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3. Provenance 5. Inventory 6. Subjects |
Almy, Brown and Slaters Records Textile manufacturers, of Smithfield, R.I. Records, 1806-1831 Size: 1 linear foot Catalog number: MSS 255 Processed by: Rick Stattler, August 2001 ©Rhode Island Historical Society Manuscripts Division |
Historical note:
The first water-powered textile factory in America began production in the village of Pawtucket, Rhode Island in 1789. Two partnerships were involved: Almy & Brown served as marketing agent, while Almy, Brown & Slater owned and managed the factory. By 1806, the partners were William Almy (1761-1836), Obadiah Brown (1771-1822), and Samuel Slater (1768-1835).
Samuel's brother John Slater (1776-1843) arrived in America in 1806, and an additional partnership called Almy, Brown & Slaters was formed. It was closely affiliated but distinct from Almy & Brown. The new firm built a large mill complex at Smithfield, Rhode Island. Around this mill grew the town of Slatersville. In 1832, William Almy sold his interest in the Smithfield mill to the Slater brothers, and the firm was known thereafter as "S. & J. Slater".
Bibliography:
Kemble, Harold. "Guide to the Almy & Brown Records at the Rhode Island Historical Society."
Scope and content:
This collection consists of four of the many day books from the Almy, Brown & Slaters company store in Smithfield, extensive deeds for the firm's various Smithfield properties from 1806 to 1829, and two documents regarding property that the firm purchased in Mendon, Massachusetts in 1820.
Closely related collections include:
Mss 29: Almy & Brown Records
Mss 26: John Slater Papers
Mss 719: Samuel Slater Collection
Mss 9001-S Miscellaneous Manuscripts.
Several folders on Slater relatives, including: estate of Esther Slater, 1858-1861; a record book of the firm J & W Slater; and papers of Samuel's son Horatio Slater.
Provenance:
Day book #1 was a gift of W.G. Maxon in 1939. Day book #7 was purchased from Wilfred Auger in 1990; day book #62 was purchased in 1995 from Lawrence DePetrillo; and day book #8 was purchased from Marie King Antiques in 2001. The loose papers were a gift of the Old Slater Mill in 1973.
Processing note:
These papers were probably set off as a separate collection circa 1980, when the Almy & Brown Records were last processed. In 2001, seven documents related to the distinct firm of Almy, Brown & Slater were transferred to Mss 29 (Almy & Brown Records). The remaining deeds should ultimately be placed in an archival oversized box to allow flat storage of the deeds in the collection.
Inventory:
Volume 1: Day book #1, 6/16/1806 to 11/5/1807
Volume 2: Day book #7, 3/20/1810 to 6/7/1810
Volume 3: Day book #8, 6/8/1810 to 10/6/1810
Volume 4: Day book #62, 6/29/1822 to 9/4/1822
Box 1, folder 1. Smithfield deeds, 1806-1807
Box 1, folder 2. Smithfield deeds, 1808-1809
Box 1, folder 3. Smithfield deeds, 1810-1812
Box 1, folder 4. Smithfield deeds, 1813-1816
Box 1, folder 5. Smithfield deeds, 1817-1819
Box 1, folder 6. Smithfield deeds, 1820-1826
Box 1, folder 7. Smithfield deeds, 1827-1829
Box 1, folder 8. Mendon, Massachusetts property, 1820-1831:
Bond, John Slater to Russell Estey, 12/18/1820, settled 1831
Deed, Benjamin Almy to ABS&S, 12/21/1820
Subjects:
Brown, Obadiah (1771-1822)
Company stores - Rhode Island - Smithfield
General stores - Rhode Island - Smithfield
Slater, John (1776-1843)
Slater, Samuel (1786-1835)
Slatersville Mill (Smithfield, R.I.)
Smithfield, R.I. - Commerce
Textile industry - Rhode Island - Smithfield
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RIHS1822