Part 3
Wheaton’s brother, who seems to have been a bad lot, deserted his wife and daughters, Elizabeth and Catherine, some years before this story opens, and nobody had been able to find him. His deserted wife wrote to her brother-in-law, Wheaton, to tell him that a Somerset man had seen her husband in the “Spanish Settlements” and that he was in bad shape. “An object of pity to behold.” It was not thought he could live long. He had, I infer--only infer--been enslaved by the Spaniards. Wheaton’s sister wrote: “I fear he is now numbered with the pale nations underground”. Yes, she really did.
As to news; Mrs. Luther wrote that Giles Luther and his son, “a very fine young man”, had called on her in Charleston--dropped in from Somerset--and “thair has been several shaks of an Earthquake in this place that are very alarming”. In a later letter: “Death has taken away thousands from Charleston this past summer. It was truly disturbing. Scarcely a family escaped without one or more taken away.--I have put Catherine and Eliza both to school.”
It is apparent that little Egypt had connections in 1819 with the outside world--vivid connections.
Some years later, Wheaton Luther resigned to go into business for himself--he belonged to a restless family. John D. Cartwright took his place. Later still, Cartwright resigned, also to set up his own business, and John Wood signed the letters of the Egypt Store. Under all the clerks the business continued to grow. And would have grown even more rapidly thought all the clerks, if only Israel would send them more goods to sell, more yarn for the hungry looms of Somerset and Troy.
After two years of prosperous and expanding trade, the firm of Brayton and Mason had been dissolved. John Mason opened a store of his own with the U.S. Post Office in one corner as was usual. Israel had taken a new partner, his cousin, William Bowers, and continued his business as though nothing had happened. According to the barrel all was amicable. There are papers showing that Brayton later bought some small things from Mason and that Mason bought some small things from Brayton--nothing much. Possibly Mason had held Brayton back a little. For now with his new partner, he expanded rapidly. Though still with caution.
In that spring of 1819, Israel knew, and we can know, exactly where he stood. He knew down to the last India Shawl just what was on the shelves of the little stores, for an inventory was necessary when the partnership was dissolved. The barrel held also a list of the people who owed the firm money. In fact, there were three lists, each very short. The amounts are tiny. I will not give here the names of the customers who were expected to settle their accounts shortly, they were the ordinary charge customers. But I am giving the two other lists--they are really interesting. For Israel guessed right. They never did pay up. One man went to jail. Their accounts, however, were very very small.
Doubtful that these persons will pay what they owe.
Caleb Butterworth Somerset Francis Chace Hezekiah Chace Mason Chace Slade Chace Phoebe Chace Swansea Stephen Earle John Eddy Somerset Rebecca Luther Nathan Read
Certain that these persons will not pay what they owe.
Slade Chace Somerset Frederick Downing Freetown Diadema Hathaway Knowles Negus Benjamin Purinton Swansea Oliver Read Troy Joseph Slade Stephen Slade
TRADING WITH THE SWANSEA PAPER MANUFACTURING COMPANY
In 1819, the new firm of Brayton and Bowers signed an agreement with the Swansea Paper Manufacturing Company to sell its product. There is so little known outside the barrel of this paper company that when I found this contract in the barrel, I was surprised. I consulted the standard “History of Swansea”.
“Straw paper was manufactured in Swansea in 1840 by William Mitchell”. That is all the History has to say. But the barrel holds 50 papers, in addition to this contract of 1819; individual transactions of Brayton and Bowers with the Swansea Paper Manufacturing Company continuing into the year 1832. The agent was always William Mitchell. He signed every document.
Paper was really made out of straw in Swansea and was sold by Brayton and Bowers to many different firms and individuals. That much is clear. The paper on which the correspondence of the firm was written, ought to have been of the firm’s own manufacture. But was it?
The paper may not have been very good. Israel got some returned. Where did the Swansea Paper Company get its straw? How did it make its paper? The barrel does not know.
The employees of the Paper Company, like the employees of the Yarn Factories, were allowed to charge things in Israel’s Scrabbletown Store. And some of the notes asking for credit for employees and signed by William Mitchell, are in the barrel, so we know who some of the paper makers were.
And that seems to be all that we do know about the paper business in Swansea. It seems to be more than anyone else knows.
TRADING WITH THE GEORGIA COTTON MANUFACTURING COMPANY
The new firm of Brayton and Bowers received that spring of 1819 the following letter from Kezia’s uncle, Nehemiah Wheeler.
“Respected Friend Israel Brayton
I recollect that sometime past thou expressed a wish to git yarn from the South to weave. (I thought he meant south of the Mason and Dixon line, but he didn’t. He meant South of Providence). I would now observe that I expect to go out thair soon and will probably start next week and any business That I can doe for my friends I am willing to use my indevors to preform.
