DAL.MSS.039

Winslow Thomas Ledger, 1804-1814
DAL.MSS.039.001
One ledger owned by Winslow Thomas dating from 1804-1814. The transactions appear to be those of a general store. Most payments are made in cash with some in bartered goods. Henry Chandler, the admisitrator of Winslow Thomas’ estate, has some notations when he settled the debts after the death of Winslow Thomas.

Capt. Winslow Thomas (1763-1813) was born in Scituate, MA to Nehemiah Thomas and Abiah (Winslow) Thomas. In 1791 he married Abigail Delano, the daughter of shipbuilder Samuel Delano Sr. and Abigail Drews. The Thomases liked lived near the junction of Cove, Washington and St. George Streets in Duxbury, MA. They had nine children: Nehemiah (b. 1794), Charles (b. 1796), Nathaniel (b. 1797), Briggs (b. 1798), Abigail (b. 1800), Nancy (b. 1802), Lucy (b. 1804), William (b. 1806) and Hannah (b. 1808). Winslow Thomas died in 1813 at age 50. Many of the Winlsow children and grandchildren built homes in the St. George Street area.

David Cushman Mill Ledger, 1836-1848
DAL.MSS.039.002
“Windmill Book” created by David Cushman, Mill Agent, to record the accounts of the mill. The owners of the mill included Ezra Weston, Peleg Weston, Samuel Hunt, Gideon Harlow and David Cushman. The entries in the ledger record the use of the mill as well as rents paid and collected.

The windmill was most likely located on the Blue Fish River. It was bought in 1831 by David Cushman 1/8, Ezra Weston 3/8, Peleg Weston 1/8, Samuel Hunt 2/8 and Gidoen Harlow 1//8. In 1836 the mill was advertised for sale and purchased by Ezra Weston, buying out the others’ shares. In 1838 the mill was sold to Freeman Horton of Eastham, MA for $300.

Eden Sampson Ledger, 1869
DAL.MSS.039.003
One leather bound account book belonging to Eden Sampson of Duxbury. It contains cash paid out by him for various items in 1869.

Joshua Simmons Freight Book, 1836
DAL.MSS.039.004
One ledger entitled “Joshua S. Simmons Freight Book 1836 Sloop Reform”. The Reform was 53 ton packet boat owned by Ezra Weston, built in 1828. Most of the entries are for Weston’s freight. Other names included are Gershom B. Weston, E. Harlow & Co., Charles Drew, A. A. Frazar, Daniel Webster and Briggs Thomas.

Carpenters Ledger, 1827-1846
DAL.MSS.039.005
Leatherbound ledger with detailed handwritten accounts of a carpenter in Duxbury, MA. The owner of this book occasionally worked on ships, built coffins, made sashes, doors and windows. He also frequently lent out a horse and wagon. Newspaper clippings pasted over the original entries, many later removed. The ledger includes names of many Duxbury residents and shipbuilders. A description of the ledger’s house contract with James Weston is included. Also the accounts for 1840-1842 of the District 11 schoolhouse, including a notation for the salary of the teacher Webster (see William P. Webster, DAL.SMS.061).

Eben Waterman and John Weston were employed as carpenters by the owner of the ledger. This ledger may have been owned by Charles Drew.

Nathan and Lot Soule Ledger, c. 1835
DAL.MSS.039.006
One ledger found in the house of Nathan and Lot Soule, makers of blocks and pumps for ships. (see also DAL.MSS.039.024, Lot Soule Leger)

Alden Store Ledger, 1833-1863
DAL.MSS.039.007
One ledger of the Alden store, located on the corner of Tremont and Alden Streets in Duxbury. The ledger contains double-entry accounting. The inside cover is inscribed, “John W. Alden, 1879”

William Martin Brewster Ledger, 1823-1858
DAL.MSS.039.008
Leatherbound ledger of rigger William Martin Brewster of Duxbury. Only 1/3 of the ledger is used. First page “Ledger No. 2 The Property of William M. Brewster Duxbury, January the first day 1825. Entries include work rigging vessels for Ezra Weston, Sylvanus Sampson, Levi Sampson, Samuel Frazar, Seth Sprague, Thomas Winsor, Henry B. & William Sampson, Henry Packard, and others.

Also account for Schooner Gladiator of which Brewster owned 1/4 share.

William Martin Brewster (1796-1871) was a rigger and laborer in Duxbury. He was the son of Capt. Joshua Brewster and Lydia Weston and was raised on the “Nook.” With the downturn in Duxbury’s shipbuilding economy, the Brewsters moved to East Boston where William continued to be a rigger. By 1855, William had moved to Hanover. The last entry pages in the ledger are his days farming in Hanover in 1858.

