From the diary of Ebenezer Graves, a document sent to us by the Walpole Historical Society on February 20, 1997:
- May the 7th 1850. Tuesday. Addison & I worked making a ditch north side the garden. Father mended fence with Mr. Perry in forenoon. P.M. helped about the ditch.
- 8) Finished ditch & drew a few poles for fence. Rece'v'd scions from Boston. Pleasant. Transplanted 2 doz peach trees & 1/2 doz cherry trees.
- 9) Lowry A.M. Cleared off cool and windy. Finished cart-body & tras'p'd 8 apple trees.
- 10) Father & mother went to the Falls to trade. Sold tallow at ten cents. James picked stone. Addison & I mended fence in forenoon, picked stone in afternoon.
- 11) We ploughed our first furrows, (this year) to-day. We got Capt's cattle and plowed the garden & spot below & drawed 8 loads of manure onto corn-ground.
- 12) Sunday. We went to meeting, to Buckland, except James. Mr. Cummings preached.
- 13) Manured the garden, & sowed some, planted early potatoes, set out currant bushes, etc. etc.
14) Got Phillips's oxen & drawed manure. Sowed parsnip seed.
- 15) We plowed little in the morning but it rained the rest of the day so we piled up the sheep manure.
- 16) Rainy day, except the latter part P.M. Addison & I went over to Unkle Seth's. Darvin came here.
- 17) Addison & I set over 300 apple scions to-day. Father & James plowed some[...]
- 18) Plowing, spread[ing man]ure, planting ear[ly...] picking stone, etc. etc.
- 19) Sunday. Father, mot[her, and] James went to Buckl[and] to meeting. Addison, on plain. & I to Conway.
- 20) Lowry day, though [...] & I worked for Capt [in the]
forenoon. Rained most of [...]
- 21) William & I mende[d] fence in forenoon. In [...] went to Churchys, to[...] barn, but it rained & we did not finish Nero milk's cow yesterday.
- 22) Oiled harnesses in A.M., manured & planted corn P.M.
- 23) Another rainy day. I went to the plain then to Unkle James's. Addison went fishing.
- 24) Made a bridge south the barn-yard. Puttering about one thing and another.
- 25) Addison & I worked for Capt. Father & James planted some. It mists a little just at night.
- 26) Sunday. Wet day. We all stayed at home. One brood of turkeys.
- 27) Rainy day. Father shaved shingle, the boys went fishing.
- 28) Very fair & warm, till latter part P.M. Planted a little corn, got in some oats. Showry, just night settled into a storm. Scraped some apple trees.
- 29) Pleasant and warm, but to wet to do any-thing at planting. Worked in garden some [...ld] some apple trees etc. etc. etc.
- [30] Misty, damp day, though [...] drawed manure up south, [...] being terrible muddy.
- [31] Cloudy day, rained after [fo]ur o'clock. Drawed manure & [p]lowed some, Capt's cattle.
- [Jun]e 1st) Cloudy most all day, [cle]ard of just night, wind in [...]th-east. Plowed and planted [..]e. Father went Falls P.M.
- 2) Sunday. Some showery. I went Conway meeting, the rest to Ashfield. Mr. Stone preached.
- 3) A little showery this P.M. Plowed and planted potatoes.
- 4) Thank God, we have had a fair day to-day. All in a hurry, manuring and planting corn.
- 5) Drew manure in forenoon, finished planting corn in afternoon. Very fair and warm.
- 6) Pleasant & hot weather. We finished planting corn & potatoes to-day & planted some beans and plowed some for sowing.
- 7) Addison & I, Joseph & George worked for Unkle George Hall planting corn. Father & James sowed barley and dragged it in.
- 8) Addison, James & I went to the west brooks fishing. Got 7 3/4 lbs, or 13 (?) in number, & some honeysuckle bushes. Showry just night.
- 9) Sunday. All went to meeting on the plain, except James & I. It looks some rainy tonight.
- 10) It rained last night & we had a hard shower this afternoon.
- 11) Some showery. Sowed carrots & beets in forenoon, carted dirt into the hogyard in afternoon. Got a calf from Mr. Wards.
- 12) Father, mother, & James started for N. Adams this morning.
- 13) Doing one thing and another, nothing very urgent. Going fishing on the pond to-night.
- 14) Went fishing, stayed 'till about half past one. Our company got about 15 or 16 lbs. Our share was little over 5 lbs. and one of them weighed about 2. There is a snow bank on our farm yet nearly 2 feet deep. Snow has been kept there till Independence time. Hoed little corn this afternoon.
- 15) Washed sheep and hoed corn. Folks got home from Adams about eleven o'clock A.M.
- 16) Sunday. All went to church except father who stayed at home. Mr. Withington preached very ably.
- 17) Hoed corn today. Pleasant.
- 18) Worked on the road to-day. Hottest day we've had this year.
- 19) Finished hoeing corn first time. Full as warm as it was yesterday.
- 20) Hot forenoon, showry afternoon. Peeled some hemlock bark A.M.
- 21) Plowed some for buckwheat, & hoed potatoes.
- 22) Got our buckwheat in in the forenoon, father & Addison carted dirt into the barnyard in the afternoon, & I sheared 8 sheep. It rained some just night.
- 23) Sunday. Rainy forenoon, cleared off in afternoon. father went to see Aunt Maryann. Susan Perkins is here, has been here several days. A hard shower just at night.
- 24) Father drew tow loads on to the plain to Mr Miller. Addison and I hoed corn besides drawed staging poles for shingling the barn, one side.
- 25) Sheared the rest of the sheep to-day, Anson Phillips sheared 20. I sheared 14, & Addison sheared 6 and Father did up the wool.
Paid Anson one dollar for his work.
- 26) Unkle Addison came over here and we have shingled about one half one side of the barn to-day.
