A Guide to the Alanson Harris Blacksmith Ledgers and Daybook, 1839-1867 Alanson Harris Blacksmith Ledgers and Daybook, 1839-1867 Augusta County (Va.) Reels 253, 255, 256/Barcodes 1178205, 1187894, 1187992

A Guide to the Alanson Harris Blacksmith Ledgers and Daybook, 1839-1867

A Collection in
the Library of Virginia
Collection numbers: Augusta County (Va.) Reels 253, 255, 256/Barcodes 1178205, 1187894, 1187992


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© 2008 By The Library of Virginia. All Rights Reserved.

Processed by: Bari Helms

Repository
The Library of Virginia
Collection numbers
Augusta County (Va.) Reels 253, 255, 256/Barcodes 1178205, 1187894, 1187992
Title
Alanson Harris Blacksmith Ledgers and Daybook, 1839-1867
Physical Characteristics
5 v. and 3 microfilm reels
Collector
Augusta County (Va.) Circuit Court
Location
State Records Center - Archives Annex, Library of Virginia
Language
English

Administrative Information

Access Restrictions

Closed for reformatting.

Use Restrictions

Use microfilm, Augusta County (Va.) Reels 255 and 256 for Ledger, 1839-1866 and Augusta County (Va.) Reel 253 for Ledger, 1860-1867.

Preferred Citation

Alanson Harris Blacksmith Ledgers and Daybook, 1839-1867. Local government records collection, Augusta County Court Records. The Library of Virginia, Richmond, Va. 23219.

Acquisition Information

These items came to the Library of Virginia in transfers of court papers from Augusta County under the accession number 43658.

Historical Information

Alanson Harris, born in 1812, owned a blacksmith business in Augusta County (Va.). Harris often performed carpentry work with the assistance of carpenter E. B. Simpson. Simpson, born in 1832, lived in Augusta County (Va.) until he relocated to Colorado in the 1870s.

Scope and Content

The Alanson Harris Blacksmith business records consist of three ledgers, one blacksmith and carpentry work ledger, and one daybook.

Alanson Harris Blacksmith Ledger, 1839-1866, records the accounts of individual customers. Each account entry lists transactions in chronological order and includes the amounts owed and paid. The ledger is separated into two parts, each of which has its own index.

The first half of the ledger, 1839-1840, could pertain to the business M. G. & Co., which is embossed on the spine of the ledger. There is no mention of this business within the ledger, but there are several references to members of the Harris family -- specifically George T. Harris and Frank L. Harris. Entries are listed in chronological order under individual account names with amounts owed and paid, and each transaction is described as being for either merchandise, sundries, or interest.

The second half of the ledger, 1864-1866, is devoted to the blacksmith business operated by Alanson Harris. Transactions, listed under individual account names, record activities such as shoeing horses, making nails, sharpening knives and shears, repairing wagons and carriages, and repairing mill and farm equipment such as reapers and plows.

Ledgers, 1860-1862 and 1860-1867, record the accounts of individual customers. Information found in each account includes the date, type of service provided, and the monies debited or credited to the account. Services provided included shoeing horses, sharpening tools, and repairing wagons and carriages. Also, the back of the volume dated 1860-1862 was used as a daybook for September 1861 to December 1861 with transactions recorded on an almost daily basis. Each entry includes customer name, service provided, and the amount charged for the service.

Blacksmith and Carpentry Work Ledger, 1860-1867, records the carpentry work performed for individual customers. Information found in each account includes the date; amounts of shingles, posts, planks, or timber sawed; and the monies debited or credited to the customer's account. A majority of the carpentry work was done with the assistance of carpenter E. B. Simpson.

Daybook, 1856, records work performed on almost a daily basis. Each entry includes customer name, service provided, and the amount charged for the service. Examples of work performed include shoeing horses, repairing tools, and some carpentry work such as making coffins. The daybook was also used to record the amount of wood hauled throughout the year. These transactions include the customer name and the monies received.

Related Material

For additional information see the Augusta County Chancery Cause, Creditors of Alanson Harris versus Administrator of Alanson Harris. It can be found in the Local Records Collection at the Library of Virginia. The index number is 1890-060.

Index Terms

    Persons:

  • Harris, Alanson.
  • Subjects:

  • Blacksmithing--Virginia--Augusta County.
  • Blacksmiths--Virginia--Augusta County.
  • Carpentry--Virginia--Augusta County.
  • Harris family.
  • Geographical Names:

  • Augusta County (Va.)--History--19th century.
  • Genre and Form Terms:

  • Business records--Virginia--Augusta County.
  • Daybooks--Virginia--Augusta County.
  • Ledgers (account books)--Virginia--Augusta County.
  • Local government records--Virginia--Augusta County.
  • Added Entry - Personal Name:

  • Simpson, E. B.
  • Added Entry - Corporate Name:

  • M. G. & Co.

Significant Places Associated With the Collection

  • Augusta County (Va.)--History--19th century.

Contents List

Barcode number 1178205: M. G. & Co. and Alanson Harris Blacksmith Ledger, 1839-1866
Microfilm reel number: Augusta County (Va.) Reel 255: M. G. & Co. and Alanson Harris Blacksmith Ledger, 1839-1840
Microfilm reel number: Augusta County (Va.) Reel 256: M. G. & Co. and Alanson Harris Blacksmith Ledger, 1840-1866
Barcode number 1187894: Alanson Harris Blacksmith Ledger, 1860-1867
Microfilm reel number: Augusta County (Va.) Reel 253: Alanson Harris Blacksmith Ledger, 1860-1867
Barcode number 1187992: Alanson Harris Blacksmith Ledger, 1860-1862
Barcode number 1187992: Alanson Harris Blacksmith Daybook, 1856
Barcode number 1187992: Blacksmith and Carpentry Work Ledger, 1860-1867