Coldengham, New York
Store of Cadwallader Colden, Jr.
Hugh Calhoon - Traveling Salesman?
On this day, 250 years ago, twenty-two items were purchased on nine different accounts. The items were nothing unusual; rum, tea, molasses, chocolate, fabrics, buttons, utensils, a hat, and a bible.
Colden expected fresh inventory to arrive tomorrow, courtesy of Hugh Calhoon. Indeed, tomorrow saw the arrival of Mr. Calhoon, a supplier of fabric, stockings and shoes. Colden bought over £28 of goods from him.
 |
| Items purchased from Hugh Calhoon on April 12, 1768. |
Search the DayBook
This article is one in a series of a daily accountings of Colden Store transactions. Be sure you read the first installment for an introduction to the store. You should also read this article which appeared in the Journal of the Orange County Historical Society.
The DayBook does not reveal very much about how Colden stocked his store. From where and from whom did he acquire the thousands of gallons of rum sold at the store? And what about the molasses, salt, tea, and coffee? These articles were probably imported into the docks at New York City, but how did they get to Coldengham? Was there an intermediary merchant that managed the New York to New Windsor trade or did Colden supply his store by directly interacting with New York City merchants? None of these details are recorded in the DayBook.
Colden did some minor purchasing and reselling from local farmers and tradesmen. For example, he bought and resold shoes, honey, butter, bran, wheat, skins. But these small supplies were not a major part of his business.
I have found only two significant suppliers mentioned in the DayBook (so far, as much is yet to be transcribed). The first was William Hill who supplied 66 hats to the store in November 1767. His hats were usually sold as "Hills Hats."
The second supplier was Hugh Calhoon. He is mentioned only twice in the DayBook. The first time was tomorrow, 250 years ago. He sold Colden four rolls of fabric: Linen, Calico, and Shiff. Colden also bought from him eighteen garters, a dozen stockings, and three pairs of shoes. See transcription above.
On Calhoon's second visit in the coming June, he sold snuff in addition to his fabrics.
Calhoon and Hill appear to be the rare suppliers who visited the Colden Store. Most of the store inventory appears to have been acquired in New York City or Newburgh/New Windsor and not recorded in the DayBook.
Calhoon is not found in any of the local records of the day and is not mentioned in any New York City newspapers, but he would be an interesting subject of history.
===================
Search the DayBook
No comments:
Post a Comment