Coldengham, New York
Store of Cadwallader Colden, Jr.
Pepper
On this day, 250 years-ago, both Jonathan Campbell and Peter DuBois purchased one-half pound of pepper.
 |
| Peppercorns. |
==============================
Search the DayBook
This article is one in a series of a daily accountings of Colden Store transactions. Be sure you read the first installment for an introduction to the store. You should also read this article which appeared in the Journal of the Orange County Historical Society.
===============================
The pepper sold in the Colden Store was most likely in the form of peppercorns as in the photo above. The berry of the Piper Nigrum vine was harvested and dried in India, then shipped via Britain to the colonies. The crushing/grinding of peppercorns was done in the colonial kitchen.
In the prior nine months, Colden made 172 sales of pepper totalling about 100 pounds by weight. The price was between four and one-half and six shillings per pound. It was most often purchased in 1/4 or 1/2 pound quantities.
It is not surprising that neither Campbell nor DuBois picked up the peppercorns in the store on this day. About a third of the transactions in the DayBook involved someone other than the account holder picking up the items.
Jonathan Campbell was represented by his brother 'Ruben.' Reuben and Jonathan were brothers of Joel Campbell, eponym of this blog. Reuben became a blacksmith and ardent patriot. He moved west with his family after the war to Mamakating and then to the Town of Ulysses in Tompkins County.
Peter DuBois was represented by "his Brother." As far as we know, Peter only had one brother, Gualterus, known as Walter. Walter shopped on his own account at the store on three occasions. Walter was likely a merchant and land-speculator like his brother. They became ardent loyalists and in 1775 authored a protest against the Ulster County Representatives to the New York Congress. Colden was a coauthor. Walter's fate is unknown, but it is likely he fled to the British as did his brother and Colden.
But on this day, 250 years ago, loyalist and patriot purchased pepper in sequential transactions in the Colden Store.
===============================
Search the DayBook
No comments:
Post a Comment