed Ephemera
Henry Francis du Pont
5105 Kennett Pike, Winterthur,
Delaware 19735
Telephone: 302-888-4600 or 800-448-3883
OVERVIEW OF
THE COLLECTION
Creator: Cortlandt, Billings &
Co.
Title: Account book
Dates: 1784-1787
Call No.: Fol. 169
Acc. No.: 74x97
Quantity: 1 volume (75 pages, plus
blanks)
Location: 5
BIOGRAPHICAL
STATEMENT
Cortlandt, Billings & Co. was a firm of New York
City merchants. The partners were Gilbert
Van Cortlandt (1757-1786), Andrew Billings, and Peter Stuyvesant. The firm was located at 42 Great Dock Street.
Gilbert Van Cortlandt was the son of Joanna and
Pierre Van Cortlandt (1721-1814). At the
time of Gilbert's death, the firm was in debt and Andrew Billings had to ask
Pierre for financial assistance in settling the firm's accounts. Andrew Billings was probably the man of that
name who was born in 1743, married Cornelia Livingston, and died in Poughkeepsie
in 1808. Stuyvesant was a member of a
distinguished New York City family.
SCOPE AND
CONTENT
Records products purchased and sold by Cortlandt,
Billings & Co. From 1784 to 1785 the
volume was used as an account book, but then on Oct. 29, 1784, it began to be
used as a daybook and is written in a different hand. The last entry is March 17, 1787. Entries document a wide range of household
goods, including a writing desk, a backgammon table, surveyors' instruments,
reams of wrapping paper, nails, hinges, screws, padlocks, closet locks, silver
services, knives, forks, spoons, buckles, shoes, and children's books (titles
not given). Their clients numbered among
the elite of New York's first families. Members
of the Beekman, Livingston, Van Cortlandt and Van Rensselaer families, Dirck
Ten Broeck, Col. Alexander Hamilton, and John C. Schuyler were just a few of
the people who patronized this concern.
Craftsmen were also among the firm's customers; a barber, a blacksmith,
and a shoemaker are represented, and a washerwoman is mentioned. Work on the firm’s store, such as putting up
shelves, is also mentioned.
ORGANIZATION
LANGUAGE OF
MATERIALS
The materials are in English.
RESTRICTIONS
ON ACCESS
Collection is open to the public. Copyright restrictions may apply.
RELATED MATERIALS
Letters of Andrew Billings
are held by the Clemons Library at the University of Michigan.
The Benson family papers
(Egbert Benson et al.) at the New-York Historical Society Library includes
papers pertaining to the partnership of Cortlandt, Billings, & Co.
PROVENANCE
Purchased from Avis and Rockwell Gardiner.
ACCESS POINTS
People:
Billings, Andrew, 1743-1808.
Stuyvesant, Peter, 1727-1805.
Van Cortlandt, Gilbert ,
1757-1786.
Topics:
Dry-goods - Prices.
Hardware - Prices.
Household supplies.
House furnishings.
Kitchen utensils
- Prices.
Shoes.
Silverware.
Tools.
Business records
- New York (State) - New York.
Account books.
Merchants.
INDEX TO THE
VOLUME:
Note: Numbering of pages is irregular. There are no pages numbered 14, 16, or 17.
There are two pages numbered 4: the first is opposite page 3, and the
second is the next double-page spread.
There are also two pages numbered 13: the first is opposite page 12,
and the second is the next double-page spread.
For the rest of the volume, sometimes each page has its own number,
sometimes a number is used for a double-page spread. All pages were clearly numbered in the 1780s,
and those are the numbers used in the index.
There are no
accounts on p. 1-2.
Anderson 6,
23, 26, 30, 41, 46, 52
[maker
of pills]
Antell, Edward
13
of
Long Island
Atget, Jacobus
15
Attwood, Thomas B.
49
Atwood, B. (Dr.)
62
Audibert[?], Mrs.
75
Backus, Christopher
25
Bailey, John
22
Banks, John
59
tailor
Bard, John, Jr.
35, 42, 58
Barnet, James
10
of
Great Nine Partners patent
Barns & Livingston (Messrs) 26, 32
Beekman, Mrs.
