Collections : [Library of Virginia]

Houff & Holler Business Records, 1904-1908, consists of a ledger, inventory and stock book, account book, correspondence, and receipts that record the general store's business dealings in Augusta County, Va.

John Armstrong, Sr. Ledger, 1827-1842, records Armstrong's personal finances along with the business activities of his farm. Each account records the transactions with individuals that Armstrong either hired or with whom he conducted business. Information found in each entry include the date, type of transaction, and monies debited or credited to the account. Armstrong recorded purchases for such items as wheat, bacon, brandy, tallow, butter, dry apples, and flour. There are also larger purchases such as livestock and furniture. In addition, Armstrong recorded the work done by white laborers which included such tasks as sawing wood, mowing, etc.

The John B. Christian Ledger, 1817-1837, records the accounts of individual customers. Each customer account includes separate entries for purchases and payments made. Purchases were not detailed but rather include the prices per unit and the total purchase price made for that day. However, details were provided for payments made toward account balances. John B. Christian accepted cash, bartered items (whiskey, butter, livestock, hats, etc.), and labor (hauling, carpentry work, etc.) as payments. Beginning in 1829, customer accounts include the items purchased. Examples of items purchased include flour, bran, wheat, corn, rye, beef, sugar, and coffee. In addition to the customer accounts, the back of the volume was used to record the number and weights of hogs butchered.

Identified on the cover as the Mictiow Sales Book, this volume documents the sale of goods made 2-7 January 1837. The sales were recorded as they occurred and were listed by the customer name and included the item purchased and the amount paid. Total sale amounts were included at the end of each day's sale. Items purchased included tools, saddlery, stoneware, gloves, shoes, clothing, perfume, and tobacco. Books were also sold and included such titles as Scott's Lessons, Tytler's History, American Psalmody, English Reader, Natural Philosophy, Village Hymns, Ladies Lexicon, Kirkham's Grammar, and Perrin's Fables.

Daybook, 1817-1823, was used primarily to record the various suits that Kinney presented at court. Each entry lists the style of suit with court costs and notes the amounts of money owed and paid by his client. Throughout the volume Kinney recorded tasks he needed to accomplish. Some of these tasks relate to his cases (filing warrants, etc.) but other tasks are of a personal nature such as notes to buy candles and tobacco. The volume also contains occasional references to Kinney's farm. Kinney documented plantings and what crops were growing in certain pastures.

Templeton and Company Daybook, 1856-1860, records the business transactions of the general store on a daily basis as they occurred. Information found in each entry includes the date, the name of the customer, the form of transaction, and the amount of monies debited and credited to the account. Each transaction was also recorded under the customer's name in the corresponding ledger. Templeton and Company sold a variety of items including tobacco, nails, sugar, cloth, coffee, tea, bacon, tea kettles, eggs, candles, clothing, stoneware, shoes, and produce. Records of sales begin in August of 1856 and continue through March of 1858. Beginning in late March of 1858, the daybook was used to document money received for the sale of the company's stock at auction. Each entry lists the name and amounts of the items sold and the money received for the sale. The back of the daybook contains a record for the grain (wheat, corn, rye, and oats) stored in Summerdean Mills for 1857 and 1858. The daybook also contains a record of unidentified payments made by Samuel M. Templeton in 1860 to various individuals.

Timothy M. Patterson General Store Ledgers, 1792-1805, consists of the following six volumes: Ledger No. 4, 1792-1795; Ledger No. 5, 1795-1797; Ledger No. 6, 1798-1801; Ledger No. 7, 1802-1805; Index to Ledger No. 5, 1795-1797; and Index to Ledger No. 7, 1802-1805. The ledgers record the accounts of individual customers, with accounts carried over to the next ledger once a volume was completed. Information found in each entry includes the customer names, date of transactions, name and quantity of items purchased, amounts owed, and amounts paid. Examples of items purchased include butter, coffee, window glass, stoneware, whiskey, clothing, shoes, cloth, beef, sugar, and saddlery. The general store accepted cash, labor (making clothes, hauling, cording wood, etc), and barter (cattle, produce, etc.) as payments. Ledger No. 4 indicates that customer accounts were carried over from an unidentified Ledger No. 3. Separate indexes are included for both Ledger No. 5 and Ledger No. 7.

Unidentified General Store Daybooks, 1828-1835, record business transactions as they occurred on an almost daily basis. Transactions were entered almost daily for 1828 through 1830, but entries became less frequent for the years 1831 through 1835. Information found in each entry includes the date, name of customer, name and quantity of goods purchased, form of payment, and amount owed. Examples of items purchased include books, sugar, coffee, tools, saddlery, cloth, paper, clothing, shoes, tobacco, tea, and whiskey.