Freeman Store Ledger, 1894-1908
DAL.MSS.039.009
One ledger listing the stock, inventory and accounts receivable from the Freeman and Co. store.

General Store daybook, 1856
DAL.MSS.039.010
One store daybook listing the accounts of purchases, such as groceries, soap, and other household goods. Of special note are the purchases of Salumith Soule who appears to have shopped every day. The names of customers suggest that this store was near South Duxbury/Halls Corner/Nook area.

Asa Delano Ledger, 1807-1826
DAL.MSS.039.011
One ledger belonging to Asa Delano. Delano, who lived at the corner of Bow Street and West Street, was a laborer, maritime trucker, carpenter and yoeman. His ledger includes entries for mending fences as well as working on local ships. Interstingly there is an entry for hauling material for Benjamin Bird, the builder of the Capt. Gershom Bradford House.

David Cushman Ledger, 1801-1805
DAL.MSS.039.013
Account book of David Cushman, blacksmith, 1801-1805. Included in the book are entries for Ezra Weston, Samuel Delano, Gideon Harlow, Amherst Alden and others.

David Cushman, Sr. (1775-1857) was a blacksmith in Duxbury. He was the son of Joseph Cushman and Elizabeth Sampson. In 1799 he married Betsy Thomas (1778-1832). After her death he married Hannah Sampson (1806-1875). He was the father of Capt. David Cusham (Cushman Family Papers).

Amherst A. Alden Account Book, 1858
DAL.MSS.039.014
Account book of Amherst A. Alden (1858). The book is of his personal expenditures. It is an informative glimpse at the cost of living in Boston during the mid-19th century.

Amherst A. Alden (1832-1909) was the son of Briggs Alden and Hannah James. He was born in Duxbury, MA in the Alden House. In 1847, after graduating from Partridge Academy, he left New England and headed west, down the Erie Canal and across the parries of Illinois to a small town called Pekin, IL. There he became a teacher and kept a journal (DAL.SMS.047). After a year in Illinois, he returned home to Massachusetts and married Georgiana Cook in 1851. He served for a time as the private secretary to Daniel Webster and later as a clerk in the Post Office. The Aldens had two daughters, Carrie (1853-1862) and Jennie (b. 1856). They split their time between their Boston residence and their home on Washington Street in Duxbury.

James Monroe Cook Account Book, 1873 (copy)
DAL.MSS.039.019
Copy of the account book of the Estate of James Monroe Cook as kept by his son and executor, Charles Monroe Cook, in 1873. The ledger has entries for the Duxbury Shore Company and Duxbury Land as well as entries for rend in Duxbury. Names of Duxbury residents who were suppliers or laborers for the Cooks are also mentioned. The original of the ledger is owned by the descendants of James Monroe Cook.

Capt. Josephus Dawes Account Book, 1842-1850
DAL.MSS.039.020
One account book kept by Capt. Josephus Dawes. Most entries are for expenses for provisioning the schooner September, brig Gustavus and bark Fruiter and for port charges.

Capt. Josephus Dawes (1819-1910) first tasted life at sea in his father’s fishing boat at the age of seven, but did not actually join the crew until he was fourteen. By the time he was in his early 20s, he was master of his own ship and continued sailing until his retirement in 1871. In 1842 he married Sarah ‘Sally’ Freeman (1818-1888), daughter of Bradford Freeman and Waity Winsor, and they had three children: Eunice (1848-1920), Wilfred (1849-1946) and Frank (1854-1942).

Augustus Clapp Day Book, 1845
DAL.MSS.039.021
Day book of Augustus Clapp of Duxbury, MA entitled “Day Book No. 1”. The book was kept from October 15 through November 20 and contains entries for various customer’s purchases and payments. Augustus Clapp would have been fifteen at the time he created the day book.

Augusts Clapp (1830-1867) was the son of Alfred Clapp of Scituate and Martha Weston of Duxbury. During the Civil War he enlisted in the US Navy on May 15, 1861. He died in Tampico, Texas on April 7, 1867 and is buried in Mayflower Cemetery in Duxbury.

George Drew Ledger (possibly), 1839-1842
DAL.MSS.039.022
Ledger (1839-1842), likely kept by Capt. George Drew (see DAL.MSS.039.037). Contains accounts of Reuben Drew’s, bark Eunomus, bark Mary Chilton, ship Aldebaran. Detailed accounts of cost of provisioning ship and bills related to pilots, clearance fees, discharging cargo, etc.

Capt. George Drew (1812-1867) was the son of shipbuilder Reuben Drew and Temperance Brooks. He grew up on Powder Point in Duxbury. As a young man he became the captain of the Duxbury built bark Eunomus, followed by the Mary Chilton and then the ship Aldebaran. In 1842 he married Caroline P. Reed.

