John Wells letter to Thomas Rotch, Hartford, 8 mo 28, 1811

              A-361-1
page 1
                                                 Hartford 8 Mo 28, 1811
    Dear Friend   I have for consdierable time been waning to mention to thee some considerations relating to our mutual concerns in business. In the first place I wish thee if possible to seel the Oil Mill to Joseph Lynde and recieve payment theyself one half ot apply to the payment of my notes in thy Hands.  From viewing the siuation of things I am led to question the propriety of repairing them our selves; one reason for which is the smallness of the stream, that if one part is made good another will leak out the water: with many other reasons. I know of no other prospect of selling them.
     I want to mention for thy advice and approbation if right, another consideration. I have thought of buying the old millls of Seimours for my paints and Ink, of using the grist mill for Plaster of Paris, for my paints and ink and a wool carder, and of removing the Oil Mill to where this Saw Mill stands. Thou may think this a wild project, I have no haste about it, but it is my duty to look around and see what I shall do. This is certainly an illegible stand for an oil mill, and it is adapted by nature for that Oil mill. For either Mill it wants but little new besides the water wheels; though I am sensible that in all, would be a heavy undertaking.  I might also propose to arrange with thee for exce[illegible] a garder from the other mill provided it falls into thy hadns, after [illegible] have done with it. 
    There is besides the mill and a clear title to their [illegible] a house which rent for forty six dollars pr year, under a ground rent of five dollars. I suppose I can have the whole on five years credit for fifteen hundred Dollars, interest paid annually. The dam will do for the present. William Weller tells me the Mill
Stones, spindles &