Morning journal and courier., 1888-07-28
= RELIC oFrHE LAST CENTURY.

RELIC OFTHE LAST CENTURY.
An ola Account Ro0k-Prfces Before
the RevOIutzon-An Interesting Vet
cram.
Mr.. George E. Hayden, of "a Shelton street,
is the possessor of an old account book in
which some Guilford Bartletts kept their
accounts from 1871 to 1855. The older ac-
counts are those of one John Bartlett, the
latter of Hooker Bartlett. For.so old book
it is remarkably well preserved, although
the fingers of time have left no uncertain
trace upon it. Its paper is yellow with age'
the ink upon its leaves faded. It was well
built book, bound with q heavy leather
thong used as q thread, and sometime in Its
career it boasted of clasps, bat they are no
longer. Its contents comprise the ordinary
accounts of a farmer and laborer in pre-reyo-
lutionary times. The early years, those in
which the book was kept, with a more me-
thcdieal arrangement, show the accounts OF
blacksmith, the latter years those evidently
Of farmer An examination of its pages
proves most interesting, but it may be
doubted If any detailed statement OF its con-
tents would be of interest to the
general reader. A few examples has
tiiy CLEANED at random will suffice
to show the interest and historical value per-
tanning to this relic of colonial and revolu-
tionary days. In 1850 barrel of cider cost
five shillings and bushel of wheat six. In
1871, among the blacksmith charges, are sew
eral ssfor showing horse" one shilling, for
making link of chain eight pence. The &C.
counts for 1722 show that butter was then
worth one shilling pound, and those for
1725 that days work brought four shil-
1@,.e-, 80 % Ill al
silk cost eleven shillings three pence or al
most four days work. A charge of eight
pence for cutting a load of wood ia noticeable
as charge in 1749 against one Hill "for my
mare to David Swardsweden" 8 shillings.
In 1853 Andrew Parmelee was charged "for
Parsturing Cows" pound 10 ehillings. A
pound 'of Tobacco" in 1742 cost the account
ant shillings and sspeeck of turnops"
shilling -Four bushels of potatoes brought
in 1855 shillings, and in June, 1850, q
debtor was charged shillings for the use of
across the peaceful path of the old Guilford
citizen as evidenced by two heavy charges for
law expenses, one incurred at Durham and
the other at New Haven. The price of
labor four years before the event
of Lexington and Concord thrilled the coun-
try is evidenced by these two charges, dated
III: "To one days work at thatohing, Is.
Cd. "To days work of raking hay by
was somewhat expensive in those days, as
witnessed By the items Expended agoing
to Stratford in cash, 1885,, an we'll as consid-
cradle time which was valuable, and 'fcash
spent agoing to New Haven, Jan. 10, 1863,
As. Sd. There are several notes, bonds and
the like in the old book, while memoranda
are scattered through it, two of the latter,
the one Immediately following the other, are
as follows:
February ye 20, 1752-Tnen drove my
creatures to the farm.
April ye 2-Then brought them awaye.
But examples enough have been cited. A
most pleasing hour may be spent with these
old accounts, and as indications of prices in
the colonial, period they are invaluable. The
book may justly be priced by its owner.