Philadelphia Merchants Collection (Subject), 1790-1861 | Eastern Kentucky University - Special Collections and Archives

By Amanda Mardis

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Collection Overview

Title: Philadelphia Merchants Collection (Subject), 1790-1861

Predominant Dates:1819-1849

Primary Creator: Ashurst, Richard L. (ca. 1790-)

Other Creators: Clow, Andrew (d. ca. 1793), Gill, John, Jr.

Extent: 0.44 Cubic Feet

Date Acquired: 03/30/2009

Languages: English

Scope and Contents of the Materials

This collection contains manuscript material from three Philadelphia merchants (Richard L. Ashurst, Andrew Clow and John Gill) who had dealings with various storekeepers in Kentucky from the late eighteenth century to the mid nineteenth century. The collection consists largely of correspondence that concerns banking, property, account settlements, businesses and trading in Kentucky. Researchers may also find invoices and pages from account books. The collection does not contain complete records of these firms, but was acquired because of the individual documents from Kentucky business owners.

Biographical Note

Richard L. Ashurst (ca.1790-?), was a prominent lawyer, merchant, and private banker in Philadelphia, who traded and conducted business in and around the Kentucky region.

Administrative Information

Repository: Eastern Kentucky University - Special Collections and Archives

Acquisition Source: Hottle, Ken

Acquisition Method: Purchase

Box and Folder Listing

Browse by Series:

[Series 1: Richard L. Ashurst, 1819-1861],
[Series 2: Andrew Clow and Company, 1790-1795],
[Series 3: John Gill Papers, 1819-1843],
[All]

Series 3: John Gill Papers, 1819-1843

The John Gill Jr. Papers records over two decades of correspondence concerning the economic situation in Kentucky, Pennsylvania, and Tennessee during the early 19th century. This includes but not limited too, the buying of stock, consultation of property in Kentucky, and business/trading deals within the Kentucky region. Also discussed in the letters are different cases brought by John Gill Jr. against different companies and people. In the Charles Slaughter Morehead correspondence it is interesting to note that he mentions the cholera outbreak in Kentucky in 1833, and a famous murder trial of Richardson by Waring.

