1759 Salem, MA, Colonial Accounting Document Details Merchant's Shipments For Sale

WILLIAM JEFFRY (1737-1772) was a trusted Salem, MA, merchant's agent and fiduciary—someone relied upon to manage estates and guardianships for one of Salem's leading mercantile families. His surviving account books are the main reason he remains visible in the historical record.

1759 Colonial Salem, MA, accounting of a shipment of ten casks of Cheshire cheese written by Jeffry on behalf of James Griffin. The document includes a listing of freight from Boston to Salem and the purchasers of the cheese, including Captain Jacob Ashton (1719-1770) and Hannah Pratt )1707-1765). The accounting refers to payment in “Old Tenor,” which was paper money introduced in 1704 at the value of one Massachusetts shilling – nine pence sterling. The value of these notes declined, and they were followed in 1737 by the “Middle Tenor” issue, worth three times the Old Tenor notes and, in 1741, by the “New Tenor” issue, worth four times the Old Tenor notes. In 1759, all previous issues were replaced by the “Colonial” issue, worth ten times the Old Tenor notes.

Folds. Light toning. Very fine Jeffry signature.

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