Brayton and Bowers had branched out still farther in that busy year of 1819. They started to trade with the Bristol Cotton Manufacturing Company. This Company had a small yarn mill in Wellington—the village is now called North Dighton. Most of the stock belonged to James deWolf of Bristol.
In December, 1820, Israel returned a consignment of yarn to the Factory, which had been woven into “stripes” and “plaids”. His weavers were given more of this Bristol yarn in January and this they also wove. And more. But the factory was not doing well. The following letter seems to me interesting.
“Wellington. 12 of 11th month. 1821
Friend Israel Brayton
I was so much ingaged that I could not wright by Stephen that I wish thee to come up here next second day which is the 15th instant, as that is our co-meeting and I want to see thee about the weaving. We are now collecting over 100 lbs a day and if we can dry the yarn we can make out over 30 webs per week and I want them wove as fast as we make them, and I wish thou would not fail to come here next Second Day as early as possible and take a load and have some talk on our factory business as I never nowe what plans Williams and some others have afoot.
Please to attend and oblige thy friend
Nathaniel Wheeler.”
Shortly afterwards: “Please to come up and take a load of pieces the day after tomorrow. Come thyself and I will be at home. I have some important business with Thee. Fail not to attend and oblige
Thy Friend
Nathaniel Wheeler.”
The important business about which they were so annoyingly secret was the merger of the Bristol Cotton Manufacturing Company and the newly formed and struggling Mount Hope Manufacturing Company.
The barrel has several weave books of these companies and Israel did a big business with them. Although the following letter would not lead you to think so.
“Wellington. 9 of the 2 Mo. 1821
Friend Israel Brayton
I have this day sent back 2 pieces and have kept several that I ought to of sent back; but I am willing to due all that can be thought is in Reason. I cannot take any more so bad as I have received. In overhauling all the cloth we have received from thee, I find it to come far short for goodness to what we git wove at the Dighton Manufact. Co., and I must now be plain, and shall put some to another and see if we cannot git some better cloth. (The Dighton Manufacturing Company must have started weaving in 1821) I shall be still willing to continue our contract but must have good cloth. I have sent an order on James deWolf for one hundred dollars and I have not much on hand.
In haste thy friend
Nath. Wheeler
For the Mount Hope Manufacturing Company.”
In the next letter received by Israel, C. R. Vickery turns up as clerk.
“Respected Friend
Israel Brayton. We are very much in want of plaids and we wish thee to get all thou canst and fetch it up to us tomorrow. So we can send it to Boston the day after. Call at E. A. Hathaway’s and get what he has on hand. By doing as above requested thou wilt confer an additional favor on the Mount Hope Manufacturing Company.”
You see, although the weavers wove badly at times, it was as I said earlier, impossible to be too strict. This is one of the few proofs that any factory sent back any. (Though they all complained.) For they all needed all they could get—at once.
The Mount Hope Management did as the other yarn factories did, it wrote little notes to Israel, authorizing credit.
“Mr. Israel Brayton. Sir. Please to let Misses Kingsley have what cloth she wants and send a bill of it and send back the other order and we’ll give you one for the full amount.
B. Anthony” “For the Mount Hope Company.”
Still—this letter came—
“We have not any yarn for webbs now and dont think it is probable that we shall have any very soon.
Yours
for Mount Hope Manufacturing Co.
per Perry Anthony.”
That did look bad. But hear this one.
“Respected friend, Israel Brayton
We have not any webs for thee today, we shall have some by Fifth Day but not so many as we shall have by Seventh Day, when I think thou canst have a tolerable load.
For Mount Hope Comp.
William Marvel 2nd”
There are 264 papers in the barrel showing the costs of this yarn, etc. and there are several weave books. The weavers are the same weavers who wove the yarn for the other yarn mills.