USA > Massachusetts > Worcester County > Historical collections: containing I. The Reformation in France; the rise, progress and destruction of the Huguenot Church. Vol I > Part 38
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This deed is dated the "11th of December, 1812;" and wit- nessed by Samuel A. Hitchcock and Loring Tiffany, who were then acting in the capacity of clerks for Slater & Tiffany ; the title by which these parties were known for several years after these purchases were made, and under this name they at once proceeded to occupy this power for the purpose of the cotton manufacture.
The cotton factory, known as the "Green Mill," was erected during the year 1812, and the manufacture of cotton into yarn was first began here in the following year, 1813. It appears that the dye and bleaching buildings were built at the same time, and placed under the care of Mr. John Tyson, a man skilled in that line of work ; and who, it appears, held a joint interest in the business.
The buildings for the dye-house were in a state of forward- ness early in 1813, as appears by a letter from Mr. Tif- fany to Mr. Slater, dated at Oxford, the 26th of January of that year, in which he advises Mr. Slater, then at Pawtucket, to bring up Mr. Tyson, as they were ready for him to arrange
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the dye-works, as the machinery was about ready to start. By other letters it appears that Mr. Tyson was here engaged in the dye-works early in March ; thus it is reasonable to suppose that he came to this place in February, 1813. The yarns from the old mill at Pawtucket were sent here to be dyed by Tyson, as well as the yarns spun in the new mill here.
Mr. Tyson continued connected with the dye-house business from seven to eight years, and proved himself a very capable and industrious man, but by hard labor and exposure in the dampness connected with his labors, he injured his health, and after one or more voyages to Bermuda for relief, he died of consumption the 2d of August, 1821. It further appears by a letter from A. W. Porter, then engaged in Mr. Slater's business here, dated "September 9, 1821," that an account of stock was taken to ascertain Mr. Tyson's interest, in which he says : "We took the account of stock in dye-house yesterday, the 8th, and shall commence again work there on your account to-morrow, the 10th, that is, of September, 1821."
Mr. John Tyson was a worthy man, and had by his industry, it is understood, accumulated an estate of about twenty thou- sand dollars.
In returning to the operations of Messrs. Slater & Tiffany, it may be said, that besides the management of the cotton manufacture and dyeing and bleaching business, a store was added, and that further purchases of real estate continued, as follows :
January 5, 1814, from Stephen Holmes and Alanson Bates, 53 acres ; paid $1,100. Recorded, b. 189, p. 276.
February 17, 1814, from Sylvanus Pratt, 3 acres, 36 rods ; paid $36. Recorded, b. 189, p. 381.
July 24, 1814, from Jonathan Day and John Bates, 15} acres, 9 rods ; paid $280. Recorded, b. 193, p. 226.
March 15, 1815, from Ebenezer Foster, half of 15 acres ; paid $100. Re- corded, b. 199, p. 423.
Bela Tiffany sells to Samuel Slater his interest in all the
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above lands and buildings, and the business which Slater and Tiffany had organized and conducted at this place, including his interest with Samuel Slater and John Tyson in the Oxford dye-house company ; the price paid by Mr. Slater was $8,400. Date of deed " November, 27, 1816;" recorded, book 203, page 188.
It is understood that the cause which induced Mr. Tiffany to leave this business with Mr. Slater was the great depres- sion in the cotton manufacture which followed the close of the war between Great Britain and the United States, December, 1814, consequent upon the large importation of English manu- factures. There was no disagreement ; but, on the whole, Mr. Slater was pleased with the active management of Mr. Tiffany in the inauguration of this business.
Mr. Slater, as sole owner, now continued this cotton man- ufacture. But it appears that besides this business as con- ducted by Slater and Tiffany, and the dye-house in connection with John Tyson, as has been shown by the foregoing, he be- gan the woolen manufacture here as early as about 1814. At this time was commenced the making of broad-cloths, under the charge of that remarkable person, Edward Howard, who was a Yorkshire man; and in accordance with Mr. Slater's well-known kindness to his native countrymen, by the applica- tion of Mr. Howard, who had been trained to the manufacture of wool, he was induced to give him employment in this line. Thus it may be said that Edward Howard was the originator of the wool business in this place, and it is believed was among the first-if not exclusively so-to introduce the manufacture of American broad-cloth. More will be said on the subject of the wool manufacture in this town in another place. Like most Englishmen, it seems to have been the penchant of Mr. Slater to accumulate land, and thus we find a continuation of purchases, as follows :
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October 2, 1817, from Samuel Crane, 30 acres and 140 rods ; paid $300. Recorded, b. 208, p. 420.
