Account Book of the Kerwin Family
Wyoming County, New York

Compiled by Jennifer Williams

For more information contact Jennifer Williams

This account book belong to James Kerwin. He was born in 1835 in Java (Center), New York. His parents came from Ireland. James Kerwin's parents were Matthew Kerwin (1803 - 6 Feb 1879) and Ann McCarthy (1811- 11 Feb 1887), both born in Ireland but both died in Java Center (information from Walter J. Hastrich). James married Kate O'Brien, who was born in County Wexford, Ireland in 1837. Kate's mother was Mary Merrigan, born in 1815 in County Waterford, Ireland. Her father was born in County Galway. There is no date of their marriage, but they had five children. James died 3 November 1903 and Kate died 2 December 1890 and she is buried in Java, New York.

The account book is filled with small personal accounts. It is not a complete nor comprehensive look at life in Java, New York. But it does offer a glimpse at life for James Kerwin in the 1870's and 1880's. The pagination is my own numbering since not every page contains information. Some pages contain only figuring with no context to explain the accounting. I have made no attempt to correct spelling or grammar.

Personal account book of James Kerwin

Page 1

James Kerwin Book
Java Wyoming Co. NY

Page 2

left home Sept. 11th & went to Pa

Page 3

credit by cash to Dennis Connelley
----------- $5.00
----------- $10.00
----------- $15.00
Nov. 8----- $50.00
of Roach--- $10.00
December 7 of Roach - $5.00
15 of Dec. - $10.00
------------$105.00
Board Bill - $50.00
------------$155.00
Dec. 15-----$145.00
----------- $300.00

Page 4

Java July 28 /73
Pat Thornburys time in haying
July 28----------- 1 day
-----30----------- 1 "
-----31----------- 1/2
August 2----------- 1/2
-------4----------- 3/4
" Pat 5 horse----------- 1/2
August 6----------- 1
" 7 Pat----------- 1 & horse
" Pat 8----------- 1
" 9----------- 1
" 11----------- 1

Page 5

Java August 26 /73
Richard Thornbury Worked harvesting
Aug 26----------- 1/2
Pat 27----------- 1/2
" 28----------- 1
" 29----------- 1
& Mat (?) 29----- 1/2
30th----------- 1
September 2 Rich-- 1/2
& Mat----------- 2----------- 1/2
Pat----------- 2----------- 1
" ----------- 3----------- 1
& Mat-------- 3----------- 1/2
Pat----------- 6----------- 3/4

Page 6

Pat Galvin harvest
Aug 27 1873----------- 1/2
" 28----------- 1
bill Grogan----------- 1/2
Hicks 27----------- 1
----- 28----------- 1/2
----- 29----------- 1
----- 30----------- 1
Sept 5th----------- 1
November/73
Speding/Winow(?)----------- 1
harvesting timber----------- 1
Chafing (chaping)----------- 1 1/2
December 6----------- framing----------- 1
--------- 9----------- 1
--------- 10----------- 1

Page 7

Clarion to Tionesty(?)-- 2.50
Tionesty? to Cary------- 2.30
Cary to Buffalo--------- 2.80
Buffalo to Protection--- .87
------------------fore-- $8.47
------ Horse------------ 2.00
------ Wagon------------ 3.50
one night in Cary------ 1.50
for vest--------------- 2.50
express c-------------- .50
----------------------- $18.47
----------------------- 90.25
-----------------------108.72
----------------------- 6.50
----------------------- 115.22
----------------------- 50
----------------------- 16
----------------------- 181.22

Page 8

Clarion May /72
for Kerwin paid to James for board
$4.50
9
5
4
June 19th----------------------- 9
July 8th -----------------------full paid 13.50
Aug. 5th----------------------- 18
Comensed again the 7 Aug. 72
Aug. 26----------------------- 19.50
Sept. 3----------------------- 4.50
Sept. 16th----------------------- 9.25
---------------------------------- 90.25

Page 9

James Kerwin lost Time working for John Markey by geting hurt 20th of June
June 21st - 1 day
June 22nd - 1 day
June 23rd - Sundy
June 24th - ?
run will cloes 5 1/2 yds.
Quarts top onions
1 paper (?) of beets

