The Diffenderffer Family Papers collection contains items that have been passed down through generations of the Diffenderffer family. Deeds for tracts of land in New Holland date back to the creation of New Design, the village that preceded New Holland. Correspondence and some manuscripts pertain to J. P. McCaskey's life and accomplishments. F. R. Diffenderffer's manuscripts on Easter Day and Conrad Weiser are preserved with this collection, as well as poems, a program for the C. Elvin Haupt School, and a claim of F. R. Diffenderffer & Co. against the State of Texas.
Preferred Citation: Title or description of item, date (day, month, year), Collection Title (MG#), Folder #, (or Object ID), LancasterHistory, Lancaster, Pennsylvania. URL if applicable. Date accessed (day, month, year).
Deeds in folders 1-18 were a gift of Fianna Diffenderffer and the Diffenderffer family, 4 November 2006.
Items in folders 19-23 were a gift from her nephew, David Diffenderffer, 14 August 2006.
Access Conditions / Restrictions
Restrictions are noted at the item level--please use photocopies or transcriptions for those items. Other original documents may be used by researchers--contact Research@LancasterHistory.org prior to visit or request at Reference Desk.
Copyright
Collection items may be photographed. Please direct questions to Research Center Staff at Research@LancasterHistory.org. Permission for reproduction and/or publication must be obtained in writing from LancasterHistory. Persons wishing to publish any material from this collection must assume all responsibility for identifying and satisfying any claimants of copyright or other use restrictions. Publication fees may apply.
Credit
Courtesy of LancasterHistory, Lancaster, Pennsylvania.
Accession Number
2006.MG0410_NOV
Other Numbers
MG-410
Classification
MG0410
Description Level
Fonds
Custodial History
Cataloged by HST, November 2008. Added to database 28 July 2021.
This collection consists of business records for Whitson & Sproul of Christiana, Lancaster County and documents related to estate settlements. The business records include a ledger, letters and statements concerning the sale and purchase of various materials. One letter mentions the 1860 election of "Old Abe." The receipts and court documents consist primarily of receipts, releases, and sale agreements relating to the settlement of the estates of James Sproul and Moses Whitson.
This collection contains the legal and personal papers of Judge Henry G. Long. The first ten boxes contain notes of argument and notes of testimony for civil and criminal cases. The remaining papers include receipts for local businesses and services, accounts, documents relating to turnpikes, speeches, stock certificates, deeds, correspondence, and petitions.
Preferred Citation: Title or description of item, date (day, month, year), Judge Henry G. Long Collection (MG0283), Box #, Folder #, LancasterHistory, Lancaster, Pennsylvania.
Folders 1-120, gift of The Long Home, 19 January 2001. Folders 121-126, purchased from dealer, October 2013. Folder 127 purchased from The Lawbook Exchange, Ltd., August 2014.
The items in Folders 121-126 were originally part of the collection at The Long Home, but were separated from the rest of the collection and purchased at auction by the dealer who sold them to LancasterHistory.
Access Conditions / Restrictions
Restrictions are noted at the item level.
Copyright
Collection may not be photocopied. Please direct questions to Research Center Staff at research@lancasterhistory.org.
Permission for reproduction and/or publication must be obtained in writing from LancasterHistory.
Credit
Courtesy of LancasterHistory, Lancaster, Pennsylvania.
Other Numbers
MG-283
Classification
MG0283
Description Level
Fonds
Custodial History
Boxes 1-15 processed by JM, finding aid prepared by HST. Added to database 7 November 2017.
Joel and Thomas Smedley’s Prospect Mills account book B
Description
Joel and Thomas Smedley’s Prospect Mills account book B contains an index of clients and what pages they appear on, an itemized list of their profits and expenses, an index of sales and where they are found, and the employees of the mill and what they were being compensated for.. The profits list ranges from selling corn, wheat, bran, oats, and flour, as well as sawing boards and planks. The recorded expenses include purchases from a brickyard (pg. 102), Susquehanna Canal Company (122), and Deer Creek Iron Works Company (125). Other mill expenses include employee wages, lumber, and potatoes.
Admin/Biographical History
Joel Smedley was born in 1799 to parents Joseph Smedley and Rebecca Lewis Smedley. Joel married Martha Wildman and fathered six children including Charles, Mary, John, Lewis, Anne, and Ellwood. Joel inherited the mill from his father in 1833 and expanded it by building a sorghum factory. Joel died in 1872.
Preferred citation: Title or description of item, date (day, month, year), Collection Title (MG#), Box #, Folder #, (or Object ID), LancasterHistory, Lancaster, Pennsylvania. URL if applicable. Date accessed (day, month, year).