November 15, 1817, from Rufus More, half of 26 acres and 140 rods ; paid $313.50. Recorded, b. 208, p. 464.
September 20, 1817, from Jonathan Harris, 16 acres, paid $104. Recorded, b. 210, p. 22.
January 26, 1818, from Thomas Keith, 14 acres and 12 rods; paid $200. Recorded, b. 210, p. 261.
March 15, 1818, from John Rodman, 50 acres ; paid $400. Recorded, b. 210, p. 265.
June 12, 1819, from Jedediah Corbin, 38} acres, paid $385. Recorded, b. 214, p. 582.
November 1, 1819, from Philip and Warren Brown, flowage; paid $175. Recorded, b. 219, p. 105.
July 2, 1819, from John Bates and J. Bates, Jr., flowage ; paid $425. Recorded, b. 219, p. 107.
July 17, 1819, from John Rawson, flowage; paid $30. Recorded, b. 218, p. 206.
November 9, 1819, from Philip and Warren Brown, flowage; paid $140. Recorded, b. 219, p. 106.
April 1, 1820, from Colvin Phipps, 13 acres and 4 rods ; paid $286.55. Recorded, b. 221, p. 106.
August 16, 1820, from Rufus Learned, 19 acres and 97 rods; paid 178. Recorded, b. 222, p. 105.
May 7, 1821, from Doctor Rawson, 130 acres and 14 rods; paid $550. Recorded, b. 225, p. 381.
August 2, 1821, from John Jocelin, flowage; paid $50. Recorded, b. 223, p. 572.
Hitherto Mr. Slater's business here had been confined to the water-power connected with the Chabanakongkomun pond, at the east village, but this year, 1821, he made use of Edward Howard to make a location upon the French river, now known as the south village.
July 18, 1821, Edward Howard bought of William Wakefield and Gibbs Dodge, executors of Solomon Wakefield, certain land; deed recorded, b. 223, p. 569. Another tract of William Wakefield, deed, February 25, 1822; recorded, b. 229, p. 12. And a third tract from David Wakefield, by deed, August 13, 1821; recorded, b. 226, p. 70. And a fourth tract, the Nathaniel Hall wood lot, bought of Daniel Mansfield, thirty-two acres, by deed, July 6, 1822.
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This embraced several mills and buildings where the woolen works are now located, at a cost of about $12,000.
December 8, 1822, Mr. Howard sells one undivided half of all these purchases to Samuel Slater for $6,000; and, on the 10th of December following, mortgages the other half to Mr. Slater for $6,000; the first deed is recorded, b. 231, p. 100, and the mortgage recorded, b 231, p. 101, thus showing that in fact the whole operation was the project of Samuel Slater. The old woolen works were destroyed by fire at the east vil- lage, in January, 1822, but before this the new mills had been begun at the French river. Business was now conducted here in the name of Slater & Howard.
Slater & Howard now purchased the following property :
December 6, 1822, from Jeremiah Austin, 105 acres; paid $701. Recorded, b. 231, p. 103.
February 13, 1823, from Hollis Witt, 30 acres ; paid $345. Recorded, b. 234, p. 46.
April 19, 1823, from Thomas Twiss, mortgage ; paid $265. Recorded, b. 234, p. 45.
May 12, 1823, from Charles P. Nichols, 11 acres; paid $500. Re- corded, b. 233, p. 205.
July 29, 1823, from William Robinson, Jr., and Solomon Robinson, 44} acres; paid $667.50. Recorded, b. 238, p. 276.
October 13, 1823, from Abijah Davis, 100 acres; paid $1,300. Re- corded, b. 236, p. 101.
January 4, 1824, from John Wetherell, 10 acres; paid $200. Re- corded, b. 237, p. 476.
June 5, 1824, from William Brown, 50 acres; paid $500. Recorded, b. 237, p. 477.
May 13, 1824, from Joel Wakefield, 50 acres, 133 rods; paid $457.48. Recorded, b. 239, p. 398.
June 2, 1824, from William Wakefield, flowage; paid $225. Recorded, b. 239, p. 401.
June 16, 1824, from Silas Walker and Jason Walker, 26 acres, 50 rods ; paid $130. Recorded, b. 239, p. 399.
July 5, 1824, from William Wakefield, 40 rods ; paid $500. Recorded, b. 239, p. 401.
November 6, 1824, from Braman & Benedict, flowage; paid $500. Recorded, b. 241, p. 178.
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VILLAGE FACTORY SALE.
November 6, 1824, from Dana A. Braman, William M. Benedict, and Jason Waters, to Slater & Howard, the village factory estate, 154 acres, 25 rods: paid $7,500. Recorded, b. 241, p. 180.
