Account book of Samuel Voorhees, physician
Amsterdam, Montgomery County, N.Y. 1834-1849. Manuscript in ink, approx. 7¾ x 6½", approx. 187 pages; a few loose scraps and receipts laid in; contemporary calf-backed paper-covered boards, quite worn, the front hinge broken revealing sewing structure; pages browned, some torn. A number of entries crossed out but still legible. Ink sometimes faint. A name on the cover may be "L. R. Voorhees." Information on Samuel Voorhees (1787-1870) is found in the database of students at the Litchfield, Connecticut Law School, but he chose to become a physician. His family (he was the son of Peter Voorhees and Ann Woolston) migrated from Monmouth County, New Jersey, to Montgomery County, New York, following the American Revolution. He attended Union College in Schenectady, New York. He studied medicine with Dr. Stephen Reynolds, who as president of the Montgomery County Medical Society signed his medical degree on October 10, 1810. He met his future wife, Betsey Reynolds, while studying with her father. They were married on April 24, 1811. The couple had four sons; James L. and George are sometimes mentioned in the accounts. Samuel Voorhees' interesting notebook of accounts contains charges for attending childbirths and other medical issues but also contains general household expenses. The notebook also hints at his legal training since he seems to be some sort of legal court official for the town: "1842 Dec 1- I have this day taken a stove and pipe belonging to W.B. Davis from the house of Jacob Plante - I have also paid some $8 for witness (?) at Fonda in his suit against Daniel Ness." He makes several mentions of a smallpox epidemic in town (February 5, 1848) and remarks on how it is difficult to differentiate it from chicken pox at times. Names of dozens of town residents are mentioned, including Darby Carpenter, Duncan Crighton, Thomas Toole, Nancy Sample, Jacob Biereff of Florida, Martin Borst, Jeremiah Regan, James Bradshaw, Jacob Booth, The first entry is dated Oct. 31, 1834: "Moved into house at the rent of $20 per annum payable quarterly..." Many entries concern household items and foodstuffs purchased with amounts paid, for cord wood, chairs, repairing of mittens, extracting teeth, 12 pounds of candles, a peck of onions, having a pump made, volatile liniment, rents paid, etc. "Signed a note as security with widow Nancy Sample in amt enough to pay for $100 payable on grace from first day of Jan next." "Sent $500 to Albany by Samuel Woodruff to deposit in one of the Albany banks to the credit of Robt. G. White of Willsboro Pennsylvania - for the benefit of J. & H. P. & J. L. Voorhees, Amsterdam March 27, 1837." In 1835, information is entered regarding the sale of "burying ground" for debts owed. It is signed by Benedict Arnold, Timothy Livingston, and Samuel Voorhees. This was Benedict Arnold (1780-1849) who was a congressman who represented New York's 16th District in the United States House of Representatives, serving from 1829 to 1831. Voorhees's wife, Elizabeth "Betsy" Reynolds (1790-1858), was the sister of Attorney Marcus Tillius Reynolds and a graduate of the Litchfield Female Academy. She was involved in woman's suffrage, anti-slavery and other movements of her time. She was reputably a good friend and contemporary of Elizabeth Cady Stanton. Her portrait and examples of her needlework and writings are displayed in the old Fort Johnson Museum. There are a number of references to the Stanton family throughout, including this on November 14, 1834: "Sent $200 to D. Cady on note for Stanton property bought by Voorhees." Item #59727
Price: $750.00