- 27) Father, Addison & I fin[ished] shingling the barn and [...]
everything cleared awa[y...] it took till dark. It [...] just begun to rain, si[...]
- 28) Rainy day. Got out grist and father went [...] milk. Piled the old sh[ingles] that came off fr[...] the barn. Ground two scythes, and hoed som[...] -ly potatoes second ti[me.] Susan Perkins went home to-day.
- 29) Another lowry day, and rather lazy day too. Run about some in forenoon. Boys sprouted some potatoes. In afternoon father hoed corn for Mr Williams & Addison and I went over to see Mary Phillips' school. Think she is doing well in it. A very hard shower after 5 P.M.
- 30) Sunday. All went to meeting except James. Aunt Mary Ann Hall was buried to-day. She died yesterday. The funeral was at the church was filled with more than could be seated. The funeral was in the afternoon.
- July the 1st) Addison & I [...] for Appoluss Williams [...] the forenoon. In the [af]ternoon, cultivated out [...]me corn, and potatoes, [...]r ourselves, and hoed some [...]
- [2)] Rainy day. Father went [to...] the plain between showers [in] the forenoon. In afternoon [...] worked three hours [...]tching Mr wards west [...] and got only 'bout half done. The rest of us transplanted some turnip plants. Not cleared at dark.
- 3) Very wet day. Did some running about. Father mending. Addison and James went fishing in afternoon and got 63 in number.
4) Dull times. Nothing doing anywhere near. The Finpotters had a great ball at Crosses last night. We hoed some potatoes in afternoon. In forenoon we went on to the plain and got a horse rake. Price, ten $. Our mare foaled last night. The colt is cream colored, with 3 white legs and a white spot in face. A mare colt this time. It has white mane and tail.
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5) Hoed corn and potatoes for Mr Ward until about 3, o'clock, then we hoed some potatoes for ourselves. It rained some, just night.
- 6) Finished our hoeing, without we hoe our potatoes 2nd time or corn 3rd time. We had a very hard shower in the fore part of the night.
- 7) We all went to meeting today at the church. Pleasant but cool day.
- 8) Began haying today over the hill, and tried our new horse-rake. It works first rate. We raked the first part of the lot..
- 9) Did a large days work at haying, drew home two loads. Horse rake helps a great deal, even on the roughest ground.
- 10) First-rate hay-day, got the whole of the Ward lot mowing mowed and 3 more loads home, and all the rest raked into winrow.
- 11) Finished the other lot and mowed considerable at home. We got that lot in 3 1/2 days, which is the quickest we ever got it, by much.
- 12) Been haying back of the house. Got it all cut and about half into the barn. We had Appolus Williams cattle to get the hay from other lot, but used our steers today.
- 13) Finished the lot back of the house, and got the "Little Orchard" piece mowed and all cocked up, besides going to the Plain just night.
- 14) I went to Conway to meeting the rest all stayed at home.
- 15) Lowry day. Father went and got the mare shod, and Addison and I mowed some in the road. Got in one load of green hay.
- 16) Rather poor hay-day, though we worked at haying all day. Got all the hay from Little Orchard. But we got all the hay wet which we mowed today and yesterday by showers in the afternoon. I went over to Unkle addison's last night and staid over night with Darwin. Had a grand good visit. Did not go to sleep 'til after 12.
- 17) It rained some in forenoon and we didn't do any thing to the hay till most noon. We finally got it about dry enough and got most of it into the [...] The wind is in south [...] and has been several [...] We draw the hay with the m[...]
- 18) Another poor hay-d[ay] though we got one l[oad] dry enough, and some that lay [...] the swath we got dry [...] to cock up but did n[ot] mow any to-day. Wind so[...]
- 19) People never recolle[ct] of more rain falling in one half day than fell this forenoon, and it rained a great deal this afternoon. It will cost the town considerable to repair the roads and bridges. A great deal hay and grass spoiled, or nearly so. Darwin came over last night and staid 'till most noon today. I went over to Unkle James's and to the plain this afternoon. The wind south-west, and is stormy yet. No sign of fair weather.
- 20) Rainy till most noon, when the wind shifted into N.W. I did some running about in forenoon. In afternoon we opened our hay and dried it some and cocked [...] again, besides mowing [...] of the afternoon. The [...nds] have not gone over [...]t, and it sprinkled just night.
- [21)] Sunday. All went [...] meetingon the plain. [...] has cleared off finally [...] we have had a fair warm [...]. Hope for fair weather.
- 22) Fine day. We have got our haying along a considerable. Having drawn in six loads and got three more ready to go in We draw from 20 to 25 tumbles at a load.
- 23) Another fine hay-day. Father has been about half sick today. We have got along first rate to-day, having drawn in 7 loads, and left one out.
- 24) Drew in 4 loads to-day which cleared all north of the road. Now there is none to get but the south lot. I went and raked with our horse-rake, for Mr Ward a half an hour to-day.
- 25) We mowed till about 2 o'clock, then went to raking. Got some over a third raked and cocked up, it not being dry enough to get in, then it rained some and wet the rest. I have been some sick this afternoon and had a real vomiting spell. It has cleared off and bids fair to be a good hay-day tomorrow, but I expect to be the boy in the field, being so weak.
- 26) I have got about well, but am rather weak yet. I did not pretend to do any work today till most night when I tumbled some hay. They got along pretty well without me.
- 27) This finishes a week of good hay-days, except thursday, in which we had a shower, and hay wet. I have been as smart as ever to-day. We mowed till about noon, then rested till 1/4 past 1 o'clock, then after that we turned most of the hay which we mowed, then went to getting in hay. We got two loads which was mowed yesterday which took till about four o'clock. Then we went to raking, and got it all raked, and most-all tumbled before supper. After supper we got four loads in, and pitched three of them off before dark. Loads averaged over 20 tumbles each.
