Name/Title
Diary, Volume 14, 1807-1809Entry/Object ID
1874.150.11Scope and Content
Fourteenth volume of the diary of Benjamin Simpson of Saco, 1781-1849. This volume covers the period March 17, 1807 through July 12, 1809. There is a gap between this diary and the previous one, which ends in November 1804. 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 March 1807 Simpson was collecting taxes. On Monday, April 20, Simpson “carried Ebenezer Simpson [his son] to Capt. Wm Moody’s to prentice.” On Saturday, May 2, he “dug Artichokes.” In June we was working on the highway and collecting taxes. On July 20 he went to the falls for taxes and it appears that he arrested three men for non-payment of taxes. Later that month he helped raise a saw mill at Union Falls. In September he cut “basket stuff.” He spent a number of days making baskets; he also set up a cider mill. On Sunday, November 8, he went “to meeting at Line and at my home in evening.”
On Friday, January 15, 1808, Simpson noted that he was “at home read my Bunyan.” On Saturday, March 12 he went to Buxton on business of the Baptist Society. Sunday, June 12, Simpson was at “meeting at Line and to B. Banks. Collins Richards brought to the knowledge of the truth.” Monday, the 27th, “Benj Richards brought to praise the Lord.” Sunday, August 7, “Collins Richards and Molly Hancock baptised.” In September the sad news came that Mrs. Simpson’s father had died. They went to York the next day and the funeral was the day following that.
More sad news came in Monday, March 6, 1809 when they learned that Henry Simpson had died. Simpson went tot he falls to prepare for his funeral; the funeral was held on Wednesday. In June, later in the year that usual, Simpson was cutting spars for Foxwell Cutts. He noted that one day, all he cut were rotten.Dimensions
Height
6-1/2 inWidth
3-3/4 in