ALMANAC! January 16, 1768 at the Colden Store, Coldengham, New York

Saturday January 16, 1768
Coldengham, New York
Store of Cadwallader Colden, Jr.

Ruben Weed buys a 1768 Almanack

250 years ago today only two persons visited the Colden Store. Maybe this was one of those blizzardy January days where it was better to stay at home. On average January 18th is the coldest day of the year in this area of New York. 1768 was a cold winter in America according to diaries of the time, but short and with less than normal snowfall.

This article is the second installment of a daily accounting of Colden Store transactions. Be sure you read the first installment for more of an introduction to the store. You should also read this article which appeared in the Journal of the Orange County Historical Society.

Adam Vispart (166-03) and Ruben Weed (166-04) purchased a few common items 250 years ago today: Linen, Cotton, Rum, and Pins. However, a couple of Weed's purchases are a bit more mysterious.

Weed purchased 3 pairs of heels. What these actually are and what they were used for will be in a future blog (if I figure it out.)

He also purchased an Almanack. There had only been about six purchases of Almanacks in the prior months by other patrons, so it appears to be somewhat of a luxury item. The literacy rate in this area is unknown, but  it contained many well-educated citizens and a Boys Academy (founded by Colden). Store items which indicate some literacy include the sale of Bibles and about 30 quires of paper (24 sheets in a quire) in the prior four months. On the other hand, despite the word "Almanack" printed in large letters on the item in question, the clerks consistently failed to spell it correctly. Or perhaps they were just following their habit of dropping vowels if they appeared late in a word...."Almanck."

At this date there were several Almanacks available in New York. These annual publications had been popularized by Benjamin Franklin who published his first "Poor Richard's" in 1732. New York City published at least four Almanacks targeted at New Yorkers: Poor Roger's (Roger More), Poor Thomas improved (Thomas More), New-York Pocket Almanack (Richard Moore), and Freeman's New-York Almanack (Frank Freeman).

It is likely that Ruben Weed purchased one of the four mentioned above. Copies of these appear to exist, but I could not find any on-line. The 1767 version of Roger's can be viewed on-line here: https://archive.org/stream/poorroger1767ame00more  It gives an idea of what Weed may have been reading by candlelight 250 year ago tonight.

"Kind Reader....When I published my last year's Almanack the most gloomy prospect appeared, that ever threatened our American lands. --Slavery and impending ruin shook their baleful rods; the Stamp-Act..."