April 1829

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.

Thursday April 2 ,1829. It rained all day very fast. Not many to meeting. Had a sermon in the afternoon, very good. Snow goes off very fast now.

Friday April 3, 1829. Weather moderate, thaws considerably. Get along very well taking account. No business or customers. Had tripe for dinner yesterday. Very mudy now. Colds and coughs frequent. Mrs. Levi Hutchins is dead. She died yesterday about 11 o'clock of the cancer. She belonged to the "Society of Friends." I saw the death of the venerable Dr. Holyoke of Salem in a Boston paper today, aged 100 and over.

Saturday April 4, 1829. The weather pleasant. The ground has dried considerable in spots. Got all the shelf goods which is nearly half of the work. The ice is broke, has back[ed] into the river. Water pretty high. About 50 wild geese light[ed] in the river opposite the distillery this morning. Nobody got a shot at them. Went down [to] the Boat House tonight to help turn over some boats that have been building there. Went to singing school tonight, mudy going, adjourned till next Wednesday eve.

Sunday April 5, 1829. It is a very pleasant morning. I arose about 1/2 past 7 o'clock. Went to meeting without a great coat, warm enough. A young man preached, who is a stranger, in the forenoon. In the afternoon Mr. Williams preached. Had a sing at 1/2 past 3. It rained considerable tonight. I went to the Courthouse in the evening to hear Mr. Bouton read Dr. Beacher's Remidies [Remedies] of Intemperance. Very mudy walking.

Monday April 6, 1829. It is some cooler. Business pretty good. We have got almost all the front stores done. The Baptist Society has a meeting of the members to choose officers &c. for the ensuing year. I received two pretty [handkerchiefs?] tonight from M. A. Mother is unwell but keeps about house. Uncle Amasa is some better. George gone out this evening. We are going to kill the hog in the morning. It is a nice one. The river is pretty high now and clear of ice. Amos Wood has sold his bake house to Asa Dusen. I expect Father over next week.

Tuesday April 7, 1829. The weather moderate. Business rather better [than] common. We have began upon the back store to take account. Court begins here today. Saw Uncle James Sanborn tonight. He informed me that " Buck Street" bridge had been swept away by the water and ice and it injured Father's mills a little. He said the ice was about 3 feet thick. He said [?] expected to come over tomorrow. George has gone to the "Harmonic," a singing society as it is named, formed of young men and ladies. Mr. Kent killed his hog this morning. It is a nice one, weight is 271 lb., [dressed?] at 2751b. [error:175 lb?].

Wednesday April 8, 1829. It is remarkably pleasant. Mr. Lang came today and we took account of the back store, chambers and part of the iron store. I think we shall finish tomorrow. Old Col. Kent arrived from Boston last night. I have took cold and cough considerably. Went to singing school this evening, good number there. It is adjourned till next Saturday evening.

Thursday April 9, 1829. The weather rainy with some hail and snow. We got done with the iron store and I feel very tired. Went to bed early. Got a very bad cough. Business dull.

Friday April 10, 1829. It is rather hazy in the morning. It rained considerable today, makes it mudy and wet. Mr. Kent's cellar is swim[m]ing with water. There is 8 to 10 in. The drain is rotten and fallen in. Had it dug up, going to have it brick[ed]. A sad accident has befallen the community by the death of Ezekiel Webster, Esqr. He was pleading with his usual eloquence in court of "C[ommon] Pleas" held here now when in a moment [he] dropped and expired without ever stirring a limb. May this be a warning to all of us that we may be prepared to meet our God for we know not in what hour he will call us to our account. Business not good.

Saturday April 11, 1829. The weather moderate. It has been a very backward morning and the snow and cold has stuck by remarkably. Snow all gone now except in spots. I paid for my singing school for today. I have been fixing some keys to my flute which I have bought of George.

Sunday April 12, 1829. The weather remarkably pleasant. We laid abed rather late this morning. Went [to] meeting. Mr. C preached, very good man. Went to the Courthouse in the evening. Mr. Bouton preached a sermon.

Monday April 13, 1829. The weather pleasant. Business has not been very good for some time past. I put a new key to my flute, it works very well. I received a letter from Mother stating she was unwell and wanting me to come home soon.

Tuesday April 14, 1829. It is very pleasant. Business not good. Weighed the grindstones and helped pile up the boards. Put another key on my flute. Expect to go home soon. Father is so busy he can't come over now. Signed to go to a writing school, 15 Lessons at 2.00 dollars, begins tomorrow evening. I expect George went to the "Harmonics" this eve.