Together with the village factory, dwelling-houses, and all other buildings thereon, and the water privilege belonging thereto, to the Village Cotton, Woolen and Linen Manufac- turing Company ; reference being had to the deed of Samuel Waters and others to above Village Factory Company,* for deeds for right of flowage from sundry parties, covering 329 acres, for which was paid $1,749.
June 14, 1825, from Abijah Davis, 33 acres; paid $500. Recorded, b. 244, p. 318.
November 30, 1826, from John Tolman, 192 acres; paid $600. Re- corded, b. 251, p. 476. Located in Douglas and Oxford, South Gore.
1826, from sundry parties, 692 acres; paid $1,169.50. Recorded, b. 251, pp. 598-602. Right of dower of widow of James Hill.
August 18, 1826, from Luther Bartlet, 245 rods, three lots ; paid $1, 800. Recorded, b. 253, p. 105. Including water-power and buildings.
April 2, 1827, from John Bates, 30 acres, near pond ; paid $105. Re- corded, b. 255, p. 444.
April 3, 1827, from Ebenezer Emerson, 122 acres; paid $1,000. Re- corded, b. 255, p. 445.
April 4, 1827, from Reuben Tuft, 109 rods, and house; paid $423. Recorded, b. 255, p. 446.
April 16,1827, from Nathan Cady, 32 acres; paid $640. Recorded, b. 256, p. 78.
May 1, 1827, from Stephen Bartlet and Luther Bartlet, 75 acres ; paid $6,000. Recorded, b. 254, p. 610.
This purchase included all the estate of Stephen Bartlet, deceased, father of the grantors, with the buildings thereon, the water-power and all other privileges connected therewith, say, twenty four acres on east side of French river, except Luther Bartlet's store; and including saw-mill, half black- smith shop, coal-house, grist-mill, and the Peter pond wood lot, the west side of said river, about twenty acres.
* See Records, b. 220, p, 430; also, b. 240, pp. 552 to 562.
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September 10, 1827, from Charles Negus, 21 acres; paid $640. Re- corded, b. 256, p. 79.
August 18, 1827, from William Braman, 50 acres; subject to mort- gage; paid $92. Recorded, b. 257, p. 311.
January 14, 1828, from Nathan Hall, 50 acres, south gore; paid $300. Recorded, b. 261, p. 363.
April 5, 1828, from Celia Campbell, 37 acres; paid $262.50. Recorded, b. 261, p. 192.
March 9, 1828, from William Archer, 50 acres; paid $880. Recorded, b. 259, p. 582.
A large part of the above conveyances, since July 18, 1821, were taken in the name of Samuel Slater and Edward How- ard ; the style of this firm being Slater & Howard.
Edward Howard sells to Samuel Slater, of Oxford; George B. Slater, and Horatio Nelson Slater, of Dudley ; January 2, 1829, consideration $30,000,* his one undivided half of the property of the Woolen Manufacturing Company ; and thus all these purchases, since December 11, 1812, to this date, have become the sole property of Samuel Slater & Sons (the present name of said firm), including all the water-power and manufacturing business, cotton and woolen, now in the town of Webster.
This includes all the water-power supplied by the French river, within the limits of Webster, and the pond before named. This mill property and the real estate connected with the same constitutes a large portion of the valuation of this town, and has also given value very largely to the real estate owned here by the other inhabitants.
The date of this purchase of the interest of Edward How- ard, in the year 1829, was probably the most embarrassing of any period in Mr. Slater's large business experience. . The years 1815 and 1816 were a severe period for the parties who were the pioneers in American manufactures, and resulted generally in the loss of the capital they had invested.
* See Records, b. 264, p. 597.
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That of 1829 was no less severe; but it fell upon a much larger number of persons, and affected a vastly greater capi- tal invested in that branch of business.
Previous to this year, Mr. Slater's business had rapidly pro- gressed, and with such financial skill, that his total indebted- ness was very limited-only to the extent of monthly pay- rolls, which his sales of manufactured fabrics always afforded ample means to discharge, while he had many thousands of dollars on loan secured by mortgages.
But through his kindness of heart he had suffered himself to become indorser for relatives and friends to the amount of about $300,000, when the extreme pressure in financial affairs at this time had produced the most depressing effect upon manufacturing property.
For these indorsements he had, as supposed, received ample security; but in times of great depression and strin- gency in monetary affairs the holders of money become easily frightened and lose confidence, not only in the responsibility of individuals, but in the money value of all real and personal property ; such was the case at this time.
