The
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: Austin, John.
Title: Account
book
Dates: 1766-1834,
bulk 1775-1799
Call No.: Fol. 266
Acc. No.: 69x91
Quantity: 1 v. (90 pages)
Location: 6 J 11
BIOGRAPHICAL STATEMENT
John Austin was a casual laborer in northeastern Massachusetts and New Hampshire in the late 18th and early 19th centuries. He was born in 1744, the son of Zebediah Austin and Sarah Gutterson. He married Elizabeth Pettingill (1749-1800), and they had a number of children, whose birth dates are listed in the account book. Later, his son Elijah Austin used the book to record the birth (and some death) dates of his children. John Austin worked in Metheun and Dracut, Massachusetts, and in Dunbarton and Plainfield, New Hampshire.
SCOPE AND CONTENT
This account book, used by John Austin, records his business activities as a casual laborer in Dracut and Methuen, Massachusetts, and Dunbarton and Plainfield, New Hampshire. The earliest dated entry is 1766, although the bulk of the entries are from the mid-1770s to the late 1790s. The manuscript appears in more than one hand, including the latest entry of 1834, and the name William P. Austin (grandson of John Austin) appears in several places.
Entries indicate that Austin was
probably a joiner and cabinetmaker since many entries mention such items as
tables, chairs, chests, bedsteads, bread dough troughs, and cupboards. He also made coffins, wheels, window sashes,
carts, doors, waterwheels, and sleighs.
Entries note that
Besides Austin's business activities, this manuscript records Austin family genealogy and notes a very few current events. John Austin recorded the births of his children on page 80. His son Elijah recorded the births of his children on pages 66-67. Other genealogy notes are found on page 78. An entry found on page 86 relates to current events, corresponding with notable dates in American history: April 19, 1775 (the start of the American Revolution), June 17, 1775 (the Battle of Bunker Hill), and March 17, 1776 (British evacuation of Boston). Austin also mentioned New England’s Dark Day, May 19, 1780. On page 87, Austin wrote out a notice about the Dunbarton militia, mentioning Lieutenant James Hogg and Captain Burnam. On page 84 is found an entry listing men under the command of Lieutenant Hogg in 1781. A partial index to the accounts is found on pages 79, 81, and 87.
LANGUAGE OF MATERIALS
The materials are in English.
RESTRICTIONS ON ACCESS
Collection is open to the public. Copyright restrictions may apply.
PROVENANCE
Purchased from Goodspeed's Book Shop.
ACCESS POINTS
People:
Topics:
Casual labor.
Business records -
Business records – New Hampshire.
Joinery.
Cabinetwork -
Cabinetwork – New Hampshire.
Bunker Hill, Battle of, 1775.
Carpentry -
Carpentry – New Hampshire.
Shoes.
Furniture making -
Furniture making – New Hampshire.
Patriotism - United States.
Smaze - New England - 1780.
Militia.
United States - History - Revolution, 1775-1783.
Joiners -
Cabinetmakers -
Sawmill workers -
Carpenters -
Joiners - New Hampshire.
Cabinetmakers - New Hampshire.
Sawmill workers - New Hampshire.
Carpenters - New Hampshire.
INDEX to Fol.
266 (acc. 69x91)
Note: John
Austin did a partial index to his accounts and it is found on pages 79, 81, and
87.
Page numbers are
found at the top of each page; two pages are numbered 14, all names on those
two pages are noted as being on p. 14.
Two pages are numbered 72 and 73; the second set of pages is referenced
in this index as 72a and 73a.
Adams,
David 9
[Metheun]
Allen,
Nathaniel 41, 44, 79, 81
[Plainfield; surname recorded as
Alen]
Asten
- see also
Asten,
Caleb - see
Asten,
David - see
Asten,
Isaac 6, 7, 23
[Dracut, Metheun]
Asten,
John - see Austin
Asten,
Jonathan 1, 10-12
[Dracut, Metheun]
Asten,
Nathan 4
Asten,
Reuben 90
[possibly a brother of John Austin]
Atwod
- see Atwood
Atwood,
Joshua 14, 44, 88
Austin – see also list of first names at end of
this index; these persons were possibly members of the Austin family
Austin, Abigil
M. 66
[John Austin’s granddaughter]
[Austin],
Benjamin 80
[John Austin’s son]
[Austin],
Bette or Betty 72, 80
[real name: Elizabeth; daughter of
John Austin]
Austin, Caleb 14, 15, 23-25, 34, 37, 44, 81, 87, 89, 90
(also spelled Asten; possibly John
Austin’s brother)
[Dracut, Dunbarton]
[Austin],
Daniel 71, 73a, 74, 75, 76, 80, 88
[John Austin’s son]
[Austin],
Darkis 78, 80
[so spelled in family records;
daughter of John Austin]
Austin,
David 9, 14, 23, 44, 87, 89
(also spelled Asten)
[Dracut, Metheun]
Austin,
Delia 67
[John Austin’s granddaughter]
Austin, Elijah 14, 58, 60, 66, 67, 71, 72, 74, 76, 80, 88
[John Austin’s son]
Austin,
Elijah D. 67
[John Austin’s grandson.]
