USA > Rhode Island > Bristol County > Bristol > Sketches of old Bristol > Part 33
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JEFF ADAMS
That the old New England, Yankee wit was still existent years ago in Bristol, was quite evident after hearing "Wash" Gorham tell about the old fellow who wanted to get a supply of rum to carry him over the week end (his regular Saturday night's supply).
In those days they sold rum at the grocery stores, out of a cask. This Saturday night Vickery's store (it was down on Thames street-most all the stores were down there in those days) was full of customers when Jeff Adams approached the old grocer. "Mister Vickery," he said, holding up his jug, "could
404
SKETCHES OF OLD BRISTOL
I git a gallon of rum for over Sunday?" "All right, Jeff, go right down in back there and draw it yourself, you know where it is- I got to wait on this customer. Be careful not to spill any," he admonished. So Jeff took his jug and went down in back of the store where the casks were standing and proceeded to draw him- self a gallon of the best spirits that the old grocer had in stock. When he had drawn what he thought was a fair-sized gallon he replaced the wooden stopper in the jug and returned to the front part of the store. He went up to the counter and said in the same meek tone, "Mr. Vicery, I ain't got the money to pay you to- night, but if you'd just as soon as trust me, I'll pay you sure next week." Then old Vickery remembered that Jeff still owed for the rum he had got the last time. The old man called Jeff's attention to it. "I ain't got no money tonight," Jeff repeated sadly. "If you can't pay me you'll have to pour it back," the old grocer said in a decided tone. So the disappointed Jeff made another trip to the rear of the dimly-lighted store and poured the gallon back. All the while the old man, watching him, was listening to his spirits gurgling back into the cask. When Jeff got outside his face was all of a grin. "Well," he chuckled, "I guess I got as much out of it as he did."
It seems that before he went into the store he had the Yankee foresight to stop at the pump and put a gallon or so of water in his jug.
"FESSOR B .- "
Here is a weird story about the old tomb in the D'Wolf fam- ily cemetery on Tanyard lane: Years ago there was a fellow in town they used to call "Fessor" B -. He was a good sort of a fellow and the boys all liked him. On their regular Sunday after- noon hikes they always took him along for he was good company and knew all about the country they traversed.
Coming back from one of these walks just at dusk, their path led through the old D'Wolf graveyard. Halting before the old tomb for a moment they started to recall the incident of years ago when it was blown open. "Fessor" did not say much but it was
405
SKETCHES OF OLD BRISTOL
plain to see that he was doing a heap of thinking. When they were on their way again one of the boys feeling in his pocket dis- covered an apple and calling to the others to wait a minute, ran back to the tomb, climbed to the top and stuck the apple on the iron pike surmounting it; after which he rejoined his comrades.
That night the gang was holding session in the back kitchen of the home of one of the boys. The weather had changed and turned to a heavy downpour. Going to the door one of them remarked that it was black as ink outside. It was then about ten o'clock. "Just such a night as this when Dickerson robbed the old Senator's tomb," he remembered, "it must have taken a lot of courage and nerve." This was the opinion of everybody in the room-except one-and that one was "Fessor", who was over in the corner half asleep. "Dead folks never yet hurt anybody," he mumbled. The upshot of it all was, that for a half-pint of rum, "Fessor" would start right then and there for the old ceme- tery and for proof bring back the apple left there that afternoon on top of the tomb. While he was gone they figured it all out; that it was about a twenty-five minutes walk down there and "Fessor" should be back in a little less than an hour-if his cour- age didn't fail him. Their figuring was about right; the kitchen clock on the mantel showed just fifty-five minutes when steps were heard splashing along the flooded walk. With a vicious kick at the door "Fessor" burst into the dingy kitchen, drenched to the skin. Without a word he pulled the apple out of his pocket and tossed it on the table. There it was, all pierced through. The only thing left was to get rid of his soaked clothes and for the chagrined boys to fulfill their part of the bargain.
Several weeks had elapsed; they were again walking down through the old cemetery. As was their habit, they stopped for a moment in front of the old tomb. Without comment they all studied the wizened windfall still clinging to the rusty iron pike on the top of the tomb-then they resumed their Sunday after- noon stroll.
406
SKETCHES OF OLD BRISTOL
HIX DOTY
Another narrative that has survived the days of the old inns and square-riggers, now long past, was told to me by a grand- uncle of mine who first saw the light of day in John Quincy Adams' time.
