Archive Record
Metadata
Catalog Number |
MS134 |
Title |
Josiah Adams Account Books, 1811-1868 |
Scope & Content |
Scope and Content: The collection includes two account books attributed to Josiah Adams. The first has dates from 1811 to 1837 and the second is from 1857 to 1868. There is also one folder of loose receipts. Josiah worked as a carpenter. His projects range from labor working on houses to small projects such as mending gates and fences, fixing sinks, and even a violin. He also records work done for Portsmouth furniture maker, Samuel Dockum. Biographical sketch: Josiah Adams was born in Newington, NH June 7, 1790, son of Nathaniel W. and Elizabeth (Cole) Adams. Josiah worked as a carpenter. In 1825 Josiah purchased a half house located at 2 Gate Street. In 1827 he married his distant cousin, Frances Adams (1808-1890) and the two had eight children: Charles F. Adams (1828-1871), Jesiah Francis Adams (1830-1916), Clara Augusta W. Adams (1832-1904), Levi Woodbury Adams (1834-1898), Mary Olivia Adams (1836-1872), Horace H. Adams (1844-1864), Olive Elizabeth Adams (1846-1861) and Nathan Webb Adams (1851-1865). Josiah died February 15, 1871 in Portsmouth. Box 1 Folder 1Receipts October 8, 1812 Note from J Adams August 1815 Payment of fine March 1816-Payment made to William Blaisdell April 20, 1816 Payment to Wm Harris for teaching navigation skills March 1, 1817Payment made to Newington Sept 28, 1817Tax bill for thirty shillings Nov 11, 1817Receipt for 20 shillings paid to Maj. J. Thompson August 2, 1818Payment in full to John Thompson Nov 3, 1818 Payment of 5 shillings Dec 14, 1818Paid $5 to William C. Dec 14, 1818Tax payment 1819Bill for supplies and clothing Jan 18, 1820Bill paid in full to J Pearson April 9, 1820Payment made to John Thompson 1821Account paid in full to John D. June 2, 1821Unable to determine only Jan 17, 1822Payment to J Adams of 5 pounds made by John and Hannah Thompson June 10, 1822Payment of debt to John Pearson Feb 22, 1824Payment of $27 1826Only part of a receipt May 31, 1827Payment of $1 July 14, 1827$6.75 tax on pew (#61) First Baptist Society Jan 1828Receipt not readable Nov 6, 1828Payment made to John Meserve July 13, 1829Promised to pay Moses How $5.50 July, 1829Tax payment March 3, 1829 Receipt for 57 pounds of beef March 3, 1830Promise to pay Samuel Wilkins $2 Dec 8, 1832Town tax payment receipt Dec 2, 1833Town tax payment receipt Nov 24, 1834Town tax payment receipt Oct 14, 1835Town tax payment receipt July 30, 1838Town tax payment receipt Dec 2, 1938Payment for Sundries July 27, 1839Town tax payment receipt May 1840Pew tax, Baptist Society Nov 17, 1840Town tax payment receipt Oct 6, 1842Town tax payment receipt Jan 11, 1845Town tax payment receipt July 14, 1846Town tax payment receipt Sept 20, 1847Town tax payment receipt May 2 1849Payment for guard chain Dec 12, 1851Town tax payment receipt Dec 21, 1852Town tax payment receipt July 27, 1855Town tax payment receipt August 20, 1858Town tax payment receipt Jan 2, 1860Town tax payment receipt Dec 26, 1861Town tax payment receipt Aug 31, 1862Town tax payment receipt August 6, 1862Town tax payment receipt July 20, 1864Town tax payment receipt July 29, 1865Town tax payment receipt July 30, 1866Town tax payment receipt May 6, 1867Notice of Mechanics Association meeting July 29, 1867Town tax payment receipt July 11, 1868Surveyors note about abutter building being 4" on Adams property. Sept 26, 1872Payment by Mrs. J Adams for work done by Silas Philbrick at her home. March 1879Payment by Mrs Adams to W. Rollins Folder 2Josiah Adams Account Book, 1811-1837 Entries include a variety of woodworking projects including working on houses and making frames, coffins, animal feed troths, etc. He also mended violins (page 31) and performed miscellaneous day labor including working for Portsmouth furniture maker, Samuel Dockum. Later in the volume it appears that he moved from Newington to Portsmouth as he begins to identify work on "my house in Gates Street" (page 108). He also begins working more consistently at the Iron Foundry (Franklin Iron Foundry) and the Navy Yard toward the end of the volume. Cabinet making "making Windsor frames" "William Walker hous" Working at iron foundry [?] (18) "began work with Mr. Wendell…" (23) Making a coffin for the child of William McNeal of Newington, 1823 (30) Mending a violin and making a fiddle bow [?] (31) Making chain for wagon (33) Three days work for Samuel Dockum (36) "one pigs troth" for John Adams (64) Work at Navy Yard (139) Individuals mentioned in entries include: Adams, James Adams, Benjamin Adams, Thomas Pickering, Daniel Bradgdon, Jeremiah Drew, William Pickering, Joseph Richards, Elizabeth Henzel, Nancy Robert, James Adams, William Adam, Nathaniel Hanson, Steven Roberts, James Sheckford, Nathaniel Reynes, Christopher Wendell, Isaac Hardey, George Wendell, Isaac Adams, John Pickering, Susannah Pickering, Benjamin Downing, Richard Coleman, Elezer Ham, Ephram Rollings, Ephram McNeal, William Robark [?], James Folder 3Josiah Adams Account Book, 1857-1868 Entries are primarily for day labor and are less varied and descriptive than the first volume. Tasks recorded include projects such as work on houses, repairing gates, "work on your sink," making window sashes, repairing around a chimney and building a fence. On January 27, 1858 he makes a cupboard for John Adams. Individuals mentioned in entries include: Stevens, Capt. Norton, John Brown, Edwin M. Adams, John Brown, Edmon M. Gerrish, Oliver or Olive Carr, James M. Walker, Nathaniel Hadley, Josiah Norton, John Vaughn, William Stavers, William Randall, William |
Collection |
Josiah Adams Account Books, 1811-1868 |
Object Name |
Papers, Family |
Date |
1811-1868 |
People |
Adams, Josiah, 1799-1871 Dockum, Samuel M., 1792-1872 Blaisdell, William, b. c1766 Harris, William Coffin, 1788-1853 Thompson, John Thompson, Hannah, 1749-1841 Pearson, John Meserve, John How, Moses Wilkie, Patrick Wilkins, Samuel Philbrick, Silas, 1819-1892 |
Search Terms |
Portsmouth Naval Shipyard First Baptist Society Mechanics Association |
Subjects |
Portsmouth (N.H.) Newington (N.H.) Carpenters Cabinetmakers Cabinetmaking Coffins Foundries |