May 31 Monday – Western Union Telegraph Co. of Hartford billed Sam by the month. For May, the following: May 1 for delivery; May 4, 5, 14, 17, 27, 31 to New York; May 24, 26 to Elmira. Bills contain number of words written for each message sent, but did not specify the recipient [MTP]. Note: perhaps none of these telegrams has survived or can be identified. The Elmira messages were most likely either to the Langdons or the Cranes. Sam was sent an additional $4.20 bill for April and May telegrams [MTP].

J.P. Newton, Hartford merchant in “meat, poultry, game, fish & vegetables” billed $4.78 for purchases made Apr. 23, 30, May 5, 6, 7, 14, 21, 25, 28 for fish, lobster, crabs; paid June 2 [MTP]. This amount would hardly buy a guppy today.