The 1865 Diary of Charles Jeffrey Parsons Brown

Charles J. Brown was the son of William and Lucretia (Gray) Brown of Epsom, born Mar. 31, 1829 in Epsom. He had 2 sisters, Susan Elizabeth who married Alexander Forbes and lived in Byfield, Ma; and Mary Lucy Brown who married Joseph Blake Cass. He served in the Civil War NH 6th Regiment Co. I and married Mary Ann Chapman, daughter of Samuel T. and Deborah (Dow) Chapman, all of Epsom. They had 1 child, Charles William Brown born Jan. 13, 1850. The family resided on Center Hill across from the McClary Cemetery. A list of people mentioned in the diary follows at the end.

Sunday, January 1, 1865
At home all day, wrote to Capt. Ela, Ed Sanborn and August Petrie. Annie and I called at Manson's in the evening.

Monday 2
At work in the shop and sawing wood.

Tuesday 3
Went to Concord with Tom Cilley.

Wednesday January 4, 1865
At work mending Charlie's boots and putting frames to my pictures.

Thursday 5
Mending Charlie's boots.
Frank Marden, Sarah and Lizzie spent the afternoon here.
Ed and Sherburne Griffin came up from Lynn, Ed and Drusilla spent the night here.

Friday 6
I went to Chichester with Ed.

Saturday January 7, 1865
I went to Suncook with Manson, Sherburne and Ed.
Came home in a hard snow storm. Called at Morrill Bickford's to warm us.

Sunday 8
At home all day.

Monday 9
At home in the shop mending boots.

Tuesday January 10, 1865
Annie, Charles and I went down to William Chapman's and spent the day.

Wednesday 11
At work in the shop and taking the floor out of the wood shed. I got a letter from Susan.

Thursday 12
Made a pair of turned shoes for Tom Cilley.

Friday January 13, 1865
At work in the wood shed in the forenoon, wrote to Susan and went to New Rye in the afternoon.

Saturday 14
Went down to Deerfield and got a barrel of apples of Mr. Whittier.

Sunday 15
At home all day. A very windy day and the snow flies "right smart"
Monday January 16, 1865
Breaking out the road.

Tuesday 17
At home all day.

Wednesday 18
Clearing out the shop and getting ready to set up the shoe benches.

Thursday January 19, 1865
Set up my (past) and got a bench for Charlie of Mr. Wiggin.

Friday 20
Went up to Jacks to see Malve and borrowed his tools.

Saturday 21
Ground up my shoe tools and got all ready to commence work.
Mother called, I got a letter from Petrie.

Sunday January 22, 1865
At home. Charlie went to meeting.
Clara Ham was buried.

Monday 23
Snowed all day. I made me a pair of slippers.

Tuesday 24
Made Annie a pair of shoes. I got a letter from Capt. Ela.

Wednesday, January 25, 1865
Set up a new stove in the shop.

Thursday 26
Sawing wood all day.

Friday 27
Sawing wood all day. Jimmy Brown came out here.
Ben Robinson took supper here and spent part of the evening.

Saturday January 28, 1865
Finished sawing my wood.
Joe Hart and Andrew Hall called here.

Sunday 29
Annie and Charlie went to church

Monday 30
Loafing round home waiting for the shoe freighter
Tuesday January 31, 1865
Went over the Mountain with Mr. Hall in the morning. Annie and I went to New Rye in the afternoon. I got a set of stock.

Wednesday February 1
Getting out stock and made 2 ½ pairs of shoes.

Thursday 2
At work in the shop, made 4 pairs of shoes.
Annie spent the afternoon at Father's.

Friday February 3, 1865
At work in the shop made 5 ½ pairs of shoes.

Saturday 4
At work in the shop, made 5 pair of shoes. Annie spent the afternoon at the Blake's.
Andrew Hall and wife spent the evening here.
Charlie went down to Blake's to a party.

Sunday 5
A stormy day, none of us went to church.

Monday February 6, 1865
Did not work, I was waiting for lasts and nails.

Tuesday 7
At work in the shop, made 8 pairs of shoes.

Wednesday 8
At work in the shop, made 9 pairs of shoes.

Thursday February 9, 1865
At work in the shop, made 9 pair of shoes.
Sam Knowles and Mr. Page spent the night here.

Friday 10
At work in the shop, made 9 pair of shoes.
John Weeks was here and took dinner.

Saturday 11
At work in the shop, made 7 ½ pairs of shoes and finished the sett.

Sunday February 12, 1865
At home all day. Charlie went to church. I wrote to Capt. Ela.

Monday 13
At work tinkering in the shop in the forenoon, went to Billy Babb's auction in the afternoon.

