Till': SYCAMORK MILL. 95 



niilliuo business. In the following year the mill, which was 

 called " Providence Mill," was built. The original old mill, 

 with various additions and alterations, remained standing up 

 to the time of its total destruction by- fire on August 30th, 

 1901. It was a stone building, thirty feet by thirty-two feet, 

 and two stories high. Previous to this there had been pur- 

 chased, in the name of John Kdge, a tract of two and three- 

 fourths acres in Edgmont township for the purpose of obtain- 

 ing dam and race privileges, each partner contributing ^,5 2s. 

 8d. toward the purchase. This small tract was thereafter 

 alvvaj's conveyed with the mill property in its various transfers. 



Some thirty years after the erection of the grist mill, there 

 was erected a saw mill in connection with the business. This 

 was located on the creek side of the race, near the grist mill, 

 and was more or less regularly operated until the flood of 

 1S43, when it was washed away, being, however, subse- 

 quently rebuilt and operated for many years thereafter. 



In connection with the saw mill there was an arrangement 

 by which " when the grist mill wanted water from the dam 

 and there was not enough for both, the saw mill was to stand 

 idle." No doubt this condition was the cause of considerable 

 ill feeling at times. 



In addition to its complicated line of title, the mill pro- 

 perty has been singularly favored in the matter of the number 

 of persons who have from time to time held it under lease. 

 Thus, on September i6th, 1746, William Hanimons leased his 

 one-third interest in the Providence Mill to Lawrence Cox for 

 twenty-one years, which lease was endorsed to Thomas Bishop 

 for the remainder of the term. Again, Lawrence Cox on 

 April 25th, 1 75 1, leased to Thomas Minshall, John Minshall, 

 Thomas Yarnall and John Cox for fourteen years a certain 

 saw mill adjoining the grist mill. 



On February 17th, 1753, John Cox, doubtless with the con- 

 sent of the other owners, leased the grist and merchant mill, 

 with two pairs of stones and three bolting sheets, to John 

 Williamson, Henr>- Howard, Henrv Caldwell, Lawrence Cox. 



