Minutes book records history of Peterborough’s North Cotton Factory

The Historical Society recently purchased the minutes book for Peterborough’s North Cotton Factory at Ed’s Country Auction in Rindge. The book records the board of director’s meetings from the factory’s founding in 1813 until it is was sold to Charles Wilder in 1860. Wilder manufactured thermometers and barometers on the site until 1902.

This handwritten book begins with a copy of a notice placed in the Farmer’s Cabinet announcing the first meeting of the directors to be held on September 23, 1813 at the Wilson Tavern on Old Street Road. The second entry lists the directors elected at the meeting and the company’s by-laws.

Each meeting of the directors is recorded in this single volume for the entire history of the company. Beginning in the 1830s, detailed annual reports reveal the cotton mill’s production and expenses for the preceding year. These reports give an in-depth view of the business and show the scale of manufacturing undertaken at the mill.

The report for 1838 states that during the period of February 1 to August 1, the North Cotton Factory produced, "85,203 1/4 yds Drilling (fabric woven from a three-fold thread), 11,225 1/4 yds Sheeting, 5,970 yds Shirting, together 102,398 1/2 yds of cloth weighing 29,602 lbs for which there was used 33,221 lbs of cotton much of which was of inferior quality but at a low price."

The minutes book also records the construction of the various factory buildings as well as an ongoing problem with water from the dam flooding Timothy Hunt’s pasture. Starting in 1823, the directors attempted to adjust the dam’s height to stop the flooding and voted to award Hunt $50 annually for damages for "flowing his meadow." The Board appointed a committee to study the problem but a solution could not be found. The company continued to pay annual damages to Hunt for the next 30 years.

The North Cotton Factory minutes book is an important addition to the Society’s collection of 19th century mill records. The Society’s Charles Wilder Collection records the history of the same mill from 1860 to 1902. Taken together, these archival materials record nearly a hundred years of rural industry in Peterborough.

The Society purchased the book with money from its Deaccession Fund. From time to time, the Society identifies artifacts in its collections that are not related to Peterborough and these items are deaccessioned. Money realized from the sale of these items is placed in the Deaccession Fund. The fund can only be used to acquire new items for the collections or to care for existing collections. Local auctioneers often alert the Society if a Peterborough item like this book comes up for sale.

From the Peterborough Historical Society Newsletter, Spring 2003