His relatives, Abraham, Isaac, and David Wilkinson, hav- ing, with others who were indebted to him, suspended pay- ment, obliged him at once to provide for these indorsements, and at a time when his manufacturing property was regarded by many capitalists as nearly valueless.
In a letter to one of his consignees, the 7th of' January, 1829, he writes :
" It is rather a pinching time here for money ; though many borrow- ers of money say times are becoming more easy. Since the failure of Hurd (the woolen manufacturer of Lowell), money jobbers and anti- tariff folks have propounded almost every one who has seen or at least touched of late a cotton or woolen factory, that he must go down stream, and amongst them some whose chins are barely above water are (friendly) afraid that I have a very heavy load on my back, etc. It is true, I am on two neighbors' paper, but am partially secured, and hope in a day or
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two to be fully secured against any eventual loss, provided Mount Etna should not extend its lava much beyond the usual limits.
"Last week, my sons, George, John, and Nelson, bought out my old friend, Edward Howard, in the woolen business, which relieves my mind considerably. The business in future will be transacted by myself and sons ; and as it respects the Amoskeague and steam cotton manufactur- ing company, including the woolen factory and all my private concerns (which I consider very trivial), I think I can boldly say, after the whole company debts are paid (all of which I have to meet), there will be left from $800, 000 to 1,000,000 dollars, to all concerned. I hereby mention these circumstances to, in some measure, rebut any flying reports that- may reach your city (Philadelphia), and of course will not retard your acceptance of my paper so long as you have my funds in your hands to make you perfectly secure.
"SAMUEL SLATER."
Again, on the 3d of February, 1829, he writes :
" Samuel Slater & Sons have come to the determination to place that ignoble establishment in Dudley, called 'Slater & Howard's Woolen Factory,' in a state of respectability. Whether or not it was got up in iniquity, I can not say ; but I fear some things during the life of it are mysterious. It is the united wish of S. Slater & Sons to sink into oblivion the past inroads that have been made, one way or another, on that establishment. They are very anxious to place the business in fu- ture on a fair mutual ground, so as to save about six thousand dollars a year for extra stock, raising the wind, bad debts, and too liberal com- missions.
" SAMUEL SLATER."
To show further the condition of the manufacturing business at this time, and the effect upon Mr. Slater, the following part of a letter written by him at North Providence, August 3, 1829, is here given :
"In regard to my indorsements for David Wilkinson, they are heavy, without doubt, but I am secured for the whole eventually.
"The steam-mill at Providence is in debt to a large amount, but, as $70,000 have been paid in, and as the whole establishment is holden for her debts, I conceive, taking all things into view, that the deprecia- tion will not exceed the amount paid in. As I have to look up entire new friends to aid me in my unexpected liabilities, it makes my task more arduous. There is coming due at different periods, at the Mer- chants' Bank, Providence, on David Wilkinson and J. Kennedy's
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account, about $62,000, which some of the directors say I can have my own time to pay. Brown & Ives, and Cyrus Butler, sent me word that they wished to have an interview with me; they say I must be carried through, and I doubt not they will do it.
" My brother (John Slater) is down here, and he and Mr. Sayles (Willard, of Boston, supposed), made out a sketch of my real and personal property, valued in their judgment, at what they consider it worth now, at $690,000, leaving out the Dudley woolen establishment. As respects your observations relative to your fears not being unreasonable, I make every allowance, after taking into view your informant, whom I for years have thought was a near-or, but now I have reason to believe the off-side is more congenial to his feelings.
" It is contemplated to make some arrangements to-morrow, so as to put my affairs in a proper train.
"When I see you face to face I will give you a history of human or inhuman generosity.
Two of my consignees have already offered to loan me $10,000 each, over and above the amount of invoices, whom I have not been acquainted with 'forty years.' The failures round here are pretty frequent-the names, no doubt, you have already heard ; I shall endeavor to advise you frequently of what is going on here.
" SAMUEL SLATER."
The experience of Mr. Slater, at this time, with regard to those who had, during his long career of signal prosperity, always manifested towards him strong marks of friendship, led him to suppose that, under adverse circumstances, there would be found in them a sure source of reliance for aid ; but when the trial came it exhibited a state of things in which his case is no particular exception, that friendship gained by pros- perity is not always disinterested or reliable in adversity.
His allusion to the near-ox, which now he had reason to believe the off-side, as more congenial to his feelings, had no doubt reference to his former partner and friend, William Almy, to whom he had applied for aid in this pressing but temporary emergency, that several recent failures of his friends had occasioned, and who gave unexpectedly an evasive reply that was equivalent to a refusal. This unexpected turn of his affairs, and conduct of several of his former friends, was for the time a severe trial.
