Part 6

In 1822 the Dighton Manufacturing Company got its first charter. Israel Brayton was one of the stockholders; though it was a long time before he paid for his shares and I am not sure that he ever did. Perhaps the shares were tangled up with his agreement to serve as an outlet for the yarn.

James deWolf was a director, owning 36 shares. Frequently he went up to Wellington from Bristol to attend the directors’ meetings. Twice at least he called on Israel in Scrabbletown, on the way up. He never found Israel at home; at least, he couldn’t find him, and left notes, which got into the barrel. He was not pleased with Israel.

The stockholders’ meetings were at first held in the new home of Nathaniel Wheeler; Kezia’s uncle, you remember. He had sold out his blacksmith’s business and built a fine brick house in Wellington. It is still standing in the village, I am told. In 1827, he wrote as follows to Israel:

“Respected friend “Dighton 5 mo. 21st, 1827” Israel Brayton

I have for a long time calculated to call and make thee a visit, both on friendship and business, but things have turned out such that I have not been to call. I am now finding myself in want of 600 to 1000 barrels of menhaden fish for manure, and I want the principal part of them after haying. Should there be some time dull weather, I can take them any time after the middle of next month.

Now if thou can agree with one or two or more of the fishermen to deliver me the above quantity of good menhayden fish at the Landing where Peleg Gardner has formerly landed for me, and make me fair measure, I will take them, after the middle of next month at any time, and the above quantity, and pay thee cash when all are delivered; and the reason of my taking this course is that I have here-to-some made a bargain for 500 bbls. and perhaps got 150, or in that proportion, and I have thought that you will be more likely to obtain the quantity. I shall expect to pay twenty five cents per bbl., if you cannot git them for less; and I will pay any bill thou may present for thy trouble. Please write me by return of male the prospect. As I shall leave home the day after tomorrow for the State of Main to be absent 2 weeks. If thou cannot inform so soon as a week or ten days, do so that I may know on my return home, and oblige

Nath. Wheeler.”

We do not know too much about this Wellington-Dighton Factory. There are 70 notes in the barrel showing phases of the industry. But I could use more concrete information.

For one thing, the company sold stoves. Could they have been running a Company Store? Mr. Allerton, who bought one, was a clerk in the factory office and he took it to Newport and gave it to his mother-in-law who found it satisfactory. But stoves?

Also, how soon did they start weaving, in this Dighton Manufacturing Company’s Mill? The following letter seems significant.

“Dighton, July 25, 1828. Mr Israel Brayton

Sir. As you offered, when last here, to endeavor to procure us three good weavers by the name of Lewin, and as we are now and probably shall continue to be plagued for help of that description, you will benefit the company very much by engaging them on the best of terms you can--please let me know if you are likely to succeed or not in getting those above mentioned--should you not with them, perhaps you may with others.

very respectfully Your obt. Ser. Wm. M. Allerton”

And that is positively all I am going to tell you about the factories that traded with Israel Brayton and his partners.

THE TRADER GOES BACK TO THE FARM

When Israel Brayton’s father, John the farmer, died in 1829, the life of Israel, the Trader, went on as before. Captain Stephen Brayton, Israel’s brother, returned to the farm and took over. He had been engaged in a few ventures of his own, as we know from letters found in the barrel.

The widow, Israel’s mother, petitioned the court to appoint Israel administrator. In June, 1829, he made an account of his administration. And that was all.

Stephen found in the house of his inheritance his mother; an aunt; a sister, Content, the old maid of the family; (all households had them). These women were absolutely dependent upon him as they had been upon his father, and he thought it right that this should be so.

To him had descended not only the use of the house but the use of all its furnishings. And these furnishings were astonishingly good. It was the age of mahogany and fine cabinet makers. John Brayton, according to the inventory found in the barrel, had owned a mahogany desk, a mahogany card table, a mahogany round table, a pair of mahogany dining tables, 8 mahogany arm chairs, a mahogany light stand, and a chest.

