The mass volume of supplies during the fur trade.

[Buck Conner1]

I have always been amazed at the volume of supplies some of these famous mountain men carried along the resources they had access to. Here's the manifest that Samuel Par[k]man turned in for Smith upon his death. I have always found these lists interesting and wonder how I would have handled the mass volume of supplies.

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Following are translations from Spanish to English of Samuel Parkman's list of trade goods as submitted to customs officials and the letter from Santiago Abreu to Agustín Durán regarding goods being cached by Parkman on the Ocate River:

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The Manifest of Jedediah Smith's Trade Goods​

Manifest that the citizen of the United States of America, Samuel Par[k]man, agent of citizen Jeradiah [sic] S. Smith, deceased, presents to the National Customs of the Territory of New Mexico of the effects that he brought from the said States, whose brands and quantities are as follows:

Chest No. 1:
1 dozen small saws 
8 large saws 
2 dozen chisels 
2 gross small augers 
6 dozen panes of window glass 
2 dozen scutcheons 
2 dozen brass nails for curtains 
10 gross small screws 
6 packages iron tacks 
2 dozen pen knives 
1 dozen pocket razors 
3 dozen pen knives 
3 dozen pocket knives 
1 dozen shaving razors 
3 dozen shaving razors 
2 dozen butcher knives 
4 dozen table knives 
7 dozen table knives 
3 dozen butcher knives 
4 dozen butcher knives 
3 dozen butcher knives 
2 dozen green razor handles 
3 dozen white razor handles 
2 dozen pocket razors 
2 gross thimbles 
2,000 needles 
130 large needles 
1 dozen scissors 
3 3/4 dozen scissors 
2 gross small spoons 
7 small augers 
8 large augers 
3 dozen bone buttons 
4 gross marble buttons 
2 gross glass buttons 
1 gross shell buttons 
1 gross coat buttons 
2 gross waistcoat buttons 
1 dozen small files 
1 dozen large files 
1 dozen large files, half hollowed 
1 dozen rasps 
3 dozen large scutcheons 
3 dozens small scutcheons
Chest No. 2:
2 dozen small saws 
1 dozen large chisels 
1 dozen small chisels 
2 gross small augers 
2 dozen brass nails, 6 inches 
1 dozen brass nails, 3 inches 
1/2 dozen brass nails, 3 1/2 inches 
1 dozen carbine keys 
8 gross small screws 
2 packages iron tacks 
4 packages iron tacks 
1 dozen table knives 
14 dozen butcher knives 
12 dozen pocket razors 
6 dozen knives and forks 
4 dozen pen knives 
2 gross thimbles 
2 1/2 thousand needles 
12 thousand large needles 
1 dozen scissors 
4 gross small spoons 
1/2 gross table spoons 
20 large augers 
3 dozen bone buttons 
5 gross marble buttons 
2 dozen glass buttons 
1 dozen shell buttons 
1 dozen shell buttons for shirt 
1 dozen yellow buttons 
1 dozen common buttons 
1 dozen buttons for waistcoat 
1 dozen small files 
2 dozen large files 
1 dozen rasps, half hollowed 
6 dozen large scutcheons 
4 dozen trunk scutcheons
Trunk No. 3:
36 cotton handkerchiefs 
3 pieces cotton handkerchiefs 
5 pieces silk handkerchiefs 
10 dozen cotton handkerchiefs 
3 pieces silk handkerchiefs with 21 yards 
12 short Sicilian silk tunics 
8 pieces Indian silk handkerchiefs 
3 carrandan short tunics 
6 merino wool shawls 
10 colored girl's merino wool shawls 
7 red girl's merino wool shawl 
6 scarlet wool shawls 
3 pieces twill, with 36 yards 
3 pieces white handkerchiefs for the purse 
2 pieces yellow carrrandan with 56 yards 
1 piece striped carrandan with 18 yards 
2 piece vestings with 24 yards 
2 pieces striped batiste with 24 yards 
4 pieces indigo florentine with 76 yards
Chest No. 4:
3 pieces cotton handkerchiefs with 39 
3 pieces bandanna handkerchiefs, 21 yards 
10 pieces cotton handkerchiefs with 132 yards 
148 pieces Indian silk handkerchief, 98 yards 
3 short carrandan tunics 
6 girl's merino wool shawls 
10 colored merino wool shawls 
7 red merino wool shawls 
3 pieces twill, with 36 yards 
3 pieces cotton handkerchiefs with 40 yards 
3 pieces carrandan with 34 yards 
1 piece striped carrandan with 18 yards 
3 pieces vestings with 19 yards
Trunk No. 23:
8 pieces small striped cloth with 291 yards 
4 pieces small cotton printed cloth with 131 yards
Chest No. 28:
10 pieces yellow nankin 
25 pieces blue nankin 
1 dozen handkerchiefs 
6 shawls 