Wednesday April 15, 1829. The weather very pleasant. Business dull. Talk [of] going home Saturday. Did not go to writing school this eve because George wanted to go away. Heard some drum[m]ing this eve, it appeared to be on the other side of the river. Piled up remainder of the boards and planks. It is warm enough not to have a fire now, only in the morning and evening. Saml. Evans Jr. and I have been talking about going to New Hampton to school some time in May. I think we shall go. Mr. John West had some talk about some plough moulds which he said he left here and are not credited.

Thursday April 16, 1829. The weather fine. Went to singing at 10 and staid 2 hours. The Master sat me a writing pothooks and trammels after writing a specimen. Am going again at 4 o'clock. Business dull. George went to take a walk this morning.

Friday April 17, 1829. The weather very pleasant. Business dull. Went to writing school at 4 o'clock, like it much. I made me a ball today and covered it. Going home tomorrow morning in stage. Three hands, Mr. Pierce, Silver and Cutting, are sawing and chopping up the wood at the house.

Chichester Saturday April 18, 1829. The weather pleasant. Started in stage for home this morning. Arrived here about 10 o'clock. Mr. Tenney, being at Genl. Blake's, brought my trunk home. Folks all well except Mother. She has been sore for 3 or 4 weeks. Went to Epsom after ***** who is at school there at Dsqr. Hersey's.

Sunday April 19, 1829. The weather fine. Looks a little like rain this forenoon. Went to meeting all day. Nlr. Adams preached from 7[th] Psalm, 12[th] verse. Very good sermon. I arose this morning about 8 o'clock. The water in the river keeps up very high yet. The ice was 3 or 4 ft thick when it broke up and carryed away the 2 corner posts which the mill sat on and injured a pier of the bridge. Father is building a hatter's shop for Mr. Hopkinson to work in.

Concord Monday April 20, 1829. It is very rainy today, it rained last night. I expected to have gone over to Grandfather's but it is too rainy. It slacked about noon. Grandfather came over about 12 o'clock. Uncle Sam and Amasa are sick. Started for Concord with Mr. Tenney who is going over on some business. The rain made it bad travelling. Arrived here about 6 o'clock. Mr. Tenney is a going back tonight. Sent some linnen home by him, brought over Father's watch with me.

Tuesday April 21, 1829. The weather rainy. It rained last night and almost all the forenoon. Business dull. Mr. Leach bought 240 lbs of square iron for the vane. George has gone to singing society. I went to writing school.

Wednesday April 22, 1829. The weather cool and windy. Business not good.

Thursday April 23,1829. Weather cool. Business poor nowadays. Went down to the river today to see the waves run in the river. Wind very high. Went to writing school.

Friday April 24, 1829. Weather cool &c.

Saturday April 25, 1829. Weather cold. Business poor. Went to writing school this afternoon, very cold there. Went to singing school tonight. Mr. Moore did not come on account of the school which was held tonight to see if the district will vote to have it moved back. It was a vote. We sung among ourselves. Singing meeting adjourned to Tuesday eve.

Sunday April 26, 1829. Weather pleasant. Arose about 7 o'clock. Went to meeting. Mr. Cummins of Salisbury preached. He is a smart man. Mr. Williams has gone away down country, is expected will be gone some time. Had a lecture in the evening, it was very good. Good music likewise. Went to bed in good season.

Monday April 27, 1829. It is very pleasant to day but chilly this morning. I received a small bundle from home this evening by the ivlail Carrier. Went to writing school this afternoon,like it much. Mr. Wheeler of Bow that had a cancer on his face was buried yesterday. Mr. A. Hutchins is a going to move his red shop which sets by his house opposite the Brick Meeting House.

Tuesday April 28, 1829. It is rather cool today. Business dull. It has been a remarkable backward and cold spring this year so far. Went to singing school this evening, not many there. This is the last evening. George went [to] ride on Ballards horse.

Wednesday April 29, 1829. Weather very pleasant. This is the warmest day we have had this year, I think. Mr. Kent went to Boscawen today The corner of the 2d Cong[gregationa]l Society or Unitarian will be laid on the 30th. Mr. Gall hauled Mr. Hutchin's building (red) a little south of his house up opposite the Brick Meeting House. He broke an axle of 1 set[t] of wheels. Mr. John Ordway was married tonight at Mr. Boutons, he is going to live opposite here where Wm. Elkins lived before he moved to Gilmantown.

Thursday April 30, 1829. It rains all day. No business. Writing school ends tomorrow. I am going a Maying tomorrow morning if weather permits. The cornerstone of the Meeting House was not laid áon account of rain. Miss Ann E. Shepherd arrived at the Kents tonight from Portsmouth, an a[c]quaintance of Augusta.