Descriptive Summary

Bell Papers, 1790-1889

MS. 1965*

Maryland Historical Society

Baltimore MD 21201-4674

cc.#65060

Papers of Dr. Ephraim Bell, his daughter and son-in-law, Mr. & Mrs. Thomas Deford, as well as items of other members of the Deford family, chiefly Thomas Deford's father Benjamin, and his tanning business, B. Deford & Co.

Box 1:

Primarily bills and receipts for goods and services purchased by Ephraim Bell, 1821-1875. Also, promissory notes to Bell, and assorted memoranda.

Box 2:

Bills and receipts separated from those in Box 1, including:

Baltimore city, Baltimore County, and State of Maryland property tax bills and receipts, 1834-1875; and Baltimore City Water Rent tax bills and warnings, 1862-1875.

Receipts for subscriptions to newspapers and periodicals, 1830-75.

Tuition bills and collection notices from Bell to others to support students in a School for Indigent Children located in the 7th District of Baltimore County, 1840-1848.

Receipts for insurance policies, 1840-1851.

U.S. Internal Revenue Licenses to practice medicine and tax receipts, 1863-67.

Receipts Book, 1839-1875.

Two Cash Books, 1835-1837 and 1837-1841.

Box 3:

Ephraim Bell Correspondence mostly concerning financial matters, friendship, and a few concerning local politics. Also, correspondence and official forms concerning Bell's appointment as Postmaster at Maryland Line. Legal papers include deeds, surveys, and two notices to the constable to hold people for debt to Bell. Estate papers of Peter Smyser (d. 1835), Ephraim Bell, executor, including promissory notes to Smyser, 1828, 1831, promissory notes from Smyser to others paid by estate, 1832-33, will of Peter Smyser, 1834, bills and receipts relative to estate, 1835-42, administrative accounts, inventory of estate, and memoranda of Ephraim Bell concerning estate.

(1846)

Box 4:

Deford papers, 1790-1872 consisting mainly of receipts and bills for goods and services purchased by Mr. & Mrs. Thomas Deford, 1870-72, and deeds and other legal documents concerning farmland and other property in Pennsylvania and involving such persons as William McVitty, John Taylor, George Johnston, and others, 1790-1843. Also, receipts and bills of Benjamin Deford, 1841-1843, a few items of Thomas Deford correspondence, including an 1861 letter from the “Committee for the Ward” advising him to keep his “most violent `Union' or `Administration' sentiments” to himself, or reserve such pronouncements to where they will be more hospitabily received, and many letters of sympathy for the family of Benjamin Deford upon his death in 1870.

Box 5:

Deford papers, 1873-1889 and n.d. consisting mostly of bills and receipts for goods and services purchased by Mr. & Mrs. Thomas Deford, 1873-1875, as well as items concerning the many charitable works of Mrs. Deford with hospitals, schools, and the Presbyterian Church. A few items of social correspondence, invitations, newspaper clippings, and notes and memoranda.

Box 6:

B. Deford and Company - Bill Book, 1832-1843

- Two Sales Ledgers, 1840-41 and 1842-44

Box 7:

B. Deford and Company - Two Cash Books, 1837-38 and 1840-41

- Receipts Book, 1838-43