100 Years of Change On the Eastern Shore: The Willis Family Journals 1847-1951

By James Dawson and Nick Willis

A rare chronicle of daily life on the Eastern Shore of Maryland, 1847-1951

“So rare, so historically valuable - - -The only daily account of its kind in the state.”
–Brice Stump, Salisbury (Maryland) Daily Times

“Unique among farm journals….a wide range of observations”
–Edward C. Papenfuse, State Archivist, Maryland State Archives

“Documentation of an uninterrupted single-family-owned farm located in Talbot County for over 100 years……Slave holdings, conflicts, introduction of mechanized farm equipment, local & state political/economic material”
–Allan J. Stypeck, Accredited Senior Appraiser, American Society of Appraisers.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Lulu Publishing Services
• Release date: Dec 31, 2014
• ISBN: 9781483421155

Book preview

well.

100 YEARS OF CHANGE

ON THE EASTERN SHORE

Extracts from the Willis Family Journals

1847–1951

Clora Dorsey, Island Creek Neck,

Trappe, Talbot Co., Maryland

kept by

Nicholas Willis to Jan. 1899;

Kate Willis, 1899;

Charles F. Willis Sr., 1899–1935;

Charles F. Willis Jr., 1935–1951

Edited and Annotated by James Dawson

Copyedited by Brooke Willis

Published by Charles F. (Nick) Willis III

Copyright © 2014, 2015 Nick Willis and James Dawson.

Text & photographs copyright 2014 by Charles F. Willis III

with additional materials copyright 2014 by James Dawson.

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Cover: Clora Dorsey Farm’s cove off Island Creek. The slaves/farmhands cottage was across the water from the barns and accessed by a footbridge with a cattle fence.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced, stored, or transmitted by any means—whether auditory, graphic, mechanical, or electronic—without written permission of both publisher and author, except in the case of brief excerpts used in critical articles and reviews. Unauthorized reproduction of any part of this work is illegal and is punishable by law.

ISBN: 978-1-4834-2609-9 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-4834-2115-5 (e)

Because of the dynamic nature of the Internet, any web addresses or links contained in this book may have changed since publication and may no longer be valid. The views expressed in this work are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher, and the publisher hereby disclaims any responsibility for them.

Lulu Publishing Services rev. date: 2/13/2015

CONTENTS

DEDICATION

PREFACE

INTRODUCTION

APPRECIATION

PRELIMINARY RECORDS

1840S: THE RECORD BEGINS

planting the new farm, building the house & barns, trouble with slaves

1850S: SETTLING IN

moves into new house, theft, hunting, marl diggers, a slave sale, coffin-making, a camp meeting

1860S: CIVIL UNREST

hostilities, the Civil War on the ‘Shore, runaway slaves, the end of slavery and the war, boat-making, a grand regatta, a new church, deaths of two children

1870S: LOSSES

death of Susan, an old scamp, another death, a new buggy, taxes, a hanging, buys steam engine

1880S: TECHNOLOGICAL CHANGES BEGIN

Indians, an abundance of lightning, new machinery, a blizzard, an earthquake and fire

1890S: PATRIARCH PASSES

farming, another blizzard, the death of Nicholas, journals continued by Kate, then Charles Sr.

1900S: BOATS & CARS

RFD mail, first automobiles, bad weather, Charles married, horses, boats, a baptism and a storm, a grounded schooner, grave matters, the passing of steam

1910S: DISEASES & DEATH

the 20th century meets the 19th, fire and death, a muddy funeral, an airplane, lightning, storms, a tornado and an open grave, the family poisoned, death of a lighthouse, too much speed, influenza

1920S: ADVENTURES

a drowning, an explosion, oysters, first school bus, a plane crash, an auto accident, first tractor, radio, an article on the journals, an auto trip

1930S: HARD TIMES

a drough, the Depression, bank problems, deaths of Kate and Georgie, purchase of a tractor, horse disease, a rain of dirt, death of Charles Sr., Charles Jr. continues journal

1940S: BEYOND THE FARM

World War II, watching for enemy planes, factory work, electricity comes to the farm, first appliances, a telephone, a television

1950S: DECLINE

first lot sold off farm, decline of the farm, the end of the journals

POSTSCRIPT

GLOSSARY

APPENDICES

SUPPLEMENTAL MATERIAL NOT IN THE DIARIES

WILLIS GENEALOGY

SOURCES

DEDICATION

For Judith.

I wish you could have seen this.

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Judith (Judy) Willis, booklover and past manager of the News Center in Easton.

Member of Soroptimist and joyful friend to all.

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The Willis Family Journals. The complete 62 volumes have been donated to the Maryland Room of the Talbot County Free Library, where they will be digitized, restored and made available.

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Nick C.F.Willis III would love to still be living on Clora Dorsey, but is content with the memories.

PREFACE

by Charles F. Nick Willis III

September 2011

Jim Dawson has done a huge favor for the descendants of Nicholas Willis of Clora Dorsey Farm in Talbot County. The current generation’s knowledge of family history was becoming very tenuous after the passing of Charles F. Willis Sr.’s children Catherine, Margaret and Charles Jr. Daily journals had been written by Nicholas, Charles Sr. and Charles Jr. from 1850 until 1950, but were currently in storage, not available to anyone. Jim, a Maryland history buff, had heard about their existence from Charles Jr.’s daughter, my sister Judith Willis. Upon Judy’s death, possession of the journals was given to me by Christina Perry, the widow of Judy’s departed son Rick. Jim asked to view them, was awed by the information contained, and immediately launched a project to transcribe the descriptions of the lives of one family over 100 years on the same Talbot County farm. Jim obtained additional information, especially photos, from Catherine’s daughter Dolly Taylor. The combined information can now be made easily available to family members and researchers. We are extremely grateful to Jim for his enthusiastic undertaking.

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James Dawson, transcriber and editor of the Willis Family Journals, receives photos and additional Willis history from family member Dolly Covington Taylor.

INTRODUCTION

by James Dawson

June 2014

The Willis diaries are an incredible saga kept by average family caught up in events that shook the country. Daily and detailed accounts of how the 19th century became the 20th century in rural America: from the days of slavery to the age of electricity.

From 1850 on, every day has an entry and each entry might be 30, 40, 50 or more words long. What follows is about one quarter of what was recorded. I tried to copy entries that show what it was like to live then, what they ate, what they did, where they went, what they did for fun, what women did, what blacks did, farm affairs, favorite animals, medicine, birth, sickness and disease, death, funerals, fires, schools, boats and boatbuilding, slavery, effects of the Civil War, transportation, weather, storms, roads, interactions with African Americans, carpentry, woodworking, basket making, the transition of farm equipment from horse, to steam to gasoline.

