The Somerset reporter., 1889-09-19
the Reporter.
About Old Papers Etc.


since the cree ton Of the brick structure
about 1920, has been used only as store
room, wood-shed etc. As these papers
chiefly concerned the Weston family
they were sent to me with an intimation
that would be expected to make some
explanations and remarks concerning
them. Most Of them relate to the settle
ment of the estate of Joseph Weston my
grandfather who died Oct. l6, l775, from
exposure In aiding Arnold's troops up the
Kennebec, wading in the water, dragging
their boats over the rapids, and carrying
their heavy baggage around the falls In
1879 his widow Eunice married Col. Johu
Moor, and lived In Arson till his death in
Jan. 1909. Soon after she went 10 live
with her youngest son Stephen Weston
on that place where these papers were
found. She died Nov. s, 1882, and the
fair presumption is that these papers, not
being considered important, were packed
away in that cupboard and have been ly-
ing there ever since. This explains why
they were found there. And now fol-
comments on some of them and the per.
sons named in them
The one which seemed to excite the
most interest in those who had the first
inspection of them was a bill of goods
with this heading:
Mr.. Joseph Weston, Boston 4 July l774
Bought of Samuel Austin.
l mention some Of the articles to show
their cheapness, all money was reckoned
in pounds, shillings and pence shilling
was l6 2-3 cents, 6 shillings to dollar
20 3-4 yds. check wooden. | 3. 4 pence alb
out, % cts; 8 3-4 yds mixed ratten SIS
"a cts 10 yds. dowlace, IA ,22 cts 80 I'D,
raven duck, Is % cts. 4 l-2 green tam
my, 1927 cts. 6 pairs women's leather
shoes, "a 90 cts 800 sewing needles S.
one dollar.
II anybody does not know what somt
of these goods are, the names are found
in Webster, The ravens duck or sail
cloth | imagine was for a tent. Tam
my is word In use ROW. but seldom. In
a New York paper saw 1t used recently
for strainer; as this was green guess
1t was for wells. The amount of the bill
is about 10000. note given for 1t and
payable In six months with interest after
that. The writing plain and legible and
the lines straight, though the paper Is moi
ruled. 1t was reported to me that some
of those who first saw this bill said it
was the first goods ever brought to Can
aan for sale; but another of these papers
contained two notes to this same Austin
dated Nov. 18th l772 signed by Joseph
Weston, which of course were for goods.
The amount of the two notes Is about
800. Moreover when he came with his
family in the fall of III, he got as far as
Fort Halifax In Winslow and was Obliged
to remain there until the river opened In
the next spring; and from his account
book which | saw in the pos ession of
Mrs. +. l.. X. Adams, 1t seems that he
sold goods during the winter. and am
sorry to say it was chiefly ,cet goods.
On the two notes above mentioned are
endorsements of money by the hand of
John Jones, and at another time by Steph.
en- Jones. Joseph Weston sister Abigail,
ID years older than he married John
Jones Of Old Concord, this may have
been the man, but it was more likely his
son mentioned as surveyor In Hansons
History who lived and died in Augusta
| recollect seeing him once at my Uncle
Joe's who of course was a cousin, Steph-
en- Jones doubtless was his brother
There was also a receipt by Stephen
Jones for ten pounds six shillings from
widow Eunice Weston, by the hand of
John Moor dated Concord Aug. 18th III.
Hanson's History says Col. Moor came to
the Kennebec in 1880, but without doubt
this was the same man who must have
been there three years earlier. There are
some other errors in that history which l
hope to point out at some future time.
Several of the names attached to these
papers are only noticeable as showing
that the persons were there at that early
period. Samuel Steward was doubtless
the one spoken of In my account of the
Wyman family, William Steward was the
father OF Elder Jonathan, and was chos-
en- Deacon of the Congregational Church
on its Reorganization in 1901. John
Clark was perhaps the father of Capt.
Asa Clark of Norridgewock. Noah Cros-
by was quite prominent man, his name
comes up frequently in old documents,
but know little of him except that he
was guardian of some or all of Joseph
Weston's children.
Here Is paper which shows how time
was valued. 1t is dated Feb. l77G. Mrs.
Eunice Weston to Joseph Caragin DIR.
to 8 days travel to Pownalborough and
back at 2 $. 6 pence per day 0, l2, 0.
Rec d. in full the above amount
Joseph Cragn.
Pownalborough (now Dresden) was
the County seat and this journey was
probably In connection with the admins
tration of the estate.
A Mr.. Cragln, suppose this man, was
a very early settler on the Drew farm ad-
joining the SIX owhegan town farm. Mr..
Drew was a Head, and had II brother
Timothy living Oh the Sebasticook, as
late as towards 1920, he had an aged
couple Of the name of Cragin living, not
with him, but near him, whose business
he attended to, and presume they were
his grandparents. Is not this so Mrs.
Bachelor
notice one more OF these receipts; 1t
is for eighteen shillings and eight pence
lawful money in full'' and signed, Rog-
er Chase. Hanson says he was one of
those who Joined Arnold at Norridge-
wock, went through to Quebec, and was
made prisoner In that stupid night attack
on the city, and was exchanged and came
home probably at the same time Caleb
Haskell did. He settled either in Fair
field or Clinton. If he had sons, know
nothing of them, but his daughter May
married Levi Powers ESQ.,, who died In
1873, she lived many years after; have
seen her riding by our house often, wrap
|
hood that come up over her head. She
was the mother of Francis, Philip, and
Adam Powers, whose descendants abound
in Norridgewock, Canaan, Pttsteld and
elsewhere, including Congressman Lew.
ellyn from Houlton Her oldest daughter
Ann was married to my Uncle Benjamin,
so that all that branch of the Weston
family with the Bixbys, Flints and 9th
ers "too numerous to mention" may
claim Roger Chase for their ancestor.
The Oldest document that have Is a
note OF hand dated Merrimack July 10Th
l7G4, for thirteen pounds, six shillings
and seven pence. with ten per. cent utter
est payable to Edward Goldstone Lut-
wych eand signed John COTE, among all the
old money matters that l have known,
this Is the only that specifies "Sterling
money Of Great Britain" The value OF
lawful money Of New England was only
three fourths IS much IS Sterling Money.
At first 1t was puzzle how this come
among my grandmother's papers, until 1t
occurred to me that Col. Moor's first wife
was q COTE, and this man was her father
| or brother. Both the men were probably
English. The penmanship 10 good with
some attempt at elegance. This article
may not be of general interest but al
most every item will hit somebody.
Since writing the above find that In
l772 and for two years after, Joseph
Weston had an account with Lieut.. Tim
othy Hsald Of Winslow; It Is presumed
that he was the father Of Mrs. Drew and
the younger Timothy. His being there SC
early confirms my belief Of what Is SAID
above about Joseph Cragin.
Among those papers are receipts BY
persons Of whom know nothing; they
were mostly persons living In Winslow