Access Conditions / Restrictions
No restrictions. Original documents may be used by appointment. Please contact Research@LancasterHistory.org at least two weeks prior to visit.
Copyright
Collection may not be photocopied. Please direct questions to Research Center Staff at Research@LancasterHistory.org for permission for reproduction and/or publication must be obtained in writing from LancasterHistory.
Credit
Courtesy of LancasterHistory, Lancaster, Pennsylvania.
Smedley & Son Prospect Mills Day Book C contains an index of clients and what pages they appear on, an itemized list of their profits and expenses, an index of sales and where they are found, and the employees of the mill and what they were being compensated for. The profits list ranges from selling corn, wheat, bran, oats, and flour, as well as sawing boards, turning trundle posts, and rejoining carriage shafts. The recorded expenses for the mill include employee wages and transportation costs.
Admin/Biographical History
Joel Smedley was born in 1799 to parents Joseph Smedley and Rebecca Lewis Smedley. Joel married Martha Wildman and fathered six children including Charles, Mary, John, Lewis, Anne, and Ellwood. Joel inherited the mill from his father in 1833 and expanded it by building a sorghum factory. Joel died in 1872.
Preferred citation: Title or description of item, date (day, month, year), Collection Title (MG#), Box #, Folder #, (or Object ID), LancasterHistory, Lancaster, Pennsylvania. URL if applicable. Date accessed (day, month, year).
Access Conditions / Restrictions
No restrictions. Original documents may be used by appointment. Please contact Research@LancasterHistory.org at least two weeks prior to visit.
Copyright
Collection may not be photocopied. Please direct questions to Research Center Staff at Research@LancasterHistory.org for permission for reproduction and/or publication must be obtained in writing from LancasterHistory.
Credit
Courtesy of LancasterHistory, Lancaster, Pennsylvania.
Prospect Mills Daybook from (1866-1868) contains an index of clients and what pages they appear on, an itemized list of their profits and expenses, an index of sales and where they are found, the employees of the mill and what they were being compensated for, and lists of how much cider and sausage meat was made. The profits list ranges from selling corn, wheat, bran, oats, and flour, as well as sawing boards, turning trundle posts, and rejoining carriage shafts. The recorded expenses for the mill include employee wages and transportation costs.
Admin/Biographical History
Joel Smedley was born in 1799 to parents Joseph Smedley and Rebecca Lewis Smedley. Joel married Martha Wildman and fathered six children including Charles, Mary, John, Lewis, Anne, and Ellwood. Joel inherited the mill from his father in 1833 and expanded it by building a sorghum factory. Joel died in 1872.
Preferred citation: Title or description of item, date (day, month, year), Collection Title (MG#), Box #, Folder #, (or Object ID), LancasterHistory, Lancaster, Pennsylvania. URL if applicable. Date accessed (day, month, year).
Access Conditions / Restrictions
No restrictions. Original documents may be used by appointment. Please contact Research@LancasterHistory.org at least two weeks prior to visit.
Copyright
Collection may not be photocopied. Please direct questions to Research Center Staff at Research@LancasterHistory.org for permission for reproduction and/or publication must be obtained in writing from LancasterHistory.
Credit
Courtesy of LancasterHistory, Lancaster, Pennsylvania.
Prospect Mills Daybook from (1850-1852) contains an index of clients and what pages they appear on, an itemized list of their profits and expenses, an index of sales and where they are found, the employees of the mill and what they were being compensated for, and lists of how much cider was made. The profits list ranges from selling molasses, corn, wheat, bran, oats, and flour, as well as sawing boards, turning trundle posts, and rejoining carriage shafts. The recorded expenses for the mill include employee wages and transportation costs. The daybook also contained a note tucked into page 141 about an employee ruining wheat by storing something in the wheat barn. It mentions needing the damaged wheat to be paid for and the possibility of the employee working off the debt.
Admin/Biographical History
Joel Smedley was born in 1799 to parents Joseph Smedley and Rebecca Lewis Smedley. Joel married Martha Wildman and fathered six children including Charles, Mary, John, Lewis, Anne, and Ellwood. Joel inherited the mill from his father in 1833 and expanded it by building a sorghum factory. Joel died in 1872.
Preferred citation: Title or description of item, date (day, month, year), Collection Title (MG#), Box #, Folder #, (or Object ID), LancasterHistory, Lancaster, Pennsylvania. URL if applicable. Date accessed (day, month, year).
Access Conditions / Restrictions
No restrictions. Original documents may be used by appointment. Please contact Research@LancasterHistory.org at least two weeks prior to visit.
