Account book of a rug merchant, Boston, Mass., 1822-1828

Description

A rare and extensive account book kept by a leading Boston rug merchant, recording six years of sales from January 2, 1822 through April 30 1828 throughout New England and beyond, many to prominent people, including John Quincy Adams. This volume provides outstanding evidence of precisely which styles of rugs and carpets graced specific homes in Boston and elsewhere and more generally constitutes a rich source of information on the rugs and carpets available at the time and who bought them. The manuscript is 335 pages, all of which are used. The cover features a blind-stamped ornamental border and is made of leather.

While the name of the merchant is not mentioned, it is almost certainly the firm of Ballard & Prince. According to the Boston Directory for 1822, there were just two carpet warehouses in Boston at the time, that of Joseph G. Bacon at 18 and 20 Market Street and the warehouse of Joseph Ballard & Charles A. Prince located at 41 Marlboro. In 1825, Joseph Bacon sold his inventory to Samuel Doggett (Doggett & Co.), who moved the stock to his premises and began operating as a Looking Glass and Carpet Warehouse. The account book is written in the same hand from beginning to end, and makes no mention of looking glasses, almost certainly indicating that it was kept by Ballard & Prince.

The entries in this account book record the rugs, carpeting, and other items sold, item measurements (in yards), prices, client names (and frequently the city or state of residence), with occasional additional comments. While most of the firm’s customers were located in Boston, the company also made sales to such towns as Haverhill, Massachusetts; Watertown, Massachusetts; Gloucester, Massachusetts; New Bedford, Massachusetts; New York City; Brooklyn, New York; Portland, Maine; Augusta, Maine; Kennebunk, Maine; Hillsboro, New Hampshire; and many other locales. Among the most distant noted are Illinois and Halifax. The company sold a wide range of carpeting and rugs identified here as Brussels, Viennese, Kidderminster, Pelisse, Imperial, Ingrain, Wool, India, Calcutta, Chaise, Super Ingrain, Turkey, Wilton, Elephant, Bombayette, straw, and hearth. Also recorded are "binding," seaming, work on rug borders, coach fringe, lace, and window blinds. Considerable business is documented with other companies, such as Oxford Woolen Manufacturing Co.; How & Andrews of Boston, who purchase flannel; Barth, Nason & Co.; Samuel Chase & Co., et al. Also recorded are sales of the firm’s wares at various auctions (via Whitwell, Bond & Co. and others); sales on commission; returns; deliveries from other companies, etc. In at least one instance, the firm does business with a company from Havana.

Many of the firm’s customers are notable individuals in Boston and greater New England. These include Thomas [Handasyd] Perkins (1764-1854); Capt. Winslow Lewis (1770-1850); Capt. Oliver Lane; Boston real estate developer, Cornelius Coolidge (1778-1843); Gardiner Greene (1753-1832); Hon. Artemas Ward Jr. (1762-1847); Gen. Joshua Wingate (1773-1843); Joseph McKeen (1757-1807), the first president of Bowdoin College; businesswoman Ann Bent (1768-1857); Josiah Quincy III (1772-1864); Israel Thorndike (1755-1832); Gen. Henry Dearborn (1751-1829), and a number of Cabot family members in Boston. On 13 Sept. 1823, Hon. John Quincy Adams buys 22 yards of ingrain carpeting, 12 yards of green binding, and 4 additional yards of carpeting. On 28 Dec. 1824, a rug is purchased by a Mr. Thoreau in Concord, Mass. (likely John Thoreau, H. D.’s father), and on 15 Jan. 1825, Benjamin Guild Esq., buys a "Turkey carpet" for the General Hospital of Boston. Other individuals buy carpeting for various Boston taverns, hotels and coffee houses. The City of Boston purchases a carpet for the House of Industry. Quite a few female clients are listed, but are difficult to fully identify as their names are typically given as Mrs. Twill, Miss Belknap, Mrs. Graves, etc. It is also sometimes noted when a woman accompanies a male client. Customers for whom only street addresses are noted (without town, city, or state provided) were evidently located in Boston.