Diary of Simeon Perkins 1790-99

THE DIARY OF SIMEON PERKINS
(Extracts)

By Muriel M. Farquhar Davidson   The following “Extracts” are a  combination of  research by Lt.Col. Robert Ford Kirkpatrick, USAF (Ret’d)  with  1992  research  by  above writer. The original entries will be marked by  **  preceding the date and form of writing has been matched to the diary and original copy.    The  genealogical  data  in  THE DIARY OF SIMEON  PERKINS  is  very valuable, contains much of the history of the  Proprietors who founded the  Township of  Liverpool,  Nova  Scotia in 1759.  Readers  will  be familiar with many of the surnames listed in the  entries, descendants of the first  families  of the Township of Liverpool  and nearby areas still reside there, but often the surname spelling has changed.
The original books,  contained in  Volumes I,  II,  III,  IV and V, list many of the schooners and other forms of shipping  plus extensive data of weather, tides, encountered hardships and a verbal  picture of life in the early days as found  by the Proprietors of the Township of Liverpool. Readers are grateful these records were kept.

Volume III           The following genealogical extracts, as prepared by Lt.Col.  Robert Ford Kirkpatrick,  are  included — Volume III  was  not available  for  any  additions.

1790

** 1 Jan  Fri   : My wife * * was delivered of a dau. 12 o’clock noon.
**16 Apr  Fri.  : Old Isaac  Tinkham,  maintained by the Town for some
years, died suddenly, last night. ** 4 May  Tues  : On  Saturday,  the 1st inst.  Rebecka,  wife of John McAlpine,  departed  this  life.  Sick a  long  time.  Made  use  of a surprising quantity of opium.  Buryed yesterday. John Luin, some years in poor state, had several fitts,  etc.,  left alone,  attempted to go into his sail loft & fell down in the loft where  found  dead.  Buryed this day. ** 9 May  Sun  : Joseph Bangs, Junr., published to Dorcas Briggs. **14 May  Fri  : Dr. A. Timothy Miller,  who  resided  here since last October, * * has quitted this place.  Disgusted  with  some people who refuse to pay him for enoculations * *. ** 2 June Wed  : Stephen Snow’s wife delivered of a girl. ** 3 June Thur : About 9 o’clock, I understand Mrs. Bangs (Joseph) is dead. I am desired to attend the funeral as a pall bearer to-morrow at 5 PM. ** 4 June Fri  : Mrs. Bangs’ funeral is attended. I am a pall holder. **11 June Fri  : I hear from Port Medway, that the wife and child of Joseph Foster and d.o. Stephen Morine, last night accidentally drowned. There was another daughter of Morine’s in the boat who was saved. Women were in a skiff boat and run upon a rock called Ruff’s Point.
**13 Aug  Fri  : Doc. Kendrick of Shelbourne arrived here with his
family, last evening. He is preparing to go into the house of Capt.
Joseph Freeman. **27 Sept Mon  : Capt. Josiah Godfrey, who has long been in a weak state, died last night. **14 Oct  Thur : Seth  Hopkins missing and supposed to be drowned. Went from Mr. Parker’s wharf as it was setting in dark; appeared to be in liquor, and paddled away his boat sitting in the stern. Boat found near Verge’s Point last evening and paddle missing, etc.
** 5 Nov  Fri  : Body of Seth Hopkins, who was drowned evening of 13th
Oct. last, found this morning on shore within the great rock towards
Sandy Cove. Coroner gives order to bury the body. It was buryed in the
burying ground. ** 4 Dec  Sat  : Mr. Joseph Bangs, who lost his wife by death the 3rd June last, is published to Miss Lydia Gorham, d.o. Mr. Jabez Gorham. William Bartlett, shoemaker, late of Kingston in New England, is
published to widow Sarah Doliver, widow of Robert Doliver, dec’d., who
was lost in the schooner BETSEY, John Crowell, master, in the York fleet in time of the late war. (1779). **23 Dec  Thur : This evening at 5 o’clock, Mr. Joseph Bangs was marr. to Miss Lydia Gorham, d.o. Jabez Gorham.

1791   **28 Feb  Mon  : It is said that Silvanus Freeman was marr. last night, by Samuel Hunt, Esq., to Miss Peggy Drew.
**16 Apr  Sat  : Malachy Drew, s.o. Seth Drew, died this morning at daylight. Bur. 17 Apr., 1791. **22 Apr  Fri  : I hear Mr. George Mitchell dies this morning * *. I since hear that he died yesterday. **26 Apr  Tues : * * they told him the GOOD FORTUNE lost a man over- board on their outward passage, supposed to be John Fraser by his saying he was a young married man.
** 8 May  Sun  : * * confirmation of John Fraser being lost overboard.
(See 26 Apr. 1791) **15 May  Sun  : Mr. Robert Foster, with his family, embarked for Kingston, and sailed. **28 June Tues : At evening, Mr. Elisha Hopkins, Jr., marr. Miss Mary Ann Thomas, d.o. John Thomas, Esq.
** 6 July Wed  : Sam’l Hunt, Esq. brings news from Port Medway that
Benj. Kinney is dead of small-pox. ** 2 Aug  Tues : Capt. Davis of Kingston reports that Mr. Robert Foster, who moved from here 15 May last to Kingston (Mass.) is dead of a feaver, 29 June. **13 Sept Tues : Stephen Snow arrives from Shelbourne, in a boat belonging to Mr. Barry; brought Mr. James Rogers’ wife and son and daughter and Black Philips wife. **18 Sept Sun  : Mr. Grandine preached his farewell sermon, meaning to leave this place first opportunity. (He was a passenger to Barbadoes, 2 Oct. 1791).
**25 Oct  Tues : Peter West is marr. to Isabella McLaren. (McClearn).

