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

Summary of Ebenezer SPARHAWK’s diary Year 1796

Summary of Ebenezer SPARHAWK’s diary

Year 1796

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 23 – “W. clear & plt about home preparing to set out on a journey”

January 25 – “W. snowy set out from Rochester for Walpole & Templeton (my sister Nabby went with me to Walpole)

February 12 – Back in Rochester after visit to Walpole & Templeton

February 15 – “W. clear & something cold went to Hancock to get coal to iron my sleigh.” (With Ebenezer MOORE’s help the next day Ebenezer repaired it and by the 19th was off again for Templeton.)

February 22nd – “W. snowy went from Templeton to Barre after Cyder & Walnut Timber”

March 1st – “W. very plt. came home A.M. – P.M. went to town meeting”

March 13 – “W. very plt & thawy attd meeting of Mr. RANSOM preached from Locke 12.32 all Day – at night very strong south wind. Mr S. PARTRIDGE house burnt at eight O’Clock in the Evening – ”

March 17 – Meeting of Selectmen

March 29 – “W. something cloudy went to Town Meeting to choose a Grand Jurourman (?)”

April 8 – “W. cloudy A.M. – P.M. rainy work’d for Mr. S. PARTRIDGE framing and raising a house.”

April 23 – “making ox yokes – Boys began ploughing”

May 2 – “W. clear & plt went with Esqr HODGKINS to Chittenden to measure the fourth line of sd Town”

May 28 – “W. something clear worked at sowing oats A.M. – P.M. sowed my garden seeds & planted some corn & potatoes a shower just at night – This day ends the 32nd year of my age.”

May 30 – “… at evening went to Isaac WRIGHT’s to get a coat turned.”

June – Early in month a trip to Walpole.

June 12 – “W. cloudy rode from Walpole to Keene to attd the funeral of Esqr Newcombs oldest son who was drowned”

June 15 – He returned to Walpole and spent much time mending roads. Also “dress planks to ye Bridge”

July – Farm work.

August – Same.

August 15 – “…went to chopping wood for a coal pit – at night a frost, some damage”

August 30 – “…W. cleared off very cool at night very hard frost almost destroyed corn.”

September 3 – “W. something cloudy assisted Esqr. HODGKINS about drawing Plans of Pittsfield Chittenden.”

Another trip to Walpole and Keene.

September 22 – “W. cloudy A.M. worked for Mr. SHAW at the Brick Kiln – P.M. rainy.”

September 27 – “…assisted Mr. HALL about raising a House.”

Latter part of Sept and early October he went to Walpole with cattle and for other business.

October 12 – Ebenezer set out again with a drove of cattle, this time for Boston via Walpole & Templeton

October 31 – “W. something cloudy set out from Templeton for Rochester with my Sisters Priscilla & Naomi…”

November 5 – They arrived home in Rochester.

November 8 – “Proprietors meeting at Esqr. CLEMENT.”

This month, killing beef, surveying, helping to build a bridge near A. CURRIERS.

December 1 – “W. cold & rought it being Thanksgiving Day attd at Esqr. EMERSONS.”

December 6 – “Samuel RUCKER who had been at my house three months set out for Conneticut – at night very snowy – came knee deep”

This month chores of getting wood, butchering hogs and getting iron work done. He calls iron “Coal.”

December 20 – “W. clear work’d at getting wood. Mr. Stephen PAINE came to my House to board & keep school in our district.”

December 29 – “…to get Ropes made at Mr. MORGAN’S.”

Transcribed by JMK 2003

Summary of Ebenezer SPARHAWK’s diary Year 1795

Summary of Ebenezer SPARHAWK’s diary

Year 1795

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.

Feb. 6th “W. something clear … P. M. attended to settling Road affair with the other Committee Men.” 29th – “W. very clear & plt. being Thanksgiving Day appointed by the President of ye United States on account of the Preservation from Wars & which have prevailed among the Nations in Europe – attd meeting Revd Mr. RUSSEL preached from Psalm 107.22.”

March 24 “W. Do snow melts very fast begun about Sugaring. P. M. attd funeral of Eben MORSE’S child. Mr. RUSSEL preached.”

April 16 “W. something clear. A.M. work’d at picking rocks. P.M. the rain descended with unusual power and raised up Rivers exceedingly, carried off the Mill Dam.”

May 28th. “W. clear & hot work’d with Mr. Dan’l SHAW a looking out & falling Timber for my Barn. On this Day ends the thirty first year of my Age. Oh the swiftness of time!”

June 7 “…might cold & something of a hard frost.” Raised his barn.

