Collection Summary
Stephen Collins and Son (Philadelphia,
Pa.) Records 1749-1857
1749-1857
MSS16436
Stephen Collins and Son (Philadelphia,
Pa.)
30,000 items
163 containers
29.2 linear feet
1 microfilm reel
English
Collection material in English
Manuscript Division, Library of Congress
Washington, D.C.
Account books, business correspondence,
ledgers, journals, daybooks, waste books, and other records of the mercantile firm of
Stephen Collins and Son, Philadelphia, Pa. Includes business records of William Barrell,
merchant of Portsmouth, N.H., and Philadelphia, and of Solomon Fussell, also merchant of
Philadelphia.
Selected Search Terms
The following terms have been used to index the description of this collection in the LC Catalog. They are grouped by name of person or organization, by subject or location, and by occupation and listed alphabetically.
People
Barrell, William, -1776.
Collins, Stephen, 1733-1794.
Collins, Zaccheus, 1764-1831.
Eliason, William Alexander, -1839.
Fussell, Solomon, 1704-1762.
Neate, William.
Organizations
Elam and Glover (Leeds, England)
Harrison, Ansley, and Co. (London, England)
Hyde & Hamilton (Manchester, England)
Jukes Coulson & Company (London, England)
Smithson & Greaves (Leeds, England)
Stephen Collins and Son (Philadelphia, Pa.)
Subjects
Business records--New Hampshire--Portsmouth.
Business records--Pennsylvania--Philadelphia.
Merchants--New Hampshire--Portsmouth.
Merchants--Pennsylvania--Philadelphia.
Places
New Hampshire--Commerce.
New York (State)--Economic conditions.
Pennsylvania--Commerce.
Pennsylvania--Commerce.
Philadelphia (Pa.)--Commerce.
Portsmouth (N.H.)--Commerce.
Provenance
The records of Stephen Collins and Son (Philadelphia, Pa.) were transferred from the
U.S. War Department, 1913-1935. A gift of a few items was received from Mrs. J.
Donald Jordan in 1978.
Processing History
The records of Stephen Collins and Son were processed before 1940 and expanded with
an addition in 1984. Revisions were made to the find aid in 1989, 1998, and 2014.
Additional Guides
Notes on the collection are available in the Manuscript Division Reading Room.
Consult reference staff for information.
Related Material
Related collections in the Manuscript Division include microfilm of a letterbook,
1773-1783, of Stephen Collins held by the Massachusetts Historical Society, Boston
Mass., and microfilm of another letterbook, 1782-1793, in the Historical Society of
Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pa.
Copyright Status
The status of copyright in unpublished writings in the records of Stephen Collections
and Son (Philadelphia, Pa.). is governed by the Copyright Law of the United States
(Title 17, U.S.C.).
Access and Restrictions
The records of Stephen Collins and Son (Philadelphia, Pa.) are open to research.
Researchers are advised to contact the Manuscript Reading Room prior to visiting.
Many collections are stored off-site and advance notice is needed to retrieve these
items for research use.
Preferred Citation
Researchers wishing to cite this collection should include the following information:
Container or reel number, Stephen Collins and Son (Philadelphia, Pa.) Records,
Manuscript Division, Library of Congress, Washington, D.C.
Scope and Content Note
The records of Stephen Collins and Son (Philadelphia, Pa.) span the years 1749-1857. The
collection consists of account books, business correspondence, ledgers, journals,
daybooks, waste books, and other records of the Pennsylvania mercantile firm headed by
Stephen Collins (1733-1794) and his son and partner, Zaccheus Collins (1764-1831).
Included are business records of William Barrell, merchant of Portsmouth, New Hampshire,
and Philadelphia, and of Solomon Fussell, also of Philadelphia, received by Collins as
executor of their estates. Collins was born in a Quaker family of Lynn, Massachusetts,
and engaged in business in Marblehead before coming to Philadelphia. The collection is
organized into two series:[
Correspondence
](Corr) and [
Financial Files
](Fin).
Chief British correspondents in the collection are the Quaker merchants of William Neate
and Daniel Mildred of London and the merchant firm Elam and Glover of Leeds. Other
clients and correspondents include ironmongers Jukes, Coulson & Company; the textile
firms Smithson & Greaves of Leeds and Harrison, Ansley & Company of London; and
the hardware firm Hyde & Hamilton of Manchester. Henry Chapman, a son-in-law of
Willliam Neate, provides numerous accounts of New York economic conditions and troubles
with debtors.
Throughout the collection are letters from Collins family members from Lynn, notably a
brother who was a master shoemaker buying supplies from Philadelphia and returning
barrels of the finished product for sale. Many letters are from the small storekeepers
to whom Collins sold British goods. Others are from the English merchants who provided
them.
