Domestic Account Book belonging to Benj & Julia Rush beginning June 1799, 1799-1828

Containers:

Volume 2

Creator:

Rush, Benjamin, 1746-1813 and Rush, Julia Stockton

Extent:

1 Volumes

Scope and content:

Contains primarily accounts for individuals the Rush's employed in their household, including various house servants, cooks, coachmen, farmers and gardeners, along with accounts for work completed by washerwomen outside the residence. Individual accounts include the servant's name, followed by notes on pay and payments made, as well as any holds on pay, advances, loans, and pay rate increases. They also indicated when an individual was supplied with shoes or clothing, or had time off to visit the country. In addition, for the majority of the individuals, Benjamin continued his habit of adding a descriptive note when the person left their service, stating the reason for the departure, commenting on the quality of that servant's work, outlining their personal and work habits (especially their drinking habits), whether they married or not, and their race or ethnic background. Includes an incomplete alphabetical index for servant names. There are a few additional household accounts briefly noted, for wood and an umbrella, as well as two receipts, one for taxes and another (laid-in) for bread.

Acquisition information:

Gift of Josiah Charles Trent Collection, 1956

Physical description:

146 pages

Subjects:

Households -- Pennsylvania -- History -- 19th century
Finance, Personal -- Pennsylvania -- History -- 19th century
Home economics -- Pennsylvania -- Accounting
Unskilled labor -- Pennsylvania
Account books

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