"It seems they were unloading one of the square-riggers that had just arrived that day from Havana. Sugar, molasses and huge casks of Jamaica rum made up most of her cargo. One par- ticular cask they rolled far up to the other end of the wharf- Long Wharf-and left it there, where it remained overnight. There was a fellow down there on the wharf that day, named Hix Doty, watching them unload the ship. Now everybody has his own curse and the curse of Hix Doty was rum; he spent most of his time hanging around the water front and any loose change he could pick up, he right off traded in for rum at the grog-shop at the head of the wharf. All day long Hix had his eye on that lone cask up there at the end of the wharf and when it got dark he went down there with a gimlet and tapped it. He filled his jug until it was overflowing and then went off some- where by himself and filled his old hide with Jamaica rum until it was overflowing.
The next day he was down on the wharf again-and so was the lone cask-right where it was the night before. Hix was figuring out in his mind to make another visit down on the wharf as soon as it got dark, when old Mr. Weeden, the cabinetmaker, drove up in his team and backed up to the wharf. Mr. Weeden was also the local undertaker of the town. He jumped out and asked Hix to give him a hand in loading the cask onto the wagon. As soon as they had loaded it on he got in and drove up Church street. Now, Hix was curious-you couldn't blame him-old man Weeden a pillar of the church-so Hix thought he would go up by the old man's shop and see what he was going to do with all that rum. By the time he got up there old man Weeden had it out in back of his shop knocking off the hoops, and the precious liquid was spurting all over the ground-to Hix's deep regret- all going to waste. There was something in that old cask, how-
407
SKETCHES OF OLD BRISTOL
ever, besides Jamaica rum, for when the old undertaker bent over and lifted out what to all appearances was a human body-Hix just closed his rum-soaked eyes and passed out.
It seems that one of the crew had died of yellow fever down there in Cuba and they were bringing the body home in the cask of rum.
Another yarn about Hix was the time he and old Charley Gayton, the local kalsominer and whitewasher of the town, were down in Doctor D-'s cellar, filling a lot of bottles with some of the best spirits that the doctor had in stock (they were for his patients). They were filling the bottles over a small washtub that belonged to Mrs. D-, so as to catch the overflow. They hadn't been down there very long before the fragrant aroma started a working on old Hix, and it was all Charley could do to keep him from sampling it right then and there-and also Mrs. D- kept coming down every little while to see how they were getting along-and she was dead set against anybody using strong drink, except for sickness. Finally Charley suggested that they wait until they had filled all the bottles and what was left over in the tub Hix could have.
So when they had finished Hix lifted the tub up (with Char- ley's help) and started to drink saucer-fashion-and just then Mrs. D-came down the cellar stairs and caught poor old Hix, his head stuck halfway in the tub, and the medicine running a stream all down the front of his vest-"he was a sight-and me aiding and abetting him," said Charley, "and that was the last time Hix and me was employed to fill medicine bottles for the doctor."
"THE HULL-CORN MAN"
Many of the readers will recall the hull-corn man who back in the nineties was a familiar figure about town at certain times of the year. They will remember him for two reasons-his hulled corn, which he peddled from house to house, was the most deli- cious of treats; served with cream and plenty of sugar, well just the thought of it makes one's mouth water. (I hated the stuff.)
408
SKETCHES OF OLD BRISTOL
Some folks used to serve it with molasses, which they claimed was a great improvement over the cream and sugar, and there were others who sprinkled a pinch of salt over it in place of the sweets. They will also remember him because he looked just like a "hull-corn man". Everything about him, his tall spare frame always adorned with a long linen duster, the old derby hat which was the vogue of those days, his sideburns, all of these will be remembered. And don't forget the large, shiny tin kettle full of luscious kernels, that he toted along.
When he had made his regular rounds and "struck bottom" as he used to say, then the fun would begin. He was so happy that he would take that kettle and start to swing it around and above his head just like a cowboy warms up his lariat before throwing it, and sometimes he would throw it-'way up the street. Other times he would roll the kettle cart-wheel fashion right up the middle of the road, every now and then giving it a vicious kick for good measure. He lived somewhere up in the northeast section of the town and on his way home sometimes he passed the Con- gregational meeting-house up on High street. You will recall there is a long stretch of fence all along the front. Well, one day it happened it was a poor one, he hadn't "struck bottom" and he was mad, real mad. I forgot to say that the fence is an iron affair -all adorned with beautiful pointed spikes of wrought iron-in fact it is a work of art. Well, when he got along there in front of the old meeting-house he grabbed the handle of his kettle with both hands and crashed it right down on those sharp spikes, not once but several times. When he finally got through the thing looked like a sieve.
