Account books of the Coffin family

Description

Subseries A. Account books of the Coffin family, 1689-1815, undated (#2.1-3.2, C.2.51-C.2.54), contains account books and account book indices kept by four generations of the Coffin family: Nathaniel Coffin (1669-1748), account books, 1710-1760 (#2.1, C.2.52); Joseph Coffin (1702-1773), account books, 1723-1776 (#2.1-2.3); Joshua Coffin (1732-1774), account books, 1747-1795 (#2.3-3.1); Joseph Coffin (1762-1805), account books, 1761-1815 (#3.1-3.2); and Edmund Coffin (1764-1825), account book, 1767-1815 (#3.2). The account books detail the daily expenses associated with running the family tannery business and include the purchase of skins, sale of goods, etc. Domestic expenses such as the purchase of linens, shoes, food, building supplies, and other household goods are also detailed in the account books as well as tuition payments and the cost of hired help. Listings of credit and debt for each customer and family member are also noted as are accounts paid in full and notations of accounts paid by the customer or by the estate. The keepers of account book, 1689-1735 (#C.2.54) and account book, 1790-1799 (#C.2.53) are unclear. See #C.1.17, C.1.21, C.1.53-C.1.54, C.2.30, C.2.44-C.2.45 for other Coffin family account books. The subseries is arranged chronologically starting with the account books, followed by the indices.