About
Like other shopkeepers in the 18th century, Elijah Williams of Deerfield, Massachusetts, kept daily accounts of what his customers bought, how much they owed, and how and when they paid for their purchases, since they could "buy now and pay later." These pages from 1756, are for the account of Abijah Prince, a formerly enslaved man. On page 88a are listed his purchases. From March through June he bought a knife, "shirten" (fabric for making shirts) cider (alcoholic), "sundries" (miscellaneous items), and rum. Page 88b shows that in May he paid with a fresh-caught salmon.
Transcript
| 1747 |
Edmund Town (88) Dr |
|
|
|
| Augt 3d |
to cash pr Receipt |
24 |
- |
- |
| Octr |
to 3 lb of lead |
- |
9 |
- |
| Novr |
to 2 ¼ lb of lead |
- |
7 |
6 |
| Decr |
to Cash |
2 |
|
|
| |
to a pair of pumps of Jos Stebbin |
2 |
13 |
- |
| |
to 2 Shirts of Do |
8 |
8 |
- |
| |
to paid David Field |
9 |
- |
- |
| Apr 6 |
to Cash |
17 |
- |
- |
| |
to 6 yds Garlix @ 12/6 |
3 |
15 |
- |
| |
to 5 lb Tobacko |
- |
12 |
6 |
| |
Paid by wages |
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| 1756 |
Abijah Negrow Dr |
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| March |
22 To 1 Knife £ |
|
- |
8 |
| April |
3 To 5 ½ yds Shirten |
- |
11 |
8-1 |
| |
12 To 1 mug Cider |
- |
- |
2-3 |
| May 4 |
To 1 pt Cider |
- |
- |
1-2 |
| June 22 |
To Sundries |
- |
2 |
0-2 |
| |
To 1 Drum Rim |
- |
2 |
8 |
| |
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17 |
5 |
| |
See Ledger B 67 |
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Contra Cr |
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| 1756 |
Contra Cr |
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| May |
14 By 4 Salmon £ |
- |
7 |
11 |
| |
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See Ledger B 67 |
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