In 1794, Stephen Collins’s daughter Elizabeth married Richard Bland Lee of Virginia, who
had been a member of Congress. Thereafter, Zaccheus Collins collected bank dividends for
Richard Bland Lee’s brother, Charles Lee, and became involved with the debts of another
brother, Light Horse Harry Lee, as well as with management of land holdings in
Pennsylvania inherited by Richard’s wife from her father.
Arrangement of the Papers
This collection is arranged in two series:
-
[
Correspondence, 1758-1838
](Corr)
-
[
Financial File, 1749-1857
](Fin)
Container List
Container
Contents
1-69
Correspondence, 1758-1838
1758-1838
Business correspondence, memoranda, letterbooks, and related matter.
Arranged chronologically with letterbooks filed at the end of the series.
1
16 Jan. 1758-18 Mar. 1762
16 Jan. 1758-18 Mar. 1762
2
22 Mar. 1762-31 Mar. 1763
22 Mar. 1762-31 Mar. 1763
3
2 Apr. 1763-17 July 1764
2 Apr. 1763-17 July 1764
4
19 July 1764-12 June 1765
19 July 1764-12 June 1765
5
15 June 1765-23 June 1766
15 June 1765-23 June 1766
6
25 June 1766-15 Apr. 1767
25 June 1766-15 Apr. 1767
7
18 Apr. 1767-26 Feb. 1768
18 Apr. 1767-26 Feb. 1768
8
27 Feb. 1768-4 Feb. 1769
27 Feb. 1768-4 Feb. 1769
9
6 Feb.-30 Oct. 1769
6 Feb.-30 Oct. 1769
10
1 Nov. 1769-23 Aug. 1770
1 Nov. 1769-23 Aug. 1770
11
24 Aug. 1770-14 Feb. 1771
24 Aug. 1770-14 Feb. 1771
12
18 Feb.-1 Oct. 1771
18 Feb.-1 Oct. 1771
13
4 Oct. 1771-17 Apr. 1772
4 Oct. 1771-17 Apr. 1772
14
19 Apr.-13 Nov. 1772
19 Apr.-13 Nov. 1772
15
14 Nov. 1772-25 June 1773
14 Nov. 1772-25 June 1773
16
26 June-16 Nov. 1773
26 June-16 Nov. 1773
17
19 Nov. 1773-1 June 1774
19 Nov. 1773-1 June 1774
18
2 June 1774-20 Apr. 1775
2 June 1774-20 Apr. 1775
19
21 Apr. 1775-26 Jan. 1776
21 Apr. 1775-26 Jan. 1776
20
29 Jan. 1776-6 Jan. 1777
29 Jan. 1776-6 Jan. 1777
21
8 Jan. 1777-20 June 1778
8 Jan. 1777-20 June 1778
22
20 June 1778-6 Dec. 1781
20 June 1778-6 Dec. 1781
23
7 Dec. 1781-5 May 1783
7 Dec. 1781-5 May 1783
24
7 May-16 Aug. 1783
7 May-16 Aug. 1783
25
20 Aug.-18 Dec. 1783
20 Aug.-18 Dec. 1783
26
21 Dec. 1783-10 May 1784
21 Dec. 1783-10 May 1784
27
12 May-29 Oct. 1784
12 May-29 Oct. 1784
28
1 Nov. 1784-29 Mar. 1785
1 Nov. 1784-29 Mar. 1785
29
30 Mar.-30 Aug. 1785
30 Mar.-30 Aug. 1785
30
31 Aug. 1785-3 Jan. 1786
31 Aug. 1785-3 Jan. 1786
31
4 Jan.-6 Apr. 1786
4 Jan.-6 Apr. 1786
32
7 Apr.-25 July 1786
7 Apr.-25 July 1786
33
26 July-16 Dec. 1786
26 July-16 Dec. 1786
34
17 Dec. 1786-9 May 1787
17 Dec. 1786-9 May 1787
35
10 May-29 Sept. 1787
10 May-29 Sept. 1787
36
30 Sept. 1787-5 Mar. 1788
30 Sept. 1787-5 Mar. 1788
37
8 Mar.-13 July 1788
8 Mar.-13 July 1788
38
14 July 1788-18 Feb. 1789
14 July 1788-18 Feb. 1789
39
22 Feb.-30 July 1789
22 Feb.-30 July 1789
40
1 Aug. 1789-23 Jan. 1790
1 Aug. 1789-23 Jan. 1790
41
24 Jan.-18 June 1790
24 Jan.-18 June 1790
42
20 June 1790-13 Mar. 1791
20 June 1790-13 Mar. 1791
43
14 Mar.-26 Sept. 1791
14 Mar.-26 Sept. 1791
44
27 Sept. 1791-6 Apr. 1792
27 Sept. 1791-6 Apr. 1792
45
7 Apr.-21 Nov. 1792
7 Apr.-21 Nov. 1792
46
22 Nov. 1792-16 May 1793
22 Nov. 1792-16 May 1793
47
19 May 1793-2 Jan. 1794
19 May 1793-2 Jan. 1794
48
3 Jan.-3 June 1794
3 Jan.-3 June 1794
49
4 June-29 Nov. 1794