1792

**17 Jan  Tues : Yesterday, house, store of late Benjn. Parker Jr., sold by the sheriff to George Porter. **19 Feb  Sun  : John Nickerson’s son died last night. **21 Feb  Tues : John Nickerson’s son Jon is buryed. **22 Mar  Thur : Mrs. Carder, a woman not long from Boston, mother of Richard Carder, boat-builder, departed this life in the night. (Her earlier residence was Providence, RI.). ** 3 Apr  Tues : John Heater arrives from Argyle, with his family, with design to settle here. ** 5 Apr  Thur : John Heater moves to my house where Sam’l Kinney used to live at The Falls (Now Milton, NS). **15 Apr  Sun  : * * Capt. Hopkins was to sail from Montserrat, a few days after him, for salt and then come home. Hopkins lost a lad by name Bennet Woods, s.o. Joseph Woods at Beach Meadows (NS); fell over-
board by accident. **16 May  Wed  : Mr. Tinkham and family embark on board Brign. GEORGE & TRACY, Jacob Jones, master, for Wiscasset, sails about 9 AM. **31 July Tues : * * David Thomas, paymaster of the (King’s) Orange
Rangers, desiring me to find the residence of widow of the late Lieut.
Donald McLeod, * * and he will pay her a balance of his pay due. Ltr.
dated 12 May 1792. John Fillis, Esq., is dead. **12 Aug  Sun  : Mr. Boyd designing to take passage with Capt. Christopher to Phila., took very affectionate leave of the Congrega- tion in his afternoon sermon. **13 Aug  Mon  : Paul Harding is marr. to Miss Rebecca Smith, d.o. William Smith, shoemaker. **31 Aug  Fri  : Capt. Elisha Hopkins, Jr., sails for Halifax,
passengers * * and a boy William Robinson that has been living in my
home, * * who I return to Halifax from whence he came.  Aquila Inloes (a cooper) lost a child last night, supposed by worms. (Elizabeth). **16 Sept Sun  : * * Five of my children christened at my house * * viz: Elizabeth, Eunice, Mary, Simeon Leonard & Charlotte * * by the Rev’d William Jessop, Methodist minister. **23 Sept Sun  : * * he brings meancholla (melancholy) news of the death of my father-in-law, Mr. Henry Young, killed by a bull near his house. (prob. at Argyle, NS). **13 Oct  Sat  : Capt. Elisha Hopkins reports that Capt. Neal from Boston told him that Solomon Drew was dead from small-pox (27 Sept 1792). Capt. Daniel McMichael is also dead. **18 Oct  Thur : Report that  Rebecca  Collins died at Boston,  after enoculation  for  small-pox,  about  same time as Solomon  Drew. (See previous entry).
**28 Oct  Sun  : I attend  funeral of a  child of  Humphrey  McDonald,
about 5 months old; it died yesterday. (Lemuel). ** 3 Nov  Sat  : * * sails for New York in FRIENDSHIP,  Samuel Crowell and family go passengers,  came last fall * * have  quit this place to return to Connecticut. * * quit  claim  deed from two women of Chatham and their  husbands calling themselves heirs to John Young — property Fish Lot B #7. ** 7 Nov  Wed  : Francis  Weisgeaber,  a German,  came to live with me to-day.

1793

** 9 Jan  Wed  : Capt. Zebulon Perkins is this evening married to Miss
Abigail Collins, d.o. Mr. Hallet Collins. I was at the wedding. It was
performed by Mr. Pleasant,  or  Presant, the New Light preacher. (Rev.
John Payzant). **10 Jan  Thur: Mr. James  Taylor of Shelbourne, is this evening marr. to Miss Susannah Collins, d.o. Benajah Collins, Esq.,  by Mr. Presant. ** 3 Feb  Sun  : Russell Douglass marr. Polly Godfrey. **22 Feb  Fri  : Mr.  Stephen  Collins  departed  this  life  about 12 o’clock in the night  past, * * in a declining  state  for  12  months past. **23 Feb  Sat  : Remains  of  Mr.  Stephen  Collins  was interred this afternoon. As the people met on the other side of the river, I did not attend. [West side of Mersey River, easily accessible in 1993]. ** 2 May  Thur : * * Capt. George of the Frigate HUSSAR, pressed about 60 people on Saturday night  (at Halifax),  Capt.  Hopkins’s  mate and John  Thomas,  Jr.  Hopkins had got his mate,  but  could  not  obtain Thomas. **12 May  Sun  : * * arrives  Brig. UNION, * * they have lost the mate Mr. Prince Snow and * * seaman William West, Jr., s.o. William West by a feaver, on the passage.  Mr. Snow died as I hear on Saturday night a fortnight ago. (Snow: 27 Apr.; West: 10 Apr 1793).
** 6 June Thur : Joseph  Tinkham,  Esq.,  having  purchased  a  small
schooner from John McLeod * * has sold his house, settled his business in some measure.  He sailed for Wiscasset this day.  Wm. H. Tottle and Seth Bangs with him. ** 9 June Sun  : Some  fishermen  from Chatham came to meeting * * One of them,  a son of Lemuel Hunt,  that formerly lived here, * * said he was born here, * *. **20 June Sun  : * arrives  from  Halifax,  John Thomas,  Esq.,  comes passenger and has brought his son John * *. (Had been pressed earlier; see 2 May 1793 entry). ** 4 Aug  Sun  : A  lad,  17  years  of age,  McCormack  by  name,  an apprentice to William Smith * * expired a little after sunset, yester- day. Bur. in burying yard, 5 Aug 1793. ** 7 Aug  Wed  : Schooner SOPHIA sails for Bay of Fundy. Doc. Kendrick
and family go passengers bound to Cornwallis to settle there. **25 Aug  Sun  : Stephen  Snow  had  a male  child  buryed  which died yesterday.
** 6 Oct  Sun  : Lemuel Drew 3rd arrives from Petite Riviere, where he
had been to marry a Miss Park, d.o. Wm. Park dec’d, her mother married
Robert Watson. Marr. I understand, last Thursday (3 Oct 1793). **13 Oct  Sun  : John Roberts,  Carpenter,  who has resided here about 14/15  months,  is  published  to  Abigail  Whittimore,  d.o.  Josiah Whittimore. **20 Oct  Sun  : Mr. Elisha  Calkin was  published this morning by Mr. Payzant  and at 1 o’clock  married to  Miss  Desire  Parker,  d.o. Mr. Benjamin Parker. **12 Nov  Tues : Samuel Hunt, Esq., being gone to marry a son of Enoch Godfrey to a Miss Jane. (?Jayne). **24 Nov  Sun  : Samuel  Freeman  at  The Falls  (Milton) published to Rebecca Harlow. **28 Dec  Sat  : The wife of Revd. Mr. Cheever  died in the last night or this morning. (Buried 31 Dec 1793).
**30 Dec  Mon  : One Mr. Bruss  (Bruff)  of Shelbourne,  a man used to
different kinds of handy work about guns, * *  and any kind of  silver work came * * and  agreed  to set up  business here. * * to take Capt. Zebulon Perkins’ house for 6 Pounds a year.

