That village was at the convergence of the Paskamansett River and Destruction Brook and already had a number of mills of various sorts utilizing the water power of those streams. He purchased this 3/4 –acre property for 3 pounds 6 shillings from Giles Russell, a clother, who had a fulling mill alongside one of the streams and was a member of the Russell family after which the village was named.
A summary of the property description in the deed is as follows:
“For £ 3, 6s, for a tract of land in Dartmouth near my fulling mill lying in the fork or parting of the ways containing 3/4 acre, bounded as follows: beginning at a heap of stones in the south line of the way that leads by my house to Allens neck, said heap of stones is north 35 degrees east 8 1/4 rods from Michael Wainers dwelling house standing on the premises. Thence from said stone heap south 22 degrees east ten rods to another stone heap, thence south 25 degrees west about 3 1/2 rods to the other way leading out of Smiths Neck by the mills, the foregoing lines divides it off from the remainder of my land, all other ways bounded by said ways leading of the said neck. The premises with the buildings thereon and their appurtenances and stand seized thereof etc.”
This is the triangular property on which Devoll’s Store is currently located. Beverly Glennon lists Michael Wainer as the first owner of the property on which that store, owned by her and her husband, is located. It is also clear that Michael Wainer had a dwelling house on this property at the time he purchased it. It is not known precisely what Michael Wainer’s occupation was at this time, but there has been speculation that he was a cordwainer, or shoemaker, and possibly a tanner. Glennon states that there were tanneries located in this area, and Tannery Lane runs just south of the property that Michael Wainer owned, so although Glennon does not list him as one of the persons engaged in the tanning business in this area, it seems likely that he was operating a tannery at this location from 1776 to 1792.
It should be noted that Paul Cuffe and his new bride, Alice Abel Pequit, in 1783, were living not far up along Destruction Brook and Fisher Road in their “Indian –style house, but had probably moved over to the boat yard property by 1790.
On April 7, 1792, Michael Wainer and his wife Mary sold this property to William Howland, a merchant of Dartmouth, for 15 pounds with the dwelling house thereon standing. Mary also surrendered all her right and power of thirds (dower) in relation to these premises.