Overlooked Genealogy Records
Genealogists often search the obvious records first, i.e., census, land deeds, wills, military files, and church registers. But sometimes the richest clues to our ancestors’ lives appear in the most unexpected places. One such source is the store account book.
Recently, I came across a fascinating example from an ironworks community in Pennsylvania.
At first glance, it might appear to be a simple transaction record. But a closer look reveals an entire community and the daily lives of the people who lived there.
Ironworks Community History in Early Pennsylvania
In 1810, Irish immigrant Roland Curtin established an iron forge along Bald Eagle Creek in Centre County, Pennsylvania. His enterprise, known as Eagle Iron Works, quickly grew into a large industrial community. The operation eventually included:
In 1810, Irish immigrant Roland Curtin established an iron forge along Bald Eagle Creek in Centre County, Pennsylvania. His enterprise, known as Eagle Iron Works, quickly grew into a large industrial community. The operation eventually included:
- 30,000 acres of land
- three blast furnaces
- rolling, grist, and saw mills
- a company store
- worker housing
- a school
- homes for the Curtin family
- miners extracting ore
- colliers producing charcoal
- Teamsters transporting materials
- founders determining furnace mixtures
- Iron masters tapping molten iron
- drivers hauling timber and supplies, etc.
A Research Goldmine for One-Place Studies
Records like this are especially powerful when studying a single community or workplace. By combining store ledgers, genealogists can reconstruct an entire social and economic network.
A One-Place Study allows researchers to understand not just one ancestor, but the community that shaped their life. Using the following records, the community comes to life:
A One-Place Study allows researchers to understand not just one ancestor, but the community that shaped their life. Using the following records, the community comes to life:
- census records
- tax lists
- land deeds
- church registers
- payroll books
- probate records
Where to Find Store Account Books
Many remain uncataloged or lightly indexed, making them especially valuable discoveries for genealogists willing to dig deeper. These genealogy store ledgers often survive in surprising places:
company store ledgers.
Many remain uncataloged or lightly indexed, making them especially valuable discoveries for genealogists willing to dig deeper. These genealogy store ledgers often survive in surprising places:
- local historical societies
- county archives
- university manuscript collections
- business archives
- state libraries
- museum collections connected to historic industries
company store ledgers.
Why Store Account Books Matter for Genealogy
Company store ledgers like this can reveal details rarely found elsewhere.
They may show:
Occupations: Workers were often credited for specific tasks
They may show:
Occupations: Workers were often credited for specific tasks
Family clues: hint at family members not named in other records.
Economic status: Types of goods purchased can reflect income level.
Community connections: Multiple workers appear in the same ledger, reconstructing entire neighborhoods.
Ethnic diversity: Industrial sites often employed immigrants and free Black workers alongside others.
Economic status: Types of goods purchased can reflect income level.
Community connections: Multiple workers appear in the same ledger, reconstructing entire neighborhoods.
Ethnic diversity: Industrial sites often employed immigrants and free Black workers alongside others.
Other Overlooked Records Like Store Ledgers”
- tavern licenses
- apprenticeship indentures
- tax lists
- mill payroll books
- church poor relief lists
Case Study: Irish Immigrant and the Company Store
These humble account books remind us that genealogy is not just about names and dates. Even when other records barely acknowledge African American presence in the 1830s, in this case of Berry Cook, June 9, 1831, identified in the record as a Black worker, is an entire story of labor, family, community, and survival in early industrial America.
These humble account books remind us that genealogy is not just about names and dates. Even when other records barely acknowledge African American presence in the 1830s, in this case of Berry Cook, June 9, 1831, identified in the record as a Black worker, is an entire story of labor, family, community, and survival in early industrial America.
In 1810, Roland Curtin, an Irish immigrant, built an iron forge on Bald Eagle Creek in Centre County. Curtin expanded his "Eagle Iron Works" to include 30,000 acres of farm, ore, and forest land; three blast furnaces; rolling, grist, and saw mills; a store; a school; four "semi-mansions" for family members; and approximately seventy dwellings for his 100-200 full and part-time employees. His workers included, among others, drivers who transported wood to the wood-cutters; colliers who prepared the charcoal; miners who dug the ore; a founder who determined what amounts of ore and limestone (used as a flux to burn impurities from the ore) to put in the furnace; the iron master whose responsibility it was to tap the furnace of its molten iron at the proper time; and teamsters who carried the iron to markets east and west.
African Americans Named in Company Store Records
Although most of the ironworkers were of European ancestry, some were African Americans. As early as the 1770s, Blacks worked at the iron foundry at the Hopewell plantation in Berks County. By the 1830s, Roland Curtin employed at least a few at his Eagle Iron Works. It is not possible to determine exactly what they did, but it is unlikely that they held skilled positions here, or at any other iron plantation. The extant records do not reveal whether they lived in the company houses, but they might have resided there with the white workers and their families. What the records do indicate is that they frequented the company store. There, they purchased goods that they needed on credit, like the white workers. The document presented here is probably typical of the variety of goods bought at such a store.
Although most of the ironworkers were of European ancestry, some were African Americans. As early as the 1770s, Blacks worked at the iron foundry at the Hopewell plantation in Berks County. By the 1830s, Roland Curtin employed at least a few at his Eagle Iron Works. It is not possible to determine exactly what they did, but it is unlikely that they held skilled positions here, or at any other iron plantation. The extant records do not reveal whether they lived in the company houses, but they might have resided there with the white workers and their families. What the records do indicate is that they frequented the company store. There, they purchased goods that they needed on credit, like the white workers. The document presented here is probably typical of the variety of goods bought at such a store.
It shows, "Berry Cook, negro" bought in June and July of 1831, bacon and beef; fabrics such as calico, flannel, and muslin; stockings, combs, "1 pair Shoes for Wife," and other necessities.
Even more valuable are the credits recorded in the account. As noted at the bottom of the document, Mr. Cook earned credit for his purchases, for example, $28.44 "By Making 8 ton 15¢ Blooms [a bar of iron for use by blacksmiths] @ 3.25 with Snowden", probably the man he assisted, and $3.00 for "6 days Mowing & Making Hay". $28.44 credited for making eight tons of iron blooms.
Even more valuable are the credits recorded in the account. As noted at the bottom of the document, Mr. Cook earned credit for his purchases, for example, $28.44 "By Making 8 ton 15¢ Blooms [a bar of iron for use by blacksmiths] @ 3.25 with Snowden", probably the man he assisted, and $3.00 for "6 days Mowing & Making Hay". $28.44 credited for making eight tons of iron blooms.
These entries suggest Berry Cook worked in iron production while also performing seasonal agricultural labor.
Entries for other workers whose ethnicity is not given, probably because they were white, show they made similar types of purchases, except for the forge manager. Presumably, his salary was higher, enabling him to buy more expensive goods, such as chocolate and molasses.
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