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 - 19th century.

            Varnish and varnishing.

            Turning.

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

            Woodworkers - New York (State) – Oswego County.

            Daybooks.

            Cabinetmakers.

           

 

 

 


Three indexes to Fol. 250 (acc. 80x115): name index, object index, and occupation index (the latter is not complete).

 

 



 

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


Index to occupations mentioned in Fol. 250:

 

[note: this list was not double-checked for accuracy]

 

agent             43

attorney      37, 43

 

blacksmith        20, 38, 45, 64

bookkeeper      62, 65

building           64

 

carting           64, 67

cooper           31

 

druggist        26, 33

 

forwarder     24, 58, 64

 

grocer      4, 19, 22

 

hauling, drawing, teaming    63-64, 68

 

joiner       2, 4-7, 9-10, 13-21, 23-27, 30-36, 44, 55-56, 60, 62

 

laborer     3, 10, 40, 61, 65

 

machinist    9, 20, 30, 48, 52, 56

mason        26, 51, 60

merchant     2, 12, 20, 23, 32, 38, 48

 

planing    68

printer         54-55