I tried to copy all unusual and remarkable entries. Also, first time events like the end of slavery, the first time Charles Sr. goes for a ride in a motor boat, the first mention of a telephone, the first time he sees a car, the first time he rides in a car, the first time he goes to the movies, the first time he listens to a radio, etc. etc. Also try to get mini stories within the entry- the destruction of Benoni’s Pt. lighthouse over several months or sometimes what I call story threads- interesting follow ups to an earlier entry that might only run one or two entries.

What started as a simple farm journal soon blossomed into detailed, first hand accounts of virtually everything that was of interest. Charles Sr. eventually became a reporter to his own journal. If he wasn’t a witness to something remarkable that happened nearby, he soon found out about it and recorded it.

Little attempt has been made to copy repeated entries about farm work unless something unusual happened as killing hogs in 1870 was basically the same as killing hogs in 1910. Records kept by Nicholas Willis also listed farm accounts in the back of the book, but these are beyond the scope of this transcription.

Warning: the original spelling and punctuation (or lack of it) has been followed whenever possible so as to preserve the look and feel of the diaries just as they were written. By the way, their handwriting was beautiful.

A glossary of obscure names can be found in the back along with supplemental material and a Willis genealogy.

My sincere thanks to the late Judith Willis, Charles Nick Willis, Jeff Perry, Chris Perry, Dolly Taylor, Michael Henry, Brooke Willis and Brice Stump who helped make this project possible. Also, thanks to Charles Asmussen, Molly Bond, Ken Callahan, Tim Clemmer, Lee Fluharty, Ron McGrath and Donald Shomette for their help and encouragement.

To ensure their preservation, Nick Willis generously presented the original journals to the Maryland Room at the Talbot County Free Library in Easton, Md. Plans are that the complete journals will be digitized.

NB: Bracketed, bold entries are editor’s subtitles (not written in the journals), and bracketed notes are editor’s explanations.

APPRECIATION

We are deeply indebted to Nick’s son Brooke Willis for his late-night hours expended on this book after his real job and his volunteer work. By utilizing publishing software capabilities, Brooke brought the manuscript through the final step of readiness for publishing.

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Aunt Ann Smith Bantom, at Clora Dorsey Farm.

PRELIMINARY RECORDS

1840–41

"Ages of Ann’s children

Henrietta was born Nov. 28 1835 Died April 28, ’44

Eliza James              May 28, 1837

Ariana                        March 14, 1839

Elizabeth Ann     March 8, 1841 Dead

Sarah Catherine Augst. 15, 1842

Infant born in April died the 16th May 1844

John Henry born           Sept. 2, 1845, died

Levin born April 19, 1848 [Note: Levin Smith Jr. enlisted in the U.S. Army 7th Maryland Regiment in 1864: see the entries for Dec. 29, 1863 and the beginning of 1866.]

Mellora Feby. 1850

Caroline born Dec. 2, 1851 [Note: see Dec. 17, 1875 for Caroline’s marriage.]

Julia Ann do. Nov. 1853 [Note: see April 1, 1903 for a mention of Julia’s son John.]

Ann infant Nov. 1856"

[Note: Ann, whose full name was Mary Ann Smith (c. 1816-1901), was the wife of Levin Smith and a slave belonging to Nicholas Willis. She married George Bantom in the 1870s and remained on good terms with the Willises. On Nov. 21, 1891, Willis helped her make out her will. On Jan. 17, 1899, she visited him on his deathbed and was pleased Mas. Nick remembered her. At her death on Oct. 17, 1901, her estate was worth about $300. Not bad for a former slave.

In the Willis family papers was found Ann Smith Bantom’s pocket-sized account book for the years 1868 to 1889.]

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John Willis (1765-1839) received U.S. presidential appointments to the post of Collector of Customs for the Port of Oxford from 1804 to 1839, then replaced by his son Nicholas.

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The huge grapevine at John Willis’ Grapevine House in Oxford. The source cutting was brought to John from the Isle of Jersey by his brother Capt. William Willis.

1844–1848

"Nicholas & Susan Jane Willis were married the ninth day of May in the year eighteen hundred and forty three by Mr. E. Williams of the M.E. Church.

Albert Bowdle, their firstborn was born the twentieth day of November eighteen hundred & forty four.

Sarah Catherine daughter of the same was born on the night of the 27. of March 1846

William Son of the same was born on the eleventh of June 1847 and died the fifth day after his birth.

Mary daughter of the same was born on the 25 of May 1848 And died the 23 day after its birth.

Nicholas Oswald, Son of the same was born on the 22 of June 1849 and died the [blank space left in mss.] of September 1849

Laura, Daughter of Nicholas & Susan J. Willis was born the 26th of March 1851

Florence daughter of the Same was born 6th June 1852.

Walter, Son of same was born 19 June 1853."

[Note: see appendix for a complete list of Nicholas and Susan Willis’ 15 children.]

1846 – expenses for repairing wharf at Oxford adding 36 ft. to head, expenses related wharfage etc. for steamboats Thomas Jefferson and Maryland 1845-46. [Note: Tilghman’s history of Talbot Co. says that Willis was Collector of Customs in Oxford until 1849. This was a job he had taken over from his father, at his father’s death in 1839.]

On Aug. 13, 1846, John and Ruth Council sold to Nicholas Willis 130 acres of Heir Dier Lloyd and Clora Dorsey in Island Creek Neck, Trappe for $3,901.00.]

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Nicholas and Susan Bowdle Willis in 1855 daguerreotypes. They married in 1843 and moved from Oxford in 1849.

1840s: The Record Begins

1847

Jan. 2 sent 2 1/2 bush. meal & 3 lbs. corn 45 lbs. sugar, keg of second flower, pot of Lard (40 lbs. - Delivered to Mr. Frampton 1 bbl. flower, 25 lbs. sugar & 25 of coffee as his allowance for the year 1847 3 stone milk pans, frying pan, oven & top churn of soft soap, 3 tin cups 3 tin plates 7 three knives & forks 1 tub 30 lbs. of coffee for hands use. 1,000 ft. of lumber, 6,000 shingles $32.50.

Jan. 23 sent 3 bushels meal, 2 1/2 do, of wheat ground into flower & the seconds out of same, went over to look at Mr. Frampton’s work, mauling rails in afternoon. [Note: mauls were used to split rails to make fences.]

Jan. 25 went to farm cut trees for shell kiln.

[26 Lashes with a Black Gum Switch]

Feb. 9 went to Farm Nathan had become unruly and disobedient to Mr. Frampton about 12 o.clock Mr. Frampton tied Nathan and gave him 26 lashes with a black gum switch, which humbled him, and he promised to do better. in the afternoon laid down the road fence stayed all night, set 60 posts on Tuesday came home about night. [Note: Willis’ 1850 account lists a Nathan Mills as being a farm hand.]

