Glimpse into Life in 1845

 BUSINESS AS USUAL

by Joseph Parsons Brown - Commonwealth of Onslow - A History

Owen G. Dunn Company . New Bern, NC . 1960

Steamer Napoleon, mentioned below, may have been similar to the 1850 Steamship Florida  

which was USS Florida during the Civil War. This image was not included in Brown's book.

If you have the mistaken idea that doing historical research is all dry-as-dust searching through musty old records, or if you believe that Granddad spent all of his time in the management of his business, taking Grandma to church in the family coach or entertaining the preacher whenever he came through, you need only to peruse the following letter to learn that Granddad was not averse to a little fun sometimes along with his other employment.

While our search has not yet revealed Grandma's views in the matter, we suspect that underneath her flowing train and murmuring taffetas she loved a good time much as the girls do today.

Granddad operated a store along with his other business. Bills-of-lading made out by the firm of White and Barnes of 201 Pearl Street, New York, for goods shipped via the steamer “Napoleon,” which plied between Swansboro and New York show that Grandpa catered to the best trade and listed such items as “prints,” “chints,” “Kentucky Jean,” “Brown Linen,” “grass cloth,” “drilling.” “plaid,” “cotton cashmere,” “Irish Linen,” “tick,” “bleached shirting,” black cambric,” “Marsaille Vesting,” “cotton flaggs,” “cotton shawls,” “Blue Italian Silk,” “Ladies Persian Thread Hose,” “6 dozen boxes hooks and eyes,” “8 packs pins,” and sundry other articles to the value of $344.09, all of which are shown as a purchase dated April 19, 1845, and shipped direct to the Colonel back in Onslow County. MORE...