Allen Presbrey account book and scrapbook

Account book containing records of Allen Presbrey's business activities from February 16, 1814 to February 3, 1821. The volume lists accounts for ten customers: Seth Presbrey, Seth Presbrey and Sons, Nathaniel Crandall, Crocker, Bush & Richmond, Taunton Cotton Mill, Samuel Crocker, William Woodward, Samuel Cook Fales, Hopewell Manufacturing Company, and Richard Park & Co. Each account consists of a page for debits and another for credits. Most accounts carry over onto other pages in the volume. From all appearances, Presbrey operated a general store and supplied dry goods and groceries to a select clientele such as Seth Presbrey and Nathaniel Crandall. He also appears to have rented a store and garden from Samuel Crocker. In many instances, Presbrey received payments-in-kind, as with Nathaniel Crandall who settled his account with bread from his bakery. The nature of Presbrey's business with the firms recorded in the account book is not entirely clear. For accounts with Crocker, Bush & Richmond, Taunton Cotton Mill and Hopewell Manufacturing Company, Presbrey seems to have debited for payments to individuals, possibly labor costs. The volume was later used as a scrapbook. Located at the end of the volume in reverse are 9 leaves of newspaper clippings, mainly poetry, ca. 1844-1847.