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Episodes from "Junior Colloquium: Historical Methods," Wheaton College (Spring 2010): 1 through 3 of 3

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  1. Agricultural Change in the Mid-Nineteenth Century
    date July 21, 1841 to October 15, 1841map BRISTOL, Massachusettstags Wheaton, accounting records, mid-nineteenth century, Agriculture

    Laban Morey Wheaton kept records of all his economic transactions while he lived in Norton, Massachusetts, in the mid-nineteenth century, and the year 1841 was no exception. Between July and October of this year, Wheaton made a number of transactions with a man, Sumner Blandin. Looking at the records reveals that Blandin came to Wheaton about once a week, usually to get cash instead of food or goods....

  2. Hired farm labor in the 1840's
    date February 13, 1840 to April 9, 1840map BRISTOL, Massachusettstags Farm Labor, Agriculture

    Between February 13th and April 9th, 1840, Joseph Borden was absent from work multiple times. He worked as a hired farm hand for Laban Morey Wheaton. Sometimes he was gone a half day or the entire day, but Wheaton took note of every absence in his daybook. Borden seemed to be a loyal and favored worker, however, for he continued to be paid for his labor over the months. There are a number of possible...

  3. Potato Agriculture in the Mid-Nineteenth Century
    date May 20, 1840 to November 3, 1840map BRISTOL, Massachusettstags mid-nineteenth century, Wheaton, Agriculture, Potatoes, Textile Mills

    As the New England foliage began to turn in October of 1840, Laban Morey Wheaton sold Linus Howard an astonishing twenty-five bushels of potatoes, and only a couple of short days later Linus returned for another five bushels of potatoes. What could possibly explain this surge in the demand for potatoes in Norton Massachusetts? Laban dealt with many transactions concerning potatoes as indicated within...