Oliver Record Books 1759?-1823, MS. 626.1

Oliver Record Books, 1759?-1823

MS 626.1

Maryland Historical Society

Baltimore MD 21201-4674

OLIVER RECORD BOOKS MS. 626.1

Robert Oliver was a wholesale merchant, and an importer and exporter. This collection consists of account books, day books, ledgers, journals, and letter books kept during his various mercantile partnerships. The records begin with his partnership (1785-1796) with Hugh Thompson in the firm Oliver and Thompson. In 1796 Oliver formed the firm Robert Oliver and Brothers with his two brothers John and Thomas. After Thomas' death in 1803 the firm was known as Robert and John Oliver. The records continue in Robert Oliver's name after the death of John in 1823.

The collection records mercantile activity among Baltimore, the West Indies, Europe, and the East Indies from 1785 until 1805. After 1805 Oliver concentrated on the profitable trade with Spain's American colonies, especially Vera Cruz. The Embargo (December 1807-February 1809) and the Non-Intercourse Act which replaced it seriously hurt American merchants, and Robert Oliver essentially withdrew from foreign trade in 1810. The business records for 1811 and the years of the War of 1812 show little foreign trade activity. Peace in 1815 revived Oliver's trade activities, but the next year prospects were again bad. By 1819 Oliver had most of his capital tied up in real estate and stock, and the remainder of the accounts deal largely with these investments and the collection of debts. The last volume in the collection is a record of deeds to property owned by Robert Oliver from 1784-1834.

Box 1

1785-1790

Journal

Box 2

1794-1799

Daybook

Box 3

1796-1800

Letterbook

Box 4

1796-1801

Journal

Box 5

1796-1801

Daybook

Box 6

1796-1806

Ledger

Box 7

1800-1802

Letterbook

Box 8

1800-1808

Account Current

Box 9

1801-1804

Journal

Box 10

1801-1805

Wastebook (Daybook from 1804-1805)

Box 11

1802-1806

Letterbook

Box 12

1805-1808

Journal

Box 13

1806-1809

Letterbook

Box 14

1806-1817

Account Current

Box 15

1807-1809

Daybook

Box 16

1807-1819

Bills Receivable

Box 17

1807-1821

Ledger

Box 18

1808-1810

Journal

Box 19

1809-1813

Daybook

Box 20

1809-1817

Letterbook

Box 21

1813-1816

Daybook

Box 22

1815-1817

Journal

Box 23

1816-1820

Daybook

Box 24

1816-1833

Account Current

Box 25

1817-1834

Letterbook

Box 26

1819-1834

Notes Payable

Box 27

1820-1829

Journal

Box 28

1820-1835

Ledger

Box 29

1829-1835

Journal

n.d.

Index to ledger ca. 1820-1835

Box 30

1784-1843

copies of land deeds