4 June-29 Nov. 1794
50
1 Dec. 1794-15 June 1795
1 Dec. 1794-15 June 1795
51
16 June 1795-15 Feb. 1796
16 June 1795-15 Feb. 1796
52
17 Feb.-10 Nov. 1796
17 Feb.-10 Nov. 1796
53
11 Nov. 1796-29 May 1798
11 Nov. 1796-29 May 1798
54
30 May 1798-13 Mar. 1800
30 May 1798-13 Mar. 1800
55
14 Mar. 1800-5 Oct. 1801
14 Mar. 1800-5 Oct. 1801
56
9 Oct. 1801-19 Sept. 1838
9 Oct. 1801-19 Sept. 1838
57
Letter, 1760-1773
1760-1773
58
Memorandum, accounts, 1770-1772
1770-1772
58
Letterbook, 1771-1778
1771-1778
58
Loose papers, 1766-1777
1766-1777
59
Letterbooks
59
1776-1777
1776-1777
60
1782-1783
1782-1783
60
1783-1784
1783-1784
61
1784-1785
1784-1785
62
1785-1786
1785-1786
62
1786-1787
1786-1787
63
1786-1787
1786-1787
63
1786-1789
1786-1789
64
1786-1794
1786-1794
64
1786-1794
1786-1794
65
1788-1792
1788-1792
66
1789-1791
1789-1791
66
1791-1795
1791-1795
67
1792-1794
1792-1794
68
1794-1801
1794-1801
69
1792-1801
1792-1801
70-163
Financial File, 1749-1857
1749-1857
Account books, ledgers, journals, daybooks, waste books, sales books, invoices,
biographical material, lists, correspondence, and other financial records.
Arranged by type of material.
An 1817 memorandum book of William A. Eliason
in Container 155 is on negative microfilm, shelf no. 16,792.
70
Accounts
70
11 Feb. 1749-31 Dec. 1762
11 Feb. 1749-31 Dec. 1762
(4 folders)
71
21 May 1763-1 Dec. 1766
21 May 1763-1 Dec. 1766
(4 folders)
72
1 Jan. 1767-31 Dec. 1769
1 Jan. 1767-31 Dec. 1769
(4 folders)
73
1 Jan. 1770-30 Sept. 1771
1 Jan. 1770-30 Sept. 1771
(4 folders)
74
1 Jan. 1772-10 Dec. 1773
1 Jan. 1772-10 Dec. 1773
(4 folders)
75
29 June 1774-19 July 1775
29 June 1774-19 July 1775
(3 folders)
76
1 Aug. 1775-15 July 1779
1 Aug. 1775-15 July 1779
(4 folders)
77
4 Apr. 1781-31 May 1783
4 Apr. 1781-31 May 1783
(4 folders)
78
25 June 1783-8 Apr. 1784
25 June 1783-8 Apr. 1784
(4 folders)
79
10 Apr.-31 Dec. 1784
10 Apr.-31 Dec. 1784
(3 folders)
80
1 Jan.-31 Dec. 1785
1 Jan.-31 Dec. 1785
(3 folders)
81
1 Jan.-29 Sept. 1786
1 Jan.-29 Sept. 1786
(3 folders)
82
16 Oct. 1786-1 May 1787
16 Oct. 1786-1 May 1787
(3 folders)
83
18 June 1787-30 May 1789
18 June 1787-30 May 1789
(4 folders)
84
2 June 1789-31 Dec. 1790
2 June 1789-31 Dec. 1790
(3 folders)
85
5 Jan. 1791-31 Dec. 1792
5 Jan. 1791-31 Dec. 1792
(4 folders)
86
2 Jan. 1793-31 Dec. 1794
2 Jan. 1793-31 Dec. 1794
(4 folders)
87
7 Jan. 1795-3 Dec. 1799
7 Jan. 1795-3 Dec. 1799
(6 folders)
88
30 July 1801-14 Aug. 1857
30 July 1801-14 Aug. 1857
88
Undated
(3 folders)
88
Prices current
88
1 Mar. 1762-1 May 1813
1 Mar. 1762-1 May 1813
88
10 May 1801
10 May 1801
88
Broadside, 1764
1764
89
Receipt books
89
1757-1761
1757-1761
89
1761-1773
1761-1773
89
Bills Receivable, 7 Dec. 1785-3 Nov. 1794
7 Dec. 1785-3 Nov. 1794
90
Receipt books
90
1783-1794
1783-1794
90
1786-1795
1786-1795
91
Sales books
91
1781-1784
1781-1784
92
1783-1784
1783-1784
93
Memorandum books
93
8-30 Aug. 1776
8-30 Aug. 1776
93
1778-1783
1778-1783
94
1783-1794
1783-1794
95
Bank book, 1782-1794
1782-1794
96
Ledgers
96
1758-1763
1758-1763
97
1761-1764
1761-1764
98
Waste book (day book), 1761-1764
1761-1764
99
Journal "A", 1761-1764
1761-1764
100
Waste book, 1772-1786
1772-1786
101
Day book, 1772-1774
