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| Diary Page for November 2 through December 31, 1851 Courtesy of the Margaret B.Burmeister Family and Roots'n'Leaves and J.G.Hill Archives |
Winter
weather was approaching as we note that J.P. McPherson's focus in
November was to finish building the fireplace for their cabin. The
task took 11 days of work to complete. McPherson's frustration and
irritation was almost palpable when after 8 days of working on the
chimney, the entry for the 9th day said, “working on
the chimney.” On the
last two days, he is assisted by Wm. Henderson, Wm. Brown and Mr.
Anderson(J.P. rarely uses Mr. Anderson's first name).
Except
for two days harvesting and threshing for Mr. Davidson, harvest was
over and the weather was cooler, so J.P.'s endeavors turned more
toward “indoors” kind of work. He made a coat for James Stewart
“3rd,”
which is either the 3rd
coat he has made for James Stewart, or perhaps there are three James
Stewarts. He also made coats for two of the Dunkles, E. and Wm., as
well as cut out pants for his own boys, Billy, James and Jabez.
However,
possibly the most interesting of his entries were in relation to his
budding political activities. After being elected Town Clerk on
November 4th,
he was busy “writing,” which most likely due to his position as
Town Clerk and assembling the Assessment Rolls. He delivered the
Assessment Rolls to the Town Treasurer and then “enters and files
Town Papers”,whether this is an official “filing” or just and
organizing task is not known.
On
November 29th
and December 6th,
J.P. entered “at Squire Barras with Mr. Lester.” The connection
between J.P., Squire Barras and Mr. Lester bears close attention as
it appears to foretell an interesting development in J.P's political
career.
McPherson
also worked four days on the school, apparently building a chimney.
The other itemf noted was that he worked one day on the school for
Mr. Stevenson, which indicates that not only did his trade of
tailoring and farm work, but also work could be traded for community
service --- rather like being able to pay someone to take your place
in the draft.
He
also “picked up pork from Mr. Anderson” and “pork and oats from
Mr. Paton,” which were undoubtedly payment for McPherson's work for
these two men.
On
a more personal basis, his correspondence was limited to only one
letter to “Westwood, NY,”
which
means the diary reader now knows that Westwood is S. Westwood of New
York. Bit by bit, the pieces of the diary unfold. Also on November
2nd, McPherson entered “Wm. Henderson arrived.” The
Centennial History of Springdale, 1848-1948 tells
us that Henderson was a native of Scotland and came to America and
settled in New York City in 1844, just two years after J.P. and Mary
arrived in New York City. Henderson homesteaded a farm in Section 23
in Springdale, not too far from the McPherson farm – on Scotch
Lane. It is likely that Henderson and McPherson knew each other
either in Scotland and/or New York City. Although when reading the
diary, it does not appear that the women visit back and forth (or
perhaps J.P. doesn't think it important if they do), he noted on
December 26th
, “Visited by Mrs. Henderson,” which might indicate a long term
friendship between the families or perhaps between Mary Burns
McPherson and Hanna Henderson, or perhaps it had to do with a
Christmas visit – though there has been no indication in the diary
so far of celebrating the Christmas holiday.
Now
on to the diary entries by James P. McPherson.
Journal Entries for
November 2, 1851 through December 31, 1851
Novr 2nd Sun. At Wrights,
Verona. Mr. Wm
Henderson arrived.
3rd Mon. At Mr.
Hendersons forenoon. Writing afternoon.
4th Tue. At election.
Appointed Town Clerk till Town Meeting.
5th Wed. Had a visit
from Mr. & Mrs. Jackman. At Mr. Lesters.
6th Thurs. Writing
forenoon. At the Hendersons afternoon.
7th Fri. Working at
my chimney.
8th Sat. DO DO DO
DO
9th Sun. At Mr.
Wrights, Primrose – for my heifer.
10th Mon. Working at
my chimney.
11th Tues. Do Do Do Do
12th Wed. Heavy rain-
13th Thurs Do Do Working at my chimney afternoon
14th Fri. Hauled
lintel for school house and 2 load of stone for myself with Mr.
Jackmans oxen.
15th Sat. Working at the School house.
16th Sun.
17th Mon. Working at
school house for Mr. Stevenson.
18th Tues. Do Do Do Do " " "
19th Wed. Cut coat for
John Stewart 3rd.
20th Thurs. Making Do.
21st Fri. Thrashing
for Mr. Davidson.
22nd Sat. Do " Do.
23rd Sun. At home
24th Mon. Thrashing
for Mr. Davidson.
25th Tues. Do " Do till noonl At Chimney P.M.
26th Wed. Writing forenoon. - at chimney afternoon
25th Tues. Do " Do till noonl At Chimney P.M.
26th Wed. Writing forenoon. - at chimney afternoon
27th Thurs. Working at my chimney
28th Fri. Finished Mr.
Stewarts coat.
29th Sat. At Squire
Barras' with Mr. Lester.
30th Sun. At Home
Decr 1st Mon. Making
Assessment Roll forenoon. At Town Treasurers with Notice of Taxes
P.M.
2nd Tues. Writing
forenoon At Ju Eadi's & Wm. Hendersons P.M.
3rd Wed. Writing &
fixing house.
4th Thurs. Writing. Cut
coat for E. Dunkle.
5th Fri. Working at
my chimney, assisted by Wm. Henderson & Wm. Brown.
6th Sat. Self and
Mr. Anderson finished chimney. At Squire Barra's with Mr. Lester.
7th Sun. Delivered
Assessment roll to Town Treasurer.
8th Mon. Making E.
Dunkles Coat.
9th Tues. Do Do
Do visit from Mr. Malone.
10th Wed. Do Do Do
11th Thurs. Entering
Records and filing Town papers. (“Posted letter to Westwood”,
lined out)
12th Fri. Cut Wm.
Dunkles Coat.
13th Sat. Working at Do "
14th Sun. At home
15th Mon. Cutting
pants for the boys.
16th Tues. Hauling wood
and working about the house
17th Wed. At Post
Office Do Do “ “
18th Thurs. At home.
Mary at Jackmans.
19th Fri. Cutting wood
and fixing shed for cattle. Posted letter to Mr Westwood, N.Y.
20th Sat. At Mr.
Andersons for pork forenoon – hauling wood with Mr. Lesters team
afternoon.
21st Sun. At Mr.
Beats.
22nd Mon. At Thomas
Thomsons.
23rd Tues. At Mr.
Patons for pork & oats.
24th Wed. Working
about the house.
25th Thurs. “ at Wm
Dunkles Coat.
26th Fri. “ “ “ “ Visted
by Mrs. Henderson
&c
27th Sat. “ “ “ “
28th Sun. At home.
Visted by Messers. Lamont & Anderson.
29th Mon. Working on
Mr. Dunkles Coat.
30th Tues. Finished
“ “ “
31st Wed. Chopping firewood &c.
End of diary entries for November 2 through December 31, 1851.
~ ~ ~
© Joan G. Hill, Roots'n'Leaves
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