Austin,
Eliza L. 67
[John Austin’s granddaughter]
Austin,
Elizabeth P. (Mrs. John) 30
Austin,
George W. 66
[John Austin’s grandson.]
Austin,
Henry L. 67
[John Austin’s grandson.]
[Austin],
Isaac 80
[John Austin’s son]
Austin, John inside front cover, 1, 3, 4, 18, 19, 22-24,
25, 30-32, 41, 47, 51, 52, 57, 60, 67, 73, 69, 85, 87, 90, 91
(also spelled Asten)
[Austin], John 41, 47, 52, 54, 58, 60, 61, 63, 75, 80
[John Austin’s son John]
Austin,
John 67
[John Austin’s grandson.]
[Austin], Joseph 7, 33,
41, 43, 47, 48, 50, 52-54, 56-64, 66, 78, 80
[John Austin’s son]
[Austin], Josiah
51, 58, 60, 62, 68, 71, 73a, 78, 80, 88
[John Austin’s son]
[Austin],
Lymon 80
[John Austin’s son]
Austin,
Rose 67
[one family tree lists this name as
Ross, but it looks like Rose in account book]
[Austin],
Mary 80
[this daughter does not show up in
family tree]
[Austin], Sarah 80
[John Austin’s daughter]
[Austin],
Welthy 80
[i.e. Wealthy; daughter of John
Austin]
Austin,
William P. 24, 28, 64, 67
[John Austin’s grandson.]
Auzgood,
Josiah - see Osgood
Baings
(Mrs) 30
Baker
(Doctor) 58
Barker,
David inside front cover
[Metheun]
Barker,
Timothy (jr.) 7
[Metheun]
Barron,
Elias 9
[Dracut]
Bayley,
Phinehas 27, 29-31, 40, 87
[Dunbarton]
Bengorn
[?] 63
Blacco
[?] 78
[Plainfield]
Blancher,
Simon 51, 61, 67, 79, 81
[Plainfield]
Bogby,
Peter - see Bugbee
Bradley,
Isaac 17, 24
(also spelled Bradly)
[Dracut]
Bradly,
Isaac - see Bradley
Bridge,
Benjamin 66-67, 79
[Plainfield]
Brow
36
[probably John Brown is meant]
Brown,
John 35, 87
[Dunbarton]
Bugbee,
Peter 76, 79, 83
(also spelled Bogby)
[Plainfield]
Burnam,
Abraham 34, 35, 87
[Dunbarton]
Burnam,
Asa 27, 31, 32, 87
[Dunbarton]
Burnam,
Jabes 84
Burnam,
John 40, 87
[Dunbarton]
Burnam,
Samuel 35, 87
Burnum,
[first name illegible] (Capt.) 87
[Dunbarton]
Cades
76, 83
Carpender
- see Carpenter
Carpenter,
Abraham 35, 62, 63, 73a, 79, 81
(spelled
Carpender)
[Plainfield]
Carpenter, Jesse
57, 61, 62, 72, 73a, 79, 81, 88
(also spelled Carpender)
[Plainfield]
Cate,
James 43, 49, 79, 81, 87
[Plainfield]
Chapman,
Benjamin (Capt.) 48, 49, 75, 79, 87
[Plainfield]
[surname also spelled Capman]
Chapman,
Joseph 48, 79
[Plainfield]
Chase,
Joseph 40, 81
[Plainfield]
Chase,
Moses 39, 81
[Plainfield]
Chase,
Naum 28, 81
[Plainfield]
Cleavland,
Steven 62, 81
[Plainfield]
Clow,
Daniel 5
[Metheun]
Coal
– see also Cole
Coal 34, 65
[Plainfield]
Coal,
Daniel - see Cole
Coal,
Ebenezer 64, 79
Coal,
Stephen 78, 79
[Plainfield]
Colbe,
Elijah 38
Colbe,
Jacob Sargeant 84
Colbe,
Sargant 37, 84
[Dunbarton]
Colborn
44
Colborn,
Abraham 14
[Dracut]
Colbourn,
Simeon - see Colburn
Colburn 19, 24
