McPEAK! October 31, 1768 at the Colden Store, Coldengham, New York

Monday, October 31, 1768
Coldengham, New York
Store of Cadwallader Colden, Jr.

McPeak

Dennis McPeak purchased a gallon of West Indian Rum at the Colden Store on this day, 250 years-ago.

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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.

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The surname of 'McPeak' (McPeack, McPeick, McPieck) appeared twenty-three times in the Day Book. All twenty-three were for Dennis (Dinis, Dinnes, Dinnis) (Acct#s 83 & 186). The entries mentioned his wife, his boy, and his girl. One transaction was a deposit by McPeak to the account of Dr. Louden.

His transactions included the sale of about 100 bushels of wheat to the store. He purchased a sickle which may have been used in the wheat harvest. He bought a seven-and-one-half-pound bladder of snuff, a very large amount.

In 1779, he appeared in the tax assessment for Hanover Precinct as 'Dennis McPake' with forty acres of land and only six pounds of personal property.

Dennis either moved or died as he does not appear in the first U.S. census of 1790 in the Town of Montgomery (formerly Hanover Precinct). No other record was found for him.

Surprisingly, Dennis McPeak was a name shared by at least two other contemporary persons. One was a corporal in the NY 2nd regiment during the Revolutionary War. This could have been a child of McPeak, but this young man was living in New York City when he enlisted, not in Ulster. The other was a resident of Bergen County, NJ who left a will in 1787.

Like many who shopped at the Colden Store, the surviving historical records for Dennis McPeak are few. His purchases at the Colden Store may be the richest surviving record of his life.

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JOEL CAMPBELL! October 28, 1768 at the Colden Store, Coldengham, New York

Friday, October 28, 1768
Coldengham, New York
Store of Cadwallader Colden, Jr.

Joel Campbell

Cadwallader Colden Jr. opened his Day Book to make the entry for Joel Campbell. There were only four unfinished pages remaining. At the bottom of the fifth page from the end was room to enter Joel's three purchases: Nails, Rum, and Shot.

October 28, 1768 entry for Joel Campbell in Colden Day Book. Collections of New-York Historical Society.

Only three more days of store transactions would be entered into this book. Joel's entry was the last Campbell surname to appear in this DayBook.

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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.

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Ancestors from the 18th century frequently have very thin contemporary documentation. So is it with my ancestor, Joel Campbell. Every contemporary mention of him is precious. The few words on this page are parsed to try and understand him better.

For example, did Joel instruct Colden on how to spell his name? The first entry in the Day Book for Joel in 1767 has his given name as 'Joall.' All of the subsequent entries have the spelling as in most other contemporary records of him.

And what about Joel's last name? Two weeks earlier, Colden spelled Joel's brothers' surname as 'Cambel.' Did Joel instruct him that there was a 'p' in the spelling? Being the son of a Scotsman, Colden should have known of Campbells and the normal spelling?

Why did Joel need so many nails? Was he building a structure? Or was he employed by another person in the process of building? There is no record of Joel being a carpenter and he was often described as a yeoman, which means he was likely building something for himself.

Joel bought gun shot but no gun powder. This was unusual. He had purchased powder a few weeks earlier, October 7, so that must have lasted him. Was the shot and powder for militia drills or for hunting? At thirty-three years of age he was a bit older than the prime age for militia duty and these were relatively peaceful times. Most likely he was hunting game.

I could go on, but one can see that the tiniest information can be parsed for clues about who these people were who lived close to the Colden Store. Sometimes the conclusions are questionable, but just asking the questions starts conversations with fellow researchers. Somehow I managed to fill a 400-page book with the scarce records (parsed for deeper meaning and probabilities) of my ancestor, Joel Campbell. The paperback and e-Book are available at lulu.com.

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GARTERS! October 27, 1768 at the Colden Store, Coldengham, New York

Thursday, October 27, 1768
Coldengham, New York
Store of Cadwallader Colden, Jr.