Tuesday 14
At work in the shop made 8 pairs shoes.

Wednesday February 15, 1865
At work in the shop, made 8 pairs of shoes.
Capt. Griffin, Sergt. Chesley and Malve called here.

Thursday 16
At work in the shop made 8 pairs shoes.

Friday 17
At work in the shop, made 8 pairs of shoes, went down to the city in the evening.
Mary Griffin spent the evening here.

Saturday February 18, 1865
At work in the shop, made 8 pairs of shoes.
I saw Joe Cilley at the shop.
Mary Griffin spent the evening here.

Sunday 19
Did not go to church, I wrote to Ed.

Monday 20
At work in the shop, made 8 pairs of shoes

Tuesday February 21, 1865
Annie and I went to Concord.

Wednesday 22
George Chapman and his wife spent the day here. I swapped my (?) with Jacob Langley.

Thursday 23
I finished my set of shoes for Porter & Jaques.

Friday February 24, 1865
Father and I went down to Nathan Griffin's in the forenoon.
I went over to the Grant house in the afternoon and bought some wood.

Saturday 25
Mended my boot and piled wood in the cellar.

Sunday 26
Did not go to church, Annie and I called and Blake's and father's in the afternoon.

Monday February 27, 1865
Jones brought me another set of stock we got it out in the afternoon.

Tuesday 28
At work in the shop, made 10 pairs of shoes. Malve called.
Jim Marden and Lewis Healy took dinner here.

Wednesday March 1, 1865
At work in the shop, made 10 pairs of shoes.

Thursday, March 2, 1865
At work in the shop, made 10 pairs of shoes.

Friday 3
At work in the shop, made 10 pairs of shoes. Rainy all day.

Saturday 4
At work in the shop, made 10 pairs of shoes. Rainy all day.

Sunday March 5, 1865
Did not go to church. Manson and called at Charles Steele's in the evening.

Monday 6
At work in the shop, made 10 pairs of shoes and finished the set.
I wrote to Susan and sent my bank book to her.

Tuesday 7
Did not work. Mary Griffin spent the evening here.
Jones brought me another set of stock.

Wednesday March 8, 1865
Got out a set of stock and make 4 pairs of shoes.

Thursday 9
At work in the shop, made 9 pairs of shoes.

Friday 10
At work in the shop, made 9 pairs of shoes.

Saturday March 11, 1865
At work in the shop, made 10 pair of shoes. Father and Mother called in the evening.

Sunday 12
Charlie went to church, it is a very windy day.

Monday 13
At work in the shop, made 10 pairs of shoes. Ed called here.

Tuesday March 14, 1865
Made 3 pair of shoes and went to town meeting. Ed and Frank Marden called. I got a letter from Joel Sanborn
Wednesday 15
At work in the shop, made 10 pair of shoes. Ed called.

Thursday 16
At work in the shop in the forenoon, made 5 pair of shoes and finished the set.

Friday March 17, 1865
At work doing odd jobs in the shop and around the house.

Saturday 18
Sawing wood in the forenoon, went down to the city and to school meeting in the afternoon.
I got a letter from Susan and some money.

Sunday 10
Did not go to church. Wrote to Susan.

Monday March 20, 1865
At work in the shop, made 10 pr of shoes for Mr. Hall. Malve and Frank Hoyt called.

Tuesday 21
At work sawing wood. Ed went back to Lynn. Malve called in theevening. Dan Hall started for Tenn.

Wednesday 22
At work in the shop in the forenoon, made 4 pr of shoes in the afternoon. I went down to the city to survey some boards.

Thursday March 23, 1865
Splitting wood, hired Mr. Griffin's field and pasture.

Friday 24
At work in the shop in the forenoon and finished splitting and piling my wood.

Saturday 25
Henry Hall helped me draw board and lumber from the city. George Bixby came home. Malve came here and spent the night.

Sunday March 26, 1865
Charlie went to church, Malve is here.

Monday 27
At work in the shop, made 10 pairs of shoes.
Malve went down to Joe's and staid all night.

Tuesday 28
At work in the shop, made 10 pairs of shoes.
Annie called at Blakes.
Father was at work on the barn cellar, Mary Griffin and Eliza Bickford called here.

Wednesday March 29, 1865
At work in the shop, made 10 pairs of shoes.

Thursday 30
At work in the shop, made 10 pairs of shoes.

Friday 31
At work in the shop, made 8 pair of shoes and finished the set.
I got a letter from Capt. Bird.

Saturday April 1, 1865
Transplanting cherry trees, currant bushers & Lt. Swain called.
Lill Cass & Frank Hoyt spent the evening here. Ben Robinson came here and spent the night.
I got a letter from Lt. Jackman.