- 28) Lowry day. Father, mother and James went to meeting in the forenoon. Dr Knowlton's child and Mr Doras Graves were buried to day.
- 29) Worked haying for George Hall. Poor hay-day.
- 30) Rainy day and I came home. Went to Unkle James's just night. Mr Joseph Hall's barn struck by lightning and burned with 100's tons of his best hay, and cart. It was insured for a hundred dollars, which pays about half the loss.
- 31) Worked out haying today same place. Shall help him through
- August the first) Another rainy day. [The following is crossed out: which did a great deal damage to the roads in south of this town and Conway, carrying off some bridges.]
- 2) Did about 1/2 day's work, got in about 1/2 of our hay, the other 1/2 got as wet as it could. The rain this day did a great deal damage to roads and bridges in [...] part this this town and Con[way.]
- 3) Not much hay-weather [...] day, so I came home, and b[...] budding some and worked [for] Mr Ward most of afterno[on.] This makes out a week of [...] poor hay-weather.
- 4) Sunday. Mother and [Ad]dison went to meeting [...] wind is in the S.W. Not ve[ry] fair weather. Very hot.
- 5) No hay-weather to-day either. No rain here, but it rained all around us. I did some budding, worked Mr Ward some, went to the plain &c &c. Father and Addison worked killing weeds among potatoes.
- 6) Worked for Unkle George haying.
- 7) Worked today till 4 o'clock then came home.
- 8) I went to Conway to-day expecting to go to Amherst to Commencement, but unforescen obstacles hindered, so that we did not go. However, I had a good visit, and did not get home till half past nine o'clock, at night.
- 9) No hay-day. Father & James [w]ent to Conway and carried [...t]he potatoes, and brought [..e] a barrel of flour. Potatoes [...]ones brought 50 cents per [...]shel, old 2 shillings. Paid [...] for flour which was ex-[...] fine. I dug some potatoes [...] hoed carrots in forenoon, [...] afternoon went to Mr Church's with Wm after some minerals, got some nice specimens of Tourmaline, and some others.
- 10) Worked another day haying. Very good hay-day.
- 11) Sunday. Pleasant and comfortably warm. Mother & I went to Mr Clarck's meeting, Addison & James to the Church. Father staid at home.
- 12) Rather poor hay-day, but Unkle George & I mowed and got in two loads though they were rather green.
- 13) Lowry weather and I came home. But it did not rain any till about four o'clock. Just night it rains very much and in the evening. Our folks finished mowing first crop to-day.
- 14) Wind N.E. & cloudy, but no rain. I went to Conway after some buds, and set them after I got home. Cleared off just night.
- 15) Addison & I dug stone for wall in fore-noon, in afternoon, got the rest of our hay into the barn, which finishes our haying. Very poor hay-day and considerable rain fell in latter part of afternoon. Father has been making stone-boat. Not done.
- 16) No hay weather to-day. It rained some in afternoon. Addison and I dug stone some in the forenoon, and went in to see the school in afternoon.
- 17) Finished haying for Unkle George. Our school closed to-day and Addison went and carried the teacher home. I have been at work out haying for three weeks, and have worked only seven days, owing to rainy, and bad hay weather. Father and Addison dug stone today and James mowed one peice of barley.
- 18) Sunday. Father & Addison went to Conway to the Church meeting. Mr Withington preached. Mother and I went on the hill to meeting and James staid at home. Very pleasand and comfortable. Cool nights.
- 19) Addison has gone to (ill.) Hallis to work haying. Father, James & I mowed some brakes up on the "Little Pasture," and mowed the rest of our barley besides visiting most of the day with Mr Packard's folks from Conway. After they were gone we raked our brakes and the first peice of barley which was cut.
- 20) Rather lowry and Addison came home. Mother went over to Appolus's to watch with their boy who is sick with dysentery and did not get home till after noon to-day so I had to get breakfast and dinner, wash the dishes, skim the milk &c &c and finally I got supper though ruth Philips & Mary Edson was here to supper. We mowed some brakes in forenoon, cocked up what we mowed yesterday, raked the rest of our barley, piled some stove wood under the shed, & I budded some apple trees and peach peach trees. Addison has gone over to Unkle Addison's to stay over night and visit. Not much rain yet.
- 21) Addison has gone to Hawley to notify Appolus Williams's friends of the death of his child which died last evening. Father, James & I are getting brakes. Mr Withington [...] here this afternoon and [...] Pleasant weather. [...]
- 22) I watched with the c[...] last night night. Arnold [...] Drake sat up part of the n[ight] with me. Funeral to-day a[t] twelve o'clock. Mr Clark attended the funeral. I have been little unwell this afternoon, a bit of a relax about me.
- 23) I am better to-day, though I did not work much. Our folks got the barley in, and Father and mother went to Hawley after supper. Addison I went to the plain just night.
- 24) Our folks got home from Hawley after dark to-night. Unkle Otis is sick with dysentery though rather better now. I went over to help Mr Yeomans raise his old shed and move it. Staid till most noon and came home, there not being a chance to do much. Thrashed a little barley this afternoon, and reap some oats.
- 25) Sunday. It has rained most of the time from sunrise to sunset. A great deal rain has fallen today. Of course we all staid at home.
- 26) A showry day; two of us thrashed barley, the other two reaped oats. I have been rather slim (though I worked most of the time) in consequence of a boil on my foot. I has just broken, and hope it will [...] better tomorrow.
- [27)] Windy, cool day. Finished reaping [...] and thrashing barley.
- [28)] Started about four o'clock this [mo]rning for Putney V.T. Got [to] Greenfield about 9, took the [car]s about ten, and arrived at Brattleboro about eleven, staid there about two hours, then went on. Got to Unkle Allens a little past five. Found all well.
