Administrative Information

Access Restrictions

There are no restrictions.

Use Restrictions

There are no restrictions.

Preferred Citation

James Murphy Ledger, 1859-1873. Local government records collection, Richmond Court Records. The Library of Virginia, Richmond, Va. 23219.

Acquisition Information

This item came to the Library of Virginia in shipments of court papers from Richmond.

Historical Information

Born in Ireland, James Murphy was a soap and candle manufacturer in Richmond, Va. In the late 1860s, Murphy switched industries to become a retail grocer.

Scope and Content

James Murphy Ledger, 1859-1873, records the accounts of individual customers. From 1859 to 1866, the ledger documents Murphy's sales as a soap and candle manufacturer. In 1867, Murphy began to record his accounts as a retail grocer. Information found in each entry includes customer name, date of purchase, name and quantity of item purchased, and amounts debited or credited to the customer's account. Also included in the volume is a copy of an agreement between James Murphy and Euker that allowed Euker to operate a barroom in one of Murphy's properties located on Cary Street in Richmond.

Index Terms

Persons:

• Murphy, James.

Subjects:

• Candle industry--Virginia--Richmond.
• Candlemaking--Virginia--Richmond.
• Groceries--Virginia--Richmond.
• Grocery trade--Virginia--Richmond.
• Merchants--Virginia--Richmond.
• Soap trade--Virginia--Richmond.

Geographical Names:

• Richmond (Va.)--History--19th century.

Genre and Form Terms:

• Business records--Virginia--Richmond.
• Ledgers (account books)--Virginia--Richmond.
• Local government records--Virginia--Richmond.