1794

** 1 Jan  Wed  : * * except one called Dan,  said to be an apprentice to Messrs. Cochrans, is dead. **20 Jan  Mon  : Capt.  George  Collins  marr. Miss Lydia Barss, Capt. Joseph Barss’s eldest daughter. ** 3 Feb  Mon  : Joseph Collins (Jr.) marr. Polly (Mary) Drew. **23 Feb  Sun  : Capt. Samuel Man,  late  of  Shelbourne,  now of this town, is published to the widw. Elizabeth McLeod, widow of late Lieut. Donald McLeod, and d.o. Mrs. Drew. (This was Elizabeth (Waterman) Lee, McLeod’s 3rd marr.). **15 Mar  Sat  : Some time in the afternoon Mrs. (Zebulon) Perkins is delivered of a female child. **16 Mar  Sun  : * * a ship had been into Barrington Bay  and  carried off one William Doten on Wednesday  evening last;  he went on board to see a man, one Johnson, whose mother lives in Shelbourne * *. **17 Mar  Mon  : Mr.  Robert  Harlow,  Senior, departed this life this morning 0406. Buryed 18 Mar 1794. **16 Apr  Wed  : I attend  the  funeral of old Mrs. Cole,  the wife of Benjamin,  who died in the night  before last, * * held in the meeting house. **21 Apr  Mon  : Mr. William  Mack is marr. to Mrs. Mary Parker, widw. of Mr. Benjamin Parker, Jr., dec’d. * * (nee Burbank). **13 May  Tues : * * one third of my demand on the estate of Jeremiah Nickerson, dec’d. (d. 8 Dec 1791). **14 June Sat  : Capt.  Snow  Parker’s  son Snow, about 4 yrs. old, is missing and supposed drowned.
**24 June Tues : I make a return  of  the  number  of  Indians in this
county.  There appears to be 21 families;  3 single men,  besides some
youths. **26 June Thur : I hear that the wife of John Patterson — she was Ann Chisholm — died yesterday in child bed. ** 4 July Fri  : Cornelius  Knowles  departed  this  life  early  this morning,  ailing a year or two, * * upwards  of 70 yrs.  Buried 5 July 1794. ** 8 July Tues : Stephen Pane,  formerly a settler at this place,  but for many  years  resident at  Plimouth,  is said to be dying at Josiah Whittemore’s.  Mr. Pain  departed this life about 3/4 PM.,  bur. 9 Jul 1794. **16 July Wed  : Capt. Snow Parker’s  son, Snow,  that was missing the 14th of June is found and buryed this day. **21 July Mon  : Capt. Freeman spoke a sloop, Capt. Barnham of Norwich * * who told him my youngest  sister Mary Manning was dead. * * I have now only one sister left of four, viz: Judith Ripley, wife of Gamaliel
Ripley of Scotland, Windham and 4 brothers: Jacob, Jabez, Hezekiah and
Ebenezer.  My father,  mother  and  nine children are going the way of thee earth. ** 2 Aug  Sat  : William  Pendal,  who went with Ellenwood, is drowned by going on a raft to get the boat that went adrift. **20 Aug  Wed  : In the evening Robert  Dickson went from the point in a boat and fell overboard between Sandy Cove and Herring Cove. His son and another boy in the boat hove him an oar which he got, but it being dark  they lost sight of him * * feared he is drowned.  (Located alive ashore, 21 Aug 1794). **21 Aug  Thur : Capt. John Freeman is marr. to a d.o. John McLeod. **24 Aug  Sun  : Alexander  Patillo  published at Methodist meeting to Elizabeth Bartlet;  she was Elizabeth Roberts and marr. some years ago to Joseph Bartlet, who after living with her some months went away and left  her.  He  supposed  to be dead  but has been seen by some of our people in  the  States.  She has a son by him.  (Liverpool VR’s give 2 sons to Joseph and Eliz. Bartlet;  as of 3 Dec 1762, and 13 May 1765). The Rev. Mr.  Cheever published to the widw. Verge and Mr. Bennet to a dau. of John McLeod at other meeting. **26 Aug  Tues : Thomas Roberts,  I understand, was marr. last evening to Elizabeth Ford. **21 Sept Sun  : Mr. (Alexander) Patillo sails for Chester and carries
his new wife,  Mrs. Bartlet,  that was. **26 Sept Fri  : AURORA, Ephm. Dean, master,  arrives from Jamaica and Turk’s Island. He has lost Thomas Bangs and George Briggs by sickness, * * they died on the passage beating up from Jamaica to Turk’s Island. **28 Sept Sun  : Isaac  Gorham  marr. to  Betsey  Tung  (Tonge);  John Kempton to Sally  Snow in the morning.  Mr. Bennet is marr. at evening to d.o. John McLeod by Rev. J. Payzant. ** 8 Oct  Wed  : Capt.  Bradford  sails  for  Plimouth in the POLLY to visit his parents * * Mrs. Jane  Allaine is gone with him. ** 9 Dec  Mon  : Old Mr. McDonald at Mr. Fraser’s is dead.

