Name/Title
Diary, Volume 26, 1828-1830Entry/Object ID
1874.150.23Scope and Content
Twenty-sixth volume of the diary of Benjamin Simpson of Saco, 1781-1849. This volume covers the period June 26, 1828 through October 31, 1830. 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.
Almost all of the entries in this volume deal exclusively with farming tasks; they are also often longer than in earlier years. In July 1828, Simpson recorded that he had hoed about 1000 hills of corn. He made many references to his sons helping on the farm, haying, and working on the highway. George and Joshua are mentioned most often; Ebenezer apparently had his own farm by this time. Visits to sick neighbors are more frequent than in previous years. Sometimes Simpson visited alone, other times his wife Mercy accompanied him. In February of 1830 Simpson visited the ruins of the factory and boarding house at Saco falls, which had burned on February 21. On Wednesday, March 17, 1830, Simpson recorded that his son Joshua and Joanna Sinnot were married. Simpson obviously was having more health problems by this time and noted increasingly frequent bout of illness, particularly pain in his bowels and side.