Colburn,
Abiger 89
[Dracut]
Colburn,
Daniel 9
[Metheun]
Colburn,
Job 15, 16
Colburn,
Joseph 15
[Dracut]
Colburn,
Simeon 5, 14, 25
(also spelled Colbourn)
[Dracut]
Colburn,
Thomas inside front cover, 21
[Dracut]
Colburn,
William 3
[Dracut]
Coldwell,
Alexander 84
Cole
– see also Coal
Cole,
Daniel 33, 34, 70, 71, 79, 81
(also spelled Coal)
[Plainfield]
Cory,
Timothy 68, 75, 79
[Plainfield]
Curtis
19
Curtis,
Ephrim - see Curtiss
Curtiss,
Ephrim 9, 15, 16, 26
(also spelled Curtis and Cortiss)
[Dracut]
Cutler,
Benjamin 74, 79
[Plainfield]
Daims
[?], David 9
[Metheun]
Davis,
David 64, 81
[Plainfield]
Dean,
Nathan 31, 81
(also spelled Deen)
[Plainfield]
Dean,
Nathaniel 45, 46, 65, 81
[Plainfield]
Deen,
Nathan - see Dean
Dow
(Capt.) 29
Dow,
Richard 35
[Dunbarton]
Dow,
Thomas 13
[Dracut]
Dunlop,
Robert 51, 52, 67, 79, 81
[Plainfield]
Elit(?),
David 84
Emery,
Amos 38
Fairface,
James 38
[probably a fake name]
Faithful,
Isaac 38
[probably a fake name]
Fillups
- see Phillips
Flint,
Miles 2
Foster,
David 28, 38, 85
[Dunbarton]
Fox,
Abijah 14
(spelled Foox, Abiger)
[Dracut]
French
58, 61
French,
Benjamin 25
[Dracut]
Frind
[i.e. Friend?] 26
[Dracut]
Frye,
Timothy 3
[Dracut]
Gage,
Amos 1
[Metheun]
Gage,
Asa 1
[Metheun]
Gage,
Benjamin 1
[Metheun]
Gage,
Daniel 6
Gage,
Josiah 8
[Metheun]
Gage,
Nathaniel 4
[Metheun]
Gallop
62
Gallop,
Asa 47, 75, 79, 87
[Plainfield]
Gallop,
Thomas 66, 79
[Plainfield]
Gardner,
Samuel 3
[Metheun]
Garvin,
Samuel 84
Gay,
James 36, 87
Gilford,
Rufus 34
Goald,
John - see Gold
Gold 1
Gold,
John 27, 39, 84, 87
(also spelled Goald)
[Dunbarton]
Goodwin,
Theofiles 84
Hale,
Ezekiel 88
[spelled Hail]
[note: next entry is for Phail, and this
may be the proper surname]
[Dracut]
Hall,
Ephrim 17, 18
Halston,
Peter 20, 22
[also spelled Hetston]
[Dracut]
Hamblet,
Deabroah [Deborah?] 90
Harris,
John 4
Harvey,
James 7, 23
[Dracut]
Harvey,
William 14, 17, 20, 21
(also spelled Hervey and Harve)
[Dracut]
Havery,
William - see
Hedly,
Ob[a]diah 84
Hervey,
William - see
Hildreck
[?], Josiah 21
[Dracut]
Hogg,
G. (Lieut.) 84
Hogg,
James (Lieut.) 87
[Dunbarton]
Hogg,
John 27
Hoit,
Thomas 84
Homes,
[John] 31-32, 87
[Dunbarton]
Hone
– see Homes
Hovey,
Thomas 17
[Dracut]
Huggins
49
Jamerson,
Alexander 84
Jamerson,
Daniel 84
Jamerson,
Thomas 32, 84
Jones,
David 24
[Dracut]
Jon[e]s,
David (junr.) 3, 90
[Dracut]
Jon[e]s,
Nathaniel 2
[Dracut]
Jones,
Hue [Hugh?] 25
[Dracut]
Jones,
Nathaniel Pettengill 20
[Dracut]
Jon[e]s,
Solomon 23
[Dracut]
Kenyon,
Joseph (Leu.) 33, 34, 47, 74, 79, 81
[also spelled Kinyan, Kinyon]
[this may be 2 men with same name]
[Plainfield]
Kimbal,
Benjamin 42, 77, 81