Copyright
Collection may not be photocopied. Please direct questions to Research Center Staff at Research@LancasterHistory.org for permission for reproduction and/or publication must be obtained in writing from LancasterHistory.
Credit
Courtesy of LancasterHistory, Lancaster, Pennsylvania.
Prospect Mills Daybook from (1870-1872) by Joel Smedley contains an index of clients and what pages they appear on, an itemized list of their profits and expenses, an index of sales and where they are found, the employees of the mill and what they were being compensated for, and lists of how much cider and sausage was made. The profits list ranges from selling molasses, corn, wheat, bran, oats, and flour, as well as sawing boards, turning trundle posts, and rejoining carriage shafts. The recorded expenses for the mill include employee wages and transportation costs.
Admin/Biographical History
Joel Smedley was born in 1799 to parents Joseph Smedley and Rebecca Lewis Smedley. Joel married Martha Wildman and fathered six children including Charles, Mary, John, Lewis, Anne, and Ellwood. Joel inherited the mill from his father in 1833 and expanded it by building a sorghum factory. Joel died in 1872.
Preferred citation: Title or description of item, date (day, month, year), Collection Title (MG#), Box #, Folder #, (or Object ID), LancasterHistory, Lancaster, Pennsylvania. URL if applicable. Date accessed (day, month, year).
Access Conditions / Restrictions
No restrictions. Original documents may be used by appointment. Please contact Research@LancasterHistory.org at least two weeks prior to visit.
Copyright
Collection may not be photocopied. Please direct questions to Research Center Staff at Research@LancasterHistory.org for permission for reproduction and/or publication must be obtained in writing from LancasterHistory.
Credit
Courtesy of LancasterHistory, Lancaster, Pennsylvania.
Account Book of Jeremiah Brown’s gristmill, Book A, Little Britain Township, Fulton Twp.
Description
Account Book of Jeremiah Brown’s gristmill, Book "A", Little Britain Township, Fulton Township.
Book references itemized lists of profits and expenses, the employees of the mill and what they were being compensated for. The profits list ranges from selling and grinding corn, wheat, and rye as well as sawing boards. The recorded expenses for the mill include items such as employee wages, transportation costs, and a pair of new shoes.
Contains 225 leaves that are paginated, and a 10 page index of clients made by the book owner by cutting the page margins, and writing index tabs on the remaing margins.
Front cover has an "A" carved on it.
Front 2 leaves were incorporated into the index and end 2 leaves were used to continue accounting.
Insert 1 - Blue donor card.
Insert 2 - 7 loose items:
Item 1 Yellow Join the Great American Smoke book marker rom the Lancaster County Unit American Cancer Society.
Item 2 Six pieces of paper with names and calculations.
Admin/Biographical History
From: Donor Card
Jeremiah Brown was born 1750, descended from Joshua Brown. He received his father’s mill in 1775. Jeremiah’s business became quite prosperous and with the help of other prominent figures in Lancaster County, he helped establish the Farmers Bank of Lancaster. Jeremiah’s fathered several children including the honorable Judge Jeremiah Brown and Slater Brown, later leaving the mill to Slater. At the time of his death in 1831, he was thought to be one of the largest stockholders, if not the largest, of the Farmers Bank of Lancaster at 1,000 shares.
Book is intact, cover shows signs of red rot, front and back cover, as well as the spine, have pieces that have worn off, front and back covers have water damage as well as several front and back pages.
Tab "CD" on index page is missing "D".
Object ID
MG0963_F009
Location of Originals
LancasterHistory, Lancaster, Pennsylvania
Notes
Preferred citation: Title or description of item, date (day, month, year), Collection Title (MG#), Box #, Folder #, (or Object ID), LancasterHistory, Lancaster, Pennsylvania. URL if applicable. Date accessed (day, month, year).
Access Conditions / Restrictions
No restrictions. Original documents may be used by appointment. Please contact Research@LancasterHistory.org at least two weeks prior to visit.
Copyright
Collection items may be photographed. Please direct questions to Research Center Staff at Research@LancasterHistory.org.
Permission for reproduction and/or publication must be obtained in writing from LancasterHistory. Persons wishing to publish any material from this site must assume all responsibility for identifying and satisfying any claimants of copyright or other use restrictions. Publication fees may apply.
Credit
Courtesy of LancasterHistory, Lancaster, Pennsylvania.