Feb. 13 Nathan sick with gravel, took him to Doct. Kemp in the morning [Note: gravel was probably kidney stones]

Feb.15 Nathan was better

Feb. 20 Doctr. Kemp down to see Nathan

Feb. 24 Pd. Mr. Chamberlain Interest on Bond $180 went to farm, seeded the balance of the clover seed, finished the field Nathan quite sick, no better.

[How to Fix a Shell Kiln]

Apr. 26 …made up & burnt the lime kiln on Wednesday evening, this Kiln which burnt ordinarily well, was made by placing shells on the ground, one foot thick, and then a covering of about one foot thick of wood & brush, after which shells were again put on about 18 inches, and again another layer of wood & brush; but I must say that this Kiln would have done much better if it had not been fixed on a windy night, the wind retarded the burning very much. Went to Farm Thursday 15th carried a Beach Mouldboard for a plow that Mr. Frampton broke, home Fri. and took with me a new roller and a set of harrow teeth.

April Built a wharf on account of landing shells, 2 days at work on it.

Apr. 30 went to farm carried 1 1/2 bbls. corn three bush meal and forty of Ashes, added to 80, carried before make 120 in all and spread on the cut of ground North of the Elm tree.

May 19 went farm commenced digging a well finished it on Friday. brought 1,000 bricks of Mr. William took two thousand to brick up 14 feet, 34 inches diameter.

July 13-14 Threshed our wheat at farm with my new Urmy machine, commenced about 1 o.c. first day & did not do much finished next day about 5 o.c. having stoped 2 hours on account of threatening weather.

Dec. 2, 3 4, "threshed off corn at farm.

Dec. 6 put on board Ann & Jane Capt. Clark 273 bushels of corn.

Dec. 7 Killed hogs at farm…

Ann Mills hired for $25 per yr

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The barns were built before the house, circa 1847, while living in an existing house on the purchased farmland and planting crops.

1848

Jan. 3 brought 4 shoats for farm of T.A. Atkinson a. $1.50 each, F.H. Willis moved to farm and commenced overseeing at $75 pr. anum did up the old well, and finished the week in getting rails.

Jan. 5 moved shingles & corn an Killed 85 rats, together with a number of mice.

Jan. 12 sold Mr. Frampton 2 1/2 barrels of corn at $2.50 (Tuesday 11th, James Camphor began working for me on farm at $50 & clothes.

Feb. 17 On this day James Camper left my employ not having performed any work since the 14th. took Jim China in his place.

June 5 had landed to day out of the Ann & Jane, 6,000 feet of ceiling boards at $11 for repairing Barn, and other purposes, on this day commenced ploughing my corn second time, having worked with the small harrow a head of the ploughs. sawyers at this time at work on my frame for Barn and house. Thos. Seymour & Harrison at 42 pr. hundred square measure. [Note: a harrow was a frame with tines on it that was dragged over a plowed field to break up the dirt clods.]

Dec. made up to this time 1,000 loads of good manure

Dec. 5 got my barn sheded and covered in.

1849

Clora Dorsey Farm

Feb. 9 made a rafter of the Timber sawed by Seymour.

Feb. 12 Commenced plowing new ground.

Feb. 14 …rafted timbers across creek.

Apr. 14 landed 2,234 chestnut rails F. Willis Solomon and myself assisted in delivery, sch. Samantha.

May 27 bought of Mr. Tongue 878 chestnut rails a, 5 cts.

May 28 Do. of L.W. Geogegan 1,000 do.

Do, of Edward Stevens 2,000 ft. boards

Apr. 26 commenced framing house at farm

Apr. 30 Employed Mr. R. Markham to help frame

May 1 at work on fence next to S. Chamberlaine

Apr. 24 Mr. J. Markland finished House wall

June 29 commenced cutting wheat

July 5 Finished cutting wheat

There are no more records for 1849.

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The spacious house at Clora Dorsey was built by Nicholas, his slaves and a few hired craftsmen during the years 1849 to 1851. Materials were delivered by schooner to his grain landing.

1850s: Settling In

1850

Jan. 1 Commenced this year with four hands on Clora Dorsey, two hired & two my own. Nathan, Washington, Soloman, & Jacob. On this day but little of any thing done like work [Note: Willis’ accounts for 1850 lists Nathan Mills, Washington Trippe, Solomon Bryan and Jacob Smallwood as farmhands. Nathan Mills and Washington Trippe were slaves. Bryan was paid $5.53 3/4 in wages so he was not a slave.]

Jan. 9 Dug a ditch and made a bridge by the pine, and drained the Road

Jan.12 Filled up the pig pen with rushes. Jake carried corn to mill and brought Nathan’s flour home. Boys had holiday in afternoon

Jan. 13 Sunday. Change of weather in afternoon. Myself very sick all day took calomel [Note: calomel, or mercurous chloride was once used as a laxative and purgative, but is now known to be poisonous with numerous side effects, all bad.]

Jan. 17 Hands making cow neck and posts. Went to see Mr. Caulk

Jan. 19 Hands cutting wood. Jacob & Washington went to mill in the afternoon. Addison Robinson left here to day. Wind N.W. Clear

Jan. 24 Hands at work on the Ditch from the head of the Branch to the main road. Jake painting House

Jan. 26 Do. [Hands] hauling rushes Nathan put gravel around the Kitchen and took away the ashes. Jake went to Trappe. this morning about 4 o.c. it rained very hard. quite warm to day finished my stair except the rail

Jan. 28 Hauling sea ooze from shore & filling hog pen…

Jan. 29 Hands cutting wood. cool wind N.EW. went to Mr. Chezum, sawyers had not commenced the Bill, also to Mr. Caulk’s, engaged 3 trees of him for sills, Mr. Chezum sent 1$ by me for Mr. W (pd.)

Feb. 4 Very cold wind N.W. Boys got wood in the morning hauled manure in the afternoon. Jacob getting wood for shell kiln (15 loads compost) [Note: oyster shells were burned in a shell kiln to make lime and manure was used for fertilizer.]

Feb. 6 Charly killed 6 ducks, at work on the house rail of my stairs

Feb. 13 Do. and myself went into Mr. Joseph Caulk’s woods & got four sills for an addition to my House, Kitchen & Bed room, and hauled them home with the mules

Feb. 14 paid Solomon the balance due him for last years wages, and $5.00 on this year

Feb. 17 All of my white family spent the day at Rd. Cheezums, warm & pleasant…

Feb. 18 Sent Washington to Mr. Cheezums for part of house frame brought 2 plates & 21 Rafters on W. Martin’s waggon. other hands making Kiln of shells

Feb. 19 "Sent Wash.n & Nathan to Rd. Cheezum brot. home 12 studs & 11 rafters, all that he had sawed. Solomon & Jacob putting up shell on kiln, all at work grubbing in the new ground in the afternoon. Rained & snowed during the night.

