A Guide to the James Compton and Son Daybook and Ledger, 1856-1862

Access and use

Location of collection:
Library of Virginia
The Library of Virginia
800 East Broad Street
Richmond, VA 23219
Contact for questions and access:
POC: Archives Reference Services
Phone: (804) 692-3888

Summary

Language:
English

Background

Scope and content:

The daybook and ledger of James Compton and Son, a general store, consist of a daybook and a ledger.

Daybook, 1859-1861, records transactions monthly and then alphabetically by customers' surnames within each month. Each entry includes name of customer, date of transaction, items purchased, quantity of items purchased, cost per item, amount owed, form of payment, and total amount paid. Items sold include books, spices, dry-goods, nails, clothing, paper, matches, pens, and toiletries. Forms of payment include cash, credit, and barter of items such as butter, cherries, soap, and chickens. Entries include page numbers where information was transferred to the customer's individual account in the corresponding ledger.

Ledger, 1856-1862, records the accounts of individual customers. Each account lists transactions in chronological order. Information found in each entry includes month of transaction, total amount owed for items purchased that month, total amount paid for items purchased made that month, and amount paid. Entries include page numbers where information was transferred from the corresponding daybook. The volume includes an index listing the names of customers in alphabetical order and the page number where their accounts can be found.

Biographical / historical:

James Compton and Son was a general store that conducted business in Lexington, Virginia during mid- nineteenth century. Virginia Military Institute was one of its customers.

Acquisition information:
Theses volumes were microfilmed in 2013 by Backstage Library Works in Bethlehem, PA.
Physical description:
2 volumes (1221 p.)