March 1829

Sunday March 1, 1829. It is very mild today for the season. I arose about 8 this morning, went up to prayers and breakfast. Went to the Unitarian [meeting?] this forenoon to hear their minister preach for the first time since ordained. Had a very good sermon from a text in "Isai[a]h 11.21. "Watchman, what of the night. " It was a very good subject. Went to the Baptist [Church] in the afternoon, sat in the singing seats, made out very well for the first time, rather diffident. Went to a prayer meeting in the vestry, very well pleased with it. Went to the house and got a new cheese. Came down to the store and had a good sing then went to bed.

Monday March 2, 1829. The weather pretty moderate. Business pretty good, had to walk considerable on errands. Wrote a letter to Mary Ann tonight, went to the "Eagle" to see the mail carrier [who] had not arrived yet. I did not send it. The Unitarian Church consists of 6 or 7 members. Not much teaming now. There is a going to be a dinner prepared on the 4th, salutes fired.

Tuesday March 3, 1829. The weather very fine. Business good. Mr. Kent went to Boscawen today with his father and the Minister (Unitarian). Had fresh fish for dinner, liked it much. Went up to the "Eagle" twice today and the mail carrier had not arrived. Read an account today of the snow's being 5 ft. deep in some of the upland towns of Vermont. Heard tonight that a new Cabinet is formed. Mr. and Mrs. Kent have gone to a party at Maj. Chandler's this evening. This winter has been very remarkable for its mildness as far as the two last storms, which makes it more remarkable the other way. If we should have a heavey rain now we should have a tremendous freshet.

Wednesday March 4, 1829. It rained a little last night and froze. I arose about sunrise and heard some reports of guns firing in honour of Jackson. It is very warm today and thaws much. Rained some this forenoon. Father was over this forenoon with Mr. Chase and he told me he had sold his clothing works etc. for 1,500 dollars. Folks all well. He did not stop long. Mr. Chase is going off. Mr. Richardson is raising a nice sign and a very high signpost before his door. The post runs up about half way or far as the sign, of a bigness and pretty large, and from the sign it tapers off small to the top which has two gilt balls on it, one above the other. The sign I did not take particular notice of as it was most dark. The Jackson folks began to fire their swivel at 12 and fired it irregularly all the afternoon till most 9. In the evening Hill Building and Richardson's House was illuminated, which made a brilliant appearance. They had a dinner about 5 o'clock and supper together. I heard they had cider to drink their toasts with. The boys had a lot of fire balls. It is very wet and slopy travelling owing to the thaw. Business good.

Thursday March S, 1829. The weather very warm and pleasant, thaws considerably. Business not very good. Had fresh fish for dinner. Cleared up back store some, sent my letter to M.A. yesterday by Father. She is at Epsom now at her Uncle Satter's on a visit.

Friday March 6, 1829. It began to snow last night and snowed about 4 in. before we shut up store. This morning the snow blows nicely and continued all day. This [is the] worst storm we have had this winter. Business none. No stages come in or go out now. I shoveled snow off our bedroom this afternoon, it was about 4 ft. deep.

Saturday March 7, 1829. The weather pleasant for the season, it thaws considerably. Took in about 700 lb. of clover seed at 61/2 cts. cash, cheap. Business not very good. Mr. Kent went as far as Mr. Weeks, breaking out road this morning with others. Shovelled snow off back store and shed this afternoon. Got to sell some iron to a man in the morning. I don't like it. Feel sleepy tonight, believe I shall go to bed early. Scarcely any stages get in or go out. The Adams folks have a caucus at Mr. Herbert's tonight. Mr. Kent guess[es] there will not be many there. Folks are breaking out roads.

Sunday March 8, 1829. Weather very pleasant. Arose about 7 o'clock. Sold 14 dollars worth iron and steel. Went to meeting without a great coat, warm enough. Sit in singing seats, made out very well. Did not have the contribution which had been talked of 2 or 3 weeks on account of walking. Very good preaching by Mr. Williams. No meeting here in the evening. Went to the Courthouse. Heard that Mrs. Levi Hutchins, aunt of Mrs. W. Kent, was but just alive, having a cancer.

