Day to day expenses of an early 19th century bank

cinch · April 26, 2021 8:35PM

I bought a few old receipts recently and I love that they give you a little insight into the life of an early 19th-century bank and what their expenses were. These are from the Freemen’s Bank of Bristol, Rhode Island, which I believe was run by people connected with that port city’s slave trade, but I need to do more research on that end.

The first one is an invoice from the banknote engraver Abner Reed (circa early 1820s) for the printing of notes:

Cashier of Freemans Bank to Reed & Pelton

Printing of 2000 half sheets: $30
2000 sheets of bank paper: $50
Box: 0.50
Transportation to Providence: 0.50 [from Hartford, CT]
Total: $81

A Reed proof note from the bank, circa 1817-1820:

This one I’m still trying to transcribe:
Freeman’s Bank
To Joseph M.
1825 January 17th

Letter Book 1.75 (?)
Day Book 3.50
Red Ink and Almanack 0.31
Blank Book 0.50
Dividend Book 7.00
Discount Book 6.00
Stock Ledger 4.00
4 Blank Book 5.00
½ Ream Checks 5.50
½ Ream Paper 1.75
Printing of the … 13.50
Letter Stamps 0.37½
… 0. 37½

The next is from a ship provisioner in town:

Freemen’s Bank to Monro & Norris

1 Sand Bo.. 0.30
1 Ink Stand 0.38
¼ Ream £ Paper 1.25
½ of Waffers 0.8
1 Bo.. for Do 0.8
1 Slate & Pencil 0.26
½ Dozen Quills 0.3
Sand 0.6
1 Pen Knife 0.46
½ … Log Paper 0.31
1 … Bellows 0.46
1 Brass Candlesticks 0.75
1 Brush 0.29
1 Sail Needle 0.04
Total $4.75
Rec’d payment Feb 14, 1828