Jeremiah Brown’s gristmill account book "B" Little Britain Township, Fulton Township
Description
Jeremiah Brown’s gristmill account book "B" Little Britain Township, Fulton Township
Book references itemized list of profits and expenses, and the employees of the mill and what they were being compensated for. The profits list ranges from selling and grinding corn, wheat, and rye as well as sawing boards. The recorded expenses for the mill include employee wages, transportation costs, and dry goods such as salt.
Contains 200 pages, plus a 12 page index of clients and what pages they appear on.
Front cover has a "B" written on it.
"LEDGER" is printed on spine.
Back cover inside has an "X" written on it.
This account book also contains several sections of estate planning for multiple individuals.
o Jeremiah Brown records his will and what his children are to inherit from his estate on page. 1.
o Jeremiah Brown later records a detailed list of what he gave to his daughter Sarah as she married Timothy Haines on page. 10.
o Vincent King estate on page. 102
o Richard Stedman real estate on page. 104.
Insert 1 - 2 items:
Item 1 Blue donor card
Item 2 "The Book Haven" description of book.
Insert 2 - 10 loose items:
Item 1 Judgment note dated 1805 containing the names James Arbuckle, Adam Arbuckle, Jeremiah Brown, Phillip James, Robert Maxwell, W. Tilton and W. Barton.
Item 2 Account note dated 1811; Timothy Haines to David Nivine
Item 3 Account note dated 1812 for 5 Sales of Jeremiah Brown signed by T. Hollingsworth & son,
Item 4 Account note dated 1816 with names Hugh Pennell, Jeremiah Brown and John Kirk.
Item 5 Account note dated 1810 containing names James Davison and Jeremiah Brown.
item 6 Shad Account for the year 1810; John Leek, Jonathan Hough, Oliver Caldwell and Jeremiah Brown.
Item 7 Account note dated 1816; Slater Brown, Jeremiah Brown
Item 8 Note dated 1814 outlining the transition of the mill from Jeremiah Brown, to his son Slater.
Item 9 Settlement State Account dated 1809; Charles Daugherty to Jeremiah Brown, John Kirk, Hugh Bush, and James Davidson.
Item 10 Account Note dated 31 December 1810; James Davidson to Jeremiah Brown.; Oliver Caldwell, Samuel White and John Kirk.
Insert 3 - 10 account loose items:
Item 1 Account note dated 1800 and 1801; A. Hopkins, Philip Baker Adams, Andrew Porter, William Porter, David Scott, Roger Kirk, Jeremiah Brown, Arthur Howell, W. Montgomery.
Item 2 Account note, 1809, Jeremiah Brown
Item 3 Account note, 10 Dec 1805, Stephen Cooper estate, John Kirk, Jeremiah Brown & Son.
Item 4 Account note, 15 May 1805, Philip James, Thomas Moore, Timothy Haines.
Item 5 List of Hugh Burks property sold by Jesse Brabs on 17 July 1919; Jeremiah Brown, Thomas Burk.
Item 6 Note dated Jun 1820, damage done by Jeremiah Brown, James A. Caldwell.
Item 7 Settlement dated 1 April 1810, Thomas Burk with Jeremiah Brown.
Item 8 Sales note dated 15 May 1806, account of James Morrison by Levi Hollingsworth & Son, Jeremiah Brown.
Item 9 Sales note dated December 1803, Flour by Levi Hollingsworth for Morrison, M. Gryder.
Item 10 Sales note dated 1 August 1797, Flour by Levi Hollingsworth & Son for account of James Morrison, M Gryder, to Adam May and Thomas Bristol.
Insert 4 - 10 loose items:
Item 1 Account note dated 1811 and 1812, Charles Heston with Jeremiah Brown.
Item 2 Account note dated 1811, Elizabeth & Thomas Steel with Jeremiah Brown.
Item 3 Account note dated 1811, Elizabeth Steel & Son Thomas, Robert Clark.
Item 4 Bank Papers note, dated 1815 and 1816, Jeremiah Brown, Skater Brown, James McConkey.
Item 5 Bills note, undated, Jeremiah Brown, Levi Brown Mill.
Item 6 Account note, dated 30 December 1805, Jeremiah Brown Mill.
Item 7 Account note dated 1810, Charles Daugherty in account with Jeremiah Brown; R. King, Stwart Jamison, John Jamison.
Item 8 Account note dated 1805, by Levi Hollingsworth for Jeremiah Brown.
Item 9 Account note dated 1793, 1797 and 1799, James Morrison, Levi Hollingsworth.
Item 10 Account note, undated, R Maxwell.
Insert 5 - 10 loose items:
Item 1 Freight Account note, 1812, Timothy Haines to David Nivin, other names Jeremiah Brown.