Monday March 9, 1829. The weather extremely pleasant. The snow shines so brilliant that it makes my eyes and head ache to look upon it. Business not very good. Jackson's Inaugural Speech has been received today. Very poor thing. Some of the Jacksonites say that it is a hoax and all made up by somebody else but it came tonight by mail directly from Washington so that they'll have to make the best of it. He has formed his Cabinet: Martin Van Buren of N. Y. as Secretary of State, Saml. D. Ingham of Penna.,Sec. of Treasury, John McPherson Barrien of Georgia as Post Master General, John H. Eaton of Tenn. as Sec. of War, John Branch N. C. as Sec. of Navy, a John Mclane of Ohio Attorney General. Town Meeting tomorrow. Snow into Boston.

Tuesday March 10, 1829. The weather very pleasant for town meeting. Business not good. John West is elected Town Clerk in opposition to F. N. Fisk by a majority of 3 votes. For Representatives Ried. Bradley, Saml. Herbert and Rot. Ambrose by a majority of 101 votes. I think the Jackson folks will get a majority in this state. Meeting went on very civil. Selectmen are not chosen, they will be tomorrow. Snow goes away very fast now. Gen. I. Low Moderator, no opposition.

Wednesday March 11, 1829. The weather very pleasant, feels more like spring. Business good, bought a lot [of] cured rope of a Mr. Anthony Emery and paid in Chase [cash] &c. Choose for Selectmen Mr. Benj. Parke, Gen. Isaac Eastman, Sam'l Knowlton. Some debate concerning the money arising from the sale of land of the Upper Society, how it should be divided among the societies in town. What returns of votes that have arrived make us a gain for Pierce in most every town.

Thursday March 12, 1829. The weather very rainy. It began to rain last [night] and rained all day today. Very slopy. No business.

Friday March 13, 1829. The weather very pleasant overhead, very wet underfoot. George slept up at Mrs. Evans who has got home from Dover with Mary A. Porter and Charlotte Hoare. Went to bed about 9 o'clock, arose at 6. The principal cause why Pierce gets so many more votes than Bell is that a great many of the Bell men staid at home, being too confident in their own strength.

Saturday March 14, 1829. The weather very cold, it has not thawed scarcely any. The travelling remarkably bad owing to the last rain which made large puddles in the road and froze not hard enough to bear a slay or horse. Business good. George is not going to sleep at Mrs. Evans tonight. Went to singing school tonight had a good sing. There has been a great many shipwrecks of shipping during the last snowstorms and considerable number of lives lost. It is stated that the smallpox has made its appearance in Peterborough, N.H. It was caught from some foreign rags by a girl picking them in a paper mill.

Sunday March 15, 1829. The weather pretty cold. Arise about 8 o'clock. Mr. Williams preached. Sat in singing seats. Had a good sing after meeting in the afternoon. Had 8 instruments. Meeting in the vestry in the eve.

Monday March 16, 1829. The weather cool. Business good. Slept alone last night. George went to Mrs. Evans. Mr. Kent had a long talk with a Mr. Johnston of Boscawen about an old account. He at last agreed to pay off it next time he came to town and Mr. Kent agreed to balance the account on the payment of the 1/2.

Tuesday March 17, 1829. The weather rather cold and cloudy. Business not good. It snowed an inch or two this afternoon but has left off. Got out of wood and drawed some from the house.

Wednesday March 18, 1829. The weather very cold and it blows the snow about. Business good. Sleighing very good about here. Up in Vermont the snow in some high places is from S to 7 ft. deep so that it appears that in the 3 last snowstorms there was an immence [immense] body of snow fell. There is about here from 3 to 4 [feet] on a level.

Thursday March 19, 1829. The weather remarkable cold for the last of March. Business poor. Stephen Brown (tailor) has bought of old Col. Kent the house where Mr. Williams, the B[aptist] Minister, lived and is moving into it. Mr. Williams has hired the house where Mr. Brown used to reside that they have made shift.

Friday March 20, 1829. It is cold yet. Business not very good tonight. All ap[p]rentices and workmen leave off work evenings in their shops. la.st night at about 6 o'clock, Mr. Kent arid Mr. Chickering went down to the Loucook and [got] a partridge each.