Sunday 2
Went to Northwood to see William Chapman and said all night.

Monday 3
Came home from Northwood and worked tearing down the old barn.
John Weeks called.

Tuesday April 4, 1865
Went to Concord with Malve, saw Lt. Jackman.

Wednesday 5
At work tearing down the barn. Mother went to Boston. Charles Chapman & wife and Malinda came here and spend the night.

Thursday 6
Charlie and his wife went home. I was at work on the barn. I got a letter from Paxton.

Friday April 7, 1865
At work digging to put in the wall for the barn.

Saturday 8
At work on the wall for the barn cellar. Went up to Mr.Cate's at noon. Got a letter from Paxton and my pants from Edmunds.

Sunday 9
Called at Andrew's and Tom Cilley's. Wrote to Susan, Edmunds & Co. and Galligher.

Monday, April 10, 1865
At work on the cellar and cutting bushes in the forenoon. I went to Wm. Goss's and down to Alonzo Wallace's & Charles Steele's in the afternoon.

Tuesday 11
At work drawing stone for the cellar. Mr. Griffin, Manson & father worked here.
Wednesday 12
I went up to Mr. Cate's in the forenoon, in the afternoon I did not work.

Thursday April 13, 1865
At work drawing stone for the cellar. Mr. Griffin, Father & Manson worked here.

Friday 14
At work drawing stone for the cellar. Henry Hall & father worked here. President Lincoln was shot in Ford's Theatre at ½ past ten P.M.

Saturday 15
At work building fence round Griffin's place. I went to the city in the afternoon. Father went to Suncook after Mother. Charlie went over to John Week's.

Sunday April 16, 1865
I called at Father's and wrote to Susan. Charlie came home from John's.

Monday 17
I went over to George Sw(ain) and up to Mr. Cate's in the morning, the rest of the day I was building fence.

Tuesday 18
Building fence and digging bushes on the ground that I am going to plough.

Wednesday April 19, 1865
Henry Hall helped me haul dirt and timber. I wrote to Susan for Mother.

Thursday 20
Ben Hall helped me split stone. Susan came up from Boston. Annie and Charlie went down to Northwood to see William.

Friday 21
I went over to Philip Babb's, Daniel Locke's & down to the city. I lent Father thirty dollars for Susan.

Saturday April 22, 1865
Sawing wood in the cellar. I went down to the city in the afternoon. I fot a letter from Capt. Els, went over to New Rye at night with Annie.

Sunday 23
Wrote to Capt. Ela, Ed and Petrie.

Monday 24
Went over after George Swain in the morning. He and Mr. Griffin worked for me on the barn.

Tuesday April 25. 1865
George Swain and Mr. Griffin helped me on the barn.

Wednesday 26
George Swain and Father helped me on the barn. Susan came home from Pittsfield, John C. French and wife came with her.

Thursday 27
George Swain, Father and Mr. Griffin helped me on the barn, we raised it in the afternoon.

Friday April 28, 1865
I went up to Mr. Cate's and got the cow in the morning, in the afternoon I began boarding the barn.

Saturday 29
Rainy in the forenoon and I worked in the cellar sawing wood, in the afternoon I was at work on the barn.

Sunday 30
Did not go to church.

Monday May 1, 1865
At work boarding the barn in the forenoon, Manson helped me plough in the afternoon.

Tuesday 2
At work boarding the barn.

Wednesday 3
Annie and I went over to Mr. Clifford's and to John Week's. I got me a pig.

Thursday May 4, 1865
Charlie went to New Rye, I was at work on the barn.

Friday 5
Annie and I went to William's funeral, it rained in the afternoon.

Saturday 6
Manson and Father helped me plough in the forenoon, I went to town meeting in the afternoon.
Churned 2 ½ lbs butter

Sunday May 7, 1865
A cold day, did not go to church.

Monday 8
At work on the barn, laid the bank wall and the steps.

Tuesday 9
Made Annie a pair of shoes in the forenoon, in the afternoon I went up to the pineground with Manson. I got a letter from Ed, and one from Susan with some money.

Wednesday May 10, 1865
Drawing shingle from Morrill Bickford's.
Thursday 11
Framing the rafters for the barn.
Churned 3 ½ lbs butter

Friday 12
Went to Concord after lime, Poudrett, nails, hinges etc.

Saturday May 13, 1865
Raised the rafters and commenced boarding the roof.

Sunday 14
Did not go to church.

Monday 15
Planting early potatoes and squashes in the forenoon, boarding the roof in the afternoon.