Item 2 Statement, 1 October 1812, of Andrew Porter with R. Kick.
Item 3 Lancaster County account note, August 1800, Jeremiah Brown, Roger Kirk, Andrew Porter.
Item 4 Account note, 1812, Francis Scott, Slater Brown.
Item 5 Account note, 1813, C. Hefton.
Item 6 Account note, 1812, John Kirk, Jeremiah Brown, George MCaslin, Katy Morrisson, Moses Rankin, John Evans, Thomas Hule, Baker Bevans.
Item 7 Account note, undated, Kirk and MConkey.
Item 8 Account note, 1823, Isaac Stubbs and Vincent Stubbs.
Item 9 Bill, July 1812, Hugh Cooper by Jeremian Brown
Item 10 Account note, no date or name.
Insert 6 - 10 loose items:
Item 1 Order, 22 April 1811, John Kirk, George Dockes, Jeremiah Brown.
Item 2 Receipt, 21 January 1801, C. Carpenter, Jeremiah Brown, Andrew Porter, William Porter.
Item 3 Note, 25 March 1799, Williamson, J. W.
Item 4 Note, 29 Jun 1802, Jeremiah Brown, Coln. Jas. Morrison, David Nivin, Samuel Nivin.
Item 5 Account note, 5 May 1802, Levi Hollingsworth, Jeremiah Brown, William Bell.
Item 6 Account note, 31 March 1813, Jeremiah Brown.
Item 9 Account note, 4 March 1819, Wm. Brown, Wm. Jenkins, Samuel King, Jeremiah Brown, Wm. Barker & Son.
Item 10 Account note, May 1805, Meason Shank Don, Thomas Moore, Timothy Haines, Jeremiah Brown.
Insert 8 - 10 loose items:
Item 1 Account note, 21 February 1799, Jeremiah Brown, John Singer, Abram Singer.
Item 2 Account note, undated, Neal Harrisbaugh.
Item 3 Bond, 6 April 1810, paid 20 August 1812, no names.
Item 4 Receipt, 1816, Jeremiah Brown, Montgomery (no first name).
Item 5 Receipt, 1823, Fred Steele, Thomas Buck, Jeremiah Brown, Thomas Steele.
Item 6 Receipt, 15 September 1809, Joseph Steel, Jeremiah Brown.
Item 7 Account note, 20 May 1809, John Kirk, Jeremiah Brown.
Item 8 Account note, 1812, O. Caldwell.
Item 9 Account note, 1810, Hains & James.
Item 10 Account note, 5 February 1811, Jerry Brown, Elizabeth Steel, Samuel Neeper.
Admin/Biographical History
From: Donor Card and "The Book Haven" description card
Jeremiah Brown was born 1750, descended from Joshua Brown. He received his father's mill in 1775. Jeremiah’s business became quite prosperous and with the help of other prominent figures in Lancaster County, he helped establish the Farmers Bank of Lancaster. Jeremiah’s fathered several children including the honorable Judge Jeremiah Brown and Slater Brown, later leaving the mill to Slater. At the time of his death in 1831, he was thought to be one of the largest stockholders, if not the largest, of the Farmers Bank of Lancaster at 1,000 shares.
Book is in poor condition. Front and back covers are unattached with most of the leather worn off. Spine is completely worn through at places. Paper has foxing and some pages have water damage. Eight leaves, two of which the first two of the index, are unattached. Index tabs A-B, C-D, N-O, W-X and W-Z are missing.
There is no page 2. Pages 201 to 206 are not paginated.
Object ID
MG0963_F010
Location of Originals
LancasterHistory, Lancaster, Pennsylvania
Notes
Preferred citation: Title or description of item, date (day, month, year), Collection Title (MG#), Box #, Folder #, (or Object ID), LancasterHistory, Lancaster, Pennsylvania. URL if applicable. Date accessed (day, month, year).
Edmond is recorded as "Black Edmond"
Hannah is recorded as "Black Hannah"
Patrick is recorded as "Black Patrick"
Access Conditions / Restrictions
No restrictions. Original documents may be used by appointment. Please contact Research@LancasterHistory.org at least two weeks prior to visit.
Copyright
Collection items may be photographed. Please direct questions to Research Center Staff at Research@LancasterHistory.org.
Permission for reproduction and/or publication must be obtained in writing from LancasterHistory. Persons wishing to publish any material from this site must assume all responsibility for identifying and satisfying any claimants of copyright or other use restrictions. Publication fees may apply.
Credit
Courtesy of LancasterHistory, Lancaster, Pennsylvania.
