Like Shifting Sands – J. P. Moore’s “This Strange Town–Liberal, Missouri”

Checking with the copyright catalogue, I find copyright was made in 1963 by J. P. Moore but was never renewed, which means the book has entered the public domain. The author is long since deceased.

THIS STRANGE TOWN–LIBERAL MISSOURI
A HISTORY OF THE EARLY YEARS
1880 – 1910

BY J. P. MOORE

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Like Shifting Sands

[pages 91-92]

The movement of population and buildings from Liberal to Pedro when that rival town was founded as Denison, and then the return to Liberal after Pedro had spent its vigor of newness, and after old prejudices had lost their fire, was like sands shifting with the whim of the winds. The people actively involved in these mass migrations are now all, long since, gone to their final rewards; but some of the buildings may yet be identified.

The Pedro Christian church was moved to the west end of Maple street in Liberal and remodeled into a dwelling house. It is at the extreme end of the street on the south side. The S. J. Bowen store and post office building was moved to Yale street, one block and a half east of Main, on the south side, and remodeled into a residence. The house, third north from the Liberal Lumber Company yard, on the west side of Main street, is another. The Pedro hotel was razed for the lumber, as were several other business buildings.

The old business section of Pedro is all gone. As to the residential district, very little building has been done there in the past sixty years or longer. More old ones have been torn down than there have been new ones built. Some have been destroyed by fire. Some of those remaining have been kept in good repair, while others have been neglected to deteriorate with the elements, erosion and the lapse of time. Most of the houses in west Liberal (once Pedro) are occupied. But the people living there now, we fancy have little notion or concern of the hopes and dreams of the founders that the town would grow, and one day dominate Liberal. Nor does this writer imagine they are the least concerned about the intense rivalry that once raged between the two towns.

The great controversy is now only history and, perhaps, no one would care to see it revived.

Early Benevolent Societies – J. P. Moore’s “This Strange Town–Liberal, Missouri”

Checking with the copyright catalogue, I find copyright was made in 1963 by J. P. Moore but was never renewed, which means the book has entered the public domain. The author is long since deceased.

THIS STRANGE TOWN–LIBERAL MISSOURI
A HISTORY OF THE EARLY YEARS
1880 – 1910

BY J. P. MOORE

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Early Benevolent Societies

[page 93]

Liberal had benevolent societies earlier than the Spiritual Science Association. There were two, “The Brotherhood” and the “Women’s Guild” — the latter probably an auxiliary of the former. These were organized in 1882. Just when they disorganized and quit is not now known.

These organizations were dedicated to purely benevolent and charitable purposes. They did not go beyond that into the spiritual and scientific realms as was the declared purpose of the Spiritual Science Association.

Names subscribed as founders of the Brotherhood were: D. P. Greeley, E. A. Jewart, Harriet P. Walser, J. B. Bouton, T. R. B. Adams, F. L. Yales, J. W. Curless, Rach H. Yale and G. H. Walser. How the one woman happened to join in the forming of the Brotherhood, this writer has found no explanation.

None of these names appear on the petition for the incorporation of the Spiritual Science Association. All of both organizations are presumed to have been Freethinkers. If there was any area of conflict between the two groups is another thing of which there is no record.

Liberal’s Newspapers – J. P. Moore’s “This Strange Town–Liberal, Missouri”

THIS STRANGE TOWN–LIBERAL MISSOURI
A HISTORY OF THE EARLY YEARS
1880 – 1910

BY J. P. MOORE

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Liberal’s Newspapers

[pages 141-143]

A newspaper is always a valuable asset to any town, new or old. Liberal has always been fortunate in this respect, having not been without one for more than the briefest period since the very beginning. All of these, save one, for one reason or another have passed into oblivion

The first paper was The Liberalite, which name was later changed to “The Liberal.” Its publication was started within a year or less, after the founding of the town, itself. Mr. Walser was the owner and editor. Men who succeeded as assistants in publication, and whom were printers, in order, were Frank Green, E. H. Adams and Bryon Cowley, all of whom were Freethinkers. Because of the limited field from which to draw business, the newspaper was probably more of a liability than an asset financially to Mr. Walser, but it was just what he needed to promote the new town, and his beliefs. Mr. Walser took full advantage of the means.

Publication of The Liberal was suspended in 1889. Mr. Walser probably thought the newspaper was no longer needed to serve his purpose, as an equalizing influence had set in by that time, and the old antagonisms were less sharp. Besides, Mr. Walser’s interests were turning towards spiritualism at this period, a philosophy that generates little or no militant opposition.

In September, 1890, The Independent was founded by K. G. Comfort and W. A. Martin. Mr. Comfort was a practicing attorney at Liberal; and Mr. Martin, a native of the eastern part of the state, came here from Moundville. He apparently had had some experience as a printer. After about one year friction developed between the partners, and the business association was dissolved. Mr. Comfort retained ownership of the newspaper.

Desiring to continue in the newspaper business in Liberal, Mr. Martin founded the Liberal Enterprise, in November, 1891.

After a period, Mr. Comfort sold the Independent to Carl B. Hesford, who had worked as a printer on both the Independent and the Enterprise, and for Mr. Walser. Because of ill health, Carl closed down the Independent and the Enterprise, and for Mr. Walser. Because of ill health, Carl closed down the Independent in 1904, and sold the plant to Luther Liscomb. Carl went to California. Luther disposed of the equipment to W. T. Cowgill, a newspaper man who came here from Oklahoma. This was in about 1907.

Mr. Cowgill began publication of a newspaper named “The Republican.” Mr. Cowgill’s newspaper was powerless against the well-established Liberal Enterprise, and his publication quit after about one year. The plant was moved away.

A semi=monthly magazine, “The Orthopaedian,” published by Mr. Walser in 1899 and 1900, for about one year, discontinued for lack of subscribers and practically no advertising business.

During the years, the Liberal Enterprise developed into the best newspaper Liberal had had up to that time.

Then came the “Liberal News,” founded by J. P. Moore and C. L. DeLissa. The first issue was dated February 25, 1910. Fates favored the News. Mr. Martin sold his newspaper in 1913. In about a month the new owners folded the Enterprise, which, after more than twenty years, was no more. The new owners were strangers in Liberal and could not successfully compete with the News. The partnership of Moore & DeLissa was dissolved in September of 1910, seven months after the founding of the News. Moore bought the interest of the partner. Moore sold to Hal McDoowell in 1944, after thirty-four years of ownership. In 1955, McDowell sold to Mr. Aand Mrs. Edward Savage, the present owners.

So the News has weathered good times and bad, until thsi date, and continues in good strength.

Goodspeed’s history of Missouri, published in 1889, names three early Liberal newspapers of which this writer has found no other record. It says The Liberal Ensign was published by Scott & Searles, and later by Scott, in 1887-88, in some way associated with the publishers of the Sedalia Democrat; and that the Liberal Messenger was published in 1888-89.

According to the Goodspeed historian, Pedro had another newspaper, “The Pedro Enterprise,” published in 1887-88. This date seems to conflict with the date of the Ensign. No further particulars are given; though I recall having heard that, years ago, Jim Searles, member of a pioneer family, once published a newspaper in Pedro for a short while. I find it futile to attempt to reconcile these names and dates.

George W. McKenney and Rhoda Scarborough and Descendants

George W. McKenney, born May 20, 1816 in Pennsylvania, died July 14, 1892 in Randolph County, Indiana, buried at Hopewell Cemetery, is a known son of Robert McKenney and Margaret who lived in Belmont, Guernsey and Monroe Counties, Ohio. He is believed by me to be a relative of my George W. McKenney Sr. who was born about 1830, and who I think was a grandson of the above Robert and Margaret. My speculation is that this George W. McKenney (so spelled in 1850, he is also given as George W. McKinney) was an uncle of my G. W. McKenney.

