Waterford Mill Account Book 1834-1871

Access and use

Location of collection:
Thomas Balch Library
Thomas Balch Library
208 West Market Street
Leesburg, Virginia 20176
Contact for questions and access:
POC: Alexandra S. Gressitt
Phone: (703) 737-7195
Fax: (703) 737-7195

Summary

Creator:
Thomas Phillips (1776-1841), Thomas Phillips (1810-1865), Thomas Phillips (b. 1848)
Abstract:
The Waterford Mill Account Book spans the years 1834 to 1871, and concerns various accounts of citizens of Waterford and employees at the Mill.
Language:
English

Background

Scope and content:

The Waterford Mill Account Book spans the years 1834 to 1871, and concerns various accounts of citizens of Waterford and employees at the Mill. The flyleaf and the back cover have figures and names written upon them. Entries in the ledger range from about two pages to less than half a page. Towards the back of the book, there are several blank pages and pages that have been cut out. There are also insertions of scraps of paper with figures and receipts, pieces of hair, and dried flowers.

The entries in the account book begin with an alphabetical listing of debts and credits for each customer. The next several entries concern the settled and unsettled debts of various Waterford citizens; debts include purchases for items such as grain, salt, herring, shoes, tobacco, iron, salt, livestock, leather, iron, coal, and dry goods. The total amounts due range from over two hundred dollars to under ten dollars. Names of recurring customers include Alfred Morgan, Samuel Wright, Addison Chapel, Charles Sappington, Josiah Birchett, William Lane, and Samuel Ellis. The years noted on different accounts of each page in the ledger often have a difference of ten to fifteen years. Throughout the book, there are pencil scribbles on various entries and miscellaneous math figures in the margins. Accounts are written in both ink and pencil. The last pages of the book include wood sales from 1857 and debt accounts from 1837 to 1841.

The Waterford Mill Account Book is the only item in this collection.

Biographical / historical:

During the greater half of the nineteenth century, the Waterford Mill in Loudoun County, VA was run by three millers. They were Thomas Phillips (1776-1841), his son, Thomas Phillips (1810-1865), and his grandson, Thomas Phillips (b. 1848). The father and son are buried in the Fairfax Friends Cemetery of Waterford; the death date and burial location of the grandson have not been identified.

The first Waterford Mill was built in the 1740s by Amos Janney. However, he soon abandoned the original location and built a larger mill at the current site. Mahlon Janney inherited the Mill and sold it to Jonas Potts, who in turn sold it to Thomas Phillips circa 1830. The Janneys and the Phillips were members of the Fairfax Meeting in Waterford.

Acquisition information:
Anne S. Parsons, August 1997
Physical description:
1 item