Years ago they used to tell about a young seamstress in the vil- lage named Miss Bridget Walker. She was remembered as being very tall and thin and also as not being too expert in her line. If a dress did not fit very well, her alibi was "Pshaw, you're made crooked."
409
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SKETCHES OF OLD BRISTOL
Josiah Peckham, who years ago ran the livery stable on Jail Lane, used to tell a good story about old Nehemiah Carey. Nehemiah used to like to spend an evening, now and then, up- street with the boys, as he called 'em, and sometimes he would come home a little befuddled. One night when he got home the house was all lit up; he went into the sitting-room where his wife was busily sewing. "Ma," said he, "what yer got all the lights goin' for?" Then he leaned over the table and started blowin' 'em out-at the first puff the room was in total darkness.
Years ago when they used to sell rum in the grocery stores in town, there was an old fellow named Goodwin who kept a store on Hope street where Peter Bradford carried on his grocery busi- ness back in the eighties. "Wash" Gorham used to tell a story about old Goodwin. "Wash" would chant:
Half pint new, Two ounces yellow, Trust me now, Paid you 'fore, Won't you, Mister Goodwin!
It seems that one of "Mister" Goodwin's regular customers wanted to get a half pint of new rum and two ounces yellow snuff. He had paid for his previous purchases but this time he wanted to get trusted, so he took this original way of asking for credit.
A hundred or hundred and fifty years ago, people surely liked their rum; the old account books of those days show entries, every other thing, for rum, gin and wine.
Fred Burgess tells a story about old Marmaduke Mason that is rather interesting. Back in the nineties Fred used to keep a cigar and periodical store on Hope street just a few doors below Jed Young's apothecary shop. One morning he had just hung out in front of the shop copies of the morning papers and the Police Gazette which had just arrived when old Marmaduke
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SKETCHES OF OLD BRISTOL
came shuffling along on his way to the post office. The old man spotted the pink sheet with a picture of one of those raving beauties of the gay nineties, clad only in tights, right on the front page. He shook his cane first at the poor girl and then at poor Fred, all the while squeaking in his shrill, cracked voice, "Hell papers, hell papers, Burgess sells hell papers." Fred says that the old man kept that yelling up all the way down to the post office, "Burgess sells hell papers, Burgess sells hell papers." He also said that within fifteen minutes he was all sold out of the pink sheet.
CENSUS STATISTICS from 1748 to 1940
BRISTOL TOWN
Year
Population
Colored
Other Races 13 *
Gain Loss
1748
1,069
128
1755
1,080
+
II
I774
1,209
II4
16
+
119
1776
1,067
-
142
1782
1,032
76
2 *
-
35
1790
1,406
108
+
374
1800
1,678
II3
272
1810
2,693
177
1015
1820
3,197
213
+
504
1830
3,034
I71
-
163
1840
3,490
I71
+
456
1850
4,616
200
+ 1126
1860
5,271
234
+ 655
1865
4,649
145
622
1870
5,302
I35
+
653
1875
5,829
190
+
527
1880
6,028
+
199
1890
5,478
164
2
550
1900
6,901
129
9
+ 1423
1910
8,565
43
2
+ 1664
1920
11,375
41
4
+ 2810
1930
11,953
34
I
+ 578
1940
11,159
24
2
794
*Indians.
I73
+
4II
SKETCHES OF OLD BRISTOL
CENSUS of the COLONY of RHODE ISLAND Taken by order of the General Assembly, in the year 1774
HEADS OF FAMILIES, BRISTOL TOWN
Joseph Addie
Jeremiah Diman
John Ingraham, jr.
Sarah Allen
Jonathan Diman
Jeremiah Ingraham
John Barrows
Nathaniel Diman
Timothy Ingraham
James Bosworth
Joseph Diman
Joshua Ingraham
William Bradford
Charles D'Wolf
Robert Jolls
Daniel Bradford
Mark Anthony D'Wolf, jr.
