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Sam Patch's Family and the Slater Mill
- Sam Patch's father, Mayo Greenleaf Patch, was a tenant farmer, shoemaker, and alcoholic.
- The family moved to Pawtucket, Rhode Island, where the Slater Mill, America's first water-powered textile mill, was located.
Child Labor at the Slater Mill
- The Slater Mill employed entire families, including children, who worked long hours in dangerous conditions.
- Children were tasked with replacing bobbins and repairing threads amidst the machinery.
Sam's Father's Imprisonment and Sam's Early Work
- Sam's father abandoned the family and ended up in prison for counterfeiting.
- At seven years old, Sam started working at the mill, leaving little time for anything else.