The Winterthur Library

 The Joseph Downs Collection of Manuscripts and Printed Ephemera

Henry Francis du Pont Winterthur Museum

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