Brinton Mills

On the west branch of Chester Creek, a short distance above Concord Township line, is Caleb Brinton's grist-mill. The tract on which it stands had been in the ownership of the Brinton family for many generations. In 1770 William Brinton owned the land, and in 1788, Joseph Brinton had there a saw-mill, malt-house, and brewery. In 1802 his son, John, and his grandson, Joseph Brinton, were operating a grist-mill which had been built about five years prior to that date. In 1815 the grist-mill was changed to a woolen-factory, and was operated by John and Joseph Brinton. In 1826 the mill contained one pair of stocks, two carding-engines, twenty-four and thirty-six inches, one billy of forty spindles, two jennies, of sixty and seventy spindles, and was then manufacturing from four to five hundred yards of satinets per week. At that time both John and Joseph Brinton were dead, and the factory was operated by William Marshall, who subsequently purchased and continued in business there until 1835, when the building was destroyed by fire. The real estate was bought by Caleb Brinton, who built a stone grist-mill, which he has owned and operated to the present time.[bib]703[/bib]