From an earlier age of even better cabinet makers, there was a cherry Pembroke table, a maple table, a high chest of drawers, 8 dining chairs, a tall clock, 7 bedsteads, 8 leatherbottomed chairs, 12 flag bottomed chairs, a pair of ordinary looking glasses, a gilt framed looking glass, a floor carpet--who has better? There was a brass fireset, 8 feather beds and 24 pillows, coffee and tea sets, 12 tablecloths--and of course a “weaver loom” and “2 spinning wheeles”.

On the farm were 2 yoke of oxen, 13 steers, 2 horses, 31 sheep, 21 lambs, 4 swine, and 14 pigs--2 ox carts, 1 horse sleigh and bells, 1 horse wagon and harness, 1 cider mill and press. Under Stephen all remained on the farm, and life went on as before. That some of these articles were bought through Israel’s Scrabbletown Store, we know.

Stephen died suddenly in 1832. According to the custom of the country, Israel, the trader of Scrabbletown, closed down his trading posts, and went back to the Farm of his fathers as his brother Stephen had done. He took over the responsibility of running the farm and the family.

He was still a young man, just turned 40. His eldest child, Mary, was 18. There was Elizabeth and Nancy and John Summerfield, and David, and Israel Perry and William Bowers--all born in Scrabbletown--now moving down to the Homestead Farm by the Taunton River. And there were more children coming--Hezekiah, Sarah, Submit.

It was a young household, ambitious, with a fine house and money to spend. Israel’s mother was an old lady, of course, well content to sit in the chimney corner. But there was Aunt Content, Israel’s sister, Stephen’s widow and his children, and probably some others needing shelter at the moment; Mary Morrison, for instance.

The house was perhaps a little crowded--it must have been. Mary, the oldest of the children, seems to have thought so. She left. We hear of her teaching school in the village of Troy, now called Fall River, as I noted earlier.

Kezia, Israel’s wife, was mistress of the house and of all that was therein. Which included all that she and her husband had brought from Scrabbletown. There was indeed plenty.

Kezia was not, however, a good housekeeper. No, she was not. For in all her housecleaning she never cleaned out the barrel that Israel had brought over from his Scrabbletown store and put up in the attic.

To her negligence, we owe our chance to see at first hand how the traders of Scrabbletown lived in those days now all forgotten.

_Weavers who lived on the East Bank of the Taunton River_ (_on territory now called Fall River_)

Baker, Jonathan Barker, Hicks Barnaby, Lucy Bennett, Anna Bradford Grace Hannah Ruby Ruth Sweet Black, Mary Bliffins, Amelia Olive Pamela Royal Valentine Boomer, Crocker Hannah Sally Nathaniel Borden, Amos Stephen Bragg, Samuel Briggs, Josephine Welthy Burroughs, Isaac Olive Butts, David Sarah Brightman, Benjamin Edward Gardner George Henry James Lois Lydia Lucy Mary Nathan Pardon Challoner, Thomas Chace, Benjamin Hannah Harriet Hezekiah John Moses Palmer Stephen Clark, Henry Mary Ann Cleaveland, Abigail Bertha Henry Olive Cobb, Abiah Ann Maria Joseph Corey, William Cummings, Jail Davis, Howard Joseph Nancy Pa---- Downing, Frederick Joshua Durfee, Thomas Eaton, Apollos Elsbree, Aaron Nathaniel Omer Ely, Joseph Evans, Caleb David Josephus Leonard Thomas Freelove, Stephen Gifford, Benjamin Royal Goodwin, Nicholas Gregory, Thomas Harris, Abigail Julian Polly Harrison, Elisa Hathaway, Abigail Diadema Enoch George Gideon John Lydia Malbone Michael Olive Peleg Rosamund Russell Ruth Silas Hawkins, Lydia Horton, Benjamin Hunt, Benjamin Lawton, Francis Marble, Elizabeth Rebeccas Ruth Miller, Ebenezer Phoebe Robert Sophia Negus, Benjamin Knowles Sally Nichols, Hannah Pierce, Cynthia Job Raymond, Benjamin Read, Abigail Betsy Brayton Catherine George Hannah Joseph Lucy Martha Mary Ann Nancy Nathan Rosamund Ruby Ruth Sally Stephen Susan William (Captain) Ripley, Bradford Rogers, Lucy Sampson, Ebenezer Simmons, Nathan Tryphena Smith, Judas Snell, Abiah Amos Baylis Rebecca Susan Sowle, William Strange, William Terry, Job Tew, Sally Thurston, Amey B. Jonathan Tubbs, Rebecca Wardwell, Joshua Whitwell, Olive Winslow, Frederick Isaac John Luther Young, John