Feb. 25 Washington brought a load of scantlain from R. Cheezum Boys grubbing [Note: scantlin were small beams, grubbing meant to dig up ground or tree stumps.]

Feb. 28 Addison came here to day, went to see about a school in Neck. Charles Denny & myself went to Oxford, brought home some fruit trees, and planted them near the W. House

Mar. 7 Hands spreading straw in farm-yard, after dinner grubbing in new ground

Mar 11 Washington plowing new ground broke cast point - I went to Trappe to get a plough (failed to get one) went to Mr. Caulk’s, borrowed his got it here at dinner time Jacob hauling into farm yard up to dinner grubbing in afternoon [Note: a point was the replaceable tip of a plow.]

Mar. 21 went to Mr. J. Caulk’s, grafted some trees from them went to Trappe

Mar. 27 Fencing next to Barn up to dinner put up 24 pannels. at work on barn in afternoon. Snowed all day at times very fast [Note: a pannel is the section of a fence between the posts.]

Mar. 28 Hands greezing gear & other small matters Wash. went to Oxford. I made a new set of cart gear and mended old gear. [Note: oiling or greasing leather harnesses helped to keep the leather flexible.]

Apr. 2 Went to Easton heard of the Death of the Hon. J.C. Calhoun and the conviction of Prof. Webster for the murder of Doct. C. Parkman [Note: A sensational trial, Prof. Webster of Harvard was convicted for the gruesome murder of Dr. Parkman, a wealthy benefactor of the college.]

Apr. 10 2 hands went to Oxford (to mill) after dinner

Apr. 11 Hands spreading manure except Jacob, he went to Mr. Delahay to dig a grave for Mr. Leonard’s child

Apr. 15 Commenced plowing for corn with 2 ploughs

Apr. 16 Two plows running, plowed for & planted potatoes, hauled out 5 loads of pig pen manure on orchard cut, ground quite hard, frozen this morning [Note: manure was used for fertilizer.]

Apr. 27 Jacob built calf house. Sol carried Mr. Caulk’s plough home

May 1 burnt a shell kiln at night

May 2 commended planting corn after breakfast planted Hog pen cut, and part of another to day (Shells did not burn well)

May 4 Finished planting at noon & cleaned out water leads, gave the Boys holiday for the afternoon, rained in afternoon [Note: water leads were ditches used to drain fields.]

May 6 Washington brought the side plates for House Nace & Sol at work on fence, Jacob getting pea sticks [Note: pea sticks were stakes used to support pea vines.]

May 8 Jacob painting house

May 18 Nace Sol & Jacob gone to Balto. Washington & myself mending our road. after dinner W. went to look for shovels lost by Jacob & Sol but did not find them

May 19 Family at home. Levin went up to Mr. Barnetts brought the lost shovels home. I found a great deal of fly in the wheat considerable quantity falling by the insect after growing to the height of a mans knees [Note: the Hessian fly was a serious threat to crops.]

May 31 Two ploughs at work in corn Sol & Jake following with rakes. made a gate and hung at farm yard

June 1 Capt. Stewart landed 6,005 ft. Boards & 1,200 bricks

June 7 Thinning & harrowing corn, Charles & myself got sand & water and made mortar also dug foundation for house

June 14 Raised our Kitchen house & worked corn [Note: raising the Kitchen meant raising the frame.]

June 26 Mr. J Krebs commenced Lathing house. Boys at work in corn finished at breakfast after breakfast hauling cow manure on fallow (29 loads) [Note: fallow was land that was not cultivated for a year to give it a rest.]

July 11 mixing mortar for plaster

July 15 Went round to Oxford put up wheat machine left Washington to wait on Mr. Krebs plaster, who commenced putting on first coat [Note: the wheat machine was a thresher used to knock the wheat grains from the stalk.]

July 16 Machined out my wheat at Oxford 38 shocks & Raked straw 3 hands from Mr. Delahay

July 25 Commenced machining wheat after dinner W. Dulin To feed the machine, Mr. Delahay furnished 4 hands Mr. Marshall 1 hand we got our loose wheat

Aug 1 finished machining wheat about 3 o.c. Mr. Marshall brot his son with him Tuesday who stayed until we finished. barn nearly full of wheat in the chaff & one garner in shed [Note: grain is kept in a garner before it is milled into flour or meal.]

Aug 2 Two hands plowing fallow. Two at work in truck patch

Aug. 3 Sol & Wash plowing till dinner after dinner fencing. Nathan went to Oxford with his wife, Jacob & Sol. & myself went up to Poor House branch for white sand to plaster house [Note: the Poor or Alms House was located near Hole in the Wall, about 3.5 miles north of Trappe.]

[Jacob Used Some Very Seditious Language about His Freedom, &c.]

Aug 4 Family all at home except the black portion they have gone to Bush meeting. I have here to record a very unpleasant disturbance in my Kitchen. Jacob used some very seditious language and went on violently about his freedom, &c. I put a stop to it and was quite near chastising him for it. [Note: a bush or camp meeting were religious services held in the woods. Willis demonstrated remarkable restraint here: Nathan could have been whipped for saying what he did.]

Aug. 6 Nace at work in cabbage. Myself & Susan went to Easton, dined at Mr. Robinson’s. W.D.R. Cheezum had his negro Asbury in goal for an attempt to run away, who discovered to us a plot for others to run off and amongst others my man Nathan.

[Nathan Arrested and Charged with Forging Papers for Runaway Negroes]

Aug 7 Officers Bostick & Collins came down and arrested Nathan & took him up to goal charged with writing papers for run away Negroes [Note: It is remarkable that Nathan Mills could write. The forged passes were to trick the authorities into thinking that runaway blacks had the permission of their owners to be away from home. This is one reason why slaveowners did not want educated slaves. As a footnote, this was a month before the Fugitive Slave Law passed, which legally required runaway slaves to be returned, even if found in free states.]

Aug. 9 I went to Easton & brought Nathan home. Asbury denied all that he said against him. There being no evidence to sustain the charges, I thought best to bring him home. [Note: this is what happened when Frederick Douglass was caught forging passes. He spent time in jail, but had to be released for lack of evidence.]

Aug. 11 Susan the children & myself went to camp meeting.

Aug. 12 Wash & Nace Kiln shells all day Jacob waiting on Mr. Krebs Charley away myself weather boarding house.

Aug. 17 Hands all went to Easton (except Jacob) to see the funeral ceremonies of President Taylor. commenced shingling the roof of Kitchen.

Aug. 19 Washington & Nathan getting water in the morning Mr. Markland commended raising chimney Ws. waiting on him. Nathan hauling on fallow, sent Nace to Oxford about a barrel of lime

Aug. 24 Mr. Markland finished chimney

Aug. 25 "Rained quite hard till after breakfast. I took supper with Mr. Hopkins, he came over with me, examined my wheat found it very warm, clear in afternoon.