Garters

Josiah Robison purchased a pair of garters at the Colden Store on this day, 250 years-ago. Garters were simply two ribbons that were tied tightly around the leg at the top of long stockings to keep them from falling down. Their manner of use can be seen in paintings of the day. More can be seen at the 18th Century Notebook.

Garters in 1774 Painting, The Battle Royal. Collections of Yale University.  

18th Century Garter. Image courtesy of Colonial Williamsburg  

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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.

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The Day Book recorded sales of over thirty garters. They were always sold in pairs and never had descriptors of color, design, or width. In one case the item was 'Garters and Pins' indicating that perhaps pins were used to hold the garters in place.

Colden stocked his shelves with 'gartering' sold to him by Hugh Calhoon.

The surname of Robison (Roberson, Robinson) appeared forty-six times in the Day Book. Given names (and their frequency) included Andrew (Acct# 180, 6), Benjamin (Acct# 217, 7), Josiah (Acct# 117, 16), and John (Acct# 187, 15).

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SINSABAUGH! October 24, 1768 at the Colden Store, Coldengham, New York

Monday, October 24, 1768
Coldengham, New York
Store of Cadwallader Colden, Jr.

Sinsabaugh

Jacob Sinsabaugh's daughter (Sensibaugh, Sencebock, Sinsabough) sold two-and-one-half bushels of dirty flaxseed to the Colden Store on this day, 250 years-ago. Because the flaxseed was fouled, she only received three shillings per bushel versus the normal four shillings. She also purchased one pound of Coffee and one-and-one-half yard of Ribbon on her father's account.

October 24, 1768 entry for Jacob Sensebaugh in the Colden Store Day Book. Collections of New-York Historical Society.

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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.

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The surname of Sinsabaugh appeared twenty-three times in the Day Book. Adam (Acct# 120) appeared six times, Crist (Acct# 112) twice, and Jacob (Acct# 103 & 209) fourteen times. The DayBook revealed that Jacob had a son and daughter, Crist had a son, and that Adam was married. A Henry Sinsabough took delivery of items for Jacob Crist, but he appeared no where else in the Day Book.

Henery, Johannis, and Crist Sensabough appeared in the 1779 tax assessment of Hanover with 70, 135, and 100 acres respectively. They do not appear in the 1798 map of Montgomery indicating that they were not considered major landowners.

Public genealogies were not found to be very helpful for this generation. It would be logical that Adam, Crist, and Henry would be young sons of Jacob. Indeed a Johann Jacob Sensebach emigrated from Germany in 1732 and arrived in Ulster where he married Elisabeth Crist. Unfortunately their many children do not include an 'Adam' or a 'Crist.'

A descendant of this family, Steven L. Sinsabaugh, has published a recent book on the roots of this family, and may contain more proof of the relationships of the Sinsabaugh family mentioned in the Day Book.

[Author's Note: The store purchases of October 25 and 26 did not include anything extraordinary. The next blog post will be for the transactions of October 27.]

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RANK! October 22, 1768 at the Colden Store, Coldengham, New York

Saturday, October 22, 1768
Coldengham, New York
Store of Cadwallader Colden, Jr.

Rank

Lawrence Rank (Ronk, Runk) sold 102 pounds of Butter to the Colden Store on this day, 250 years-ago. He purchased at the same time, one peck of Salt and one pound of Nails. Lawrence had likely traveled to the store with his mother, Clare Rank, who apparently had her own account (#32).

Clare (Clara) also sold Butter to the store (97 pounds) as well as ten pounds of Hops. Both were priced at nine pence per pound. At the same time she purchased Nails, Tea, Sugar, Pepper, Rum, Molasses, and Indigo. The sum of her credits minus purchases left her a positive balance of one pound and two pence. To that she gave two pounds nineteen shillings and ten pence in coinage to Colden, which gave her a even credit to her account of three pounds.

