Samuel Capen account book

Inserted into the front of the account book is a 1799 agreement between Samuel Capen and John Coxsil outlining the terms for a certain quantity of clay to make into bricks and then after the bricks are made, to cart them away. The agreement is signed by Samuel Capen, Jabez Capen and John Coxsil. Also included with this agreement is a two page address “Thou God seeest us” written by John Coxsil in 1802 in which he appears to outline a dispute of the 1799 agreement between him and Samuel Capen. At the end of the address, Coxsil indicates that he will not sue Capen, but instead will “take away your property.”

The detailed account book includes entries for many aspects of Capen’s brickmaking business including wages for and money lent (and notes paid) to individual’s he hired, including his brother Jabez Capen, for making bricks in Capen’s brickyard, an accounting of tiles and bricks made and delivered for a variety of customers, and supplies and other goods received including lumber and wood, rum, butter, corn, potatoes, mutton, and green tea. Documented throughout are handwritten agreements for work to be done. Also included is a letter from Ephraim Capen to his brother Samuel, in which Ephraim asks Samuel if he would be willing to share food (including cornmeal, pork, and potatoes) because he is struggling with his health. It appears Ephraim offers the services of his son George to work for Samuel to pay off this debt. There are also an assortment of loose receipts for payments received for labor and a hand written prayer for the death of a sister-in-law.