Dates: 1790-1889
Notes:
MARYLAND HISTORICAL SOCIETY LIBRARY
---------------------------
RECORD
---------------------------
Author
Bell, Ephraim, Dr., 1793-1875.
Title Statement
[manuscript] : Papers, 1790-1889.
Description
7 boxes.
Title Statement
[manuscript] : Papers, 1790-1889.
Restriction Note
Unrestricted.
Summary, Etc. Note
Summary: Papers of Dr. Ephraim Bell, his daughter and son-in-law, Mr. &
Mrs. Thomas Deford, as well as items of other members of the Deford
family, chiefly Thomas Deford's father Benjamin, and his tanning business,
B. Deford & Co. BOX 1: Primarily bills and receipts for goods and services
purchased by Ephraim Bell, 1821-75. Also, promissory notes to Bell, and
assorted memoranda. BOX 2: Bills and receipts separated from those in Box
1, including; tax bills and receipts, 1834-75; and Baltimore City Water
Rent tax bills and warnings, 1862-75. Receipts for subscriptions to
newspapers and periodicals, 1830-75. Tuition bills and collection notices
from Bell to others to support students in a School for Indigent Children
located in the 7th District of Baltimore County, 1840-48. Receipts for
insurance policies, 1840-51. U. S. Internal Revenue Licenses to practice
medicine and tax receipts, 1863-67. Receipt Book, 1839-75. Two Cash Books,
1835-37, 1837-41. BOX 3: Ephraim Bell correspondence mostly concerning
financial matters, friendship, and a few concerning local politics. Also,
correspondence and official forms concerning Bell's appointment as
postmaster at MD Line. Legal papers include deeds, surveys, and two
notices to the constable to hold people for debt to Bell. Estate papers of
Peter Smyser (d. 1835), Ephraim Bell, executor, including promissory notes
to Smyser, 1828, 1831, promissory notes from Smyser to others paid by
estate, 1832-22, will of Peter Smyser, 1834, bills and receipts relative
to estate, 1835-42, administrative accounts, inventory of estate, and
memoranda of Ephraim Bell concerning estate. BOX 4: Deford papers,
1790-1872 consisting mainly of receipts and bills for goods and services
purchased by Mr. & Mrs. Thomas Deford, 1870-72, and deeds and other legal
documents concerning farmland and other property in PA and involving such
persons as William McVitty, John Taylor, George Johnson, and others,
1790-1843. Also, receipts and bills of Benjamin Deford, 1841-43, a few
items of Thomas Deford correspondence, including an 1861 letter from the
"Committee for the Ward" advising him to keep his "most violent 'Union' or
'Administration' sentiments" to himself, or reserve such pronouncements to
where they will be more hospitably received, and many letters of sympathy
for the family of Benjamin Deford upon his death in 1870. BOX 5: Deford
papers, 1873-1889 and n.d. consisting mostly of bills and receipts for
goods and services purchased by Mr. & Mrs. Thomas Deford, 1873-75, as well
as items concerning the many charitable works of Mrs. Deford with
hospitals, schools, and the Presbyterian Church. A few items of social
correspondence, invitations, newspaper clippings, and notes and memoranda.
BOX 6: B. Deford and Company-Bill Book, 1832-43, Two Sales Ledgers,
1840-41 and 1842-44. BOX 7: B. Deford and Company-Two Cash Books, 1837-38
and 1840-41, Receipts Book, 1838-43.
Other Forms Note
A few newspaper clippings were xeroxed and the original destroyed. Some
contemporary MS copies of legal documents.
Terms of Use
Information on literary right available in repository.
Source of Acq. Note
Gift; S. D. Drewry Deford; May 1973.
Associated Materials
Other Deford papers may be found in MSS 1964 and 2095.
Biog./Historical Note
Ephraim Bell, medical doctor in northern Baltimore County, Postmaster in
MD Line, 1946; member MD Constitutional Conventions of 1850 and 1867;
several times member of MD Legislature.
Elect. Loc./Access
www.mdhs.org/library/mss/ms001965.html
Name Added Entry
Deford, Thomas, 1833-1901.
Name Added Entry
Benjamin Deford & Co.
Call Number
MS 1965
Location
Special Collections Reading Room
Source: