Place of Origin

United States ➔ New York ➔ Canandaigua

Date of Composition

ca. 1830-1860

Description

This recipe book was authored by Martha Masters (1808-1884) and other members of the Masters family, of Canandaigua, New York, and then subsequently passed down through the Wilbur family, also of Canandaigua. The book is in several different hands. The book’s recipe for Shrewsbury Cakes (see image) originated in E. Smith’s The Compleat Housewife, first published (in London) in 1727, and was subsequently reprinted in the 1772 American edition of Susannah Carter’s The Frugal Housewife. Carter’s cookbook was popular in America into the early nineteenth century and was likely the source of the manuscript recipe. Shrewsbury Cakes were butter cookies of a sort. The recipe calls for 3 pounds of flour, not 9, as seems to be indicated. The writer’s hand must have slipped.

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