Mehetabel Jolis
Priscilla Bradford
Richard Drown
Ebenezer Jolls
Benj. Bosworth, 3d
Solomon Drown
John Jolls
Benj. Bosworth
Jonathan Drown
Sarah Kinnicutt
William Bosworth
Isaac Eslich
Joseph Lynsey
William Bosworth, jr.
Mary Eslich
William Lynsey
Ebenezer Blake
Jeremiah Finney
William Lynsey, jr.
Simon Burr
Josiah Finney
Elizabeth Lynsey
Lenox Bullock
Nathaniel Fales
Sarah Lamb
Shearjashub Bourn
Timothy Fales
Daniel Lefavour
Shearjashub Bourn, jr.
Nathaniel Fales, jr.
Samuel Liscomb
John Burt
Jonathan Fales John Gladding
Bennet Munro, jr.
Nathaniel Church
Daniel Gladding
Nathan Munro
Unis Church
William Gladding
George Munro
Samuel Church
John Gladding, jr.
Mary Munro
Nathaniel Carey
John Glover
William Munro
Ichabod Cary
Thomas Greene
Hezekiah Munro
Elizabeth Cob
Andrew Gain
James Munro
Lemuel Clarke
Thomas Gray
Stephen Munro
John Coomer
Elizabeth Hough
Bennett Munro
Josiah Cushing
Benard Hill
William Munro, 2d
Thomas Champlin
William Harding
Charles Munro
Isaac Chase
Hannah Munro
William Coggeshall
William Holmes John Howland John Howland, jr.
Edward Munro
Sarah Coggeshall
Nathaniel Munro
Newby Coggeshall
Mary Harscall
Archibald Munro
George Coggeshall
John Hubbard
Nathan Munro, 2d
William Christopher
William Hoar
Simeon Munro
William Coxx, jr.
John Hogens
William Munro, 3d
James Diman'
John Ingraham
Seabury Manchester
412
William Lawless
Peter Church
SKETCHES OF OLD BRISTOL
Nathaniel Manchester
Joseph Read
Daniel Maxfield
Joseph Reynolds
John Usher, jr. Hezekiah Usher Allen Usher
John Mingo
Joseph Reynolds, jr.
William McCarty
Mercy Reynolds
Anthony Van Doorn
Margaret McCarty John May
Benj. Rosbottom
William West
Sion Martindale
Benj. Salsbery
Oliver West
Jonathan Munday
Caleb Salsbery
James West
John Morris
Levi Salsbery
Samuel West
James Newning
Bennet Salsbery
John West
Joseph Oldridge
Thomas Swan
Phebe Wardwell
Alletha Oldridge
Restcomb Sanford
Joseph Wardwell
John Oldridge
Joshua Sanford
Benj. Wardwell
John Oldridge, 2d
Nathaniel Smith
Isaac Wardwell
Samuel Oxx
Benj. Smith
Stephen Wardwell
George Oxx
John Smith
William Wilson
Nathaniel Pearse, jr.
Nathaniel Smith
John Wilson
Richard Pearse
Peter Smith
Jeremiah Wilson
William Pearse
James Smith
Thomas Wilson
George Pearse
Richard Smith
William White
Thomas Pearse
Josiah Smith Stephen Smith John Smith
Samuel Whitaker
Jonathan Peck
John Waldron
Loring Peck
Samuel Smith
John Waldron, 2d
Mary Paine
Billings Smith
Cornelius Waldron
John Pratt
Edward Salbey
Isaac Waldron
Hopestill Potter
Caleb Thurber
Nathaniel Waldron
Simeon Potter
William Throope
Phebe Waldron
Nathaniel Phillips
Esther Throope
Joyce Young
David Richardson
John Usher
197 heads of families
Whites
1079
Indians
16
Blacks
114
Total Population .
I209
Lydia Woodbury
Nathaniel Pearse
Joseph Russell
Patience Walker
413
SKETCHES OF OLD BRISTOL CENSUS OF BRISTOL TOWN A SUMMARY
Taken by the Rev. Henry Wight, January, 1785
Total number of Inhabitants
1195
Widowers and Bachelors, heads of families
IO
Distinct families .
218
Widows, heads of families
34
Persons above 60 years of age .
78
Children, living with their parents .
628
Children under 10 years of age
328
Domestics, hired or living in families
.
122
Slaves of both sexes .
73
Free Negroes, and other persons of color
25
.