July 7. “W. something cloudy. A.M. surveyed a road up White River in Stockbridge to Barnard Road. P.M. came home & attd Training to choose a Captain.”

July 23 – “W. clear went in ye morning to Mr. RUSSELS he was not to be seen – same Day he fled from Rochester for bad conduct – work’d at haying.”

August 9 – “w. clear attended meeting no preaching. “Very hot weather all last week.” August 31. “It may be observed that ye weather has been uncommonly hot ye month of August.”

Sept. 2 – “W. something clear…P.M. went to Training.” During September he bought and traded cattle and surveyed.

Sept. 24 – “w. plt attended Muster at Royalton at Even’g returned to Bethel, lodged at HUNTINGDONS, same day my Father & sisters Nabby & Naomi arrived at Rochester from Templeton.” (His father preached in Rochester two Sundays. He and his father went to several towns on the Onion River after visits to Kingston and Waitsfield “to view that part of ye Country then to Barre…” His father returned home taking his sister’s Namoi and Prissa. Priscilla had been in Rochester with him for some time evidently to keep house for him, and left Nabby to take her place.)

October 26 – “Weather clear & plt. Set out from Rochester for Boston with a drove of cattle…”

November 4 – In Boston he lodged at Dana’s (?) Tavern, Cambridge, also at Mrs. SPARHAWK’S, a relative. Arrived home in Rochester 19th. On the 26th, “W. clear & cold…visited Mr. SHELDON, raised his house.”

December 3 – “W. cloudy some snow being Thanksgiving day in this State att’d meeting Rev’d Elisha HUTCHINSON preached from 138 Psalm 1st verse at Evnig visited at Brother Henry’s.” This month he worked diligently on his floor for his barn and shingles for covering.

Transcribed by JMK 2003

Summary of Ebenezer SPARHAWK’s diary Year 1794

Summary of Ebenezer SPARHAWK’s diary

Year 1794

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 1st – Went to Capt. CLEMENTS. met the Selectmen “about giving orders to those who had done work for the Town.” There were more preparations and he set out for Boston with fat oxen. Mr. AUSTIN driving the oxen and Ebenezer with a sleigh. “…Very thawy, bad sleighing travailed to my Father’s at Templeton.” Attended meeting on 12th. His father preached. That day visited Doct. SHATTUCK who was very sick and died on Tuesday following. Set out on horseback, rode to Boston and Little Cambridge. Lodged at HASTINGS tavern. Sold their cattle. Returned to Templeton with Mr. D. AUSTIN. Attended meeting on 19th. Revd. Mr. RICE of Westminster preached. Next day collected his load and at evening left for Rochester, driving “all night on account of the thawy weather” — rough going — did not get home until 26th and back to work getting wood, thrashing and drawing fence timber.

February 2nd attended meeting. Winnowing. Drawing logs to mill. Thrashing cloverseed. (th attended meeting at Capt. CLEMENTS. 16th Mr. HOW preached at meeting. Ebenezer prepared to set out another journey to Walpole. Traded with BELLOWS and REDINGTON. Set out next day for Rochester. Attended meeting in Barnard. Revered Mr. BOWMAN preached. Lodged with Mr. BOWMAN. Worked much about home.

March 1 surveyed for James DEAN in Kingston. On 4th attended Town Meeting. Changed horses with Timothy PRINCE. M. B. ROBBINS “came to my house to do joiner work.” Attended meeting 16th. “Rivers very high and ice broke up.” On 18th attended Town meeting and went to I. WINGS to get clothes. Carried logs. Getting out rails. “Work’d at turning the water on my Mowing Land.” 23rd attended meeting. Went after doctor for Charles WHITECOMB. On the 27th attended the “Tendure of Land at Esqr. CLEMENTS.” 30th attended meeting.

April. Sugaring. Logging. Plowing. Chopping. Watched with Charles WHITECOMB on 4th. April 6th attended meeting. Ebenezer and Henry hired Phineas AUSTIN for 6 months. Some kind of work. April To Jesse PARKER’s to look at cattle. Surveyed for Anthony WHITECOMB and laid top of his chimney. Henry went to Otter Creek and returned. On 27th attended meeting. On 30th “found my cow in a Trap.” Surveyed the Road from Bethel Line through “The Great Hollow to the Meeting House in Rochester”.

May. “It may be observed that the latter part of last month has been very warm and that trees and grass are more forward than ever was known at this time of year.” Cleared near house. Attended meeting on the 4th. Training and Town Meeting on 6th. Mended fence on S. TUCKER’s lot. Sowed wheat. Attended meeting on 11th. May 16th “some frost”. 17th “terrible frost”. 18th, attended meeting. Clearing piece of land on the hill. On 25th attended meeting. “Revd Mr. HUTCHINSON, old Gent. preached.” On 27th Henry sets out for Brandon. On the 28th, “This Day completes the 30th year of my Age.”