October 22, 1768 transaction of Clare Runk in the Colden Store DayBook.  Collections of New-York Historical Society.

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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.

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As mentioned in the blog on the Alsdorph family (October 18), Margaret Alsdorph (daughter of Lawrence Alsdorph) married Lawrence Ronk (Runk, Rank).

The family appeared in the 1779 tax assessment of Shawangunk as John Rank (2 acres), John George Rank (228 acres), Lawrance Rank (39 acres), and Philip Rank (4 acres).

The surname of Runk (Rank) appeared in the Day Book twenty times. Hans Yurry (Acct# 160) appeared six times and was always represented at the store by his wife. She is likely the 'Clare/Clara' (Acct# 32) who shopped with Lawrence (Acct# 016, 9 store visits) on this day and on one other occasion.  Cornelius (Acct# 211) visited the store twice and was identified as the brother of Lawrence. Margret Runk also had an account (#143) which appeared to have been opened by her mother, Clara. The consecutive entries for Margret and Clara are shown below.

February 2, 1768 entry for Margret Runk in Colden Day Book on bottom of page 187. Collections of New-York Historical Society.  

February 2, 1768 entry for Clara Runk in Colden Day Book on top of page 188. Collections of New-York Historical Society.  

From public genealogies it appears that John George (Hans Yurry) was the father of Lawrence, Cornelius, Philip, John, Margret, and other children not listed in the DayBook or 1779 tax assessment. He was married to Claarje (Clara) Winterwyk.

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MILL BOOK! October 21, 1768 at the Colden Store, Coldengham, New York

Friday, October 21, 1768
Coldengham, New York
Store of Cadwallader Colden, Jr.

Mill Book - Revisited

Doctor John Hill purchased one-half Ct (believed to be the British 'hundredweight' (cwt) or about 100 pounds) of fine flour at the Colden Store on this day, 250 years-ago. He had been charged for this item on June 4 in the Mill Book, yet the entry debited another seven shillings to his account.

October 21, 1768 Entry for Doctor John Hill in Colden Day Book. Collections of New-York Historical Society.

Colden's Mill was discussed in a prior blog, however the number of transactions on this date involving the Mill Book suggest a second look is appropriate.  This may be as close to understanding the Mill Book as we can get.

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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.

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Today's transactions included ten that mentioned the Mill Book. They were all debits for charges in the Mill Book from earlier in the year. The entries included bran, middlings, wheat, rye, and corn. Clearly the mill serviced a wide range of grains and had the ability to bolt (sift) the milled flour.

George Ellems took delivery of three-quarters cwt (about seventy-five pounds) of middlings which were the cereal removed from the wheat flour during the bolting (sifting) process. It is interesting that he paid just as much for this product as Doctor Hill paid for the same amount of fine flour.

October 21, 1768 Entry for George Ellems in Colden Day Book. Collections of New-York Historical Society.

It is not clear if these shoppers were taking deliveries on this date, or if Colden was just updating his books. It may have been the latter as why would all of these persons appear at the store on the same date to take delivery of milled goods? Hopefully the Mill Book will appear in the future or more information will come to light about this operation near the Colden Store.

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CADWALLADER III - October 20, 1768 at the Colden Store, Coldengham, New York

Thursday, October 20, 1768
Coldengham, New York
Store of Cadwallader Colden, Jr.

Cadwallader III

Today (250 years-ago) was a relatively quiet day at the Colden Store with only three customers and five transactions. The most interesting transaction was a deposit of cash by Francis Kain.

October 20, 1768 transaction for Frances Kain in Colden Store DayBook. Cash paid to Cadwallader III? Collection of New-York Historical Society.

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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.

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When Colden 'bought' cash, he took possession of the coinage or bills of credit and added a credit to the customer's store account. In this case he noted that the cash had been paid to 'Cad^r' at Kain's house. This is Colden's handwriting and it is unlikely that he is referring to himself. It is most likely that 'Cad^r' is Cadwallader Colden III, the twenty-three year old son of Colden.