_Weavers living on the farms and in the villages west of the Taunton River_

Adams, Nathaniel of Swansea. (Wove badly) Allen, Permelia Allyn, Sybel Anthony, Ann Maria Gardner John Mary Brayton Sarah Baker, Joseph Nancy Barton, Nancy Bliffin, Mary, daughter of Royal Bliss, Hannah of Wellington Lucinda of Rehoboth Lucy Lydia Bosworth, Amos Gardner Hope Bourne, Anna of Somerset Betsy Francis Jonathan Stephen Bowers, Gertrude Sarah of Dighton Bowen, Betsy of Warren Hannah James Jonathan Jabez Lydia Martha Brayton, Daniel of Swansea Brown, Esther of Somerset John of Swansea Joseph Lydia Sarah Sharlot Buffinton, Betsy Benjamin Elisha Eunice Mason Bullock, Levi Bush, John W. Burr, Betsy of Rehoboth Butterworth, Caleb of Swansea Lydia Sarah Canedy, William B. Carey, David of Barrington Cartwell, Lydia of Swansea Cartwright, Margaret of Somerset Chace (Chase), Abner Bethany Deborah of Swansea Edward of Somerset Hope Lurana of Swansea Lydia Luther Martha Nabby Nehemiah Mary of Somerset Phebe Rebecca Reuben of Swansea Sarah of Somerset Samuel Stephen Wanton Kingsley, Anthony of Swansea Barton James Ladew, Curtis of Barrington Lee, Israel of Dighton Lewin, Nathaniel of Swansea Sarah Luther, Ann B. of Somerset Eliza Eunice James Nancy of Warren Patience of Somerset Rebecca Samuel Susannah Susan Theophile Upham Macomber, Nancy of Swansea Noah Mark, Lucy Martin, Abraham Elizabeth Sally Marvel, Elizabeth Joseph Lorna Patience Rebecca Ruth Mason, Mary Miller, Lydia of Warren Morrison, Clarissa of Swansea Mary Munroe, Bosworth Thomas Norton, Eliphalet of Rehoboth Palmer, David of Swansea Jonathan Pettis, Martha Patty Perry, David (negro) Phillips, Samuel Pike, Phoebe Ruth Pierce, Lewis Lydia of Rehoboth Sarah of Swansea Pitts, Alice Potter, Anna Purinton, Benjamin Eunice Read, Otis of Dighton Rice, Elizabeth of Swansea Richards, Patty of Dighton Rhounds, Betsy of Rehoboth Joshua Susannah Robinson, Patience (a widow) of Swansea Sherman, Atherton Loisa Robert Shorey, Almiry Shove, Abraham Lydia Nathaniel Sisson, Isaac Isaih Susannah Slade, Alexander of Somerset Almira Betsy P. of Swansea Elisha of Somerset Eliza Henry (Capt.) of Swansea Mial of Dighton Martin of Swansea Mary (negro) of Warren Phoebe of Somerset Polly of Swansea Prudence of Somerset Stephen of Swansea Waity, (d. Charles) William of Somerset Snell, Sally of Dighton Swazey, Polly of Somerset Talbot, Josiah C. of Swansea Targee, Ardelia Thrasher, Isaac Thompson, James of Somerset Trafton, Clarinda of Swansea Elias Valentine, Betsy Vennaman, Rebecca Walker, Nancy Waterman, Asa of Dighton Weaver, Nathaniel of Somerset Wheeler, Sally of Swansea White, Betsy Wilbur, James of Somerset John Wilcox, Job of Swansea Williams, John (negro) of Warren Wilson, Hezekiah of Swansea Rachel Winslow, Bethia Betsey Ebenezer George Rebecca Seth Whitmarsh, Clarissa of Dighton Fanny Wood, Hannah of Swansea Israel George of Dighton John Otis of Swansea Wright, Abigail of Dighton

_INDEX_ (_not necessarily including the weavers just listed_)

Albany, New York. Letters from Albany, 44-45, 47, 48.