- 29) Visited today with grandma and the rest of them except Jerome, he having went of yesterday morning and not home yet
- 30) Jerome came home this morning, and I visited with him most of the day. Pleasant time
- 31) Bid them all good bye and started about four for home. Arrived at Brattleboro, took the cars at 1/4 before eight, was in Greenfield at nine. The country between Putney and Brattleboro is filled with Irish and Irish hands which find employ on the railroad which is building there. We started for home a little after two and got home about nine last night, tired though had a very pleasant time of it.
- September the 1st) Sunday. A little lowry this morning. Prof. John W. Webster was hung last friday at Boston. Addison went to meeting half day. Father and mother went to Unkle James's to see and help them for two or three of them have got the dysentery. James and I staid at home. Wind south-west and very little rain sprinles
- 2) Rather lowry day. A great deal of rain fell this evening. Father came home from Unkle James's this morning, but mother has not got home yet. Susan Perkins came here to-day and is here now. Addison and I went to the plain to-day and purchased between 16 & 17 dollars worth of goods, for him to peddle, of Joseph Bement.
- 3) Rainy day. It rained a great deal last night. Mother came home this morning. Sick folks rather more comfortable. James & I thrashed rye, and Father and Addison pounded out corn some. Gorge Hall was over to-day, (ill.)
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4) This morning I carried Addison off, and set him with his trunk and basket of goods to try his luck peddling. Father worked on the highway in forenoon. James and I thrashed in forenoon and father and (ill.) the afternoon. Very pleasant day.
- 5) Cloudy, but not rainy. Cleaned what rye we had thrashed, (which was about nine bushels), got what rowen we had out, into the barn, finished getting off the sprouts on the rye ground. I went to the plain just night and got some oil and paint to color the kitchen floor with. &c &c
- 6) Rather poor hay-day and we did not mow any, but finished thrashing the rye. The kitchen floor has been painted to-day and the south entry floor. Mother, James, & Susan Perkins did most of it, though I painted a little.
- 7) Fanned the rest of the rye this morning. Made out about 18 bushels of the whole. Father then took as grist and went down to Buckland to mill, carried Susan home, and brought home a couple of pigs which he got of Mr Carlton. Price $(ill.) apeice. A rainy afternoon and evening.
- 8) Sunday. James went to meeting. Father and mother went over to Unkle James's to see how they did and I staid at home. Father came before night, but mother stays to watch. It rained some in the morning but cleared off before noon, and I guess we shall have fair weather for a while.
- 9) Father carried 9 bushels of rye to mill and left it to be sold. James & I mowed till father came home, then he and I mowed till about four o'clock, [...] raked and took care of [...] looks a little stormy [...] Unkle James's folks are rat[...] mother staid and watch[...]
- 10) Pleasant day, though [...] mowed, no rowen. In [...] morning we had to get some apples and dig some potatoes to boil for the swine. We however got what we mowed yesterday, dry enough to get in. Got a letter from Addison, guess he is doing well. Aunt Warren and her daughter Ester came here just night.
- 11) Mowed some more rowen, and got in all we had out. Begun thrashing the oats. It is cool and windy to-night. The wind broke down about one half of one of our peach-trees which stood south of the wood pile.
- 12) A very cooll, windy day. Father and I thrashed oats all day. James took care of the rowen. Aunt Warren and Ester went home this afternoon. Addison came home from his peddling trip just night. Made pretty well for the first time.
- 13) Cool, windy day, Father & I finished thrashing oats and cleaned them up, 27 bushels. Addison went to the plain [..d] paid for his load of goods [...] loaded again. He took [tw]enty dollars worth.
- [14)] I went to Conway this [fo]renoon. The folks at home took care of the rowen and buckwheat in forenoon, in afternoon Father and Mother went over Unkle Addisons. James is 13 years old today.
- 15) Sunday. Father, Mother and Addison went to the Church to meeting, and I went on the hill. A pleasant, cool, comfortable day.
- 16) Addison started on another trip peddling. In the forenoon I went over to the Belding lot and mended some fence. In afternoon got in some of the buckwheat and thrashed it out. Cut some corn to-day.
- 17) Mowed rowen most all the forenoon but finished cutting the north peice of corn. In afternoon we finished thrashing buckwheat, which finishes our thrashing this year, raked our hay, and bound some of the corn.
- 18) Father is sick to-day, it comes pretty near the dysentery. James & I had a pretty hard stent to take care of the hay corn and all. However we got the corn all stooked, one load of hay in, and the? cocked up. Darwin came here just night, is going to stay till morning.
- 19) No hay-weather today, though it does not rain. Father is no better. Sent for the doctor. James & I picked some pie apples in forenoon. Cousins Martha & Elisabeth Warren came this forenoon visiting, but went home after supper. Rainy since dark.
- 20) The doctor did not come yesterday, so we sent this morning not to have him come, as father is getting better, though he does no work. James & I cut the rest of our corn and got in the rest of our rowen, which is the last for this year. Wind north-west.
- 21) Mother & James went over to the Falls to trade and visit. Carried over some apples but brought them home again, no sale. Mr Russel Thayer came here to-day and staid an hour or two. Except that, I have been binding and stooking corn all day, but finished it. Unkle Addison and wife came just night and staid till about eight o'clock.
- 22) Sunday. Mother & I went "on the hill" to meeting, James to the "Church," & Father staid at home. Mr Jasper Bement is but just alive, if living.
- 23) I went down to mill, got the mare's shoes set. Received a letter from Addison, from Amherst, doing well. I cut brush on the north side hill, west of meadow, in afternoon. Bement, rather more comfortable.
- 24) Mother & I went to Goshen visiting, and did not get home till after dark. Mr Jasper Bement died this afternoon.
