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Worcester County, Massachusetts
Textile Mill Register, 1835-1836
Background
The self-described Worcester Register was obtained in 2013 from the estate of the late Harry P. Pottis, of Mokena, Illinois. It was evident from his belongings that Harry collected old newspapers, stamps and historical military paraphernalia; there were a plethora of antique grenades lying around the house. It is unclear how this ledger came into his possession.
The Chicago Sun-Times published Harry P. Pottis' obituary on 18 Dec 2013:
"Pottis, Harry P. Age 68, Vietnam Army Veteran, devoted son of the late Winifred and Harry Pottis. Memorial Visitation Saturday, December 21, from 10:00 a.m. until time of Memorial Service 11:00 a.m. at Lawn Funeral Home, 7732 W. 159th St. Orland Park. Interment Private. Funeral Info: 708-429-3200.
Content
The Worcester Register is a ledger consisting of 94 pages with lists of names, numbers, occasional notes and tally marks that align with specific days of the month. The first entries in the ledger are dated 1 Jan 1835 and they continue until 30 Nov 1836.
Each page has a repetition of M T W T F S [Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday], corresponding to the specific date of the month. The absence of Sunday strongly suggests whichever institution this ledger was from, was closed on the Sabbath; New England operated on a 6-day work week for all business, school and factory operations.
There are occasional notes written as either Enter/Enters/Entered + [specific date], or as Settled + [specific date]:
Enter/Enters/Entered presumably refers to the date a new employee began work, or the amount of days an employee worked.
Settled presumably refers to the date employees' pay was finalized or disbursed.
At some point, the ledger was altered and clippings of many newspaper articles, poetry and stories was pasted or glued into the first ~9 pages. These clippings make reference to the Washingtonians, a major temperance society, which began around 1840.
Image 88 clearly shows the words "Gigg Room," giving us a crucial indication towards what type of institution this ledger was originally from.
A gigg room (also written as gig) was the department of a woolen finishing mill, where the process of gigging took place.
Gigging itself was the process of using a type of raising machine, called a gig mill or gig machine, with teasels to gradual tease the surface of the fabric and raise the nap. The teasels would elevate the surface fibers and produce a soft feel, often used on wool.
My Conclusion
This ledger is a payroll, labor, or daily attendance register for a textile mill (likely a woolen finishing mill, considering the presence of a gigg room) in Worcester County, Massachusetts. The individual names listed would be the employees, and the tallies mark the days they worked in different parts of the factory.
Image via https://www.historypin.org/
Identified Individuals & Families
Image 11 shows Isaac Bradbury, Michael Heartz and Thomas Bottomly, all of which are enumerated on the same page in the 1840 federal census in Leicester, Worcester County, Massachusetts.
SOURCE [1840 census]: https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:33SQ-GYB3-WFPImage 11 shows Joseph Benawey and Peter Benawey Jr. They are presumably the sons of Peter Benway, who was enumerated in the 1840 federal census in Southbridge, Worcester County, Massachusetts; the household consisted of 2 sons and 1 daughter aged 15-20 and 1 son aged 10-15.
SOURCE [1840 census]: https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:33SQ-GYB3-HNZImage 13 shows "Aughtwert Budro," who is documented on 14 Jul 1833 as "Auntwert D. Budro of Leiceister" marrying "Ann W. Willis of Belchertown." He is also shown on image 65 as "O. D. Budro."
SOURCE [Marriage]: https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-897M-595M-C
Worchester Register.pdfPage updated
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