Page 10

Clarion April 30th/72
Kerwin comissed work for John Markey - credit to Markey
by cash - $10
--------- - $15
June 18 cash - $10
June 21 - $6
from 8th cash - $113
cash - $5
Aug. 5th - cash - $45
Aug. 18 - cash - $20
Aug. 26 - cash - $5
Aug. 28 - cash - $10
----------------------- $239

Page 11

December 2/73
Miles Carol worker
framing shed - 1/2
------------ 3 - 1
------------ 4 - 1
------------ 6 - 1
------------ 9 - 1
------------ 10 - 1
------------ 15 - 1
------------ 16 - 1
------------ 17 - 1

Page 12

I gave to P. Markey cash $27
cash to Burnam $25
to Frank Mccam $10
Trir(?)$5
June 5 - I sent $80.00 home
Potatoes 1.65

Page 13

Java Nov.6th 1872
Jas Kerwin setled up to date with R. Thornbury for his work & his bays work & paid him in full
-----------12.00
-----------40.00
-----------15.00
Nov 6/72---65.00
-----------132.00
For fills--3.00
-----------$135.00

Page 14

North Java April 28 1874
Jas Kerwin sold Brother
to Hessler - 51lbs 32
May - 59 30
A.F. Perkin - 49 27
----------- 61 26

Page 15

Java July 23/74
Bill Crogans time haying
Thursday----23----1 day
----------- 24----1
----------- 25----1
----------- 30----3/4
fixing rake 31--- 1
Aug. 3 by T. Thornbury - 1/2 - 3
Aug. 4 Thornsbury - 1
-------Bill Grogan - 1 - 5
-------Pat Thorn - 1 - 6
-------Bill Grogan - 1/2 - 6
Cradeling - 12 - 1/2
------- 24 - 1
------- 25 - 1
------- 31 - 1/2

Page 16

Bill Grogan 1874 for working at shed
sawing wood
trimming orchard
planting corn
July 21st 1874
setled ? to date with Bill Grogan
Balance Due me 1 day

Page 17 (partial torn)

Gray July 1st
July red - (O)Brien - 5
Wildy - 10
White - 11
Young Richardson - 14
Sprat(?) - 15
Roach - 15
red yearling - 18
Sprated Dan (?) - 20
Sheflen - 20
one horn - 21

Page 18

July 29/74
Moved for Bill Grogan - 1/2 - 11/2
cocked hay 30 - 1/4 - 1/4
Anges Black(?) - 30 - 1/2 - 1
the sixth 6 - 1/4 - 1/2
Aug. Stackely(?) - 1/2 - 1
----------------------- 4 1/2 day
Buter to Grogan - 1 - 1/2
August 30 - 2 - 1/2

Page 19

Java July 3rd/74
Brought Milk to the lake factory (morning)
3 - 1.52
3 - 1.60
4 - 138
4 - 151
5 - 149
5 - 135
6 - 144
6 - 135
7 - 138
7 - 141
Quit sending the 2 offing (?)Morning

Page 20

Java Oct 8 1874
John Markey one cutter - 11.25
John Markey - one plow - 2.25
------------ $13.50

Page 21

M. Hennefy - 7.00
W. Roche - 10.85
J. Firley - 3.25
M. Galow - 4.52 (crossed out)
P. Thornbury - 30 (crossed out)
F. Duffee - 1.25
C. Walsh - 1.60 (crossed out)
J. Moran - 1.35 (crossed out)
W. Supple - 3.50
------------ 33.62 April 30 1875
Lent to John Quinlan - 25.00
Balance due - 5.00

Page 22

Worked paying for E. Wales 6 days

Page 23

To John Quinlan
Peas - 2 bush - 2.00
hay - 3 70 lbs - 1.85
butter - tub - 70
Potatoes - 5 - 2.50
Worked haying
Quinlin - Aug 10 - 1/4 day
with hors - 1 - 11 - 1
hors - 1/2 - 14 - 3/4
hors - 1/2 - 17 - 1/2
21 - 1/2
23 - 1
hors - 1 - 24 - 1
hors - 1/2 - 25 - 1
hors - 1/2 - 26 - 1/2
harvesting - 27 - 1
--------------- 28 - 1

Page 24

Aug 30th 1875
harvesting for Quinlon
" 30 1 day
" 31 1
become Starck
remainder tea
2 oz indy
& Magnola (?)

