Summary
| Creator: |
Albertson family
|
| Date(s): |
1774-1880 |
| Bulk Dates: |
1880-1862 |
| Call Number: |
MSS 0255 |
| Language: |
English
|
| Abstract: |
The Albertson family papers consist of 1.2 linear feet of material related to this Plymouth Meeting, Pennsylvania family.
The collection spans the dates 1774-1889, and the bulk of the material dates between 1800-1862. The collection includes a
variety of correspondence, promissory notes, receipts, account books, ledgers, checks, composition books, reports, contracts,
and notes. The collection provides a detailed description of the lives of the Albertson family, especially emphasizing the
family's finances. It also provides valuable historical information on the Friends Meeting House at Plymouth, local economy
and businesses, and the Plymouth Railroad.
|
| Physical Description: |
1.2 linear feet
|
| Immediate Source of Acquisition: |
Gift of Anna D. Moyerman, 1972. |
| Processing Information: |
Processed by Anita A. Wellner, 1992. Encoded by Lauren Connolly, September 2015, and Tiffany Saulter, November 2015. Finding aid prepared using Describing Archives: A Content Standard |
Biographical and Historical Notes
The Albertson family papers portray the personal and business affairs of Jacob Albertson, his sons, Josiah and Benjamin, and
other members of their family. Jacob Albertson, 1755-1833, was originally from Cheltenham township in Pennsylvania but later
settled in Plymouth Meeting. He and his wife, Mary, had six children. His land was mined for iron ore.
The majority of the correspondence and documents in this collection concerns Jacob Albertson's two sons, Josiah and Benjamin.
In the 1830s and 1840s, Josiah and Benjamin were involved in the lime business, mining their land as was common in the Plymouth
Meeting area of Pennsylvania.
The Albertson family participated in building the Plymouth Railroad which was organized in 1836 to deliver lime. Josiah, who
signed documents with the title "engineer," became manager of the railroad in 1839. The trains, carrying both freight and
passengers, were pulled by horses. At the Conshohocken terminus a basin was dug, and train cars carrying lime traveled over
the basin to dump their loads into waiting canal boats. However this process did not prove profitable and resulted in sheriff
sales, litigation, and a removal of the tracks in the 1860s.
Josiah Albertson was married to Alice Maulsby, daughter of Samuel Maulsby, who was a farmer and lime burner. Alice was involved
in the butter business. This collection contains portions of her ledger for this enterprise. Josiah, in addition to his work
with the lime business and Plymouth Railroad, also was a teacher in the "old meeting-house school."
The Albertsons were Quakers and were prominent members of the Friends Meeting House in Plymouth. The collection contains a
number of items related to financial affairs and business of the group.
Listed below are names of family members mentioned in this collection. Where information is known, birth dates, death dates,
and family relationship are stated.
---
JACOB AND MARY ALBERTSON
---
Jacob Albertson: 03/11/1755-10/10/1833: father
Mary Albertson: 05/12/1753-11/29/1825: mother
Josiah Albertson: 07/11/1788-12/28/1846: son of Jacob and Mary
Alice Albertson: 1803-1876: wife of Josiah and daughter of Samuel Maulsby
Benjamin Albertson: 12/07/1790-10/18/1856: twin brother of Jacob, son of Jacob and Mary
Jacob Albertson: 12/07/1790-01/05/1859: twin brother of Benjamin, son of Jacob and Mary
Martha Albertson: 1797-?: wife of Jacob and daughter of Samuel Livezey
Hannah Albertson: 09/14/1784-05/12/1848: daughter of Jacob and Mary
Rebecca Albertson: 01/10/1787-02/01/1791: daughter of Jacob and Mary
Rebecca Albertson: 02/25/1793-01/17/1818: daughter of Jacob and Mary
---
JOSIAH AND ALICE ALBERTSON
---
Hannah Albertson: 11/12/1829-03/30/1862: daughter of Josiah and Alice
Samuel Albertson: 04/30/1831-04/01/1874: son of Josiah and Alice
William Albertson: 07/01/1833-?: son of Josiah and Alice
Joseph Albertson: 01/11/1835-01/01/1887: son of Josiah and Alice
Abigail W. Albertson: 09/02/1841-03/12/1881: daughter of Josiah and Alice
Rachel Albertson: ?-?
