February 1829

Sunday February 1, 1829. Arose a little after 7 o'clock, very cold this morning but warm after sun was up. Went to hear Mr. Williams in the forenoon and in the afternoon he exchanged with Mr. Bouton. I did not like him as well as Mr. W. although he is a good speaker. I went to the prayer meeting in the vestry in the evening. Very interesting although not many there.

Monday February 2, 1829. The weather not very cold nor warm. It began to snow very fast this afternoon. Great deal of teaming down and up now. I received 30 dollars tonight of the mail carrier from Father for Mr. E. Fisk and gave the mail carrier a receipt for the same. Sold about 100 dollars worth of goods to a Mr. Jewett.

Tuesday February 3, 1829. There came 4 or 5 in. of snow last night which is very light and the wind makes it fly nicely today. Not very cold. Business not good.

Wednesday February 4, 1829. The weather pretty good. Business good, sold 400 1 b. white lead to a Mr. Sanborn besides other articles. We had a load of glass from Keene.

Thursday February 5, 1829. The weather moderate. Business very good. We received an order from Mr. Taylor of N. H. for 1,0001b. iron and some steel &c., weighed it tonight, going to cut it in the morning. I was weighed tonight, my weight was 239 lb. [error:139lb.] I gained about 21 b. a week long back.

Friday February 6, 1829. The weather moderate. Business good. My feet are some [sore?], caused by chilblains. We sit up till about 1 0 o'clock nights writing and reading. Arise about 7. Thermometer stood at 4 above zero at 9 tonight.

Saturday February 7, 1829. The weather very pleasant. Business pretty good. Great deal of teaming now. I went to singing school tonight not so many as last eve. Mr. Fisk came today after the money that Father sent over.

Sunday February 8, 1829. The weather moderate. We arose at 7 1/2 and came down after breakfast and dressed us by a good fire. Went to meeting. Mr. W. has preached for a number of days past on 22 and 23 vs. of the 5 chap. of Galatians which is this: "but the fruit of the spirit is love, joy, peace, long-suffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance: against such there is no law." He has preached a separate sermon on each of these words as far as gentleness, and he proposes preaching the whole, one on every Sunday morning. We had a meeting on the floor of the house tonight. Mr. W. made remarks on a chapter which was all that was done except prayers and singing. There was a pretty large number to meeting today. It rains some tonight.

Monday February 9, 1829. It is very pleasant today. Business not good. It [rained] considerable last night which makes the snow very slopy and wet. The wind blew very hard tonight and it grows colder. It is rumored around town Genl. Jackson is dead, but there is no truth in the story.

Tuesday February 10, 1829. It froze last night, makes it very bad travelling for the feet but better for sleighs and teams. It is very slip[p]ery and many get falls in the street. Business not very good. Got a very bad cold and did not feel well yesterday. Had a fresh fish, a part boiled and a part fried, very good. Mrs. Kent had a tea.party of a few neighbors tonight. Had supper at about 8 o'clock. It began to snow tonight near 8 and I should think there had fell 2 or 3 inches. Had company at the house tonight, didn't get supper till 8 o'clock, don't like the parties.

Wednesday February 11, 1829. It is very foggy this morning but not very cold. Business pretty good. Arose about 7 o'clock. The young men of Concord favorable to the Administration are going to meet at the Merrimack Hotel to choose delegates to attend the Convention at Epping. List of prices of produce: oats 2/, rye 5/6, com 4/, butter 14 cts., cheese 7, turkies [turkeys] and chickens 7, geese 4 cts., beans and peas 1 .00 bus. There is not [much] of a market for beans or peas. Pork 5 1/2 (good). It is after 9. I must read and go to bed as I shall arise early in the morning.

Thursday February 12, 1829. The weather somewhat cold. I fell down on some ice near Mr. Evan's store and hurt myself considerably. Aunt Maria was over today with Shadrack Seavey and I [was] told Uncle Amasa was declining in his health although his leg is about well. It is thought he has a consumption. Father sent an order today by Mr. Page of Pittsfield for a circular saw. Folks all well. Sleighing is good now and the teams drive briskly. My head aches considerably tonight and I think I shall go to bed early. George played on his flute last night and I could not sleep till almost 11 o'clock.

Friday February 13, 1829. The weather moderate but cold riding or travelling. Business not very good. Arose about 7 o'clock, opened store and made a fire. Mr. Kent came down this morning about 1/2 past 7 and went back to breakfast. George has a new frock coat made from his old surtout by Miss A. Green. Had some apples for a treat. Got a new cow by swap[p]ing and we had milk for supper, liked it much, think I shall fat up if [I] have it often. Weighed 137 lb. tonight George weighed 129 lb.

Saturday February 14, 1829. The weather moderate. Business good. Went to singing school, had good singing. We bought some clams today and boiled them tonight. Mr. Leborquet came here and helped us, had a real good supper at 11 o'clock before we go to bed.

Sunday February 15, 1829. The weather moderate and not very cold. Arose this morning a little before 8. Mr. W. preached on gentleness in A.M. Good sermon. Had a meeting in the eve and I went. It was on the subject of righ[t]ly hearing, very good. I went to the singing meeting in afternoon after sermon, liked it much.