“She (Rhoda Scarborough) married an Irishman, George McKinney. His mother Margaret, was born in Ireland in 1776.”
Source: Jacob Miller and Jane Scarborough Kith’ N’ Kin’
By Flavil R. Miller 1971
Original from University of Wisconsin

Rhoda’s brother, Mark, was one of those who moved to the Ioway area of Kansas, settling in 1865 in Iowa, Doniphan, Kansas, next to the Nemaha/Iowa Reservation. As my G. W. McKenney was said to have married an Ioway woman, this has been of interest to me.

George, son of Robert and Margaret, would have been one of the males in the 1820 census of Robert’s household.

1820 for Robert McKinney
1 male under 10, b 1810-1820 (George W)
1 male 10 to 16, b 1810 to 1804
1 male 16 to 18, b 1804 to 1802
1 males 16 to 26, b 1804 to 1796
1 male 45 and up, b 1775 before
1 female 10 to 16, b 1810 to 1804
1 female 16 to 26 b 1804 to 1794
1 female 45 and up, b 1775 abt

1820 OH BELMONT RICHLAND
pg. 209
John SCOTT
Henry OWENS
Henry GIVENS
Benjamin SCRITCHFIELD
John BEVON?
William MCKINNEY 3 2 – – – 1 1 – – – 1 – 2
(3 males under 10, 2 10 to 16, 1 45 and up, 1 female under 10, 1 45 and up)
Rachel BENOIT or BEROIT (BURDIT?)
James DURBIN
Dennis MCMAHAN
Joseph BEEDY?
Mathias SHIPMAN
William NICHOL
John KING
pg. 213
John FARELL
Rudolph FARELL
William MCMILLIN
James WILSON
Susan HARDISTEY 2 – – – – – – – – 1
(2 males under 10, 1 female 26 to 45)
NOTE: She married a William McKINNEY.
John MIERS
Richard HARDISTEY – – – – – 1 – – – – 1
(1 male over 45, 1 female over 45)
Robert HARDISTEY 4 – – – 1 – 2 – – – 1
Rebekah ENGLISH
Robert MCKINNEY 1 1 1 2 – 1 – 1 1 – 1 – 3
(1 male under 10, 1 male 10 to 16, 1 male 16 to 18, 2 males 16 to 26, 1 45 and up, 1 female 10 to 16, 1 female 16 to 26, 1 female 45 and up. A Robert MCKINNEY in 1830 Belmont has 2 female 20 to 30, a male 10 to 15 and 1 20 to 30, plus two older adults, and could match this household.)
Dennis HALL
James BALL
William MARTIN
William BELL
Joseph BAILEY
Catherine DILLON

Again, George would be present in 1830.

1830 Robert
1 male 10 to 15 b 1815-1820
2 males 20 to 30 b 1800-1810
1 male 50 to 60 b 1870-1880
2 females 20 to 30 b 1800-1810
1 female 40 to 50 b 1880-1890

If this is the same Robert as in the Belmont County 1820 census (and I believe it is), the two older males, b. 1794 to 1804, have left the household.

1830 OHIO GUERNSEY BEAVER
pg. 780
James REED
Travis PETTY
William CAMPBELL
Israel BARNES
William MOORE
Ludwell PETTY
http://worldconnect.rootsweb.com/cgi-bin/igm.cgi?op=GET&db=:1571181&id=I0526
Ludwell PETTY was from Prince William, VA, the son of Travis PETTY above.

John MCKINNEY 3 1 – – – 1 – – – – – – – – 2 – – – 1
NOTE: appears to be same McKINNEY as 1840 Millwood.
Henry BAILEY – 1 – – – 1 / – 2 – – – 1
NOTE: See 1840 BELMONT Census, a Henry lives next to a Robert LOVE.
Don’t know if the following would be a related BAILEY. Bailey, James, F., far., Sec. 26; P.O. Bentonsport; owns 252 acres of land, valued at $40 per acre. Born Aug. 23, 1825, in Belmont Co., Ohio; parents moved to Morgan Co. in 1835; from there to this county in the spring of 1850; lived in Bonaparte till the fall of 1851, then went to California via New Orleans; from there to the Isthmus by steamer; from there to San Francisco in a sailing-vessel; came near perishing for want of food and water, being out seventy-seven days; while there, was engaged in mining, and on the public works; returned in 1855, and married Celestine Davidson July 25, 1855; she was born April 10, 1835; in Illinois; came on to his present farm in January, 1855; have one daughter–Ella, married to H. T. Shepherd Nov. 12, 1872. Mr. Bailey served in the Mexican war in Co. H, 3d Ohio Inf.; was in the service about one year. Member of the M. E. Church; Republican.

Thomas ARNOLD
Robert SYTHE or LYTHE
Thomas BRISTER
Jesse BAILEY
Isaac SINEL?
William HART
John HALL
Stephen HALL
Robert ROBERSON or ROBENSON
William GARDNER
James MALONE
Michael BRADY
Michael CREIGHTON
William GRIGLY
John BARKER
James YOUNG
Daniel SEER
Nathan PRICE
McLain MCELVAIN
Caleb HALL
pg. 781
Edmund HAISE
Bailey HAISE
See 1850 Monroe Census. Enoch HAYES.
Ogden GREY
John TOWNSEND
John MCKINNEY 3 1 – – 1 – – – – – – – – 1 1 – – 1
NOTE: Likely same McKINNEY as 1840 Guernsey Oxford.
Henry MORGAN
William DOWNEY
Matthew HILL
Archibald JOHNSTON
Knowles DOWDNA?
http://worldconnect.rootsweb.com/cgi-bin/igm.cgi?op=GET&db=kerrysimi&id=I14013. Knowles DOWDNA b. 1780 Pitt Co. NC, son of Henry DOWDNA and Elizabeth KNOWLES, married Hannah WEBSTER.
Henry HALL
A Henry HALL was executor for the will of Bailey HAYES b. 1776 GA. died 1845 Guernsey.
Isaac HALL
http://worldconnect.rootsweb.com/cgi-bin/igm.cgi?op=GET&db=kerrysimi&id=I14036. An Isaac HALL married Mary Doudna b. 12 Feb 1778, daughter of John DOUDNA and Sarah KNOWLES. John was a brother of Knowles DOUDNA.
Robert MCKINNEY – – 1 – 2 – – 1 – – – – – – – – – 2 – 1 (one male 10 to 15, 2 males 20 to 30, one male 50 to 60, 2 females 20 to 30 and 1 40 to 50)
John HALL
Likely related to Isaac HALL. A Zilpah HAYES b. 1762 GA married a Joseph STUBBS b. Cane Creek NC. A daughter was Sarah STUBBS b. 1787 Wrightsborogh, Richmond Co. GA. who married Benjamin HALL Sr. b. 1787 in NC. Their son, John B. HALL b. 1813 died in Guernsey (as did his mother). He married Anne KUHNS b. 17 March 1811 in GUERNSEY. This Zilpha HAYES is not listed among siblings of Bailey, Frederick and Edmund HAISE living above, but likely is. Joseph S. HALL, a son of Benjamin HALL and Sarah. He went to Liberty Township, Warren Co. IA in the early 1840s.
Zilpha HAYES b. 1811, daughter of Bailey HAYES and Mary STUBBS, married Thomas COLES, and a brother Isaac married Mary “Polly” COLES. Elizabeth COLES b. 1832, daughter of Thomas COLES and Zilpha, married William LOVE. Among their children was a James Walker LOVE. A James COLES when to Warren Co. IA with Joseph HALL.

John WEBSTER
Samuel ROGERS
John MARSHALL
Eli WEBSTER
William SMITH
David CAMPBELL

George and Rhoda married in 1835. Thus far the only possible fit I’ve found for them is the below household. It’s not proven this is George and Rhoda, but they would have had a young son just as this couple does.