I shall likely be at thy farther Anthony’s next first day, if healthy, and weather permits.
In haste I remain thy friend Nath. Wheeler.”
Israel and probably Kezia went to the Anthony Farm that Sunday, and Israel told his wife’s uncle that he would like to git some more yarn to weave.
Nathaniel Wheeler brought the Georgia Cotton Manufacturing Company and Brayton and Bowers together, and very soon in Israel’s office another ledger was being opened to show Israel’s transactions with the Georgia Company. This Georgia Yarn Mill, it had 1000 spindles, was built on a fall of 18 feet of water in the Woonasquatucket River, in that well-watered land south of Providence where grist mills and fulling mills and saw mills and snuff mills had utilized the little streams from the earliest days of the Colony. The Village which sprang up along the river bank, was named for the Mill, of course, and both were called Georgia because the cotton which came up from the South to be spun in the mill, was grown in Georgia.
In 1822, about two years after Israel had opened his first weave book in account with the Georgia Cotton Manufacturing Company, the mill shut down. The stream ran dry. The mill had been run by water power, of course.
When the rains came, and they were long in coming, the mill got going again, but Brayton and Bowers seem to have made other plans by that time.
The office of the factory had been in Providence, and the business with Israel had been transacted by Samuel Nightingale, as Agent. On Jan. 1, 1821, Nightingale dunned Israel for a “small quantity of yarn” unpaid for. The office clerk who usually signed the office letters, was named James Shaw, but the dun was sent out personally by Nightingale, himself.
The yarn of the Georgia Factory was woven by the same people who wove the yarn from the other factories doing business with Brayton and Bowers, as the yarn books show. But not by all of the same people. For the amount of Georgia yarn to be spun at any one time was not large. In the Georgia Weave books we find mostly the names of the old settlers of Fall River.
The ruins of the stone mill still stand beside the stream in Georgiaville.
TRADING WITH TROY
In 1820, the Fall River Manufactury, built a little earlier, on a bank of the Quequechan River in Troy, was incorporated. David Anthony, Israel’s brother-in-law; Dexter Wheeler, his wife’s uncle; and Abraham Bowen, were behind its building, and, under the circumstances, Israel got yarn for his farmhouse weavers, as soon as it was spun in any quantity by this Fall River Yarn Mill. Making the connection still closer, it was David Anthony who took charge of the running of the mill--call him Agent or treasurer. In the year of this incorporation of the company, 1820, Anthony sent over to Israel’s Egypt store, a consignment of cotton yarn, woven at once by the weavers of Somerset into 253-1/2 yards of plaid cloth.
At another time, David Anthony as Agent, sold Israel, outright, some blue and white warp, for $77.00. And the weavers of Swansea wove it into bedticking which Israel kept for his own trading purposes.
Toward the end of his trading career, Israel bought from the Fall River Manufactury some cloth not only spun but actually woven in the mill. He bought 52 yards of checks at $.15 a yard. The downfall of Israel’s big yarn business was at hand, for this cloth, woven as well as spun in the factory, was not too bad--not too bad.
The weave books that Israel must have kept to record his trading with the yarn mill of Troy, were not in the barrel. So all the information we have on the matter is contained in a few letters and bills which passed between Mr. Brayton and Mr. Anthony, as they were careful to call each other on paper. Except, of course, the names of the Troy weavers who wove the yarn for other factories, and appear in other yarn books. And we have found in this way that a very great number of Fall River-Troy people did home weaving for Israel. The Fall River-Troy nomenclature is confusing, for all during the barrel period, that part of the present City of Fall River which lies along the banks of the lower Quequechan River, was legally called Troy. Though it had been called Fall River before 1804 and was called so again after 1834. In all the weave books “Troy” is used, always. But some of the oldest and more sophisticated concerns had letter heads with “Troy. Fall River”.
That part of the present city of Fall River which lies around Brightman Street, was in the barrel days called Freetown. And in the Weave Books are many persons listed as living in Freetown. Their names can be found on the tombstones in the old North Burying Ground. You will find 12 members of the Brightman family in the Weave Books. And 20 members of the Read family who lived at the foot of French’s Hill.
I am somewhat clumsily explaining to the present generation that most of the old families of Fall River had one or more members who took yarn from Israel Brayton and wove it up into cotton cloth right in their own homes on their own looms. And that this yarn they wove was spun in the factories of Fall River as well as in a number of small factories on the west side of the Taunton River. I am printing at the end of this book a list of the people who are known to have done this weaving, and it is surprisingly long, for the village was small. But I think, even so, it is not a complete list.
Israel had other connections with Troy, of course. He bought nails from the Iron Works as soon as the Iron Works made nails. He sold nails to the ships that were building in Somerset and Egypt. Ships had to have kegs of nails on board, of course, and Israel took to outfitting ships, getting requests for odd things, such as “a few yards of white flannel suitable for lining pea-jackets”. And “Tarpolin hats.”
