Private Journal P. W. Lippitt [spine titles], for the Lippitt Woolen Company

Woonsocket, 1900. 2 volumes, 4to, attractive full black pebble-grain morocco, triple gilt borders on covers, gilt-paneled spines in 5 compartments, gilt-lettered direct in 2; very good, sound, and legible. Volume 1: February 6, 1845 to April 18, 1900, 336 pp., plus 4 loose ledger pages. Volume 2: Accounts 1848 to 1899, 174 pp. plus blank leaves at the back. Alphabetical index (with tabs) at front, plus some printed sheets of taxes from the U.S. Revenue Service in 1868, and two loose ledger pages. 9 x 11.5 inches. "Private Journal P.W. Lippitt" in gilt letters on spine. Comprehensive business ledgers and stock records from the Lippitt family of Rhode Island. Peleg Wilbur Lippitt was born October 20, 1816, in Griswold, Connecticut, son of Maj. Christopher Lippitt III (a descendant of Christopher Lippitt 1712-1764) and Marcy Gooding Wilbur. He died April 18, 1900 and is buried in North Scituate, Rhode Island. Peleg was a member of the prominent Lippitt family--wealthy cotton manufacturers and politicians. Henry Lippitt became governor of the state. (See DAB). The first volume contains a hand-written inscription: "This journal is a copy of my first and original journal--rewritten March 1866." We are unable to find the original journal in any collection (although the RIHS has Mss. Coll. 1046 of Lippitt Woolen Company Records, it does not appear to contain accounts). The accounts from 1866 onwards appear to be of the first order. The entries contain cash and expenses, such as purchases of bank stock and salaries of mill employees. One interesting purchase was Weed Sewing Machine Stock in 1869 (p. 117). Other companies Peleg invested in included American Screw, New Jersey Lighterage, Whipple Gold Mining, Matchless Radiator and many others. Sister Marcia is mentioned as well as daughter Sarah Waldo Rhodes. James T. Rhodes's name (b. ca. 1801), cotton merchant, appears frequently in the accounts. Page 216 shows a "cash to real estate" entry that shows brother "A.D.L."s share in "Uncle Thos. B. Wilbur's" Brooklyn estate "if he had not sold it to me for cash." The second volume shows cash, interest, expenses, bills payable, stock income and so on. Amounts carried over are as large as $1 million and then some. The Lippitts' textile interests in Rhode Island were started in 1809 by brothers Christopher (1744-1824) and Charles Lippitt (1754-1845), sons of Christopher (1712-1764) and Catharine (Holden) Lippitt. The younger Christopher was a Revolutionary War officer who engaged in farming after the war. His brother Charles was a Providence merchant. In 1809, the brothers, along with partners organized a cotton mill under the name the Lippitt Manufacturing Company. The company grew into a major cotton manufacturer during the 19th century, with several succeeding generations becoming involved in its operations and administration, and inheriting the benefits of its financial legacy.