1840 OH Washington Co., Ludlow
pg. 292
Josiah G. HEARN
George YOHO
Samuel SAMPLE
Eli PARKER
John WINDLAND
John ADAMS
Henry WARD
Joshua POWELL
George MCKINNEY 2 – – – 1 / – – – – 1
Jesse WARD
Isaac CLINE

Francis M. McKenney was born 1836. William McKenney was born in 1840. James was born in 1844.

We find the family in the 1850 Enoch, Monroe, Ohio census, in which my George W. McKenney also appeared, living several households from the widowed Margaret McKenney, who was the mother of George W. McKenney who married Rhoda.

pg. 16 Ancestry.com or pg. 334B
Thomas WEEKLEY 31
Phillip BLAZER 41
315/315 Sarah HERRING 42 b. OH
WIlliam McMEANEY 17
Thomas 13
Elisa A. 12
Rebecca MCKINNEY 3
316/316 John YOUNG 25 and Sarah (b. OH)
317/317 Benyama or Benjamin? VAUGHN 27 and May
William VAUGHN also in household 27 b. VA and Catherine McMEANEY or McKINNEY 10
318/318 John ALLTOP or AUTOP 55 and Sarah
319/319 William YOUNG 73 and Elizabeth 54, PA and OH
320/320 James BROWN 52 and Mary

pg. 336B
343/343 John A. STABB 26 and Magdalena
344/344 George MCKENNEY 32 PA
Rhoda 32 OH
Frances 14
William 10
James 6
Rebecca SCARBOROUGH married George MCKINNEY (household #344 1850 Monroe County, Enoch census). Her sister Jane married Jacob MILLER. In this census, residing between my G. W. MCKINNEY and Margaret MCKENNEY are this Jacob and Jane Miller.

http://worldconnect.rootsweb.com/cgi-bin/igm.cgi?op=REG&db=suekmurray&id=I0315 gives this as Jacob MILLER Jr. b. 1803 in Washington Township PA, died 16 March 1894 in Cambridge, Center Twp., Guernsey Co. OH, who married Jane SCARBOROUGH. Jane SCARBOROUGH’s sister, Rhoda, married the other George McKINNEY in this census and most of the siblings seem to have married in Guernsey. Jacob MILLER’s father, Jacob Sr., is observed in the 1800 census of Washington Co. PA.

http://worldconnect.rootsweb.com/cgi-bin/igm.cgi?op=GET&db=suekmurray&id=I0650 (Sue Murray bsmurray at home.com) gives this as Rhoda SCARBOROUGH b. 1818 in OH who married George McKINNEY b. 1818 in PA. They had Francis M. b. 1846, William b. 1840 and James b. 1844, all given as in Monroe. Rhoda’s parents were Joseph SCARBOROUGH Jr. b. 20 Jan 1776 in Bucks Co. PA and Rebecca BARNETT b. 1786 in PA. Rhoda’s sister Jane married Jacob MILLER son of Jacob MILLER in Guernsey. The 1830 Guernsey OH census shows a Jacob MILLER with one 15-20 year old son living between Timothy SHARRICK? and Benjamin STIGLER. Further down that page is a Peter YAGGE or YAGGER living next to a William SHAFER.

Rhoda’s father died in 1825. Her family is perhaps that of Rebecca SCARBROT observed in 1830 Guernsey County, Center Township, pg. 458. In 1830 her brother Benjamin is in Belmont CO., Pultney, pg. 277 residing two households from a James KELSEY Jr. who is not likely related to the KELSEYs residing next to William MCKINNEY in 1850 Van Buren Co. IA. There are no familiar names beside the SCARBOROUGHS in the 1830 and 1840 census.

345/345 John YAGER 30 b. Germany
Margaret YAGER 51 Germany
346/346 Joseph HAMMOND 31 and Barbery
347/347 Jacob SHOTTS 34 and Ann

George and Rachel had Samuel in Indiana in 1852.

We next find the family in Haw Creek, Morgan, Missouri in 1860.

Source Citation: Year: 1860; Census Place: Haw Creek, Morgan, Missouri; Roll: M653_636; Page: 0; Image: 45.
319/295 G. W. MCKINNEY 45 farmer b. PA
Rhoda 43 b. OH
William 20
James 16
Samuel (?) 8 male b. IN
Frances M. 23 b. OH
Barbara 21
318/296 Jno. RESTER 30 and Polly 32 b. MO and TN

1870 finds the family back in Indiana.

1870 Indiana, Blackford, Licking
160/155 CASTERLINE Ira b.NJ and Lydia 22 b. IN
161/156 HEDGE Abner b. PA and Charlote b. NY
162 empty
163/157 MCKINNEY George 54 farmer $400 b. OH
Rhoda 54 b. OH
Samuel 18 b. IN
164/158 GETTYS Sarah 50 b. PA
Joseph 23 b.IN and other children
165/159 CASTERLINE Ira 24 b. IN and Charlotte b. OH

In the 1870 Blackford County, Washington census is a Rebecca McKINNEY 25 b. IN with a George W. 4 in the household of Fanny BENEDICT b. MA.

In 1880 they are in the Greene, Randolph, Indiana census.

1880 IN, RANDOLPH CO., GREENE
Joseph A. DEPOY 30 b. IN and Safrona 35 b. VA
* John READ 26 b. OH and Lyda A. 27 b. OH
* William CAMPBELL 31 b. IN parents b. OH and SC and Alas J. 25 (see note on campbell)
* Anderson B. STPEHENS 25 b. IN
Francis M. REYNOLDS 25 b. IN
Leander SHAVER 23 b. OH
* Constent B. MCPROUD 40 b. OH and Mizella 39 b. IN
George MC KINEY Self M Male W 64 PA Farmer IRE IRE
Rhody MC KINEY Wife M Female W 63 OH Keeping House MD MD
Source Information:
Census Place Greene, Randolph, Indiana
Family History Library Film 1254306
NA Film Number T9-0306
Page Number 65D
* Milton MERANDA 38 b. OH and Matilda 33 b. IN

Though given at Worldconnect as marrying a Harriet BANNER, this may fit the bill for William Alonzo CAMPBELL b. 17 Oct 1857 Randolph IN, son of Hezekiah CAMPELL 2 Jan 1827 in Belmont and Rachel FAULKNER b. 27 Dec 1833 in Randolph IN.
http://worldconnect.rootsweb.com/cgi-bin/igm.cgi?op=GET&db=laplante&id=I15782
Hezekiah’s parents were Alexander CAMPBELL and Susanna BROWN.
http://worldconnect.rootsweb.com/cgi-bin/igm.cgi?

Francis M. McKenney is known to have married a Barbara A.

They were in Greene, Randolph, Indiana in 1870, 1880 and 1900. They don’t appear to have had children.

1870 IN Randolph Co. Greene
174/174 MCPROUD James 29 and Martha 21
175/175 McPROUD Jno 41 and Nancy
176/176 MCKINNEY M. 30 $2500 $500 b. OH
Barbary 28 b. IN

1880 IN Randolph Co. Greene
Francis M. MC KINEY Self M Male W 43 OH Farmer OH OH
Barbra A. MC KINEY Wife M Female W 40 OH Keeping House PA PA
Source Information:
Census Place Greene, Randolph, Indiana
Family History Library Film 1254306
NA Film Number T9-0306
Page Number 63C

1900 IN Randolph County
MCKINNEY Francis M head March 1836 64 married 40 years b. OH father b. PA mother b. OH
Barbara A. Dec 1838 61 0 children b. OH father b. VA mother b. PA
DUKE Julia boarder Feb 1868 31 single b. IN father b. illegible mother b. VA
MARTIN Nancy boarder Nov 1865 34 single b. Indiana parents b. OH

I’ve not been able to follow James McKenney following the 1860 census or Samuel McKenney following the 1870 census.

