Page:History of Barrington, Rhode Island (Bicknell).djvu/397

LANDLORD BOWEN'S DAY BOOK. 317 On Henry Bowen's Barrington tavern account book there may be found frequent charges for the use of his carts and horses. Among these is a most curious entry. From this it appears that Hezekiah Kinnicutt had occasion to attend the funeral of his brother's child, and like most of his neigh- bors on such occasions, he resorted to Bowen's conveyance. On August 18, 1777, Henry Bowen wrote upon his book this charge : " Hezekiah Kinnicutt, Dr. To my Slay over to the Funeral of yr Brother Shubael's child, and almost wore out the runners, . 6s." If this entry is of the same date as the funeral of Shu- bael's child, a *' slay" would seem to be a peculiar convey- ance for midsummer, and there seems to be some reason in assuming it to be so, for he "almost wore out the runners." T: "'1 The wear on the horse does^appear to have been considered. When an outfit was procured for the trip to the neigh- boring town the charge was three pence a mile, and the entries for such read as follows : " To my horse to ride to Seaconnet, 24 miles, at 3d. ,6s." "To my horse and cart to go to Josiah Kent of Rehoboth, lod." Careful accounts were kept of the expenses of the stable; "shooting," horse " steeling two before," and other charges were carefully noted. It is doubtful if Squire Bowen meant exactly what he wrote when he made this entry : " Israel Barney of Swansey, Dr. To my scow one day taken from yr own mouth, 26" for this scow was used for such purposes as " loading Crom- well Childs schooner," " freighting i Bbl of ginger bread & I of Biskit," and " loading marsh hay." The charges for entertainment at his tavern are here recorded. Break- fast was Qd, while dinner at the tavern was is, 6}id. Most of his guests had dinner at this latter named price. John Tripp and his wife put up at the inn on the loth of