The latest journal issue, “Let’s Get Lost In Ledgers: So Much Genealogically Relevant Information Waiting To Be Discovered (Part 1)” is now available online for all NCGS Members.
Editor’s Message
We are starting a multi-year exploration of small business ledgers, which will be referred to as “ledgers” going forward. Since before the pandemic, volumes documenting North Carolina small businesses have been acquired from both online and on-the-ground repositories both in-state and out-of-state, and from large archives/libraries to personal collections. Volunteers abstracted and/or transcribed this material so that we can bring you what I consider under-utilized and yet invaluable records.
The hope is to give you a peek through these real-time windows into the everyday lives of our ancestors, whether as proprietors or customers. The found ledgers encompass from the mountains to the sea and cover from the latter part of the 1700s to the early 1900s, with the majority from the 19th century. After some introductory material, split between this issue and Volume 49 #1, we’ll explore the ledgers of general stores extensively and then move on to ledgers documenting the following businesses/occupations — liquor, post office, newspapers, lawyer, naval stores, “Sartorial Splendor,” “Jack of All Trades,” skilled trades, artisanal trades, travel/hospitality (including taverns), businesses significant to the community (physician, fire department, etc.), select occupations (mills, hauling, iron works, cotton picking, etc.), more occupations, and the best of the rest (ledgers that don’t fit neatly into the identified categories or are received after the most fitting category has been published.
Throughout the next couple of years, reach out to me if you make a neat discovery via a shared ledger, possess an ancestor’s ledger and wish to share, or locate an interesting ledger. If North Carolinians are the proprietors and/or customers, these are relevant to our shared genealogical journey.
Diane L. Richard, Editor
Table of Contents
Editor’s Message
Introduction to Using Small Business Ledgers in Genealogy
Diane L. Richard
Introduction – General Store Ledgers
Diane L. Richard
General Store – Carroll and Cheatham, Warren Co, 1856-62
Hope Blackford
General Store – Siloam, Surry Co, 1889
Hope Blackford
General Store – Sparger Brothers, Surry Co, 1914
Hope Blackford
General Store – Anderson Brothers, Rowan Co, 1873-81
Hope Blackford
Mercantile – David Clark, Martin Co, 1798-1811
Tonya Ferguson
Daybook – David Clark, Halifax Co, 1811-13
Diana Quinn
John Bullock General Store, Granville Co, 1808
Hope Blackford
Book and Media Reviews
W. Becket Soule
*This issue also has five supplementary pieces with content that couldn’t fit in the Journal, almost an extra 100 pages. Be sure to check them out at www.ncgenealogy.org/read-the-ncgs-journal/.
The North Carolina Genealogical Society began publishing the NCGS Journal each quarter in 1975. Access to all issues of the NCGS Journal is available to current members of NCGS. To join, visit http://www.ncgenealogy.org/join/.