Jan.y  30th  1765 This Day I took Mr David Herrington's two Oxen to keep                went away ye  13th of May Elisha Amsden Dr to Cash 15/8 to keeping yr. Mare & Colt 4 Weeks, 10/8 to Cash 4/      setled Feb. 7 Ben.n Mun Jun.2 Dr 6th To a Horse to Montague 1/ 9th To a Horse to Northfield 2/ 18th Abijah Prince Dr To an old under Bed tick & 2 old Blankets  6/ Justen Bull Dr To a hors to Muddy Brook 8d March 8th Abijah Prince Cr By 1 Day at Mill 2/ April 6th By going to Mill 1/ 12th Took Mr. Rawson's Cow to keep 13th Eben.r Arms Dr To 1 Bushel Seed Corn 4/ March 4th Mr Elijah Williams Jun.r Dr To a Horse Journey to Pitsfield Mar 21st Took a pr of Oxen to keep for N. Catlin April 11th. N. Catlins Cattle went away- kept 3 Weeks April 1st Took 2 Horses to fat for Asahel Gun, @ 4/ for Week Each, Exclusive of provend took his Note 10th     Rawson Took away his Cow Dr To keeping his Cow 4 weeks & a Day            Mr Rufus Wells Dr omit-outr-14th-1764 To Cash you had of} 60/ Capt. Tele Cager of Westbury April 11th. 1765 Cr By Cash--------------------------33/4 15th By Cash------------------------------------24/ 1767 April 11th. By Cash------------------------------------2/8 16th. Abijah Prince Cr                                           1-13 4 by a Day work-----2/                                   1  4 2:17:4

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Like other shopkeepers in the eighteenth century, Salah Barnard kept daily accounts of what his customers bought, how much they owed, and if anything was used as a credit. In these pages from Barnard's account of 1765, Abijah Prince, a former slave, is listed as both a debtor and creditor. Abijah is credited "By a Day Work" and by doing specific things like reaping and making mortar. His debts range from purchasing goods like sugar and nails, to using other men's labor for running his own farm. These entries show that the economy in Deerfield, Massachusetts included men working on each other's farms when tasks like reaping and haying were performed. Using other men's slaves or indentured servants is evident with entries such as "to my Man & Cattle to get hay".

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Salah Barnard's Account Book

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