1795

** 1 Jan  Thur : My  daughter  Charlotte’s  birthday.  Enters her 6th year.  Capt. Thomas Parker marr. Miss  Rhoda  Collins. ** 2 Jan  Fri  : Betsey  McLeod  taken  out  of  her  head at Elkanah Freeman’s. **29 Jan  Thur : Mrs. Ephraim  Dean,  relict of the late Capt. Ephraim Dean, died last night at Blueberry Cove  (now West Berlin, NS).  It is designed to bring the corps to town. **24 Feb  Tues : My birthday, I enter the 61st yr., * * **11 Apr  Sat  : Mrs.  Anne  Godfrey  departed this life at 0100, this morning.
**13 Apr  Mon  : * * * also a letter  from  Mr.  Gideon  Snow,  son of
Mrs. Godfrey’s sister, Snow,  advising that Mrs. Snow died 26th March.
**23 Apr  Thur : * * they  bring  the  melancholla  news  that  Capt.
Jacob  Jones,  master of the  schooner  HOPE,  on his  outward  voyage
washed  overboard  and  drowned.  A valuable man and good neighbor. **18 June Thur : I hear Col. Freeman departed this life yesterday at a a little  passed 2 o’clock PM. * * he was as I understand,  by  Nelson Freeman, 55 yrs., and 3 mos., old. Bur. 19 Jun 1795. ** 5 July Sun  : Lawrence  Hayes  lost  an  infant,  died  with  the (w)hooping cough, which discord prevails much among the children, * *. ** 7 July Tues : Capt. Zeb. Perkins’ wife  delivered  of a male child * * and  child  died  soon  after it was  born * * the  child  buryed towards  evening. **18 July Sat  : I met the  news  that  she  is dead — Capt.  Zebulon Perkins wife (Abigail, d.o. Mr. Hallet Collins).  Buried 20 July 1795. **21 July Tues : * * to  Windsor,  to purchase  the  store  and  lot belonging to the heirs of Mr. Robert  Campbell, * *. **24 July Fri  : * * report * * that  Elisha  Hopkins,  Jr.,  was lost overboard * so am in hopes that news will not hold true. ** 1 Oct  Thur : Mr. Nathaniel Freeman is  married  to  Miss  Rebeckah Hopkins,  by  John  Thomas,  Esq.,  who has an  appointment  from  the governor  for  that purpose in pursuance of a law made last session of assembly, * * . **12 Oct  Mon  : I hear  Mr.  (Peter)  Fisher  of Port  Mouton is dead last Thursday (8th Oct.) he has been unwell for a long time. **20 Oct  Tues : Last  evening  Capt.  Zebulon  Perkins brought me his boy  Isaac,  I agreed  to take him off his hands,  he is not  bound to him but indentures  were wrote and sent by John  Stewart for the boy’s mother at Green  Harbor to sign * *, he is son of Thankful,  a dau. of Old Huskins  (John and Ann),  and sister of Seth Huskins,  he is about 7 yrs. of age last July by Capt. Perkins’ account got from his mother. (Isaac Ampson, indentured to Perkins, was sent to school – Page 31). **26 Nov  Thur : My  daughter  Abigail  marr.  Joshua Newton, Esq., by Rev. William Black by licence assigned from Mr. Thomas. ** 7 Dec  Mon  : Capt.  Hiter of the wine vessel  reports  that  Capt. Benj.  Boden  that  used  to  live  here and marr.  Ruth  Godfrey died
suddenly,  at Virginia,  last summer. **12 Dec  Sat  : Schooner  BRISK  arrived  from  West  Indies,  Abner West,  mate,  has been lost  overboard  on the  passage,  I understand about seven days ago.   1796

