Name/Title
Diary, Volume 27, 1832-1833Entry/Object ID
1874.150.24Scope and Content
Twenty-seventh volume of the diary of Benjamin Simpson of Saco, 1781-1849. This volume covers the period January 26, 1832 through November 17, 1833; there is a gap in the diaries between October 1830 and January 1832. 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 1832 Simpson was concerned about a proposed road across his land. He first mentioned this issue in May and in October the county court session had still not made a final decision on whether it would go through or not. Although Simpson had been on the Revolutionary War pension role since 1820, in July and August 1832, he noted several times that he had to York and Eliot to get evidence of his service in the army and to Kennebunk "to a special Court to get my name on the pension role list by Judge Ware." On Saturday, January 12, 1833, Simpson noted "Benjamin Simpson of Hollis here from Elliot. Brought tidings of my brother's death (Zebediah)." On April 1, 1833, Simpson recorded that his daughters-in-law Lucy and Joanna were sick. On Saturday of that week, a doctor was sent for Lucy. Over the next two weeks she got worse, briefly better, and then worse again. By Sunday, April 14, the doctor gave up on Lucy's recovery. Finally, on Monday, April 22, Lucy died; she was Benjamin's son Ebenezer's wife. She was buried on April 24. Wednesday, June 5, 1833, Simpson said "went to Kennebunk to get my pention, got 2 years pay up to March 4th, 1833 at 76-66 per annum." On Sunday, June 1, Simpson reported "The Mormonts [Mormons] meeting at Edward Millican's all day in foor & after noon, a very great gathering of people."Dimensions
Height
6-1/4 inWidth
4-3/8 in