Aug. 26 Took up all hands to fann up wheat got Mr. J.W. Martin’s fann, we chaffed out 394 bushels, having sent 6 to mill making 400 bushels [Note: a fan was used to separate the wheat grains from the chaff. Invented in the mid 1700s, the wheat fan was one of the first inventions in modern agriculture. Chaff is the indigestible husk or covering around a grain of wheat.]

Aug. 27 Washington plowing new ground, Sol dr. fallow, Nace spreading manure, Jacob attending Mr. Markham. Nace taken sick in morning.

Aug. 28 Hands at same work except Nace who is sick. Mr. Chs. Robinson & W K Rathall collectors here to day pd. my taxes.

Aug. 29 Hands at same work Nace hauling scum & water

Aug. 30 hands at same work. after dinner Washington and Jacob went to see Lloyds put in the ground. Nace plowing new ground.

Aug. 31 Washington plowing till breakfast Sol finished plowing fallow, and commenced turning the rows. Washington, Nathan spreading lime on new ground with two carts, 13 loads. Mr. Markland at work on chimney.

Sept. 9 Hands pulling Blades till dinner after dinner hands shelled corn. [Note: blades were the leaves on cornstalks used for animal feed.]

Sept. 10 Went to Easton. paid Mr. W.H. Grom $5.60 for 28 yds. Ticking. hands hauling seaoos till breakfast, pulled blades bal of the day. [Note: Ticking was striped cloth used to make a mattress which was then stuffed with straw or feathers. Seaoos or sea ooze and marsh mud was put into hog pens so the animals could wallow in it.]

Sept 12 Hands at work in fodder. Mr. Markland finished my brick work. Jacob sick. [Note: fodder is dried hay or straw used for animal feed.]

Sept. 13 Hands at same work Jacob helping. shipped on board of Capt. Stewart sch.r A.W.T 106 bushels of wheat weighing 59 1/2. wheat a little warm in garner.

Sept 14 Hands cutting tops, tied up blades after breakfast, finished pulling blades after breakfast, finished tying blades & shocked up. Jacob sent to mill brought three bags of meal home. rained at night Sister May sent us a nice parcel of sweet potatoes by Thomas. [Note: A shock is a vertical stack of tied bundles of corn stalks lefts in a field before they are gathered up to be stored in a barn.]

Sept. 18 hands at same work, commenced cutting off corn. I went to Mr. Thomas’ vendue, bought nothing in coming home was thrown out of Mr. Jesse Delahay’s sulky horse ran off & tore the vehicle into pieces. Paid several gentle[men] some money at sale. [Note: a vendue was a public auction.]

Sept. 19 Washington harrowing fallow fanned up ten bushels wheat for Mr. Krebs, set up some corn, went to Oxford with Mr. Delahay’s horse, cart & fan came on to rain which prevented our getting all fanned.

Sept. 20 Wash. got done harrowing and began plowing fallow back. We finished putting? wheat on board with Mr. Valliant’s assistance in all about 156 1/2 bushels Capt. V. landed on the farm to Eat & Seed? 80 1/2 bushels and after letting out some parcels in Oxford, Capt. Valliant kept on board to be sold in Balto. 70 bushels weighing 62 lbs. I was taken very sick returned home & went to bed, Sister W. got 2 1/2 wheat.

Sept 21 Yet very sick, hands all have holiday Jacob & Nace went fishing got some fine fish.

Sept. 23 Washington & Solomon came late to day, I put them at work in the fallow, plowing it back. Nace & Jacob getting in fodder. Mr. Krebs got his wheat to day, 6 bus. he took a memorandum & four empty lime barrels to Oxford (for me) to Capt. Valliant.

Oct. 2 Jacob threshed walnuts & cut off corn other hands finished ditching new ground and hands hauled 18 loads of sand. Chas. H. Denny & myself went to Trappe & cast our votes for Lowe, Lloyd & Jump. Wind High N.West cool at night. Jas. Stewart took breakfast & we had a settlement bal. paid $19.76. [Note: threshing walnuts meant hitting or shaking the branches to knock the nuts off.]

Oct. 3 Hands cutting off corn, Jacob went to mill brot home poor turn out. Sister Sally came to see us, Susan & children came home Mr. Sullivan came down & got two of my cows, gave his note for them $25.

Oct. 4 Hands hauling in corn. Capt. Valliant landed 15 barrels of lime 6 bushels hair & three plough points for treble plough. Susan, Sister & Nancy went to Mr. Corks. [Note: lime and hair was used to make plaster.]

Oct. 8 Wash. & Nathan spreading lime…spread 1,500 bush. shells burnt into Lime on new ground… Jacob digging potatoes, Js. Krebs lathing…white frost.

Oct. 11 On the eleventh of last year I commenced seeding wheat, but think it too dry now to seed, waiting for rain

Oct. 12 Cutting off corn up to dinner, hauling in the afternoon, Jacob making bridges on the House Road, made one under drain I went to Trappe took Albert with me, bought 35 lbs. nails and an oven also 3 yds. cloth for Albert wind N. cool change very dry Charles Denny & J. Krebs went home to day.

Oct. 13 I went to Oxford to day, brought Blk Deed to be signed, dined with H. Stewart, stock very troublesome to day Mr. Chamberlain’s cattle in on us, rest of family at home.

Oct. 14 I wrote a note to Mr. C. Chamberlain this morning to join me in repairing water fence, he sent two hands, and with my two we made it up [Note: because Willis’ farm was on the water, fences separating it from a neighboring farm had to be extended into the water to prevent livestock from going around the ends to the next farm, yet still be able to go into the water to drink and get cool.]

Oct. 24 Finished seeding wheat on cornfield

Oct. 26 Made Hog pen, Boys had holiday after dinner. John Harrington came here took the sensus of my family and statistics of the farm. Thick foggy morning and occasionally showers, fine rain at night. W. S.West. [Note: the 1850 census showed that Willis household consisted of Willis, aged 34; his wife Susan, aged 30; two children: Albert D., 5, Sarah C., 4; and Ann B., aged 25, and two blacks: Solomon Brian, 21, and William Fisher, 7. His is listed as owning eight slaves: four males aged 50, 45, 30 and 2; and four females aged 30, 14, 9 and 1. See the listing under 1840-41 for the names of some of these slaves.]

Oct. 31 Hauling marsh into Hogpen

Nov. 1 Hauling dirt & sand to fill up Kitchen 19 loads dirt, 12 loads sand. I commenced laying the floor with brick, Jacob helping me

Nov. 3 Sarah Catherine has nearly recovered from sickness.

Nov. 4 Jacob & myself went to Oxford got 2 barrels lime & mixed it for a white coating, seeded on lot 1/2 bush, orchard grass 1/2 do. Kentucky Blue grass & 1/2 do. Timothy, & harrowed it with drag. At night went over to W.H. Stewarts to see Krebs he promised to come. got home 1/2 past 10 O.C. [The white coating was whitewash, which was used for paint.]

