WASHING MACHINE SALES
by Pat Melville
In Chancery Court (Chancery Papers) [MSA S512-8667; MdHR 17,898-8720] is a case concerning a partnership formed in Baltimore City to manufacture and sell washing machines for clothes. The partnership between Ephraim J. Lukens and William J. Hyde was formed in 1844. Hyde provided the start-up money and Lukens obtained the patent and operated the business. On October 4, 1845 Hyde filed a bill of complaint with the Chancery Court, charging Lukens with failure to share the profits. Lukens responded with a different interpretation of the partnership agreement and cited high expenses. On January 29, 1846 the Chancellor issued a decree dissolving the partnership and appointing a receiver to close out the business.
The receiver, S. Teackle Wallis, in reporting to the Chancery Court filed two account books of the business. One showed the expenses for making and transporting the washing machines from February 24, 1844 to October 10, 1845. The second book contained the list of sales from May 27, 1844 through October 3, 1845. According to these documents sales totaled $2508.81 (machines sold for between $15.00 and $20.00), and expenses amounted to $1576.92, leaving a profit of $931.89.
The account book of sales contains interesting bits of information. The first washing machine was purchased by the Sisters of Charity of St. Vincent de Paul. Later the Sisters of Mt. Carmel, Sacred Heart Institute make their own purchase. Usually it is unclear from entries in the book whether purchasers are acquiring the machines for personal or business use. A.S. Abell "of the Sun" obtained a small machine. (Was it set up at his house or the newspaper?). Obvious examples of intended business or institutional use include the B & O Railroad getting a machine for use in Ijamsville, an unnamed boarding school six miles out of town, the Universalist Fair, Baltimore Laundry, Maryland Penitentiary, and Baltimore Almshouse.
Some payments were based on the barter system. George E. Cooper, for example, did "Blacksmithing" for the business, Mr. Noyes performed "Dentistry", John Gross provided groceries, and William Allen supplied bacon. Apparently the washing machine did not satisfy all customers. Mr. Maculey returned a machine because his wife refused to use it. Mrs. Montell was credited $1.00 on her purchase on condition that she recommend the machine. Six weeks later her husband pays back this dollar to have her name removed from the Whig.
Most sales were made to residents of Baltimore and the surrounding counties. The account book lists several out-of-state sales to places in New York, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, North Carolina, Rhode Island, Virginia, Louisiana, and Georgia. Some machines were exported to Jamaica, South America, West Indies, and Sweden, often "on speculation," probably attempts to develop an overseas market. Perhaps that explains the purchase by General Carlos Soublette, President of Venezuela.
All entries in the account book mention the date of the transaction, name of the purchaser, place of residence or business, number of washing machines purchased, and amount paid. Some include occupation - William H. Keevil, tavern keeper on Low and Front Sts; Michael Alder, farmer four miles out on Falls Road; Washington Rider, brickmaker on Lee St.; George W. Webb, jeweler on Park St.; John Mcgraw, brickmaker on Saratoga St.; John Hitzelberger, keeper of Washington Monument; Jacob Sommer, coachmaker on Howard and Lombard Sts.; David Carlisle, farmer near Green Spring; T.J. Sutton, victualler on Exeter St.; John Fisher, bank cashier in Westminister; C.G. Conradt, carpet mamnfacturer on Albemarle and Granby Sts.; Henry Leif, ship chandler on Stiles St.; Jesse Hunt, city registrar; Jacob Shower, clerk of Carroll County; A. Devanges, wig maker and hair cutter on Baltimore St.; John Daley, dry goods store on Franklin St.; Samuel Feast, florist; and Benjamin Charles, teacher in P.S. No. 5. This account book is just one more example of the undiscovered treasures that can be found in court records, especially equity.
