18TH and 19TH CENTURY FINANCIAL LEDGER OF JAMES NEWELL CENTRE COUNTY
An interesting financial ledger of James Newell of Centre County, Pennsylvania. James Newell was the first manager of Centre Furnace, beginning in 1792. He left in 1804 for a higher offer from John Dunlop to manage the Bellefonte Iron Works. James Newell is also mentioned in the History of Centre & Clinton Counties of Pennsylvania by John Blair Linn, section on the history of Harris Township, pg. 323, Taverns--"The first tavern in the township was probably the old stone building built by William Irwin, at what date is not precisely known. It was located upon the public road about two miles east of Boalsburg. The first landlord was James Newell, who is spoken of as having been a great favorite with the traveling public, and who reigned supreme as Boniface for a great many years. His successor was James Watson, who afterwards removed to Bellefonte."
This ledger dating Oct. 1799 to July 1803 contains entries of James Newell's record of payment for goods and services from various men in the county at the time (approx 84 pgs). These "receipts" were signed with the "mark" of the men. Some of the names include: James Potter, Hugh Davison, Hugh Stuart, John Foster, James McGlaughlin, John Hunter, Hugh Hamilton, Alexander Davidson, James Blaine, Hugh Keating, George McCormick, William Potter, James McHenry, David Goodfellow, John Gregg, Henry Bonn, James Whitehill, Martin Houser, John Graham, John Adams, Thomas Patten, Thomas Bell, John Borland, Andrew Shivery, Jacob Houser, John Curry, William Cummins, and many, many more.
The ledger has leather covered boards with pages of linen paper. A number of pages are blank. In addition to the financial "receipt" pages mentioned above there are a number of other financial pages dating from 1816 to 1833 listing prices for goods and services purchased or sold. There is also a "receipt to make beer."
The ledger measures 4 1/2 x 8 inches.
SOLD