- 25) Last night I went over to Capt Bassett's and staid over night, this morning William and i started for cattle show at Greenfield. Got home little before nine. (ill.)[...] had a grand time. James is [...]
- 26) Rainy day and we are [...] all rather lazay. James'[...] rhea ha made him most [...] Bement buried to-day.
- 27) Another wet day, & a considerable rain this evening. I pounded out the rest of the old corn, father mended my old shoes. Got 10 or 12 bushels old corn.
- 28) Pleasant again. I took another jaunt, to mill & out to Goshen again. Addison got home again this morning. Made pretty well this trip. Father has gone up to the Free Soil caucus this evening with neighbor Philip.
- 29) Sunday. Darwin, Addison & I went to Conway to meeting. Father & Mother, "over East," & James staid at home. Comfortable day.
- 30) Pleasant day. Picked apples all day. This evening Addison and I went to the plain, & he got a tooth pulled by Brooks.
- October 1) Addison started out on his third peddling trip this morning. The rest of us picked apples most all day. [...] in some corn and (ill.)[..b]etter part of afternoon.
- [2] Rainy day. got one load [...] corn into barn in morning. [...] not worked very hard today.
- [3] I went down to South Deerfield to-day and brought grandmother Graves home. She is quite smart for her. Windy, cool day.
- 4) Pleasant day. Drawed in corn & pumpkins, and picked some apples. School meeting this evening; Appolos Williams is going to funish a desk in the schoolroom for $1.50. We get the school wood this year for $2.00 a cord. Get two cord.
- 5) Picked apples over the hill all day. James carried mother and grand-mother over to Unkle James's just night.
- 6) Sunday. I went on the hill in forenoon, in afternoon down to Unkles James's. Caroline is slowly gaining, but Priscilla is not much better, has to be turned in the bed.
- 7) Pickd apples all day. Got a letter from Addison to-night, dated Hatfield. Quite cold to-day.
- 8) Father carried 15 bushels of apples to Mr Crafts, for .50 cents a bushel. Picked, and got into the chamber, 17 bushels of butter-nuts, today.
- 9) Cattle show at Northampton to-day and tomorrow. Father, Darwin, and I picked apples over on the Belding lot. Gave Darwin one third of the whole.
- 10) I staid over with Darwin last night. Today we pitched the corn fodder away, got in some corn and commenced digging potatoes.
- 11) More digging potatoes to day. Wind southwest and threatened with showers, but none yet.
- 12) Digging potatoes today also. Addison got home again. A little showry this afternoon and come around colder to-night.
- 13) Sunday. Father, mother & Addison went to the Church, but I went on the hill. In afternoon, Addison, Darwin & I went to Unkle James's. They are all getting better, slowly very.
- 14) James & I went down to Bloodybrook to-day to see a menagerie. Had a first-rate time. Addison loaded for another trip. Ralph Church died last night, of dysentery.
- 15) Dug potatoes in forenoon, in afternoon went to the funeral. Very fine weather for the season.
- 16) In forenoon, James & I dug potatoes, and father went to the plain with a load of apples. Sold grafted fruit at $.50, natural at $.30. In afternoon father and James dug potatoes, and I went over to help Mr Church's folks pick corn.
- 17) Finished getting in corn, and digging potatoes. Make out about fifty-five bushel of potatoes. Wind south-west, and a few sprinkles of rain, though not much.
- 18) James & I worked for Unkle James today, in forenoon digging potatoes, in afternoon husking corn. Some rainy in afternoon. Father staid at home.
- 19) In forenoon, drawed leaves and dirt into sheep shed & stables. In afternoon I transplanted some apple trees and father went to Buckland, to the plain, &c. Jameswent chestnuting, got eight quarts, and over.
- 20) Sunday. Father & James went to meeting, but mother & I staid at home. Mother went over to Unkle James's just night to watch.
- 21) Father went to the Falls, to Charlemont also today. James went chestnuting, got 10 quarts. He got eight quarts Saturday. I put 10 1/2 bushels of beets in the cellar today.
- 22) Commenced carting manu[re] from barnyard. Had Philip[...]
cattle. Finished husking la[...]
- 23) Worked carting with [...] but they feel rather hig[h spir]
ited, not having been yoked [...] fore part of haying, till y[...]
- 24) Drawing manure to-day also. Pretty good luck.
- 25) Drew manure in forenoon. In afternoon drew four wagon-loads of wood to school house, then it rained. Addison came home.
- 26) Addison & I went up to coal-pits last-night, and staid over night. Had great many showers in the night, and it has rained biggest part of day today.
- 27) Sunday. All went to meeting except father & mother. Grandmother came here after meeting. It rained great deal last night. Pleasant today.
- 28) I started this morning, & helped Addison carry his trunks over as fa as the "poor house," then went to Conway centre, had a tooth filled. From thence to where I taught school last winter.
- 29) Finished my visit and came home this forenoon. This afternoon, drew the rest of school-wood to the schoolhouse. Addison (ill.) $3.25 yesterday, & we slept together last-night at Mr. R. Thayer's.
- [30.)] Drawed manure out of the yard [...] dirt in. Had Appolos' cattle, [...]th worked for mother today. [...]y pleasant weather this week.
- [31)] Drew dirt into the yard with [...] steers. Very pleasant weather.
- November 1) Drew manure up north with the steers and the mare. Finished drawing manure out of the barnyard. Some signs of storm all day.
- 2) Drew dirt into yard part of day. In afternoon I went to Buckland to get measured for pair boots. Some rain last night, and foggy much to-day.
- 3) Sunday. All went to meeting but James. Foggy all day, but no rain has fallen.
- 4) More dirt in the yard. Very warm and pleasant. Mother has gone to watch with Priscilla.
