Account Book for Hannah Rowell, 1828-1831

This selection of the Edmund Rowell account book is for amounts owed to or from Hannah Rowell. She is sewing the upper parts of shoes, mostly to be paid in cash. In 1828, she sews 150 pairs, in 1829 – 80, and in 1831 – 150 pairs. Not much is known about Hannah, she may be a female relation to Edmund… possibly a daughter, or niece. Sewing shoe uppers is probably not her only daily work.

“

	Hannah Rowell¹ to E Rowell Dr.²	$ cts.
Nov 19	to 1 lb. flax	.12 1/2
	to 3 lbs of flax	.38
1828 July	to 1 pair morocco shoes³	01.50
1829 Aug 3	to Cash	02.00
1831	to cash paid for dressing cloth⁴	.85
		04.85
		05.41
		10.26

1 Hannah Rowell is possibly a relation to Edmund Rowell, although neither is found in the vital records, she could be a wife or daughter
2 Dr = ”debtor” – money owed by Hannah
3 Morocco shoes = a type of fancy leather slippers
4 Dressing cloth = finishing hand woven cloth

	Cr⁵.	$ cts
Nov 19	by 7 oz shoe thread at 50 cts per lb	.22
	by 1 lb 10 oz shoe thread at 50 cts per lb	.81
	by 3/4 lb shoe thread at 50 cts per lb	.37

1828
Sept 20	by binding⁶ 10 pair of brogans⁷	.20
26	by binding 10 prs of brogs	.20
Nov 21	by binding 90 pair of brogs	1.80
	by binding 40 pair of brogs	.80
	by a pair of stockings	.33

1829
Feb 28	by binding 20 pair of brogs	.40
May 27	by making a hat	.33
Sept 18	by binding a 60 pair of shoes	1.20

1831
Jan 25	by Cash	7.00
	by an order on S Chase Haverhill	2.50
May 26	by binding & closing 40 pr of brogues at 3 ct	1.20
June	by binding 20 pr of brg at 1 1/2 cts per pr	.30
	20 pr. at 2 cts	.40

Oct	by binding 30 pr of women’s shoes	.90
Nov	by binding 40 pr of brogues at 2 cts per pr	.80
		10.26

5 Cr = “creditor” – money owed to Hannah
6 Binding = sewing together the upper parts of shoes
7 Brogans = thick work shoes

Citation

Edmund Royall, “Account Book” (1828-1831). Haverhill Public Library, Special Collections, Haverhill, MA.

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