**24 Feb  Wed  : My  birthday.  I enter  my  62nd yr.  I was marr. 10
Sept 1775, to Elizabeth Headley, widw., of John dec’d, by whom I have 2 sons; 6 daughters, all now living. My  eldest daughter Abigail marr. Joshua  Newton  2 Nov last (1795).  When I came here,  I had a  son at Norwich (Conn.)  named Roger.  He came to me  during the  American War and went from here with Thomas Harrington on the __ Nov 1781, to visit friends in Connecticut,  they put in at Cape Resus  (Forchue, Yarmouth Co., NS)  and sailed from that place,  but were never heard from * * . He was b. Norwich, 8 Dec 1760. **29 Feb  Mon  : Leap  Year.  John  Connelly’s  wife,  a  d.o.  Jacob Peach, died last night of a consumption; declining for a year. Buried
1 Mar 1796. ** 1 Mar  Tues : In  the  evening,  the wife of  Jacob  Peach,  mother of the  deceased  Mrs.  Connelly ( 29 Feb.)  died.  She had  been in a declining  dropsical state for some time. ** 9 Mar  Wed  : We  hear  via  Shelburne that  Revd.  William  Jessop is dead at New York.
**30 Mar  Wed  : Vessel in last  night  proves  to  be  VENUS,  George
Collins,  master  from  Boston.  Benj.  Knaut is come  with him and is
marr. at Beverly (Mass.) to a Miss White. ** 7 Apr  Thur : Schooner  VICTORY,  John  Freeman,  master,  arrives from Barbadoes and Turk’s  Island * lost * James  McCoy of  Port Jolly by falling  overboard. ** 3 May  Tues : Capt. Hopkins arrives  from  Martinique,  brings news of death of Capt. Joseph  Collins and James  Jones, his mate,  at Mar- tinique,  and also the death of  James  Perry,  Hopkins’  mate;  these losses  fall heavy on two poor  widows,  viz Mrs.  Desire  Collins and Mrs. Jones,  as well as  upon  Mrs.  Collins,  the young  widow of the deceased.  My man Donald  McAdam is going with Maj. William Freeman to Margaret’s Bay * * have, now, no man.
**29 May  Sun  : Mrs.  Hunt  (Lois) departed this life about 9 o’clock
this  morning.  She was towards 80 * * many years in an  infirm  state
and 6 or 7 months  bedridden,  in which time her  husband  has been in
gaol for debt at suit of Benajah  Collins, Esq.,  so he  has  not  had
leave to see her. ** 8 June Wed  : Thomas  Cook’s  wife died last evening at Port Mouton of consumption. **20 June Mon  : Mr. Dolliver  reports that Capt. Samuel  Man had lost one of his men, Acquilla Inloes,  overboard about a week ago. (13 June 1796). **15 July Fri  : * * schooner arrives from Shelbourne,  Michael Hulit, a carpenter that used  to work  here and one  Brown,  a carpenter, are come to look for employ,  a widow  Robinson with two children are also come.  She is a milner  and  mantua  maker,  and I understand means to settle here,  if she meets with  encouragement. ** 8 Aug  Mon  : Mr. Milton  Foster  arrives * * he  brings  the  very melancholla  news  of  the  death  of  Mr. David Collins  on board HMS AFRICA,  and also Mr. Silvanus  Hopkins at  Philadelphia;  they die in youth * * . **19 Aug  Fri  : One  Sheopard  (sic) from  Shelburn is setting up the baking  business;  he has rented ground from Desire Collins and raises his house this day. **28 Aug  Sun  : Benajah  Collins, Esq.,  arrives from Halifax. I hear he brings news of death  of John Brown,  son of Thomas  Brown,  at The
Falls,  drowned in a passage  from the States to Ireland.  I hear this
contradicted. ** 8 Sept Thur : Doctor Collins arrives from  Barrington,  it is said, to reside here. He is come to look for a place and has not his family, it is Isaac Kinney,  his wife and child (sic). **28 Sept Wed  : Mr.  Harris  Harding,  the  New  Light preacher about whom  there  has  been  so  much  noise concerning a young woman Hetty Harrington,  said to be pregnant by him,  has come to town. **29 Sept Thur : I understand by  report that  Mr. Harding was married last night. **30 Sept Fri  : My  daughter  Newton is delivered of a daughter about 7 PM. ** 3 Nov  Thur : I hear Caleb, son of  Thomas and  Elizabeth Brown, at The Falls is dead. **22 Nov  Tues : John Cody’s right of land sold for only 8-0-0, a very moderate sum for 500 acres. ** 9 Dec  Fri  : Mr. Barry  reported  at my house that the wife of Mr. Cox,  merchant  at  Shelburne,  died  suddenly,  since  he  came  from
Shelbourne  as he heard this day by a Sable River boat. **22 Dec  Thur : * * Enos  Collins,  master * * he  brings  the melan-cholla news of the death of Capt.  Pardon  Gardner,  master  of  sloop ORANGE,  at Martinique, * * and some  others go  through  the woods to Capt.  Doran’s to a wedding to be there  celebrated this night between Mr. Andrew Craig and widow Elizabeth Mitchell. (Capt. Doran resided in the village presently known as Mill Village, Queens County, NS).