Charles Albertson: ?-?
Susan Albertson: ?-?
Sources
Historical Society of Montgomery County, Pennsylvania. Bulletin of the Historical Society of Montgomery County, Pennsylvania. Norristown, Pennsylvania: Published by the Society. No. 12 (Fall 1959-Spring 1961). pp. 84-86.
Roberts, Ellwood. Plymouth Meeting; its establishment and the settlement of the township. Norristown, Pennsylvania: Roberts Publishing Co., 1900. pp. 20-21, 71-74, 89-90, 112, 114, 125-126, and 179.
Scope and Contents
The Albertson family papers consist of 1.2 linear feet of material related to this Plymouth Meeting, Pennsylvania family.
The collection spans the dates 1774-1889, and the bulk of the material dates between 1800-1862. The collection includes a
variety of correspondence, promissory notes, receipts, account books, ledgers, checks, composition books, reports, contracts,
and notes.
The collection provides a detailed description of the lives of the Albertson family, especially emphasizing the family's finances.
It also provides valuable historical information on the Friends Meeting House at Plymouth, local economy and businesses, and
the Plymouth Railroad.
Material pertaining to Jacob Albertson consists of autograph documents detailing his financial affairs. Included are numerous
bonds to a variety of individuals, receipts of payments, a document of purchase for land from Joseph Potts, a settlement of
the Susan Albertson estate, an inventory of Jacob Albertson's goods, a tax notice, and a declaration of the dissolution of
Albertson's partnership with his son, Josiah.
The bulk of the collection consists of correspondence and documents pertaining to Josiah Albertson, Jacob's son. Personal
letters are primarily from family members, including his mother Mary, his sister Hannah, and his brothers Jacob and Benjamin.
Business correspondence (concerning the limestone business and the Plymouth Railroad) is to and from a variety of individuals
in the Plymouth Meeting area. Also included in the Josiah Albertson series are numerous financial documents such as receipts,
bills of sale, militia fines, bonds, promissory notes, lists of accounts, checks, accounts and legal documents concerning
the Plymouth Railroad, articles of agreement, subpoenas, tax notices, and contracts. The Josiah Albertson material also includes
several account and receipt books, as well as a composition book for 1801-1802.
Material related to Alice Albertson consists of personal correspondence from friends and family, her butter account books
for 1831 and 1839, and numerous bills and receipts related to her butter business.
The collection also includes correspondence and documents related to Josiah's brothers, Benjamin and Jacob; his children,
Samuel, Hannah, William, and Joseph; as well as Rachel and Charles Albertson. A composition book dated 1805 and belonging
to Jacob Albertson is included in this material.
A variety of documents related to the Friends Meeting House in Plymouth are also found in this collection. The items include
an account book, a treasurer's report, notes on the 1782 annual meeting, a report of the Committee on the Subject of Spirituous
Liquors, and a letter of complaint against Samuel Maulsby.
Finally, the collection contains a number of receipts, bills, documents, poems, and trigonometry problems related to unidentified
persons. Other miscellaneous items include the account book of farmer Hugh L. Tyler and two items of particular interest.
"The Testimony of the Death of Hannah Hill" (1774) is a record of the last illness and death of a young woman as witnessed
by her friends and relations. An undated and incomplete morality play includes a fascinating dialogue between a blind man
and Death.
Using these materials
General
Box 1: Shelved in SPEC MSS record center carton
Box 2: Shelved in SPEC MSS manuscript box (1 inch)
Removals: Shelved in SPEC MSS oversize box (32 inches)
Access Information
This collection is open for research.