- 5) Carted till eleven, then had company from Conway. Some signs of storm, Father and mother went to Buckland visiting to Flint Uptons.
- 6) Our folks got home in the last evening. The company from Conway (Mr. Packard's young folks) went home this afternoon. father went to caucus this evening, carried Phillip Phillips.
- 7) Father sold the wool yesterday for 36 3/4 cents a lb, carried away this morning. It came to over $70. Drew some dirt in forenoon, helped Appolos about moving his shed for a sugar-house. Cooler today.
- 8) Had Appolos' cattle to get some large stone out of the garden and to draw some dirt to hog-yard. Both my grand-mothers are here now.
- 9) Shoveled over the manure under the stable, got in the turnips & parsnips. The Select-men came down and laid the road that we want across the corner near the schoolhouse. It staid froze all day in the shade. Addison got home with over a dollar a day for his wages. Made the best of any trip he has made.
- 10) Sunday. All went to meeting. I went to Caroline Barber's funeral in afternoon at the Universalist meeting house. Mr Withington preached the funeral sermon.
- 11) Town meeting. Great rush. No choice for representative. Try again in a fortnight Friday.
- 12) Had Almon Bronson here laying wall north of the garden or laying the old wall over. Laid over, over six rods. Some signs of storm.
- 13) Finished the wall by the garden in forenoon. In afternoon commenced making wall in our east pasture to fence the wood-lot, made about 3 rods.
- 14) Father & I dug stone all day. Not laid any wall today. Mother carried grandmother Mantor home today.
- 15) Put up nine rods of wall today besides digging some stone. Pleasant and warm.
- 16) Laid six rods of wall today and father & James dug stone most all of the time. It has looked stormy all day, and commenced raining this evening. Paid Almon 4(?) shilling a day for four days.
- 17) Sunday. It rained all last night and till noon today. All staid home. It has cleared off cooler.
- 18) The ground was white with snow this morning, but it has most all disappeared. Got the sheep and cattle all home in forenoon. In afternoon we drawed some stone, or removed some wall west of house.
- 19) Dug stone all day. Rather cool and some snow squalls in forenoon. Got a letter from Addison to-night, [...] staid over Sunday at Pot[...] Three Rivers.
- 20) Worked with Mr Phi[...] making wall on the lin[...] Some signs of storm, it being cloudy this evening. Mother has gone to watch with Pricilla. She is very low.
- 21) Almon and Mr Philips worked for us making wall. Father & Phillip dug stone all day. Almon and I drew and laid between 6 and seven rods of wall. Quite cold and some snow squalls.
- 22) Coldest night, last, that we have had this fall. Banked the house, and finished filling the yard besides some other small jobs.
- 23) I started this morning for Mr Packards in Conway, got there about ten.
- 24) Sunday. Pricilla died this morning. Started at Mr Packards last night, went to meeting with them to-day and home with them at night, to a singing school in evening.
- 25) Came home from Conway this morning. Town meeting in Ashfield to-day, to try to choose Representative. Chose Hosea Blake by eleven majority. Free Soil party rules.
- 26) Worked fixing the school-house in forenoon, in afteroon [w]ent to Pricilla's funeral. [A] damp day, some snow, but there were a great many people there.
- 27) A damp day and some rain. The snow has all gone and it has cleared off warm. Addison has got through peddling and been at home since saturday. We white-washed the kitchen and buttery.
- 28) Thanksgiving day. It has been rainy most all day, but William Bassett and I have been most all over Mount Owen, and out beyond Mr Elijah Howses(?) hunting minerals. Got some good specimens of white(?) and crystalized quartz on Mt Owen and good specimens of {ill.} out North-west. Very dark rainy evening.
- 29) Damp and cloudy all day. Rainy some in the morning, and latter part of evening. Didn't do much in forenoon, in afternoon sawed logs. Darwin has been gone over four weeks, and brother Addison, with unkle Addison have gone to see if they can hear any thing of him, or find him.
- 30) In forenoon worked in woods getting logs together. In afternoon I went to the plain and attended examination of teachers. Got approbated(?). Addison has got home from searching after Darwin. Concluded he has run away.
- December the 1st. Sunday. Pleasant day, all went to meeting except James. I went "on the hill," the rest to "the Church."
- 2) I commenced my school in our own district. Had twenty scholars. The ground is bare yet but some signs of storm appear.
- 3) Another day of school has passed, and with it a lowry day. Three new schollars.
- 7) The week is ended, as as school is concerned. Some trouble and a good deal of vexation. Hard case to get order. Guess I shall go well enough now. Boarded out 3 nights.
- 15) Another week has passed. Had to ferrule one of Church's boys Friday, and he carried his books home. Yesterday I went to Conway, and about. Sunday.
- 22) Sunday again. The ferruling last week created some trouble, and they had a school-meeting to see about it. But it passed off with nothing serious except Mr Church has taken his boys out of school. Had a first-rate week of it the week past.
- 23) We got up a little after midnight this morning, killed twelve turkeys and dressed them, ate breakfast about five, went to bed and slept till eight, then to school. It snowed all night fast, and all day today. Had only five scholars.
- 24) Only five scholars to-day. Wind blew a great deal last night, but the snow is so hard that it did not drift very bad.
- 25) Christmas. I did not keep school to-day. Very cold weather.
- 29) Sunday again. Another foot of snow fell last night. Just the sort for the wind to play with. Four weeks school past.
- January the 5th 1851. Sunday. Five weeks of my school gone. Good success has attended me I think. We have had very cold weather the week past, and some snow. Mother, Addison, and James have gone to meeting. Father and I stay at home alone. Cold day.
- 12) Sunday again, and my school one half out. I have good times, almost first-rate ever since the first fortnight. Not much of any storm the week past, but some warm weather, and the snow has settled considerable. Chapin and I went out to "New Boston" yesterday to see Wm F. Bassett['s] school, had a good time.
