{"title":"Connecticut","description":null,"products":[{"product_id":"1791-new-london-connecticut-merchant-expense-account-early-american-shipping-iron-trade-original-federal-period-manuscript","title":"1791 New London, Connecticut Merchant Expense Account – Early American Shipping \u0026 Iron Trade – Original Federal Period Manuscript","description":"\u003cp data-start=\"2954\" data-end=\"3166\" class=\"PDq2pG_selectionAnchorContainer\"\u003eOriginal Federal-period merchant expense account documenting commercial expenditures incurred by \u003cstrong data-start=\"3051\" data-end=\"3069\"\u003eSimon Williams\u003c\/strong\u003e at \u003cstrong data-start=\"3073\" data-end=\"3100\"\u003eNew London, Connecticut\u003c\/strong\u003e, beginning \u003cstrong data-start=\"3112\" data-end=\"3130\"\u003e20 August 1791\u003c\/strong\u003e and settled on \u003cstrong data-start=\"3146\" data-end=\"3165\"\u003e6 December 1791\u003c\/strong\u003e.\u003cspan aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"PDq2pG_selectionAnchor\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"3168\" data-end=\"3582\"\u003eThe manuscript records an extensive series of expenses associated with the handling and transportation of commercial cargo through one of New England's busiest seaports. Entries include customs and registration fees, duties, cartage, wharfage, porterage, duck canvas, water hogsheads, salt, boards, nails, fresh provisions, labor charges, wagon hire, and the movement of approximately \u003cstrong data-start=\"3553\" data-end=\"3581\"\u003e3,050 pounds of old iron\u003c\/strong\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"3584\" data-end=\"3850\"\u003eThe account also records wages paid to several workmen—including \u003cstrong data-start=\"3649\" data-end=\"3697\"\u003eJohn Mark, Simon Deming, and Richard Redding\u003c\/strong\u003e—together with the merchant's own wages, providing an unusually detailed picture of the labor and costs involved in post-Revolutionary American commerce.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"3852\" data-end=\"4042\"\u003eThe reverse bears a contemporary docket identifying the document as a \u003cstrong data-start=\"3922\" data-end=\"3969\"\u003e\"Bill of Expense on the Iron paid in 1791,\"\u003c\/strong\u003e confirming its connection to an iron shipment or commercial transaction.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"4044\" data-end=\"4421\" data-is-last-node=\"\" data-is-only-node=\"\"\u003eWritten on laid paper in clear period script, this manuscript is a fine surviving example of early American mercantile bookkeeping and maritime commerce during the first decade of the United States. It will appeal to collectors of colonial and Federal-era Americana, maritime history, merchant records, Connecticut history, and original eighteenth-century business manuscripts.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"346\" data-end=\"368\" class=\"PDq2pG_selectionAnchorContainer\"\u003eThe account is headed:\u003cspan aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"PDq2pG_selectionAnchor\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cblockquote data-start=\"370\" data-end=\"451\"\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"372\" data-end=\"451\"\u003e\u003cstrong data-start=\"372\" data-end=\"451\"\u003e\"Acct. of Simon Williams for Expenses Paid at New London, Augt. 20th 1791.\"\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/blockquote\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"453\" data-end=\"689\"\u003eThe manuscript itemizes a wide variety of commercial expenses associated with shipping, cargo handling, customs, labor, and travel. It appears to document the costs of receiving or unloading a cargo vessel and transporting goods inland.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003chr data-start=\"691\" data-end=\"694\"\u003e\n\u003ch2 data-section-id=\"1c7c49r\" data-start=\"696\" data-end=\"707\"\u003eContents\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"709\" data-end=\"754\"\u003eAmong the recorded expenses are payments for:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul data-start=\"756\" data-end=\"1084\"\u003e\n\u003cli data-section-id=\"j3vxvj\" data-start=\"756\" data-end=\"783\"\u003eRegister and customs fees\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli data-section-id=\"lbjakx\" data-start=\"784\" data-end=\"814\"\u003eEntering goods at New London\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli data-section-id=\"1uoerjm\" data-start=\"815\" data-end=\"823\"\u003eDuties\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli data-section-id=\"7j1jnw\" data-start=\"824\" data-end=\"833\"\u003eCarting\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli data-section-id=\"vkxvq9\" data-start=\"834\" data-end=\"844\"\u003eWharfage\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli data-section-id=\"l2yyat\" data-start=\"845\" data-end=\"856\"\u003ePorterage\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli data-section-id=\"gp6xdk\" data-start=\"857\" data-end=\"872\"\u003eDuck (canvas)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli data-section-id=\"1xzrb2t\" data-start=\"873\" data-end=\"890\"\u003eWater hogsheads\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli data-section-id=\"1j4djmq\" data-start=\"891\" data-end=\"897\"\u003eSalt\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli data-section-id=\"rub4ej\" data-start=\"898\" data-end=\"917\"\u003eBoards and lumber\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli data-section-id=\"16va0k1\" data-start=\"918\" data-end=\"925\"\u003eNails\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli