Name/Title
Diary, Volume 11, 1798-1799Entry/Object ID
1874.150.8Scope and Content
Eleventh volume of the diary of Benjamin Simpson of Saco, 1781-1849. This volume covers the period March 12, 1798 through July 28, 1799. 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 (without dates) listed below. Simpson noted his major task of the day and the weather. His entries reflect the seasonal nature of the work of a man who owned a farm but also was a skilled mason.
Simpson spent most of February and March 1798 hauling spars, some to Indian Island. In March he also worked on a mill dam with William Sawyer. Starting in May and continuing into June, Simpson was plastering the Buxton meeting house. In October he laid brick for Dr. Thornton, as well as laying bricks for Col. Cutts at Winter Harbour. In December he laid a hearth in the "Sembly room" and spent Christmas at George Newbegin's. He began plaster work for Dr. Brewster in Buxton in December and continued the work in January 1799. February and March of 1799 were much the same as 1798--much work hauling spars. In April he laid a foundation of a new and repaired an old chimney for William Moody. In June Simpson worked on Captain Storer's cellar (work continued into July). He laid bricks for pillars in the cellar, laying 1900 bricks on both Friday, July 12, and Saturday, July 13.Dimensions
Height
5-3/4 inWidth
3-5/8 in