The ship “Rosette” of Troy bought her stores from Israel in Egypt. The ship “Rambler” of Troy landed 240 pounds of yarn one day in Egypt, for Israel. The sloop “Reindeer” bought her stores from Israel. But the Troy ships were a bit high and mighty. Troy was beginning to grow. Hezekiah Anthony wrote from Providence to Israel in 1827:
“To Israel Brayton. Sir:
I could not get the Fall River Packet (the new Steamer “Handcock” this may have been) to take your goods today as the amount was so small. I expect the Somerset Sloop here tomorrow. I presume she will take the goods and land them on Slade’s Ferry Wharf.”
I presume she did.
David Anthony, who was actually manager of both the Iron Works and the Fall River Factory, took the trouble to write the same little notes to Israel that the other Factory managers had written. Not many were preserved.
“Fall River Factory and Iron Works Nov. 18, 1820 Mr. Israel Brayton
Please to let Mrs. Handy have $2.50 in goods out of your store, it being for 2 weeks board for Severin Handy and charge the same to me.
David Anthony.”
“Mr. Israel Brayton, Sir:
Mr. Anthony wishes me to say that he has reserved for you $500.00 worth of stock in his bank and wants you should inform him whether you are depending on it. Please to say by return stage.
M. C. Durfee.”
This was in 1825, when the first bank in Fall River was organized. The Fall River Bank and the Fall River Factory were one. As Hezekiah Anthony, David Anthony’s brother, had written to Israel in 1820: “I consider bank stock as good if not the best property you can at present have”, I think Israel took up the offer. Israel’s connections with Fall River banks were close. But he used the Warren Bank, established earlier, more often.
One odd result of Israel’s trading with everybody for everything, was that he was paid in many sorts of money. (When paid in money at all.) He used to wait until he got a bagful, and then he would send the bag to a local bank or even up to Boston and get the quoted rate of exchange. Silver dollars were not wanted by any wholesale house or bank. Though they were worth a dollar, that was conceded. But crowns, doubloons, francs, and guineas were Israel’s coin, taken in over the counter in Swansea and Egypt. Nothing parochial about Israel.
Various little business firms were just starting up in Troy during the barrel period. Israel traded with Lovell and Durfee--a certain John Brayton was their clerk--they sold Israel yellow snuff. In 1824, Cromwell Bliss of Troy sold Israel 1000 cigars.
And Israel sold some of the Swansea Paper to the Troy Merchants. Seventeen quires were returned because it was not of the first quality. “It is not the quality that you recommend it to be.”
THE TRADER IN HIS HOURS OF EASE
The trader of the barrel period did not, consciously, travel or work in his garden for pleasure or recreation. Those pursuits were means of livelihood. When he was through for the day, if he ever did get through, he was glad to go home and sit a spell. He was tired.
He did not serve on committees whose purpose was to ameliorate the condition of the poor. Each man was, then, expected by public opinion to support himself, his wife, his children, his wife’s parents, his own parents, and all the unmarried women and widows who could claim kinship even to the third or fourth cousinly degree. If they were in need. As each man was expected to do this, it really left nobody to be supported by community effort. It also left the definition of need to the man who was paying the bills, which meant that the aid was adequate--public opinion saw to that--but not extravagant.
There was after this business of earning a living for so many people, very little leisure in the life of any man. I have searched the barrel to see just how Israel Brayton spent the little leisure that was his.
_The Poor They had with Them_
There were two persons in the village who were without kith or kin. Nor were they related to each other. They were poor and they were old and sick. Israel used a little of his spare time in visiting these people--an unpaid job--and he got nurses and doctors for them when such were needed. He got the best doctors and nurses in town, the only doctors and nurses, apparently. These poor old people were dependent upon their neighbors for at least partial support. Israel used to receive during store hours over the counter notes such as this:
“Swansa. August 29, 1827. Mr. Brayton
Sir: Please to let Diadema Boiston have fifty cents in goods this week, and as much more next week; and charge it to the Town and you will oblige your friend
John Earle.”
(Diadema Boiston was probably one of the Acadians allotted to Swansea some years earlier.)
This was business for Israel; pretty small business you think; but honestly conducted a very safe and sane way of administering “Poor Relief”. Occasionally Diadema Boiston did some housework, for which she was properly paid. It was Israel’s housework.
_To Aid the Veterans_
Israel saw that the crippled veterans of the last two wars got their government pensions, he saw that the doctors made examinations and sent in reports.
“We, the subscribers, practising physicians of the Town of Swanzey, County of Bristol, State of Mass., do hereby certify that after a careful examination in the case of Henry Lawton who is now on the pension roll of the State of Mass., we are of the opinion that his disability does still continue. Occasioned by canister shot passing through his left hip also by a musket ball through his right thigh, and further that the degree of disability under which he labours at present is one third, being not less than the original degree of disability for which he was placed on the roll”.
