Editor’s Message
With surviving ledgers for general stores the most common type we stumble across, it is not surprising that we commence this issue with materials held by Edwina Winchester Eubanks regarding her ancestor, W. L. Starnes. We also investigate an early 19th-century ledger authored by Allen Chapman (Anson County) and the early Rowan County ledger of John Dickey. Always remember that “samples” of ledger contents are shared, not the entire contents.
We conclude our exploration of extant small business ledgers related to Sartorial Splendor with records from four shoemakers.
We then switch to the records of other important community members—lawyers. Many of their services were used by widows and other female ancestors. On a personal note, the John Williams ledger provided details found nowhere in surviving court records (government records).
Sometimes, we find ledgers that mirror an important element of the NC economy. For example, the Thomas Gill ledger provides insight into aspects of the naval stores industry.
Last, but never least, explore some recently published books that just might help smash your brick wall!
Diane L. Richard, Editor
FYI: In Volume 49 #3, note that for the “General Store – Graves (Account Book), Caswell Co, 1818-1820” piece, only 68 of the over 350 pages found in this ledger were examined/indexed.
FYI: In the same issue, related to the article “General Store – J. G. Torrance, Mecklenburg Co, 1806-1807,” Lynn Mintzer, a docent at the Hugh Torance House and Store in Huntersville, https://www.hught.org/, shared that “The Torance family donated the store’s journals to the UNCC library. The store opened in 1805 but there may be earlier records going back to 1773, as Hugh Torance was a traveling merchant prior to the store’s opening.”
CORRECTION: Misreported in the table of contents of Vol 49 #4; the author was Judy Pate, not Page.
CORRECTION: In Volume 49 #3, on page 201, the text currently reads “Chantrell, like Cockton, started life in England. The latter’s will …” and it should read “Like Cockton, Chantrell started life in England. The latter’s will …” Apologies to the author and readers for this error.
Table of Contents
Editor’s Message
Grocery/General Merchandise – W L Starnes, Union Co, early 1900s
Edwina Winchester Eubanks
General Store – Chapman, Anson Co, 1822-1823
Tabitha Weekly
General Store – John Dickey, Roan [Rowan] Co, 1786-1793
Anne Murphy
Introduction to Shoemakers
Diane L. Richard
Shoemaker – Thomas Hallyburton, Rutherfordton, Rutherford Co, 1833-1843
Kathy Toavs
Shoemaker – Albright & Bason, Graham, Alamance Co, 1851-1860
Ron Haislip-Hansberry
Shoemaker – Jno D. Hawkins, Warren Co, 1820s
Vera Lyn Battle
Shoemaker – [Probably] James Newlon, Raleigh, Wake Co, 1834-1837
Hope Blackford
Introduction to Lawyers
Diane L. Richard
Lawyer – John Williams, Granville Co, 1770-1803
Missy Mitchell
Lawyer – S. S. Jackson, Asheboro, Randolph Co, 1860-1874
Hope Blackford
Lawyer – R. S. McDonald, [maybe] Richmond Co, 1840-1843
W. Durant
Introduction to Naval Stores
Diane L. Richard
Naval Stores – Thomas Gill, Bertie Co, 1803-1813
Dayle Biba and Judy Pate
Book and Media Reviews
W. Becket Soule
Index