73
Beekman, Gerard G., Jr. 5, 18, 21-22, 25, 27-28, 30, 33, 40, 42,
49-50, 52, 58-59, 63-64, 68
Beekman, James & Sons (Messrs) 29, 31, 38-39, 44, 46, 51, 53, 60, 64-67, 69
Belknap 38
Besley & Goodwin (Messrs) 27
Billings, Mrs.
15
Billings, Andrew
4, 12-13 (opposite p. 12), 13, 15, 18-20, 25, 31, 33, 35, 40, 46, 74
Billings, Dudley
8
Billings, Henry
8
of
Connecticut
Birdsall, Daniel
30
Birdsall, Samuel
39, 44
Blagge, Edward
33
Bloom, Zachariah
37
Bogart, Jacobus
40
Bogert, Mrs.
15
Borden, Pelatiat
22, 43
blacksmith
Bradford, Mr.
15
Burger, Elias
33, 72
Burger, Gilbert
25
Burlin, Robert
13
Carns, Mrs.
36, 40-41, 70
washerwoman
Caverly, Elizabeth (Mrs.) 25, 28, 30, 33, 35-37, 39, 41, 43, 49, 71,
73-75
Caverly, Isaac
15, 19-23, 26-27, 30, 37-39, 41
[son
of Elizabeth Caverly]
Chamber of Commerce
15, 24, 30
Clarckson, Matthew
68
Classen – see Clauson
Classon – see Clauson
Clauson, Isaac
29, 45, 47-48, 53, 56, 58, 69
[surname
also spelled Classen and Classon]
Clock, Jacob
13, 18
Cochran, John (Dr.)
6, 52, 60, 62-63
Coles, John B.[?]
70
collector of customs duties 38
Collis, Christopher
5, 11, 18, 23
Collis, George
10
blacksmith
Conklin, James
69
Conkling, Mr.
38
Conkling, Joseph
24
Coopa[?], Ananias
54
Coover, Isaac
11
Cornelia 6
Cornwell and Williams, Messrs. 4 (opposite p. 3), 10
Cornwell, Isaac
42, 44, 57
[surname
also listed as Cornell]
Couper, Capt.
6
Cregier[?], Dr.
21
Cregier, John
5
Currie, Archibald
53
Curries & Sebring (Messrs) 22, 34, 37, 58
Cuyler, John
31, 42, 66
Cuyler, John, Jr.
63
Davis 4
Degroot, Staats
5, 20, 27, 46
[surname
also spelled De Groot]
Dominick, George
6
Dubois, John & Walter (Messrs) 21, 29, 33-34, 37, 44, 74
Duray, Capt.
39
Durie, Thomas
43, 51, 53, 59, 72-73
Dusenberry, Joris[?] 37
Duyckinck, Gerardus, Sr. 21
Duyckinck, Gerardus, Jr. 43, 50, 57, 67, 71
[surname
spelled Dyckinck in account book]
Duyckinck, Gerardus
9
[surname
spelled Duycking in account book]
Emos[?], Mr.
35
Fister[?], John
64
Flammon, Eliacam
9
Dutchess
County
Fleming, Mrs.
4, 18
[surname
also spelled Flemming]
Foot, Mr. 40
Forbes, Joseph
13 (opposite p. 12)
Fowler, James
20, 22, 24, 33, 39
French 3, 28
French, John
34
Furman 4, 11
Garrison, John
33-34, 48, 60
Peekskill
Garrison, Peter
44-45, 47
Hallet, James
11, 13 (opposite p. 12), 13, 19, 26-27, 32, 35-38, 41, 46, 59
[possibly
same person as James Hollett, q.v.]
Halstead, Mrs.
23
Hamilton 6
Hamilton, Alexander (Col.) 10, 31
Hannah 5
Hannah (ship) 13, 15
Harsin, George
25, 28-32, 34-36, 40, 43, 46, 48-49, 58, 60, 62, 66, 70, 72, 74
Hay Stevenson & Co. (Messrs) 13
Hebert, Mark
25
Heliker[?], Martin
27
Hendrickson
4
Herrick, Samuel
10
of
Great Nine Partners patent
Heye, William
67-69
Higgs[?], Edward
4
Hitchcock 27
Hoffman, Martin
37, 54, 60, 65
Hofman, Nicholas, & Son 28, 55, 59, 66
[surname
also spelled Hoofman]
Holes[?], John
72
Hollett, James
4
[possibly
same person as James Hallet, q.v.]
