Sarah A. G. Smith collection on 18th century Philadelphia merchants

The Sarah A. G. Smith collection consists of the business correspondence, accounts and records, and family papers of several prominent 18th century Philadelphia merchants. The bulk of the collection dates from 1713 to 1848. Over half of it pertains to the Wharton family, in particular Charles Whar...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Author: Smith, Sarah A. G. (Creator)
Collection:Sarah A. G. Smith Collection On 18th Century Philadelphia Merchants
Collection Number:1864
Format: Manuscript
Language:English
Subjects and Genres:
Online Access:Link to finding aid
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LEADER 06193ntc a2200349 u 4500
001 ead-1864
008 160512i xx eng d
040 |e dacs 
041 0 |a eng 
099 |a 1864 
100 1 |a Smith, Sarah A. G.  |e creator 
245 1 |a Sarah A. G. Smith collection on 18th century Philadelphia merchants  |f 1705/6-1937 (bulk 1713-1848) 
300 |a 1.6 Linear feet  |f ; 4 boxes, 3 flat files  
506 |a The collection is open for research. 
520 |a The Sarah A. G. Smith collection consists of the business correspondence, accounts and records, and family papers of several prominent 18th century Philadelphia merchants. The bulk of the collection dates from 1713 to 1848. Over half of it pertains to the Wharton family, in particular Charles Wharton; his father Joseph Wharton; his brothers Thomas, Samuel, William, and Joseph; and his son Charles Wharton Jr. Highlights include Charles Wharton’s letter books, a 1770 letter from Colonel George Croghan to Joseph Wharton regarding Colonel Washington, and the will and list of assets of Joseph Wharton. About a third of the collection consists of the business papers of (Thomas) Lamar, (Henry) Hill, (Robert) Bisset & Company, a partnership of three brothers-in-law who conducted trade between Philadelphia, London, and Madeira, and consists mostly of correspondence between the partners. The remainder of the collection consists of business correspondence between John & Arthur Burrows of St. Vincent and Antony Clarkson of Philadelphia; business correspondence and records of Joshua Fisher and Sons; documents signed by Thomas Wright, lord mayor of the City of London; and several items relating to the Smith family. 
520 |a The Sarah A. G. Smith collection on 18th century Philadelphia merchants consists of the business correspondence, accounts and records, and miscellaneous family papers of a number of prominent merchants. Over half of the collection pertains to the Wharton family, primarily Charles Wharton; his father Joseph Wharton; his brothers Thomas, Samuel, William, and Joseph; and his son Charles Wharton Jr. Box 1 contains business correspondence, accounts, promissory notes and receipts, and miscellaneous documents of (Thomas) Lamar, (Henry) Hill, (Robert) Bisset & Company, a partnership of three brothers-in-law who conducted trade between Philadelphia, London, and Madeira beginning in the 1750s. There are references to the Wharton family (Box 1, Folder 4) and several letters mentioning business dealings with Willing & Morris, a partnership of Thomas Willing and Robert Morris active in shipping, real estate, and the slave trade (Box 1, Folders 6, 7). The Wharton family documents are contained in Boxes 2, 3, and 4 and Flat Files 1 and 2 and include business correspondence, account statements, deeds, promissory notes and receipts, bonds, agreements, tax assessments, real estate indentures, bills of lading, and other shipping documents. Highlights include Charles Wharton’s letter books (Box 2, Folders 1, 4) and account book with the Bank of Pennsylvania (Box 2, Folder 2), a 1770 letter from Colonel George Croghan to Joseph Wharton regarding Colonel Washington (Box 2, Folder 13), and a 1927 survey report on the "Wharton Tract" in Pike Township, Pennsylvania with maps and photographs (Box 2, Folder 23). Additionally, Box 2 contains account statements, invoices and receipts, and correspondence between John & Arthur Burrows of St. Vincent and Antony Clarkson of Philadelphia; the business letters, records, account statements, and miscellaneous documents of Joshua Fisher and Sons; and documents signed by Thomas Wright, lord mayor of the City of London, on behalf of Joseph Hibbert and John Byerley. Finally, Boxes 3 and 4 contain several documents relating to members of the Smith family. 
524 8 |a Cite as: [Indicate cited item or series here], Sarah A. G. Smith collection on 18th century Philadelphia merchants (Collection 1864), The Historical Society of Pennsylvania. 
541 1 |a Gift of Sarah A. G. Smith, 1962, 1966, 1969. 
544 |a Related collections at HSP: Genealogy of the Wharton family of Philadelphia: 1664 to 1880 (Fa 929.2 W554w 1880) Smith family papers 1728-1846 (Collection 1375) Wharton and Willing families papers, 1669-1887 (Collection 2014) Charles Wharton receipt book, 1799-1803 (Amb.9554) William Wharton receipt book, 1765-1791 (Am.18697) Wharton Family papers, 1679-1891 (Collection 708A)  
545 |a Sarah Anne Green Smith was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1906. She wrote for local publications such as the Pennsylvania Magazine of History and Biography. Her great great grandfather was Daniel B. Smith (1793-1883), a prominent early American pharmacist who founded the first college of pharmacy, the first pharmacy journal, and the first national professional association for pharmacists in the United States. He was also a charter member of the Historical Society of Pennsylvania and served as its first corresponding secretary. Daniel B. Smith's son Benjamin R. Smith (born 1825) married Esther Fisher Wharton (born 1836), the sister of Joseph Wharton. One of their children was Edward Wanton Smith (born 1875), who married Anna Dorothea Atwater (born 1877). Their first child was Sarah A. G. Smith. 
555 |a Finding Aid Available Online:  
600 1 7 |a Wharton, Charles  |d 1744-1838.  |2 NACO Authority File 
600 1 7 |a Wharton, Joseph  |d 1707-1776.  |2 NACO Authority File 
650 7 |a International trade--18th century.  |2 Local sources 
650 0 |a Merchants--Pennsylvania--Philadelphia--History. 
650 0 |a Merchants--United States--History--18th century. 
650 0 |a Shipping--Pennsylvania--Philadelphia--History 
650 0 |a Slave trade--United States--History--18th century 
650 7 |a United States--History--Revolution, 1775-1783--Economic aspects.  |2 Local sources 
650 7 |a United States--History--Revolution, 1775-1783--Quakers  |2 Local sources 
852 |a The Historical Society of Pennsylvania  |b Sarah A. G. Smith Collection On 18th Century Philadelphia Merchants  |l 1864 
856 4 2 |y Link to finding aid  |u http://www2.hsp.org/collections/manuscripts/s/Smith1864.html