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But all this did not shake Mr. Slater's confidence in his ulti- mate ability, without outside aid, to resuscitate his affairs, and save a large portion of his great estate. As a last resort, should no other parties afford him the temporary aid now required, he had determined to close for a time all his manu- facturing operations, until he could realize from the property held as security for his name, then in the market for about $300,000. This course, when known to the principal capital- ists of Rhode Island, caused much alarm for the safety of themselves, and many others in whom they were interested.
It did not require great foresight to see that a stoppage for a season of such extensive operations as those of Mr. Slater's would have a general disastrous effect in the community, and cause great depreciation of values. It was through this aspect of affairs that Messrs. Brown & Ives, Cyrus Butler, and others, provided the temporary aid that enabled him to forego the suspension, and to go on with his usual business, and gradually relieve himself from this embarrassment.
His credit soon came out untarnished, and, as is generally the result where persons are enabled to hold on and continue their business through a severe crisis in monetary affairs, their subsequent success is greater than the former, and such was no exception with Samuel Slater.
There would not be a complete history of this south village without giving some further sketch of the principal manager and founder of the woolen business here, EDWARD HOWARD. The business men of the woolen manufacture, of the period from 40 to 50 years since, were generally well acquainted with this person through all parts of New England, and his connection with Mr. Slater gave him a degree of consequen- tial notoriety, probably much beyond his real deserts.
He possessed considerable talent, and a general knowledge of the process of wool manufacture; but lacked much in econ- omy and system, while his habits were of a most dissolute
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character, which perhaps are more truthfully given by another in a letter to this writer, now before him, than by any de- scription that might otherwise be given.
The author of this letter had a continuous acquaintance . with Mr. Howard during the fifteen years he was engaged with Mr. Slater, and writes as follows :
" You have probably seen Edward Howard-a most extraordinary in- dividual. This big Yorkshireman, of good mental capacity, was a very giant in size, rotund, rosy, and jolly to a remarkable degree. · It is impos- sible for the ‘milksops ' of our degenerate age to conceive of the grand fashion in which Howard and his boon companions drank rum and sung songs, making these hills and valleys vocal with their huge carousals.
" With all his faults, which were not few, Howard had a soft heart, which brought the tear of pity to his eye at the recital of a tale of dis- tress. His miserable end will produce a feeling of sadness with those who knew him in his prosperity. He returned to Yorkshire, I am in- formed, a few years since, and after working a while for wages, at last died at an advanced age in a house of charity.
" Please pardon this long tale about one who, I suppose, may have been well known to you. Howard seems to belong to the history of this region."
It may be said appropriately here, that Bela Tiffany, John Tyson, and Edward Howard were the chief managers-the pioneers and moving spirits-that executed the plans of Mr. Slater in founding what is now the principal business of Webster, and that which furnishes its chief prosperity and growth as a town.
Mr. Tiffany, after retiring from the business here, entered upon the commission sale of American cotton and wool man- ufactures in Boston and New York, and made that a special business till about 1832, when he retired from active labors with a moderate competency, and located himself and family at Southbridge, where he maintained a favorable social position ; having been connected with the founding of the Southbridge bank, and many public improvements there, and representing that town in the Legislature. He died, June 29, 1851, aged 65,
33
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and his remains and those of his first wife, and Caroline, Mrs. Stow, his youngest daughter, were buried in the cemetery at Southbridge. Mrs. Tiffany died, April 16, 1839, aged 52, and the daughter Caroline died, November 13, 1859, aged 39.
It was during the severe monetary crisis of 1829 that Mr. Slater sold his third interest in the old Pawtucket mill, where the firm of Almy, Brown & Slater spun the first yarn on frames propelled by water, that was produced by this process in America.
He also sold at this time his one fourth part of the Smith- field Manufacturing Company's property, William Almy be- ing the purchaser of both estates.
But while selling these parts of mills he received the large steam cotton-mill in Providence, and other estates, by which, as the manufacturing business revived, his wealth became greatly advanced.
This return of prosperity brought him to the height of his renown as a manufacturer, and as a clear-sighted, thorough, and practical business man.
It may be affirmed that, while nearly all parties who were among the pioneers in establishing the manufacture of cotton and wool, in this country, were unsuccessful, Mr. Slater always provided fully for all his engagements.
He was among the first, if not the earliest, who engaged in the manufacture of broadcloths, and this at the east village in this town, under the charge of Mr. Howard, before referred to, in 1814, which business, with the exception of from 1852 to about 1862, has been continued up to the present time, while all other parties engaged in the manufacture of broadcloth have either failed or voluntarily discontinued that branch of the woolen manufacture.
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