Coldengham, New York
Store of Cadwallader Colden, Jr.
William Goodjion
Colden credited William Goodjion's (Goodjohn, Goodgion, Goodjoin) account with £47:18:6 on this day, 250 years-ago. This was a large amount of money. It was three times the amount Colden paid the Master of the Colden Academy, Edward Riggs, just a few weeks ago. The entry specified only that the payment was "for work." Presumably Goodjion was a craftsman who had worked on Colden's newly constructed home as Colden deducted the cost of two planes and a broad axe from the credit. The amount was about six months' wages for a craftsman.
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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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William Goodjion's name appeared 38 times in the DayBook. The name of his brother, Robert, appeared six times. The DayBook also reveals that William's sister, mother-in-law, son Robert, and his wife were all living in the same area. One entry was for 'William Jr.' -- probably another son of William.
In addition to settling his account with Colden on this day, William's wife took possession of twenty pounds of wool. This sale of wool was unique. The only other cases of wool sold in units of '#'s were one and three pounds of 'Cotton Wool.' This day's sale was twenty pounds. One explanation is that this was wool from Colden's sheep and Goodjion's wife was to card it and spin it.
On August 17, 1771, the Goodwill church recorded the death of Catherine Goodjion, wife of William. [Foley, Early Settlers of New York, Vol. III No. 3 p.38] This loss to William's young family was certainly a set-back.
William appeared in the 1779 Tax assessment of Shawangunk Precinct with only two acres of land valued at £100 and personal property valued at £50. This scarcity of assets made him one of the poorest residents of the Precinct.
When William prepared his will in 1811, he had no land to bequeath. (This could be the will of his son, William). His son's, William and Robert, were to split his carpentry tools, confirming his trade as carpenter. The will detailed the possessions he had: a horse, two cows, one cupboard, one chest,... He left no money, and who knows what debts he had.
Today, June 4th, 1768, he may have had the biggest payday of his entire life.
P.S. Today was the 31st birthday of King George. In New York City the soldiers paraded in Fort George and fired celebratory volleys. The festivities carried on into the night with illuminations and toasts. Perhaps part of the six and one-half gallons of rum sold by Colden this day was toasted to the King?
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