Dwelling-Houses
I26
414
SKETCHES OF OLD BRISTOL
FIRST CENSUS of the UNITED STATES, 1790
THE First Census Act was passed at the second session of the First Congress, and was signed by President Washington on March 1, 1790. Under this law the marshals of the several judi- cial districts were required to ascertain the number of inhabitants within their respective districts, etc.
By the terms of the First Census law nine months were allowed in which to complete the enumeration. The census taking was supervised by the marshals of the seventeen judicial districts, who employed assistant marshals to act as enumerators. The as- sistant marshals made two copies of the returns; in accordance with the law one copy was posted in the immediate neighborhood for the information of the public, and the other was transmitted to the marshal in charge, to be forwarded to the President. For the most part the headings of the schedules were written in by hand. Indeed, up to and including 1820, the assistant marshals gen- erally used for the schedules such paper as they happened to have, ruling it, writing in the headings, and binding the sheets together themselves. In some cases merchants' account paper was used, and now and then the schedules were bound in wall paper.
The total population as returned in 1790 was 3,929,214, and the entire cost of the census was $44,377.
No attempt has been made to correct mistakes in spelling made by the deputy marshals. The names have been copied as they appear upon the original census sheets.
415
SKETCHES OF OLD BRISTOL
HEADS OF FAMILIES, BRISTOL TOWN
Hale, Amos
Peck, Samuel
Esleech, Isaac
Hale, Coomer
Greene, Joseph
Dimon, James
Burr, Rufus
Gardnier, William
Oxx, Prudence
Jolles, Sarah
Usher, Hezekiah
Usher, John
Vance, James
Bosworth, Samuel
Dimon, Timothy
Davis, Jessee
Wardwell, Phebe
Coggeshall, Sarah
Finney, Jeremiah
Wardwell, Allen
Walker, Nabby
Luther, Benjamin
Burr, Samuel
Smith, Samuel
Coggeshall, Nubey
Munroe, Nathan
Smith, Jemima
West, Lawrence
Hill, Jonathan
May, Elisha
Ball, Sarah
Grant, Richard
May, Sarah
Peck, Thomas
Throop, John
Howland, John, Junr
Peck, Nathaniel
Comas, John
Coggeshall, William
Peck, Jonathan
Comas, John, Junr
Peirce, Nathaniel
Comas, Thomas K.
Peirce, Thomas
Gosham, Isaac
Munroe, Edward ¥ Eslech, Isaac, Junr West, William Cox, William
Coy, Mary
Finney, Loring
Peirce, Nathaniel, Jun.
White, Allin
De Woolf, William
Peck, Nicholas
McCartey, Clarissa
Bailies, Gustavas
Cole, Ephraim
McQuim, Molly
Bosworth, Elizabeth
Reynolds, Joseph
Bourne, Aaron
Woodberry, Lydia DeWoolf, James Pain, Samuel Royal
Church, Peter
Usher, Edward
Martindale, Sarah
Bradford, Daniel
Munroe, Sarah
Russell, Jonathan
Peirce, Isaac (Negro)
Munroe, Abigail
Throop, William
Ingraham, Sarah
Wardwell, Stephen Wilson, Jeremiah Wilson, Thomas
De Woolf, Mark Anthony
Gladding, Samuel
Phillips, Nathaniel
Reynolds, George
Gladding, Daniel Bosworth, James
Wardwell, Samuel Wardwell, Isaac Lindsey, William
Reed, Joseph
Lollis, William
Swann, Thomas
Bullock, Simeon
Dimon, Thomas
Swann, Margarett
Reed, Benjamin
Norris, John
Wood, Joseph
Brown, James
Bosworth, Benjamin Fales, Thomas Church, Thomas
Finney, Josiah Waldron, Sarah Martin, Hannah
Bosworth, William
Usher, Allen, Junr
Wardwell, Benjamin
Harden, William
Richardson, Molly
Wardwell, Samuel, Jun.
Bourne, Ruth
Peirce, Thomas
Waldron, Newton
Manchester, Cebra
Holmes, Ruth
Parker, Williams
Church, Samuel
West, Thomas
Lindsey, Joseph
416
Towndsend, Samuel
Throop, Esther
Reynolds, Lydia
Dimon, Jonathan
Maxwell, David
Dimon, Jeremiah
Grimes, John
West, Lydia
Burt, Ann
Carey, Anna Peck, Loring
Usher, Allen
Gladding, Joshua
SKETCHES OF OLD BRISTOL
Dimon, Nathaniel Munroe, Charles Munroe, Nathaniel
White, Revd Henry DeWoolf, John Reynolds, Mary
Peirce, William Peirce, Lydia Peck, Jonathan, Jun.
