Medford Historical Society Papers, Volume 20.

[p. 18]

A receipt in full.

But a short time before his passing away Mr. Francis Wait brought us two slips of unruled paper, yellow with age, but on which the ink is black and permanent, and legible as when written one hundred and thirty years ago. We reproduce their words as nearly as can be in type, wishing we might the excellent script of the writer.

Dr. Mr. Zakariah Sims to John Fullton.

1785
Aug 3	To 4 Gallo Rum & Sundries a 2/	£ 0.8—
	To 1 Gallon Mollasses	£ 1.9
	To 1 Mollasses Hoghead	£ 5—
	To 1/2 Barrell Rum 15 1/2 Gallo a 1/6	1.3.3
	To 10 Gallo do a 2/	1—
		——
		2.18.0
	By 1 load Salt-Hay—--

This slip had been folded four ply to the size of 1 3/4× 3 3/4 inches, and endorsed on the end.

Zakariah Sims

Acct—

1785—

Both parties were Medford men; the first was great grandson of Reverend Zechariah, the first minister of Charlestown to whom a grant of land was made, which later became a part of Medford. By inheritance a portion remains in the family name today in what used to be called Upper Medford, the Symmes Corner of present Winchester. This Zakariah was a farmer, and even yet his descendants till the soil in a more intensive way. John Fulton, it seems, doubled the l in his name—it is supposed that he knew how to spell his own, if he did not his customer's. But it was probably Zack, and phonetic spelling in those days.

He was the husband of Sarah Bradlee Fulton, for whom our local Chapter of the D. A. R. was named. We are informed that he was a distiller and ‘book-keeper at the distillery.’ The time of this bill is just after the close [p. 19] of the Revolution and before the adoption of the Constitution, yet the same is in English money.

What the ‘Sundries’ were does not appear, nor yet their value, as the amount carried out only equals the rum part of the charge. There also seems a disparity in the prices with ten gallons at two shillings and fifteen and one-half at ‘one and six,’ with the half barrel ‘thrown in.’ Perhaps the ‘Sundries’ were also.

With molasses at ‘one and nine’ and rum at ‘one and six’ we are led to wonder wherein lay the profit of the rum manufacture. Mr. Brooks wrote ‘It was never a profitable branch of trade; and till 1830, it ruined many persons who entered it.’

The load of salt-hay of which Mr. Fulton could not carry out the price, was a product of the lower Medford marshes, which Mr. Symmes, like others of upper Medford, owned.

These papers were found in Mr. Fulton's desk. How the account was settled does not appear, but a few years later these Medford men had a settlement, as appears by the following in the handwriting of Mr. Fulton and signed by Mr. Symmes.

Received Medford 3d Feby 1790 of John Fullton One pound & four Shillings in full, of all Accounts debts dues or Demands to the above date as Witness my hand £ 1 4—

Zechariah Symmes

Still English money—and during the first administration of Washington, who visited Medford the previous year, and was doubtless seen by both these old Medford men.