The Winterthur Library

The Joseph Downs Collection of Manuscripts and Printed Ephemera

Henry Francis du Pont Winterthur Museum

5105 Kennett Pike, Winterthur, Delaware 19735

302-888-4600 or 800-448-3883

OVERVIEW OF THE COLLECTION

Creator: Himes & Gillett.

Title: Daybook

Dates: 1847-1849, bulk 1847

Call No.: Fol. 250

Acc. No.: 80x115

Quantity: 1 volume

Location: 5 J 14

BIOGRAPHICAL STATEMENT

Himes & Gillett operated a woodworking shop in Oswego, New York, possibly in Scriba, Oswego County (this town is mentioned in some accounts). The partners have not been identified, but Himes was perhaps Charles Himes (cooper in 1850 census; carpenter in 1856 Oswego directory), and Gillett was perhaps Horace Gillett (turner in 1856 Oswego directory) or Mark Gillett.

Two hands created the daybook; one person scrawled and did not spell well.

SCOPE AND CONTENT

Records debits and credits accrued by a woodworking shop operated by Himes & Gillett in 1847, with a few accounts for 1849, but it is not clear who kept the later accounts. Among the furniture forms represented were bedsteads, tables, stands, boxes, bureaus, and wardrobes. The shop also made coffins, turned wood, made and put up an awning rail, fixed gates, and repaired wooden objects. Types of wood noted include cherry, maple, and walnut. Other than to occasionally mention the wood, the furniture was not usually described. A drop-leaf stand, a cot bedstead, and several dining tables were made. No chairs were made. References are made to sandpaper, varnish, turpentine, and glue. Payments were made to men who worked in the shop. Some carpentry work on houses, a store, and a mill was recorded.

ORGANIZATION

Chronological order.

LANGUAGE OF MATERIALS

The materials are in English.

RESTRICTIONS ON ACCESS

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

PROVENANCE

Purchased from Harold R. Nestler.

ACCESS POINTS

Topics:

Furniture - Prices - 19th century.

Furniture making.

Furniture industry and trade - New York (State) – Oswego County.

Lumber trade - New York (State) – Oswego County.

Coffins - Prices - 19^th century.

Varnish and varnishing.

Turning.

Business records - New York (State) – Oswego County.

Woodworkers - New York (State) – Oswego County.

Daybooks.

Cabinetmakers.

Index to Names in Fol. 250 (acc. 80x115):

Abby, D. C. 52

Allen 60

Ames 62

Ames – see also Cooper & Ames

Ames & Whitney 62

Ames, George 51

Ames, Leonard 58

B[illegible] 59

[a store]

Baird, H. L. 56

[surname also spelled Bayard]

Baker 25

Beardsley & Bunker 17

Bennet, Jesse 37, 43

Boguett, A. G. 35

Borge [?] 64

Borgel, John 10

Bowen, Edwin 26

Boyer, H. 17

Boyer, Harvey 16, 35

Briggum 54-55

[surname is perhaps Brigham]

Bryant, S. V. 45

Buckout 64

Bundy, Hiram 40

Bunker – see also Beardsley & Bunker

Bunker 22-23

Carren [?] 64

Cary 4-7

[grocer]

Castler, Michel 65

Cedar Mill 4, 8, 14, 20, 35

Charter, Charles 22

Clark, Ogden 24

Colwell 11

Colwell & Co. 33, 35, 39

Colwell, E. B. 26, 30

[seems to be a store keeper]

Coon, John 61

Cooper 7, 9, 14, 16

[seems to be keeping a store]

Cooper & Ames 1, 48, 58, 60

Cooper & Barbour 3, 15, 59-60

Cristle, Michel 64

Crocker, L. B. 24, 60, 64

Cross, C.[?] 4

Crossman, R. P. 51, 60

Crouch 25, 29

Davis 58

Davis, D. 39

Davis, H. R. 8

Davis, H. R., & Co. 61

Davis, Silas 24

Dear Brow & Co. 14

Denis, John 57 [? Name possibly Penark], 58-59, 60

De Grot 42

[had a market]

Disbro [?] & Co. 8, 20, 38, 45, 58

Dousy [?] 66

Dowhall, Edward 3, 4, 10

[works for shop]

Dowhall, Henry 6, 8, 11, 13, 16, 17, 19, 24

[first name also given as Hank]

Empire store 45, 53, 56, 59

Fitzhugh, H., & Co. 27-28

Flanigan, Sarah 38

Franklin, James 48

Frenchman 68

[possibly not a surname, but a description]

Frink [?], Harry 37

Furman, Mr. 31

Garrison, Ira 32

Gerets [?] store 66

Gillett, Charles 27, 34

Gillett, H. 1-2, 4-7, 9-10, 13, 15-28, 30-37, 44

Gillett, Horace W. 33

Gillett, M. 17, 34, 56

Gillett, M. D. 60

Gillett, Mark 3, 10, 13, 16-17, 19, 22, 25, 27-31, 34, 36-41, 44, 46-53, 55-56, 58-59

