John F. Fenton Day Books, American Philosophical Society

Table of contents

Abstract

Beginning in about 1830, John F. Fenton began a thriving business as a wheelwright in Newtown, Bucks County, Pennsylvania. He married Mary Ann Ring, also of Newtown, on November 26, 1834, and was elected a County Commissioner in the late 1850s.

These Day Books provide a detailed record of work performed by Fenton between 1830 and 1844, primarily the manufacture or repair of wagons and wheels (double trees, wagon tongues, sideboards, spokes, rims), with very occasional reference to carriages.

Background note
Scope & content
Administrative information
Additional information
Added entries
Contact information

Background note

Scope and content

Front cover of daybook for 1835-1837

The Fenton Day Books provide a daily record of work performed by the Bucks County wheelwright and County Commissioner, John F. Fenton, between 1830 and 1844, primarily the manufacture or repair of wagons and wheels (double trees, wagon tongues, sideboards, spokes, rims), with very occasional reference to carriages. Other activities are occasionally recorded by Fenton, including making a plough, mending and painting a hay rake, dressing saws, and providing cord wood, and in 1831, he records going hunting "in the pines" and getting five deer.

Volume 1 consists of three volumes bound together; volume 2 includes 4 pages of work by hired hands for June 1853.

Administrative information

Restrictions

None.

Provenance

Gift of Edward H. Barnsley, 1977 (accn. no. 1977-204ms).

Preferred citation

Cite as: John F. Fenton Day Books, American Philosophical Society.

Processing information

Recatalogued rsc April 2003.