Descriptions of “worked pocketbooks”

While the style of embroidery isn’t described with close detail, the advertisements listed here provide other information — such as inventories of the pocketbooks’ contents, and what sorts of people carried these sorts of embroidered pocketbooks in the 18th century. (In addition, about 700 cases in the Proceedings of the Old Bailey mention pocketbooks, especially regarding thefts of pocketbooks and lists of what they contained.)

“TAKEN out of the houſe of John Franks, tobacconiſt, in Second-ſtreet, Philadelphia, on Saturday the 18th of December, an Iriſh ſtitch pocket-book, in which were (when taken) two Ten Shilling, and thirteen Fifteen Shilling new bills, Pennſylvania currency, with ſeveral other bills; likewiſe a ſteel ſeal, a mother-of-pearl ſmelling bottle, ſet in ſilver, and a key of a cloſet-door.” (The Pennsylvania Gazette, December 30, 1756)

“LOST, or ſtolen, on Wedneſday the 25th of January laſt, a large worked Pocket-book, lined and bound with blue Silk, with a pair of Silver Claſps, and marked under the Lappet thus, EVAN MORGAN HIS POCKET-BOOK, 1754. It had in it a number of Accounts relating to the Eſtate of Evan Morgan, deceaſed, with ſundry Receipts, ſix or ſeven of which were dated the 23d of January, 1758, and ſeveral other Writings, none of which will be of Service to any but the Owner. There was but little Money in it, among which was a One ſhilling Jerſey Bill. Any Perſon that will deliver, or ſend the ſaid Pocket-book and Papers to Evan Morgan, at the Corner of Market and Second-ſtreets or at the New Printing Office, ſhall have what Money was in it, and Five Shillings more, as a Reward, and no Queſtions aſked.” (The Pennsylvania Gazette, February 2, 1758)

“TAken out of the Houſe of the Subſcriber, living in Southampton Townſhip, Bucks County, on Sunday the 5th of this inſt. July, the following articles, viz. ... One ſingle-worked Pocket-book marked M.S. with ſeveral Things of Value in it. One double Leather Pocket-book, with between Three and Four Pounds of Caſh in it, with ſome old Silver, ſuch as old Buttons, &c.” (The Pennsylvania Gazette, July 30, 1761)

“FIFTEEN POUND Reward. WAS picked out of the Subſcriber’s pocket, the firſt of this inſtant, in the Court-houſe at Cheſter, a large needle worked pocket-book, containing a conſiderable number of bonds, and about Fifty Pounds in paper money, beſides receipts, and other papers of value. Whoever apprehends the perſon or perſons that took the ſaid pocket-pook, ſo that he or they be brought to juſtice, and the papers and money got again, ſhall have the above reward; or, Fifty Shillings for the pocket-book and papers only, and no queſtoins aſked. JOSHUA EVANS.” (The Pennsylvania Gazette, June 1, 1769)

“RAN AWAY from the ſubſcribers, living in Baltimore County, Maryland, about twelve miles from Baltimore Town, on the road leading to Frederick Town, on Sunday night the 28th of February laſt, the two following Engliſh convict ſervant men, viz. ... ROBERT JONES, about thirty years of age ... he has an old worked pocket-book with him” (Poulson’s American Daily Advertiser, May 3, 1773)

“LOST, this morning, a double worked Pocket-book, bound and lined with blue, containing two dollars, ſome ſmall ſilver and tickets, letters, receipts, all the above ſloop’s papers, and one letter with ſome caſh in it, the quantity unknown. Whoever brings the ſaid Pocket-book with the papers to the ſubſcriber, or to John Jackſon, in Front-ſtreet, ſhall receive TWENTY SHILLINGS reward. STEPHEN CAWLEY.” (Poulson's American Daily Advertiser, September 20, 1773)

“LOST, by the ſubſcriber, on the 25th of this inſt. October, in the city of Philadelphia, A SINGLE worked POCKET BOOK, with about Forty pounds in New-Jerſey Three Pound bills, and ſome ſmaller bills, ſome printed blank notes, a New-Haven News-Paper, ſome receipts and other papers. Whoever ſhall find ſaid pocket book, and deliver it with the contents to the Printer hereof, ſhall receive THREE SHILLINGS on the POUND for all the money returned, and no queſtions aſked. ROGER SHERMAN.” (Poulson’s American Daily Advertiser, November 14, 1774)

“WAS loſt, on the 14th of January laſt, on the road leading from Philadelphia to Cheſtnut-hill, a ſmall WALLET, containing a needle worked pocket book, marked R.T. in which were three English Shillings, and ſundry bills of parcels and receipts, of no uſe to any perſon but the owner, alſo black taffety and ribbon for a womans bonnet; the New Britain packet of news papers, and ſundry Chapmans and ſome larger books, with ſome other articles, Whoever has found the ſame, and will deliver them to ADOLPH GILLMAN, at the ſign of the Seven Stars, in Second-ſtreet, between Arch and Race-ſtreets, Philadelphia, or to the ſubſcriber, in New-Britain townſhip, near Rutter’s mills, in Bucks county, ſhall receive a reward of Ten Shillings, or for the pocket book and papers only One Dollar, paid by WILLIAM THOMAS.” (The Pennsylvania Gazette, February 8, 1775)

