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William Doherty, James Doherty, and S. Johnson Ledger

 Collection
Identifier: MS-0259

  • Staff Only

In 1796, William Doherty began using this ledger to keep track of the sales he made in his general store. The items he carried included corn, whiskey, venison, beef, horse feed, fabric (including silk), casket ornaments, and sundries. James Doherty took over his business in 1800 and continued the ledger until February of 1803. The ledger then remained unused until 1870, when an otherwise unknown S. Johnson of Bellefonte (Jackson County) Alabama began using it to keep track of the business conducted in his own general store. Unlike the Dohertys, he also recorded his employees' hours and inventoried his taxable properties in Jefferson and Hamblen Counties in Tennessee.

Dates

  • 1796 September 1-1803 February 8, 1870-1881 November 20

Conditions Governing Access

Collections are stored offsite and must be requested in advance. See www.special.lib.utk.edu for detailed information. Collections must be requested through a registered Special Collections research account.

Conditions Governing Use

The UT Libraries claims only physical ownership of most material in the collections. Persons wishing to broadcast or publish this material must assume all responsibility for identifying and satisfying any claimants on www.special.lib.utk.edu for detailed information. Collections must be requested through a registered Special Collections research account.

Extent

1 Linear Feet (1 small flat box)

Abstract

In 1796, William Doherty began using this ledger to keep track of the sales he made in his general store. The items he carried included corn, whiskey, venison, beef, horse feed, fabric (including silk), casket ornaments, and sundries. James Doherty took over his business in 1800 and continued the ledger until February of 1803. The ledger then remained unused until 1870, when an otherwise unknown S. Johnson of Bellefonte (Jackson County) Alabama began using it to keep track of the business conducted in his own general store. Unlike the Dohertys, he also recorded his employees' hours and inventoried his taxable properties in Jefferson and Hamblen Counties in Tennessee.

Biographical/Historical Note

Although no definitive information is available about James and William Doherty, they were most likely both sons of George and Priscilla (Goforth) Doherty. William died in 1819 and James followed in 1823. S. Johnson's relationship to the family (if any) is unknown.

Arrangement

This collection consists of one box.

Acquisition Note

Mary Belle (Watkins) Tyler donated this ledger to the University of Tennessee Libraries, Knoxville, Special Collections in May of 1961.

Repository Details

Part of the Betsey B. Creekmore Special Collections and University Archives, University of Tennessee, Knoxville Repository

Contact:
University of Tennessee, Knoxville
Knoxville TN 37996 USA
865-974-4480