Name/Title
Diary, Volume 20, 1816-1817Entry/Object ID
1874.150.17Scope and Content
Twentieth volume of the diary of Benjamin Simpson of Saco, 1781-1849. This volume covers the period February 2, 1816 through July 21, 1817. It is handwritten in ink on rag paper with a handsewn binding; it is now housed in a modern paper cover. 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.
The year 1816 began with the continued illness of son Ebenezer. He first became ill from measles in January (see volume 16 of the diary). In February, he was still very sick. On February 2 he “had a heavy fit.” Joshua also was ill again. His illness began on the 6th, but he was sufficiently recovered to be able to go outdoors by the 10th. Ebenezer continued to improve over the following weeks, sitting up for the first time on February 12. Throughout this period, Simpson was suffering from lameness. On Tuesday, February 21 Simpson said that he had done little or nothing for the past month. Ebenezer was still improving, but was still confined to his room. Benjamin continued to have trouble with lameness through the spring.
1816 is known as the year without a summer, and Simpson noted several weather aberrations throughout the year. On June 13 he was replanting corn killed by frost. On Thursday, August 22 there was a frost; corn leaves, potatoes, beans, and pumpkins were killed by the frost. There was another heavy frost the following night. On September 10 and 11 there were more heavy frosts and below freezing temperatures overnight on September 27 and 28. An earthquake occurred on December 19, “at 1/4 past two Oclock in the morning was heard the shock or sound of an Earthquake it being clear, cold starlight with wind and Northern Lights.”
The Simpson family’s religious fervor seems to have begun to increase during this period. There are many entries that record attending meeting at the Line with a variety of preachers, often referred to as Elders rather than minister. Also he noted the first of the meetings held at McKenney’s barn, which become more common in the following volume. Simpson noted a number of people who were baptized by immersion, several of them by an A. Flanders.
Benjamin recorded several times when his wife was attending another woman during childbirth. It is not clear that Mrs. Simpson practiced as a midwife, but as an older women who had given birth to several children of her own, it would not have been unusual for her to be called on to assist at such a time. Not all such occasions were happy ones. On June 15, Simpson "went to Moses Graces’ after my wife in evening, staid until 2 O’clock. Mrs Grace being very sick and in travail. The child taken by Doct. Shannon, in two parts, viz. one arm amputated, then the body, yet alive.” The child did not survive and was buried on June 19.
In May 1816 a traveling elephant came to town. On the Saturday, May 25 sons George, Joshua, and Ebenezer went to the falls to see the elephant. On the following Monday Benjamin went with the seal and got to see the elephant himself.