Traveling back in time from Gary Leveille’s story about the Duryea Mill in Stockbridge [SU, Volume 2, # 21] is evidence for the first mill constructed on that site. 243 years ago, a Mohican widow Hannah Nepaulum sold about 1/3 of an acre for a mill.

{H Nepaulum to M. Barnum — B 13, P 182 (1778) Registry of Deeds, Pittsfield }

Know all men by these Presents, that I Hannah Nepaulum widow of Joseph Wemhewey of Stockbridge in the County of Berkshire and State of Massachusetts Bay Indian woman in consideration of three pounds lawful money, paid me by Moses Barnum of this town, county and state aforesaid Cloathier. The receipt whereof I do hereby acknowledge I do hereby give, grant, sell and convey to the said Moses Barnum his heirs and assigns forever a certain piece of land lying in Stockbridge aforesaid and on the East side of the old Mill Brook and as adjoining to said Brook where the saw Mill stood and beginning at the Road where it crosses said Brook and to extend one Rod East from said Brook, then to extend 9 Rods down said, and to be 2 Rods wide at the lowers or South and with the Privileges of the Stream for building a fulling Mill.

TO HAVE and to HOLD, the same to the said Moses Barnum his heirs to his and their own proper use and behoof forever. And I do covenant with the said Moses Barnum his heirs and assigns, that I am lawfully seized in fee of the Premises, that they are free of all Incumbrances, that I have good right to sell and convey the same to the said Moses Barnum to hold as aforesaid, and that I will warrant and defend the same to the said Moses Barnum heirs and assigns forever, against the Lawful claims and Demands of all Persons. In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal this 17th day of June A.D. 1778. Signed sealed and delivered in presence of Jah Woodbridge, Lucy Woodbridge. Hannah Nepaulum and Seal

Berkshire SS: June 17th 1778 Personally appeared Hannah Nepaulum Signer and Sealer to the within Instrument and acknowledged the same to be her free act and Deed before Jah Woodbridge, Justice of Peace

May 11, 1779, Received and Recorded from the Original by Moses Hopkins, Reg.