Page 25

John Quinlin's
mate 5330

March 5
balance due me
from John Quinlin
$612

Page 26

James Rafferty (Raffenty?)
St. James Hotel
Erie St. Buffalo
on Meraigie(?)

Page 27

March 15 I got 17
shoes Sat. on my
horses & by Jas Galigar &
paid him in full up
to date
March 14th 1878
Jake (E?) comensed
Roark

Page 28

Java May 15 1877
sent Milk to the Factory 1.48
the 16th     ; ;  1.60
17      1.58
18      1.60
19      1.45
20      1.47
21      1.68
22      1.65
23      1.70
24      1.72
25      1.78
26      1.65
27      1.55
28      1.67
29      1.78
30      1.70

Page 29

31 May      1.75
1 June      1.78
2      1.75
3      1.68
4      1.65
5      1.77
6      1.85
7      1.85
8      1.85
9      1.90
10      1.93
11      1.80
12      1.70
13      1.76
14      1.73
15      1.82

Page 30

Java Aug 11th 1879
I got two shoes
set on my hors by
parres Gallagher
& settled with
him for work
done Previous
& Paid him in
full up to date
three dollars & 20
twenty cents 3.20
Frank Smith was
in the shop
the next day
he sent 5 cents
by my boy that
I over paid him

Page 31

Java May 11 1880
I setled up to date
with Jas Galigher &
Paid him in Full
Jas Kerwin
Java October 2 1882
I setled up to date
with James Galligher
& paid him in full
for all he could bring
up against me
Damage & cultering
?ter & Roark
four dollars & 25
cents $4.25

Page 32

June 7th 1879
Big heffer went
to Buf(falo)
June 20 King cow
" 21 heffer No. 18
" 27 goodman cow
July 4 Wales cow
July 5 old Mulley
July 8 Richardson cow
July 16 Goodman cow
" 17 spoted heff
Aug 10 Goodman
November 29 1879 drove
the cow to Umcleans(?)

Page 33

Java July 19th 1878
Sent the milk to Factory

Page 34-35

William Kerwin Sept. 2 1868
Edward " July 1 1870
Mary Emily Nov. 2 1872
Harriet Guinievere April 10 1875
Louis Kerwin Oct. 5 1876
Second Generation
Katherine Lyle Kerwin Sept. 24 1903
Mildred Louise Kerwin July 31 1905

Page 36

T. Green & Charles - June 24 1878 - I got 4 shoes Set on Mare & 2 new ones on colt by James Galligher & I settled with him the same day & Paid him in full of all demand $2.35

August 9/78 - got 2 shoes set/settled for work don Previous by Jas Galigher & Paid him in fullup to date

Page 37

Java June 14 1878
Butter to Quinlon 25 lbs.
July 4------------4
July 8------------9x2
July 16-----------9x6
July 25-----------7 lbs.
Aug 1 ------------8
------------------62 1/2
Aug 8-------------2
J. Quinlin--------64 1/2
to Readings-------6 lbs. of Butter
Aug 7 1878--------53 lbs.
------------------59

Page 38

Java September 8 1880
I settled with James Galligher all the sum Blacksmith acount he had against me & Paid him in full up to date 3 & 65 three dollars & sixty-five cents
Jas Kerwin

Page 39

April 5th 1878
Bailchan(?) spoted cow went to Bull
April 15 red heffer
June 10---------- goodman
June 17---------- Wales cow
------------------old Mulley
June 18---------- June 24---------- yaring(?) mulley
July 4---------- star heffer 3
July 13---------- Britchson read (?)
July 29---------- spoted yearling

Page 40

Sept 17 1877 found My Buck in Fifty M___? Barn

Page 41

July 5th 1877
Trepass ??? Ulker (?)Fritz m(?) 2 cows & 2 yearlings in my corn & one hors & previons(?)in same month 3 horses in my measdow & one horse at another time & 6 cows in my meadow another time the same season

