| 901Samuel, a cooper, thought to have lived first in Braintree, Mass., subsequently moving to Boston, where he was granted 20 acres of land 24 Feb 1640, and was sworn a freeman 2 Jun 1641. In Boston, 18 Oct 1648, Thomas Venner, John Mileham, Samuel Bedfield, James Mattuck, and the "rest of the coopers, for the purpose of incorporating into a guild for mutual protection and for the benefit of the public and to prevent abuses in trade." Coopers represented the most important classes of artisans in th Colony's foreign and domestic commerce. They made and repaired barrels, hogsheads, butts, tubs, and casks of some varieties, and to them was assigned the responsibility for the safe shipping of liquids and perishables. The ability of shipments to endure long voyages and rough handling depended upon the cooper's skill. Perhaps their principal products were hogsheads for rum, molasses, and fish. |