During the California Gold Rush he traveled to San Francisco as part of the Pacific Mining Company aboard the York. From California he went to Washington Territory where he settled on “Drew’s Prairie” and later in Lewis county. Caroline joined him in the west. They had no children. While in Washington he farmed and was also Postmaster. George Drew died before 1867 (his wife remarried in June 1867 as a widow).

Cyrus Smith Leger, 1827-1860
DAL.MSS.039.023
One ledger belonging to Cyrus Smith kept between 1827-1860. Smith appears to be a laborer and the ledger kept track of his jobs and for whom he worked. He did work for Gershom Bradford Weston and others in Duxbury.

Lot Soule Ledger, 1838-1871
DAL.MSS.039.024
The account book of Lot Soule who was a block and pump maker in Duxbury. Many of the transactions recorded are between Lot and his father, Nathan Soule, who was also a pump and block maker. The entries are between 1838-1871 and show that Lot worked for his father and eventually rented a house from him as well. (see also DAL.MSS.039.006)

Lot Soule (1812-1902) was born in Duxbury, the son of Nathan Soule, Sr. and Bethia Freeman. In 1836, at age 24, he married Elizabeth Brooks (1813-1891). They had one child, Herbert, who died at 5 months old in 1838. Lot and his father, Nathan Soule, Sr. lived in the Cove Street area of Duxbury and were pump and block makers for the shipbuilding industry.

Ledger, 1843
DAL.MSS.039.025
The book was used a ledger beginning in 1843. The names on each account are Duxbury names of the period, but the owner of the Ledger is unknown. Items listed are usually labled “merchandise” so it is unclear what business the owner was involved, perhaps a store. At a later date, the ledger book was used by another person, possibly named Ella, to press flowers and leaves from around the world into its pages. These pressed plants are very fragile.

William Joyce Ledger, 1849
DAL.MSS.039.026
One ledger kept by William Joyce, Surveyor, in 1849 for highway bills, District No. 1, Duxbury. A surveyor collected taxes in his district and turned them over to the town collector annually. District No. 1 is the “Village” area of Duxbury (St. George Street, Powder Point, Washington Street, etc.)

William Joyce Sr. (1792-1878) was born in Duxbury, the son of Asa Joyce and Lucy Southworth. In 1819 he married widow Jane Hunt Prior.

Drew Store Ledger, 1829-1833
DAL.MSS.039.027
One ledger for the store owned by Charles Drew, Sr. and Charles Drew, Jr. between the years 1829-1833. The store was general and sold sundries to many of the people in and around Washington Street, Powder Point and St. George Street. There are many familar Duxbury names.

Elnathan Delano Ledger, 1884
DAL.MSS.039.028
Business ledger of upholsterer Elnathan Delano. He worked in both Duxbury and Boston. His home was 119 West Street, Duxbury.

Edward Baker Store Day Book, 1870-1871
DAL.MSS.039.029
Edward Baker’s account and day book. Pages include accounts for the barks Speedwell, E. Wright and Wyman. The majority of the book contain the daily entries (1870-1871) for Edward Baker’s store, located in the Crooked Lane neighborhood of North Duxbury. There are multiple entries for each person who shopped at the store, including Daniel Baker, John Partridge, Rufus B. Dorr, Samuel Hall, Luther Sherman and Benjamin Boylston. The daybook is an example of what goods were stocked at a local store.

Capt. Baker was a successful master mariner and later storekeeper. For further information, see Capt. Edward Baker Collection.

Sylvanus Sampson Store Ledger, 1820-1831
DAL.MSS.039.030
One leather bound ledger book recording the transactions of the store owned by Sylvanus Sampson from 1820-1831. The store was located on the Nook peninsula of Duxbury and the customers came from the surrounding neighborhood. Customers included Daniel Peterson, Melzar Brewster, Dr. E. Bartlett, Welthea Drew, William Soule, James Hickman, Avery and Benjamin Hodges, Luther Pierce, Lyman Josselyn, among many others.

The ledger is particularly interesting because it shows the labor bartered for goods in Sampson’s store. For example, Welthea Drew sewed; Joshua Hathaway painted; Daniel Peterson worked on vessels as well as weaving. Also included in the ledger are the accounts for the adult children of Sylvanus Sampson, Ezra Weston Sampson and Sylvia Weston (Sampson) Soule. The account of granddaughter Mary Townsend Soule shows the cost of raising a young woman in Duxbury at the time.

The store was located in the home of Sylvanus Sampson (house still stands on Standish Street) and has been preserved. The house is a private residence.