Box 1

Folder 10

Item 1: Bradford, Dave, 24 Apr 1835: Georgetown, ALS Confirming that he will buy stock for John Gill Jr. at an unidentified bank.
Item 2: Bradford, Dave, 28 Apr 1835: ALS Will be able to get $3000 worth of stock, explains how much of the money is divided into certain stocks.
Item 3: Bradford, Dave, 12 May 1835: ALS Sending a check for $1000.88 on the Bank of America, and the rest of John Gill Jr.'s money is left to buy stocks in the North Bank of Kentucky.
Item 4: Bradford, Dave, 2 May 1835: ALS Confirming that John Gill Jr. only wants 200 shares of stock in the North Bank of Kentucky. Also mentions that he and others want Mr. Telford as president for the North Bank of Kentucky.
Item 5: Bradford, Dave, 17 Jun 1835: ALS Secured 160 shares of stock, but could not get 119 more because of a dispute with affidavits.
Item 6: Bradford, Dave, 9 Jul 1835: ALS Sending a scrip on the North Bank of Kentucky for 152 shares of stock.
Item 7: Breathitt, James, 11 Aug 1819: Hopkinsville, ALS Received from John Gill Jr. & Company notes to bring a lawsuit against Murnice & Burpp for $362.50.
Item 8: Breathitt, James, 9 Mar 1822: ALS Confirming that he paid at John Gill Jr.'s request $1700 to Mr. Ewing. Dudley Williams will settle the amount he owes Gill in New Orleans.
Item 9: Breathitt, James, 16 May 1832: ALS Letter of Acquaintance for Burgess S. Moddy of Elkston, Todd County, KY.
Item 10: Breathitt, James, 1 Apr 1833: ALS Monetary calculations for the claim that John Gill Jr. had against Dudley Williams.
Item 11: Buchanan, Andrew, 11 Jan 1840: Louisville, KY, ALS Found that John Gill Jr. was not listed as a stock holder for the North Bank of Kentucky, suggests meeting with Mr. Pope the president of the bank to discuss the matter with him.
Item 12: Combs, Leslie, 4 Jul 1829: Lexington, KY, ALS Received letter from John Gill Jr., about Rochesters debts to Robert, Gill, & Company, and the matter will receive his attention.
Item 13: Combs, Leslie, 19 Nov 1829: ALS Discussion of a balance that is due to John Gill Jr., but not specified as to what it is. Combs, Leslie Correspondence
Item 14: Combs, Leslie, 24 May 1843: ALS Sending a transcript to prove John Gill Jr.'s debt against a claim interest and cost. Request Gill send the deposition to him. On the back has typed "Rules of Court in relation to the Proof of Debts."
Item 15: Givin, Dickson A., 1 Nov 1828: Salem, Kentucky, ALS Discussion of how John Gill Jr.'s house and lot is not being occupied all the time and the low rent that is asked in that area. Also discusses the debt owed to Gill by James Hanald.
Item 16: Givin, Dickson A., 28 Jul 1829: ALS Offer from Wilson A. Hunt to buy and trade for John Gill Jr.'s house and lot in the area. Describes the house that Hunt is willing to trade on. States that he is taking a year off from the Senate.
Item 17: Givin, Dickson A., 4 Jan 1836: ALS Request to know what John Gill Jr. will take for his house and lot.
Item 18: Henry, Gustavius A., 5 Jun 1829: (brother to John F. Henry and Robert Pryor Henry) Hopkinsville, KY, ALS Discussion of the lawsuit John Gill Jr. against Melborn & Crabtree, and how the debt that was owed was barred by the statute of limitations, but he is still trying to get the men to pay.
Item 19: Henry, Gustavius A., 24 Aug 1829: ALS Reporting that $230 paid to Mr. McConnell was part of John Gill Jr.'s claim against Melborn & Crabtree, and will try to bring the claims to an end as quickly as possible.
Item 20: Henry, Gustavius A., 12 Nov 1830: ALS Titled, "Private," discusses the closing of business between John Gill Jr. and Geo. Suope. Ask if Gill wants to send a claim against O.N. Coffey who has debts against him and might not be able to pay. [Transcript Only.]
Item 21: Henry, Gustavius A., 20 Nov 1830: ALS Discusses property owned by John Gill Jr. in Frankfort, Kentucky. Discusses that it is not in a favorable part of town, needs repairs, and possibility of tenants. Also mentions the claim against Geo. Swope. [Transcript Only.]
Item 22: Henry, Gustavius A., 18 Aug 1831: ALS Summary of a case by John Gill Jr. against Melborn in Indiana.
Item 23: Henry, Gustavius A., 16 May 1832: ALS John Gill Jr.'s case against Melborn is closed, with Melborn paying $552.50, and sending $400 to Gill himself. Explains why his fee in the case is so much.
Item 24: Henry, John F., 18 Aug 1827: (brother of Gustavius A. Henry and Robert Pryor Henry) Hopkinsville, KY, ALS Request that he explain receipts that his brother Robert Pryor Henry had on his estate.
Item 25: Henry, John F., 30 Apr 1828: ALS A list and explanation of his late brother's (Robert Pryor Henry?) services in the collection of money for John Gill Jr.'s house.
Item 26: Henry, John F., 9 Jun 1828: ALS Copy of a letter to John F. Henry. Explanation that the firm of John Gill Jr. & Company owes nothing for John F. Henry's late brother's (Robert Pryor Henry?) services.
Item 27: Henry, Robert Pryor, 24 Dec 1821: (1788-1826), brother of Gustavius A. Henry and John F. Henry, active lawyer of Kentucky and member of Congress from 1823-1826, Hopkinsville, KY, ALS Update on three lawsuits that John Gill Jr. had in progress against Campbell vs. Bouldon, Melborn & Crabtree, and Methers & Reynolds, that Robert Pryor Henry was in charge of.

