| Peter Van Dyke Manners' Store |
| Drawing by Davis Gray as published in The Hunterdon Historical Newsletter of Spring 1982, page 355. |
| The pot-bellied stove circled by some of the farmers puffing on their pipes, a cracker barrel in the corner, and a room crammed with merchandise of all kinds may be the picture that comes to mind when you hear the words "country store." We won't know if that described the store in Wertsville when Peter V.D. Manners bought it from Charles W. Holcombe in 1865. The day books kept by him can provide us with some ideas of the variety of merchandise carried, who the customers were, in some instances where they resided, etc. The Historical Society recently purchased three of these books for its collection of manuscripts. The earliest one begins 16 June 1868 and its 735 pages cover thru 31 December 1868. The next book, containing 576 pages, was begun in November 1884 and finished in August 1885. The third one, of 513 pages, covers the time from November 1893 through January 1895. At the top of each page the date, the page number and the location - Wertsville - are written in the earliest book. The first two books appear to be kept by the same person as the handwriting is the same. Cornell's 1852 map of Hunterdon County, the earliest one with property owner's names listed, shows C.W. Holcombe had the store at "Weart's Corner." C.W. was probably the same as Charles W. Holcombe who listed his occupation as merchant when the census enumerator visited East Amwell Township residents in 1850. In the next Federal census ten years later, Charles Denson the enumerator for East Amwell Township recorded Charles Holcombe was still the merchant at Wertsville. In 1854 a post office was opened in the store and Holcombe was the first postmaster at Wertsville. Peter V.D. Manners bought 14 acres and buildings, including the store, from Charles W. and Sarah Holcombe for $5,000 on 1 April 1865. The store remained in the Manners family for 50 years. Peter operated it until his death in 1886, following which his executors transferred it to his widow, Catherine. She operated the business for awhile but at sometime their son, Jacob S. came into the business. Although the store continued to serve the neighborhood, Mrs. Manners sold it in 1915. The year before this sale an advertisement appeared in a local business directory for Jacob S. Manners, dealer in dry goods, groceries and general merchandise. Glancing through the pages of these day books gives an idea of some of the items being sold at the store. Butter sold for 45 cents a pound in 1868 and customers usually provided the containers in which to carry it home. Manners did supply containers on occasion but kept careful account of who borrowed them. There is a page captioned, "Account of Butter Pots to be returned" and we note Fred French borrowed two pots and returned one cracked! Sugar, tobacco, coffee, rope, molasses, linament, "Soothing syrup," dyspeptic bitters, cinnamon are items which appeared on customers' accounts frequently. Clothing was available for purchase, too. Isaac Francis Sutphin bought several items of underwear and a coat which cost $5.50. Perhaps because the store and the Manners' family residence were located in the same building, he kept the store open Christmas day, December 25, 1868. His customers that day included Rynear Quick who purchased silver buttons and kid gloves for $10.48. Doing a bit of last minute shopping, perhaps. Horace Quick came in for cheese and A.B. Young for candles. L.S. Blackwell and Emory Taylor each bought pieces of fabric, thread and buttons. Ellen Ann Smith paid the balance on a shawl. James A. Servis bought ladies drawers and vest and a comb. Asher Kelly came by for some varnish, screws and coffee. E.H. Dunham purchased a dozen lemons which cost him all of 31 cents! Wilson T. Scarborough may have also been doing a bit of last minute gift shopping, he bought a coat, cap and gloves. Following Peter V.D. Manners' death 30 June 1886 the store and other property were transferred to Mrs. Manners. She probably took an active part in its operation. Pasted in the back of the third day book are two bills dated November 1893 and November 1894 to Mrs. K. Manners, Wertsville. They are for the K oil (kerosene?) which was sold in the store in 5 gallon quantities for 40 cents. Lewis Sutphin, one of the regular customers at the Wertsville store, purchased currants, citron, sugar and raisins in November 1893. Maybe Mrs. Sutphin was going to make a tasty fruitcake for the approaching holiday season. Christmas day in 1893 was on Monday and the store was open and served customers. It had, however, been closed the previous day in observance of the Sabbath. The last of the three day books from Manners' store ends with entries on 8 January 1895. Mrs. Manners and her son, Jacob S., continued in the store for twenty years before selling in 1915. Today the store serves as headquarters for Gray's Watercolors, Inc. R. K. C. Hunterdon Historical Newsletter, Spring 1982, p. 355-56. Note: Mrs. Manners was Mary Katherine Shute. She was at one time a teacher at the Wertsville School. Peter V. D. Manners may have met her when she was teaching the children of his deceased first wife Rachel A. E. Sanders. Aerial view of Wertsville. Back to the Descendants of John Manners Return to My HomePage |
| DAY BOOKS FROM MANNERS' STORE AT WERTSVILLE ADDED TO MANUSCRIPT COLLECTION |
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