Item 31: Easton and Wilkes Barre Turnpike Company Currency, Sheet and Individuals (removed to Black Box #1), 1816 March 1
Item — Box: 16, Folder: 31
Dates
- Created: 1816 March 1
Disclaimer for Name and Subject Authorities
Some of the name and subject authority tags have been assigned by educated guessing and estimation of persons and subjects by region, age, profession, and familial relationships. They have been thoroughly researched by using primary and secondary sources available digitally, and named in each description, or in some cases linked directly to the person tag.
Access:
All series and subseries within this collection are open for research, with the exception of a few files within the Academia series that are restricted. The Academia series contains financial and sensitive institutional records from Wilkes College, and financial report records from Princeton University that will remain restricted for 80 years upon creation.
Extent
1 items
Language of Materials
From the Collection: English
Type of Material:
Bank notes
Condition Note:
Fair.
Measurements:
(Sheet) 7.5 x 12 in.; (Loose)
Description:
The following item depicts a sheet of eight bank notes, plus an additional loose note, for the Easton and Wilkes Barre Turnpike Company. The fares range in value from 5 to 25 cents, and are meant for passage along the turnpike as fare, similar to toll booths of today. The notes are worth 5, 6 ¼, 10, 12 ½, and 25 cents respectively. These notes were printed by Murray Draper Fairman & Co. Murray Draper Fairman & Co was a printing company specializing in bank notes and currency from 1795. This company is still in business but is now called ABCorp.
The Easton and Wilkes-Barre Turnpike Company was a privately owned road going from Easton to Wilkes-Barre. Travelers had to pay a toll to use this road. It was opened for use in 1816 and was the main road for merchants until railroads became more popular. These vouchers were used by travelers to pay the turnpike toll instead of federal currency, as well as Pocono lumber, Wyoming Valley grain, and building plaster from New York (Historical Marker Database). These vouchers were printed in 1816 and some that are in this collection are in the original currency sheets meaning that they were not distributed. They would have been a part of the everyday lives of people traveling and working in Northeastern Pennsylvania. The turnpike was the first major road along the western region of the township, and served as a pivotal trade route in Pennsylvania until about the 1860s when it was replaced with railroads. This turnpike opened the region up to trade across the state.
Location:
Wilkes-Barre, Pa.
Transcription:
[Beginning from the top, left hand corner of the sheet down; laid horizontally]
Three Bills at 5 Cents: 5 (Five V Five) 5 The President and Managers of the FIVE CENTS [vertical on both sides] Easton and Wilkesbarre Turnpike Company promise to pay the bearer, on demand, at the Office of their Treasurer, in bills current in Pennsylvania, FIVE CENTS. Wilkesbarre, March 1st 1816
Treasurer. Two Bills at 6 ¼ Cents: 6 1/4 (Cts 6 ¼ Cts) 6 1/4 The President and Managers SIX ¼ CENTS [vertical on both sides] of the EASTON and WILKESBARRE TURNPIKE COMPANY promise to pay the bearer, on demand, at the Office of their Treasurer, in bills current in Pennsylvania, SIX and a QUARTER CENTS. Wilkesbarre, March 1st 1816.
Treasurer. Two Bills at 10 Cents: 10 (TEN CENTS) 10 The President and Managers TEN CENTS [vertical on both sides] of the EASTON and WILKESBARRE TURNPIKE COMPANY promise to pay the bearer, on demand, at the Office of their Treasurer, in bills current in Pennsylvania, TEN CENTS. Wilkesbarre, March 1st 1816. Treasurer.
There is red pencil marks on one of the bills, by the printed word “Treasurer”
Four Bills at 12 ½ Cents: 12 ½ (cents 12 ½ cents) 12 ½ The President and Managers of the EASTON and WILKESBARRE TURNPIKE COMPANY Promise to pay the bearer, on demand, at the Office of their Treasurer, in bills current in Pennsylvania, TWELVE and a HALF Cents. Wilkesbarre, March 1st 1816. Treasurer. Annotation at the top of one bill, loose bill: In pencil: 100
One Bill at 25 Cents: 25 (25) 25 The President and Managers QUARTER DOLLAR of the [vertical on both sides] EASTON and WILKESBARRE TURNPIKE COMPANY promise to pay the bearer, on demand, at the Office of their Treasurer, in bills current in Pennsylvania, TWENTY FIVE CENTS. Wilkesbarre, March 1st 1816. Treasurer.
Three Bills at 5 Cents: 5 (Five V Five) 5 The President and Managers of the FIVE CENTS [vertical on both sides] Easton and Wilkesbarre Turnpike Company promise to pay the bearer, on demand, at the Office of their Treasurer, in bills current in Pennsylvania, FIVE CENTS. Wilkesbarre, March 1st 1816
Treasurer. Two Bills at 6 ¼ Cents: 6 1/4 (Cts 6 ¼ Cts) 6 1/4 The President and Managers SIX ¼ CENTS [vertical on both sides] of the EASTON and WILKESBARRE TURNPIKE COMPANY promise to pay the bearer, on demand, at the Office of their Treasurer, in bills current in Pennsylvania, SIX and a QUARTER CENTS. Wilkesbarre, March 1st 1816.
Treasurer. Two Bills at 10 Cents: 10 (TEN CENTS) 10 The President and Managers TEN CENTS [vertical on both sides] of the EASTON and WILKESBARRE TURNPIKE COMPANY promise to pay the bearer, on demand, at the Office of their Treasurer, in bills current in Pennsylvania, TEN CENTS. Wilkesbarre, March 1st 1816. Treasurer.
There is red pencil marks on one of the bills, by the printed word “Treasurer”
Four Bills at 12 ½ Cents: 12 ½ (cents 12 ½ cents) 12 ½ The President and Managers of the EASTON and WILKESBARRE TURNPIKE COMPANY Promise to pay the bearer, on demand, at the Office of their Treasurer, in bills current in Pennsylvania, TWELVE and a HALF Cents. Wilkesbarre, March 1st 1816. Treasurer. Annotation at the top of one bill, loose bill: In pencil: 100
One Bill at 25 Cents: 25 (25) 25 The President and Managers QUARTER DOLLAR of the [vertical on both sides] EASTON and WILKESBARRE TURNPIKE COMPANY promise to pay the bearer, on demand, at the Office of their Treasurer, in bills current in Pennsylvania, TWENTY FIVE CENTS. Wilkesbarre, March 1st 1816. Treasurer.
Creator
- From the Series: Pickering, Timothy, 1745-1829. (Person)
- From the Series: Pennsylvania Economy League (Organization)
- From the Series: George III, King of Great Britain, 1738-1820 (Person)
Repository Details
Part of the Wilkes University Archives Repository
Contact:
84 W South St.
Wilkes-Barre PA 18701 US
570-408-2000
570-408-7823 (Fax)
ask.archives@wilkes.edu
84 W South St.
Wilkes-Barre PA 18701 US
570-408-2000
570-408-7823 (Fax)
ask.archives@wilkes.edu