Manuscript Location

Winterthur Library, Joseph Downs Collection of Manuscripts and Printed Ephemera

Place of Origin

United States ➔ Vermont ➔ Chelsea

Date of Composition

1833-1846

Description

This account book belonged to Sebre Gustin (1773-1848), a tinsmith in Chelsea Vermont and the father of a son, Sebra Gustin Jr,, who was a dentist. In addition to accounts, the book lists the names of the three children of Sebra Gustin Jr., who were born between 1832 and 1840. The book also contains eighteen recipes, which are listed in a database available at the library. There are twelve recipes for cakes, five for puddings, and one for dyspepsia bread. It is not clear from the library record if the recipes are in Sebre Gustin's hand, but the recipes were current at the time his accounts were entered. The cakes include minute cake, loaf cake, tea cake, plain cake, and cup cake, all of which were simple and inexpensive and favored by frugal New Englanders of the time.