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Powel family papers
The volumes of accounts, letters, memoranda, and other records concern the personal professional business interests of four Powel family members of Philadelphia. The first represented here is Samuel Powel, colonial merchant, who apparently conducted his business in London from 1726 to 1727 and then...
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| Collection: | Powel Family Papers |
| Collection Number: | LCP.in.HSP91 |
| Format: | Manuscript |
| Language: | English |
| Subjects and Genres: | |
| Online Access: | Link to finding aid |
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| Physical Description: |
12.0 Linear feet 3 boxes, 69 volumes, 9 flat files |
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| Summary: |
The volumes of accounts, letters, memoranda, and other records concern the personal professional business interests of four Powel family members of Philadelphia.
The first represented here is Samuel Powel, colonial merchant, who apparently conducted his business in London from 1726 to 1727 and then continued in Philadelphia, trading with England and the West Indies, until his death. His merchant's account books, 1726-1747, include: day books (7 v.), journals (5 v.), ledgers (4 v., broken series), bills of lading (2 v.), and ship invoice book.
His son Samuel Powel was elected mayor of Philadelphia in 1775, his tenure ended by the Revolution, and he was reelected in 1789. His personal financial accounts consist of ledger, 1760-1793; receipt books, 1771-1792 (9 v., broken series); miscellaneous account and memorandum book, 1786-1796.
Elizabeth Willing Powel, Mayor Powel's wife, inherited his substantial estate including "Powelton" and other Philadelphia real estate. Her account books, 1793-1821 (6 v.), relate principally to finances concerning her property; there are also check stubs, 1793-1803.
Elizabeth and Samuel Powel had no heirs, and therefore Mrs. Powel adopted her nephew John Powel Hare who subsequently changed his name to John Hare Powel. Powel joined the counting house of Willing and Francis, 1803-1807, acting as supercargo on a voyage to Calcutta in 1806. He was secretary to the U.S. legation in London, 1809-1811, a colonel in the War of 1812, and Pennsylvania state senator, 1827-1830. He acted as agent in managing the property of the Elizabeth Powel estate, William Bingham estate, and Alexander Baring's Hope and Company lands in northern Pennsylvania. For most of his life, Powel's major occupation was as an agriculturist with particular interest in the improvement of livestock. The John Hare Powel papers include: letter book, 1806, on business conducted while in Calcutta; letter books, 1824-1853 (bulk, 1824-1843) (5 v.), relating primarily to husbandry, but also concerning his land management activities on behalf of Baring and others, his interest in Pennsylvania Railroad construction, and the construction of his house at 13th and Locust; accounts and memoranda on Hope and Co. lands, 1824-1842 (2 v.); personal receipt book, 1825-1830; cattle record book, 1825-1829, including copies of letters from Jonathan Whitaker and George Coates; ledger of Elizabeth Powel estate rents, 1830-1836 (bulk 1830-1833); William Bingham shipping account book from Martinique, 176-1778; William Bingham estate account books, 1813-1830 (7 v.) with memoranda and letters concerning Philadelphia property; receipt book, 1868-1884, of payments made from the John Hare Powel estate to Julia deVeaux Foulke and Ida Powel Morrell (later Johnson). There are some additional loose miscellaneous papers. |