SCYTHES & RANELAGH! June 30, 1768 at the Colden Store, Coldengham, New York

Thursday, June 30, 1768
Coldengham, New York
Store of Cadwallader Colden, Jr.

Scythe Reprise & Fireworks in Ranelagh Gardens

There were no DayBook entries for Wednesday, June 29, 1768. Perhaps Colden had a court date in Kingston or needed to make a purchasing trip to New York City. Or perhaps it was a 'Day of Prayer' or some other community festivity? For example, the prior Friday, June 24, was the anniversary of John the Baptist. Free Masons in New York City met at their Hall in Scotch Street at 10 am and then dined at Ranelagh Gardens at 2 pm. [New-York Journal for June 23, 1768 p. 3] The area around the Colden Store must have had some sort of leisure entertainment such as horse racing, dances, or music. But none of that is revealed in the DayBook or in other local histories of this area. Apparently one needed to visit New York City to partake in theater, concerts, and fireworks. Such an opportunity was available on this day, 250 years ago. The New-York Journal of this date confirmed that the Monday/Thursday concert and fireworks at Ranelagh Gardens would continue on this evening and made a curious comment that the interruption of Monday's concert was an unavoidable accident and assured the public that at future performances "no part of the Concert will be omitted and that everything will be conducted with the utmost Regularity and Decorum."

Ranelagh (Ranelah) Gardens on 1776 British Map of Manhattan. Red notations show Hudson River on the west, current location of City Hall, and approximate location of the Gardens on a modern street grid.  Image courtesy of New York Public Library Digital Collection.

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I first wrote about scythe purchases in March when about 60% of the DayBook had been transcribed. At that point, thirteen sales of scythes had been transcribed from the DayBook. As you might imagine, scythes were a seasonal item. Most were sold at harvesting times (June through September). Now that the transcription has reached June and July of 1768, thirty-two scythe transactions have been transcribed. All but four of them were in June or July.

In fact, on this day, 250 years-ago, the store sold five scythes.

Scythe blade found at the Jenks mill site, Saugus Iron Works National Historic Site, Saugus, Massachusetts. The hook on the right attached to the wooden handle of the scythe. The visible thick backbone of iron gave strength to the blade. The missing thin blade has rusted away. Image courtesy of Saugus Iron Works.

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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.

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The first successful integrated Iron Works in America was founded in 1646 in what is now Saugus, Massachusetts. It has been rebuilt and is now a National Park. It is well worth the visit.  Even though the Works predates the Colden Store by over a century, it is proof that the colonies had long been attempting to make finished iron goods in America.

In about the same year, 1646, Joseph Jenks sought to build his own rolling mill at the tailrace of the Saugus Iron Works furnace. He specifically mentioned his intention to make scythes and other 'edge tools' using novel 'engines'. He petitioned the Massachusetts General Court for patent protection. In fact, this was one of the first recorded patents in America.

On July 7, 1768, George Field purchased a "New England Scythe" at the Colden Store. This was more than 100 years after the patent by Jenks. Could it have been of the Jenks design?

All of the other DayBook entries for 'scythe' do not specify 'New England.' Does this mean that the rest were imported from England? The answers are not revealed by the DayBook.

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