Preferred Citation
MSS 0255, Albertson family papers, Special Collections, University of Delaware Library, Newark, Delaware.
Conditions Governing Use
Use of materials from this collection beyond the exceptions provided for in the Fair Use and Educational Use clauses of the
U.S. Copyright Law may violate federal law. Permission to publish or reproduce is required from the copyright holder. Please
contact Special Collections, University of Delaware Library, http://library.udel.edu/spec/askspec/
Container List
Arrangement
The Albertson family papers are arranged in eight series, five of which are devoted to individual family members. The remaining
three series are for miscellaneous family members, the Plymouth Friends meeting house, and miscellaneous documents not identified
as related to any of the Albertson family members.
Individuals of the first five series are Jacob Albertson (father of Josiah), Josiah Albertson, Alice Albertson, Benjamin Albertson,
Jacob Albertson (brother of Josiah). Within each series the material is arranged basically by type (correspondence and documents)
in chronological order. Exceptions to the chronological order are the composition books, ledgers, and account books which
span a number of years and appear at the ends of the series.
Contents of the collection are housed in one record center carton, with one ledger removed to a separate manuscript box.
Series I. Jacob Albertson, 1781-1819
This series consists of documents which detail some of the financial transactions of Jacob Albertson. It includes promissory
notes and bonds placing him in debt to a number of persons. Frequently these documents have had the signature of Jacob Albertson
cut from the document. Also included are receipts of payments to and from Albertson, a document for sale of land to Albertson
from Joseph Potts, an undated inventory of Jacob Albertson's goods, a tax notice, and several other miscellaneous items.
| Documents, 1781-1803 |
Box 1, F1 |
|
Includes bonds, land sale document, promissory notes, receipts, and articles of agreement.
|
|
| Documents, 1804-1819 and n.d. |
Box 1, F2 |
|
Includes receipts; a dissolution of partnership with his son, Josiah; an inventory of goods and chattels; a tax notice; an
invitation; and the settlement of Susan Albertson's estate.
|
|
Series II. Josiah Albertson, 1800-1849
The correspondence and documents in this series describe aspects of the life and business affairs of Josiah Albertson (1788-1846).
The series includes personal correspondence from his family and friends, as well as correspondence related to business affairs.
Financial documents comprise a large portion of the series. These documents consist of receipts, account books, militia fines,
lists of accounts, subpoenas, bills of sale, bonds, promissory notes, checks, contracts, estimates of work, and other material.
Includes a number of documents related to the Plymouth Railroad, and the limestone business.
Series II.1. 1800-1819
| Correspondence, 1800-1819 |
Box 1, F3 |
|
Autograph letters from family, friends, and business acquaintances. Includes letters from Hannah Albertson, Mary Albertson,
Jacob Albertson, Thaddeus Marg, Francis Dauglor, Phillip Markley, and William Proctor.
|
|
| Documents, 1800-1819 |
Box 1, F4 |
|
Consists of autograph financial documents which include receipts, militia fines, a list of accounts, and statements of sales.
|
|
| Composition Book, 1801-1802 |
Box 1, F5 |
|
Includes poems and writings copied by Josiah Albertson at Plymouth boarding school between 1801-1802. Topics include the death
of Joseph Waln (1784), a comparison between a winter orchard and the church, "Hymns to the evening," "On the suffering of
Christ" by Deborah Barkrose, "The Converted Thief," "On the Certainty of There Being a God" by Ann Rees, "Luke Cock's Sermon,"
"Words by John Hunt at Hopewell monthly meeting in Virginia," "On the Death of Charles Williams" by Lydia Williams his daughter,
"On Dress," "On the Death of W.E.L." and "To a Daughter Who Wished..."