Monday February 16, 1829. The weather cold. Business good. I received a pair of feeting from home and a handkerchief tonight by Mr. Berry. I sent a letter to Ma[ry] Ann by him. Feel very dull tonight, going to bed soon. It is almost 10. Old Col. Kent arrived from Boston tonight, the girls are better. Mr. Kent's going to Dover to ordination tomorrow with some others.

Tuesday February 17, 1829. The weather moderate but rather.cold. Business pretty good. Cooked the rest of our clams and Mr. Chaffin helped us eat them, very nice. Went to bed about 11. Mr. Kent went to Dover this morning with his wife and some others in double sleigh to ordination of a Unitarian Minister. Mr. Lathrop is his name.

Wednesday February 18, 1829. The weather very cold. Business good. Had a violentheadache, went [and] lay[ed] down on bed and slept 2 hours. When waked I felt much better.

Thursday February 19, 1829. The weather. pretty cold and windy. Business good. Mr. Kent arrived tonight, had good ordination. Not very good sleighing at Dover. I heard tonight that a man was killed up in Rumney by falling from a sleigh which passed over his head. There is to be a ball at the Washington Hotel tonight.

Friday February 20, 1829. The weather as usual is moderate. Some signs of a storm. Business good. Sold 25 bus. salt for 6 cts and cash. We had 2 rolls of sheet [iron?] come today from Boston. I have [been] clearing up the backstore this afternoon and it [looks?]more respectable. Mr. Kent bought some good apples today, have good living now. It began to snow briskly tonight and has snowed about 4 in. Continues yet, blows considerable. I think we shall have a real old fashioned "whistler."

Saturday February 21, 1829. I awoke this morning and the snow was flying grandly. It is all in drifts. Greatest storm we've had this winter. No business. Mr. Kent keep[s] pretty snug at the house. Snow flew all day. George has got a toothache tonight, went to bed about 7 o'clock. A Boston stage which passed the***** started this morning but had to return owing [to] drifts of snow. No teaming. Fixing for ordination at the house. Prices of produce are as follows, viz. butter 13 cts, cheese 6, oats 33, rye 83, corn 67, beans and peas (dull) 75 to 83, hay 7.00 to 8.00, eggs (scarce) 17, wheat (scarce) 2.00. Herd's grass seed $.50, clover 8 cts, cider 1.25 blb, apples 50 cts to 1.00, wood 1.50 to 2.50 cord. I heard that there was a respectable number at the ball the 19th consisting of about 140 Ladies and Gentlemen, good music. And I don't go to singing school tonight, it is so stormy. The wind is whistling without loud and wild, which reminds me that many a poor wanderer feels the effects of its keen bite while I sit here comfortably by a good fire. It is about 1 /2 past 8 and I am going to bed.

Sunday February 22, 1829. The weather very cold, snow drifted much. Arose about 8 o'clock. Meeting very thin, about 40 there. Evening meeting omitted on account of travelling. George, Robert Davison and ***** to the store, made a fire and had a good sing.

Monday February 23, 1829. When this day is past my sixteenth birthday will be past also. I went this forenoon breaking out road as far as Mr. Week's Tavern with some others. George this afternoon, knowing it was my birthday, gave me a good beating. Business dull.

Tuesday February 24, 1829. The weather moderate to what it has been. Mr. Kent's a settling with Franconia Factory Co. today, took all day. Unitarian ordination tomorrow. Great preparations, bad weather for them. I think won't be many here, so much snow. The winter past has been remarkably light as to snow except the last one. Business good, sold around 1201b. of iron to one man. Practising on the German Flute a little evenings. Go to [bed] about 10 o' clock, arise 7 o'clock. One of the Boston stage horses died here today. It is said he fell down in Boston on the pavement and hurt himself. Looks like a storm tonight. There has not been much [travel?] from Nashua into Boston this winter. Eliza Davison, who has been sick of the fever, has got well and able to work a little. Saw D. M. Carpenter from Chichester, says it is drifted much and says likewise that he heard that Father had sold his clothing works to a young [man?] for $1,700 and Mr. Chase is going to move off. I. Estabrook & Co. is selling off "at cost" and is going to leave the place. Mr. Evans has got a new clerk, a Brown from Epsom.

Wednesday February 25, 1829. The weather very moderate. Business not very good. Ordination begins at 10. Church is to be organised at old Col. Kent's at 9 o'clock. Large number here considering the travelling. Performances ended at about 3 o' clock. Sermon by Mr. Barrett of Boston. Received a letter from M.A., liked it much. 1went to the concert at the Brick Meeting House, did not like it very well. It snows very fast at 9 o'clock. I think we shall have another storm. George went to ordination and I staid at home.

Thursday February 26, 1829. It blows nicely today and the snow flies too. Business none at all. There was two ladies and a gentleman from Boston to sing yesterday. Got up late this morning.

Friday February 27, 1829. The weather moderate. Folks are breaking out roads today. Business not good. None of the stages arrive regularly now on account of snow. Our calf was killed today. I am glad. Now we shall have milk for supper.

Saturday February 28, 1829. It is about the same weather now as yesterday. I arise at sunrise now. Business not very good. Went to singing school this evening, good sing.