Accounts in the Historic Manuscripts Collection

Our Historic Manuscripts Collection comprises some of the earliest documents in our collections, from the 1670s to the early 20th century. One category within this collection is Accounts. Used as a broad category, the Accounts category includes receipts, promissory notes, bills of lading, auction notices, pew rentals, ledger pages, tax receipts, and notes or correspondence regarding land transactions. The Accounts category documents economic activity in our community, from the purchasing of fabric, food, and furniture, to paying for the services of a doctor, batteauman, or teacher, to the ordering of military supplies, to the traffic in enslaved human beings. These financial transactions show us not only about commerce in the community, but also help to shed light on occupations, transportation, military operations, local disputes over land, law, fashion, daily life, agriculture, and the mores and customs of people in our area.

Below are just a few examples of documents in the Accounts category. A full listing of the documents can be found here. Information about other accounts and financial transactions, see our collection of vault books and ask our Librarian about records in our collection pertaining to local businesses.

Portion of Mrs. Jacob Winne's account with Stephen Van Rensselaer for rent, including payment in bushels of wheat, rye, corn,  and via the pasturing of animals. Image of Accts 544 from Grems-Doolittle Library Historic Manuscripts Collection.

This document, dated March 21, 1785, is a statement certifying that a batteauman by the name of Anthony Flansburgh had received all of his pay in service of Joseph Peek's company of batteaumen. Image of Accts 165 from Grems-Doolittle Library Historic Manuscripts Collection. 

1853 receipt of payment of bill to Schenectady Gas Light Company for a home on Union Street. Image of Accts 1804 from Grems-Doolittle Library Historic Manuscripts Collection.

Receipt for sale of a enslaved woman named Sarah, from John Brown to Nicholas Stevens, dated December 6, 1764, for £40 in New York Currency. Image of Accts 1873 from Grems-Doolittle Library Historic Manuscripts Collection.

Receipt for $25.00 paid by Henry Glen, agent to the United States, for sundries advanced to two Indian chiefs and their interpreter, signed James Murdock & Company. Image of Accts 342 from Grems-Doolittle Library Historic Manuscripts Collection.

Receipt for a payment from John Visger to Derrick Groot for “keeping” Susanna Brat, dated February 16, 1776. Image of Accts 1905 from Grems-Doolittle Library Historic Manuscripts Collection.

Portion of a quartermaster’s 1734 calculations for army rations, including flour, pork, rum, candles, vinegar, and soap. Image of Accts 1169 from Grems-Doolittle Library Historic Manuscripts Collection.