Chapter III: Part 3

David was apparently not interested in straw bonnets. But his sister made them for Israel.

In 1828, Israel received a letter written in Troy, (Fall River), by John S. Cotton. He is the man who took a deck load of cows to Savannah from Somerset in 1821. He writes:

“I have received some money for a judgment against the man who sold
your bonnets--viz--from N. Carolina. N.B. This is all the money I
have yet received from N. Carolina.”

The bonnet story, complicated and peculiar, goes on and on.

How long Nehemiah Jones traded in Straw Braid, how long the farm women made bonnets, I do not know. The Bonnet trade continued to be a minor but specific part of Israel’s trading, as long as he did any trading at all.

When a child, back in the nineteenth century, I remember there was a milliner in Somerset who sold bonnets made of braided straw of a natural straw color. I went with my mother when she bought one--trimmed with the most lovely deep brown velvet ribbon--spotted with white.

I have it still. It ties under the chin.

TRADING WITH THE ORIENT

One day William Bowers decided to take the goods of Brayton and Bowers still farther afield. He did not enjoy travelling. He did not like strange countries. But trade was a little dull at home. He and Israel decided to take the risk and get together a cargo which would neither make nor break them, and might build up their regular business considerably.

The Columbian Sentinel of Jan. 2, 1819, which Israel carried in his store, had printed the following advertisement:

“The subscriber, being about to embark for Canton, China, via Gibralter, where he will reside for a considerable time, offers his services to the public for the transaction of the usual business of the place.”

References were given. But Brayton and Bowers did not need references. They knew all about Philip Ammidon, the subscriber. He was a village boy. And when William Bowers decided to go to Canton, the fact that Ammidon had been living in Canton for some time, may have been of some influence.

I do not know just when Bowers left Somerset for Canton. It was perhaps in 1825; it took a long time to sail from Somerset to Canton. The following letter from Bowers arrived in Scrabbletown:

“Canton. March 25, 1826
Mr I. Brayton
My dear Sir.

From the many good wishes which have been manifested toward me as
well as my family from you, I feel myself under many obligations
to you and can, while in my hours of meditation, think of you and
your respectful family, and do feel myself well assured that this
short epistle will be cordially received from your well-wisher and
fellow-traveller in life; although I have nothing very interesting
to communicate at the present moment but presume it will serve to
pass a dull moment to peruse it.

I left Lima, Nov. 11, and bent my course to the West and on the
19th of December arrived at the Sandwich Islands where I disposed
of some merchandise and, after repacking, set sail on the 25th
following, and bent my course towards Manilla, the Capital of all
the Spanish Settlements in the East.

When I arrived on the 16th of February was somewhat disappointed in
my expectations in getting a cargo. However, loaded my ship, and
set sail on the 1st day of March and arrived at this place on the
12th inst. and have been much diverted on looking at the multitude
of people and the manner of living, such as if I should undertake
to give you description would require a small volume; therefore we
will let it suffice in saying they are so thick they are obliged
to live upon the water in floating boats or houses ... the most of
wearing apparel is cheap, such as crape, silk, satin, nankin, etc.
Teas are rather high. Such as suit the American market. But very
large quantities will be in the U. States soon after this comes
to hand.... When I shall be with you the Lord only knows for I
am certain I do not--you may show this to my wife if she behaves
pretty well, and be cautious how you trust her with good account
at your store, for unless I have better luck than what I have had,
I am shure you will get disappointed in having a settlement on my
return, or rather, get your money.

Remember me to her, however bad she may appear to be, as well as to
your wife and honoured parents, and hope the Good Lord will permit
us all to meet again. Tell her to be cautious of those Brawling
Characters (he must mean the Gypsies of Hot and Cold Lane) that get
adrift in that neighborhood about this time of year or a little
before, for I wish I could have them on my passage down the Pacific
when the wind blows from the North ... nothing more at present

So I bid you adieu
and to bed go and remain
Your well wisher and friend
W. Bowers.”

In September, 1828, Bowers and Brayton were selling Canton Crape over the counter in Somerset. And China Tea.

TRADING WITH THE
BRISTOL COTTON MANUFACTURING COMPANY
AND THE
MOUNT HOPE MANUFACTURING COMPANY

Brayton and Bowers had branched out still farther in that busy year of 1819. They started to trade with the Bristol Cotton Manufacturing Company. This Company had a small yarn mill in Wellington--the village is now called North Dighton. Most of the stock belonged to James deWolf of Bristol.

In December, 1820, Israel returned a consignment of yarn to the Factory, which had been woven into “stripes” and “plaids”. His weavers were given more of this Bristol yarn in January and this they also wove. And more. But the factory was not doing well. The following letter seems to me interesting.