VOLUME  IV

1797

1 Jan  Sun  : New Year’s Day.  Thro the Goodness of God I, and all my  Family,  have  lived  to see the  Commencement of an other year.    2 Jan  Mon  : Sets  in  to  snow in the  morning,  & continues the Most of the day … A Cold  Storm.    3 Jan  Tues : Mr. (Robert) Barry’s  Brig  AURORA  is  at  anchor .. I understand  she has  been 5 days out of  sight of land  coming  from Halifax.  I drink tea with Capt. Zebulon Perkins, (nephew).
4 Jan  Wed  : Mr. Barry arrives in the POLLY from Halifax.    6 Jan  Fri  : Very  Cold  Night & morning,  a thick  Vapour  on the water, and Soon Turns to Snow. . . . Mrs.  Desire  Collins administers estate of her late son, David Collins, who died on board His Majesty’s Ship  AFRICA.  Elisha  Calkin and Thomas  Parker are her bondsmen.    9 Jan  Mon  : We kill two hogs & a calf.  Neither of them very fat. The weather has been so cold they could not gain much. **16 Jan  Mon  : The  overseers  of  the  poor  came  to  my house and executed the indenture of Isaac  Ampson  to  me,  he  is  the  son  of Thankful  Huskins,  dau. of John and Ann Huskins,  who  was married to one Ampson,  or lived with him,  & had this  Isaac and an  other older than him, who lives with ___ Freeman, at The Falls.  She  left  Ampson
and lived with another man who was drowned.  Job  Huskins  says  he’ll
be 11 years old next  July — indentured  until 21.   29 Jan  Sun  : The grist mill is going all day,  as  the  people are in great want of meal.
6 Feb  Mon  : I make a beginning  to cut some timber for the vessel I propose building.  Have Peter West and Jeremiah (Cannon) cutting …  get 2 pieces across the pond and one home.   18 Feb  Sat  : The Schooner BETSEY  sails  for  Halifax.  Mr.  Tracy Collins & his two youngest sisters go passengers.  (Hepzibeth and Ruth Collins,  daughters of Benajah and Susanna (Tracy) Collins). **20 Feb  Mon  : William Morris, caulker, having been long in a sickly state, died this day about 10/11 o’clock. Bur. 21 Feb. 1797.
**24 Feb  Fri  : My birthday, enter my 63rd year. **27 Feb  Mon  : * * Nathl. Smith of  Portlatour perished in the woods last Wednesday night,  on the road between  Barrington and Portlatour, with the cold.  (Nathaniel was s.o. Nathaniel and Mary (Walker) Smith, of Port LaTour;  marr. (1) Sarah Meader, Eastham, Mass.:  (2) in 1766, Patience,  d.o. Chapman and Sarah  (Meader)  Swain  of  Nantucket  and Port LaTour). **20 Mar  Mon  : * * all except  William  Clark,  seaman,  who died in prison.  They were  captured by a  Dutch  privateer,  and  carried  to Curassou (sic). **22 Mar  Wed  : We begin to fit the  GOOD  FORTUNE.  Jacob Randall at work.  We design to send her to Boston for salt.  (Jacob Randall was a member of a Loyalist  family who came to  Shelburne  from  Virginia –built a house at  Liverpool in 1797 and was a  shipbuilder.  Lived  on area later known as  Ford’s  Hill). **25 Mar  Sat  : The schooner  GREY  HOUND,  James  Slocombe,  master, arrives from Antigua … taken by a French privateer … his crew, all except John More,  the mate,  left him at Antigua,  and the black boy, son of Adam Fall,  he was taken on board the  privateer,  they said to make him a Freeman. [Note: The hope of all black people, at that time, were to become free men, with rights and privileges].   31 Apr  Sat  : Cloudy  morning.  I write to Mr. (Francis) Green that I would take Catherines River Land again this year,  at Ten Pounds. **11 Apr  Tues : Hannah  McLeod,  daughter of John and Alice (Harring- ton) McLeod, died this morning about 4 O’clock. Remains buryed, with a funeral service in the New Light Meeting House.   14 Apr  Fri  : Nathan  Tupper, Esq.,  launches his new brig built at Herring Cove by Isaac Dexter, Esq.   18 Apr  Tues : I understand  Harris  Harding  preaches  this evening at Mr. Reads.  (David Reed and his wife Rebecca had a large family; he operated a grist mill and  engaged in lumbering;  moved from Liverpool after 1813). **21 Apr  Fri  : The Widw. Isabell  McLarren  (McClearn) departed this life this evening. (Widow of James McClearn).   22 Apr  Sat  : The Revnd. Mr.  Fidler returns from the westward. Has been as far as Little Harbour … preached twice each day.
**23 Apr  Sun  : Funeral of Mrs. McLarren attended;  the corps carried
to the chapel, funeral service preached by Mr. Fidler.   27 Apr  Thur : Capt.  Bradford  sails  for  Port  Metway on a voyage for alewives. [1993: A distance of six miles, by highway].   28 Apr  Fri  : Salt  is  growing  scarce and dear in the States. … Capt.  Joseph Freeman left Samuel,  Thomas and James Freeman,  and Mr. (Robert)  Huston  at Syle (Seal)  Island to  save the cargo of a brig. (Robert Huston  was a Loyalist settler at Shelburne, NS,  a shopkeeper or grocer, apparently moved to Liverpool in 1796). **15 May  Mon  : Thomas Reid that was impressed from the Brig. AURORA
last year, is got back by way of Boston; he came with McNut last night from Shelburne. **16 May  Mon  : Michael  Creamer,  a native of  Ireland who came here last fall * * comes to work on my vessel * * . ** 9 June Fri  : Mrs.  Cooper,  Gamaliel  Stuart’s mother,  is said to be dying. **11 June Sun  : Mrs.  Cooper  departed this life,  last night,  about 10 o’clock.  Buryed 12 June 1797, by Mr. Fidler.   31 July Fri  : The PILGRIM,  Capt. Freeman Gardner,  is arrived from Boston.  Mr. McDonald, the mate, got some news from a Newfoundland man of Capt. (George) Porter & Mr. (Jesse) Atwood & his son. They were all in jail,  in the Interior  of France,  where the  Newfoundland man was also, & made his escape.  (Alexander McDonald was  discharged from the 42nd Highlanders in 1786,  a Loyalist, and he settled in Sandy Bay). **11 Aug  Fri  : * * Dr. David Bosquet & family go passengers in order to take passage at Shelburne with Capt. Osborne,  for the West Indies; he does not find business answer to his mind here.    5 Sept Tues : I deliver Colin Campbell Esq. of Shelburne an account
against Elisha Elbridge of Yarmouth to collect…My son Simeon Leonard
has a bad sore foot, Doc (Andrew) Collins attended it.    10 Sept Sun  : Simeon’s foot is still in a bad way. Mr. Kirk ordered Sumack Roots,  bark bruised,  boiled. Bathed sore with liquor then lay on bark of the Roots.
**12 Sept Tues : Grant  administration  to  the  Widw.  Mary Inloes on
estate of her late husband Acquilla Inloes dec’d, * *. **30 Sept Sat  : Benajah  Collins, Esq., with  his  family, embark  on board sloop MARY & FRANCIS,  for  Salem;  he some time ago purchased a fine  seat  at  Danvers * * they take with them their son Tracy, their daughters  Deborah b. 8 May 1775;  Tryphena  b. 5 Mar 1779;  Hepzibeth b.21 Aug 1780, & Ruth,  their son  George  is settled  here & daughter Susannah is  married to Mr. James Taylor,  she also remains here. **22 Oct  Sun  : Samuel  Kinney’s  son  Richard,  I  hear,  died  this morning * * . **28 Oct  Sat  : I learn that Mrs. Rhoda Parker,  Thomas Parker’s wife and infant child are both dead.  She died about 0400 this morning, the child I believe in the evening. She seemingly gone the same way as her sister Abigail did,  perhaps  some  constitutional or family disorder. (Rhoda d.o. Hallet and Rhoda (Peek) Collins,  was  born  at Liverpool, NS, on February 13, 1776. Abigail,  wife of Capt. Zebulon Perkins, was born on September 2, 1772,  married January  9, 1793,  died  July  18, 1795). **29 Oct  Sun  : Mrs. Rhoda Parker funeral.
** 2 Nov  Thur : * * Queens  County  party  of  militia  returns from
Halifax,  being  discharged  24 October * * all returned except Medad
Tupper who entered on  HMS PREVOYANTE and Carr who,  with his family,
remain at Halifax.  (Possibly John Carr of Green Harbour, NS).   13 Nov  Mon  : Dogget’s  mortgage  assigned  over to Ichabod Dogget & Joseph Verge,  according to my desire,  for 30 Pounds. **23 Nov  Thur : A little daughter of Benoni Gardiner,  of Port Mouton Island, having died at Mr. Rogers, was this day buryed; carried to the grave by six young women in white. ** 1 Dec  Fri  : I execute  two  deeds  of a number of lots of land to Jedediah Huntington, Esq., of New  London  (Conn) to pay a debt * * .
** 9 Dec  Sat  : A most awful  accident  happened to Mr. Silvanus Cobb * * fractured his skull * * until evening when   he  expired.  Funeral 10 Dec 1797.   29 Dec Fri   : Mr. Jesse  Atwood & son,  who have been  prisoners in France, taken with (George) Porter,  came home in brig from Halifax.

