In 1820, the partners added another venture. They made connections
with the Warwick Cotton Manufacturing Company. This was a yarn mill,
situated of course in Warwick, and equally of course managed by a man
named Greene.
The Warwick yarn was handled as the other yarn had been handled. There
was a written contract. And lucky for Brayton and Bowers that there
was. For in 1821, the partners cut their losses and stopped trading
with the Warwick Cotton Mill. They received a letter from the Manager.
“I am somewhat disappointed in your discontinuing the bargain so soon”
wrote Mr. Greene to Mr. Brayton. “However, you had the priveledge of
quitting when you thought proper.”
An unusually large part of the Warwick yarn went into the homes of the
weavers of Troy. This can be seen in the Warwick Yarn Book.
From Pawtucket, in October, 1821, Brayton and Bowers received a letter
offering more yarn to weave. The letter was signed by J. H. Gridley. I
do not know what Corporation Mr. Gridley represented.
----“Wish you to write by the first mail, as we have written to others
who no doubt will do it for us----but we should prefer your having it.
We shall have a great deal of yarn to put out for a year--”
I insert this bit of apparent futility that you may see that Israel was
“approached” by even more business concerns than he could trade with.
He certainly branched out. But not, I think, into Pawtucket. There is
nothing more about Mr. Gridley in the barrel.