[works for shop]

[first name also given as Marcus]

Gillett, S. H. 10

Goodwin (Mr.) 21, 23-24, 27

Goodwin, R. 29-30

Goodwin, Richard 47

Grant(?), Albert 41-42

Grant, J. 55

Grant, Joseph 54

Ha[illegible], Kenneth [?] 55

Hall, John 3

Hamilton, William 17

Handley, Job [?] 23

Hanes, John 68

Hank 3, 29

[first name only; perhaps Henry Dowhall is meant]

Harris, Ebenezer 26

Harris, Reuben 6

Hawks, Edwin 41

Hays, John 22

Hiland [?] 51

[store keeper]

Himes, Charles 19, 44, 48, 56, 60

Himes, H. C. 1

Himes, C. 1-18, 20-44, 46-59

Hull, John 68

Jones, Dan 68

Jones, Erastus 68

Jones, Kowgby (?) 68

Ketcham, Waddow (i.e.Widow?) 42

Kniffin, J. W. 14, 21, 26, 43

Kniffin, Wm. J. 3, 28

Knight, Mr. 19

[surname perhaps McKnight]

Luce [?], S. 32

[store keeper]

Malcolm 1, 4, 44, 48

[apparently a store keeper]

[usual spelling: Malcom]

Mattison, Philander 26, 34

Meriam, J. L. 14-15, 22, 28, 43-48, 51, 55, 58, 60-61

[note: Isaac L. Merriman sold hardware in Oswego; this could be the correct name for this account]

Merrill, Paul 42, 44-55, 57-58

Merwin [?], Wm. 66

Morgan A. 5, 12

Morgan [?], Boat [?] 6

Morgan, William 43

Noe, John 28

North & Stringer 43

Oliver, Robert 36, 45

Oswego 57

[presumably the town]

Parker 62

Penarck [?], John 57

[possibly Denace, i.e. Denis]

Penick, M. 12, 24, 46

[surname also spelled Peneck]

Post [?], A. C. 68

Pough [?], John P. 43

Reeler, Seemes(?) 31, 46

Reels, C. R. 7, 48

[surname also spelled Reales]

Rorak [?], John 61

Rouse, A. H. 7-8, 10-13, 15-19, 21-27, 29-32, 34, 37-57

Sackett, E. &. Co. 15, 19

Sampson, Denis 65

Sampson, R. [or K.] 63

Scriba, Town of 22, 25, 27, 30-33, 37-38, 41, 43, 45-47, 49, 52

Scribner 2-3, 5, 6

Scribner, Wm. 3-5, 7-8, 10-15, 17-18, 20, 22-33, 35-36, 38-42, 44-47, 49-55

[works for shop]

Shaddock, G. (Capt.) 34, 44

Smith 17-18, 54

Smith, A. J. 51

[note: name is crossed out]

Smith, William 53

[note: name is crossed out]

Springer, Wm. P., & Co. 9, 20, 30, 48, 51-52, 56

Stimson, R. [or K.] 62

Stone, Wm. 62

Stringer - see North & Stringer

Strong, L., & Co. 29, 53

Story & Co. 37

[surname possibly Strong]

Sumner, Willis 22

Thornton, Daniel 43

Vant, Richard 26

VanZant, John 65

[workman]

Varen, Wm. 61

Waddle (Irishman) 52

Waddle, Saml. 56-57

Washburn 68

Waugh, Gideon 36

Webster, G. M. 1, 4, 13, 15, 20, 30, 33, 51, 58

Webster, George 12

Wellington, Joseph 48, 58-59, 61

Wheeler & Merriam 2, 10, 12, 23-24, 32, 38, 48-49, 60

White 39

Whitney & Tower [?] 62

[apparently a store]

Whitney [illegible] 61

Wight [?] & Liken [?] 68

Wilbur, I., & Co. 6, 56

[possibly same person as Wolber]

Wilson, Stephen, & Co. 62

Wolber, J. 57

[possibly same person as Wilbur]

Wright & Lukens Co. 68

Young, Joseph 62, 65

Index to Objects mentioned in Fol. 250:

apples 39, 52, 56

ash (wood) 7, 27

awning rail 12

axle 8

balls 17

banisters 21, 26, 28

basswood 1, 4, 8, 12, 15, 30, 40, 43, 49, 56

batt[?] 41

bedstead 3, 6-7, 12, 20-21, 24, 26-27, 29, 33-34, 38, 41, 48, 50-51, 54, 57-58, 60