(also spelled Kimbel)
[Plainfield]
Kimbal,
Daniel 77, 79
[Plainfield]
Kimbel,
Benjamin - see Kimbal
Kimbel,
Joseph (Mager, i.e. Major) 53, 81
[Plainfield]
Kinyan
or Kinyon - see Kenyon
Littel
boys 60
[unclear whether surname is Little
or if the boys were little]
Lord,
Samuel 38, 84
Lov[e]joy,
Hezekiah 12
[of Amhast]
Lyndsay,
Isaac 24
Lyndsay,
Rachel 24
[spelled Lynsday]
[Dracut]
Lyndsay,
Thomas 44, 88, 89
[spelled Lynsday]
[Dracut]
Lyndsay,
Thomas (Jr.) 24
Lyndsay,
William 88, 89
[spelled Lynsday]
Masse,
Bartholomew 2, 4
(Massey? In Dracut)
Masten’s
Ferry 11
Mastin
(widow) 76
McCally,
James 37, 87
[Dunbarton]
McCurdey,
John 42, 87
[Dunbarton]
McGrager 37
McGrager,
Robert, esq. 43, 87
[Dunbarton]
McNeal,
John 42, 81
[Plainfield]
meeting
house 57
Meloon 90
Meloon,
William 23
[Dracut]
Merrick,
Jacob inside front cover
[Metheun]
Merril,
John 84
Miller,
Robert 63
[Plainfield]
Mills,
Thomas (junior) 84
Morse,
Amos 5
[Metheun]
Mors[e],
Asa 1
[Dracut]
Morse,
Moses 13
[Metheun]
Morse,
Obediah 3
[Metheun, Dracut]
Moses,
Amos 89
Muxley,
John 71, 79
Nickless,
Robert 18, 19
[Dracut]
Ordway,
John 84
Osgood,
Josiah 12, 14
[spelled Auzgood]
[Metheun]
Palmar
- see Palmer
Palmer
32
Palmer,
Bette 13
[spelled Palmar; in Metheun]
Palmer,
James 6
[spelled Parlmar; Metheun]
Palmer,
John 10, 11
(also spelled Palmar, Parlmar; Metheun)
Palmer,
Samuel 10
[spelled Palmar; Metheun]
Parkhurt
(Doctor) 76, 79
[Plainfield]
Parlmar
- see Palmer
Penenan
[Penneman?] 76
Pettengill,
John 8, 91
[Metheun]
Phail 88
[see note under Hale]
Phillips,
Squire 19, 87
[spelled Fillups or Fillops]
[Metheun]
Pilsbery inside front cover, 7
Pilsbery,
Joshua 1
[Dracut]
Presbey(?) 2
Pudney,
Abgill [Abigail?] 85
Pudney,
Asa (Mr. & Mrs) 27, 28, 32, 37, 87
Pudney,
Henry 27, 28,
87
[Dunbarton]
Pudney,
James 29, 30, 87
[Dunbarton]
Pulcepher,
Lynard 79, 82
[Plainfield]
Pudney,
Rachal 84
Purkings,
Joseph 5
[Dracut]
Read,
David 57, 81
[Plainfield]
Reed 64
Reed,
Elisha 77
[Plainfield]
Reed,
James 18
[Dracut]
Reed,
Jonathan 65, 66, 79
Reply
[Ripley?] 56, 79
Richardson
22
Richardson,
Thomas 15, 21
[Dracut]
Ricorson
[?], Jonas 1
Roborson,
Sarah 59
Rusel 65
Rusel,
Daniel 8, 79, 82, 83
Sanders,
David 40, 41, 87
[Dunbarton]
Sargant,
Abel 82, 83
[Dunbarton]
Sargant,
John 4
[Metheun]
Sargant,
Timothy 36, 87
[Dunbarton]
Sawyer 17, 19
[probably references to Reuben
Sawyer; Dracut]
Sawyer,
Reuben 16, 18, 19
[Dracut]
Silver 84
[Dunbarton]
Silver
[?], Daniel 2
[in Methuen]
Silver,
Susanah [Susanna] 83, 85, 88
[Dracut, Dunbarton]
Smith 69,
72a
[Dracut]
Smith,
Francis, esq. 54, 68, 69, 71, 79, 81
[first name sometimes spelled Frances,
but it’s the same person as Francis]