Allerton, William, Clerk in Dighton Manufacturing Company, 60.

Alleyn, Sybel, Bonnet maker. Settlement of her Estate, 43.

Almanacks, 38.

Anthony, chiefly Hezekiah, 7, 14, 20-23, 28-35, 37, 42, 50, 57, 66.

Assonet, Massachusetts, 6, 11.

Banks, 17, 19, 32, 49.

Barrington, Rhode Island, 11, 66.

Barter System, Widely used, 11, 13-15, 41-42, 47.

Beard, Abner. Sold Soap in Swansea, 21.

Berkeley, Massachusetts, 6, 19.

Bliss Family, 32, 43, 66.

B. M. C. Durfee High School in Fall River, 7.

Bonnets and Bonnet Makers, 40-53.

Boston Wholesale Merchants, 13, 15-17.

Bowen Family, 30, 66.

Bowers Family, chiefly William, 15, 22, 25, 35-36, 39, 45-55, 66.

Brayton and Bowers, Traders, 19-22, 26-29, 40, 53-55, 60.

Brayton Family, chiefly Israel. References on nearly all pages.

Brayton and Mason. Traders, 9-15, 21-27.

Briggs Family, 20, 63.

Brightman Family, 31, 63.

Bristol Cotton Manufacturing Company, 55-58.

Bristol, Rhode Island, 6, 18, 56.

Brown Family, 8, 14, 43, 66.

Buffinton Family, 20, 66.

Butterworth Family, 27, 66.

Canton, China, 22. Letter written in Canton by William Bowers, 54-55.

Cartwright Family, 26, 66.

Carver, J. A. Bonnet presser, 42.

Chace (Chase) Family, 19, 21, 27, 41, 63, 66-67.

Charlestown, Carolina. Letters written in Charlestown, 26, 49, 53.

China. Listed in the invoices, 16.

Church Activities. Church Choirs, 36-38.

Cleaveland Family, 20, 63.

Coggshell Family, 20.

Colburn, Jonathan C., Singing Teacher from Taunton, 37.

Commission Sales, 50-51.

Company Store, 9, 11, 13-15, 19-24.

Corbett Family, 21.

Cotton, John, Trader, 52.

Cotton Spinning, 8, 10, 11, 23, 31, 61.

Cotton Shipped up from the South, 8, 29, 52-53.

Cotton Yarn Factories, 8-14, 23-32, 55-60.

Counterfeit Money, In general use, 17, 19.

Cows, Exported, 52.

Crackers and the Cracker Barrel, 19, 20.

Credit, 14, 17, 28, 32, 48, 57.

Currency in use, 14, 32.

Dancing Lessons, 10.

Darien, Georgia. Letter written in Darien in 1821, 52.

Debts and Debtors, 3, 21, 27, 29.

deWolf, James, 56-57, 59.

Dighton Manufacturing Company, 11, 57, 59-60.

Dighton, Massachusetts, 6, 13, 20, 59-60.

Disabled Veterans, 6, 34.

Dow, Lorenzo, Evangelist, 37-38.

Downing Family, 27, 64.

Dry Goods, Imported and Domestic, 13, 15-16, 50.

Durfee, M. C., Clerk for “Mr. Anthony’s Bank” in Troy, 32.

Earle Family, 14, 27, 34.

Earthquake in Charlestown, described by eyewitness, 26.

East Indies. Perry expected to sail for the East Indies, October 15, 23.

Eddy Family, 27.

Egypt, Massachusetts, 25-26, etc.