Son William McKenney married a Rebecca Benedict on Sep 13 1863 in Blackford County, Indiana. He appears to have died before 1870. In that census we find Rebecca and a son, George W., in Washington, Blackford, Indiana.

1870 IN Blackford Co. Washington
182/180 BENEDICT Fanny 64 $300 $236 b. MA
John M. 22 farmer b. IN
MCKINNEY Rebecca 25
George W. 4
MILES Fannie 13

July 3 1873 in Blackford County, Indiana, Rebecca McKenney married a 2nd time to a James Palmer who had been previously married to a Maranda Richardson. The family is in the 1880 Monroe, Grant, Indiana census.

Source Citation: Year: 1880; Census Place: Monroe, Grant, Indiana; Roll: T9_280; Family History Film: 1254280; Page: 552.4000; Enumeration District: 175; Image: 0105.
209/217 PALMER James 47 farmer b. OH parents b. VA
Rebecca 37 b. IN parents b. NY
Francis 6 b. IN father b. OH mother b. IN
Arthur 5
Dellie M. 2 female
MCKINNEY George 15 stepson

What happened to George W. McKenney after 1880, I don’t know. If anyone descended from this family comes across this blog, I’d like to hear from them. Perhaps someone down this line has more information on the family of Robert and Margaret McKenney. I’ve yet to see on McKenney boards anyone researching this line.

Summary of Ebenezer SPARHAWK’s diary Year 1814

Summary of Ebenezer SPARHAWK’s diary

Year 1814

Summarized by Dorothy Mitchell McClure

Note: On the diaries. Ebenezer Sparhawk Jr. (28 May 1764 to 31 Oct 1836) of Rochester VT (here’s how he works into the family tree) kept a diary for 30 years. How Dorothy Mitchell McClure came into possession of the diaries is unknown, other than Ebenezer being gggrandfather of her husband, Albert, but they were quite delicate so she made a summary of them. The diaries were kept in a safe deposit box and I was never privileged to view them but received a copy of the summary. The style of her summarizing changes several times as it progresses, and shortly moves to being primarily direct abbreviated quotes. The transcriptions I’ve made of the summaries aren’t religiously exact as the style of summarizing was confusing at points where it was difficult to distinguish between direct quotes and what were her notations, but the transcriptions are close.

Though summaries, there are numerous accounts of transactions of various types with neighbors and others, accounts of illnesses and deaths, trading and selling of goods, mentions of town meetings, who was preaching, record of his surveying work for the towns and individuals, mixed in with notes on weather (and whether it was exceptional) and general and unusual chores.

Go to year index of the diaries.

January 1 – “Being Saturday Weather something cloudy attd the funeral of Ichabod JEPHERSON’s wife & at evening me with Mr. BABBET & finished the settlement about building the meeting house & gave up his Bond”

January 4 – “W. cold & clear went to Woodstock with the Widow SPARHAWK & Dr. WARREN to take letters of guardianship for my Brothers Children – lodged at TAYLORS Tavern.”

January 11 – “Went to Grandon with Silas TUPPER to take care of property belonging to my Brother H’s Estate lodged at the Revd. Mr. HIBBARDS.”

January 12 – “business…all Day…came home”

January 17 – “to Hancock to attend a meeting of W. B. Society.”

January 27 – “monthly conference”

February 8 – “to the Widow SPARHAWK to set off her part of the personal property recording to the Direction of the Judge”

February 14 – “attd the funeral of Joseph JEPHERSONS youngest child”

February 15 – “Mrs. SPARHAWK unwell went after Dct HUNTINGTON about break of Day our eighth Child & fourth Daughter born at 8 o’clock” (Martha)

February 24 – “Monthly conference”

February 25 – “att’d a Court Ephm FAIRBANK vs. Asaph SMITH”

March 1 – “Town meeting”

March 5 – “Court Obidiah DELAN vs. SILAS MCDAIN(?)”

March 9 – “made writings for James TOWL & others”

March 10 – “P.M. att’d an Exhibition at our Meeting house – the larger Scholars from two or three districts in Rochester & some from Hancock performed on the stage.”

March 16 – “P.M. went about some meeting house matter”

March 17 – “attd a Church meeting P.M. about James WING’S voting not to pay Revd Mr. BLODGETs salary”

March 18 thru 21 – “writing Bills of sale for PEWS”

March 22 – “bought two heifers of John JONES”

March 30 – “to James TOWLS to get Sap Pails”

April 5 – “went to get Robert AUSTIN (?) to live on the Widow SPARHAWK’s farm”

April 6 thru 7 – “to the Doctor for our Babe … very sick”

April 11 – “about sugaring…stormy snow & rain went with Jonathan JEWETT to do a little surveying of near R. CLARKS also to write a Deed & Notes with Elisha COOPER.”

April 14 – “assisted about ploughing on the Widow SPARHAWK’s farm”

April 21 – “wrote Deed for J. JEWETT to Wm. Mr. COLLAM”

April 23 – “Brother Saml came to my House”

Fencing, ploughing, sowing wheat, rye and flax.

May 2 – “Showers of Snow & Hail & Rain & cold”

May 5 – “attd Courts”

May 6 – “made something of a Bargain with Willard JEPHERSON about Sawmill & some land that was my Brother’s”

May 7 – “To Pittsfield to survey for Capt FAIRBANK”

May 8 – “had the child baptized by the name of Martha”

May 9 – “assisted Ezra WASHBURN about raising a House”

May 11 – “made writin (?) go with Willard JEPHERSON and Simion PARKER about the Saw Mill & part of the Farm that was my Brother’s”

Ploughing, furrowing, planting corn, carting dung, graden work, planting potatoes

May 25 – “wrote a letter to my Mother

May 28 – “This day fifty years of my life are numbered & finished – Half a Century of time with me is past and Oh the poor improve I have made”

May 31 – “attd some Courts at E. D. BRIGGS. P.M. FREEMAN’s meeting to choose Representative to attend State Convention attd a Court all night between H. HOWE & Reuben LAMB”

JUne 6 – “P.M. went to assist J. JEWETT about raising a house”

June 7 – “P.M. went to the Meeting House – it being Training Day”

June 13 – “assisted about beginning to build a new Bridge across White River near N. AUSTIN’s House”

June 14 – “Revd Mr. HOBERT of Berlin preached – The Association of Ministers being convened in Rochester”

June 15 thru 16 – “Work’d at the Bridge”

June 23 – “P.M. assisted R. HOWE (?) about raising a House”
June 25 – “drawing the String pieces for our Bridge”

Through June and July, hoeing corn, surveying, waggon wheels repaired, beginning about his haying and pulling flax.

August 9 – “went to pay my Direct Tax at E. D. BRIGGS house”

August 15 – “P.M. went out to make some preparation to go & attend Commencement at Middlebury”

August 16 – “W. clear & very warm most of the Day set out with three of my Children to attd Commencement – went to Cornwall – lodged at Mr. ANDERSON’s house”

August 17 – “attd Com. all day”

August 26 – “P.M. went with Mr. GARNSEY to survey some land belonging to Mr. J. JEPHERSON’s Estate.”

August 31 – “P.M. went to Hancock to see Esq. ROBBINS about what was due on my Brothers Estate”

September 3 – “workd for Esq. EMERSON surveying Joseph JEPHERSON Land”

September 10 “W. clear most of the Day work’d in my field A.M. About noon an alarm came on to have men voluntarily turn out to go to Plattsburg & meet the British Army – P.M. the Inhabitants collected and about 60 offered their Service & set out early the next morning — At evening Brother Joshua RICHARDSON from Templeton came to my House”

September 13 – “to E. D. BRIGGS to assist in making out the Grand List”

September 17 – “attd to calling some Courts at my House”

Mending fence, laying stones under cider mill house, sold cattle to J. RICHARDSON, surveying, making out Grand List, gathered corn.