Nov. 5 Gave Catherine a whipping for misconduct, began our husking Jacob got bushes & stakes for the water fence…

Nov. 10 Family went to Trappe meeting [Note: the meeting probably would have been services at the Methodist church in Trappe.]

Nov. 11 Hands Jacob, Nace & Sol waiting on Mr. Kreb & son who has resumed my plastering

Nov. 13 Shipped on board A.H. Tilghman 571 1/2 bushels clean white wheat and 35 bushels of mixed, not so good…

Nov. 16 Jacob went to Oxford took new corn to mill

Nov. 17 I went to Oxford withe the intention of going to Balto. But A.W. Tilghman did not start- dined with W.B. Willis, returned in afternoon, W.N.W. very high.

Nov. 18 Again I went to Oxford, but wind too high to go to Balto. Husking corn, Jacob went to mill, also to W.B. Willis for Tallow got 30 lbs.

Nov. 19 At 3 o.c. on this morning I left for Balto found wind still high got to Balto about 9 o.c.

Nov. 24 I arrived home to day from Balto.

Nov. 25 Husking & lofting corn Jacob puttying nail heads myself at work on house, also Charly in the afternoon

Nov. 26 Hands shucking corn. Jacob painting Capt. Benson landed articles from Balto, I went to Easton

Nov. 27 Hands at same work. Jacob went to Oxford brot. meal and plank home.

Dec. 3 Cleaned stable & cleared the ground around the new house

Dec. 5 Jacob took 3 1/2 bush. corn to Mr. J. Bartlett’s mill & returned with the meal. Nace & Jacob hauled wood.

Dec. 6 Shelled off some & rubbed the hearth down in new house

Dec. 7 Raining fast, nearly calm. rained ’till about 3 o.c. wind rose from west late in afternoon Wash. sick Nace, Jake & Sol cleaning new house the land about inundated with rain.

Dec. 9 Hands getting wood & preparing for Killing hogs, Wash helping Mr. Delahay to Kill

Dec. 10 Killed 19 hogs weight not known Thos. Delahay assisted us to Kill

Dec. 11 Cut up & salted Pork, hauled some dirt abot the new house

Dec. 12 Jas. Clarke got a horse & cart of me to go after some prop.ry bot at sale also Thos. James Delahay got a cart & mule for same purpose, Damp

Dec. 13 I went to poor House bought 7 shoats of trustees for 14$ called to see H. Smith about a boy. hands hauling wood & pine fallings [Note: the county poor house operated a farm to help pay expenses.]

Dec. 14 Cutting wood, Capt. Willis called to see us took dinner got horse to go to J.S. Martin’s sent a Bank check to W.S. Denny by C.H. Denny for $300.00

Dec. 15 At home, Mr. & Mrs. Cheezum here, Mr. Smith & Mr. Bland here, Mr. B. came to hire as an overseer but we could not agree, he wanted to keep a horse and for me to find pasture & blade fodder for him & to pay 100$ wages.

Dec. 16 commenced hauling rushes rain stopped us fanned up some wheat, piling wood shats in afternoon [Note: shats or pine needles were used for animal bedding.]

Dec. 17 I went to Easton board of Comm.r met, to meet again in two weeks. Oliver Harrison sick with small pox. Hands getting in rushes, Jacob puttying nail heads.

Dec. 18 Susan & myself went to Trappe, execute a deed to R.B. Willis for House & lot, took a pot of butter up for Chas. R. Mullikin, weight 27 1/2 gross net 17 1/2. hands getting in rushes. Nace went to Trappe with his wife, Jacob at same work

Dec. 21 Getting in wood & piling rushes, Washington agreed to live with me again for next year. Dr D Cheezum here & got here before we were up stayed all day gunning for duck. [Note: the rushes were probably used as animal bedding.]

Dec. 23 Nathan at work in woods. Jacob sick with rumatism Sol. & Wash not here W.N.W. Very high several vessels driven on shore.

Dec. 25 Robert Plummer came to see me to be bound as an apprentice

Dec. 26 Hands all keeping holiday, Robert went to see his parents

Dec. 27 Ditto. Robert returned & I sent him to Oxford with some locks

Dec. 29 Capt. Stewart called here this morning, strong wind W.S.W., N.W. in afternoon. I crossed the creek & went to Wm. B. Willis with Capt. S., we took dinner there, I heard preaching & returned home to night. Nace & Ann came down.

Dec. 30 weather cold, Ann & Nace cleaning new house & moving some things, Charles Denny not here has been absent since last Tuesday.

Dec. 31 Nace & Ann at work on new house Dr. D. Cheezum came in forenoon, got my slay, returned in afternoon commenced snowing about or before day, snow at night about 4 inches deep.

1851

Jan. 1 Nathan went to Mr. Bartlett’s mill for flour & meal, brought home by My account 225 lbs flour from 6 bushels of wheat with tole deducted, also one bushel for himself & one for Jacob. Washington not here, Mr. Levin Lewis here dined with us. Charly came back to day [Note: the toll was a portion of milled grain the miller kept as payment.]

[Moved into New House]

Jan. 2 Wash came to day, he and Nace haulng wood, white sand to go about the house, Jake at work about the house, I went to Mr. Chamberlain paid Mrs. Chamberlain for Capt. Stewart $4.00 Family moved into new house, not well pleased on account of chimney smoking.

Jan. 8 …getting poles to move house

Jan. 9 Moved smoke house and hen house, Mr. Mrs. Chamberlain sent two hands, Mr. J.W. Martin two hands, Mr. Saml. Chamberlaine and Mr. Delahay two hands. I also expected two hands of W.B. Willis but did not get them.

Jan. 10 Hanging up meat and repairing poultry house.

Jan 11 Finished meat house & got in some wood

Jan. 12 I have been an invalid now for nine days, confined with a gathering on my neck. [Note: a gathering was some type of swelling.]

Jan. 13 making Hog pen, brought the hogs home from the barn hauling wood, and rushes filling hog pen

Jan. 14 Hands filling up Pig pen, I went to Easton took Robert up to see his mother & father. Commissioners elected, Jos. Harrison to fill the vacancy occasioned by the death of his brother.

Jan. 18 cutting new ditch took Robert to Trappe and had him bound to me by his father’s consent.

Jan. 21 I went to Easton, took Roberts Indenture to Registers office all right.

Jan. 25 Nathan went to Mr. Cheezums I went there also got some posts and a cedar pole for a ladder, went to Mr. Berridge had Alberts boots mended. went in company with W.C. to Trappe, superceded an acct. for him

Jan. 26 Doctor Kemp came to see Susan took some blood, opened abcess on Jane’s hand, gave me some Vaccine matter, Sister Margaret came to day, I went part of the way home with her. [Note: in the 19th century, blood letting was thought to be a cure for almost anything. Vaccine matter would be used to inoculate against smallpox.]