Grist Mill Ledger book, 1850s
DAL.MSS.039.031
Leather bound ledger from the 1850s containing many Duxbury names of the period. The entries show the sale of flour, oats, and corn. There are also entries for grinding corn, so it is likely this ledger was kept by a miller.

Records for the Board of Engineers, 1835-1868
DAL.MSS.039.032
One record book of the Board of Engineers (firefighters) of Duxbury from their organization in 1835 until 1868. The book was kept by the secretaries of the Board of Engineers and includes equipment, care of engines, and lists of firefighters. It also describes badges, ladders, hooks, poles, buckets and horse gear.

Robert Kennedy Ledger, 1840s
DAL.MSS.039.032
One ledger kept by tailor and Irish immigrant to Duxbury, Robert Kennedy. The ledger shows the names of customers and what they purchased.

Robert B. Kennedy (1806-1872) was born in Ireland and emigrated to the US by the 1840s. He first established himself as a tailor in Henry Keith’s shop in the “Crooked Lane” neighborhood in North Duxbury and later opened his own shop on Washington Street.

W. S. Freeman Ledger, 1891
DAL.MSS.039.034
One leather bound ledger containing records of the daily entries for customers of the W. S. Freeman store on Washington Street.

Reuben Drew Ledger, 1807-1828
DAL.MSS.039.035
Ledger kept by shipbuilder Reuben Drew. Accounts include those of the ship Romulus, sloop Zenith, Schooner Fame, sloop Maria, brig Draco, ship William & Henry
Notation of Uncle Joseph Drew’s death, April 25, 1808, and the subsequent letting of his house to Martin Samson and Capt. N. Kent, and the account of Joseph Drew’s estate.
Delivery of flour for Wrestling Brewster to make into ship bread and crackers.
Cost of building the “Bluefish House” in 1808, its subscribers and subsequent sale to the Humane Society of Boston in 1823.
Account with Capt. Nicholson, Capt. William Prior,.
Of interest is the invoice concerning yarn manufactured by the Duxbury Woolen and Cotton Manufactury aboard the Fame to be sold or bartered for sheep’s wool in 1813.

Reuben Drew (1766-1857) was a prominent shipbuilder in Duxbury with a shipyard on the Bluefish River. He was the son of Capt. Sylvanus Drew and Mercy Clark. He was in business with his father and his brother, Charles Drew Sr. The Drew shipbuilding and merchant business ended in the early 1840s due to bankruptcy.

Joshua Cushing Jr. Ledger, 1793
DAL.MSS.039.036
One ledger book belonging to shipwright Joshua Cushing started on February 2, 1793
Names in ledger include Duxbury merchants, mariners and shipbuilders of the time, including Joshua Winsor, Samuel Frazar, Dr. Rufus Hathaway, Seth Sprague, Reuben Drew, and Nathaniel Winsor Jr. Of special note are the wages paid to Cushing’s laborers. Also, meticulous itemization of the cost of building a vessel. This ledger is invaluable to those wishing to learn more about the early 19th century shipbuilding industry and local economy.

Joshua Cushing Jr. (1766-1857) was a shipwright in Duxbury. He was the son of Joshua Cushing and Mary Freeman. In 1791 he married Joanna Prior (1769-1843). Shortly after their marriage they built a house a 313 Washington Street.

George Drew Ledger, 1837-1842
DAL.MSS.039.037
One ledger with marbled paper cover owned by George Drew. Entries include bark Eunomus, Reuben Drew (father of George Drew), bark Mary Chilton, Joseph Drew, Edward P. Washburn, William B. Drew, ship Aldebaran. Expense lists, calling card, and letter to Reuben Drew are also in the ledger. See also DAL.MSS.039.022 George Drew Ledger

Laborer’s Ledger, 1829-1867
DAL.MSS.039.038
One leatherbound ledger (1829-1867) kept by an unknown Duxbury laborer and block and pump maker. Accounts include Ezra Weston, Samuel A. Frazar, William Paulding, Charles Drew, and others. Many of the entries are for work on Ezra Weston’s ships, including Herald, Margaret and Undine.

Duxbury Store Ledger, 1859-1861
DAL.MSS.039.039
One ledger/day book (1859-1861) of a general store in the South Duxbury, Hall’s Corner, Nook area of Duxbury (based on names of customers). Items sold include sugar, matches, spools of cotton, molasses, butter, lard, cheese, vinegar and other sundries. Customers include Salumith Soule, Sylvanus Sampson, Charles Delano Jr., Zenas Winsor. Samuel Delano, Bradford Freeman, Lorenzo D. Winsor, Lyman Drew, Duxbury Alms House, and many others. (See also General Store Day Book, 1856, DAL.MSS.039.010)