The authorities sent the following letters:
“Mr. I. Brayton. Dear Sir:
We are under the necessity of returning the power of attourney you favored us with. Under a new regulation from the War Dept. all old forms are laid aside and new substituted. We now enclose you those blanks by which you will see how they are now to be made.”
Four days later, he received another letter: “We are sorry to find that we sent you the wrong blanks--a new form is now indispensible.”
The barrel has held through the years a Surgeon’s Certificate never filled out.
_The School Committee_
Israel’s special service to the community was as a member of the School Board. He conducted the correspondence with the school teachers. There was no clerk, no paid assistance. Israel wrote the letters for the veterans and for the school committee with his own hand.
Israel attended the many meetings of the school committee, and took time to get a very accurate picture of the schooling he and his neighbors were providing for their children. Teachers did not stay long in Swansea or Somerset, but I fancy they did not stay long in any country town. For they were mostly men and women who were teaching to get a little money to start in on something else. All the letters in the barrel show that they could write a good hand and express themselves coherently. A sample letter will be enough. Though Israel had to read them all.
“The subscriber makes a tender of his services to the inhabitants of the second school district in Swansea as a teacher for the term of three months to commence on Monday the 3rd inst. And he assures those who may think proper to intrust their children to his care, that if the most strenous exertions on his part can prevent it, their confidences shall not be misplaced. Hoping by assiduous application and unremitting attention to ensure the patronage and meet the approbation of his employers--
Jos D. Nichols”
“In consideration of which, we, the subscribers, agree to furnish wood for the school, board the said Nichols in our respective families, and pay him the sum of fourteen dollars per month which shall be apportioned according to the number of scholars set against each of our names respectively.
Israel Brayton--3 Gardner Anthony--1-1/2 Betsey Bowers--1-1/2 John Mason--3”
Captain Charles Pratt taught for a much longer period than was usual.
“We have obtained satisfactory evidence of the good moral character of Captain Charles Pratt, also of his literary qualifications and capacity for the Government of an English School.” That was how the committee appointed to look into a teacher’s application felt about qualifications. Israel was on the committee.
I must not leave out the lady teacher, the barrel has record of only one. Her name was Miss Sophia Stebbins.
“Whereas it is contemplated that Miss Sophia Stebbins will commence a school, in this district, to be continued for 4 or 5 months, at the rate of one dollar 33 cents per week, and that for the use of the school house she pay 50 cents per month, to be appropriated to the keeping of the same in repair; we the subscribers agree to pay our proportion of the expenses of such school, and to furnish our proportion of boarding for the instructress, according to the number of scholars set against our respective names.
Israel Brayton--3 Perry Bowers--1-1/2 John Mason--2-1/2 John Winslow--1-1/2 Stephen Brayton--1 Lloyd Slade--1-1/2”
etc etc.
Israel really did good work on the School Board in his leisure time and it is only to be expected that in his business hours he sold School Books over the counter.
The books were: Alden’s Spelling Book ” Reader Morse’s Geography Murray’s Grammar
He carried slate pencils and slates and exercise books. And Song Books.
_Church Activities_
Israel was--not unduly--interested in the church in which he and his family owned pews.
The Church choir was not a paid choir nor was it a good one. Some people thought it should be trained. Israel headed a committee to get a good singing teacher down from Taunton. Mr. Sproat, a Taunton lawyer, was consulted. He seems to have been a personal friend of Israel’s. And some of his letters are in the barrel. Arrangements were made. Letters passed.
“April 2. Taunton
Travelling is so bad--the date of the meeting must be postponed.”
“Mr. Sproat was married Sunday Evening”. (A hint of the marriage customs of the time.)
It was understood that the Singing School was to be kept “in Swanzey Village the ensuing winter, by Mr. Jonathan G. Colburn, for the benefit of the Baptist and Methodist Societies in the Towns of Swansea and Somerset.”
They got the singing school and Israel sold a good many song books. But he found getting the subscribers to pay for the school, difficult. The village men argued that since they really had no musical ability, they should not have to pay for instruction they could not “themselves use”. But the committee argued “the burden of expense should not fall altogether on the shoulders of those who are favored with voices to sing.”
The barrel holds another letter showing Israel’s relation to the church which he attended and served in many ways. Hezekiah Anthony wrote him from Providence:
“December 23, 1824. Mr. Israel Brayton. Sir:
I am requested to inform the People with you that Lorenzo Dow intends to spend next Sabbath at the Methodist Meeting House in Somerset. He expects to be at Warren on Saturday night. On Sunday morning to go to Somerset to preach, as I suppose, all day. Please to give notice accordingly.
Your friend H. Anthony.”