Ingraham, George
Bradford, Honl William
Sanford, George
Nooning, Rebeckah Callimore, Peleg Ingraham, Simeon West, Nathaniel Ingraham, Joshua
Richmond, Aletheas
Gladding, Samuel
Bosworth, Benjamin
Wilson, William
Waldron, John
Gray, Thomas
Gray, Pardon
Munroe, William
Munroe, Hezekiah
Munroe, Elizabeth
Fales, Jonathan Munroe, Amerentia
Ingraham, Jeremiah
Coggeshal, William
Drowne, Jonathan
Ingraham, John
Coggeshall, James
Drowne, Richard
Gladding, John
Coggeshall, George
Drowne, Sollomon
Smith, Nathaniel J.
Coggeshall, Hannah
Edminster, James
Salsbery, Barnard
West, Nathaniel Hicks
Hoar, Benjamin Sanford, Royal Waldron, Betsey
Holdridge, Joseph Manchester, Nathaniel
Maxfield, Daniel
Willard, Hezekiah
Sanford, Wait
Howland, John
Cook, Elizabeth
Munroe, William Oxx, George Young, John
Reynolds, Jonathan
Gladding, William
Wardwell, Pattey
West, Oliver
Munroe, Archibald
Wardwell, Joseph
Cranston, Stephen
Waldron, Billings
Smith, Richard
Fales, Nathaniel
Waldron, Thomas Waldron, Isaac
Smith, Richard, Junr
Fales, Nathaniel, Jun.
Gladding, William
Waldron, Nathaniel
Munroe, Daniel
Gladding, John
Howland, Daniel
Munroe, Nathan
Few, William
Hathaway, Asa
Munroe, Joseph
Clarke, Samuel
Bourne, Shearshairb
252 heads of families
Whites
1298
All other free persons
44
Slaves .
64
Total Population .
1406
417
Gwin, Mary Murray, Anthony Sanford, William Hathgill, Sarah Hathgill, Charles Smith, Josiah Munroe, Nathaniel Esterbrooks, Aaron Peck, Nicholas, Jun. Lefavor, Daniel Vandorren, Joshua Vandorren, Ruth
Vandorren, Mosses
Norris, John Oxx, Samuel
Ingraham, Jeremiah Brownwell, Thomas Smith, Nathaniel Usher, Hezekiah Smith, Stephen Fales, William
De Woolf, Charles Talbey, Edward Talbey, Stephen Allin, James
Dimon, Joseph
Lawless, John
Blake, Ebenezar
West, Asa
Lindsey, Samuel
Fales, John
Waldron, Ambrose Lescum, John Munroe, Thomas Lescum, Samuel Liscum, Nathaniel
Reynolds, Thomas (Negro) Bosworth, Timothy
Bosworth, William Wing, Naomi
SKETCHES OF OLD BRISTOL
INTERESTING FACTS OF THE PAST
OPENING of the Blackstone Canal in July, 1828. First boat to travel over it was the Lady Carrington, which made the trip of nearly 45 miles in one day, returning the following day. Edward Carrington was one of the three commissioners of the company. The cost was $750,000.
Block Island was admitted to the Colony in 1664, having de- rived its name from a Dutch trader by the name of Block who owned the island at one time. It is situated about 30 miles S.W. from Newport out in the sea.
Common Fence Point, Portsmouth. At the first town meeting held in 1638 voted: "That the town should be built at the spring -also that a general fence be made from bay to bay, above the head of the spring; the charge to be borne proportionally to every man's allotment."
As early as 1750 a light was established at Beaver Tail.
Dollars and cents came in 1792; previous to that it was pound, shilling and pence.
Here is an item of interest that appeared in 1842:
Revolutionary War Pensioners-
In 18II over
20,000
In 1841
7,947
Jan. Ist
National Debt
1791 .
$ 75,463,000
1801 .
83,038,000
1810
53,173,000
1812
45,209,000
1816
127,334,000
1826
81,054,000
1833
7,001,000
1835
0,000,000
You will notice from the above that wars are costly; they were back in 1812, when our little scuffle with England, called "Madison's Folly", accounted for an increase of 82 millions be- tween 1812 and 1816. However, in less than twenty years the debt was paid off.
418
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