Tuesday May 16, 1865
Planted my potatoes, corn and melons, sowed beets etc., worked on the roof a little.

Wednesday 17
Finished boarding the roof and built a pen for the pig.

Thursday 18
Laid the floor in the barn.
Churned 3 ¼ lbs butter

Friday May 19, 1865
Went up to Lane's with a load of boards to be planned in the forenoon, in the afternoon moved the bench into the barn.

Saturday 20
Splitting up the finish for the projection. I got letters from Capt. Ela and Ben.

Sunday 21
Did not go to church. (Milson) Griffin came home.

Monday May 22, 1865
Rainy all day. I went to George Sander's in the afternoon.

Tuesday 23
Rainy in the forenoon. I went to town meeting in the afternoon.

Wednesday 24
I put the trimmings on the one side of the barn and shingled it.

Thursday May 25, 1865
Cutting out and putting the finish on the east side of the barn. Chruned 9 1/7 lbs butter packed

Friday 26
Shingled the east side of the barn. Charlie worked on the road for Mr. Hall.

Saturday 27
Putting on the saddle boards and corner boards.

Sunday May 28, 1865
Did not go to church, rather a misty day

Monday 29
Made a boat in the forenoon, putting on corner boards in the afternoon.

Tuesday 30
Painting the trimmings.

Wednesday May 31, 1865
Made window frames and cased the doors.

Thursday June 1
Painted the trimmings and commenced to clapboard. Charlie went to Concord.
Churned 4 ½ lbs butter

Friday 2
Clapboarded the north end of the barn. Charlie cut his hand.

Saturday June 3, 1865
Clapboarding the south side and put in the small window frames.

Sunday 4
Did not go to church.
Received a letter from Susan with the balance of my money.

Monday 5
At work clapboarding the barn.

Tuesday June 6, 1865
At work on the barn clapboarding.

Wednesday 7
At work on the barn clapboarding and making window frames.

Thursday 8
Made the gutters for the north side.
Churned 5 ¼ lbs butter

Friday June 9, 1865
Put up the gutters. Father hoed for me, we had a shower at night.

Saturday 10
Ashed my corn and potatoes, planted beans and transplanted beets and cabbages.
We had a number of showers through the day.

Sunday 11
Did not go to church, Annie and Charlie went.
I called at Mr. Lawrence's with John Weeks and Joe Ham.

Monday June 12, 1865
Hoeing, Father helped in the forenoon.

Tuesday 13
Clapboarding in the forenoon, went to Warren Yeaton's raising in the afternoon.

Wednesday 14
Finished clapboarding the barn.

Thursday June 15, 1865
Went to Pittsfield and got my door stuff dressed.
Churned 3 lbs. butter

Friday 16
Laying scaffold in the forenoon. Mr. Fisk helped me make the large doors in the afternoon.

Saturday 17
Making the small doors. I got a letter from Paxton.

Sunday June 18, 1865
Charlie went to church. Wrote to Ed, Malve and Capt. Bird.

Monday 19
At work hanging doors.

Tuesday 20
Annie and I went to Concord.

Wednesday June 21, 1865
Painted the doors.

Thursday 22
Painted doors and laying the barn floor. Went over to the mountain spring strawberrying. Nancy Heath and Charlie came here.
Churned 5 lbs butter

Friday 23
At work for Father in the forenoon, laying floor in the afternoon.

Saturday June 24, 1865
Building horse stalls. Charlie went to New Rye with Charlie Heath.

Sunday 25
Did not go to church

Monday 26
Building horse stalls and laying floor in the (tuup)

Tuesday June 27, 1865
Finished work on the barn.

Wednesday 28
Hoed my garden and beans. Annie went to New Rye, I went over after her at night.

Thursday 29
Commenced shingling the east side of the ell
Churned 4 ¾ lbs butter

Friday June 30, 1865
Shingling the ell in the forenoon, went over to Morrill Bickford's in the afternoon.

Saturday July 1
Finished shingling in the forenoon, rainy in the afternoon and I did not work.

Sunday 2
Did not go to church.

Monday July 3, 1865
Cutting wood and clearing up round the dooryard. Ed came home.

Tuesday July 4
Celebrating the fourth at home. John Weeks called.

Wednesday 5
Hoed my beans and potatoes.

Thursday July 6, 1865
Commenced haying. Frank and Sarah were out here visiting.
Jim Marden and Tom Leane called. I got a letter from Sue.

Friday 7
Churned 4 ¼ lbs butter
Drawing dirt in the forenoon, went blueberrying in the afternoon.

Saturday 8
Haying.

Sunday July 9, 1865
Did not go to church. Annie and called at Blake's.

