mums185 Cyrus Morton Account Book, 1828-1838 Finding Aid Finding aid prepared by Kimberley Foster. Encoding funded by the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation. Special Collections and University Archives, W.E.B. Du Bois Library, University of Massachusetts Amherst

Amherst, MA

2003

Finding aid encoded using Perl scripts and edited in XMetal 2.0. Encoded by Eric Cartier. 2003-07-28 Finding aid written in English. 2005-09-23 mu201 converted from EAD 1.0 to 2002 by v1to02-5c.xsl (sy2003-10-15). Special Collections and University Archives, W.E.B. Du Bois Library, University of Massachusetts Amherst Cyrus Morton Account Book, 1828-1838 Finding Aid Manuscript Number 185 Compiled by Kimberley Foster Encoding funded by the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation.

Collection Overview Morton, Cyrus Cyrus Morton Account Book1828-1838 MS 185 1 volume (0.25 linear ft.) Special Collections and University Archives, W.E.B. Du Bois Library, University of Massachusetts Amherst Physician from Halifax, Massachusetts, who frequently visited patients and dispensed his own medicine. Includes records of the dates and fees for visits for each patient, forms of payment (often as goods and services: pigs, fish, beef, hay, wood, the use of a horse, spinning done by widows or wives, digging a well, carpentry, etc.), and a prayer in Morton's hand. Among Dr. Morton's patients were Timothy Wood, Stafford Sturtevant, Jacob Thompson, Capts. Knapp and Cushman, and Cyrus Munroe. English. Scope and Contents of the Collection

This is the third of several account books kept by Dr. Cyrus Morton of Halifax, Massachusetts, for the years 1828-1838. Morton visited patients from Halifax, Plymouth, Middleboro, Hanson, Bridgewater, and Duxbury. He called on patients frequently, every day in times of need, and dispensed his own medicine. Tucked inside the book is a prayer in Morton's hand asking, "Is the love of God the governing principle of my life?"

The book records the dates and fees for visits for each patient, but rarely specifies the illness treated or medicine given (some exceptions: extracting teeth, "delivering your wife"). Payment frequently came in the form of goods and services: pigs, fish, beef, hay, wood, the use of a horse, spinning done by widows or wives, digging a well, carpentry, etc. Among Dr. Morton's patients were Timothy Wood, Stafford Sturtevant, Jacob Thompson, Capts. Knapp and Cushman, and Cyrus Munroe.

The collection is open for research.

Preferred Citation

Cite as: Cyrus Morton Account Book (MS 185). Special Collections and University Archives, W.E.B. Du Bois Library, University of Massachusetts Amherst.

Acquired from Charles Apfelbaum, 1987

Processed by Kimberley Foster.

Search Terms Morton, Cyrus. Physicians--Massachusetts--19th century. Halifax (Mass.)--Social life and customs--19th century. Morton, Cyrus. Account books.