8 Mandarin shawls 
3 packages pins 
3 pieces chintz for curtains with 84 yards 
4 pieces belfa with 100 yards
Trunk No. 41:
20 pieces linen with 636 yards
Chest No. 48:
20 pieces linen with 630 yards
Chest No. 71:
20 pieces blanket with 567 yards
Chest No. 72
20 pieces blanket with 569 yards
Chest No. 86:
20 pieces linen with 606 yards
Unnumbered chest:
1 dozen large mirrors
Chest No. 121:
1 set of blank account books, a small quantity of writing paper, and a small quantity of wrapping paper, all for expense
Barrel No. 129:
15 dozen china plates 
32 dozen china cups 
4 sets of china with 33 pieces each 
4 dozen chocolate cups 
6 dozen mugs 
2 dozen chocolate cups
Chest No. 141:
3 pieces escalarata with 51 yards 
1 piece scarlet flannel with 36 yards 
1 piece yellow flannel with 32 yards 
1 piece green flannel with 29 yards 
3 pieces white flannel with 57 yards 
1 piece blue cloth with 16 yards 
1 piece black percale with 28 yards 
2 pieces Irish linen, with 44 yards
Chest No. 42:
3 pieces scarlet cloth with 46 yards 
2 pieces yellow flannel, 47 yards 
1 piece green flannel, 27 yards 
2 pieces black percale, 56 yards 
1 dozen umbrellas
Chest No. 144:
1 piece high quality blue cloth, 24 yards 
1 piece blue cloth, 14 yards 
1 piece brown cloth, 22 yards 
1 piece blue cloth, 32 yards 
1 piece black cloth, 23 yards 
1 piece black percale, 36 yards 
2 pieces blue and brown bombazine 
4 pieces decorated bombazine 
1 dozen umbrellas
Chest No. 145:
1 piece olive-colored cloth, 17 yards 
1 piece blue cloth, 15 yards 
1 piece black cloth, 21 yards 
1 piece blue cloth, 17 yards 
2 pieces black cloth, 56 yards 
1 piece blue cloth, 22 yards 
1 piece violet cloth, 24 yards 
1 piece green cloth, 31 yards 
4 pieces black percale, 112 yards 
2 pieces violet bombazine 
1 dozen umbrellas 
20 pieces Irish linen, 426 yards
Chest No. 147:
2 pieces tacking, 48 yards 
5 pieces tacking, 115 yards 
20 pieces linen, 560 yards 
12 pieces chintz, 333 yards
Chest No. 148:
13 pieces tacking, 307 yards 
2 pieces small brown cotton printed cloth, 44 yards 
5 pieces chintz, 141 yards
Trunk No. 151:
9 pieces chintz with 253 yards 
7 pieces calico, 195 yards
Trunk No. 152:
21 pieces of linen, 589 yards 
3 pieces blanket, 84 yards
Chest No. 153:
2 pieces narrow lace with 32 yards 
6 pieces wide ribbon 
6 pieces wide ribbon 
12 dozen shawls with fringes 
5 dozen shawls with fringes 
1 dozen cheap short tunics 
1 dozen shawls with silk fringes 
6 silk embossed handkerchiefs 
6 dozen ribbons for sashes 
2 dozen handkerchief holders 
13 cotton shawls 
8 pieces muslin with 80 yards
Chest No. 154:
2 pieces narrow lace, 32 yards 
9 fancy silk handkerchiefs 
2 dozen cotton handkerchiefs 
12 dozen cotton handkerchiefs 
2 dozen floral handkerchiefs 
6 fancy handkerchiefs 
1 dozen decorated silk shawls 
4 cheap short tunics 
6 mixed shawls 
1 dozen large handkerchiefs with fringes
Chest No. 79:
36 pieces linen with 992 yards
Trunk No. 155:
19 pieces linen with 632 yards
Trunk No. 156:
5 pieces small striped cloth, 140 yards 
5 pieces chintz, 420 yards
Trunk No. 157:
14 pieces damask cotton, 252 yards
Chest No. 605:
Various notebooks for use of the store, that I intend to open in the same customs house
Chest No. 19:
27 cotton shawls 
18 cotton shawls 
9 merino wool shawls 
4 bandanna handkerchiefs with 28 yards 
1 dozen orange cotton shawls 
1 dozen orange cotton shawls 
10 merino wool shawls 
2 pieces decorated twill, 24 yards 
4 pieces chintz, 112 yards 
2 pieces calico, 56 yards
Trunk No. 21:
16 pieces blanket, 498 yards
Chest No. 33:
20 pieces linen, 700 yards
Chest No. 42:
20 pieces linen, 655 yards
Chest No. 44:
20 pieces linen, 656 yards
Chest No. 47:
20 pieces linen, 657 yards
Chest No. 58:
20 pieces linen, 707 yards
Trunk No. 62:
20 pieces blankets, 632 yards
Trunk No. 64:
20 pieces blankets, 622 yards
Trunk No. 65:
20 pieces blankets, 623 yards
Trunk No. 66:
20 pieces blankets, 615 yards
Trunk No. 67:
20 pieces blankets, 625 yards
Trunk No. 69:
20 pieces blankets, 632 yards
Trunk No. 70:
20 pieces blankets, 625 yards
Chest No. 77:
20 pieces linen, 822 yards
Chest No. 78:
20 pieces linen, 983 yards
Chest No. 81:
20 pieces linen, 630 yards
Chest No. 85:
20 pieces linen, 702 yards
Chest No. 38:
20 pieces linen, 701 yards
Chest No. 45:
20 pieces linen, 656 yards

