William Gay Butler letter to Jonathan Butler 2nd, 1825 August 25
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Handle |
Handle
http://hdl.handle.net/11134/690002:294
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Persons |
Persons
Correspondent (crp): Butler, William Gay, 1799-1857
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Title |
Title
Title
William Gay Butler letter to Jonathan Butler 2nd, 1825 August 25
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Origin Information |
Origin Information
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Parent Item |
Parent Item
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Resource Type |
Resource Type
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Digital Origin |
Digital Origin
reformatted digital
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Description |
Description
Letter addressed from Philadelphia with a stamped postmark including the date, for 18 1/2 cents postage. The paper is torn and stained with red wax residue where it was sealed. William Gay Butler writes to his father Jonathan Butler in West Hartford about his business as an itinerant peddler. William writes that he was very badly kicked by a horse, but has since recovered. He has had no particular bad luck, but business is very poor. He purchased 2500 lbs of good Marino wool in Pittsburgh, and expects to make at least $200 despite wool having fallen 5 or 6 cents per lb. He has been offered cost for the wool but is holding off in hopes of a better deal. On his last trip William sold $3300 worth of goods, meeting his expectations, and has purchased $3000 to $3500 worth in Philadelphia and New York in anticipation of heading west next Monday. He was in New York from May 17-22, but was very busy and so "omitted" writing to his father. He sent Hiram Roberts a small bundle by a friend from Hartford, via the steamboat Oliver Ellsworth, and enclosed William's brother Epaphras' note from A. Leibbrandt with a receipt signed by all his creditors. William enumerates the amounts paid to the creditors: $89.04 to Harvey Filley; $53.73 to A. Leibbrandt; $21.95 to H. and Rudy; $14.78 to Ebenezer Buck, and $5.80 to Thomas Leiper, making $185.30 in total. William received a letter from his sister Maria and her husband George Wells dated May 13, informing him that they were well and received the goods he sent to Maria the last of July; one broken platter was the only article damaged in transit. William explains that he sent them more than was covered by the $100 offered by Jonathan, and asks him to credit him the difference; if it isn't enough to cover the freight, then George will remit him the balance and look to the Cleveland merchants Mssrs. Seely and Filley for credit if necessary. William refers Jonathan to George for any further particulars in the matter. William writes that he remitted Hiram Roberts $100 in May, as agreed, paid his draft for $200 on August 10 for an order of cloth, and sent 1000 lbs of feathers to Mr. Holt as they agreed. He is waiting for an order of 100 half boxes of window glass, for Watkinson and Collins, for which he will enter $600 in notes payable in four months to the bank. Hiram Roberts will collect the money when due and can use it to pay Jonathan what he owes. William's notes in favor of Mssrs. Williams and Pratt will become due October 2. He expects to be in Pittsburgh then and will send Jonathan a draft to pay them. William writes that he has prospects for getting into business the next spring in the western country, if he can connect with an acquaintance and advance a small sum. He directs Jonathan to write him in Chambersburg, PA, care of John Radebaugh. He adds that he went to New York on the steam boat line and stopped at the Pearl St. House. Cousin H. Miner arrived the same morning and boarded with William; he had recently moved to Troy, NY.
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Rights Statement |
Rights Statement
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Note |
Note
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Local Identifier |
Local Identifier
79.23.40
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