Brown-Crocker

"A judge Oliver of Salem owned a range of lots commencing on Cowden's land near the Fox House, so-called, and thence extending on the river to where Phillips brook unites with the Nashua. This tract embraced the whole of the village (of Fitchburg) and of Crockersville. He also owned a tract a mile square on Dean Hill, so-called, in the westerly part of the town. Judge Oliver or his heirs sold both these tracts to Elias Haskell, who came to this town and built the house now owned by Captain Dean. This Haskell, by selling lots and loaning his money, was reported to be very rich, but he was doomed to experience a reverse of fortune; he was compelled to receive his pay in the pernicious paper currency of the times, which depreciated so rapidly that it soon came to be but little better than brown paper. He afterwards purchased a small sandy farm in the northeasterly part of Lancaster, where he lived for some years and died in poverty." The tradition in the family represents that it was a sense of patriotism and a confidence that the national government would meet in full all its obligations that led Mr. Haskell to take and keep the paper money that finally proved to be worthless.