Monday 10
Cutting my grass and Ed's and finished cutting what I had at home.

Tuesday 11
Got in two loads of hay and fixed the door step.

Wednesday July 12, 1865
Finished my haying at home. Augustus Brown mowed for us with his machine.

Thursday 13
Finished cutting the Griffin field.
Churned 2 ½ lbs butter

Friday 14
Getting in hay all day.

Saturday July 15, 1865
Finished haying went down to the pond after ducks.

Sunday 16
Did not go to church. Wrote to Susan.

Monday 17
Piling wood in the cellar.

Tuesday July 18, 1865
Annie and I went over to John Week's visiting.

Wednesday 19
I made one shoe for a sample.

Thursday 20
John Week's and I went to Canterbury and Gilmanton.
Churned 2 ½ lbs butter

Friday July 21, 1865
I made one shoe for a sample and went blueberrying

Saturday 22
Weeding my garden in the forenoon went over to Mr. Tarlton's after vinegar and to New Rye in the afternoon.

Sunday 23
Did not go to church

Monday July 24, 1865
Painted the kitchen floor.

Tuesday 25
Cut a load of bedding over in the Rand pasture.

Wednesday 26
Got in my bedding.

Thursday July 27, 1865
Dug the grave for Lewis Well's child.
Charlie went to New Rye.
Churned 2 lbs butter

Friday 28
Loafing, Charlie came home from New Rye. Malve called.

Saturday 29
At home, Jones brought me a set of stock. Alex, Sue and Lydia came up from Boston.

Sunday July 30, 1865
Did not go to church

Monday 31
At work in the shop, made six pair of shoes

Tuesday August 1
At work in the shop, made 8 pair of shoes

Wednesday August 2, 1865
At work in the shop in the forenoon, made 8 pair of shoes. Captain's Griffin and Potter called. I went to Pittsfield with them in the afternoon and to Concord in the eve, spent the night with Mayor Ela.

Thursday 3
Came home from Concord on the stage. Major Ela came down with me.
Churned 2 lbs butter

Friday 4
We went down to Blake's pond fishing in the forenoon. Annie and I carried the Major over to Allenstown in the evening.

Saturday August 5, 1865
At work in the shop, made 8 pair of shoes. We had a nice shower in the afternoon.

Sunday 6
Did not go to church.

Monday 7
At work in the shop, made ten pairs of shoes.

Tuesday August 8, 1865
At work in the shop, made ten pairs of shoes.

Wednesday 9
At work in the shop, made ten pairs of shoes and finished the set.

Thursday 10
Went up on the range road blackbeerrying.
Churned 2 ½ lbs butter

Friday August 11, 1865
Capt. Ela and John Week's came over here and we went to Chestnut pond fishing. I got a letter from Capt. Paxton.

Saturday 12
Annie and I went to New Rye visiting.

Sunday 13
Did not go to church.

Monday August 14, 1865
At work in the shop, made 10 pairs of shoes.

Tuesday 15
At work in the shop made ten pairs of shoes.

Wednesday 16
At work in the shop made ten pairs of shoes.

Thursday August 17, 1865
At work in the shop made ten pairs of shoes.
Churned 2 lbs butter

Friday 18
At work in the shop made ten pairs of shoes.

Saturday 19
At work in the shop, made ten pairs of shoe and finished the set. Jones brought me another set of stock.

Sunday August 20, 1865
Did not go to church.

Monday 21
Getting out a set of stock

Tuesday 22
At work in shop made ten pairs of shoes.

Wednesday August 23, 1865
At work in the shop made ten pairs of shoes.

Thursday 24
At work in the shop, made ten pairs of shoes.

Friday 25
At work in the shop made ten pairs of shoes.
Received a letter from Captain Bird.

Saturday August 26, 1865
At work in the shop made ten pairs of shoes. Alex and Susan went back to Boston.

Sunday 27
Did not go to church

Monday 28
At work in the shop made ten pair of shoes and finished the set. John Week's called.

Tuesday August 29, 1865
Pulling weeds. Annie picked the cranberries. Jones brought me another set of stock.

Wednesday 30
Getting out stock.

Thursday 31
At work in the shop made ten pair of shoes.
Churned 2 ¼ lbs butter

Friday September 1, 1865
At work in the shop made ten pair shoes.

Saturday 2
At work in the shop made ten pair of shoes

Sunday 3
Did not go to church

Monday September 4, 1865
I went to Fremont with Andrew Hall. Annie and Charlie went over to John Week's.

Tuesday 5
At work in the shop made eight pairs of shoes.

Wednesday 6
At work in the shop, made ten pairs of shoes.

