History at the Old Stone Fort - Counterfeits & Coffin Receipt

Imitation Half Pennies

These two imitation half pennies, dated 1787 and depicting King George III, were likely produced at Thomas Machin’s mills. Though technically counterfeit, such small-denomination coins were widely accepted. Machin, an engineer, is also known for constructing the massive chains across the Hudson River during the American Revolution to block British ships. These were sent to us by the Old Stone Fort’s Clay Edmunds.

Receipt for Coffin from War of 1812

This receipt shows that $3.50 was paid to Elijah Harlow to make a coffin and dig a grave for Ebenezer White, a Sharon farmer and War of 1812 veteran who served as a gunner in Captain Giles Kellogg’s Volunteer Artillery Company.