mums418 James Shearer Daybook Finding Aid Finding aid prepared by Dex Haven. Special Collections and University Archives, W.E.B. Dubois Library, UMass Amherst
Amherst, Mass.
2010

© University of Massachusetts Amherst. All rights reserved.

 Finding aid encoded in MSWord2010-07-06 Finding aid written in English Special Collections and University Archives, W.E.B. Du Bois Library, University of Massachusetts Amherst James Shearer Daybook Finding Aid MS 418 bd Compiled by Dex Haven August 2010

© 2010 University of Massachusetts Amherst. All rights reserved.

 Collection Overview Shearer, James. James Shearer Daybook 1836-1838 MS 418 bd 1 volume (0.1 linear ft.) Special Collections and University Archives, W.E.B. Du Bois Library, University of Massachusetts Amherst During the late 1830s, James Shearer operated a general store near Palmer, Massachusetts, trading in the gamut of dry goods and commodities that made up the country trade in Massachusetts, from dried fish, butter, rum, and brandy, to soap, nails, chalk, cloth, sugar, molasses, spices, coffee, and tea. Although some customers paid their accounts in cash, most appear bartered goods (e.g, with butter) or services (carting). The Shearer daybook contains detailed records the transactions of a general store located in or near Palmer, Mass., during the years surrounding the financial panic of 1837. The volume is attributed to Shearer based on a single signature on the last page of the volume, closing out a lengthy account with J. Sedgwick. Although Shearer cannot be identified with certainty, it appears likely that he was a member of the prolific Shearer family of Palmer in Hampden County. English Historical Note

During the late 1830s, James Shearer operated a general store near Palmer, Massachusetts, trading in the gamut of dry goods and commodities that made up the country trade in Massachusetts, from dried fish, butter, rum, and brandy, to soap, nails, chalk, cloth, sugar, molasses, spices, coffee, and tea. Although some customers paid their accounts in cash, most appear bartered goods (e.g, with butter) or services (carting).

 Scope and Contents of the Collection

The Shearer daybook contains detailed records the transactions of a general store located in or near Palmer, Mass., during the years surrounding the financial panic of 1837. The volume is attributed to Shearer based on a single signature on the last page of the volume, closing out a lengthy account with J. Sedgwick. Although Shearer cannot be identified with certainty, it appears likely that he was a member of the prolific Shearer family of Palmer in Hampden County. Customers in the volume who can be identified with greater certainty through the Vital Records and other sources were residents of Palmer (e.g, Lorenzo, Marcus M., and Porter Shearer, Harvey and Martin Sedgwick, Alonzo V. Blanchard), Wilbraham (Shadrach Taylor, Abraham Knowlton), Sturbridge (Emerson Lumbard), Brimfield (Bezaleel Sherman, Calvin Moulton), and Monson (Orrin Hovey).

The collection is open for research.

 Preferred Citation

Cite as: James Shearer Daybook (MS 418 bd). Special Collections and University Archives, W.E.B. Du Bois Library, University of Massachusetts Amherst.

Acquired from Dan Casavant, 2001 (2001-015).

Processed by Dex Haven, August 2010.

 Search Terms Shearer, James. General stores--Massachusetts--Palmer. Palmer (Mass.)--Economic conditions--19th century. Daybooks.