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In testimony of the truth, I sign in Santa Fe, July 11, 1831. [SIGNED] Samuele Parkman

 

[William75]

I was astonished to discover that strike anywhere matches were taken to the mountains during the fur trade rendezvous, according to the manifests.  They did not carry these in vast quantities, but a few dozen.......and they were expensive, as far as matches go.

 

[Marty1]

Oddly enough...of all the goods listed, the reference to "blue" fabric caught my attention the most. Natural and artificial blue dyes started getting popular in the 1700-1800's.

 

[Buck Conner1]

I was astonished to discover that strike anywhere matches were taken to the mountains during the fur trade rendezvous, according to the manifests.  They did not carry these in vast quantities, but a few dozen.......and they were expensive, as far as matches go.

Spalls are essentially 18th century matches. They were used during the time of Christ, and continued to be used into the early 20th century. A spark is captured on a piece of char, the spall is touched to the glowing char and ignites when gently blown on. The spall can then be carried to light a fire, or candle. Spalls are slivers of wood with sulfur on one end.

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Spalls must be used with EXTREME caution. When lit, a spall must be gently blown out (NEVER SHAKE a spall, as molten sulfur will fly off the splint). If extinguished promptly, a spall may be reused several times.

 

[Buck Conner1]

Oddly enough...of all the goods listed, the reference to "blue" fabric caught my attention the most. Natural and artificial blue dyes started getting popular in the 1700-1800's.

At Fort Osage (Sibley, MO) Kathy Smith and her women folks do period dying each fall, blue dyes are used along with other neat colors. I made a copy of an 1780's coat (pale blue frizen material cloth lining) that belonged to an artist that had traveled from Pennsylvania to Fort Osage when Wm Clark had control of the Natives Americans with his trading post. Contacted artist/writer Kathy Smith and she produced my material, hand spun, dyed and itchy.

 

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“Rose early, examined the Situation and the points of a Small Island which is opposit, found the River could be completely defended and Situation elegant, this Situation I had examined in the year 1804 and was delighted with it and am equally so now, ordered the Boats to be unloaded and tools got ready to work, and fixed on the spot for the fort and other buildings…”   William Clark, Monday, 5th Sept. 1808

 

[bronko220002]

From that list it appears that this gentleman had acquired the contents of a general store or simialr.
That was,a lot of goods and I imagine it was transported on several wagons.

 

[dobegrant]

Unbelievable amount of stuff