Brush, Robert

This double entry account book documents transactions at Robert Brush’s sawmill in North Salem, N.Y. Brush’s mill turned out quantities of boards, posts, timber, joists, and studs for construction, but he also made “planks for a cheese press,” “planks for stable floor,” “oak logs for siding, and “bords for hors cart.” Although chestnut and oak were preferred woods, he occasionally used basswood, butternut, buttonwood, ash, elm, walnut, hemlock, and “whitewood.” The account book also includes occasional entries suggesting that he ran a gristmilling operation as well, and he also occasionally let out his brood mare.

In settling accounts, Brush took in a variety of goods and services, ranging from work at his mill to pasturing cattle to whiskey and cider. Although the book contains no direct information on location or ownership, it can be attributed with fairly confidence to Brush. At least two accounts are settled with Brush’s signature, and many of the names in the accounts match exactly with North Salem residents who appear in the censuses of 1790 and 1800. Among these are Lewis and John Delevan, Abraham Lockwood, Ebenezer Lobdell, Ebenezer Purdy, Samuel Rundell, Sylvanus Palmer, Gershum Hanford, Samuel Barnum, and Zebud June.