Name/Title
Diary, Volume 21, 1817-1819Entry/Object ID
1874.150.18Scope and Content
Twenty-first volume of the diary of Benjamin Simpson of Saco, 1781-1849. This volume covers the period July 22, 1817 through October 29, 1819. 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.
Benjamin Simpson's family was involved with the Cochranite movement and were baptized by Jacob Cochrane in the summer of 1818. Before the family was baptized, Mercy Simpson (Benjamin's wife) was ill and deranged for weeks in April and May. Once she was baptized by Cochrane on May 23, her health apparently returned to normal. Simpson was baptized by Cochrane on July 12. In October 1818 Simpson spent a great deal of time working on Jacob Cochrane's house, stoning a cellar, laying bricks, etc. He continued to attend Cochrane's meeting through into early 1819. On February 17, 1819, Cochrane was arrested by the Constables of Saco. The next day, Simpson went to the falls to hear the trial of Jacob Cochrane. His last mention of Cochrane was on Friday, September 8, 1819 went he noted "Jacob Cockran carried to Alfred jail." See the detailed notes of volume 21 attached to this record.