It is inferred through research that this ledger belonged to Mr. Joseph H. Bitting of Mount Airy, North Carolina. Joseph H. Bitting was a man born in 1846 and worked as a merchant at an unknown store for several years in the 1870s. During his time at this shop, he kept records within this journal. Notably, the customers who were served in this store were white, Black, and Indigenous persons. We have reason to believe that Persons of Color travelled to this shop because of this reason. You will notice several names that are prominent within the history of Robeson County, North Carolina including members of the Lowry Gang.

We are currently unable to track Mr. Bitting’s whereabouts prior to 1860, when he was 14 and residing in a hotel in the city. He may have been born in Germany.

Previous information regarding this ledger referred to it as the “G. W. Maultsby Ledger”.

This Ledger was donated to the Mary Livermore Library by Ray and Deanna Lowry in March 2016.