HISTORY: Big South Fork Salt Works, Isaac Cooper Deposition, Wayne Co, Ky Date: Sun, 18 Oct 1998 21:28:49 -0400 Submitter: Lanny R. Slavey The Deposition of Isaac Cooper in the Case of Conn V. Francis, Wayne County KY (taken in Jackson Co. AL) _____ Alabama } Jackson County Pursuant to a Commission to me directed by the Honorable Judge of the Circuit Court of Wayne County Kentucky I have this day at the dwelling house (of) James Cooper - preceded to take the deposition of Isaac Cooper- a certain matter of controversy depening in said court between Stephen T. Conn & John Francis said Isaac Cooper after being duly sworn deposeth & sayeth Q 1st by plantiff do you or do you not know the length of time you was in Stephen T. Conn's employ at the salt works-Ans. I worked one year in sd. Conns employ at one hundred and nine or ten dollar the one or the other also that he worked some time afterwards at fifty Cents for day the number of days not extly recollected and about the same time, found meat and packed to the salt works-that between the days worked and packing of meat he supposes to the amount of sixteen or seventeen dollars-Exclusive afsd. years work Q 2nd by plaintiff Did or did not Henry Francis bring a pack of Cards to the salt works for the purpose of gaming-Answ. He had a pack of cards at that place and did gamble with some of said Conn's hands-and he supposes the cards were brought to that place for the purpose of gambling the wages of said Conn's hand from them Q 3rd by plaintiff -Was or was not the hand of John Francis Constant at their work during the time of your being at that place and your knowledge of the place afterwards Answ. No -they were not constant hands neither at the time he worked at that place nor afterwards-as he was frequently at that place after he had done working there Q 4th by plaintiff -Did said Francis bring any tools for working at sd. place or did you understand that said Conn found most or all the working tools Ans his understanding was that all the working instruments belonged to sd. Conn-except one ax and that _?_Francis took away from that place in a short time Q 5 by plaintiff -Did you understand that Henry Francis & James Rial-was in Copartership with John Francis-Answ. Henry Francis & James Rial both told me they were in Co. With John Francis-also told me what part they were to have - but cannot recollect -what part it was Q 6th by palintiff -Do you know whether said Conn brought Articles of different descriptions to that place for the purpose of operating and carying on the business of the salt works-Answ. said Conn first brought one waggon load consisting blacksmith Tools- Iron- steel- files and other utensils suitable for the business also a second waggon load consisting saddles- bridles- drygoods Iron a considerable quanity and steel Q 7th by plaintiff-What do you suppose to be the amount of value of both loads -Ans. I assisted in weghing and laying away the two load I seen the transport (?) and suppose they must be worth somewhere about two thouand dollars - Q 8th by plaintiff -Did said Francis find provisions for his hands while at work at that place Answ. The said hands did not work constant-but what time they did work sd. Conn had to find the hands provisions part of the time also that said hands proposed to sd. Conns hands to eat with them now-sd. Conns hands should eat with them another time-but the time sd. Conns hands to eat with sd. Frances,s hand never came Q 9th by the plaintiff During the time you worked did or do you think a manager was actually necessary Answ. As it was a Considerable Distance from any inhabitants -and a difficult way of taking provisions & other things to that place-that without a manager to superinherd (? probably superintend) the business of the place -there would have been nothing done to advantage Q 10th by plaintiff-Dou know of sd. Conn frequently when he came to that place bring money with him to carry on the business Answ. Every time sd. Conn returned to the works -from home - he brought a quanity with him -for that purpose & it was laid out for the purpose of carrying on the salt works And believes was appropreated to that purpose Q 11 th by Do Was it or was not the most unhandy place you ever worked at- Ans. It was the most unhandy place (I) have -And the most unconvient to transport any Body to (and) from that I have ever worked at Q 12th by Do Was three hands sufficient to carry on the business of that place or not - Ans. While I worked there three hands was not sufficient to carry it on and that five was not too many and sometimes as much as five could do Q 13th by Do Did or did not the sd. Conn have any _?_ hands in his employment at that place that you know of Ans. Not while I was there nor during my acquaintance them and sometimes scarcely could make out to carry on the business with what was there. Q 14 by Do Did you ever know ever know or ever find any incorrect statements on sd. Conn's books when you came to settle with him-Ans I had dealings with said Conn to considerable amount and made several settlements with him and always found his statements correct I do hearby Certify that agreeable to the ___ Commission -Isaac Cooper Came before me the subscribing justice of the peace and being duly sworn the above questions was proposed & the answers as stated givin under my hand and seal this 8th day of October 1821 H. D. Russell a justice of the peace of Jackson Co. Transcribed by Lanny R. and Sharon E. Slavey ============================================================================ USGENWEB NOTICE: In keeping with our policy of providing free genealogical information on the Internet, data may be freely used for personal research and by noncommercial entities, as long as this message remains on all copied material. These electronic pages may not be reproduced in any format, or presentation by other organizations or persons. 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