October 1 – “P.M. went & attended about taking in property for Pews in the meeting house”

October 4 – Training Day

Gathering apples, corn, digging potatoes, attd court, taking up flax, butchering beef, hooping cider barrels.

October 18 – “P.M. att’d a Court or rather as’st was at last agreed upon an Arbitration between Doct FRANK & John POWERS Jr.”

October 21 – “hooping Barrels & Boarding my Cider Mill House”

November 2 – “finished making my own Cider”

November 16 – “banking my House”

November 17 – “attd Library meeting to divide the Books & dissolve the Library Society in Rochester”

November 24 – “fixed my well”

November 25 – “went with D. WARREN & Nathnl WINER and began to frame a horseshed at the Meeting house”

December 1 – “Thanksgiving Day”

December 5 – “getting wood to the School House”

December 9 – “P.M. visited our school with the Committee”

December 13 – “attd a Society meeting to raise money to pay Mr. BLODGETS Salary”

December 14 – “assisted in setting off the thirds to the Widow of Jacob JEPHPERSON”

December 20 – “at E. Bakers Shop about putting on Irons to my Sleigh”

December 23 – “drawed a load of Wood to Mr. BLODGET…& the greatest part of the People in the Hollow came & brought Wood & the Young Men chopped it at the Doon”
Thrashing of rye, hooping meat barrels, butchering hogs, drawing boards from mill.

Transcribed by JMK 2003

Summary of Ebenezer SPARHAWK’s diary Year 1813

Summary of Ebenezer SPARHAWK’s diary

Year 1813

Summarized by Dorothy Mitchell McClure

Note: On the diaries. Ebenezer Sparhawk Jr. (28 May 1764 to 31 Oct 1836) of Rochester VT (here’s how he works into the family tree) kept a diary for 30 years. How Dorothy Mitchell McClure came into possession of the diaries is unknown, other than Ebenezer being gggrandfather of her husband, Albert, but they were quite delicate so she made a summary of them. The diaries were kept in a safe deposit box and I was never privileged to view them but received a copy of the summary. The style of her summarizing changes several times as it progresses, and shortly moves to being primarily direct abbreviated quotes. The transcriptions I’ve made of the summaries aren’t religiously exact as the style of summarizing was confusing at points where it was difficult to distinguish between direct quotes and what were her notations, but the transcriptions are close.

Though summaries, there are numerous accounts of transactions of various types with neighbors and others, accounts of illnesses and deaths, trading and selling of goods, mentions of town meetings, who was preaching, record of his surveying work for the towns and individuals, mixed in with notes on weather (and whether it was exceptional) and general and unusual chores.

Go to year index of the diaries.

January 1 – Being Friday – Weather for several Days something clear. Word at drawing Timber for Rails and some fire wood.

January 12 – “W. something clear went & worked with my Brother Henry drawing logs to his Mill that lay in his lot not far from the mill”

January 13 – “W. a little cloudy most of the Day my Brother Henry went with me & helped me about getting building Timber on Nathan AUSTIN’s Jmm(?) Land & drawing it out as far as John LARDs House – some time in the night my Brother H was taken with extreme pain in his left side”

January 14 – “W. clear I went & drawed Timber not knowing of my Brother till evening when I went to see him & found him in a very dangerous situation”

According to the Sparhawk genealogy Ebenezer and Azubah’s son Joseph, born August 9, 1811, died in 1813. There are no more entries in the diary for this year of 1813.

Transcribed by JMK 2003

Summary of Ebenezer SPARHAWK’s diary Year 1800

Summary of Ebenezer SPARHAWK’s diary

Year 1800

Summarized by Dorothy Mitchell McClure

Note: On the diaries. Ebenezer Sparhawk Jr. (28 May 1764 to 31 Oct 1836) of Rochester VT (here’s how he works into the family tree) kept a diary for 30 years. How Dorothy Mitchell McClure came into possession of the diaries is unknown, other than Ebenezer being gggrandfather of her husband, Albert, but they were quite delicate so she made a summary of them. The diaries were kept in a safe deposit box and I was never privileged to view them but received a copy of the summary. The style of her summarizing changes several times as it progresses, and shortly moves to being primarily direct abbreviated quotes. The transcriptions I’ve made of the summaries aren’t religiously exact as the style of summarizing was confusing at points where it was difficult to distinguish between direct quotes and what were her notations, but the transcriptions are close.

Though summaries, there are numerous accounts of transactions of various types with neighbors and others, accounts of illnesses and deaths, trading and selling of goods, mentions of town meetings, who was preaching, record of his surveying work for the towns and individuals, mixed in with notes on weather (and whether it was exceptional) and general and unusual chores.

Go to year index of the diaries.

January – Many errands and chores but a number of visits with friends started this new year.

January 27 – “set out for Templeton & Boston my Brother Samuel with me” (this time Ebenezer went for money owed him – February – received some money, then went to Westmister after salt).

February 5 – Back in Templeton. “Workd about wood for my Father a few people were sledding”

February 12 – Back in Rochester

February 12 – W. clear & pleasant went to the Blacksmith to get work done – Being a Day much observed throughout a great part of North America in commemoration of the Birth of illustrious Gen. George Washington also in lamentation for the Death of such an extraordinary Man”

February 26 – “went over the Mountain to Salisbury to get Iron for my Cart Wheels”

February 28 – “James RICHARDSON & wife came to my house moving to Warren” (Many friends came to the Sparhawk home to visit from time to time)

March 20 – “about making Cubbard in Cellar & moving my Cellar Stairs”

March 26 – “this day sent by F. CROWN a horse, letters and money to Walpole”

April 1 – “went to Mr. Enos MORGAN’s to make a Bed rope”

April 7 – “prepare for making my Cart Wheels”

April 9 – “to Asa PERKINS (blacksmith) to get Cart Hoops made”

April 19 – “to Stockbridge after a Horse that ran away”

April 23 – “Fast Day Mr. RANSOM preached”

May 1 – “It may be remembered that this is very Forward grass so much grown that cattle live very well”

May 7 – “P.M. went to Meeting house to pay the Continental Land Tax”

May 10 – “had my garden seeds sowed”

May 12 – “at Evening attd to collecting help for my wife who was sick most of the night”

May 13 – “W. very clear & warm workd about near the House A.M. – and about two o’clock afternoon our first Child was born” (George)

May 19 – “set out with Esqr. HODGKINS to find an old Corner between Stockbridge & Killington”

May 21 – “found Corner – came home”

May 28 – “W. clear & warm work’d at sowing Oats in my sugar place This Day the number of My Days amount to 36 years – how swift is time on the wing

June 5 – “some frost”

June 8 – “Mr. CONE of the Baptist order preached”

June 10 – “brought Fanny SHELDON to my House to work” (Help for Azubah and their new baby)

June 16 – “night cold & frosty”

June 20 – “survey’d a piece of Land for my Brother Henry which he sold to Phineas AUSTIN”

June 22 – P.M. from Isaiah 57.20,21 a very great number of People attd on account of the funeral of a young man by the name of EDGELL who was killed by the fall of a Tree & his Corpse brought into the meeting house & buryed at noon”

June 24 thru 28 – “on a Journey to Stow & Williston ” (to do business for Esqr. HODKIN in Williston, Settled taxed on Land (Stow). “attd the Redemption of Lands in Mansfield.”

