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Top of the first page of Job Sherman's Day Book "Moved to Newport ye 5th, 5mo, 1796" |
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Top of the first page of Job Sherman's Day Book "Moved to Newport ye 5th, 5mo, 1796" |
In 1796 Job Sherman moved from Portsmouth to Newport where he founded the business which later, under the management of his sons William and David, used the name William Sherman & Company Dry Goods Concern. The Day Book lists transactions, both sales and purchases, with the full names of the patrons. On the inside of the cover are some articles. These were probably pasted there by Albert Keene Sherman. A transcript of several of these articles can be found here. One of the articles states:
May 5, 1796, Mr. Job Sherman, grandfather of one of the members of the present firm, started in the general merchandise business, in a building which stood on the corner of Thames street and Frank street, or Church lane as it was then called, the site of the building now occupied by Messrs. Walsh Brothers. The original account book which records the opening of the business is still in the possession of the firm, and the writing in it is so clear that all the items can be easily read. The first entry is "Moved to Newport ye 5th, 5 mo, 1796;" and the second "Bo’t Goods of Robert Jamison, payable in four months, to the amount of £77 9s. 11 1/4d." Following these are charges and credits which show that the business consisted of the sale of dry goods, crockery, boots and shoes, groceries and general produce, and several of the credits show that everything was not paid for in money, but in "candlesticks and snuffers," "meal," "eggs," etc. Among the names of those who became creditors of Mr. Sherman are those of Francis Malbone, Jonathan Dennis, Samson Sherman, David Buffus, John Earl, Peleg Almy, Peleg Weaver, Clarke Rodman, Robert Sherman, Benjamin Hadwin, Benjamin Mott, Benjamin Fish, and Preserved Sherman.
All of the pages have been scanned, but to limit handling of the book, most scans are of a photocopy done years ago.
| John Ahaull William Allen Christopher Almy Peleg Almy Daniel Anthony Gould Anthony Isaac Anthony Job Anthony Rebecca Anthony Seth Anthony William Anthony Doctor Bailies Olive Baker Henry Barger Benjamin Billings Samuel Billings Lydia Brown - first and frequent customer Peleg Brown David Buffum Moses Bufington John Burd Ferd. Bush Nabor Bush Richard Bush Pitt Carr Robert Carr Doctor Center Gilbert Chase James Chase Nathan Chase Obadiah Chase Samuel Chase Adley Clarke Nabor Clarke Rebecca Clarke Elisha Cogshall John Cogshall Arabella Cowley Nabor Cozens Joseph Cundal Stephen Deblois George Dennis Jonathan Dennis Dorcas Earl John Earl Walter Easton |
Barsheba Fish Benjamin Fish Gardner Fish Josep Fish Susanna Fish George Fortner Gardner Fowler Benjamin Freeborn Alexander Garden Major Garden John Greene (Green) Hannah Gould Benjamin Hadmen Major Hambleton (Hambloton) Major Hamblen Nabor Hammond Mumford Hazard Henry Hedley Samuel Hicts Nabor Horsfield Thomas Howland Gane Jacobs Jane Jacobs Moley King (Molly) Samuel King Abner Labor Isaac Lawton James Lawton Robert Lawton Polly Loman Polly Lyma (Lyna) Nabor Lyndol Ephram Macomber Alexander Maddison Elizabeth Maize Nabor Maize Frank Malbone William Manchester Benjamin Marsh Gould Marsh Jeneral Martin Simeon Martin Nabor Mase Benjamin Mott Edward Mumford |
Nabor Osbon Thomas Peckham Nabor Penrose Samuel Pierce Mary Pratt William Robinson Clark Rodman Nabor Rogers Sarah Rogers Widow Rogers Captain Shaw Asa Sherman Isaac Sherman John Sherman Perry Sherman Preserved Sherman Robert Sherman Samson Sherman Walter Sherman George Sisson Richard Sisson John Slocum Samuel Slocum Nathan Spenser Robert Stephens Silas Studson Abner Tabor James Taylor (Tailor) John Tillinghast Barrey Thurston Lathem Thurston Mary Thurston Moley Thurston John Vaughn John Ward Perry Weaver Peleg Wood |