Closed for reformatting.
Use microfilm, Augusta County (Va.) Reels 255 and 256 for Ledger, 1839-1866 and Augusta County (Va.) Reel 253 for Ledger, 1860-1867.
Alanson Harris Blacksmith Ledgers and Daybook, 1839-1867. Local government records collection, Augusta County Court Records. The Library of Virginia, Richmond, Va. 23219.
These items came to the Library of Virginia in transfers of court papers from Augusta County under the accession number 43658.
Alanson Harris, born in 1812, owned a blacksmith business in Augusta County (Va.). Harris often performed carpentry work with the assistance of carpenter E. B. Simpson. Simpson, born in 1832, lived in Augusta County (Va.) until he relocated to Colorado in the 1870s.
The Alanson Harris Blacksmith business records consist of three ledgers, one blacksmith and carpentry work ledger, and one daybook.
Alanson Harris Blacksmith Ledger, 1839-1866, records the accounts of individual customers. Each account entry lists transactions in chronological order and includes the amounts owed and paid. The ledger is separated into two parts, each of which has its own index.
The first half of the ledger, 1839-1840, could pertain to the business M. G. & Co., which is embossed on the spine of the ledger. There is no mention of this business within the ledger, but there are several references to members of the Harris family -- specifically George T. Harris and Frank L. Harris. Entries are listed in chronological order under individual account names with amounts owed and paid, and each transaction is described as being for either merchandise, sundries, or interest.
The second half of the ledger, 1864-1866, is devoted to the blacksmith business operated by Alanson Harris. Transactions, listed under individual account names, record activities such as shoeing horses, making nails, sharpening knives and shears, repairing wagons and carriages, and repairing mill and farm equipment such as reapers and plows.
Ledgers, 1860-1862 and 1860-1867, record the accounts of individual customers. Information found in each account includes the date, type of service provided, and the monies debited or credited to the account. Services provided included shoeing horses, sharpening tools, and repairing wagons and carriages. Also, the back of the volume dated 1860-1862 was used as a daybook for September 1861 to December 1861 with transactions recorded on an almost daily basis. Each entry includes customer name, service provided, and the amount charged for the service.
Blacksmith and Carpentry Work Ledger, 1860-1867, records the carpentry work performed for individual customers. Information found in each account includes the date; amounts of shingles, posts, planks, or timber sawed; and the monies debited or credited to the customer's account. A majority of the carpentry work was done with the assistance of carpenter E. B. Simpson.
Daybook, 1856, records work performed on almost a daily basis. Each entry includes customer name, service provided, and the amount charged for the service. Examples of work performed include shoeing horses, repairing tools, and some carpentry work such as making coffins. The daybook was also used to record the amount of wood hauled throughout the year. These transactions include the customer name and the monies received.
For additional information see the Augusta County Chancery Cause, Creditors of Alanson Harris versus Administrator of Alanson Harris. It can be found in the Local Records Collection at the Library of Virginia. The index number is 1890-060.