July 3 – “workd at framing the School House”

July 19 – “It has been a very dry time in this part of the Country”

August 8 – “W. clear work’d for my Brother Henry A.M. to pay him for helping Mr. MASON (?) who is home with a (?) of a Seythe. P.M. very showery attd a Town meeting”

August 10 – “W. something clear being Sunday did not attd meeting by reason of having a very sore Eye which came in the morning”

August 13 – “went my Broth. Henry to look about a Saw Mill place”

August 15 – “set out from home to find a workman to build a Saw Mill” August 19 – “went to Bethel to hire a Mr. WILSON to build a Saw Mill” August 22- “set out to go over the Mountain to get Mill Irons”

August 29 – “killing a Beef Creature”

August 30 – “work’d at cutting a Road from the Mill place towards my house”

September 11 – “set out to run the South line of Stockbridge went to N. East Corner of Killington & began run about half a mile then campd in the Woods all night”

September 13 – “finished running sd (?) Line – came home”

Septmber 15 – “W. clear & cool workd at ye Mill A.M. – & P.M. went to Mr. SHELDONS to reckon with those who bot pews in ye Meeting house – at night very cold & frosty on the Hills but none in ye vallies by reason of Fogg”

September 28 – “W. rainy most of the day did not attd meeting. There has been little rain for several Months, much the dryest season that has been since this Town was settled – tho’ by very small showers the top of the ground has been wet so that our Crops in general are good.”

October 7 – “sold my fatted Cattle to Mr. MIRIAM (?) of Concord, Massachusetts”

October 9 – “Mr. WILSON who is framing our Saw Mill”

October 17 – “carted Braces for our Mill”

October 22 – “W. something cloudy work’d at Raising our Saw Mill in this Evening set out to go to Middlebury as an Evidence for the Proprietors of Pittsfield about Land Matters”

October 24 – “att’d the General Assembly”

October 25 – “finished the Business I went upon A.M. and P.M. set out for home”

October 29 – “my Brother Henry to go over the Mountain after Mill Irons”

November 15 – Much snow and rain this month and “workd at ye Mill”, journey to Walpole to do Errands & making settlement with a number of People, arrived home on the 26th

December 2 – “attd Town meeting to choose a Representative to Congress”

December 4 – “Thanksgiving Day attd meeting no preaching at evening went to Mr. J. JEPHERSON with Mrs. SPARHAWK”

December 5 – “W. cloudy work’d at getting wood and went to Mr. SHELDONs at evening to see about Library matters night very snowy”

December 18 – “W. something cloudy attd a Library meeting at Mr. SHELDONs to ratify a Constitution & choose Officers for sd. (?) society”

December 28 – “meeting at Esq. EMERSONs House Revd Mr Campbell preached a sermon from James 4.14 – at the Funeral of Henry LAIN who was killed by the fall of a Tree – at night some snow came”

December 31 – The Mill must have been finished for on the 31st Ebenezer “workd at the Mill about sawing”

Transcribed by JMK 2003

Summary of Ebenezer SPARHAWK’s diary Year 1799

Summary of Ebenezer SPARHAWK’s diary

Year 1799

Summarized by Dorothy Mitchell McClure

Note: On the diaries. Ebenezer Sparhawk Jr. (28 May 1764 to 31 Oct 1836) of Rochester VT (here’s how he works into the family tree) kept a diary for 30 years. How Dorothy Mitchell McClure came into possession of the diaries is unknown, other than Ebenezer being gggrandfather of her husband, Albert, but they were quite delicate so she made a summary of them. The diaries were kept in a safe deposit box and I was never privileged to view them but received a copy of the summary. The style of her summarizing changes several times as it progresses, and shortly moves to being primarily direct abbreviated quotes. The transcriptions I’ve made of the summaries aren’t religiously exact as the style of summarizing was confusing at points where it was difficult to distinguish between direct quotes and what were her notations, but the transcriptions are close.

Though summaries, there are numerous accounts of transactions of various types with neighbors and others, accounts of illnesses and deaths, trading and selling of goods, mentions of town meetings, who was preaching, record of his surveying work for the towns and individuals, mixed in with notes on weather (and whether it was exceptional) and general and unusual chores.

Go to year index of the diaries.

January and February – Ebenezer continued with the school he started in his own house, also continued his arranging the Continental List of the town of Rochester. From January 28th to Feb 11th he was gone to Templeton bringing his brother Noah home with him to live. Ebenezer finished his school for the winter the last of February, also during this month he prepared a second Continental List for the Commissioner, delivering his “return as an assessor” on Feb. 28.

March 5 – “attd Town Meeting for electing Town Officers”

March 15 – “went to Mr. Joseph JEPHERSON to engage a girl to keep my house”

This is Azubah JEPHERSON. Forrest MORGAN and his family who had been living in Ebenezer’s house and share cropping moved to their own house. Azubah arrived to keep his house on the 28th. Her parents came to visit a few days later. They must have been satisfied with the situation for Azubah stayed on.

April 4 – “W. something snowy A.M. P.M. something clear A remarkable great Snow two feet deep or more”

April 25 – Fast day in Vermont

April 26 – “P.M. Esqr HODGKINS came to my house to settle Land Taxes”

May 11 – “W. something cloudy & cold workd at ploughing my orchard Snow came about an inch deep”

May 12 – “W. clear and cold attd meeting Mr. RANSOM preached from Ezekiel 16 four last verses – after meeting went to Mr. Joseph JEPHERSONS with their daughter Azubah”

May 14 – “Survey’d the Piece of Land taken from Pittsfield to Rochester”

May 15 – “attd Proprietors meeting at Mr. SHELDONS & made a draught of our third Division Lots of Land in Rochester at night rainy”

May 28 – “planting corn…sowing garden seeds this Day has compleated five times seven years of my Age”

June 1 – “sowing oats on the Hill at the Old House Place”

June 2 – “W. something cloudy & cool – att’d meeting Mr. TANSOM preached from Number 10.29 all Day – same day was published to Miss Azubah JEPHERSON – by E. EMERSON Esq. Town Clerk”

June 3 – Esq. EMERSON at my House settling Land Taxes.”

June 4 – Proprietors meeting, Training Day, also Ebenezer “set out on a Journey to Danville & Stow to see about Vendue Lands”

June 5 – “surveying the Road from Kingston through Warren to Waitsfield…” (This trip took him to Montpelier, Danville, Cabbot, Stow, Waterbury – at Danville settling Vendue Business & taking deeds.)

June 17 – “P.M. went to see about Shoes”

June 22 – “W. clear & hot went to Ava PERKINS to get my Horse shod & towards night went with Miss Azubah JEPHERSON to her Fathers left her to tarry all night”

June 23 – “W. clear & hot went in the morning to Mr. JEPHERSONS & carried Azubah to meeting – Mr. RANSOM preached after meeting I went to Mr. Joseph JEPHERSON’s and was married to Miss Azubah JEPHERSON by Revd. John RANSOM then returned home with my companion”

June 28 – “attd to reclaiming (?) land being the last day”

July 3 – “P.M. assisted Brother Henry about Raising his Barn”

July 5 – “went to Mr. WHIPPLES about SAYTHES”

July 6 – “workd at bleeding my fat cattle”

August 14 – “Esq. KEYES came to my house to bring money to me for my service in making out Continental List”

August 21 – “Began about digging a well near my house”

August 31 – Brother Noah who has lived with Ebenezer since February set out for a journey Northward for some weeks.

September 12 – “Day for Genl. Muster at Royalton”

September 23 – “Writing Deeds for Mr. Isaac WING Collector all day” (next day also)

September 26 – “P.M. assisted David WARREN about raising a house”

September 27 thru 28 – “after basket stuff” with Mr. SHAW

October 10 – “Esq. EMERSON came to my house to draw a Petition to the Assembly for Isaac WING. P.M. Eldad GARNSEY brot a pair of Oxen to pay for Land”

October 12 – “W. cloudy work’d about home A.M. – P.M. set out to assist Mr. N. CHANDLER about raising his House but was called off to go and give a Deposition to Joseph TUCKER of Connecticut”

October 21 – “set out from Rochester for Boston with fat cattle. Brother Noah set out with me for Templeton”

After selling his cattle, he returned to Templeton for a short visit and on home to Rochester on the 9th of November, and every day was filled with chores.

