“In the first place, take this for your motto at the commencement of your journey, that the difference of going just right, or a little wrong, will be the difference of finding yourself in good quarters, or in a miserable bog or slough, at the end of it.  Of the whole number educated in the Groton stores for some years before and after myself, no one else, to my knowledge, escaped the bog or slough; and my escape I trace to the simple fact of my having put a restraint upon my appetite.  We five boys were in the habit, every forenoon, of making a drink compounded of rum, raisins, sugar, nutmeg, &c., with biscuit,—­all palatable to eat and drink.  After being in the store four weeks, I found myself admonished by my appetite of the approach of the hour for indulgence.  Thinking the habit might make trouble if allowed to grow stronger, without further apology to my seniors I declined partaking with them.  My first resolution was to abstain for a week, and, when the week was out, for a month, and then for a year.  Finally, I resolved to abstain for the rest of my apprenticeship, which was for five years longer.  During that whole period, I never drank a spoonful, though I mixed gallons daily for my old master and his customers."[1]

The following advertisement is found in the Columbian Centinel (Boston), June 8, 1805:—­

  James Brazer,

Would inform the public that having dissolved the Copartnership lately subsisting between Aaron brown, Esq.  Samuel Hale and the subscriber; he has taken into Copartnership his son William F. Brazer, and the business in future will be transacted under the firm of

  James brazer & son;

They will offer for sale, at their store in Groton, within six days a complete assortment of English, India, and W. India goods, which they will sell for ready pay, at as low a rate as any store in the Country.

  James brazer.

  Groton, May 29, 1805.

“’Squire Brazer,” as he was generally called, was a man of wealth and position.  He was one of the founders of Groton Academy, and his subscription of L15 to the building-fund in the year 1792 was as large as that given by any other person.  In the early part of this century he built the house now belonging to the Academy and situated just south of it, where he lived until his death, which occurred on November 10, 1818.  His widow, also, took a deep interest in the institution, and at her decease, April 14, 1826, bequeathed to it nearly five thousand dollars.

After Mr. Brazer’s death the store was moved across the street, where it still remains, forming the ell of Gerrish’s block.  The post-office was in the north end of it, during Mr. Butler’s term as postmaster.  About this time the son, William Farwell Brazer, built a store nearly opposite to the Academy, which he kept during some years.  It was made finally into a dwelling-house, and occupied by the late Jeremiah Kilburn, whose family still own it.