MARYLAND MARRIAGE REFERENCES
by Robert Barnes
Researchers looking for marriage records in early Maryland can rely on church records (or Quaker meetings), a few lists of special licenses, such as Leeds' List, and beginning in 1777, the marriage licenses issued by the clerks of the various county courts.
Unfortunately, some church records have not survived. The records of Mt. Paran Presbyterian Church and Sater's Baptist Church in Baltimore County, St. Paul's Parish in Prince George's County, and St. Mary's White Chapel Parish in Dorchester County are but a few of the parishes whose records have not survived. Fortunately, clues to marriages can be found in land, court, and probate records. Researchers at the Archives have long been familiar with Hodge's Marriage References, and more recently, "Index 99," which contains other marriage references.
Now these marriage references are being placed on the Archives' web site so they will be more accessible. Three things should be noted:
Some of the references used by Hodges are a little obscure but will be defined more exactly as the project continues.
SPECIAL COLLECTIONS ACCESSIONS
by Nancy Bramucci
MSA SC 4788: Vietnam Memorial Collection 1988
Plans, Vietnam Veterans Memorial, Rash Field, Baltimore. 2 sheets.
MSA SC 4789: Albaugh Collection various dates
"History of the Albaugh Family"
MSA SC 4790: McNeal Collection 1778-1869
Commission, William Berry, Ensign of Captain Thomas's Company in the fourth Battalion of Militia, TA; Photograph, Elizabeth Benny McNeal (1817-1870), wife of Senator James Hector McNeal (1807-1868); Photograph, Senator James Hector McNeal (1807-1868);
Newspaper, Easton Gazette, reporting death of Senator James Hector McNeal; Letter, David Kerr, Jr. to Hon. James H. McNeal; Journal of the Proceedings of the Senate of Maryland Annapolis: Haverstick & Longneckers, 1866; "List of
household goods belonging to J.H. McNeal"; Telegram, Edward Woodall to J. B. McNeal, Senator McNeal's oldest son, informing him of his father's death; Receipt, Jas. H. McNeal, " for Hire of Negro man Horace Thomas for the year 1842."
Receipt, Estate of Jas. H. McNeal, "Medalia Mahoganey Coffin finished in the best Stile."; Receipt, Estate of William McNeal, "Coffin & Carring Courps to Talbot County."; Promissory note, J.H. McNeal to Philadelphia Annual Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church, certificate of scholarship in Dickinson College; Receipt, James H. McNeal, postage; Receipt, James H. McNeal to Henry H. Goldsborough,
"for servant Mary Jane's wages for year 1851 belonging to Miss Elizabeth Goldsborough"; Letter, J. H. McNeal to [Elizabeth Benny]; Letter, J. H. McNeal to his wife,
MSA SC 4800: Baltimore City Hospital Collection 1756-1919
Materials relating to the history of hospitals in the city of Baltimore, including the Baltimore Infirmary, now University Hospital, the Maryland Hospital, the Baltimore Almshouse, and U.S. General Hospital No. 2.
MSA SC 4801: Nations Bank Collection Financial materials relating to Bank of Baltimore County, Fidelity Trust Company, Fidelity & Deposit Company, Fidelity Tourist Company, and Whitehall Bank.
MSA SC 4802: Sarikas Collection 1935 ca. -- 1970 ca.
approximately 5000 photographic prints depicting Maryland Bridges and surrounding areas, 1935-1970, produced by the division of Bridge Inspection and Remedial Engineering of the State Highway Administration
MSA SC 4803: Wiegard Family History Collection 1992-1996
Geneaology of the Wiegard and Wheeler families: two copies, one spiral bound and one in a three-ring binder, of "An Incomplete Compilation of Research on the Ancestors and Descendents of John Augustine Wiegard and his Wife, Dorothy Wheeler Wiegard, Volume I: Narrative; one copy in a three-ring binder of Volume II: Appendicies; one copy of "A Compilation of Research in the American Descendents of Johannes George
Wiegard of Daesburg, Westphalia, Germany, and approximately 230 copy photographs of the Wiegard Family
MSA SC 4804: Apfelbaum Collection 1960s-1970s
Administrative papers of Arthur Sohmers, chief of staff to Governor Spiro Agnew
MSA SC 4805: Noble Collection 1896-1921
Ledgers, Dr. Sewell S. Hepburn, 18 State Circle (now 54 State Circle), Annapolis. First volume includes notes from medical school. Dr. Hepburn was the uncle of actress Catherine Hepburn.
