Merwin Funeral Home Account Books

Windsor Historical Society

96 Palisado Avenue, Windsor, CT 06095

© 2008 Windsor Historical Society of Windsor, CT, Inc.

Creator:  James J. Merwin; Merwin & Leek Funeral Home

Dates: 1877-1906

Extent: 3 volumes

Accession #: 2006.4.1-3

Location:  Document Storage

Corporate History

                James J. Merwin (1837-1902) began his undertaking business on Spring Street in the Poquonock section of Windsor in 1878. He was the first funeral director in Windsor and was known throughout the Connecticut Valley for his high standards of service. His son George J. Merwin (1869-1951) joined him, maintaining and enhancing the business.  In 1903 William S. Leek (1869-1950) became Merwin's associate and partner. The Merwin & Leek Funeral Home, located at 35 Poquonock Ave. in Windsor, CT, became known as Merwin, Leek and Sheehan when Robert K. Sheehan joined the partnership in 1945.

Scope and Contents

This three volume set of account books for the Merwin Funeral Home includes records for the years 1877-1906. The business was founded and operated by James J. Merwin in Poquonock and Windsor, CT.

Vol. I.  Accounts for the period 1872-1892 are included in the first volume.  Accounts payable for the business document the purchase of such items as caskets, handles, and satin linings. Two other sections of the ledger describe information about the deceased person and the services provided to the family.

Vol. II.  Accounts for the period 1893-1900 are included in the second volume.  Accounts recorded include death certificate information about the deceased and the costs of the specific services that were provided to the family. An alphabetical index of clients is in the front of the book.

Vol. III.  Accounts for the period 1900-1906 are included in the third volume.  Accounts recorded include death certificate information about the deceased and the costs of the specific services that were provided to the family. An alphabetical index of clients is in the front of the book. Newspaper obituaries for some of the deceased are pasted into the ledger.

Arrangement

            The entries are listed chronologically in the record books.

Related Materials

Subject files:

Businesses – Funeral Homes – Merwin & Leek

Family files:

Merwin family

Leek, William S.

Subject Terms

Funeral homes – Connecticut -- Windsor

Undertakers and undertaking – Connecticut – Windsor

Merwin & Leek Funeral Home (Windsor, Conn.)

Custodial history

Biographical information about the deceased individuals has been extracted and summarized in a Microsoft Excel spreadsheet. The spreadsheet was prepared by volunteers Susan Smoktunowitz, Elaine Brophy, Shirley Grossman, and William Harris during 2007.  A print copy of the index has been placed in the Windsor Historical Society library.

The finding aid was prepared by Barbara Goodwin, January 2008.