“Wellington. 12 of 11th month. 1821
Friend Israel Brayton

I was so much ingaged that I could not wright by Stephen that
I wish thee to come up here next second day which is the 15th
instant, as that is our co-meeting and I want to see thee about the
weaving. We are now collecting over 100 lbs a day and if we can
dry the yarn we can make out over 30 webs per week and I want them
wove as fast as we make them, and I wish thou would not fail to
come here next Second Day as early as possible and take a load and
have some talk on our factory business as I never nowe what plans
Williams and some others have afoot.

Please to attend and oblige thy friend

Nathaniel Wheeler.”

Shortly afterwards: “Please to come up and take a load of pieces the day after tomorrow. Come thyself and I will be at home. I have some important business with Thee. Fail not to attend and oblige

Thy Friend
Nathaniel Wheeler.”

The important business about which they were so annoyingly secret was the merger of the Bristol Cotton Manufacturing Company and the newly formed and struggling Mount Hope Manufacturing Company.

The barrel has several weave books of these companies and Israel did a big business with them. Although the following letter would not lead you to think so.

“Wellington. 9 of the 2 Mo. 1821

Friend Israel Brayton

I have this day sent back 2 pieces and have kept several that I
ought to of sent back; but I am willing to due all that can be
thought is in Reason. I cannot take any more so bad as I have
received. In overhauling all the cloth we have received from thee,
I find it to come far short for goodness to what we git wove at the
Dighton Manufact. Co., and I must now be plain, and shall put some
to another and see if we cannot git some better cloth. (The Dighton
Manufacturing Company must have started weaving in 1821) I shall be
still willing to continue our contract but must have good cloth. I
have sent an order on James deWolf for one hundred dollars and I
have not much on hand.

In haste thy friend
Nath. Wheeler
For the Mount Hope Manufacturing Company.”

In the next letter received by Israel, C. R. Vickery turns up as clerk.

“Respected Friend

Israel Brayton. We are very much in want of plaids and we wish thee
to get all thou canst and fetch it up to us tomorrow. So we can
send it to Boston the day after. Call at E. A. Hathaway’s and get
what he has on hand. By doing as above requested thou wilt confer
an additional favor on the Mount Hope Manufacturing Company.”

You see, although the weavers wove badly at times, it was as I said earlier, impossible to be too strict. This is one of the few proofs that any factory sent back any. (Though they all complained.) For they all needed all they could get--at once.

The Mount Hope Management did as the other yarn factories did, it wrote little notes to Israel, authorizing credit.

“Mr. Israel Brayton. Sir. Please to let Misses Kingsley have what
cloth she wants and send a bill of it and send back the other order
and we’ll give you one for the full amount.

B. Anthony” “For the Mount Hope Company.”

Still--this letter came--

“We have not any yarn for webbs now and dont think it is probable
that we shall have any very soon.

Yours
for Mount Hope Manufacturing Co.
per Perry Anthony.”

That did look bad. But hear this one.

“Respected friend, Israel Brayton

We have not any webs for thee today, we shall have some by Fifth
Day but not so many as we shall have by Seventh Day, when I think
thou canst have a tolerable load.

For Mount Hope Comp.
William Marvel 2nd”

There are 264 papers in the barrel showing the costs of this yarn, etc. and there are several weave books. The weavers are the same weavers who wove the yarn for the other yarn mills.

TRADING WITH THE WARWICK COTTON MANUFACTURING COMPANY

In 1820, the partners added another venture. They made connections with the Warwick Cotton Manufacturing Company. This was a yarn mill, situated of course in Warwick, and equally of course managed by a man named Greene.

The Warwick yarn was handled as the other yarn had been handled. There was a written contract. And lucky for Brayton and Bowers that there was. For in 1821, the partners cut their losses and stopped trading with the Warwick Cotton Mill. They received a letter from the Manager.

“I am somewhat disappointed in your discontinuing the bargain so soon” wrote Mr. Greene to Mr. Brayton. “However, you had the priveledge of quitting when you thought proper.”

An unusually large part of the Warwick yarn went into the homes of the weavers of Troy. This can be seen in the Warwick Yarn Book.

From Pawtucket, in October, 1821, Brayton and Bowers received a letter offering more yarn to weave. The letter was signed by J. H. Gridley. I do not know what Corporation Mr. Gridley represented.

----“Wish you to write by the first mail, as we have written to others who no doubt will do it for us----but we should prefer your having it. We shall have a great deal of yarn to put out for a year--”

I insert this bit of apparent futility that you may see that Israel was “approached” by even more business concerns than he could trade with. He certainly branched out. But not, I think, into Pawtucket. There is nothing more about Mr. Gridley in the barrel.

TRADING WITH THE DIGHTON MANUFACTURING COMPANY

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.