Balch & Smith Records, 1797-1849
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Not requestable
Scope and Content Note
The Balch & Smith Records document the business transactions and transitions of a Salem, Massachusetts, clock and watch business. The account books record Benjamin Balch's sole enterprise, his partnership with Jesse Smith, and Smith's business after the partnership ended. The collection is arranged in three series: Benjamin Balch Records, Balch & Smith Records, and Jesse Smith Records.
Comprised mainly of repair accounts, the entries record the name of the watchmaker along with the owner and type of repair. Of special note are the daily profit and sales records; notations about Smith's apprenticeship and the location of Smith's shop; and the accounts of new watches purchased and sold.
Dates
- Creation: 1797-1849
Creator
- Balch & Smith (Salem, Mass.) (Organization)
Restrictions on Access
This collection is open for research use.
Biographical Sketch
Benjamin Balch (1774-1860), a Salem and Boston clock and watchmaker, was the son of William and Rebecca (Bailey) Balch. Born in Bradford, Massachusetts, Balch served his apprenticeship in Newbury with his uncle, Daniel Balch. He moved to Salem in 1796, where he established a prosperous business on Essex Street. During the course of his career, Balch had partnerships with Jesse Smith (Balch & Smith) and his son, James (B. Balch & Son).
Jesse Smith (1789-1866), a native of Ipswich, was the son of Aaron and Lucy (Baker) Smith. Smith began his apprenticeship with Benjamin Balch on December 5, 1803. Ten years later they formed a partnership under the name Balch & Smith. In 1832, the association dissolved and Jesse moved his business farther down the street to 262 Essex Street. His son, Jesse Rogers Smith, assisted him in his shop.
Extent
1 linear foot (2 boxes; 1 volume)
Language of Materials
English
Abstract
The Balch & Smith Records document the business transactions and transitions of a Salem, Massachusetts, clock and watch business.
Series List
SERIES I. Benjamin Balch Records
SERIES II. Balch & Smith Records
SERIES III. Jesse Smith Records
Physical Location
Phillips Library Stacks
Provenance
This collection is an integration and reorganization of 14 volumes. The account books of Benjamin Balch and Balch & Smith were a gift of Daniel I. Smith. Jesse Smith's account books are from an unknown source.
Processing Information
Collection processed by Prudence K. Backman, January 1987. Updated by Anne E. (Holmer) Deschaine, July 2011, June 2014.
Subject
- Balch, Benjamin, 1774-1860 (Person)
- Smith, Jesse, 1789-1866 (Person)
- Smith, Jesse Rogers, 1835- (Person)
- Title
- BALCH & SMITH RECORDS, 1797-1849
- Author
- Processed by: Prudence K. Backman; Updated by: Anne E. (Holmer) Deschaine; machine-readable finding aid created by: Rajkumar Natarajan.
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Latin
- Sponsor
- Processing and rehousing of this collection were funded by a grant from Essex Institute corporate member Daniel Low & Co.
Repository Details
Part of the Phillips Library Repository