Page 42

Sept 13/77
Butter to Quinlon by Mrs. Quinlon
Sept. 29
Buter over 5
---------- 3.12
---------- 109
---------- 117.12
---------- 22
---------- 234
---------- 16
---------- 25.90
---------- 7.47
---------- 33.37
---------- 5.00
---------- 28.37
Carding wool - 35
Quinlon - $28.72

Page 43

July 14/77
Butter to Readings---------8 1/2
Aug. 22--------------------9
last year------------------5
September 1 ---------------8 1/2
September 8----------------4 1/2
Sept 15--------------------3 1/2
April
Due to Jas Reading---------$128.94 for oats
Lumber of Jas Reddens------3.34
oats of 168----------------3 1/2 29.54
---------------------------5.24
---------------------------$24.30

Page 44

Oats of Jas Redding
83 1/2------Bushels
35
41.5
249 Butter
18
29.23
Lumber 3.34
------32.57
------18.02
------14.55
due J. Redding

Page 45

July 1877
Due Gallagher for fiting irons on rack - 50
for horse shoe - 4.20

Page 46

July 18th 1877
James Gallagher Worked haying for JK With horse 1 day
pass __ with horse
July 20 - Jas G & horse 1/2
---- 21 - Jas Gallagher 3/4
---- 23 - Jas & horse 1/2
---- 24 - Jas & horse 1
---- 25 - Jas Gallagher 1/2
---- 27 - Jas 1/2
Aug 2 - J & horse 1/4
Aug 3 - J & horse 3/4
---- 4 - J & horse 3/4
---- 6 - J & horse 1/2
---- 7 - J & horse 1/2
---- 8 - J & horse 1/2

Page 47

July 25/1877
J Kerwin worked moving for J. Gallagher 1/2 day
July 26 - Drawing in----- 1/2
-----27 - Moving-------- 1/4
July 30 - Moved & draw in hay-- 1
---- 31 - -------------- 1
August 1-------------- 1
------ 2-------------- 1/2
-------3-------------- one load

Page 48

June 1877
Butter to Quinlin By Mrs. Quinlin - 10 lbs By Johnny - 6 oz
June 28 Charley - 9.14
July 6 Willie - 5
July 11 Charley - 11 12
July 20 by Willie - 9
July 26 by Willie - 6
July 30 by Willie - 5
Aug 4 by Mrs. Quin - 3
----5 by Mrs. Kerwin - 12 4
Aug 18 by Willie - 8
----23 by Willie - 8
Aug 31 by Willie - 10
Sept. 8 by Charley - 4 12
-----------------------109

Page 49

Lees--149---$11.92
Lees--17--- 1.36
Turk--114---11.40
137
8
10.96
A Wales By
16 lb Gese-------1.28
11 1 turkies----11.10
-----------------12.38
By Cash----------2.50
-----------------10.38
-----------------8.96
-----------------19.34

Page 50

9 yds red flannel
3 yds plain red
5 yds crash Rowling(?) coarse
factory
cloud
coat
your hat
Shoes No. 7 & 4
1/2 yds blue water proof

Page 51

boots
2 yds red flannel
2 lbs. coffee
1 lb tea
1 ___comb coarse
1 board 18 inches
the rest 11

Page 52-53

12 cows
1 pair of horners (?) 9 years old
1 3 year old colt
1 yearling colt
2 suckling colts
about 30 tons of hay
5 tons straw
on light double wagon
1 pair of bobs
1 cutter
1 pair of double horners
2 Auggering tools
baskets & ketels
& sap holders
2 plans
1 drag
all bulls under 5 dollars cash over 1 years term with good interest rates

Page 54

Java May 5/73 for
to wade one------- 68
to Peakon one-----67
to North Java-----4
------------------232
North Java ------ 169
------------------113
------------------102

Page 55

For Pikes porrids
extract of witch hazel
expences to Parkers Landing
layer & co------$7
for hors---------$5
to Hover---------1
to Justis--------50
for recording lease---$3
to Justis-----------50
to Justis----------50
to Measters---------1
------------------$18.50

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