[Plainfield]
Smith,
Joseph 69, 81
[Captain or Major not specified]
Smith,
Joseph (Capt.) 43, 81
[Plainfield]
Smith,
Joseph (Major) 35, 36, 69, 73, 79
[Plainfield]
Smith,
Lemuel 72a, 73a, 79, 81
[Plainfield]
Smith,
Levy 36
Smith,
Simon 68, 69, 79
Smith, Walter 60, 61, 73a, 74, 75, 77, 79, 81
[Plainfield]
Spalden – see also Spaldon
Spalden,
Daniel 79, 82
[Plainfield]
Spalden,
John 56, 81
[Plainfield]
Spalden,
Joseph 10, 70, 79
(also spelled Spaldon)
Spalden,
William 6, 79
[Plainfield]
Spalden,
William P. 7, 79
Spaldon – see also Spalden
Spaldon,
Barzeal 71, 79
[Spaldon],
Phine[a]s 56, 70, 79
[brother of Younis/Eunice]
Spaldon,
Younis(?) 56, 81
[first name probably Eunice; Phineas
is her brother]
[Plainfield]
Stevens
66
Stevens,
David 32
Stinson,
Archabald or Artche 29, 30, 87
[Dunbarton]
Stone
48
Stone,
Able (Lt.) 47, 81
[Plainfield]
Storry,
David - see Story
Story,
David 29, 33, 87
[Dunbarton]
(also
spelled Storry)
Taler
- see Tayler
Tayler,
Jonathan 4
(also spelled Taler)
Tayler,
Thomas 12, 15, 22
(also spelled Taler)
[Dracut]
Thomas,
Ebenezer 50, 58, 59, 81
[Plainfield]
Thomson,
Samuel 33, 87
(also spelled Tomson)
[Dunbarton]
Tipet(?),
John inside front cover
[Metheun]
Tomson,
Samuel - see Thomson
Trull,
David 22, 23, 24, 44, 88
[surname possibly Trott]
[Dracut]
Varnum,
Eben[e]zer 19-22
[Dracut]
Var[n]um,
Joseph Bradly 26
[Dracut]
Ward,
James 77, 79
[Plainfield]
Weelman,
James 61, 79
[Plainfield]
Wheeler,
Suzanah 84
Whe[e]ler,
William 84
Whicher,
David 14
[i.e. Wicker?]
[Dracut]
Whitten,
John 56, 81
[Plainfield]
Williams,
Atwood 53, 56, 57, 79, 81
[Plainfield]
Williams,
Atwood (widow) 49, 50, 81
[Plainfield]
Williams,
Mary 53, 81
[Plainfield]
Williams,
Samuel 64, 79
[Plainfield]
Willison,
Thomas - see Wilson
Willson
– see also Wilson
Willson,
Jacob 59, 81
[Plainfield]
Willson,
Joseph 6
Willson,
Joshua 64, 79
[Plainfield]
Willson,
'Thomas - see
Wilson
– see also Willson
Wilson,
Jesse 2
[in Metheun]
Wilson,
John 11, 89, 91
(also spelled Willson)
[Metheun]
Wilson,
Thomas 59, 65, 75, 79, 81
(also spelled Willson, Willison)
[Plainfield]
Witemore,
Deb[or]ah - see Witmore
Witmore,
Debroah [Deborah?] 83, 84
(also spelled Witemore)
[Dunbarton]
Wood,
Steven 26
[Dracut]
Wood,
John 24, 44
Woodbury,
Hezekiah 39, 85, 87
Dunbarton]
Woodwery,
Hezekiah - see Woodbury
Wright,
Ebenezer (Dr.) 50, 72a, 79, 81
[Plainfield]
Wright,
John 84
[spelled Write]
Wright,
Joseph 91
[spelled Write]
[Metheun]
Write
– see Wright
First names
only, surname is possibly Austin:
Note: John
Austin did not have children named David or Thomas. He did have a brother named David.
David
28
Thomas 7