Ledgerpost #3 and Canal Boat Information
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Boating entry for Feb 3rd, 1832

When I first posted I neglected to mention why work on the Swatara Furnace Iron Plantation was not started earlier in the 19th Century, I also forgot that some readers of my posts are probably not familiar with the early history of Pine Grove Township. Before 1830 there was no way to get iron ore and large amounts of limestone into that area, also no way to ship out products from the furnace; this all changed in 1830 when the Union Canal branch from Pine Grove to Middletown was completed, the Pine Grove branch at Middletown connected with the West to East branch of the canal which headed to Reading.

We will now take a closer look at the above scan of the ledger book that is dated Feb 3rd, 1832.

In the upper left we have "Sundries" to Simeon Guilford, the line below is "Boating", this is the account the charges were made to, the canal boats name was the "Independence", There are a few words in the entry that I can't figure out.

Toll on Independence from Port Mifflin to P Grove - 63,
with coal back to Port Mifflin - 42

Independence from Port Mifflin to Lebanon 1 ton castings, Capt had Rails ??? Toll - 7 1/12

Independence from Lebanon to Goor Mill

Carried forward  2,, 25 1/2

The above figures don't add up, maybe some viewer of this post might have more experience in 200 year handwriting, if so please let me know. I will be posting more on canal data in the future, there are names of canal boats, names of their Captains, what they hauled and where they came from, and where they went to. 

Double click on the above scan to enlarge it.

To view previous posts go to the upper far right of the Blog and click on archive dates.