June – 1st attended meeting. 2nd went to lecture. Mr. GROSS preached. Ebenezer “borrowed a horse to to a journey.” He rode to Col. KINSMANS at Darmouth. (Dorothy McClure notes, “He does not mention the name of Miss Sally FISK, but I am sure she is the one he promises to see. She must have said ‘No’ because he rode from ‘College to Rochester’ the next day and never does he mention her again.”) And attended meeting on the 8th. Ebenezer worked at making trap. Getting timber for bringing water to the house. On June 12th he went to Kingston to attend the Nuptials “of my Brother Henry (Lucinda Lam).” On 15th attended meeting. On 18th he set out for Walpole and Templeton. Attended meeting June 22nd in Templeton. His father preached. On his return to Rochester he took his brother George, ten years old, with him (to Keene or all the way to Rochester is not clear). Home on 28th. 29th attended meeting.

July – All the farming, fencing, plus working on the road leading from Rochester to Bethel – surveyed Road by Amos ROOTS and Moses WHIPPLE’s. “Assisted El. Pt. MORSE about raising a Barn.” Attended meeting on 6th. Revd Mr. RUSSEL of Bethel preached on the 13th. Revd Mr. WASHBURN preached 28th P.M. Went to Training to Enlist men to stand ready for the defense of Country.

August – 1st, bouth a calf of Jon EMERSON, on the third attended meeting. He and Henry got cattle from CLEMENT. Attended meeting on 10th. Attended Town Meeting on 12th. Surveying and helping with more road building thru the Great Hollow to Bethel. Worked building a bridge over the Branch. 24th attended meeting. Revd. Mr. BOWMAN of Barnard preached. Brother Thomas came for a short visit.

September – Attended Freemans meeting. Worked about fencing, reaping oats, pulling flax. Measured the new road to Bethel Line. Rode to Windsor. Came home. Surveyed for Esq. EMERSON. Ebenezer’s father sent cattle from Templeton to be kept. Assisted Henry at killing beef. Assisted David AUSTIN raising his house. Made fence about his own garden on the hill. Began digging his cellar.

October – 5th, attended meeting. Training and Town Meeting on the 7th. Drove cattle to Walpole and sold them. Attended meeting at Walpole on 12th. Mr. FESSENDEN preached. Went on for Templeton. Tarried visiting family and friends, his sister. Priscilla returned to Rochester with him. Worked about the house. (Attended meeting 19th in Templeton and 26th in Rochester.)

November – Nov. 2nd attended meeting. Threshing. Fixing cellar. Moving potatoes. Assisting Charles WHITCOMB about raising roof of his house. Covering water and “storing” (?) his spring. Helped Henry kill hogs. Attended meetings 16th, 23rd and 30th.

December – 4th. Thanksgiving Day. Now that Priscilla is here there is much more visiting with friends in the evening. “Went with others to Esqr. CLEMENTS to try to have matters settled with Esqr. CLEMENTS and Dr. EMERSON”. He does not say what the trouble was.

Dec. 7 meeting at Enos MORGANS. Dec. 14 meeting at Mr. SHELDONs. Dec 21st and 28th meetings, Rev’d Mr. RUSSEL preaches. Dec. 30th Town meeting to choose Representative.

“It may be remark’d that the last month has been very pleasant and warm, little or no snow, many nights so warm as not to freeze. Scarcely any man remembers the like.”

Transcribed by JMK 2003

Summary of Ebenezer SPARHAWK’s diary Year 1793

Summary of Ebenezer SPARHAWK’s diary

Year 1793

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 thru March – Attended school in Walpole. In March did some surveying before leaving for Rochester.

April – Finished school on 12th and came to Rochester on the 19th. Going to Henry’s to board. The usual ploughing, sowing, getting out dung. On the 21st and 28th the Revd Mr. HON preached, the latter date his farewell sermon.

May 1st Training Day. (Training?) And more sowing, clearing, harrowing, planting potatotes, making fence. Meeting Days 5th, 12th and 19th. Meeting but no preaching. On the 22nd Henry went over the mountain to Brandon. On the 26th the Revd Mr. RUSSEL of Bethel preached. 28th, “This ends the twenty ninth year of my age.” Weather all month was clear mostly and extremely dry. “Greatest drowth ever known at this season of the year.”