Thursday September 7, 1865
At work in the shop made ten pairs of shoes. Annie and I went over to James Brown's in the evening.
Churned 2 ½ lbs butter

Friday 8
Made two pairs of shoes and finished the set. Eben Hoyt and wife spent the afternoon here.

Saturday 9
At work pulling weeds, digging potatoes etc. Annie and I went to New Rye in the evening. Charlie went to Pittsfield to the circus. Charlie got a letter from Susan.

Sunday September 10, 1865
Did not go to church

Monday 11
At work heeling some little shoes for Mr. Hall. Jones brought me a set of stock.

Tuesday 12
Getting out stock - Jones brought me another set of stock.

Wednesday September 13, 1865
At work in the shop made ten pair of shoes.
Eldora Lawrence died.

Thursday 14
At work in the shop made ten pair of shoes. Annie and I set up at Mr. Lawrence's.
Churned 3 lbs butter

Friday 15
At work in the shop in the forenoon, made six pair of shoes.

Saturday September 16, 1865
At work in the shop in the forenoon, made four pair of shoes.
George Ladd and his sister called. I went to Auction at Kidder Haynes in the afternoon.

Sunday 17
Did not go to church.

Monday 18
At work in the shop made ten pair of shoes.

Tuesday September 19, 1865
At work in the shop made ten pair of shoes.

Wednesday 20
At work in the shop made ten pair of shoes and finished the set. I got a barrel of floor.

Thursday 21
At work in the shop made 12 pair of shoes.
Churned 2 ½ lbs butter

Friday September 22, 1865
Charlie and I went to Concord.

Saturday 23
Annie and I went over to John Week's and to New Rye

Sunday 24
Did not go to church

Monday September 25, 1865
At work in the shop made 12 pair of shoes.

Tuesday 26
At work in the shop made 12 pair of shoes. Jones brought in another set of stock.

Wednesday 27
At work in the shop made 12 pair of shoes.

Thursday September 28, 1865
At work in the shop made 12 pair of shoes and finished the set.
Frank Marden and Sarah came out here.
Churned 3 lbs butter

Friday 29
At work in the shop heeled 36 pair of shoes for Mr. Hall.

Saturday 30
At work in the shop, heeled 22 pair of shoes for Mr. Hall.
Ed and Austin came home. I went out gunning in the afternoon and looning in the evening.

Sunday October 1, 1865
Did not go to church

Monday 2
Went gunning all day with Andrew, got one gray squirrel.

Tuesday 3
Making mortar. Shot a partridge in Mr. Hall's yard.

Wednesday October 4, 1865
Digging potatoes
Thursday 5
Got out a set of stock in the forenoon. Went out and shot a partridge in the afternoon.
Churned 2 lbs butter

Friday 6
Getting out stock and gunning in the forenoon, got one gray squirrel. Went to New Rye in the afternoon with Annie, and got one grey squirrel.

Saturday October 7, 1865
Plastering the holes in the cellar in the forenoon, went to New Rye with Ed in the afternoon.

Sunday 8
Did not go to church

Monday 10
At work in the shop, made 12 pair of shoes.

Tuesday October 10, 1865
Jonathan Chesley was here plastering. We made 4 pair of shoes.
I went to Pittsfield with Malve in the evening.

Wednesday 11
Mr. Griffin and Manson dug up the lead pipe. We made six pair of shoes.

Thursday 12
We made 4 pair of shoes.
Churned 3 lbs butter.

Friday October 13, 1865
At work in the shop, made ten pair of shoes.

Saturday 14
At work in the shop made 12 pair of shoes.

Sunday 15
Did not go to church, rained all day.

Monday October 16, 1865
At work in the shop made 12 pair of shoes

Tuesday 17
At work in the shop made 2 pairs of shoes and finished the set and sent it in by the stage.

Wednesday 18
Getting out stock and made 12 pair of shoes

Thursday October 19, 1865
Made 12 pair of shoes. Churned 3 lbs butter
Friday 20
Went to Concord with Father. I got the pay for a set of shoes from Ordway.
Capt. Ela came here.

Saturday 21
At work in the shop made 10 pair of shoes.
Capt. Ela is here.

Sunday October 22, 1865
Did not go to church
Capt. Ela is here.

Monday 23
At work in the shop, made 12 pair of shoes.
Capt. Ela went to Deerfield.

Tuesday 24
At work in the shop made 11 pair of shoes.

Wednesday October 25, 1865
Made 4 pair of shoes and finished the set.
Went gunning and got two grey squirrels.