This is the only mention of Cadwallader III in the Day Book although it seems likely that Colden would involve his son in the store, perhaps even as a clerk.

Cadwallader III would marry Elizabeth Fell six years hence in the Collegiate Church in Manhattan. She was the only daughter of a New Jersey minister who was very outspoken in the cause of independence from Britain. There were undoubtedly some lively discussions at the dinner table as the older Coldens were staunch loyalists.

Elizabeth Fell Colden Headstone at Colden Family Cemetery. Image by Author.

Unfortunately the role of Colden's children in the business are not explicitly noted except for today's cryptic note that seems to indicate that Cadwallader III played a role.

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SLATE & PENCIL! October 19, 1768 at the Colden Store, Coldengham, New York

Wednesday, October 19, 1768
Coldengham, New York
Store of Cadwallader Colden, Jr.

Slate and Pencil

Johannes Krans Jr. purchased a slate and pencil at the Colden Store on this day, 250 years-ago. The price was two shillings and eight pence.

1822 pastel of “School Boy with Slate.” Gift of Dr. Richard Lodish American School Teaching Collection, 2014.0244. Image courtesy of National Museum of American History.

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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.

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There were only three occasions on which slates were sold in the store. Isaac Decker purchased two in October of the prior year and William Cross purchased one in January.

The use of slates as writing surfaces dates back at least to the fourteenth century. Colonial newspapers advertised them (ie. 'Slate Memorandum Books with Pencils' Dec 21, 1769,Boston Newsletter)

Johannes Krans Jr. was married to Catherine Alsdorph (see prior blog) and they already had six children. The oldest was now twelve years old and could certainly make use of a slate to improve his writing skills. The youngest was Catharine who would be baptized in the Dutch Reformed Church on the 29th of this month.

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ALSDORPH! October 18, 1768 at the Colden Store, Coldengham, New York

Tuesday, October 18, 1768
Coldengham, New York
Store of Cadwallader Colden, Jr.

Lawrence Alsdorph

Three different members of the Alsdorph family did business at the Colden Store on this day, 250 years-ago. Lawrence Alsdorph and his son, Simon, both sold flaxseed to the Store. The elder also sold the store fifty-nine pounds of butter. Lawrence's daughter purchased many household items such as tea, sugar, pepper, rum, and gun shot. She purchased Cambrick, Check Linen, and Tape (fabric edging) as well as the luxuries of a hat and two cotton handkerchiefs. Her purchase of an iron-bound barrel (Hogshead) might have been for storage of salted meat for the coming winter. It is suspected that her mother may have already passed away and that the five daughters were maintaining the household.

Simon's wife was pregnant with Simon Jr. He would be born in April the following year.

Headstone of Simon Alsdorph (1769-1853) (son of Simon Alsdorph and grandson of Lawrence Alsdorph)  Image courtesy of David Baird 

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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.

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The Alsdorph surname appeared twenty-one times in the Colden Day Book. Lawrence appeared eleven times. He was identified as the father of at least one daughter and a son named Simon (Symon, Sermion, Lymon). A wife of Lawrence was never mentioned.

Lawrence and his son Simon appeared in the 1779 tax assessment of Shawangunk Precinct. Lawrence had 265 acres and Simon held 78 acres. John Alsdorph was also listed with nine acres. Was this a young son or the grandfather? (see below.)

Luckily for us, Lawrence created a will on January 10, 1788. The will was probated in August of 1789. In the will he confirmed he was of Shawangunk and left an 180 acre farm and a 50 acre farm to his eldest son, Simon. He also left a 110 acre farm to his grandson, Lawrence, who was the son of Johannis. To Johannis (John?) he gave 300 acres purchased from Walter DuBois. He had five daughters Elizabeth (John Tearpenning [Tarpening]), Catherine (Johannis Krans Junr), Mary (Samuel Tearpenning), Margaret (Lawrence Ronk [Rank]), and Geertruyd (Samuel Erwin). Geertruyd and Samuel had by this date long left the area of Shawangunk. Lawrence's wife was not mentioned in the will.