Folder 11

Item 1: Johnson, F., 4 Dec 1839: Louisville, KY, ALS Relieved that he has to do no more with the business of John Gill Jr. and Judge Marshall.
Item 2: Marshall, John J., 8 Dec 1826: ALS Interested in selling land in Boon County because of debts that he owes to John Gill Jr. & Company and others. Requesting help as to how to go about selling the land at the best price.
Item 3: Marshall, John J., 18 Jan 1827: ALS Description of the land he is trying to sell, including distances to Cincinnati, Lexington, Frankfort, and the Ohio River, also describes it as "tobacco county".
Item 4: Marshall, John J., 16 Feb 1828: ALS Discusses the debt he still owes John Gill Jr. and can pay him with land that he owns if it is acceptable.
Item 5: Marshall, John J., 5 May 1830: ALS Explanation of why he has not paid the notes owed to John Gill Jr.
Item 6: Marshall, John J., 16 May 1831: ALS Contains the first letter and reply on the same paper. The first letter wanting to close his business with John Gill Jr., because of his breach of promise. The reply is to C.Z.I. Samuel asking him to make sure that Marshall gives good security for the claim, with interest, and he would give him 12 months.
Item 7: Marshall, John J., 28 Aug ?: ALS Just received the letter that John Gill Jr. see's no endorsement owed to the proposition, and wants to settle his business with Gill.
Item 8: Martin, Peter, 26 Mar 1827: (Kentucky Jurist) Russellville, KY, ALS Recent term of Circuit Court dismissing the bill filled by Martin against Gill for want of equity.
Item 9: Martin, Peter, 26 Mar 1827: ALS Money was collect ed from George Martin after much difficulty and delay.
Item 10: Morehead, Charles Slaughter, 4 Aug 1831: Frankfort. During this time Morehead was the Kentucky State Attorney General and in 1841 was elected as the Speaker of the House. He would later on become Kentucky's 20th governor.
Item 11: Morehead, Charles Slaughter, 4 Aug 1831: ALS Has arranged by date and amount, for debt that is owed by John Mason, S.E. Griffith, William B. Forsce, and John McDarmett to John Gill Jr., to be paid to the Bank of Kentucky over a period of 2 years.
Item 12: Morehead, Charles Slaughter, 18 Apr 1833: ALS Refers to previous letter (4 Aug 1831), and informs Gill that J.J. Marshall is due to the Bank of Kentucky $2167. Requests an update on the exact situation that the business is now in.
Item 13: Morehead, Charles Slaughter, 29 May 1833: ALS J.J. Marshall did not make the payments mention in previous letter (18 Apr 1833), so bank has collected notes and will have lot and house incumbered to pay for the debt.
Item 14: Morehead, Charles Slaughter, 7 Jun 1833: ALS Enclosing a claim of Robert Gill & Company against the estate of the late Nathaniel Lyles.
Item 15: Morehead, Charles Slaughter, 9 Jun 1833: ALS Request the amount on the notes pledged to the bank as collateral security by J.J. Marshall has been paid, if what is left is still good, and when he will be collecting the rest.
Item 16: Morehead, Charles Slaughter, 1 Aug 1833: ALS Mentions how the areas around Lexington and Frankfort had been affected by cholera and due to this, land will not sell. Discusses the claim of Robert Gill & Company against Nathaniel Lyles, and the suit against J.J. Marshall.
Item 17: Morehead, Charles Slaughter, 4 Apr 1836: ALS Enclosing a check collected from R.A. Buckner. Discusses the suit against J.J. Marshall and writes that he wants to make a deal. Mentions that the court system is tied up with the trial of J.U. Waring for the murder of Richardson. (For more information refer to "Famous Kentucky Tragedies and Trials," by Lewis Franklin Johnson.)
Item 18: Morehead, Charles Slaughter, 2 Oct 1839: ALS Discussion of cases including Peter B. Atwood, William Buckner Jr., and J.J. Marshall.
Item 19: Morehead, Charles Slaughter, 19 Jan 1841: ALS Updates on cases including J.J. Marshall (which was settled), William Buckner, and Peter B. Atwood.
Item 20: Morehead, Charles Slaughter, 17 Mar 1841: ALS Will help Mrs. Worley and not charge for his services. Discussion of the debt of J.J. Marshall and the possibility of bidding on his property. Update on Peter B. Atwood.
Item 21: Morehead, Charles Slaughter, 9 May 1841: ALS Debt to be paid from Mr. Swigest for property sold to him.
Item 22: Morehead, Charles Slaughter, undated: ALS Copy of part of a letter to John Gill Sr. Notify that the case of Robert Gill & Company against Nathaniel Lyles went in his favor. Bank of Kentucky brought suit against all notes deposited by J.J. Marshall.

Folder 12

Item 1: Morris, George, 27 Mar 1824: Philadelphia, ALS To Thomas Cambell, instructions on business needed to be conducted to settle the suit against John Gill Jr. and J.J. Marshall.
Item 2: Shirley, Paul, 25 Jan 1822: Glasgow, KY, ALS Sending back $500 because he failed to buy the crops that John Gill Jr. requested and a list of his "Eastern unsettled business".
Item 3: Shirley, Paul, 1 Mar 1822: ALS Explanation of his disappointment in the Nashville market.
Item 4: Wagley, George, 11 Jun 1830: Columbia, ALS Explanation of lack of funds to pay back debt owed to John Gill Jr.
Item 5: Wagley, George, 12 Nov 1830: ALS Confirming a meeting in Louisville with John Gill Jr. to pay off debt.
Item 6: Wagley, George, 21 May 1831: ALS Does not know exact debt of Stewart heirs against Alexander Wagginer and others, but will find out information later.
Item 7: Wagley, George, 9 Nov 1831: ALS Request to know the financial situation of Colonel Sykes who declining in health and might not have much longer to live.
Item 8: Wagley, George, 27 Jun 1833: ALS Discussion of the claim of Gill Jr. against Colonel Sykes.
Item 9: Wagley, George, 15 Sep 1835: ALS Explanation of the claim of Robert Stewart against Alexander Waginer & John McCallister.
Item 10: Wagley, George, 28 Dec 1838: ALS Relating to the Wagley Paper Mill.

Browse by Series:

[Series 1: Richard L. Ashurst, 1819-1861],
[Series 2: Andrew Clow and Company, 1790-1795],
[Series 3: John Gill Papers, 1819-1843],
[All]