|
|
Series II.2. 1820-1829
| Correspondence, 1820-1829 |
Box 1, F6 |
|
Autograph letters from family, friends, and business acquaintances. Includes letters from Benjamin Albertson, John Clarke,
H. Williams, Nathan Hunt, Jonathan Maulsby, Peter Breinig, Martha Shoemaker, Hugh Foulke, Jr., and David Mapps.
|
|
| Documents, 1820-1829 |
Box 1, F7 |
|
Autograph financial and business documents which include bills of sale, accounts of debts, subpoena, promissory notes, bonds,
militia fines, a list of subscribers for repairing the Plymouth Meeting school house, receipts, articles of agreement, plot
plan for Albertson land, and other documents.
|
|
| Checks and receipts, 1820-1829 |
Box 1, F8 |
|
Includes checks written from an account with the Bank of Montgomery County and receipts.
|
|
Series II.3. 1830-1839
| Correspondence, 1836 |
Box 1, F9 |
|
Includes letters from family, friends, and business acquaintances, letters from Benjamin Albertson.
|
|
| Correspondence, 1837 Jan-Aug |
Box 1, F10 |
|
Includes letters from his brother Benjamin and letters concerning business arrangements or financial debts.
|
|
| Correspondence, 1837 Sep-Dec |
Box 1, F11 |
|
Includes letters from Benjamin Albertson and business associates and concerning the railroad and canal.
|
|
| Correspondence, 1838 Jan-Mar |
Box 1, F12 |
|
Includes numerous letters from Benjamin Albertson concerning business matters.
|
|
| Correspondence, 1838 Apr-May |
Box 1, F13 |
|
Includes letters from Benjamin Albertson concerning business transactions, a letter from Josiah to a business associate, and
letters to Josiah from other persons concerning the lime or boat business.
|
|
| Correspondence, 1838 Jun-Dec |
Box 1, F14 |
|
Includes letters from Benjamin Albertson concerning the lime business, a letter from Josiah to Wells and Coffin concerning
bills due for the Plymouth Railroad, and letters concerning the finances of the railroad and lime business.
|
|
| Correspondence, 1939 |
Box 1, F15 |
|
Includes letters from Benjamin Albertson concerning lime business, letters concerning the imprisonment of Robert Miller, a
funeral notice, and letters from customers.
|
|
| Documents, 1831-1836 |
Box 1, F16 |
|
Includes Plymouth Railroad accounts, cost estimates for railroad expenses, proposals for excavations and walling for the railroad,
a lumber contract, a bond made by Josiah Albertson, one note of payment.
|
|
| Documents, 1837-1839 |
Box 1, F17 |
|
Includes summons and court document concerning a suit by William Moore vs. Josiah Albertson and associates, estimates for
work on the Plymouth Railroad, bills related to the railroad, lime and lime boat contracts, certificates of delivery for railroad
building materials, receipts, articles of agreement between Josiah Albertson and individuals for various services.
|
|
| Promissory Notes, 1830-1837 |
Box 1, F18 |
|
Includes promissory notes made by Josiah Albertson to the Bank of Montgomery, to Benjamin Albertson, and to other individuals.
|
|
| Promissory Notes, 1838 |
Box 1, F19 |
|
Includes notes made by Josiah Albertson to the Bank of Montgomery and to others.
|
|
| Promissory Notes, 1839 |
Box 1, F20 |
|
Includes notes made by Josiah Albertson to the Bank of Montgomery and to others.
|
|
| Receipts and Check Stubs, 1830-1835 |
Box 1, F21 |
|
Receipts bear lists of supplies or details of services rendered to Josiah Albertson.
|
|
| Receipts and Check Stubs, 1836-1839 |
Box 1, F22 |
|
Receipts detail goods and services received from Josiah Albertson from a number of individuals.
|
|
| Daybook and Ledger, 1828-1839 |
Box 1, F23 |
|
Details of finances and daily routines. See Box 2.
|
|
| Account and Receipt Book, 1836-1837 |
Box 1, F24 |
|
Includes accounts and receipts for the lime business and the Plymouth Railroad. Most were originally individual items which
have been pasted into this book.
