Document: Receipt to Charles S. Stratton from Sammis & Fairchild Clothiers, 1872

Receipt for the purchase of a yachting suit from Sammis & Fairchild Clothiers in Bridgeport, Connecticut. The purchaser was Charles S. Stratton, better known by his stage name, "General Tom Thumb." The receipt is dated August 6, 1872. The yachting suit cost $30 and must have been custom-made to fit Stratton's small stature, though probably all such suits would have been individually tailored at that time. During the 1870s, Stratton owned two yachts, which he sailed on Long Island Sound and used in racing competitions. Sammis & Fairchild Clothiers was located at 227 Main Street in downtown Bridgeport. Charles S. Stratton (January 4, 1838 - July 15, 1883) was an entertainer who got his start with P. T. Barnum in the early 1840s. Stratton's parents signed him with Barnum when the boy was barely five years old. The family went to live in New York City where Stratton performed at Barnum's American Museum, located on Broadway at Ann Street. The little boy took quickly to performing, and on tours he entertained audiences worldwide, including royalty. Stratton's performances brought him renown, becoming one of the biggest celebrities at the time, and considerable wealth. In 1863, Stratton married fellow performer and little person M. Lavinia Warren; the two had a happy marriage, and continued touring and performing. On July 15, 1883, Stratton suffered a stroke and passed away. He is buried at Mountain Grove Cemetery in Bridgeport, Connecticut.