Simon had a son with the same name who lived a long life (see headstone image above.) By this date, it appears the spelling of the last name had morphed to Alsdorf.

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HOPS! October 17, 1768 at the Colden Store, Coldengham, New York

Monday, October 17, 1768
Coldengham, New York
Store of Cadwallader Colden, Jr.

Hops

Peter Ostrander sold seven pounds of hops to the Colden Store on this day, 250 years-ago.

Hops. Image courtesy of Monterey Bay Spice Company

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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.

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Hops have long been used as a flavoring agent in beer manufacture. Beer manufacture was a domestic activity in Colonial America, but there were also commercial breweries in New York City.

The Day Book recorded four purchases of hops at the store. In all cases the store purchased the hops from the farmers. The going rate was nine to twelve pence per pound. It is interesting that this grain was sold by the pound and not by the bushel.

The Ostrander surname was discussed in a prior blog.

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KEMBERGH! October 15, 1768 at the Colden Store, Coldengham, New York

Saturday, October 15, 1768
Coldengham, New York
Store of Cadwallader Colden, Jr.

Kembergh

Mattyce Kembergh (Kimbergh, Kimber, Kenbergh, Kimbark) Junr. sold flaxseed to the Colden Store as did his father, Mattyce, on this day, 250 years ago. The elder sold two bushels, while junior sold five bushels.

Headstone of Matthias Kimbark in Brick Church Cemetery, Montgomery, NY. Image courtesy of Marty 

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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.

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Mattyce Jr. also purchased gun powder and lead; tea, pepper, and sugar; a gallon each of molasses and New York Rum; a pair of buckles and a pair of sleeve buttons; and four pounds of nails.

The Kembergh surname appeared twenty-nine times in the DayBook. They had lived in this area for at least a generation. 'John Mattys Kimberg' was enumerated in 1738 as a member of a company of Highlands Militia under Captain Thomas Ellison. (The Precinct of the Highlands was the precursor to the Wallkill Precinct formed in 1762 in which sat the Colden Store.) [Ruttenber, History of Orange County]

The given names in the Day Book (with their Acct# and frequency) were Frederick (Acct#76, 5), Mattyce (Acct#94, 3), Mattyce Junr (Acct#120&208, 14), and Yurry (Acct#108, 6). The only other relationship revealed by the Day Book is that Frederick had a daughter who took delivery for him on one occasion.

Luckily Mattyce married Elisabeth Milspaugh in 1764 and they had their children baptized in the Dutch Reformed Church. The records of the baptisms still exist and give evidence of this large family of mostly girls. One of the oldest girls, Catharina, was born just six months prior to this visit to the store.

Mattyce Jr. lived in this area his entire life and is buried in the Brick Church Cemetery in Montgomery, New York, only a few miles from the site of the Colden Store.

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CARSKADAN! October 14, 1768 at the Colden Store, Coldengham, New York

Friday, October 14, 1768
Coldengham, New York
Store of Cadwallader Colden, Jr.

Carskadan

Robert Carskadan's brother (George?) purchased ten Rum Hogsheads at the Colden Store on this day, 250 years-ago. A Hogshead was a barrel of about 64 gallons. These were apparently intended to hold rum (or had held rum in the past). Perhaps these were the barrels that Colden had bought in New York City and had used to dispense rum to his customers? Was Carskadan repurposing the hogsheads to store cider? He was known to have a large apple orchard in New Windsor.

Carskadan also bought one-half gallon of West Indian Rum and three pence of sealing wax.

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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.

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Carskadan signed his will only eleven days after this entry in his account. [New York Wills and Administrations, Vol 0024-0027, 1763-1771, p. 54] His illness had prevented him from appearing in person. His brother (George?) and son, John, took delivery of his purchases.

