motive was similar to that so much in vogue now, of furnishing not an article but a service. Good things to drink were as popular objects of women's endeavor in the moister days of the fathers as were good things to eat. Nor were these daughters of Hebe unappreciated by the sterner sex. The following letter in the handwriting of the President of Harvard College is to be found in the archives of the County Court of Middlesex for the year 1654:1 Honored Gentlemen, as far as it may stand in the wholesome orders and prudential laws of the country for the publick weal, I can very freely speak with and write in the behalf of sister Bradish, that shee might be encouraged and countenanced in her present calling for baking of bread and brewing and selling of penny bear without which shee canot continue to bake: In both which callings such is her art, way and skill, that shee doth vend such comfortable penniworths for the reliefe of all that send unto her as elsewhere they can seldom meet with. Shee was complained of unto me for harbouring students, unseasonably spending their time and parent's estate; but upon examination I found it a misinformation and that she most was desirous that I sha limit or absolutely prohibit any; that in case of sickness or want of comfortable bread or bear in the College only they shd thither resort and then not to spend above a penny a man nor above two shillings in a quarter of a year, which order she carefully observed in all or1 Cambridge, p. 228. dinary cases. How far she had publick allowance by the treasurer heretofore I leave to Brother Goff or any of our townsmen that are with you to shew; and how good effects for the promoting of the weal publick, and how Christian a thing in itself godly emulation is, as your historical knowledge informs you so your experience abundantly demonstrates, as contrariwise the undoing messures of monopolyes. The Lord to guide and prosper all your administrations shall bee the prayer of yours in which he can. H. DUNSTER The elders did not allow profiteering in those unamended days. In 1653, Dionis, the wife of Tristram Coffin, was "presented" in the September court for charging three pence a quart for her beer. She produced witnesses to prove that she put six bushels of malt into each hogshead, however, and as this was more than the law required, the court justly held that for a superior article she was entitled to charge a superior price, and she was discharged. The record does not state whether the court was given an opportunity to sample the superior article. We may trust that Mrs. Coffin's business profited by the advertising. More sophisticated sorts of liquids were produced by a later resident of Essex County. In the "Gazette" for April 14, 1772,2 Quarterly Courts of Essex County, vol. 1, p. 303. 2 Essex County Gazette, April 14, 1772. Anna Jones informes the Public that she continues the distilling of Cinnamon, snakeroot, clovewater, aniseed, orange water, and many other sorts of spirits, all which she sells very cheap for cash, wholesale or retail, at her shop opposite the Burying-Point Lane. The customers of her late husband, and all others who please to favour her with their Custom, may depend upon having the best of Spirits, and their Favours gratefully acknowledged. Burying Point Lane, in Salem, ought certainly to harbor only the best of spirits, such as doubtless the customers of the late Mr. Jones found congenial. Foodstuffs and clothing are, after all, quite within woman's accepted sphere, however unexpected fish-curing and men's tailoring may be. But there were not a few women who wandered much farther afield in making a livelihood: the Widow Gale, in Philadelphia,1 and Sarah Goodwin, in Boston,2 did chair-caning; Mrs. Goodwin advertised off and on from 1745 to 1756. Mary Emerson sold new and second-hand furniture, also silvered mirrors, and did joiner's work. Ann Page, widow of John, turner, continued his business 4 In all its branches, viz, for carpenters, joiners, chairmakers, &c, lignumvitae mortars and pestles, moulds 1 ¡1 Pennsylvania Gazette, December 5, 1754. 2 Boston Evening Post, February 11, 1745. for waggon, cart and chaise-boxes, and bench screws. Also iron turning for the West Indies, and mill spindles. N.B. Spinning wheels are also made, mended, and sold at reasonable rates. Several women were soap-makers and tallowchandlers. One of these, Elizabeth Franklin, sister-in-law of Benjamin, carried on her business with energy, apparently in the face of trials. In 1756 she says: 1 This is to notify the Publick, that there are sundry persons endeavoring to impose on them a sort of Soap which they call Crown Soap, a little resembling it in appearance, but vastly unlike in Quality, by which the character of the Soap has suffered greatly with People who have not taken particular notice, the Papers being so near the same as easily to decieve; and that there never was in New England any person but the late Mr. John Franklin that made the true sort of Crown Soap. It is now carried on by Mrs. Elizabeth Franklin at the Post Office, Boston, where they may depend upon being supplied with that which is good; and Hard Soap, Wax and Tallow Candles by wholesale and retail for Families or shipping. Mrs. Franklin continued to advertise at frequent intervals, through the year 1766. In 1769 notice appeared of the settlement of her estate. As her husband had been born in 1690, she was presumably well along in years. 1 Boston Evening Post, November 8, 1756. |