Manuscript Group 121, James Leonard (fl. 1825-1833), Hatter Records, 1825-1833
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Manuscript Group 121, James Leonard (fl. 1825-1833), Hatter
Records, 1825-1833, 0.2 linear feet / 1 volume
Call Number: MG 121
Financial records kept by James Leonard
(fl. 1825-1833), a hatter in Plainfield, Union County, New Jersey. The
volume consists primarily of payments to laborers for hat manufacturing tasks
such as napping, framing out, and finishing. Also includes accounts with
hat retailers in New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and Louisiana.
James Leonard (fl. 1825-1833) was a hatter in Plainfield, Union County, New Jersey.
The source of this collection is unknown.
The collection consists of a record book kept by James Leonard from 1825-1833
containing three distinct sections that are not indexed. Section one, which dates from
1825-1828, is a list of accounts organized by name and divided into debit and credit
pages. The majority of these accounts consist of cash payments to laborers for work done.
Section two, which dates from 1828-1833, is a daybook describing work done for Leonard.
Each entry in this section lists the name of the laborer, the date, the work done, and
payment. Typical tasks completed by workers include hat making duties such as napping,
framing out, and finishing. Section three, dating from 1825-1828, is a list of accounts
with hat dealers. Each account lists the name of the dealer or company, items purchased,
quantity, price, and payment. The dealers in section three include many out of state
companies like Paul Tulane & Co. of New Orleans, Louisiana; Daniel S. Freeland &
Co. of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; and Hubbard and Gardner of Richmond, Virginia.
Processed by Jeff McMillan, August 2000 as part of the “Farm to
City” project funded by a grant from the National Historical Publications
and Records Commission.
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