Historical Information: John H. Matthews was a businessman in Henry County involved in various business activities during the mid-nineteenth century. They included mercantile, blacksmithing, flour trade, and carding wool.

Scope and Content: John H. Matthews Business Records consists of an account book which recorded the accounts of individual customers. Each account lists transactions in chronological order. Information found in each entry includes date of transaction, type of transaction (goods sold or services rendered), quantity of goods sold, cost of each item, amount owed, and amount paid. Goods sold include spices, wheat, flour, hair pins, wool, beeswax, meat, dry goods, axes, and shoes. Services rendered include carding wool, shoeing horses, repairing and sharpening farm tools, and making coffins. Payments made by cash, credit, labor, and barter of such goods as apples, wood, and fodder.

Historical Information: John H. Matthews and Company was a general store that conducted business in the town of Horse Pasture Mills in Henry County, Virginia during the late nineteenth century.

Scope and Content: John H. Matthews and Company Business Records consists of a daybook which recorded in chronological order the daily transactions of John H. Matthews and Company. Information recorded in the daybook includes date of transaction, name of customer, merchandise purchased, quantity purchased, price of each item, form of payment, and amount owed or paid. Merchandise sold includes axes, rope, castor oil, sugar, scissors, clothing, bacon, nails, spices, and dry goods. Payments made by cash or barter of goods such as berries, corn, and beans.

Historical Information: T. C. Shelton was a physician in Henry County during the mid-nineteenth century.

Scope and Content: T.C. Shelton Business Records consists of an account book which recorded the accounts of individual customers. Information found in each account includes name of customer, dates of transactions, services rendered, amout owed and paid, and form of payment. Medical services rendered include visits to patients (many of whom were slaves), medication for illnesses, and extracting teeth. Medicines given to patients by Shelton include cream tartar, chamomile, peppermint, squills, purgative pills and powders, and hartshorn. Payments made by cash, credit, labor such as shoemaking, and barter of items such as corn, pork, and a coat.

Historical Information: Trent and Davis was a grocery store that conducted business in Henry County during the late nineteenth century.

Scope and Content: The Trent and Davis Business Records consists of a ledger which recorded the accounts of individual customers. Each account lists transactions in chronological order. Information found in each entry includes date of transaction, merchandise sold, quantity of items sold, amount owed and paid, and form of payment. Items sold include cigars, poultry, fruit, vegetables, fish, lard, ham, butter, chocolate, and meal. Payments made by cash, check, and barter of such items as chickens and pigs. Additional transactions of an unknown nature are found at the end of volume.

Scope and Content: The business records of the unidentified business consist of a daybook. The business sold alcoholic beverages in Martinsville, Virginia. The volume recorded daily transactions in chronological order. Information found in each entry includes name of customer, alcoholic beverage purchased, quantity of beverage purchased, amount owed and paid, and form of payment. Beverages sold include brandy, whiskey, and cider.

Scope and Content: The business records of the unidentified general store consist of a daybook. The volume recorded in chronological order the store's daily transactions. Information found in daybook includes date of transaction, name of customer, merchandise purchased, quantity purchased, form of payment, and amount owed or paid. Merchandise sold includes soda, potatoes, cabbage, sardines, handkerchiefs, meat, candy, oil, suspenders, and dry goods. The last few pages at the end of volume records the accounts of individual customers.

Scope and Content: The business records of the unidentified grocery store consist of a daybook. The volume recorded in chronological order the store's daily transactions. Information found in daybook includes date of transaction, name of customer, merchandise purchased, quantity purchased, form of payment, and amount owed or paid. Merchandise sold includes puffs (perhaps cigars/cigarettes), doughnuts, yeast, bread, candy, cream, fruit (apples, bananans, and oranges), cakes and peanuts. Pages at the end of volume contains the store's cash sales accounts and accounts of individuals who purchased meal. Payments made by cash, credit, and labor.

Scope and Content: The business records of the unidentified mercantile business consist of an account book. The volume recorded the accounts of individual customers and the store's controlling accounts. Each account lists transactions in chronological order. Information found in each entry includes date of transaction, merchandise sold, quantity of items sold, amount owed and paid, and form of payment. Items sold include cigars, oysters, sardines, apples, tobacco, cakes, cigarettes, chestnuts, candy, and oil. The store's controlling accounts include cash account and merchandise account.