|
|
| "Josiah Albertson's Receipt Book for Plymouth Railroad,", 1836-1839 |
Box 1, F25 |
|
Consists of autograph receipts made by Josiah Albertson for materials and services related to the construction of the Plymouth
Railroad and the canal. Also contains several receipts laid in the front of the book.
|
|
| Account and Receipt Book, 1837-1838 |
Box 1, F26 |
|
Booklet kept by Josiah Albertson. Includes accounts and receipts related to the Plymouth Railroad, the lime business, and
boats built for transporting lime.
|
|
| Account Book, 1830-1841 |
Box 1, F27 |
|
Includes accounts for lime business as conducted by Josiah and Benjamin Albertson, especially as related to a lime boat called
"Plymouth Rover."
|
|
Series II.4. 1840-1849
| Correspondence, 1840 Feb-Jul |
Box 1, F28 |
|
Includes letters from Benjamin Albertson and others concerning his lime business. Some of the letters from his brother Benjamin
also detail their family lives.
|
|
| Correspondence, 1840 Aug-Dec |
Box 1, F29 |
|
Includes letters from Benjamin Albertson and others. Most of the letters concern his lime business. One letter, from a James
Morris details legislation in Pennsylvania concerning the "insane poor."
|
|
| Correspondence, 1841 |
Box 1, F30 |
|
Includes letters from Benjamin Albertson and others concerning the lime business, sale of the lime boat, "Rover," Plymouth
Railroad, and financial matters.
|
|
| Correspondence, 1842-1843 |
Box 1, F31 |
|
Includes letters from Benjamin Albertson and others concerning the lime business and financial affairs. Also includes letters
from Josiah to Benjamin and one letter to Josiah concerning the Friends Meeting.
|
|
| Correspondence, 1844-1849 and n.d. |
Box 1, F32 |
|
Includes letters from Benjamin Albertson, Mary Albertson (Josiah's mother), and others. Most of the letters concern financial
matters although some do detail family information.
|
|
| Documents, 1840-1849 and n.d. |
Box 1, F33 |
|
Includes an account of transportation on Plymouth Railroad, bonds by Josiah Albertson, court documents related to Albertson
vs. Wells, subpoenas, a notice of taxes, documents concerning the Plymouth Railroad (including the rules and regulations),
and documents concerning the lime business of Josiah Albertson.
|
|
| Promissory Notes, 1840-1846 |
Box 1, F34 |
|
Notes by Josiah Albertson to a number of individuals.
|
|
| Receipts, 1840-1844 |
Box 1, F35 |
|
Numerous individual receipts detailing supplies and services received by Josiah Albertson.
|
|
| Receipts, 1845-1850 and n.d. |
Box 1, F36 |
|
Includes individual receipts listing items and services received by Jacob Albertson.
|
|
Series III. Alice Albertson, 1828-1862
Alice Albertson was the wife of Josiah Albertson and the daughter of Samuel Maulsby. The material in this collection relates
to her butter business and includes account books, bills, receipts, and correspondence.
Arrangement
Arranged chronologically.
| Correspondence, 1828-1847 |
Box 1, F37 |
|
Includes letters from several friends and two of her nieces and concerns a variety of personal and family matters.
|
|
| Butter Account Books, 1831, 1839 |
Box 1, F38 |
|
The account books detail Alice Albertson's butter business. The two books list customers, amounts of butter sold, and prices.
|
|
| Receipts and Bills, 1847-1850 |
Box 1, F39 |
|
Includes receipts and bills which bear detailed lists of merchandise and services.
|
|
| Receipts and Bills, 1851-1862 and undated |
Box 1, F40 |
|
Includes documents which detail her purchases of supplies and services.
|
|
Series IV. Benjamin Albertson, 1825-1839
Benjamin Albertson was the son of Jacob Albertson and the brother of Josiah Albertson. He was involved with his brother in
the lime business and the Plymouth Railroad. This collection of material includes correspondence, receipts, and other documents.
