Newberry Library - Account and docket books : Jackson County, Mich., 1835-1862

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Title Account and docket books : Jackson County, Mich., 1835-1862

Creator Cross, James, 1795-

Date Created 1835-1862

Place Jackson County (Mich.), Michigan--Jackson County, Pulaski (Mich.)

Language English

Subjects General stores, Justices of the peace, Merchants

Description Account book ([v.] 1) and Account and docket books ([v.] 2-4) shelved separately.

Summary Four account and docket books kept by James Cross between 1835 and 1862. The account book for 1835-1837, entitled "James Cross' day book no. 1," records his daily business transactions as general storekeeper in Pulaski, Jackson County, Michigan, and provides an accurate picture of items needed by pioneers in the Michigan Territory (which in 1834 included Michigan, Wisconsin, Iowa, Minnesota, and most of the Dakotas). Cross sells items such rutabaga and onion seed, matches, 100 pounds of iron, gun powder, thread, calico, Irish linen, muslin, buttons, lace, spectacles, suspenders, tobacco, butter, coffee, tallow and candle wick, camphor, bed cord, boots, vinegar, and whiskey. Following the entry for Oct. 31, 1836, Cross notes that he and his wife, Mary Wilbur Cross, decided to separate "on account of incompatibility of disposition"; the separation was mutually agreeable, and their property was equally divided. Also of interest is a handwritten glossary of Indian words and their English equivalents. The second book--1835-1841--also records the names of Cross' customers, dates of sales, itemized lists of goods and services purchased, along with notes on how and when the accounts were settled. Cross documents the amounts he earned from the Township of Pulaski for inspecting schools and assessing teachers in Spring Arbour, Jackson, and Concord, preparing school reports and delivering them to Jackson, making out tax assessment rolls and election notices, and tallying election returns. As overseer of the poor, Cross is paid by the township to visit the needy, and supervise sale of contracts for provision of their board. As justice of the peace, Cross keeps a record of the cases he hears, including names of parties, dates, nature of complaints, and disposition of cases; in the margins he tabulates the fees he collects for performing legal services, such as hearing cases, serving summonses, writing deeds, and performing marriages. Notebook for 1841-1852 contains similar records, as well as the accounts Cross keeps for newspaper subscriptions. He lists subscribers to some thirty newspapers--including the Cincinnati columbian; Morning star (Dover, N.H.); Monthly literary miscellany (Detroit, Wis.); Detroit free press; New York evangelist; Primitive expounder (Lansing, Mich.); Michigan farmer; Arthur's home gazette (Philadelphia, Pa.); Ladies repository (Cincinnati, Ohio) and Youth's cabinet (New York, N.Y.), to name but a few--along with the pay schedule for each newspaper, subscription date, amount due yearly, and status of customer's account. Cross' duties as justice of the peace seem to have ended with the notebook for July 1, 1853 and Feb. 3, 1862, because there are no records of his docket, except for a deed and insurance contract briefly described on the front endpaper. He continues to operate his store, and keep accounts of store charges. He also serves as postmaster and banker to his customers.

Biographical/Historical Note School teacher in Salisbury (N.Y.), peddler, and after 1835, teacher in Concord, Michigan. Also general storekeeper, justice of the peace, and "overseer of the poor" between 1835 and 1862.

Extent Account book (1835-1837): 1 v. (41 leaves, bound) ; 41 cm Account and docket books (1835-1862): 3 v. ; 20 cm or smaller.

Format Account books, Dockets, Genealogies, Manuscripts, Receipts

Archival Collection Title Edward E. Ayer Collection, Edward E. Ayer Manuscript Collection

Rights Status No Copyright - United States

Newberry Open Access Policy The Newberry makes its collections available for any lawful purpose, commercial or non-commercial, without licensing or permission fees to the library, subject to these terms and conditions.

Contributing Institution Newberry Library

Link to Catalog View record

Call Number VAULT oversize Ayer MS 3240

BibID 993091478805867

IIIF Resource Type Manifest

IIIF Resource ID https://collections.newberry.org/IIIF3/Presentation/Manifest/2KXJ8ZSBAJ7IV

Filename 993091478805867_Ayer_MS_3240

Unique identifier NL12H9UX

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