Name/Title
Diary, Volume 6, 1793-1794Entry/Object ID
1874.150.3Scope and Content
Sixth volume of the diary of Benjamin Simpson of Saco, 1781-1849. This volume covers the period March 27, 1793 through July 4,1794. 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.
In May, Simpson mentioned helping to fight a fire at Cleaves and Ayers; also highway work in that month. He did quite a bit of work for Col. Cutts throughout the summer. In June he was stoning a dairy, in August making mortar for Col. Cutts' new house, as well as a stone wall, and lots of smoothing and plastering (he worked off and on for weeks). In September he mended an oven for Foxwell Cutts and then laid brick at the Assembly for him for several weeks. That month he also returned to work for Col. Cutts, laying a foundation for a chimney and plastering. In October he built a chimney for George Newbegin. In late October and early November, Simpson laid brick for Col. Cutts's wash house, and then laid brick for Cutts' at Nicolas Berry's for several weeks. In June 1794, Simpson went to the falls to collect bricks and stone to build a grave for the body of Josiah Fairfield. The last page of the diary describes in detail how the grave was constructed.Dimensions
Height
5-1/2 inWidth
3-5/8 in