“One Hundred Pounds Reward. LOST, on Wedneſday Evening, the 27th of September, between Mr. Ramage's Tavern, in Broad-ſtreet, and the Subſcriber's Houſe on Trott's Point, a worked Pocket-Book, with the Subſcriber's Name thereon, containing ſeveral Bonds, Notes of Hand, &c. alſo Five Fifty Pounds Bills, one Twenty Shillings, and one Five Shillings Bill. Whoever has found the ſaid Pocket-Book, and will deliver it, with the Contents thereof, to the Subſcriber, or in his Abſence, to Mr. George Greenland, Factor in Charles-Town, or at Mr. Timothy’s Printing-Office, in Gadſden's Alley, ſhall receive the above Reward of One Hundred Pounds Currency. WILLIAM CHISHOLME.” (The South-Carolina Gazette; and Country Journal, November 7, 1775)

“STOLEN out of the houſe of the ſubſcriber, in Piles Grove, Salem County, on the firſt inſtant (October) by a perſon unknown … a worked pocket book marked I.B. and part lined with black taffaty.” (Poulson's American Daily Advertiser, November 20, 1775)

“LOST the ſixteenth inſtant, between Seventh and the corner of Fifth and Market ſtreets, a worked POCKET BOOK, containing ſixteen dollars Continental money -- two four dollar bills, ſome half dollar bills, ſome receipts from Chriſtopher Wertz’s. Alſo a duplicate of Paxton townſhip, Lancaſter county, and an order on Mr. Cranch for fifty-ſeven days wages, and ſundry other papers. Whoever brings the pocket book, money and papers, ſhall have three pounds reward, or fifteen ſhillings for the book and papers, by applying to John Roſs, vendue cryer.” (The Pennsylvania Evening Post, March 11, 1777)

“LOST out of the Subſcriber’s Pocket on the Market Wharf, or on the Bay, a Worked Pocket Book, with about 175l. Currency therein, and ſome ſmall Accounts and other Papers of no Value to any other Perſon but the Owner. Any Perſon that has found it, or give any Information of it, and deliver the ſame to the Subscriber at Stone, or to the Printer hereo, ſhall receive Twenty five Pounds Reward. JAMES D. YARBROUGH.” (The South-Carolina and American General Gazette, May 15, 1777)

“LOST laſt Sunday, between Mr. Joſeph Brewer's at South River, and Annapolis, a worked pocket-book, with the name of Robert Johnſon worked on it; There were in it four one dollar bills, one five ſhilling, and other caſh. Whoever finds the ſaid pocket-book, and delivers it to me, with the caſh, ſhall be handſomely rewarded. NICHOLAS BREWER.” (Maryland Gazette, May 22, 1777)

“TWO HUNDRED DOLLARS REWARD. LOST, a POCKET-BOOK with upwards of one hundred pounds, and many papers of great value to the owner; ſuppoſed to be left on the counter of a ſhop in Strawberry Alley, Philadelphia, from whence it muſt have been taken up by ſome one of the country people then preſent. It is a worked pocket-book, marked R.M. One paper therein contained 47l. 12s. 6d. marked for Mr. Abel James; another marked John Spracer, containing forty-one dollars; another containing eighty-one dollars, the marks not recollected; ſome rows of pins, &c. &c. &c. Any perſon that can make any diſcover ſo that the owner may recover his pocket-book and appers, ſhall have the above reward by applying to WILLIAM PINTON, in Strawberry Alley, Mr. THOMAS SAY, in Second-ſtreet, or to the Printer hereof.” (Poulson’s American Daily Advertiser, May 18, 1779)

“LOST, on the 15th day of October inſtant, A NEAT worked pocket book, with blue lining, containing certificates, No. 1792 for ſix hundred dollars, and No. 1996, for three hundred dollars; as alſo two certificates for ſpecific articles, to the ſubſcriber, numbers at preſent unknown. Any perſon manifeſting the honeſty they would wiſh to be ſhewn to themſelves, will deliver the ſaid pocket book to the treaſurer, and he, ſhe or they ſhall receive four hard dollars. BASIL SIMPSON.” (Maryland Gazette, October 31, 1782)

“Six Dollars Reward. LOST on the 11th day of October laſt, between Pequea and Lancaſter, on the Charleſton road, a woman’s pair of POCKETS, containing a worked pocket-book, five guineas, three dollars, about four ſhillings in ſmall money, and a ſilver hoop and chain for a pincuſhion. Whoever has found the ſame, and will deliver it to CHRISTOPHER HEGER, in Lancaſter, ſhall receive the above reward.” (Poulson's American Daily Advertiser, November 18, 1783)

“Fifty Dollars Reward. LAST Night the Dwelling Houſe of the ſubſcriber, on Front ſtreet, in the Northern-Liberties, was broke open and robbed, and among other Articles the following were ſtolen, viz. … 2 Loan Office Certificates … The Certificates were with a number of other Papers in a Worked Pocket-Book, marked C.M.” (Poulson’s American Daily Advertiser, July 24, 1788)