Jan. 28 Thos. A. Willis came out of the steam boat landed at Cloras Point

Feb. 1 Turned sheep into wheat field, ground hard frozen, creek frozen down to its mouth.

Feb. 2 I took Albert & Robert with me to Oxford, dined with sister, bought 1 lb. powder of R Willis returned home about 4 o.c. snowing slightly, sheep had a lamb in wheat field, turned them into clover field [Note: powder was black powder for a gun.]

Feb. 3 Robert & myself went to boons creek caught some oysters, foggy at night Charley not here

Feb. 4 Jacob fixing up hen house, Wash & Nathan trimming posts got of Mr. Cheezum… Charles H. Denny came here to day but did not work. rec’d an invitation to attend the funeral of the late Richard Martin.

Feb. 7 I went with W.W. Cheezum to Doctor. Martins saw his new house. [Note: Dr. Martin was Dr. Ennals Martin (1758-1834) who was born at Hampton farm in Island Creek Neck. On the plus side, he is credited with being the first doctor in Talbot Co. to inoculate for smallpox in 1803. On the minus side, he later wrote a paper claiming that the 1813 and 1814 epidemics in the county had been caused by an earthquake and a comet. He later moved his practice to Easton.]

Feb. 10 I went to see Mr. W. Chamb. carried him a plan for his barn.

Feb. 11 went to Easton to meet the board of Com.r J.H. Harrison qualified as one of the board, brought Miss M.H. Denny home with me stopped on the way & took tea with Mr. Cheezum. Hands cutting wood.

Feb 13 I went to a Terapin supper at Mr. Emersons

Feb. 16 Buzzard caught and Killed one of my lambs by cutting its throat

Feb. 17 caulked & tarred my canoe [Note: Willis means a log canoe which was made from several logs instead of a dugout canoe which was made from one log.]

Feb. 19 Capt. Valliant landed a barrell of plaster of paris in branch Nathan hauled it up

Feb. 20 Robert went to W.B. Willis to carry a Rockfish two and a half feet long, sent two to Mrs. Bowdle & two to W.B. Bowdle caught ten in all [Note: rockfish is a striped bass.]

Feb. 24 filling up poultry house with sand…Jacob & myself seeding clover got a bushel of it from Mr. Ns. Martin, but returned them on account of being impure. Washington top dressing wheat.

Feb. 28 This day, Grinnum was to have been executed…bricked the pantry floor, snowed & rained with high wind at night

Mar. 1 I went to Trappe, advertised the school house for sale.

Mar. 2 I took Albert in the carriage with me went to preaching stopped in to see Mr. Newnam gave him a rock and shads. dined with Mr. Berridge

Mar. 6 Robert & myself went to J. Bartletts mill took six bushels wheat, got it ground and brought it home together with 3 bushels meal

Mar. 7 rained & snowed during the day great quantity of water on the earth - quite cool

Mar. 13 set my nets this afternoon and caught a rock upwards of 20 inches long before I finished setting them.

Mar. 15 Jacob plowing the yard and lucern patch Mr. Disney came here about 10 o.c. commenced painting my house, Robert went to Oxford and stayed ’till night his father came home with him.

Mar. 18 Mr. Disney stopped painting about 1 o.c. went to Oxford for the purpose of going to Balto. at work mending boys boots.

Mar. 19 All hands cutting bryers and clearing branch I went down to the river shore to look after my canoe, and discovered that he had broken her chain and gone perhaps to Dorset. took a cup of coffee with Wm. Chamberlain, sent for Doctr. Kemp about 10 o.c. for Mrs. Willis about to be confined, snowing from the N.W. [Note: Dorset was another name for Dorchester Co.]

Mar. 20 Doct. Kemp got here about 1 o.c. at night gave Susan 20 drops Laudinum she got easy and we all went to bed.

Mar. 22 Hauling dirt from new ground on to old part with 3 carts. Robert & myself clearing & burning branch.

Mar. 24 Collected a force of hands & moved a house up to the Poultry house to make a carriage house of, finished at dinner and discharged the hands, all of mine went into the branch to work. Mr. N. Martin Sr. 2 hands, Mr. Trippe 2 do., Mr. Hopkins 2 do., J.W. Martin 2 do., Mr. Wm. Chamberlain 2 do., Mr. Atkinson 3, Mr. Saml. Chamberlain 2.

Mar. 25 I went to Easton Commissioners appointed Constables. (bought pr. shoes for Ann on credit of T.T. Martin).

Mar. 26 Mr. Disney came back from Balto and resumed his painting after dinner. half day work [Note: Willis didn’t mention it, but his daughter Laura was born on this day.]

Mar. 28 Mr. Disney painting all day on the outside of the house

Mar. 29 …at work in garden. planted potatoes peas & beans…I sent Jacob over to Sister Sallys with a note about his girl for a nourse

Mar. 30 Jacob returned without the woman.

Apr. 1 stopped setting nets, caught 117 shad & 56 Rocks

Apr. 2 Nathan cleaned & oiled the carriage gear. myself at work on collars

Apr. 4 Mr. Disney putting the fifth coat of paint on the house front

Apr. 5 I went to Trappe sold the School House for $300

Apr. 8 Hauled out 6 loads from yard manure, when we had to stop on account of rain. it rained in torrents during the forenoon, ceased about noon. all went to cutting in the branch, gust of wind, rain & hail about night blew very high & rained a great deal. Mr. Disney painting.

Apr. 9 wheat wears a beautiful appearance this morning in the breeze.

Apr. 11 A man came here with a washing machine for sale, washed some cloths.

Apr. 15 I met Board of Commissioners.

Apr. 18 Mr. Disney painting - mapleing the door below. [Note: mapleing presumably meant Disney was painting a false grain design on the door to simulate maple wood.]

Apr. 22 Hands all home. Mr. Disney painted till dinner when he finished my house having been twenty five days at work a $150 pr. day $57.50 paid him $30 and gave my note for Twenty dollars & thirty one cents, put in consideration of paints & varnish & brushes bought by him in Balto. for me.

Apr. 29 I went to Mr. Emerson’s to see about getting a nourse for our little Infant, & he was from home.

Apr. 30 I went to Mr. Emersons and engaged his woman for wet nurse. [Note: a wet nurse was a lactating woman who was hired to help breastfeed a baby.]

May 2 Jacob went & brought Eliza from Mr. Emerson to nurse our child.

May 3 …grubbing up stumps, plowing and rolling. Jacob planting strawberry vines. [Note: a roller was used to crush dirt clods and flatten the ground."

May 4 sent Robert to Broth Wm with some asparagus

May 5 making front door steps. missed one of my pigs out of the pen. dont know what became of it.