In his will he stated that he was from New Windsor and in poor health. He listed his sons, Robert, Thomas, Andrew and John and his grandsons Caleb Wily and William Carskadan. He also mentioned daughters Margary Case and Lidiah Jain and brother, George. He made no mention of a wife.

His will specified his apple orchards, cider making, and cider vessels. This underscores the importance of apples in the economy. This was also the time of year when apples were being dried as confirmed by Mary Cooper in her journal entry of October 12.  She was 'Much hu[rried dr]ying appels.'

The will was probated in March 1769. Carskadan did not live to see an independent America.

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HOLTZLANDER! October 12, 1768 at the Colden Store, Coldengham, New York

Wednesday, October 12, 1768
Coldengham, New York
Store of Cadwallader Colden, Jr.

Holtzlander

Mary Cooper wrote in her journal on Long Island that today was a 'fine clear day.' But they were 'Much hu[rried dr]ying appels.'

Nicholas Holtzlander (Holslander, Holtslander, Hostlander, Hoslander) sold two-and-one-half bushels of flaxseed to the Colden Store on this day, 250 years-ago. He purchased salt, pepper, tea, sugar, and a half gallon of New York Rum. In addition, he bought one-half pound of cotton and a cotton handkerchief. His most interesting purchase was two dozen shoe tacks.

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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.

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Holtzlander's Day Book account (#30) had seven entries. All of his transactions were made in person. He was the only 'Holtzlander' recorded in the Day Book.

Public genealogies state that Nicholas emigrated from Germany in 1741 and married Anna Jennewein in Philadelphia before joining the German Community on the Wallkill. They had many children in Wallkill Precinct.

By 1779, the name of Holtzlander did not appear in the tax assessments of Hanover or Shawangunk. One son, Adam, entered the military service in Wallkill, Ulster and served in Wissenfels regiment on the frontiers of New York during the Revolution.  He may have liked that part of the country as he settled in Northumberland, PA.

Another son, Albertus, married Catherine Tice in the Goodwill church in 1784.  That is interesting as Jemima Campbell (daughter of Joel Campbell, eponym of this blog) married Joseph Tice in the Goodwill Church in about 1785.

A daughter, Susanna, married Lawrence Tears. See prior blog.

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CHICKENS! October 10, 1768 at the Colden Store, Coldengham, New York

Monday, October 10, 1768
Coldengham, New York
Store of Cadwallader Colden, Jr.

Chickens

John McColough (McCollough, McKoleck, McKolick) sold five chickens to the Colden Store on this day, 250 years-ago.

Colden Day Book entry for John McColough on October 10, 1768. New-York Historical Society

As seen from the image above, McColough also sold two-and-three-quarter pounds of butter to the Store and purchased tea, a knife, and a gallon of New York Rum.

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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.

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This is the only occasion in the Day Book where chickens were bought or sold. McColough received one-half shilling for each of his chickens.

John McColough (Acct# 87) appeared ten times at the store. He always picked up his orders in-person, which was unique.

There were no recorded sales on the following day, Tuesday, October 11, 1768.

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CRISPELL! October 8, 1768 at the Colden Store, Coldengham, New York

Saturday, October 8, 1768
Coldengham, New York
Store of Cadwallader Colden, Jr.

Crispell

Martha Criswell [Crispell] sold three bushels of flaxseed to the Colden Store on htis day, 250 years-ago. She also purchased a blanket, a bible, and a spelling book.

This was the only occurrence of the name 'Martha Criswell' in the Colden DayBook.  In fact, it was the only occurrence of the surname 'Criswell.' Because there is no contemporary record of anyone with that surname in this area of Ulster County, it is supposed that the surname could be 'Crispell,' a surname that appeared in the 1779 tax assessment for Shawangunk Precinct and other contemporary records.