Fall River Factory and Iron Works, 18, 30-32.

Fall River, Massachusetts, 7, 29-33. See Troy and Freetown.

Fashion, 48, 50-51.

Fayetteville, North Carolina, 50.

Foxboro, Massachusetts, 7.

Freetown, Massachusetts, 11, 31.

Fuller Family, 20.

Funerals, 18, 43.

Garden Seeds, 21.

Gardner Family, 14, 21, 59.

Georgetown Bar, 49.

Georgia Cotton Manufacturing Company, 28-29.

Georgia, State of, 29.

Gibbs, Captain Benjamin and Captain Joseph, 49, 50.

Gingerbread in the Company Store, 20.

Glass, Imported, 16.

Goodyear, Amasa, of New Haven, 18.

Goosefeathers exported to Boston from Scrabbletown, 13.

Gray, Samuel, Ship Captain, 43.

Gypsies of Hot and Cold Lane, 55.

Handy Family, 14, 32.

Hathaway Family, 27, 42, 57, 64.

Hats, Felt, Palm leaf, Straw, 20-21, 40. See Bonnets.

Holman Family, 20.

Idioms and local traditions, 39-40, 51.

Inventory of Property, 1829, 61.

Johnson, Nathan P., sold Palm leaf hats, 21.

Jones, Nehemiah, of Raynham. Trader in Straw Braid, 41.

Kilby, Asa, of Somerset. Dealer in dried codfish, 20.

Kingsley Family, 57, 67.

Labor Difficulties, 24.

Lawton, Henry, War Veteran, 34.

Leather Goods sold on commission, 18.

Lewin Family, Good Weavers, 60, 67.

Lima, Peru. William Bowers was there in 1826, 54.

Literacy, 3-4, 38, 50.

Literature in Scrabbletown, 38-40.

Lotteries, 3, 8.

Lovell and Durfee, Fall River Business Firm, 32.

Lum, Isaac, Confectioner in Somerset, 20.

Luther Family, Chiefly Wheaton, 8, 10-11, 20, 24-27, 42, 67.

Lyman Cotton Manufacturing Company, 23-25, 43.

Mail Carriers, 38.

Manilla. Visited by William Bowers in 1824, 54.

Marion, Anthony, Captain of Schooner “Jane.” Lost at sea, 49.

Marvel Family, 58, 67.

Mason Family, Chiefly John Mason of Brayton and Mason, 9, 35-37, 67.

Menhaden Fish. Used for fertilizer, 59-60.

Militia, Local, 6.

Mills. See Yarn Mills and Paper Mills.

Mill Stock, 8.

Mitchell, William, Manager of Swansea Paper Manufacturing Co, 27-28.

Morrison Family, 62, 67.

Mount Hope Manufacturing Company, 55-58.

Music, 16, 36-37.

Nails, made in Troy, sold in Scrabbletown and Egypt, 18, 31.

Negus Family, 27, 64.

New Bedford, Massachusetts, 6, 18, 40.

New Haven, 18.

Newport, Rhode Island. Letter written in Newport, 1820, 45.

Newspapers, 38-39, 54.

New York, N. Y. William Bowers in New York, 47.

New York Commission Houses, 17, 43-45.

Nichols, Joseph D., School Teacher in Swansea, 35.

Paper Mill in Swansea, 27-28.

Pawtucket, Rhode Island, 43, 58.

Peckham, John, Bristol Manufacturer of Leather Goods, 18-19.

Pensions for Disabled Veterans, 5, 34.

Pettibone, Charles, sold powder and shot, 21.

Physicians, 34, 43.

Pierce, Captain David. Letters to friends in Egypt, Mass, 49-50, 53.

Pitchforks made in New Haven, 18.

Politics, 40.

Poor Relief, 33-34.

Potter Family, 4, 67.

Power Loom Cotton Cloth, 17.

Pratt, Captain Charles, School Teacher, 35.

Providence, Rhode Island, 4, 6-7, 22, 29.

Purinton Family, 27, 67-68.

Raynham, Massachusetts, 13, 40-41.