December 5 – “W. cloudy A.M. & P.M. being Thanksgiving Day attd meeting Mr. RANSOM preached – at evening went to Mr. JEPHERSON’s with Mrs. SPARHAWK”

December 10 – “W. cold & rainy in the morning which made a thin sharp crust on the snow – work’d about killing a Beef Creature & my Hogs all Day, at night clear & cold”

Transcribed by JMK 2003

Summary of Ebenezer SPARHAWK’s diary Year 1798

Summary of Ebenezer SPARHAWK’s diary

Year 1798

Summarized by Dorothy Mitchell McClure

Note: On the diaries. Ebenezer Sparhawk Jr. (28 May 1764 to 31 Oct 1836) of Rochester VT (here’s how he works into the family tree) kept a diary for 30 years. How Dorothy Mitchell McClure came into possession of the diaries is unknown, other than Ebenezer being gggrandfather of her husband, Albert, but they were quite delicate so she made a summary of them. The diaries were kept in a safe deposit box and I was never privileged to view them but received a copy of the summary. The style of her summarizing changes several times as it progresses, and shortly moves to being primarily direct abbreviated quotes. The transcriptions I’ve made of the summaries aren’t religiously exact as the style of summarizing was confusing at points where it was difficult to distinguish between direct quotes and what were her notations, but the transcriptions are close.

Though summaries, there are numerous accounts of transactions of various types with neighbors and others, accounts of illnesses and deaths, trading and selling of goods, mentions of town meetings, who was preaching, record of his surveying work for the towns and individuals, mixed in with notes on weather (and whether it was exceptional) and general and unusual chores.

Go to year index of the diaries.

January 3 – “Went to Hancock with my Sisters & N. CHANDLER & wife for a visit at Mr. DOLBEARS.”
January 8 – “Work’d at the Meetinghhouse clap boarding.”

January 15 – “Set out from Rochester with my sisters, Priscilla & Naomi for Templeton with my sleigh…” (Their trip was slow because of “snow being very much gone”. They arrived in Templeton on the 24th.)

January 30 – Ebenezer sent on for Boston on business, returning on the 3rd of February.

February 5 – “W. exceeding blustery went with my Sisters & a number of others to a Sleigh Ride & at (?) attd to a Ball at Eden BALDWIN’s” – more days of helping his father and squiring his sisters about, taking his mother visiting.

February 17 – Back in Rochester, Ebenezer settled with those for whom he drove cattle the previous fall.

February 24 – “Went to see about taking care of Lydia CURRIER who is crazy.”

February 27 – “W. cold & rough attd to getting window sashes made for ye meetinghouse”

March 3 – “W. clear & cold at A.M. went to ye meetinghouse to carry glass…”

March 5 – “went with Mr. Oliver LUCES of Stowe to see about getting a cow for him.”

March 6 – “In ye morning paid Mr. LUCE 115 Dollars in Cattle & money towards a Lot of Land I bot of him for my father – same day attd Town meeting to choose Town officers.”

March 10 – “Workd at meeting house about setting glass…”

March 11 – “W. stormy all day Snow & Hail attd meeting Mr. CLLARK preached from Jeremiah 6.14 all day it being the last day Mr. CLARK is to preach for us – full meeting at night rainy”

March 22 – “W. clear & thawy assisted Esqr. EMERSON make a Rate Bill for State Tax”

March 26 – “On a Journey for Templeton”

April 5 – “W. clear & plt. being Fast Day in State of Massachssets”

April 8 – “W. cloudy…Most of the snow is gone at Templeton in clear’d land except where it is drifted”

April 12 – “Fast day in S. of N. H.”

April 18 – “Fast day in Vermont attd meeting”

April 20 – “for several nights past the ground has froze something hard.”

April 30 – “W. clear & very hot…”

May 3 – “P.M. attd the Vendue of Land for the State Tax”

May 4 – “A most remarkable time for 8 days past for heat & for grass to grow that has ever been known at this time of year”

May 6 – “Death of one of John BROWN’s children”

May 9 – “W. something cloudy & cool attd meeting it being a day appointed by the President of the United States for fasting throughout ye States on account of the fearfullness of War with France. Mr. RANSOME preached from Joel 1.14 all day”

May 28 – “W. cloudy set out from home on Journey to the Northward to attd a Vendue of Lands at Danville – also to do Surveying Business in the Town of Stow – P.M. very rainy rode to Waitsfield with Esqr. HODGKINS & Isaac WING lodged at Gen. WAITS – The day past has completed the 34th year of my age – the swiftness of time how strange!”

May 29 – “W. rainy in the morning then cloudy all day rode to Stow with Esqr. H. & Mr. W. lodged at Mr. Oliver LUCE’S”

May 30 – “W. warm & a little cloudy went & viewed the Mills in Stow with Esqr. HODGKINS then went to Esqr. UTLEYS to enquire after Land for Mr. WING. P.M. set out from Stow for Danville with Esqr. H. rode to Waterbury & on our way took a Thief who had been stealing cattle – lodged at Capt. KENNAN’s Tavern” (They rode to Calor’s (?), Danville, St. Johnsbury, Barnet, Peacham, back to Danville, attd Vendue, came back thru Hardwick to Stow)

June 11 – “W. very clear work’d at fixing my Compass for surveying P.M. attd a Town meeting in Stow”

June 12 – “W. clear Began Surveying business in Stow”

June 13 – “W. clear except a shower of Rain & Hail. P.M. attd to Surveying.”

June 14 “W. clear attd the Vendue of Land for the Cent Tax” (He continued at surveying several more days.)

June 18 – “Workd at Surveying ’till near Sunset when I rec’d a Wound in my Heel from SPOTMAN’s ax”

June 19 – “Attd Vendue”

June 20 – “Work’d at making a Plan of Stow being so lame that I co’d not walk in Woods boarded at Mr. LUCE’s”

June 21 thru 22 – Ebenezer went home to Rocheseter.

June 23 – “Workd for Thos MARTIN framing & raising a house”

June 30 – “Sold a lot of Land of my fathers to Mr. Eldad GARNSEY of Rockingham”

July 6 – “It has been as dry a time as we almost ever had in Rochester” (Mr. RANSOM seems to be their regular preacher now.)

August 4 – “W. cloudy look’d after my Mare that had got out of the pasture into ye woods – at night rainy”

August 5 – “W. showery being Sunday lookd Do all Day”

August 6 – “W. clear look’d Do & found her P.M.”

August 8 – “W. Do very hot workd about Clapboarding my House”

August 17 – “rode to Col. GALLUPS in Hartland to purchase a lot of Land in Warren for Timothy DOLBEAR…rode to Croyden…to see about buying a lot of Land for my Brother Harry.”

August 27 – “It may be observed that the weather has been very warm day & night for about six weeks not one cold night.” (Late August & most of September Ebenezer spent in Stow, surveying and making plans for the town.)