June 1st – “Rainy”. 2nd – Attended meeting. 3rd – Surveyed road from E. BUTTS to N. CARPENTERS. This month he traded horses with Nathan AUSTIN, bought oxen of C. MARSH and took a pair of oxen of CLEMENTS. Surveyed for John WHITECOMB on the WILEY farm. Ebenezer and brother Henry went over the mountain to Brandon again. “Drove oxen to Brandon to pay for land we bought.” Came home. Worked for John WOODARD about beginning his house. Visited Oliver SPARHAWK at College. Lodged at Col. KINSMANS. Returned. Helped WOODARD lay up his house. Made trip to Walpole and Templeton.

July – Returned to Rochester on the 7th attended meeting. Ebenezer settled some of his business. Took some cattle Moses WHIPPLE owed him. A heifer from Isaac CLEMENTS. Took money to David AUSTIN for Salts. Bought a calf of Robert HEATH. Surveyed road through Pittsfield, from Chittendeen line to Stockbridge line. Mr. FISK from Windsor Mass. preached on the 14th. Assisted in settling … of Widow BOYER. Mended rakes. Hayed. Sowed Turnips. On the 21st and 28th attended meeting.

August – Covered his hay. Worked about house. Getting ready to set out a journey for Henniker (?) and Walpole on business for A. CURRIER. Settled a debt with Esq. GIBSON in Henniker for A. CURRIER. 11th attended meeting in Walpole. Came home to Rochester. He came over the Great Bridge and up the West side of Con’t River to Weathersfield. Lodged at Mr. KIDDERS. He came home to Rochester and began reaping. Mowing. Pulling flax. On the 18th attended meeting. No preaching. On the 20th he rode to the college (Darmouth) “at evening”. Visited Miss Sally FISK and lodged at Col. KISSMAN. Came home and back to work. 25th. Attended meeting. Deacon RAMSON of Woodstock spoke. Ebenezer drew a plan and deed for John WHITCOMB.

September – Attended meeting on the 1st. On the 3rd to Town Meeting to choose Representative and wroked at wheat for himself and Jno. WOODARD. His father and mother came from Templeton on a visit. His father preached on the 8th and the 15th. During visit he continued reaping but at evening visited with his father and mother and friends. Henry and his father also went to Brandon where Ebenezer and Henry had bought land. On the 16th his father and mother set out for Templeton. Ebenezer and Henry continued with reaping. Ebenezer surveyed for Esqr. HODGKINS in Hancock. For Samuel MARTIN and Jon. JEWETT. 22nd attended meeting. “bro’t home a pair of Staggs rec’d of I. CLEMENTS”. Made shed to cover corn. 27th. Went to Capt. CLEMENTS to make the Grand List for Rochester to send to the Assembly of ye state.

October – 1st attended training. Ebenezer hired A. R. FOSTER to work for one month with the reaping and storing. Henry took sheep to Brandon. Ebenezer “assisted in finishing the3 Grand List for to send ye Gen. Assembly.” Got in corn, potatoes. Frosty nights. Went after sheep that wolves had scattered. Did some writing for A. KNIGHT. Worked at making fence about barn. Plouging. Tim. DOLBEAR and Humphrey DOLBEAR came to visit from Templeton. Surveyed for Capt. STRONG as agent for Daniel KING. 28th, changes location of his house. 29th, “worked at taking down my house”. “Moved it and raised it again.” Drew stones for his house. (Attended meetings on 6th, 20th and 27th but no mention made of preacher.)

November – Worked about house and began to lay chimney. Nov. 3, “attd meeting and also the funeral of Dr. TRASK’s child.” “Went to John EMERSONS after Brick.” Worked about house and laying chimney. Ran lines for Enos MORGAN. Went to Capt. CLEMENTS to make Rates and do errands. Killed his beef. Layed his hearth. Set out for Templeton on the 25th, arriving at his fathers on the 29th. Attended meetings 10th, 17th and 24th but no mention made of preaching.

December – 1st and also 8th attended meetings in Templeton, his father preached. Ebenezer visited in Templeton until Dec. 9 with family and friends. On the way home to Rochester he went by Dartmouth to call on Miss Sally FISK at Col. KINSMAN’s. On his return he drew logs to mill, bringing planks home for barn floor. Killed hogs. Thrashed for himself and Henry. Bought a calf from Moses CURRIER. On the 31st borrowed a horse to go to Boston. Did not leave for another week.

On his return to Rochester he attended meeting on the 15th, 22nd and 29th, the last one at Capt. CLEMENTS. No preachers mentioned.

Transcribed by JMK 2003