NOTE: In the following message the character for "one half" is used. I'm not sure if the mail list accepts it or not. If you see the symbol ½ it started out as "one half". ------------------------------ This weekend I paid a visit to the Missisquoi Museum in Quebec and came across several items of interest. The Museum recently obtained the loan of two ledgers from Philip Ruiter's store in Philipsburg. Within them are several Boomhower references. The earliest record is interesting. Philip Ruiter recorded lists of transactions as accounts in these ledgers. Those for a James Catlin start Jan 16th, 1800 and go up to June 3rd, 1800. Its half a page of items with costs and a total at the bottom of the account. Half way down the entries, among those for April 14th, is a single line that reads: To cash 1 dollar pd. Jacob Boomhower - 5 - I believe the explanation is as follows. Firstly, the accounts are in £ s. d. where 12 pence [d.] equals 1 shilling [s.] and 20 shillings [s.] equals 1 pound [£]. Therefore I believe that the 5 shillings shown in the transaction has the value of 1 dollar. When I was growing up in England, slang conversation often referred to an English Crown (a 5 shilling piece) as a 'dollar'. I think that in this instance Philip Ruiter may have been acting as a kind of banker and paying some debt that James Catlin owed to Jacob Boomhower, debiting James Catlin's account accordingly. I believe this entry refers to the Jacob Boomhower who was born about 8-Jan-1768. ------------------ In the second ledger, the following account is under the name John Bomhower. I believe this is probably the John who was baptized 19-Jul-1769. The writing is partly obscured by 'wet ink' from a facing page and transcription mistakes may have been made. Dr. John Bomhower 1805 Nov 21 To 1 lb Gun Powder by Isaac Helliker - 5 - July 26 5½ pt Rum at 3/½ - 3 ½ 2 lb Tobacco 1/8 3/4 - 3 4 1 New Syth 8/4 - 8 4 25 2 yds Cotton 2/- at Mr. Notts by younson - 4 - 29 1 Glafs bitters 3½ by ditto - - 3½ 1 pint Rum by ditto 1/3 - 1 3 August 2nd To cash 5/6 Dr. Younson 5/6 - 5 6 13 To 5 quarts 1 pint Rum by ~ - 13 3½ Sept 6 To ½ lb powder Gun - 2 6 Oct 7 To 1 pint Rum - 1 3 ------------- 2 7 10½ NOTE: The abreviation "Dr." that prefixes most names in these document probably refers to "debtor", not "doctor". There is a corresponding "Cr." on the "Contra" pages that carry credits to the account. Also note that Philip has been writing the unit price in the description and this explains some of the 'extra ' numbers. Philip's addition is in error by one penny in the foregoing. ------------------- Also in the second ledger is the account for Baltus Boomhower. I believe this is John's younger brother, Balthasar Boomhower, who was born 25-Aug-1781. I also believe this is the account of a single man who may have had a drinking problem! 1806 Dr. Baltis Bomhower Nov 15 To ballance due Old bookpage 60 £1 1 4 17 To bitters 3 Gills Rum - 1 10½ 2 Glafses bitter - - 7½ 24 To 6 Glafses bitters at different time - 1 10½ 2½ yds. Cotton 4/6 - 11 3 1½ bayon? Guith? Cottons - 4 6 29 To 12 Glafses bitters - 3 9 1 Glafs ditto - - 3½ -------------- 2 5 6 1807 To cash - 1/3 - 1 Gils Rum 7½ - 1 10½ August 11 1 New Sythes - 7 6 Oct 10 1 Gallon Rum by M. Phillips - 7 6 Nov 28 4 Glafses ditto - 1 3 Dec 5 To sundries 5 half pint Rum - 6 3 11 3 Yds Germain Serge 8/ 1 4 - 3 Yds Striped Cotton 2 half pints Rum at Sunries by the Glafs- 2 6 30 2 Gills Rum 1808 Jany 8 Glafses Rum 16 1 plug Tobacco 7½ 2 Glafses Rum Feby 20 1½ Tobacco 1/8 - 2 6 liquor 2/6 June 1 Gallon Rum - 9 6 August 1 plug Tobacco - - 6 18 To cash 6 dollars 1 10 - To Tailor Jacket On the next page is the following which may be a 'continuation' of Baltus' account. I think it is probably referring to work that Baltus has done to pay off what is mostly a bar bill above. 1806 Nov 29 By 14½ days choping Wood £1 16 3 1807 August 11 By 5½ days work ditto By 18 days 1808 August 18 By 11 days work 3/9 2 - - Another document shows that Baltus initiated a legal action on behalf of Maria Schoolcraft in 1805 when someone else was suspected of stealing yarn from her. His purchases of cloth may indicate a continuing relationship with Maria. ----------------------------- Also in the second ledger is the account for Jacob Boomhower. I believe this is John's older brother and is the same Jacob as referred to in the first ledger. 1807 Dr. Jacob Bomhower Senr. Oct 24 To ½ bushel Salt 3/9 £- 3 9 Nov 17 8 pains Widow Glafs -/7 - 4 8 Dec 24 ½ bushel Salt - 3 9 1808 Jany 7 1 Gill bitters - - 7½ -------------- £0 12 9½ On the next page is what appears to be cash paid. 1807 Contra Cr. Oct 21 By cash £- 2 6 1810 Jany 1 By cash by C. McCloud 4 4 7 ------------- 4 7 1 1808 Contra Cr. June 2nd By cash £- 7 6 1809 Sept 20 By cash 5 3½ -------------- £0 12 9½ It looks as though the pending winter of 1807 prompted Jacob to glaze his home. Its likely it was a log home with only skins or shutters coving the windows when first built.