- 19) Sunday. Addison a[nd] I went on the hill to [meet]ing. Father and Jam[es] to the Church. Ver[y] pleasant, but very cold. Seven weeks school gone. Get along first rate.
- 26) Another week has passed quite agreably to me. It has been pleasant, most all the week, and quite warm. Yesterday I visited Field's school at Babtist corner and Joseph Hall's school at the round schoolhouse. Find that I am doing very well.
- February 2) Sunday again, and but three weeks more of school. Things have gone on nicely the week past. William F. Bassett had so much roguery in his school that he quit it last Friday. He staid seven weeks in his school, and it was within three weeks of close. We all stay at home today. Some snow has fallen since last night.
- 9) We are all at home today. It is some stormy, and I am most sick with a cold. Addison and I went to Northampton yesterday, and did some trading for the scholars &c. We have had a very cold week past. [T]he thermometer has been [be]low zero a considerable since [thi]s month came in, and once [...]n to 16 below. Once in Jan. [...] stood 18 below zero. The [sc]hool does not trouble me much lately. No snow yet of any consequence.
- 16) No more snow, but a thaw has carried off the largest half of the snow. It is cold weather today, but we all went "on the hill" to meeting except father, but he has bought a seat there. We feel quite joyfull, to think that we shall go back there to meeting. I have only one week more of school, and right glad shall I be when that is past, if all goes on well as it has so far. I trust it will. May I have wisdom.
- 21) Thank God, I have closed my school to-day, and with honor to myself. Mr. Guilford said that what was not satisfactory, was not owing to any fault on my part, but that I had done my duty, and done well.
- 24) Monday. Saturday I started and went to Conway, got three teeth filled and finally staid and went to meeting, and did not start to come home till this morning. I came to Burkeville and stopped to see Charles Rice's school. Then came crooking about till I got to Beldingville, then stopped and saw Mr Perry's school. From there I went to Unkle Addison's and staid till most night, then came home. By the time I got home I found that mr Ward had sold his farm to Capt. Basset(?) and William, also that mr Williams had sold his farm to Mr Ward. I found father all wide awake to buy "ridge hill", but don't know how we shall come out about it.
- 25) It rained a great deal yesterday and last night, , but cleared off cooler before morning. Alonzo Howes has been here today visiting. It looks as if sugar weather was coming, but hope not.
- 26) Addison went over to chop for Unkle Addison. James & I chopped some about home. Sap runs some yesterday and today.
- March the 1. I worked for Unkle Addison today and two days before cutting his wood. Addison has worked there four days. We have finally bought "Ridge hill", for $1000 Also sold the lot over top Unkle Addison's to him for $500, the "East pasture" to Austin Drake for $250, and one half of the "Ward lot" to Appolos Williams for $100. They drew writings today.
- 2) Sunday) James & I went to meeting in the forenoon. But very few came with sleighs, mostly with waggons, or came a-foot.
- 3) Town meeting. The Selectmen for this year are H. Paine, A Perry, and Nathan Knowlton. The town clerk is Nelson Gardner. The town treasurer, Chester Sanderson.
- 4) We chopped in forenoon. In afternoon part of us went to drawing wood. We have not drawed a load of wood this winter for our years stock, until to-day, nor chopped any either. So it is about all standing yet. Ruth is here helping mother fix Addison affor(?) Belcher town this week. He expects to live with Mr Hemon(?) Moody 8 months for $50.00, learning the carpenter's trade.
- 5) Chopped some in forenoon, and drew some to the door. This afternoon Addison and I got the saptubs and store-tubs together and cleaned them out for sugaring. Russell Bond came here just night, stays till morning. Pleasant and warm.
- 6) Very warm in forenoon, but quite cold in afternoon. Father went to mill without the wagon. Addison & I chopped some. We are all in a hurry getting ready to carry Addison to Belchertown tomorrow.
- 8) I went to Belchertown yesterday and carried Addison to Mr Moody's to commence learning the carpenter's & joiners trade. He expects to sta[y] eight months. We went with hor[se] and wagon. It was rather [...] till we got to Sunderland, the[n] it was pretty much settled (ill.) the rest of the way, and about all gone. This morning [...] got up, and behold there was tow or three inches of snow, and it snowed quite fast. I started and got home before dark, but it snowed most half the day, rather slowly. It is about 29 miles to Mr Moody's. I stopped at Amherst and got quite a collection of minerals which cousin Jerome Allen made me a present of.
- 9) Sunday, Father, mother & James went to meeting in afternoon. We have had about six inches of snow within a day or two.
- 10) Town-meeting. I went to the saw-mill with an oak log for front yard fence-posts, and sleded some wood to the door. Grandmaam came here today.
- 11) Sledded a little more wood in forenoon. In afternoon we set fifty tubs in our sugar-place. Sap ran very fast.
- 12) This morning went to gather sap and found more than half the tubs full running over. Gathered four barrels. Set a few more tubs, but sap did not run very fast, it was so cold. We fixed our arch, and chimney, and gathered two more barrels of sap.
- 13) It snowed very slowly most all day. Boiled our sap all in. Father shaved shingle, and James and I picked over potatoes some.
- [14]) Sawed some tiber for [s]hingle, and some for stove. [S]ugared off this afternoon, Aunt [m]aria and Clarissa were here, also [Mr Appolos williams, his wife, [an]d Emma. About forty weight of it. James & I went over to Mr Ansel Elmer's this evening.
- 15) Set the rest of our tubs, and finished shaving shingles timber for the present. Gathered most six barrels of sap after supper.
- 16) Sunday. Had to gather the sap again this morning. Got over five barrels. We all staid at home from meeting. I sat up and boiled sap till twelve last night. It has looked stormy all day.