Saturday March 21, 1829. Weather cold. Business dull. I had a very bad headache last night so that I went to bed at 7 o'clock. Went to singing school this eve, we had a delightful sing. Very chily and slipery walking tonight.

Sunday March 22, 1829. It is cold today. I arose about 8 o'clock. Sit in the singing seats. Mr. W. preached. We had a Sing at 11 o'clock meeting in the floor of the house. In the eve had the cholick. Tonight took pe(p]permint and gin [ginger?], felt some better, came down and went to bed.

Monday March 23, 1829. It is colder today than yesterday. Business not very good. Mr. Tenney was over today. Had a letter from M.A. Aunt Satter has broke her arm by the upsetting of a sleigh. Aunt Davis has a young infant. Uncle Davis is some better from the lung fever Which he has had. Folks all well. We had 2 saws from Boston (circular) tonight, 16 inch. Going to mend my pantaloons tonight.

Tuesday March 24, 1829. It is very cold today. Business not good. Mr. Lang worked up to the house drawing off cider. We heard yesterday that a Mr. Smith of Peterborough had failed. He was considered good. He was the greatest owner of the factory which was burnt there. The factory was insured for 12,000 dollars but the policy expired only 2 days before it was burnt, which he did not know till on sending to Boston for the money he was told it. Our singing school was adjourned last Saturday evening till tonight, had a good sing tonight. The school gains in number and perfection. Going to meet next Saturday eve. Old Col. Kent has gone to Boston this morning and Rebbecca has gone to Claremont to his sister's (Bingham).

Wednesday March 25, 1829. It is not very cold and thaws consi.derable. Business not very good nowadays. John Lebosquet brought in his base viol this evening after he had shut up and we had a good sing. Mr. Chase was over today, he came to see Col. Carter about hiring or buying his clothing mills.

Thursday March 26, 1829. This morning I was awaked about 1 o'clock by the bells ringing for fire. George jumped out of bed. Dressed us and on getting into the street found that the fire was on the east side of the river. We started for it and on getting there found that it originated from Gen. Eastman's machine and blacksmith's shop which had burnt down flat. The Engines arrived and I handed water untill it was out, which was about 2 hours. I got very wet and my trowsers froze stiff to my knees, felt some cold. When I got [back?] found George at home and had a good fire in counting room, dried myself, took some hot sling and went to bed. Slept sound till 20 m. past 6 o'clock, then got [up] as bright as a dollar and opened store. George feels very stiff.

Friday March 27, 1829. It is some windy and not very cold. Snow thaws very fast. Business not good. Mr. Joseph Carter was buried today, very old, about 85, I heard. I got a very bad cold the other night being so wet. George has gone to a party at Mr. Cody's tonight. Went to [bed] about 9 o'clock last night.

Saturday March 28, 1829. The weather very pleasant and thawed much. The road is very bare now. Business good. Mr. Lang and I piled up some boards this afternoon behind the iron store, got my pantaloons daubed with turpentine. Went to singing school in evening, good sing.

Sunday March 29, 1829. Arose about 1/2 past 7. It [is] very pleasant. Went to meeting without a great coat, warm enough. Mr. W. finished his sermons on the fruits of the spirit. The last was "Temperance." Had a good sermon, good singing likewise. Sat in singing seats. Had a lecture in the eve on floor of house. We had a sing after the afternoon sermon.

Monday March 30, 1829. It is very warm today. Business not good. Water runs a great deal in the street now. My feet had been wet for a number of days back. Wrote a letter to M. Ann tonight by the carrier. Snow turns into water amazing fast now.

Tuesday March 31, 1829. The weather pleasant. The travelling very wet and muddy. Business not good. Snow is all gone in the road, by the side there is a plenty. George is unwell today. Mr. Saml. and Asaph Evans are taking account of stock today. Stage went out this morning very full, 8 or 10 extras. Went to singing school this eve, good sing. Last Sunday Mr. Williams read a proclatmation of fasting and prayer. It is to be on the 2 [nd] day of April.

Wednesday April 1, 1829. All that is heard this morning among the boys is "April Fool." Weather pleasant, thawed a good deal. Began to take account of stock today, got along very well. Took all the shelf where the screws are and the files &c. Stages very full this morning.