Day book 1833-1840
Tall narrow folio, 150 pages, in ink; the first 6 leaves with overpasted newspaper clippings; some pages loose, cut or missing; some pencil doodlings; some toning and occasional offsetting; contemporary and likely original calf-backed marbled boards, spine partially perished and joints cracked. Detailed accounts of the work of a largely unknown itinerant Massachusetts housewright and general builder, Simeon P. Pullen. Housewrights were somewhat different than simple carpenters in that they could make plans, organize other workers, and bring a building project to completion. Little is known about Simeon P. Pullen personally, although his marriage to Mary L. Bradford appears in the Fall River, Mass., records in 1829. His work detailed here was for jobs in Fairhaven, Dartmouth, New Bedford, Mansfield, and Providence, R.I., and he boarded his family on location. For a job in Dartmouth in April 1, 1834: "Simeon P. Pullen moved into David Crosby house the last day of march 1834 hired the hole consern for one year and to pay him forty dollars rent". His crew at the time included David Cardy who began work May 12, 1834 for $5 a month, Crapo (probably Isaac Crapo), and Sparrows, whose first name is not given. The next job was in Fairhaven with Mr. Pearce "to finish a part of Mr. Abernathy hous for $225. and find more (new?) stuff (?)". In 1833: "Mr. William and Charles Mason to Pearce & Pullen for work on Andrew Rodman house witch thay agree to pay and on Miss rodman hous". In Dartmouth in 1834 Pullen did a major job building a bridge for Joseph Gifford at $1.17 per worker per day. In Providence in 1836 & 1837, Pullen was in partnership with one Isaac G. Brown. They worked on projects for Mr. Baker, Elisha Durfee's wharf, and D. Vincent. "Providence August 1837. D. Vincint to Brown & Pullen for one door frame $1.00, to one window fraim .50, for putting the pediment a crost the north end $12, for a pot closet under the garet stairs $2.00, to cobboards in the chimney $6.00, for repairing the well drum .50, to buildin the fence at .33 per foot $13.33..." In August of 1838, Pullen built a jeweller's shop in Providence for Benjamin B. Brownell for $450. He and his crew worked on the steamboat John W. Richmond as well as for "Dr. Arminton". The steamboat John W. Richmond, plied the waters between New York and Providence and was named for a successful physician who was also known for holding much of the State of Rhode Island's Revolutionary Debt in bonds and stocks. The last jobs in the book are back in the Fairhaven and New Bedford area. Item #57294
Price: $650.00