October 5 – “It may be observed that the weather for about three months except two or three days has been very hot night and day, most of September very hot”

October 8 – “set out from Rochester with Beef cattle for Boston” (and he arrived in Watertown on the 17th, sold his catlle, returned via Templeton and Waterbury to Rochester on the 31st)

November 3 – “workd about fixing a Plan of Rochester”

November 5 – “began about surveying the third division Lots in Rochester”

November 12 – “W. very windy & some rain in the morning – something cool all day Set out to survey the piece of Land taken from Bethel to Rochester by WHITELAW’s line”

November 16 – “Work’d at Surveying on the River near Mr. WHIPPLE’s & so on down to ye R. to find undivided Land”

November 17 – “surveyed on the River opposite Mr. Enos MORGANs House until it intersected the old Town line South of my House”

November 20 – “snowy…good sledding”

December 4 – “W. cold & rough about home at Evening Esqr. EMERSON came to visit about fixing a Plan of Rochester”

December 12 – “just at Sunset old Mr. Josiah CHANDLER died in his sleigh supposed instantly for a minute before he appeared to be in good health”

December 14 – “assisted Esqr HODGKINS about making a Plan of Pittsfield”

December 15 – “W. cold & blustering went about taking in the Continental List in Rochester…” (Ebenezer worked on the list the rest of the month.)

December 21 – “assessors of Several Towns met at my House to see about making our Lists”

December 24 – “W. clear began something of a school in my own House”

Transcribed by JMK 2003

Summary of Ebenezer SPARHAWK’s diary Year 1797

Summary of Ebenezer SPARHAWK’s diary

Year 1797

Summarized by Dorothy Mitchell McClure

Note: On the diaries. Ebenezer Sparhawk Jr. (28 May 1764 to 31 Oct 1836) of Rochester VT (here’s how he works into the family tree) kept a diary for 30 years. How Dorothy Mitchell McClure came into possession of the diaries is unknown, other than Ebenezer being gggrandfather of her husband, Albert, but they were quite delicate so she made a summary of them. The diaries were kept in a safe deposit box and I was never privileged to view them but received a copy of the summary. The style of her summarizing changes several times as it progresses, and shortly moves to being primarily direct abbreviated quotes. The transcriptions I’ve made of the summaries aren’t religiously exact as the style of summarizing was confusing at points where it was difficult to distinguish between direct quotes and what were her notations, but the transcriptions are close.

Though summaries, there are numerous accounts of transactions of various types with neighbors and others, accounts of illnesses and deaths, trading and selling of goods, mentions of town meetings, who was preaching, record of his surveying work for the towns and individuals, mixed in with notes on weather (and whether it was exceptional) and general and unusual chores.

Go to year index of the diaries.

January 2 – “W. DO (plt) set out from Rochester with my Sleigh to carry a load of Venison to Boston for Ammi & Thomas CURRIER…”

January 11 – “W. Do (plt) went in to Boston sold my Venison, towards night began to snow moderately lodged at CROSBY’s Tavern, sign of the Lamb.

February 7 and 8 – Henry SPARHAWK sets out for Templeton on a visit and Ebenezer took his sisters on a visit to Hancock and Kingston. Return visits from friends on the 24th. Henry returned on the 25th.

February 28 – “Something clear very blustering & cold”

March 1 – “W. Do. P..M. went to ye school to inspect it.”

March 7 – “W. something clear attd our annual Town meeting at Evng. Mr. Alexr BOWMAN & Sister came to my House for a visit…” More visits with friends.

March 11 – “”W. something … worked at making a Bill for School Rate – and weighing Hay for Isaac Wing.”

April – Sugaring, sledding timber for fence, hewing timber for “my House”.

April 12 – “W. very clear & exceeding cold for ye season”

April 14 – “W. clear & warm went & got Pine Logs & carried them to ye mill for Clapboards”

April 19 – “W. cloudy a little rain work’d at making a fence about my Barn – being Fast Day in this State tho not known to us in Rochester.”

May 8 – “W. clear workd at clearing & sowing Wheat on my new land by the Road that goes to Mr. MOORES”

May 13 – “W. clear & windy work’d at Harrrowing & drawing Dung – also agreed with Mr. Danl Lovering to do the Carpenter work on my House.”

May 20 – “W. rainy most of the Day work’d at planting Corn it has been very Cold most of ye time this Spring – and many very freezing nights this month

May 22 – “attd Town meeting to choose Representative to Congress”

May 28 – “This Day finishes the 33rd year of my age”

May 30 – “P.M. went to Esqr. EMERSONS to make the Highway Rate for the Town.”

May 31 – “P.M. went to appraise the Estate of Deacon EMERSON deceased.”

June 1 – “W. very cool & clear – began about digging a Cellar for a new House”

June 2 – “P.M. my Father arriv’d at Rochester from Templeton”

June 6 – “P.M. att’d Proprietors meeting – My Father set out from my House for the Northerly part of Vermont State.”

June 10 – “drawing Rocks for my Cellar”

June 12 – “Mr. Danl LOVERING came to work for me about building my house. P.M. went to hewing Timber.

June 16 – “went to Hancock after a Saw”

June 17 – “began to frame my House”

Ebenezer’s Father preached each Sunday he visited in Rochester, June 4th, 18th.

June 19 – “W. clear work’d at drawing Stones & several men framing my House.”

June 24 “W. clear & warm raised my House P.M.”

June 26 thru 28 – Ebenezer met his Father in Waitsfield to look of Land in Fayston…rode to Gen. WAITS…went to Fayston with Mr. Lone (?) WAIT. Father set out for home on 30th.

July 3 – “attd Town meeting to see about selling of ye School Land.”

July 15 – “W. cloudy in ye morning – work’d about my hay – towards night a most remarkable shower the quantity of rain very great that fell in about half an hour.”

August 5 – “P.M. went to Mr. WINGS about clothes …”

All this time he was working at making shingles for his house beside other chores and rocks for cellar.

August 16 – “P.M. attended a Town meeting about School Land & building a Bridge over the River”

August 22 – “P.M. went to look out Stones for my Chimney”

August 26 – “P.M. very rainy work’d all day at the meeting house laying floor”

August 30 – “finished underpinning my House”

Sept 1 – “work’d at ye Meeting House”

Sept 4 – “P.M. att’d to making Pates (?) with Esqr. EMERSON at my House.”

Sept 5 – “P.M. attd Freemans meeting”

Sept 6 – “Set out on Journey to the Northerly part of Vermont State rode to Waitsfield lodged at Gen. WAITS – some frost, but not to do much damage.”

Ebenezer’s journey included Marshfield, St. Johnsbury, Burke, Newark, Lyndon, Barton, Craftsbury, Hydespark.

“My horse was very lame.”

Sept 15 – Hydespark “looked of several lots of Land. did not proceed of my Journey on account of my Horse being lame -”

Sept 17 – He rode home to Rochester – days of gathering stones for chimney

Sept 27 – “W. clear began with Mr. SHAW to build my chimney”

October 5 – “P.M. went to Town Meeting about selling Pines in ye Meeting h9ouse at night a hard frost & the first this fall”

October 9 – “W. showery in the morning Set from Rochester with a drove of Cattle for Boston.”

October 20 – “…sold them to Mr. Willard GAY, Dedham”

October 23 – “rode Boston at Evening went to ye play”

On the way home he came by Templeton and Walpole.

November 2 – “W. clear came home to Rochester”

There was work about his house, surveying for a number of people.

November 19 – “…five days last part as cold as is common to have almost any time in winter”

November 21 – “”Proprietors meeting at Capt SAFFORDS”

November 25 – “Work’d at fixing my water at ye House at night snowed so as to make good sledding about home.”

November 28 – “Set out to go to Stowe to purchase some Land for my Father”

Dec 4 – “traded with Mr. Oliver LUCE for one hundred acres of land”

Dec 7 – “rode from Mr. RICE’s (Kingston) home by sunrise 14 miles it being Thanksgiving Day in Vermont State attd meeting”

Worked at getting wood, butchering hogs, salting his pork, taking his sisters visiting.

Dec 25 – “went to Hancock to engage Mr. J. CLAFLIN to make a Sleigh for me.”

“The most of the time for Seven Weeks has been very cold”

Transcribed by JMK 2003