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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.

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Martha may have been related to another shopper at the store whose name was spelled Crapel, Corpel, Corpell, Crepel, Crepell, and Cripell. It is believed that this was the same John Crispell enumerated in the 1779 tax assessment of Shawangunk. John was represented at the Colden Store by his Brother-in-Law and Derrick Roosa who may be one and the same. John Crispell (Acct# 157) visited the store on seven occasions.

Martha could have been a young woman trying to improve herself with Bible and Speller, but more likely she was a widow, maintaining a flax field and raising children. She cannot be found in public on-line genealogies.

Like many other families in this area, the Crispells probably had their origins in Kingston. In fact, the Crispell name is common there and contemporary 'John Crispell's in that area are not to be confused with the John Crispell of Shawangunk.

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JOEL CAMPBELL! October 7, 1768 at the Colden Store, Coldengham, New York

Friday, October 7, 1768
Coldengham, New York
Store of Cadwallader Colden, Jr.

Joel Campbell

Joel Campbell purchased gun powder and shot at the Colden Store on this day, 250 years-ago. He also purchased one-half bushel of salt.

This is the eponymous blog of Joel Campbell so it is only fitting that his purchases be featured. Over the fifteen months covered by the Day Book, Joel visited the store five times. This was his first visit to the Store in eight months. He shopped in December of the prior year, then once in January and again in February. Was there a reason for his long period of absence?

He would pay one final visit to the store in three weeks time.

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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.

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Joel's purchases of gun shot and salt may suggest that he planned to hunt for game and salt it for consumption during the winter months.

Joel would have been thirty-three years of age at this date (traditional date of birth) and supporting a family of at least seven including himself. He had three children under six years of age: Jemima (5), Ezekiel (4), and Nathaniel (1). Jonathan (the author's direct line) would not be born for another two years. Joel Jr. (13) and Joshua (7) were the older children. There may have been other children who survived child-birth and lived to this date (see alternate public genealogies), but no confirming evidence has been found.

You can read more about Joel's life and times in my recently published book, Yeoman of the Revolution.

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RIBBON! October 6, 1768 at the Colden Store, Coldengham, New York

Thursday, October 6, 1768
Coldengham, New York
Store of Cadwallader Colden, Jr.

Ribbon

The sun must have returned on this day which saw seventeen shoppers at the store and eighty-four items sold.

Hons William Youngblood purchased many fabrics, thread, and needles.  He also bought three yards of Ribbon.

Green Silk Ribbon.  Image courtesy of Colonial Williamsburg  

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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.

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Ribbon was sold on forty-eight occasions at the Colden Store. It was most often written with no descriptors. The rare descriptors were Lawn, Broad White, Plain, and White. The pricing per yard varied from one to two shillings.

Ann Smart Martin has written extensively about the uses of ribbon in Colonial America. Ribbon exchange was a part of the courtship ritual. You can read more at this link..

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TEARS! October 5, 1768 at the Colden Store, Coldengham, New York

Wednesday, October 5, 1768
Coldengham, New York
Store of Cadwallader Colden, Jr.

Tears

A 'very warm rain' fell about the Colden Store and may have affected traffic.  Only six accounts had transactions and only sixteen items were sold on this day, 250 years-ago.

Johannes Tears (Tear, Tease, Terse, Teiss, Tearse) spent seventeen shillings and seven pence at the Colden Store on this day. His purchases included seven pounds of rice, three pounds of sugar, a pound of tea, one-half pound of allspice and pepper, and a gallon of New York Rum.

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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.

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The surname of 'Tears' appeared twenty-eight times in the DayBook. Given names and their frequency included Daniel (Acct#33, 4), Daniel Junr (Acct#191, 1), Johannes/Honnes/Haneas (Acct#71&202, 19), and Jacob (Acct#159, 4). Representing them at the store were Johannes' son and daughter, Jacob's wife, and Daniel's father. A purchase by Johannes appears adjacent to the purchase by Daniel which was delivered to 'his father' so it is supposed that Johannes was the father of Daniel.