[see also headboard]

bedstead, cot 24

bedstead, trundle 58

beans 65

bench, shoe 12, 24

bench, work 4

bit 2

boards – see lumber, boards, timber

bookcase 31

boots 42, 46, 51, 64

box 1, 9, 14, 30-31, 40-43, 52, 54-56

box, music 25

box, pump 48, 58

bread 66

brick 68

bridge for bed[? maybe box] 39

brush 11

buggy 50

bureau 39-40

butter 66

butts 2, 4, 8, 18, 42

camwood [?] 7

candles 65-66

candy 56

caps 3

casket 51

[spelled kaskett, and assumed to be casket, not gasket]

cherry (boards) 19, 29, 40, 43, 48

chest 24

chopping knife 49

cider 56

cigars 54-56

cloth 53, 62

clothing 29, 53, 64-65

[coats, pants, vest]

coffin 3, 4, 21-22, 25, 27, 30-33, 37-43, 45-49, 52, 57

columns 3, 14

copper 1

cradle 39

cupboard 29

cylinder for force pump 27

desk 18, 20, 37, 53

dining table 33, 54, 57

door, door frame 2, 61-62, 64

drums [for machines, not musical instrument] 64

eave trough - see trough for gutter

eggs 62

fence 61

flour 28, 60, 62

frame 59-60, 62 (window frame)

[see also towel frame]

“furniture” 30

gate 20

gears 64

glass 2, 62

glue 8-10, 14

grindstone 60

grocery 61

gutter 2

[see also trough for gutter]

handles 3 (for wash tub), 14-15, 28, 32, 60

hardware 11, 19, 21

headboard 6, 42

[see also bedstead]

hinge 61

japan 9, 13

kitchen table 40, 42

knife 61

knife, chopping 49

knobs [?] 8

lampblack 6, 12

lath 62

lathe 37, 44

legs for stands, tables 13, 20-21, 47

lock 4-5, 18

lounge 12, 26, 29

lumber, boards, timber, wood, planks 1, 4, 7-8, 12, 14-15, 19, 21, 23, 27, 29-30, 35, 40-43, 49, 53, 56, 61-65, 67-68

machinery 1

matches 65

mallets 19, 27[?], 35, 58

[see also Tools]

maple 18 (scantling), 23 (plank)

meat, beef, pork 65-66, 68

meat blocks 36

meat [?] trucks [?] 19

molds 58

moleskin 25

music box 25

nails, tacks 14, 21, 68

oil, linseed oil 8, 10-11, 33

packet boat 14, 55-57

paint, colors for paint 10-11, 13

painting 18

peaches 49

pens 1, 11, 60 (gold)

[writing implements]

planks – see lumber, boards, timber, wood, planks

poll tax 29

posts 34, 63

potatoes 65-66

pulley 45

pump box 48, 58

pump plunge[?] 58

“role” 14

[i.e. roll or rowel?]

Roll 51, 58

rolling pin 14, 19

rope 3

rosettes 58

salt [?] 65

sandpaper 5

saw 45-48, 59, 62, 66

sawbucks 2, 7-8, 44, 46, 48, 50-51

sawing 48

scantling 18, 23, 68

screws, nuts 2, 8-9, 41-43

shelves 32, 61

shoe bench 12, 24

siding 14

smasher 14, 19

staining 43, 45, 49

stand 3, 13 (legs), 17, 20, 29, 35, 38, 39, 52

[see also Wash stand]

Stone 63

stool 5-6, 17, 57

stove board 38, 48

straw 66

sugar 9

table 5-6, 11, 15, 20, 22-23, 25-26, 29-30, 32-33, 36, 43-49, 52, 54, 60-61

table, dining 33, 54, 57 table, kitchen 40, 42

tacks – see nails, tacks

tea 65

timber – see lumber, boards, timber

tin 68

tobacco 65

tools 14 (spoke shave), 22 (wedge, jointer), 24 (caliphers?), 27 (cooper’s [illegible]), 28 (cooper’s jointer), 35 (jointer), 36 (gouge), 59 (hand spikes and some sort of pin), 61 (knives, axes), 70 (list of tools)

[see also Mallets or Saw]

towel frame 55

trimmings 1, 3, 21, 25, 38

trough for gutter, eave trough 2, 58

trundle bedstead 58

trunk 35

turning 9, 12-14, 17-18, 20-21, 26-28, 45, 47, 58-59

turpentine 6-7, 9, 27

varnish 5, 9-10, 27, 31

wagon 18

walnut (plank) 21, 26, 31

wardrobe 1, 13-14

wash stand 33, 39, 54

washing 60

wheel 37, 64 (in a mill)

whiskey 7

work bench - see Bench, work

work on houses 37, 43, 54, 60-61, 63, 68

work on store, mill 43, 64

[illegible] 8, 10-12, 14, 31-33, 47