Was there a forge of any kind attached to the church? Perhaps a stable
where a blacksmith worked? The church might have required repairs or other
items manufactured. My 3great-grandfather was a charcoal burner in Essex
County in the early 1800's. Charcoal was sold to iron forges and the like.

Just a few thoughts,

Elizabeth Richardson
The Alaskan, November 1885 - march 1887
Newspaper Excerpts of Genealogical and Historical Interest
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> From: David Minor <[log in to unmask]>
> To: [log in to unmask]
> Subject: FWD, Charcoal Query
> Date: Wednesday, February 25, 1998 5:04 AM
>
> <fontfamily><param>Geneva</param>I received the following message from
> another member of my local BBS. I suggested that the charcoal was
> perhaps used in small portable room heaters or braziers. Anyone have
> other ideas? I'll forward them.
>
>
> Thanks in advance for any help,
>
>
> David Minor
>
>
>
>
> My wife and I are doing an in depth history of the Zion Episcopal
> Church in Palmyra, and currently we are reviewing the vestry minutes
> from 1823 to the present.  We have just discovered a 1907 notation that
> states that payment approval was granted for "coal and charcoal".  Coal
> I can comprehend, but charcoal??  Maybe it was a church barbeque <<g>
> but I don't really think so.  Probably used for heat in some way.  Were
> there some kind of charcoal burners used for heating?  What comes to
> mind that would require purchase of charcoal?
>
> </fontfamily>
>
> David Minor
>
> Eagles Byte Historical Research
>
> Rochester, New York
>
> 716 264-0423
>
>
> http://home.eznet.net/~dminor