See Series II for correspondence from Benjamin to Josiah.
| Correspondence, Receipts, and Documents, 1825-1839 |
Box 1, F41 |
|
Includes a proxy signed by Benjamin, several brief notes to Benjamin, letters concerning the lime business from customers,
and letters from family.
|
|
Series V. Jacob Albertson, 1839-1847
Jacob Albertson (1790-1859) was the twin brother of Benjamin Albertson. This small collection of material includes correspondence,
receipts, and a composition book.
| Correspondence, Documents, and Receipts, 1839-1847 |
Box 1, F42 |
|
Includes letters from Benjamin Albertson, a court summons, and several receipts.
|
|
| Composition Book, 1805 |
Box 1, F43 |
|
The book contains samples of Jacob Albertson's penmanship for September 16 through October 22, 1805.
|
|
Series VI. Miscellaneous Material Related to the Albertsons, 1811-1880
Includes bills, correspondence, and receipts.
| Correspondence and Documents, 1811-1880 |
Box 1, F44 |
|
Includes correspondence, receipts, or bills related to a number of Albertson family members, including Rachel, Samuel, Hannah,
Charles, William, and Joseph.
|
|
Series VII. Plymouth Meeting (Friends) Material, 1782-1838
Consists of various records concerning the Friends Meeting at Plymouth, including an account book and treasurer's report.
The records note the participation and support of the Albertson family. Josiah appears to have kept the accounts of the treasury
for the meeting between 1828-1838.
| Documents of Plymouth Meeting, 1782-1838 |
Box 1, F45 |
|
Includes a list of books at Plymouth Meeting in 1824, notes from the 1782 annual meeting, treasurer's records for 1828-1838,
a letter of complaint concerning Samuel Maulsby by the children and legatees of David Brooke in 1832, and a "Report of Committee
on Subject of Spirituous Liquors."
|
|
Series VIII. Miscellaneous Material, 1774-1867
This series consists of a variety of material, including receipts, bills, accounts, testimonies to a death, the account book
of Hugh L. Tyler, and an incomplete morality play.
Series VIII.1. Bills, Receipts, Accounts, and Other Documents, 1805-1853
| Bills, Receipts, Accounts, and Documents, 1805-1853 |
Box 1, F46 |
|
Includes bills and receipts which detail supplies and services purchased, transcribed quotations of poetry, copies of trigonometry
problems, lists of accounts, and other brief notes.
|
|
Series VIII.2. Testimony of the Death of Hannah Hill, Jr, 1774
| Testimony of the Death of Hannah Hill, Jr, 1774 |
Box 1, F47 |
|
Consists of a booklet beginning on page 5 which bears the description of the death of Hannah Hill as recorded by an unidentified
person. Testimonies are made by Griffith Owen, Thomas Chalkley, and an unidentified person.
|
|
Series VIII.3. Account and Receipt Book, 1811-1812
This may have been an account book kept by Jacob Jones, who is mentioned in the book.
| Account and Receipt Book, 1811-1812 |
Box 1, F48 |
|
This book details various accounts and receipts for hay and corn. Most of the receipts are to Jacob Jones.
|
|
Series VIII.4. Account Book of Hugh L. Tyler, 1846-1867
| Account Book of Hugh L. Tyler, 1846-1867 |
Box 1, F49 |
|
Consists of detailed records of the purchases and other business transactions of Hugh L. Tyler. The records seem to indicate
that Mr. Tyler owned a farm and that Mrs. Tyler sold butter.
|
|
Series VIII.5. Untitled Morality Play, undated
| Untitled Morality Play, undated |
Box 1, F50 |
|
This unidentified morality play is incomplete, beginning on page 9. The play consists of a dialogue between a blind man and
Death. Consists of pages 9-28.
|
|
| Josiah Albertson. Daybook and Ledger, 1828-1839 |
Box 2 |
|
Ledger removed from Box 1, F23.
|
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Names & Subjects
Names
Subjects
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