Edward Shippen Burd papers


Collection 0104

1798-1858
(1.16 Linear feet ; 13 volumes, 1 flat file)
© The Historical Society of Pennsylvania1300 Locust Street
Philadelphia, PA, 19107
215-732-6200

Summary Information

Repository
The Historical Society of Pennsylvania
Creator
Burd, Edward Shippen, 1779-1848
Title
Edward Shippen Burd papers
ID
0104
Date [inclusive]
1798-1858
Extent
1.16 Linear feet ; 13 volumes, 1 flat file
Author
Finding aid prepared by Weckea D. Lilly
Language
English
Abstract
Edward Shippen Burd was born in Philadelphia on December 25, 1779, and was the only son of Edward and Elizabeth (Shippen) Burd. He and his wife, Eliza Howard Simms, were involved in a number of business, legal, and real estate enterprises. Reflecting the family's participation in such endeavors, the collection include 13 volumes of Edward S. Burd's personal, business and legal records. These include receipt books, a law library catalogue, account books, an income and investment book, and related business records.

Preferred citation

Cite as: [Indicate cited item or series here], Edward Shippen Burd papers (Collection 104), The Historical Society of Pennsylvania.

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Background note

Edward Shippen Burd (1779-1848), the son of Edward Burd and Elizabeth Shippen, like his father, became a prominent member of the legal profession in Pennsylvania. His mother was the daughter of Pennsylvania Chief Justice Edward Shippen, member of the prominent Shippen family of Lancaster and Shippensburg. Burd was educated at the Academy of Philadelphia and the University of Pennsylvania, whence he graduated in 1794. Later he served on the university’s board from 1831 to 1839, and, again, from 1842 to 1844.

Over the course of his life he would also venture into various business interests and real estate. By the close of his life he had acquired a significant amount of real estate properties including the Ormiston Mansion (built by his father in 1798 on 45 acres overlooking the Schuylkill River) that he inherited after his father’s death. Beneficiaries of his philanthropic contributions, along with those of his wife, Eliza Howard Simms, included the St. Stephens Church and the Protestant Episcopal Hospital of Philadelphia. Eliza, upon her death in 1860, bequeathed $100,000 to the St. Stephens Church for the establishment of the Burd Orphan Asylum for the daughter of Episcopal Clergymen.

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Scope and content note

The volumes collected here detail some of Edward Shippen Burd’s (and Eliza Howard Simms Burd's) expenses and business affairs. The notations included concern payments and receipts in taxes paid, land surveys and maps, rents and mortgages, wages paid to servants/laborers, property taxes, expenses and purchases, and item inventories. Concerning Elizabeth Burd’s affairs, two of the volumes (5 and 6) in Box 2 are receipt books for the monthly accounts of the Burd Orphan Aslyum with the grocer Michael McCarthy. Another interesting volume (10) is the catalogue of books of Edward Burd’s law library.

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Administrative Information

Publication Information

 The Historical Society of Pennsylvania ; 2014.

1300 Locust Street
Philadelphia, PA, 19107
215-732-6200

Provenance

Purchased, Dreer Fund; Gift of Harrold E. Gillingham; Gift of Dr. Philbrick; Gift of Harrold E. Gillingham.; 1934-1936; 1939.

Processing note

The volumes contained in the collection were numbered in the order they were housed prior to processing.

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Related Materials

Related Archival Materials note

At other institutions:

Burd Family Papers (1703-1937), Manuscript Collection No. 379, University of Delaware Library, Special Collections Department.

Burd, Edward Shippen (1779-1848), MC 1999.10, Dickinson College, Archives and Special Collections.

Burd-Shippen Family Papers (1717-1898), Collection DAR.1996.01, University of Pittsburgh, Archives and Manuscripts.

Burd-Shippen Family Collection (1704-1900), Manuscript Group 30, Pennsylvania State Archives.

Burd-Shippen Papers (1708-1792), Mss.B.B892, American Philosophical Society.

Burd-Shippen Papers (1738-1847), 1980.M-1898, William L. Clements Library Manuscripts Division, University of Michigan.

Edward S. Burd and Eli K. Price papers, HC.Coll.950.Burd-Price, Haverford College Quaker & Special Collections.

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Controlled Access Headings

Subject(s)

  • Building--Materials
  • Ormiston Mansion (Philadelphia, Pa.)
  • Orphanages--Philadelphia
  • Receipt books--19th century.
  • Rents--Pennsylvania--Philadelphia Metropolitan Area
  • Stock market and trading--Philadelphia--19th century

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Collection Inventory

Volume

Edward Shippen Burd's Receipt Book/Paid Accounts (formerly Am.907645) July 26, 1813 - February 10, 1823 

Custodial History note

Presented by Harrold E. Gillingham on April 8, 1938.

 1

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Edward Shippen Burd Income and Investment Book (formerly Am.907651) March 1846 - August 1848 

Custodial History note

Presented by Harrold E. Gillingham on November 18, 1935.

 2

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Lumber Bill for Pine Street Buildings and Lundrey (formerly Am.90765) 1820 

Custodial History note

Purchased with the Dreer Fund on March 15, 1934.

 3

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Receipt Book for Taxes, Water-Rents, Mortage Interest and Wages to Servants (formerly Am.907639) 1823-1833 

Custodial History note

Presented by Harrold E. Gillingham on October 4, 1937.

 4

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Grocer's Monthly Account of the Burd Orphan Asylum [Mrs. E. H. Burd] with Michael McCarthy (formerly Am.907656) August 31, 1855 - November 8, 1858 

Custodial History note

Presented by Harrold E. Gillingham on February 12, 1937.

 5

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Grocer's Monthly Account Book [Mrs. Edward Shippen Burd w/ Michael McCarthy] (formerly Am.907657) October 2, 1856 - September 1, 1858 

Custodial History note

Presented by Harrold E. Gillingham on February 12, 1937.

 6

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Edward Shippen Burd's Receipt Book for Taxes and Interest (formerly Am.912356) March 28, 1831 - July 14, 1846 

Custodial History note

Presented by Harrold E. Gillingham on June 19, 1939.

 7

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Edward Burd's Receipt Book (formerly Am.90763) 1805-1831 

Custodial History note

Presented by Harrold E. Gillingham on January 22, 1935.

 8

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Edward Burd's Receipt Book (formerly Am.907625) December 17, 1798 - December 26, 1820 

Custodial History note

Presented by Harrold Gillingham on March 14, 1935.

 9

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Debt Book; Deed Trust; Catalogue of Edward Shippen Burd's Law Library (formerly Am.907652) 

Custodial History note

Presented by Dr. Philbrick on October 10, 1936.

 10

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Mrs. Eliza H. Burd's Receipt Book (formerly Am.907655) October 21, 1848 - December 26, 1857 

Custodial History note

Presented by Harrold E. Gillingham on March 20, 1935.

 11

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Real Estate, Mortgage and Ground Rent Record [in handwriting of Edward Shippen Burd] (formerly Am.90764) 1830-1834 

Custodial History note

Presented by Harrold E. Gillingham on October 4, 1934.

 12

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Plan and Abstract of Titles of Lands Owned by Edward Burd in Huntingdon, Indiana, Jefferson, Lycoming and Northumberland Counties of Pennsylvania (formerly Am. 907634) 1814-1820 

Custodial History note

Presented by Harrold E.Gillingham on October 10, 1936.

General note

Some of the properties (lands) noted here are "Lottery Lands." As well, the "Plan of Ormiston" is presented on page 38 of this volume.

 13

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Oversize

Edward Shippen Burd's monument drawings and description n.d. 

 FF1

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