1772-1774
102
Journal,
1772-1786
1772-1786
103
Memorandum book, 1761-1763
1761-1763
103
Day book
103
1773-1774
1773-1774
103
1774-1783
1774-1783
103
Index book, undated
104
Account book, 1 Apr.-16 Nov. 1779
1 Apr.-16 Nov. 1779
105
Day book, 1784-1794
1784-1794
106
Waste books
106
1786-1794
1786-1794
107
1773-1784
1773-1784
107
Blotter, 1773-1784
1773-1784
108
Waste book, 1764-1773
1764-1773
109
Journals
109
1764-1769
1764-1769
110
1773-1794
1773-1794
111
1786-1794
1786-1794
112
Ledgers
112
1764-1794
1764-1794
113
1794-1807
1794-1807
114
1786-1794
1786-1794
115
Bills receivable, 1794-1828
1794-1828
116
Cash book, 1794-1796
1794-1796
117
Invoice book, 1786-1795
1786-1795
118
Ledger, 1795-1800, Zaccheus Collins
119
Memorandum book, 1800-1815, Zaccheus Collins
120
Sales book, 1777-1778, Colburn Barrell
121
Invoice books, Colburn Barrell (with Tench Coxe)
1777-1778
1777-1778
122
Invoice books
122
1764-1765, Nathaniel Barrell
123
1776-1770, William Barrell
124
1776, William Barrell
125
1771-1775, William Barrell
126
Inventory book, 1773-1776, William Barrell
127
Account book, William Barrell
127
1762
1762
127
1766
1766
127
1768-1769
1768-1769
128
Waste book, 1766-1767, William Barrell
129
Blotter, 1767-1774, William Barrell
130
Day book, 1772, William Barrell
131
Blotter, 1772-1776, William Barrell
132
Ledger, 1763-1765, William Barrell
133
Journals, William Barrell
133
1766-1774
1766-1774
133
1767-1775
1767-1775
134
Ledger, 1766-1773, William Barrell
135
Day book, 1771-1776, William Barrell
136
Memorandum and accounts, 1772-1776, William
Barrell
137
Ledger, 1771-1775, William Barrell
138
Journal, 1771-1776, William Barrell
139
Ledger, 1774-1776, William Barrell
140
Receipt books, William Barrell
140
1771-1776
1771-1776
140
1776-1791, estate
141
Inventory book, 1776-1778, William Barrell
141
Sales book, 1776-1780, William Barrell
142
Account book, 1738-1749, Solomon Fussell
143
Day book, 1753-1758, Solomon Fussell
144
Journals, Solomon Fussell
144
1758-1761
1758-1761
145
1757-1762
1757-1762
146
Ledgers, Solomon Fussell
146
1757-1761
1757-1761
147
1751-1756
1751-1756
148
1758-1762
1758-1762
149
1774-1777, John Glover
1774-1777, John Glover
150
1773-1783, John Glover
151
Invoice book, 1776-1777, John Montgomery
152
Account books, James Mullan
152
1768-1771
1768-1771
152
1772-1773
1772-1773
152
1774-1780
1774-1780
153
Day books, John Pemberton
153
Jan.-Aug. 1785
Jan.-Aug. 1785
153
Feb.-Aug. 1785
Feb.-Aug. 1785
154
Invoice book, 1759-1760, Collins & Emlin
155
Memorandum book, 1817, William A. Eliason Also
on negative microfilm, shelf no. 16,792
156
Bank checks, 1791-1802, (S. Collins & Son)
157
Naval journal, 1794-1800, Office of the
Lieutenant of Military Stores
158
Ledger, 1701-1702, William Trent
159
Invoice books
159
1761-1783
1761-1783
160
1783-1784
1783-1784
161
Ledger, 1772-1786
1772-1786
161
Index books
161
1786-1787
1786-1787
161
1788
1788
161
Undated
162
Correspondence, 1762-1814
1762-1814
162
Biographical file of others, undated
162
Bill of loading, 1787
1787
162
Price current,
1762
1762
162
Printed matter, 1824
1824
162
List of mercantile papers, undated
162
Cancelled checks, 1784-1819
1784-1819
(2 folders)
163
(4 folders)