Read Family, 5-6, 27, 31, 64-65, 68.

Rehoboth, Massachusetts, 11, 43.

Sandwich Islands. William Bowers was there in 1826, 54.

Saunders, Daniel, baker of crackers, 20.

Sanderson Family, 21.

Savannah, Georgia, 49-53.

Schools and School Houses, 5, 7, 10, 26, 35-36.

School Books, 36.

School Committee, 7, 35, 36.

School Teachers and their letters, 7, 35, 36, 62.

Shad. Taunton River Shad exported, 44-45, 48.

Sherman Family, 20, 44, 68.

Ships, By name: Sloop “Henry” of Somerset, 44-49. Sloop “Reindeer” of Troy, Sloop “Rambler” of Troy, “Rosette” of Troy, 31. Schooner “Jane”, 49.

Shipboard Life, 46-48.

Shipyards and Shipping, 6-9, 23, 25, 31.

Shoemakers, 13, 19.

Shove Family, 43, 68.

Singing School, 36-37.

Slade Family, 14, 27, 36, 43, 68.

Slade’s Ferry Landing, 25, 31.

Smith, Allan and Daniel, Darien, Georgia, 52. Horatio, 20. Judas, 65.

Someset, Massachusetts, 5-6, 8, 11, 13, 20-22, 25, 30, 31, 35, 53, 66-68.

Spain, 13, 23.

Spanish Settlements, 26, 54.

Sproat, Mr. of Taunton. His marriage, 36, 37.

Stebbins, Sophia, School Teacher, 36.

Stock Certificates, 8, 59.

Store of Brayton and Bowers, Built and Stocked, 40-41, 51.

Store Books, 14.

Straw for paper, 27-28, 44. For Bonnets, 40-44, 48.

Swansea, Massachusetts, 3-4, 7-11, 14, 20, 27, 30, 34-37, 40.

Swansea Paper Manufacturing Company, 27-28, 32-33.

Swansea Union Cotton Manufacturing Company, 8-10, 14, 24.

Sweet Family, 14.

Talbot, Simeon, Hatter in Dighton, 20.

Taunton, 38, 43.

Taunton River, 3, 5, 49.

Threeshere, Isaac, 14, 68.

Tobacco. Segars, 21-22, 32.

Transportation by land and sea, 15, 17, 25, 31, 37-38, 43-45, 50, 53.

Troy, Massachusetts, alias Fall River, 7, 11, 25, 30-33, 53, 58, 62-65.

Troy, New York, 44-45, 48.

Vickery Family, 57.

Walker Family, 42, 68.

War Department Regulations, 34.

War of 1812, 6, 8.

War of the Revolution, 5.

Warren, Rhode Island, 5-6, 11, 21, 32, 37.

Warwick Manufacturing Company, 58.

Water Power for the Yarn Mills, A Necessity, 8, 29.

Weave Books, 10, 14, 23-25, 29-31, 56, 58.

Weavers’ Instructions and Tickets, 10, 12-13, 23.

Weaving in the factory and the home, 9-14, 23-25, 29-31, 56-57, 60-61.

Wellington, alias North Dighton, 55, 57, 59.

Whale Ships and Whale Oil, 9, 18.

Wheeler Family, 7-9, 28-30, 56-59, 68.

White Family, 21, 68.

Wholesale Merchants. See Boston, New York, New Haven, Providence.

Wilcox, Edward and Ruth, of Someset, 19, 49.

Wilkinson, Jemima, 40.

Wilmarth, Larned, and his baggage waggon, 18-19.

Williams, Jeremiah, Merchant in Warren, 21.

Winslow Family, 6, 36, 65-68.

Wood Family, 26, 68.

Wrightington, Stephen, Baker, 20.

Yankeys, 49, 53.

Yarn Mills, 8-14, 23-32, 55-60.

PRINTED BY WARD PRINTING COMPANY (HENRY C WILKINSON) NEWPORT RHODE ISLAND

=Transcriber’s Notes=

Perceived typographical errors have been silently corrected.