This book was compiled in several hands, mostly by Benjamin Butterworth in Petersburg, Virginia, 1828-1867. Petersburg is located 22 miles south of Richmond. The city was founded in 1646 as a military post (Fort Henry) on the site of an indian village; it grew as a trading post. Petersburg and Blandford villages were laid out in 1748. Pocahontas village, 1752 was combined and incorporated as Petersburg town in 1784, and as a city in 1850.

The names of Virginia & Benjamin Butterworth appear on the inside cover, as does Thomas Samuel Robinson 1847, born 1805 and notes that he, Robinson, used the blank book for his accounts. Another note says: "Hump Back Charles was born 1814 May 20th." The book states that B. Butterworth moved to Petersburg in 1827. The front part of book deals with a list of important dates from 1817 to 1855 that covered Mr. Butterworth's family and life with a list of deaths, marriages, purchases of slaves, and presidential elections. It covers the expenses of Mr. Butterworth as well as recipes in several hands.

The recipes, in pencil, are from around the Civil War period and are by an unknown old woman in Washington, D.C.; others are by John Kirkham of Petersburg, Virginia.

"1846, May 1st The largest beef ever was slaughtered in Petersburg weighing 5000 lbs gros 1600 net sold to the chandler 300 pound of fat and tallow the fifth quarter clearing 38 dollars by Pace and Rawlings."

Recipes: Cheesecakes, Butter Sponge Cake, Cocoanut Custard, Flannel cakes, Charlotte Russe with fruit, Cocoanut Cake, Pineapple Preserve, Hydran Sauce, Dr. Scott's Recipe, SweetPickle Peaches, Mangoes, Pickled Oysters, Lemon Custard, Jumbles, Ginger Snaps, Jelly Cake, Blackberry Cordial, Ice Cream, Receipt for Rheumatism, Gargle for Diptheria, Colon Water, Cocoa nut Pudding, Delmonico pudding, Lemon pie, Yellow Cabbage, Rice Muffins, Marble cake, For the Yellow, Blackberry Wine, Green Tomatoes Pickle, jelly without boiling, jelly with sheet Isinglass, Tomatoes Catsup, Blackberry Wine, and Blackberry Cordial.

The expenses of the B. Butterworth family for 1847-1848 are in the rear of the book.