data-section-id=\"odz3i\" data-start=\"926\" data-end=\"947\"\u003eFresh beef and milk\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli data-section-id=\"s0f8rf\" data-start=\"948\" data-end=\"999\"\u003eIron (approximately \u003cstrong data-start=\"970\" data-end=\"998\"\u003e3,050 pounds of old iron\u003c\/strong\u003e)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli data-section-id=\"16r4fju\" data-start=\"1000\" data-end=\"1007\"\u003eLabor\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli data-section-id=\"bl58c6\" data-start=\"1008\" data-end=\"1019\"\u003eTeamsters\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli data-section-id=\"frpeku\" data-start=\"1020\" data-end=\"1032\"\u003eWagon hire\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli data-section-id=\"13pgga7\" data-start=\"1033\" data-end=\"1056\"\u003eWages paid to workmen\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli data-section-id=\"m3x58k\" data-start=\"1057\" data-end=\"1084\"\u003eMiscellaneous commissions\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"1086\" data-end=\"1159\"\u003eNear the conclusion are wage calculations for several workers, including:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul data-start=\"1161\" data-end=\"1232\"\u003e\n\u003cli data-section-id=\"wh65we\" data-start=\"1161\" data-end=\"1172\"\u003eJohn Mark\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli data-section-id=\"fmpevm\" data-start=\"1173\" data-end=\"1187\"\u003eSimon Deming\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli data-section-id=\"bn3x7c\" data-start=\"1188\" data-end=\"1205\"\u003eRichard Redding\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli data-section-id=\"tskbi\" data-start=\"1206\" data-end=\"1232\"\u003eThe merchant's own wages\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"1234\" data-end=\"1274\"\u003eThe account closes with a certification:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cblockquote data-start=\"1276\" data-end=\"1326\"\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"1278\" data-end=\"1326\"\u003e\u003cstrong data-start=\"1278\" data-end=\"1326\"\u003e\"December 6, 1791 — Settled the above bill.\"\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/blockquote\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"1328\" data-end=\"1352\"\u003eThe reverse is docketed:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cblockquote data-start=\"1354\" data-end=\"1403\"\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"1356\" data-end=\"1403\"\u003e\u003cstrong data-start=\"1356\" data-end=\"1403\"\u003e\"Bill of Expense on the Iron paid in 1791.\"\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/blockquote\u003e\n\u003chr data-start=\"1405\" data-end=\"1408\"\u003e\n\u003ch2 data-section-id=\"1353kst\" data-start=\"1410\" data-end=\"1434\"\u003eHistorical Importance\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"1436\" data-end=\"1861\"\u003eThis manuscript is an excellent example of an early American commercial accounting document created only eight years after the end of the Revolutionary War. Rather than recording ordinary household purchases, it documents the actual expenses of moving heavy commercial cargo through the important port of \u003cstrong data-start=\"1741\" data-end=\"1768\"\u003eNew London, Connecticut\u003c\/strong\u003e, one of New England's principal maritime trading centers during the late eighteenth century.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"1863\" data-end=\"2246\"\u003eThe reference to over \u003cstrong data-start=\"1885\" data-end=\"1913\"\u003e3,000 pounds of old iron\u003c\/strong\u003e, customs charges, wharfage, labor, wagoning, and workers' wages provides a rare glimpse into the logistics and costs of American coastal commerce during the Federal period. Similar merchant account papers are preserved in institutional collections documenting early American shipping and trade. \u003cspan class=\"\" data-state=\"closed\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003chr data-start=\"2248\" data-end=\"2251\"\u003e\n\u003ch2 data-section-id=\"hrykuu\" data-start=\"2253\" data-end=\"2265\"\u003eCondition\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cul data-start=\"2267\" data-end=\"2456\"\u003e\n\u003cli data-section-id=\"1hq4249\" data-start=\"2267\" data-end=\"2299\"\u003eSingle large laid-paper folio.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli data-section-id=\"oks97s\" data-start=\"2300\" data-end=\"2323\"\u003eStrong iron-gall ink.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli data-section-id=\"fabqtr\" data-start=\"2324\" data-end=\"2335\"\u003eComplete.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli data-section-id=\"151iybt\" data-start=\"2336\" data-end=\"2368\"\u003eTypical fold wear from filing.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli data-section-id=\"3l9hv\" data-start=\"2369\" data-end=\"2404\"\u003eMinor edge wear and light toning.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli data-section-id=\"19v78uh\" data-start=\"2405\" data-end=\"2425\"\u003eDocketed on verso.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli data-section-id=\"5uh0ip\" data-start=\"2426\" data-end=\"2456\"\u003eVery good overall condition.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e","brand":"Signature Documents LLC","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":52599557652762,"sku":null,"price":595.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/2221\/0931\/files\/IMG_1889.jpg?v=1785252828"}],"url":"https:\/\/princetonaudubonprints.com\/en-ca\/collections\/connecticut.oembed","provider":"Signature Documents LLC","version":"1.0","type":"link"}