In the 1779 tax assessment of Hanover Precinct only Jacob and Lawrence 'Tearce' were enumerated. Jacob had thirty acres and Lawrence had no real property.

A Daniel Tears appeared in the Town of Montgomery records of 1794 when he purchased a person from the overseers of the poor (Ruttenber, p383).

Sadly there is little of this family in public genealogies.  It appears many of them moved west to the Deerpark area (Mamakating) at about the same time (1790) as the Campbells (eponym of this blog). Luckily this record of their purchases at the Colden Store preserves some of the names, relationships, and shopping preferences.

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LOGWOOD! October 4, 1768 at the Colden Store, Coldengham, New York

Tuesday, October 4, 1768
Coldengham, New York
Store of Cadwallader Colden, Jr.

Logwood

Thomas Beattie purchased three pounds of Logwood at the Colden Store on this day, 250 years-ago.

Logwood.  Image courtesy of AllThePrettyFibers  

Webster defined Logwood in his 1828 dictionary as 'A species of tree and wood, called also Campeachy-wood, from the bay of Campeachy in Spanish America, of the genus Haematoxylon, of which there is one species only. This tree has a crooked, deformed stem, growing to the height of 20 or 24 feet, with crooked irregular branches, armed with strong thorns. The wood is of a firm texture and a red color. It is much used in dyeing.'

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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.

===============================

Colden sold logwood on six different occasions. It was useful as a red dye, however one source states that logwood can produce a wide range of colors including blue, blueish purples, magenta and black.

It is likely that the term 'redwood' is synonymous with logwood in the Colden DayBook. Colden sold 'Red Wood' on twenty-six occasions (see DYES!).

More on the Beattie family appeared in a prior blog.

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THIMBLE! October 3, 1768 at the Colden Store, Coldengham, New York

Monday, October 3, 1768
Coldengham, New York
Store of Cadwallader Colden, Jr.

Thimble

Today was a 'fine warm day' at the Colden Store if the weather recorded by Mary Cooper in Long Island stretched up to the farms near Newburgh.

Ruleafe Lutts purchased two thimbles at three pence at the Colden Store on this day, 250 years-ago.

Colonial Thimble. Image courtesy of Massachusetts Historical Society 

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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.

===============================

Colden sold thimbles on seven occasions. Perhaps thimbles were a luxury as all households did needlework and there were hundreds of households.

Lutts (Lits, Litts, Luts, Luets, Loots, Leather) made the most of his trip to the store.  He sold the store one-and-one-half bushel of wheat, beeswax, nuts, and beets.  He purchased lead and powder, needles and linen, salt, and a corn fan. He splurged on a four-and-one-half shilling hat. His name appeared three times in the DayBook. Others with the same surname included Andrew (1), Koonrod (3), John (2), and Nicholas (2).

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SAGATHY! October 1, 1768 at the Colden Store, Coldengham, New York

Saturday, October 1, 1768
Coldengham, New York
Store of Cadwallader Colden, Jr.

Sagathy

Samuel Boyd purchased ten yards of Sagathy at the Colden Store on this day, 250 years-ago. Webster defined Sagathy in his 1828 dictionary as 'A kind of serge; a slight woolen stuff.' It was often used for clothes and curtains.

Modern Sagathy  Image courtesy of Hartman & Forbes  

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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.

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Sagathy was sold on only three occasions at the Colden Store. It commonly sold for six-and-one-half shillings per yard.

The Boyd surname appeared twenty-four times in the DayBook. All but five of those referred to James Boyd. Robert Boyd, the gunsmith, was mentioned four times. Samuel Boyd was mentioned only this one time. In addition to the Sagathy, he purchased other sewing supplies including Buckram, Shalloon, Flannel, Mohair, Buttons, and Silk Thread.

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