Name/Title
Diary, Volume 30, 1840-1842Entry/Object ID
1874.150.27Scope and Content
Thirtieth volume of the diary of Benjamin Simpson of Saco, 1781-1849. This volume covers the period March 5, 1840 through February 26, 1842. It is handwritten in ink on rag paper with a handsewn binding; it is now housed in a modern paper cover. Most of the entries are a single line. The date is listed at the top of each page, with individual entries (most without dates) listed below. Simpson noted his major task of the day and the weather.
In November 1840 Simpson noted that he had been to a meeting at Jebediah Hill's barn where Elder Boothby baptized eleven at the river, both men and women. Simpson continued to attend religious meetings regularly and remained involved with the Baptist Society. On August 19, 1841, the Baptist meeting house at the falls was dedicated. At the end of August Joshua was taken with "collermorbus [cholera morbus], very sick." Simpson himself was ill by Saturday August 18, although he did not specify with what. The following two days he was so sick he sent for Dr. Bacon. During the periods of November-December 1841 and January-February 1842, Simpson spent days at home reading, listing no work activities at all.