David Holmes Morton Daybooks and Journal, 1859-1863

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

Creator:
Morton, David Holmes.
Language:
English

Background

Scope and content:

David Holmes Morton Daybook, 1859-1863, records transactions on a daily basis as they occurred in the months of September 1859-Febraury 1860, May 1860, and July-December 1863. Information found in each entry includes name of customer, items purchased, and the amount owed or paid. Merchandise sold include whiskey, clothing, nails, dry-goods, and kerosene. Volume includes an inventory of store merchandise taken in July 1863. Also includes a listing of merchandise sold at auctions held by David Holmes Morton in January and May 1863 and Smith and Company in April and June 1863. Merchandise sold at the auctions were mostly household items such as mouse traps, waffle irons, and plates.

David Holmes Morton Daybook, 1861-1864, records transactions on a daily basis as they occurred in the months of January, March, May, July, September, and November. Information found in each entry includes name of customer and the amount owed and paid. Merchandise sold include cloth, dishes, linen, shoes, pins, buttons, and whiskey.

David Holmes Morton Journal, 1861-1865, records on a monthly basis the accounts of individual customers. Each account lists in chronological order the customers transactions for that particular month, items purchased, and the amount owed and paid. Also, the March, May, July, and September entries include page numbers that correspond with entries found in daybook. Journal is in fragile condition due to severe mold damage.

Biographical / historical:

David Holmes Morton was a prominent merchant in Charlotte County, Virginia. He either owned or was a partner in several mercantile businesses.

The daybooks and journal were used as evidence in the chancery case, Davis and Wood versus D. H. Morton and others, heard in the Circuit Court of Charlotte County.

Acquisition information:
These materials came to the Library of Virginia in shipments of court papers from Charlotte County.
Physical location:
State Records Center - Archives Annex, Library of Virginia
Physical description:
3 v.