Essex, Mass. - Collections

The Victoria Allen collection

Receipt from Adams & Richardson in Salem, 5 November 1844

Transcription

[Bill on printed stationary]

Salem, November 5, 1844

Bought of Adams & Richardson, No. 207 Essex Street, Importers of hardware and cutlery, dealers in American hardware, French and American window glass, castings, &c., and manufacturers’ agent for the sale of cut nails, white lead, sheet lead, lead pipe and pumps.

1 set knives & forks	9/, 10/6	3.25
1 pair shovel & tongs	3/6, 7/6	1.83½
1 pr bellows	5/6	.92
1 brush	3/9	.63
2 spoons	@ 4½ ¢; 1 do [ditto for spoon] 20 ¢	.32
1 pair carvers	80 ¢	.80
1 bread basket	50 ¢	.50
1 waiter	4/6	.75
9.00
1 pair flatirons		.79
9.79

Rec Pay Adams & Richardson

[written in pencil at a later date, possibly by Mabel Burnham]
A shilling = 16 ²/₃
[for example, 5/6 converts to cents thus:] 5 x 16 ²/₃ = 83 ¹/₃ + (½ of 16 ²/₃) 8 ¹/₃ = 91 ²/₃ called .92

Comments

The prices of the items appears as American cents and as English shillings/pence. This may indicate items imported from England. All the items are for food preparation at the hearth (shovel, tongs, bellows, brush), for serving (bread basket, waiter, carvers, spoons), or for eating (knives and forks, spoons not included with set). The flatirons appear to have been added as an afterthought.

This receipt was kept with other receipts for items purchased by William G. Burnham shortly before his marriage in 1844.

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