Thursday 26
Getting out stock for the nailed shoes. Went gunning and got one grey squirrel.
Churned 3 lbs butter

Friday 27
Made 10 pair of nailed shoes, received two cases of stock from Ordway by stage.
First snow storm, about 3 inches fell.

Saturday October 28, 1865
Got out a set of stock. Rained all the forenoon, received twenty dollars from Mr. Ordway.

Sunday 29
Did not go to church

Monday 30
Jim Marden and Emma spent the day here. We made 5 pair of shoes.

Tuesday October 31, 1865
At work for Mr. Griffin in the forenoon. We made 5 pair of shoes.

Wednesday November 1
At work in the shop, made 12 pair of shoes.

Thursday 2
At work in the shop, made 14 pair of shoes. Churned 4 lbs butter.
Friday November 3, 1865
At work in the shop made 14 pair of shoes.

Saturday 4
At work in the shop made 10 pair of shoes and finished the set.

Sunday 5
Did not go to church

Monday November 6, 1865
At work in the shop made 12 pair of shoes.
Ed came down from Concord.

Tuesday 7
At work in the shop made 12 pair of shoes.

Wednesday 8
At work in the shop made 12 pair of shoes.
Ed set up his bench in the shop.

Thursday November 9, 1865
At work in the shop, made 12 pair of shoes.
Tom Cilley and wife spent the evening here.
Churned 3 lbs butter

Friday 10
At work in the shop, made 12 pair of shoes and finished the set.

Saturday 11
Mr. Paine fixed my lead pipe.

Sunday November 12, 1865
Annie and Charlie went to meeting, I caught a grey squirrel.

Monday 13
At work filling up the cow yard and clearing out the barn.

Tuesday 14
Went over to John Week's. Charlie went to Derry with George B. Sanders.

Wednesday November 15, 1865
Went gunning with Ed and Manson, got seven grey squirrels and a rabbit.

Thursday 16
Put the saddle boards on to the Major's barn and done some work in the shop.
Churned 4 lbs butter

Friday 17
Ann and Charlie went to New Rye.
Received 2 cases of stock from Ordway.

Saturday November 18, 1865
Went gunning with Andrew and Charlie, killed 14 grey squirrels.

Sunday 19
Did not go to church.
Snowed all day, I went to Northwood with Andrew.

Monday 20
At work in the shop made 12 pair of shoes.

Tuesday November 21, 1865
At work in the shop made 12 pair of shoes.

Wednesday 22
At work in the shop made 12 pair of shoes.

Thursday 23
At work in the shop made 12 pair of shoes.

Friday November 24, 1865
At work in the shop made 12 pair of shoes and finished the set.
Charlie and I went gunning in the afternoon and got two grey squirrels

Saturday 25
Getting out stock and trying to start the water. We went a gunning a short time in the afternoon, got one rabbit.

Sunday 26
Did not go to church. Mr. Ela and John Week's came over here.

Monday November 27, 1865
Trimmed the apple trees and put manure round them and the currant bushes.

Tuesday 28
John Week's came over and went gunning, we got nothing.

Wednesday 29
At work round the house and barn.

Thursday November 30, 1865
At work round the house and barn.
Churned 3 ½ lbs butter

Friday December 1, 1865
Killed the pig and made 4 pair of shoes.

Saturday 2
At work in the shop, made 13 pair of shoes and cut up the pig.

Sunday December 3, 1865
Did not go to church

Monday 4
At work in the shop made 9 pair of shoes.
Charlie went to school.

Tuesday 5
At work in the shop made 9 pair of shoes.

Wednesday December 6, 1865
At work in the shop made 5 pair of shoes and went gunning with Eb Hoyt and Bill got two greys.

Thursday 7
Did not work. John Week's and Capt. Ela came over here.
We have 3 inches of snow fall.
Churned 3 ½ lbs butter

Friday 8
Did not work, Capt. Ela is here.

Saturday December 9, 1865
Did not work, Capt. Ela and I went to shooting match in the afternoon. Three inches of snow fell in the night.

Sunday 10
Snowing, did not go to church. Capt. Ela is here.

Monday 11
At work in the shop.
Capt. Ela went to Deerfield.

Tuesday December 12, 1865
At work in the shop

Wednesday 13
Went to the Pineground with Ed in the forenoon, finished my set of shoes.

Thursday 14
Went over to New Rye in the forenoon, made four pair of shoes in the afternoon.
Churned 2 ½ lbs butter

Friday December 15, 1865
At work in the shop made 8 pair of shoes.

Saturday 16
At work in the shop made 12 pair of shoes.
Sarah Jane Griffin died at noon.
Ed went to Lynn.