May 9 Jacob took some apricots to Oxford about one and a half bushels. Put them in care of R.B. Willis to sell.

May 17 W. Chamberlain promised to mend the division water fence. we therefore hauled a load down on each side of the fence, but Mr. C did not send a hand to help. I therefore did not touch it.

May 18 Eliza went home with my permission. I went to see Mr. E. in regard to hiring her. Mr. Emerson agreed that I should have her at $3 pr. month, and I brought Eliza home with me.

May 20 Hands getting rails to build a fence around the House.

May 22 Capt. Stewart landed keg molasses.

May 24 the birds are taking up the corn.

May 31 …Ennals Martin gave me some tomato plants

June 2 I mended Kate’s shoes and commenced a gate for the front yard

June 3 Robert & myself came home in the canoe

June 4 I went to Trappe cast my vote for the adaption of the new [State] Constitution.

June 6 Thinning corn up to breakfast. after breakfast commenced crossing with a plough between the rows of corn planting and covering with a hoe, the corn having been mostly destroyed by the worm or some other insect.

June 7 Jacob went to Baltimore.

June 11 Jacob returned from Baltimore.

June 13 I hung the parlor chamber window curtains. two of Mr. Es horses into our field.

June 14 Susan & self went up to see Mrs. Mullikin in regard to taking our little child to nurse.

June 16 Harrowing & replanting corn, very much missing it takes an abundance of corn to replant, and wheat is standing looks sick and does not grow scarcely at all.

June 19 Two ploughs running in corn field. Robert and Jacob following with rakes. two of Mr. S. Chamberlains horses in my field. I wrote him a letter about his horses trespassing on me, also in regard to a message sent to me by Robert, which I did not think respectful. I went to Mr. Atkinson and worked about a third of a day on his wheat machine. got a letter in reply to mine from W.C. in which he dealt in sarcasm and misstatements asserting what he cannot prove.

June 20 I met with Mr. S. Chamberlain this morn at the division fence he stated to me that Robert had delivered to him an abrupt message and that he sent a corresponding one in reply which led to hard thought between us. we both made it all up with the understanding that each should send the other word when any of eithers stock becomes troublesome to the other, or whenever one of us saw anything to complain of, he should let the other know in writing of the fact.

June 21 Hands at some work after dinner hands had holiday. I went down to Oxford took breakfast with Sister Margaret, from there I went to Jas. Harrison and with [him] down to Mr. A. Seths after a Negro boy who Mr. S. bought at the sale of Charles Rhodes Estate, and which he let me have we brought the boy up to J. Harrison about night.

June 22 I Came here this morn brought the boy (Levin) with me got here to dinner.

July 9 Setting up wheat machine, and getting ready for machining got a pr. of pants torn off me by the horse power. [Note: a horse power was a treadmill powered by a horse and used to run machinery.]

July 10 I went to blacksmith shop to see about a feeder for the machine…

July 12 Jacob & myself went to Oxford took a couple of calves in canoe, put them on the wharf and went up to Sisters to breakfast, when I returned to the shore I was informed that one had got overboard and had not been found since. I saw no more of it although I did try to find it.

Aug. 16 …hauling out the essence of farm yard manure which caught in a ditch near he yard. by putting the liquor in a hogshead with a spigot in it, and letting it run into the cart which scattered it over the land very finely. I had it put on the young clover.

Aug. 23 I went to St. Michael’s this morn, return to the Oxford ferry, found the Ferry-boat up, had to return via Easton… [Note: Oxford Bellevue ferry was established in 1683 and is believed to have run continuously since 1836, according to www.oxfordbellevueferry.com.]]

Aug. 31 I drove a negro woman Susan from my house, for misbehaving in the Kitchen.

Sept. 8 seeded the front yard with grass…

Sept. 9 I went to Easton, bought 7 lbs. of Lucerne seed of Dawson & brother on credit…

Sept. 11 extremely warm, slept with the windows up, and had to fan our children through the night.

Sept. 14 change of weather before day this morn very cool, put winter cloths resumed my flannel shirt which I took off last Friday.

Sept. 18 went with him [Mr. Chamberlain] to lay down a new main road through the woods.

Sept. 23 fanning wheat, quite warm from weavel.

Oct. 9 continued putting wheat on board of schooner Lively Capt. Bland, master, delivered one hundred & eighty four bush weighing 65 lbs….

Oct. 24 Mr. Nicholas Pampillin was here to see us.

Nov. 5 I went to Trappe to the Election…

Nov. 6 …part of the Whig ticket elected.

Nov. 8 got some new poles and built the corn house higher.

Nov. 11 got some soap for Susan to go to the show.

Nov. 12 I went to Easton to the cattle show, took Albert with me.

Nov. 14 I went to Balto. in steamer Champion rained lightly

Nov. 16 I arrived home in afternoon.

Nov. 23 Susan, Al, Kate & self went to Trappe meeting heard Jonathan Willis preach a very classical sermon from Jeremiah after which we went to brother Williams dined & came home

Nov. 24 Jacob waiting on Mr. Markland who was at work on the tops of my chimneys to prevent their smoking. Capt. Stewart was here and we had a settlement. I paid him $50.87/100. I loaned a book to Mr. Thomas Watts Clarks Magazine."

Dec. 11 I took Jacob and went to Oxford mended up the graves in the garden, and brought home a canoe load of articles.

Dec. 18 Jacob took 9 bus. wheat and two buckets corn to the Steam Mill Easton Point. weather extremely cold, creek closed with ice and part of the river.

Dec. 24 bought some articles for the children… Wash & Jacob made hog shelter

Dec. 25 Susan Kate and myself went to Trappe, there being no preacher, we went to Mr. Cheezums dined with him, came on to rain after night.

Dec. 26 very cold this morn. sent Robert to Richard Cheezums in the afternoon after some pieces of timber for slay runners

Dec. 27 I commenced work on the timber to make a slay. Levin hauled home a stock of pine for a canoe with John S. Martins oxen wheels, came on to snow after breakfast

Dec. 29 myself at work on slay. I let Jane go to R.W. Bowdles to a party, Levin & Jacob at work on canoe…

Dec. 31 Rain and foggy wind South. I went to Oxford brought my fruit trees home, dug a few holes to plant the trees rained stopped us. rained quite fast. Levin Smith helping me dig holes for planting trees.

1852

Jan. 2 I had Levin Smith (Ns. Martins man) here to help we planted fifty peach and 39 apple trees. weather cold, snowed in the forenoon quite fast.

Jan. 3 Robert Nathan and myself finished planting trees planted 8 pears and one cherry tree in the yard. I have placed around the roots of each tree about one bushel of stable & other manures around many of the trees I used wood pile manure. [Note added later: June 15 my trees are nearly all dead only one or two alive out of about 100. Cost 16$.].

Jan 5 "I went to Kitty Denny’s, returned this morn as far