- 17) Snowy to-day. I went and carried grandma over Unkle Addison's this afternoon. He went to Greenfield today, and got Darwin's trunks at Fields tavern. There was quite an amount of goods in them and his dirty shirt. He left them there, said he was going up north a few days, but never called for them. We think he was crazy. Afraid he committed suicide, at Townsend, or near there.
- 18) It snowed very fast from the N.E. some time in morning, then stopped till most night, then began again. I have been sick abed most all day, head ache and vomiting.
- 19) I am better to-day. Aunt Olive and George came here visiting. George and I went over to Unkle Addison a little while. Carried some logs to mill for rails for front-yard fence and brought home the posts for the same. Sap runs but little. To cold.
- 20) Sugared off in forenoon. Cousin Mary Graves came. We gathered 3 1/2 bbs sap before night. Had chance to shop some.
- 21) Good sap day to-day. Gathered six barrels sap today, and syruped down what we got yesterday. Very pleasant weather.
- 22) Sugared off again this forenoon, abut the nicest we ever made. This afternoon father carried what sugar we had made, down to Mr Rowe. There was 132 1/2 lbs of it. Got eight cents a pound. Samuel W. Packard came here just night. Gathered about nine bbls sap today.
- 23) Sunday. Samuel, James & I went to meeting on the hill in forenoon, at the church in after noon. Muddy going.
- 24) Five or six inches of snow fell last night. Samuel went home this morning. Sugared off two batches today, very nice sugar. The new snow is about all gone tonight. Sap does not run much. We have been boiling all day but not got it in yet.
- 25) No more sap. Finished boiling in and syruped down. Got good deal time to chop. New milch cow.
- 26) Sugared off the syrup. James & I tapped the sugar place all over after eleven o'clock, and gathered eight barrels of sap before bed-time.
- 27) Gathered only four barrels of sap today. Father carried off another 100 wt of sugar to Mr Rowe. It has been the hottest day, this spring.
- 28) Chopped some, and sugared off in forenoon. In afternoon I went down to Mr Packard in Conway. Found three oldest children sick abed. Samuel and Rebecca with measels, Abigail had had them, got partly over them, got cold and had lung fever.
- 29) I watched with Samuel last night, came home this forenoon, gathered sap, sugared off in afternoon. Sold 11 sheep to (ill.) at (ill.) per head. Just night I took the mare and saddle & rode to Conway again to take care of Samuel.
- 30) Sunday. Staid at Mr Packards all day to help take care of sick. Very pleasant weather lately.
- 31) I came home this morning. Shod ox sled(?), gathered sap, &c &c. Father and I went down to Mr Perkins in the afternoon and bought a four year old cow, and two calves two weeks old and learned to drink, for $33. Nice cow. Nailed the carpet down. Grandma came.
- April the 1st) Pleasant day. James and I chopped most all day.
- 2) Clouded over in forenoon and rained gently most all day, and quite hard in evening. Sugared off above forty weight of sugar today.
- 3) Pleasant again, and cooler. We wore away upon the woodpile a considerable. Father makes shingle yet.
- 4) We finished chopping the wood-pile to-day, and got it about all sawed. Alfred Mantor came here just night from Hawley.
- 5) Samuel Packard is 21 to-d[ay.] We got in the sap tubs, and washed them, put all the s[...] tubs, barrels, sap-pan &c awa[y..] we shall have no more to do wi[th] sugaring this year. We gathered little over sixty bbls of sap this year. Last year we got over 100 bbls. Alfred went home this afternoon.
- 6) Sunday. Quite rainy, expecialy in forenoon. All stay at home.
- 7) I worked cutting and splitting wood for next sugaring. Father went to town-meeting in P.M.
- 8) Spreading manure some. I am about sick. Expect I have got the measles coming on. Wm. and my currant and gooseberry bushes arrived last night from Boston.
- 17) I have had quite a seige of it with the measles, and just getting better. Today is the first day I have been outdoor for most of a week. Our folks went Saturday over to Mr Church's and got a calf for 25 cents. Today is the third day of a north east storm. It is snow mostly today.
- 19) Yesterday I worked some, Israel Phillips worked saw[i]ng shingle stuff part of the [da]y. Aunt Wing and Mrs [...]ouston came just night and [...], and father and mother [w]ent up to Unkle Seth's.
- [...] Today Father and I sawed and packed away the shingle stuff under the shed in the forenoon. In afternoon I went down to mill and to Mr Goodwin's bought 3 apple trees for 75 cents. Father went up to Colone Wms.
- 28) Monday. We have got the fence mended around Ridge hill and the cattle out to-day. Mother and James have both got the measles. James is rather gaining again. Mother has been and is very sick. Mrs Cleveland worked (ill.) most all last week. Miss Leuramoy Bronson is at work here now. Mother's measles did not come out till about the eighth day. She sits up only enough to have her bed made.
- 30) Yesterday we manured and ploughed the garden, &c. Today we drawed manure in forenoon up south on oat ground. Afternoon rained hard most of the time. Mother is getting better slowly.
- May the 3. Began our sowing and planting, by sowing and planting in the garden.
- 4) I carried Miss Bronson home last night. Expect to have Celia Edson this week. Mother sits up about half the time. James & I went to meeting today. Cold backward weather lately.
- 5) It snowed most all day, in afternoon and evening, very fast. Celia came this morning. I wrought planing fence timber.
- 6) The ground was white this morn, but was cleared before noon. Worked breaking up an afternoon. I finished planing fence timber about noon.
- 11) Sunday. Rainy day. We planted potatoes yesterday & I grafted some. Got another calf last night, from Israel's. We have seven now.
- 12) Lowry. James & I piled up all the sheep manure. Father has got at (ill.) back.
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