MSA SC 4806: Government House Research Collection various dates
Research relating to the Government House, Annapolis.
MSA SC 4807: First Presbyterian Church 1838-1981
Church records, First Presbyterian Church, Howard County.
MSA SC 4808: Metzger Collection [1951]
Jan Westcott, Captain Barney Crown edition, 1951. Fiction novel based loosely on Captain Joshua Barney.
MSA SC 4809: Stiverson Collection 1994
Drawing, Maryland Memorial at Gettysburg, dedicated November 13, 1994. Drawing signed by artist.
MSA SC 4810: Bill of Rights Collection 1789
Bill of Rights.
MSA SC 4812: Miller Collection 1989
Publication materials, Christmas card, Senator Miller.
MSA SC 4813: Maryland Newspaper Collection 1992
Microcat tape, Maryland Newspaper Project, holdings from Maryland Union List as of fall 1991.
MSA SC 4814: Gubernatorial Proclamation Collection 1988-1994
Gubernatorial proclamations, Governor William Donald Schaefer: Bill of Rights Bicentennial Day, December 15, 1991; Governor Francis Nicholson Day, September 16, 1994; Maryland Ratification Celebration - U.S. Constitution
MSA SC 4815: Lloyd Family Collection various dates
Family Tree, Lloyd Family. Compiled by Arlene Palmer, 1969-1970.
MSA SC 4816: Swann Collection n. d.
Etching, "St. Ignatius Church, St. Inigoes, Maryland" by Don Swann.
MSA SC 4817: Conroy Collection 1794-1829
Form book, probably created in 1794 with manuscript transcriptions of colonial era legal forms, possibly used for the instruction of law students; Laws Made and Passed by the General Assembly of the State of Maryland, 1828 (Annapolis: Jonas Green, 1829), copy presented to the sheriff of Prince George's County. Collection is given by Delegate Mary Conroy in memory of her husband, Senator Edward Conroy.
NOTICE TO READERS
The next issue of the Bulldog will appear on January 12, 1998. Governor Glendening has designated Friday, December 26, 1997 as a holiday for state government employees. As a result, the search room will be closed on that day and Saturday, December 27, 1997.
Edward C. Papenfuse, State Archivist
Patricia V. Melville, Editor
Mimi Calver, Assistant Editor
Lynne MacAdam, Production Editor
Rita Molter, Circulation
The Maryland State Archives is an independent agency in the Office of Governor Parris N. Glendening and is advised by the Hall of Records Commission. The Chairman of the Hall of Records Commission is the Honorable Louis L. Goldstein, Comptroller, and the Vice Chairman is the Honorable Robert M. Bell, Chief Judge of the Maryland Court of Appeals.
The Archivists' Bulldog is issued bi-monthly to publicize records collections, finding aids, and other activities of the Archives and its staff. Subscription cost is $25 per year, and the proceeds go to the State Archives Fund. To subscribe, please send your name, address, and remittance to: the Maryland State Archives, 350 Rowe Boulevard, Annapolis, Maryland 21401-1686. Phone: MD toll free: (800) 235 4045; or (410) 260-6400. FAX: (410) 974 3895. E-mail: archives@mdarchives.state.md.us. The Editor welcomes editorial comments and contributions from the public.
The Archives maintains a Website on the Internet at: http://www.mdarchives.state.md.us
|
Tell Us What You Think About the Maryland State Archives Website!
|