Item #58299 Thomas Russell's accounts for farming, logging, milling, and shoe-mending. Thomas Russell.
Thomas Russell's accounts for farming, logging, milling, and shoe-mending
Thomas Russell's accounts for farming, logging, milling, and shoe-mending
Thomas Russell's accounts for farming, logging, milling, and shoe-mending
Thomas Russell's accounts for farming, logging, milling, and shoe-mending

Thomas Russell's accounts for farming, logging, milling, and shoe-mending

Burton, Carroll County: 1817-41. Four paper-covered notebooks, ranging in size from 6¼" x 4¼" to 8" x 6½", totaling approximately 182 pages; no cover on first notebook, pages tattered at many edges, especially the first and last leaves of the first two notebooks, paper toned, some water staining resulting in blurred writing, and the ink more often than not, is faded. A difficult but not impossible read: about 75% is legible. The first notebook (1817-1820) contains mostly farm accounts written by Thomas Russell who lived in the small town of Burton in Carroll County, which is situated north of Portsmouth on the Maine border. We have established Thomas Russell as the author of the accounts since his name appears periodically as signing off on paid debts or agreements. The township of Burton was annexed to Carroll County in 1800, and in 1833 its name was changed to Albany. The population of Burton was just 209 in 1823, so these notebooks may name many of the settlers of the time. Names mentioned in the first notebook include Mark Bratton, James Dearing, Joseph Bean, Moses Harriman, John Bickford, and others. Indian meal, Indian corn, wheat, and rye are some of the crops mentioned in the farm accounts. Russell also milled boards and worked for the town of Burton laying out the roads. The second notebook (1822-1828) continues with farm accounts (corn, beef, rye, timber, etc.) and includes payments made to him by others, as well as outgoing expenses for labor, lumber, saddles, whisky, etc. and shows payments to himself and his son for a day's work at $1.50. The third notebook (1832-34) concerns his mill and millwork, his hours and travel expenses duly recorded. The last notebook (1834-41) shows a branching off of the family business into the mending of shoes and boots, but also some farm accounts (salt, veal, potatoes) as well. Item #58299

Price: $175.00

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