Whitson & Sproul Collection, 1847-1869

Call number:  MG-151

1 box     2 folders     .1 cubic ft.

Repository:  LancasterHistory.org (Lancaster, Pa.)

Shelving Location:  Archives South, Side 4

Description:  Collection consists of business records for Whitson & Sproul of Christiana, Lancaster County and documents related to estate settlements. The business records include a ledger, letters and statements concerning the sale and purchase of various materials. One letter mentions the 1860 election of “Old Abe.” The receipts and court documents consist primarily of receipts, releases, and sale agreements relating to the settlement of the estates of James Sproul and Moses Whitson.

Creators:  Sproul, James; Whitson, Moses.

Conditions for Access:  No restrictions.

Conditions Governing Reproductions:  Collection may not be photocopied. Please contact Research Staff or Archives Staff with questions.

Language:  English

Source of Acquisition:  Source unknown.

Folder 1, Insert 1

1. Letter to Jacob Whitson requesting support for the candidacy of G. C. Hawthorn for the office of Register, Manor Twp., 1860.

2. Letter to Sproul & Pownall from J. S. Rohrer, Strasburg, asking the price of a lot of tobacco, 1866.

3. Letter to Whitson & Sproul, Christiana, Pa., from Vetterlein Co., Philadelphia, reporting the appraisal of a lot of tobacco, 1866.

4. Letter to Whitson & Sproul from Dunwoody, Philadelphia, regarding the sale of corn, 1860.

5. Letter to Whitson & Sproul from Boldin & Wartmun, Philadelphia, regarding sale of tobacco, 1866.

6. Statement for lumber, coal, etc. delivered to Whitson & Sproul, 1862.

7. Statement for wood, flooring, etc. from James Collins for deliveries to Whitson & Sproul. Additional name: Eliza Collins, 1861.

8. Statement from J. G. Hess, Columbia, Pa., for coal sold to Whitson & Sproul, 1860.

9. Statement from Edward K. Smith, Columbia, Pa., for flooring and siding sold to Whitson & Sproul, 1860.

10. Letter from Dunwoody, Philadelphia, regarding the sale of grain from Whitson & Sproul, 12 November 1860. Refers to “Old Abe” being elected President.

11. Letter to Whitson & Sproul from Mehaffy, regarding delay of order shipment, 1860.

12. Letter to Whitson & Sproul from John Cooper, Columbia, Pa., acknowledging receipt of payment from J. T. Whitson, 1866.

13. Letter to Moses Whitson from Annie Sproul asking him to pay R. Johnson $500 and to charge the same to her account, 1848.

Folder 1, Insert 2

1. Agreement. Annie Sproul, widow of James Sproul; James Johnston; and Robert Johnston, all administrators, of James Sproul’s estate agree to give Moses Whitson “full and entire charge and sole care” upon his being legally confirmed as administrator, 1847. All are of Sadsbury Twp. Additional name: John Brady.

2. Release. Moses Whitson, James Johnson, and Robert Johnson, administrators of James Sproul’s estate, presented articles of agreement to the guardians of Sproul’s minor children, Joseph Pownall, Moses Pownall, and Joseph C. Dickinson, regarding the sale of farms and land in Bart and Sadsbury Twps., a tavern in Lancaster, and Sadsbury Forge with its raw materials. Additional names: George Aulthouse, Jesse Thompson, James Armstrong, James Wright, John Meiditch, and Ellis P. Irwin. 1847.

3. Receipt. Anne Sproul, widow of James Sproul, received 1/3 of an account filed in Lancaster by James Sproul’s estate administrators, Moses Whitson, James Johnson, and Robert Johnson, totaling $7,069.68 as her full share of this account. Additional name: Charles N. Sproul. 1848.

4. Receipts. Four receipts on one page for monies received from Moses Whitson by Robert Johnson (2) and James Johnson (2) relating to the settlement of the estate of James Sproul. 1848, 1849.

5. Receipt. Robert Johnson received stocks of men’s and women’s shoes from the estate of James Sproul. Smyrna, 1848.

6. Release. Joseph Pownall, Moses Pownall, and Joseph C. Dickinson, all of Sadsbury Twp. and guardians of the minor children of James Sproul, received $19,275.85 from the administrators of J. Sproul’s estate. 1849. Additional names: Henry Dickinson, Samuel Demmey.

7. Receipt. Robert Johnson received $188.47 from Moses Whitson for sale of land. 1849.

8. Receipt. James Johnson received $187.47 from Moses Whitson for sale of land. 1849.

9. Agreement of sale. Ellis P. Irwin of Sadsbury Twp. sold property in that township to Moses Whitson. Additional names: George W. Irwin, John Roland, James Cooper. 1851.

10. Receipt. Anne Sproul received $500 from Moses Whitson, as part of her “thirds” of James Sproul’s estate. 1851.

11. Receipt. Anne Sproul received $254.77 from Lindley Coates, one of the administrators of Moses Whitson’s estate, which was the balance due her from her husband’s estate. Also received $42.28 as part of her dividend from Philadelphia Railroad stock. 1853.

12. Release. Micah Whitson, Jacob T. Whitson, and Lindley Coates, the administrators of the estate of Moses Whitson, pay $990.57 as the balance due Joseph C. Dickinson, Moses Pownall, and Joseph D. Pownall as guardians of the minor children of James Sproul. Also, payment of a dividend of West Philadelphia Railroad stock. 1853.

13. Sale confirmation. Micah Whitson, Jacob T. Whitson, and Lindley Coates, administrators of Moses Whitson’s estate, sold property in Sadsbury to Jeremiah Moore at a public auction. 1853. Additional names: Benjamin Frame, Moses Pownall, Samuel Lewis, Demmy, Daniel W. May.

14. Release. Latitia Ann Paxson, wife of G. Franklin Paxson and daughter of John Retzer, acknowledges receipt of $298.76 from guardian John S. Russel upon reaching the age of 21 as full satisfaction of her due from her father’s estate. 1859. Additional names: William Paxson J. P., Elma E. Paxson.

15. Release. Harriet J. Iddings, daughter of John Retzer, releases her guardian, John N. Russel of Drumore Twp., for any action he takes in her affairs. 1861. Additional names: William W. Steele, Margaret Steele.

16. Receipt. John Pusey received $23.65 from John N. Russel and Jeremiah Brown, executors of George Morrison’s estate, for maintenance of a portion of fence in Drumore Twp. 1862. Auditors T. J. Hamilton, John A. Boyd, and Daniel Lefever (farmer), auditors of Drumore Twp. assessed Morrison $22.15 after an 1852 investigation.

 

Folder 2  Ledger book showing customer accounts. 1859-1869.