Francis C. Brewer ledger

Ledger of a shoemaker, kept at Baptistown, Kingwood Township, Hunterdon County, N.J., recording dated accounts with approximately 160 named individuals. Most entries document the making, mending, patching, soling or "healing" of shoes and boots, together with associated charges. Other products represented in the entries, with much less frequency, are gaiters and slippers, as well as various leather straps (e.g., traces and halters). Some entries record payments received, usually in the form of cash. Other payments noted are in the form of goods--such as potatoes, buckwheat, wood or leather--received on a one-time basis (from an individual) or recorded as a partly or fully offsetting account (from another businessperson). Titles are occasionally associated with the names of individuals cited in the volume (e.g., Mrs., Capt. or Doct.). In addition, notations sometimes record the given name, relative age and/or gender of the specific person, other than the debtor, associated with the footware. For new boots, the type (coarse or fine) or style (e.g., Spanish kip boots) is sometimes indicated. Stated price, from order record, might include shipping charge.