Sampson Jaqueth

Sampson Jaqueth

Sampson Jaqueth died in 1874 at the age of 73. He was a prominent salt producer. The Jaqueth block a fifty kettle boiling block,was created in 1856 by Stephen Van Alstine but was later purchased by Jaqueth. The chimney of this salt it is considerably shorter today than its original height. Mr.Jaqueth was a member of the first village Board of Health, appointed in 1849. One side of the tall Jaqueth monument contains the following information: Charles-Son of Sampson and Louisa

July 10, 1840

Age 6 years

Drowned in the canal

Liverpool owes its existence , and perhaps even its name, to the salt industry. During the early development of the industry ,v salt was used as a barter item for other products. Farmers could use salt to season and preserve food, make whitewash and tan leather. In turn the salt makers needed the food produce of the farms. A bushel of corn might be exchanged for four bushels of salt or sauerkraut might be exchanged for salt.

The Erie canal which opened in 1825, was a boom to the salt industry. In time the industry paid over half the cost of canal through an special salt dusty. This earned the canal the nickname, the ditch that salt built. The building of the canal also helped the industry in another way. Onondaga lake was lowered as part of the canal project. Prior to that the lake basin was a very unhealthy place during the summer months. Malaria and various agues and fevers caused many of the salt works to shut down during the sickly season as salt boilers moved to the upland.

The salt industry also played a vital role in the Civil War. The Confederate government was unable to supply its army with fresh meat and provisions while the North could depend on Onondaga salt. The Lincoln administration acknowledged this when they exempted salt employees from military service. Both the salt industry and the canal brought to Liverpool a group of workers who often times released the frustration of a long, hard hours of work with brawls and the consumption of immense quantities of beer. The village records for the years 1860-1890 are filled with tales of drunkenness, brawls, and random violence, much attributed to "salt boilers" and "canawlers."

The salt industry was responsible for employing not only the boilers and packers but also coopers, blacksmiths, and boatmen.

In addition to all the salt men of Liverpool there were also two women salt producers, Mrs. H.J Beggs and Mrs. E.A Stanley.

Transcribed by:

Akil Y.W, Quzaire H, Josiah R.