Hoofman -
see Hoffman or Hofman
James 4
Jay & Barkly
13 (opposite p. 12)
Johnson, Mrs.
48
Judah, Benjamin I.
34
Keating, John, Sr.
51, 53, 60, 67-68
Kemper, Mr.
5, 15
Kollock[?], Sheppherd 66
Lalor, Henry
44-45, 47-49, 51, 53, 56, 65-66
Lassly, Sarah
Broadway
Lawrence, Catherine (Mrs.) 35, 42-43, 46, 63
Leroy, Harman
63, 71
Leviness – see Levinus
Levinus 5
Levinus, John
47, 49
[surname
also spelled Leviness]
Lewis, Morgan
11
Livingston, Gilbert James 5
Livingston, Henry P. 3, 6
Livingston, Robert G., Jr. 9
Lockwood, Gilbert
39
Lotterage – see Lottridg
Lottridg, Thomas
21, 58
Old
Hoosick; surname also given as Lotterage
Loudon, Samuel
24, 44-47
[surname
also spelled Lowdon]
Lowdon – see Loudon
Ludlow & Gold
15
Mackie, Peter
26, 49, 59
[surname
also spelled Mackey]
Mackie, Peter, & Co. (Messrs) 32, 41
Manly, Robert
11
Broadway
Marling, Mr.
5, 60
Martha Dawson (ship) 13
Mason, Nathaniel
42
Calabarrick
McCoombe, Alex
73
McCullin, Jo.
48
McEvers, Charles
50
McEvers, James
20-22, 25-28, 35, 37, 43-45, 49-50, 55
[surname also spelled
McIvers]
McGoun, Gerry
24
barber
McIvers - see McEvers
McKey, Peter
24-25
McKnight, Charles (Dr.) 15, 23, 26, 34, 39, 51, 56, 62, 65, 67-68,
70-72
[surname
also spelled McNight]
Mead 61
carpenter
Merrit, Samuel
39
Miller , John
8, 18
a
barber, Broadway
Mills, John
10, 15, 43-44
shoemaker
Montgomery, Robert
33
Montross, John & Adam (Messrs). 9
Manor
of Cortlandt
Moore, Dr.
31
Morgan, Joseph
26, 32, 40
Morrison 19
Moses, Isaac
70
Negro 6
Noise, Sergant
3
North, Robert
19
Poughkeepsie
Nucomb, Mr.
6
[surname
possibly Newcomb]
Odell, Mr. 6
Odell, Isaac
23, 39
Croton
River
Palmer, Nathan (Capt.) 8,
23, 34, 38, 40-42, 48, 54-55
of
Stonington, Conn.
Parkinson, John
38
Paterson, Jack
45
Peggy (ship) 39
Perry & Hayes
13
Bristol
Petianger[?], Levinus (Capt.) 33
Polly 5
Presbyterian Church
13
Prior, Dr. 5
Pugsley, Samuel
5, 31
Quackenbush, Nicholas 51-53, 57, 60-62, 66, 69-70, 73
Ralson, Miss
61
Randall, Son and Stewarts 8, 20, 24, 39-40, 42, 46, 61, 67
Rapilya[?], Ram
27
Reade & Bogardus (Messrs) 26
Roark 5
Roggen, Peter
36
Esopus
Romine 6
Romine, Isaac
15
Ronsevelt 7
[also
spelled Ransevelt]
Ronsevelt, John
15, 18, 29
Roosevelt, John J.
41
Rooney, John
39
Ross 11, 36-37
Rutledge 59
Ryan, Samuel
42
Salter 5
Salter and Chetwood 4 (opposite p. 3), 36
Sands & Shultz (Messrs) 38, 64-65
Sarly[?[ & Barnwell (Messrs) 34
Schermerhorn, Jacob
8
of
Red Hook
Schermerhorn, Simon
47
Schermerhorn, Simon, & Co. 41
Schuyler, John
20
Schuyler, John Broadstreet 15
Schuyler, John C.
7, 15, 19, 21-23, 64
Scott 75
Sebring, Isaac
30
Duke
Street; see also Curries & Sebring
Shaw, Leonard D.
45, 47
Sherwood, I.