1798

**24 Feb  Sat  : My birthday * enter my 64th year. ** 2 Mar  Fri  : (Alexander) A son of Robert Huston died this morning of a feaver * * about 9 years of age. Buryed 3 March 1798. **14 Mar  Wed  : * * The overseers  (of the poor)  prosicuted  Thomas Phelon for having Jenny Sawer with child.
** 1 Apr  Sun  : * * they lost a man  overboard the  night after they
sailed from here,  his name was Little-John.     9 Apr Mon   : I settle with Stephen Page…owed me,  with interest, near 180.  I compromised the Business,  and took up with Sixty Pounds. His son  Stephen gave his note for Ten Pounds… (Stephen s.o. Stephen & Priscilla  (Stephens) Page, b. 28 Dec 1769 – fisherman,  privateers- man, shipmaster,  member of militia, mar. 1 Sep 1791 at Liverpool, NS, Dorcas,  d.o. Benjamin & Desire (Smith) Cole,  wid. John Doggett Jr.)    1 May Tues  : John  Hayden  comes on board the  ELIZA as a hand, at Five Pounds a month. (S.o. Thomas Hayden, Ragged Island- Thomas Hayden had family of 11 in 1787 – His (2) wife was Bertha West,  wid. of John Strickland). **14 May  Mon  : A daughter of Mrs. Carey  died  this  day  of  putrid feaver.   10 June Sun  : The Schnr. JUNO arrived from Shelburne, Capt. Grayson and Mr. Wm. Robinson  (a Loyalist settler) are in her. **17 July Thur : Capt. Jabez  Cobb and  family are  gone to  reside at Halifax. **20 Aug  Mon  : William  Gardner of  Herring  Cove,  one of his hands (schooner  BLACK SNAKE) was drowned by a whale striking his boat while
out fishing.  (This happened July 25, 1798).    1 Sept Sat  : The meeting of the subscribers to the  Annapolis Road is adjourned for a fortnight. ** 3 Sept Mon  : * * and told him that Capt. Barrack’s  mate was dead, who was David Snow,  and it is generally believed that he is dead.
10 Sept Mon  : The sickness in Boston not so bad as we have heard.   16 Sept Sun  : Samuel  Hunt  Esq.  carries  on the meeting…Herring vastly plenty in the river.   28 Sept Fri  : The  Schnr. PACQUET  arrives  this  morning or in the night  from  Boston.  She  was  out in the gale last Tuesday night … suffered considerably (damage). **18 Oct  Thur : * * he has brought  one of the  Esquimo Indians and a young woman of the same tribe,  the man designed to live with (Robert) Slocombe and the girl * * * to live with Mr. Bradford. **11 Dec  Tues : Remains of  Alex  Godfrey’s  little  daughter  (Ruth) that was burnt some days ago (7 Dec 1798) by her clothes  taking  fire which caused her death was buryed to-day.

