Consists of two account books kept from 1804 to 1807 and from 1806 to 1816. The second volume is entitled "A journal of my earnings and expenses from April 1, 1806. Ditto lost time. Kept by week." The weekly entries, although intermittent, continue into 1809. Silliman worked for a number of individuals performing carpentry and related tasks. Both volumes document Silliman's personal expenses as well as his furniture making and related activities. The first volume features accounts of work done in a shop in East Haddam, Ct. with S. Higgins and a shop in Duanesbury, listing pieces of furniture made. The second volume mentions that on Oct. 13, Silliman went to work at East Haddam at the cabinet business on shares with Mr. Sylvester Higgins. Their first activity was to fix the shop. The first volume contains an account for building a shop, perhaps the same one. Such furniture forms as bedsteads, cherry stands, breakfast tables, dining tables, secretaries, portable desks, chests, and clock cases are noted. Reference is also made to painting, varnishing, turning chair banisters, and work on stairs and fences. Personal expenses were for food, board, articles of clothing, and sundries. Entries from 1810 to 1816 list amounts owed to and by various people.