37
Shoup, Peter
32-33
Shultz – see Sands & Shultz
Sleght & Van Wyck (Messrs) 23
Smith, Elias
46
Somerindyck[?]
5
Simmons 8
a
blacksmith
Staats, Philip
31
Stoutenburgh, H.[?]
36
Stuyvesant,
Peter, esq. 6, 11, 13 (opposite p. 12),
13, 25, 28, 30-38, 40-41, 43-48, 50-53, 56, 58-65, 67-76, plus invoice laid
into volume at p. 75-76
Swarthout, Capt.
4
Swarthout, B., & Sons 54, 60
Tash[?], Mr.
37
Ten Broeck, Mrs.
70
Ten Broeck, Dirck
7, 15, 21, 23-24, 27, 29, 31, 43-44, 46, 48, 52, 63, 67-68, 70, 75
[surname
also spelled Tenbroeck]
Ten Broeck, (General) 31
Thomas 41
Thomas, Samuel
4
Tomkins, Cornelius
50
Peekskill
Thorn, Mr. 5
a
carpenter
Thorn, Benjamin
3
Thorn, Rich
75
Tillotson 3
Tine[?], Jacobus
38
Tremper, Michael
22, 24, 26, 29, 31, 34-36, 40-41, 44, 48, 52, 54, 58, 61, 63, 72
barber
Turner, John
19
United States Congress 15
Valentine 43
Valkinburgh, Christian 8
Van Allen, Cornelius 32
Van Cortlandt, Augustus, esq. 43
Van Cortlandt, Gilbert 4 (opposite p. 3), 12, 23, 27, 29-30, 36-37,
39-43, 54, 62-63, 65, 70, 74
Van Cortlandt, John
4 (opposite p. 3), 22, 56
Van Cortlandt, Nancy 54
[daughter
of Pierre Van Cortlandt, esq.]
Van Cortlandt, Nancy 5, 30-31
[sister
of Pierre Van Cortlandt, esq.]
Van Cortlandt, P.
58
Van Cortlandt,
Philip (Genl.) 3, 4, 22, 26, 28, 36,
40-41, 43-45, 47-48, 52, 54-55, 59, 62, 68-69, 73
Van Cortlandt,
Pierre, esq. (Governor, i.e. lieutenant gov.]
5, 18-19, 23, 25-27, 29-31, 33, 35-36, 39-44, 48, 54, 57, 61-62, 64, 66-67,
73
Van Cortlandt, Pierre, Jr. 5, 36, 67, 71, 74
Van Gansbeek[?], Peter 13 (opposite p. 12)
Van Horn, Garret
20, 23, 30-31
Van Kleeck, Jane (Mrs.) 9
Of
Poughkeepsie
Van Kleeck, John
4
Van Rensselaer, Henry (Col.) 25
Claverack
Van Rensselaer, John 38
[son
of General Robert Van Rensselaer]
Van Rensselaer, Kelian K. 32, 47, 63
Van Rensselaer, Philip 7, 43-44, 52, 57
Van Rensselaer, Philip S. 41, 61, 66
Van Rensselaer, Robert (General) 38
Van Varick, Gulian
- see Varick
Van Varick, John
10, 40
Van Waggemen, Barent 36
Van Waggonen[?], Gerrit 15
Van Wyck – see also Sleght & Van Wyck
Van Wyck, Mr.
75
Van Wyck, Abraham
8, 15, 22-23, 40
Vananter 4
Vanderbilt
29, 40
shoemaker
Varick, Gulian
10, 20, 26, 33, 39, 43, 73
[surname
also given as Van Varick]
Verplanck, Philip
55, 61
Warner, Moses
4
Watson, Mr.
15
Weeks, Basset
50, 52-53, 55, 61-62
mason;
first name spelled in various ways, including Besset and Bisset
Wenthrop, Mrs.
6, 35-36, 40, 68, 70
[also
spelled Winthrop]
Wenthrop, Benjamin
11, 18-19, 27-28, 35, 42, 44, 63, 71, 74
[surname
also spelled Winthrop]
Westcot, Justus
42
White, Henry, esq.
13
Willet, Col.
38
Williams 5
Williams, William
11
Wilmington (ship) 13, 15
Woolsey & Tronson (Messrs) 23, 40, 44
Yates, Peter, esq.
18, 22, 42
of
Albany