1799

3 Jan Thurs : Very  cold  morning,  wind  at N.E.,  & towards  Noon begins to snow, but not very fast.    8 Jan Tues  : Cold…Sleading Wood.
17 Jan Thurs : The  subscribers  for land on the Annapolis Road meet
at Mrs. West’s to sign the Memorial  to the Governor.  It was read and
approved.  I Signed & soon left them.   19 Jan Sat   : Elisha Hopkins,  John  Thomas,  Esqs,  & their wives, with myself,  & wife,  take a ride in our Slays  round by the falls as far as Sandy Cove. ** 7 Feb  Thur : I hear  old Mrs.  Cohoon  (Elizabeth) of Port  Medway died last Monday (4 Feb 1798).  She has been in a poor state of health for some time.
**24 Feb  Sun  : My birthday. I enter my 65th year. ** 1 Mar  Fri  : This  morning  Isaac Dexter & Mr. Robert Dickson come to my house & informed me that a  shallop  is  stove  to  pieces  near Dipper Creek,  that two men are found dead * * towards noon I hear the men  that  are  found  are  Conrod  and the other man * * * Hickerson, Sarlick or  perhaps Frelick. ** 8 Mar  Fri  : Isaac  Dexter * * tells  me  he  has the corps of two men found dead (see March 1, above). **10 Mar  Sun  : The wife of Elisha Callin (sic)  [Calkin]  died  this morning of a lingering disorder. **12 Mar  Tues : The  funeral of Mrs.  Calkin is  attended  by a  vast number of people considering coldness and snow.  Mr. Payzant delivered a very good discourse * *. **24 Mar  Sun  : James  Freeman,  son  of  William  Freeman,  Esq., is
married to Betsey (Elizabeth) Collins,  d.o. Widw. Desire Collins. **31 Mar  Sun  : John  Freeman  published  to  Major Tupper’s daughter Patty (Martha). ** 6 Apr  Sat  : George  McAdam  died this evening; Benj. Arnold comes to town;  David Miller moves into my black-smith house. **16 May  Thur : This  evening  Mr. Thomas  Freeman is married to Miss Sally (Sarah) Hopkins). **24 May  Fri  : The wife of Benj.  Holmes is  dead.  Funeral  26  May 1799, at the Chapel by Mr. Mann. **29 May  Wed  : About 1/2 past 12 o’clock  departed  this  life  Doc. George Forbes Vaughn,  late surgeon of ship  CHARLES  MARY  WENTWORTH. Interred with military honors,  30 May 1799.
**12 June Wed  : Mr. Benj.  Arnold  and wife  came to town in order to
take passage to  New London,  in schooner  VICTORY.  (See also 6 April entry). **14 July Sun  : * * letter give me  information  of  the death of two of my brothers-in-law: Benjamin Burnham, who married my eldest sister,
and Gamaliel Ripley,  who married my sister Judith,  now my only  sur-
viving sister; Ripley died first part of April last and Burnham 17 May * * (Prob. at Conn.). ** 4 Sept Wed  : * * spoke the CHARLES MARY  WENTWORTH, 16 Aug * * and was  informed that Mr.  Nath’l  Freeman  was killed in a fort they had taken possession of by a musquet ball in his head, * * . **11 Sept Wed  : * * find to be  the  CHARLES  MARY  WENTWORTH,  Capt. Freeman; he left cruising on account of sickness aboard, * * one Peter Frude & a boy of Thomas  Scott’s  have  sickened and died — Nathaniel Freeman was killed much as we’d heard  (see 4 Sept. entry).   24 Sept Tues : Pleasant morning.  We have fish  out  to  dry.  Comes small showers of rain.  We paid 4 hhds. for the  GOOD FORTUNE. **26 Sept Thur : I hear Mr. Elisha  Calkin’s son  William which was at nurse at Desire Drew’s,  died last night.  Buryed 27 Sept 1799.
**27 Sept Fri  : Mrs. Samuel  Man had a young son  departed  this life
last night,  name was Jonas (James?).  Buryed 28 Sept 1799. ** 3 Oct  Thur : Capt. Dean’s  child died last night soon after he got home (Maria,  d.o. Ephraim & Nancy (Atkins) Dean,  b. Liverpool Sep 11 1798). **16 Oct  Wed  : I hear Mr. Edward Keleigh died at  Port  Medway  last Wednesday.
**20 Oct  Sun  : Capt. Thomas  Parker is married by John Thomas, Esq.,
to Miss Nancy (Ann) Rogers,  only daughter of Mr. James Rogers by lic.
**31 Oct  Thur : A man by the name of Gates, of Annapolis, who worked on the road to Nictaux,  is about to marry the widow Mary Harrington. ** 1 Nov  Fri  : The REGULATOR sails  for  Annapolis.  Mr.  Gates  is married this morning to  Mrs. Harrington  and carries her with one of her daughters with him in the REGULATOR. ** 5 Nov  Tues : I hear that Nathan Tupper, Jr., is married to a Miss Prentice, somewhere in the Bay of Fundy settlements. (Cornwallis, NS., 12 Oct 1799; Rev. Wm. Twining; Miss Delight Prentice).
**11 Nov  Mon  : NATASHKWEN  is arrived  from  Boston,  they  had  the
misfortune yesterday morning to loose Jack  Grant,  a mulatto man that
used to live with Benajah Collins, Esq., * * fell off * * . **16 Nov  Sat  : Mr.  William  Allen  &  family  are  come with him ** formerly  of  Boston,  a man  of  property,  has  lived  some  time in Shelburne  and  is  now  much reduced,  his son William has been doing business here some time;  they have taken the house belonging to Capt. John Freeman.   17 Nov Sun   : Moderate day. Capt. Gorham arrived from Halifax. ** 5 Dec  Thur : I agree with  Peter  Spearwater of  Little Harbour to live with me as a laborer. (Peter s.o. August Spearwater (Spahrwasser) b. Wiesbaden,  came with parents to Nova Scotia,  mar. Magdalena, d.o. Johann  Philip  & Anna  Catherine (Engerhaut) Henrici, of Lunenburg in 1788.  At age 95 drowned after falling through ice at Lake George). **14 Dec  Sat  : This morning  early Mr. Josiah  Whittimore came to my house and informed me that William Brocklesby had hanged himself in an old barn  belonging to Mr. Mather * * he was  buryed  in the lane that goes out by the burying ground.
**20 Dec  Fri  : Seth Bangs was married last night to Sally  Chisholm,
by John Thomas, Esq. **23 Dec  Mon  : I hear Mr. Seth  Drew died last night.  He  has  been unwell two or three weeks. **25 Dec  Wed  : Remains of Mr. Seth Drew are buryed.  A  son  of  Job Boomer (Job Jr.) was killed by a log * * * . **26 Dec  Thur : I hear that Polly Draper’s  child died on Sunday last (22 Dec 1799)  and that she is in a bad way.  Samuel Hunt, Esq., seems fast decaying, he is not able to go out.   30 Dec  Mon  : William,  son  of  John & Christie  Forbes,  of Ross-shire, Scotland, soldier at Bunker Hill – discharged at Shelburne 1783 – Liverpool 1798 – married Widow Mrs. Maxwell, died 1831.