Sunday 17
Did not go to church

Monday December 18, 1865
Made 3 pair of shoes, the box for Sarah Jane and went to the funeral

Tuesday 19
At work in the shop made 8 pair of shoes.

Wednesday 20
At work in the shop made 9 pair of shoes.

Thursday December 21, 1865
At work in the shop, 9 pair of shoes.
Snowed in the forenoon.

Friday 22
At work in the shop, made six pair of shoes and finished the set.
Jones brought me a set of turns.
Ed, Manson and I went down to Joe's in the evening.

Saturday 23
Getting out stock, made 2 pair of turns.
We got a box and letter from Susan.

Sunday December 24, 1865
Did not go to church. Snowing all day.

Monday 25
At work in the shop, made 7 ½ pair of shoes.

Wednesday December 27, 1865
At work in the shop, made 7 ½ pair of shoes.

Thursday 28
At work in the shop, made 8 pair of shoes.
Churned 5 ¼ lbs of butter

Friday 29
Almost sick with a cold, made 2 pair of shoes.
Saturday December 30, 1865
At work in the shop, made 5 pair of shoes.
Tom, Manson and Ed played Euchre here and in the evening.

Sunday 31
Did not go to church

1866

Jan. 1 - At work in the shop made 8 pair of shoes.
2 - At work in the shop, made 9 pair of shoes.
3 - At work in the shop, made 6 pair of shoes, finished the set and got a case of stock
4 - At work in the shop, made 9 pair of pegged shoes.
5 - At work in the shop made 10 pair of shoes
6 - At work in the shop made 10 pair of shoes, Moses set up his bench
7 - Did not go to church
8 - At work in the shop made 10 pair of shoes. Thermometer 22 degrees below 0
9 - At work in the shop, made 10 pairs of shoes.
10 - At work in the shop, made 10 pair of shoes and finished the set
11 - Jones brought me a set of stock
12 - At work in the shop, made 6 pair of shoes
13 - At work in the shop made 4 pair of shoes
14 - Did not go to church
15 - At work in the shop, made 7 pair of shoes, Alonzo Wallace drew me 4 cords of green wood
16 -At work in the shop made 8 pair of shoes. Snowed all day. Ed worked for me.
17 - At work in the shop made 8 pair of shoes
18 - At work in the shop made 8 pair of shoes
19 - At work in the shop made 3 pair of shoes and finished the set
20 - Getting out stock and made 6 pair of shoes
21 - Did not go to church
22 - At work in the shop made 9 pair of shoes
23 - Made 3 pair of shoes. George Chapman and wife spent the day and night here.
24 - Went to Pleasant Pond fishing with Joe and Ed
25 - Stormed all day. Joe & Bill were here in the forenoon. I made 3 pair of shoes.
26 - Made 3 pair of shoes in the forenoon, went to Chestnut pond fishing in the afternoon.
27 - Went to Chestnut pond fishing. Jones brought me another set of stock.
28 - Did not go to church
End of diary includes several pages of cash accounts.
People mentioned in the diary

Ed Sanborn - Edwin A. Sanborn 1835-1902 Son of Benvolio, resided Lynn, MA
Manson - John Manson Griffin 1834-1899 Son of John Griffin
Capt. Ela - Robert Lane Ela, 6th NH Regiment, resided Allenstown
Annie - Mary Ann Chapman 1829-1908, wife of Charles J Brown, called Ann and Annie
Charlie - 1850-1925 only son of Charles and Annie Brown
Frank Marden - Franklin Marden 1835-1915 son of James Marden
Sarah Marden - Sarah J. Chapman sister to Annie, married Frank Marden
Lizzie Marden - Only child of Frank and Sarah Chapman
Sherburne Griffin - John Sherburne Griffin 1840-1929, son of Nathan and Polly (Cate) Griffin
Drusilla - Drusilla Sanborn, sister to Edwin, daughter of Benvolio
Morrill Bickford - 1836-1912, son of Nathan Bickford & Eliza Dickey
William Chapman - 1826-1865, brother to Annie, resided in Northwood
Susan - Susan E.P. Brown 1824-1910, sister to Charles J Brown, married Alexander Forbes
Tom Cilley - Daniel Thomas Cilley 1834-1920, son of Samuel P. , a neighbor to Charles
Mr. Wiggin - likely Samuel S. Wiggin, 1809-bef. 1901, lived in the old parsonage
Clara Ham - 1853-1865, daughter of George W. and Mary Marden Ham
Jimmy Brown - unknown, there were several James Brown's in Epsom during this period
Ben Robinson - Benjamin S. Robinson 1840-1876, son of Stickney Robinson
Joe Hoyt - Joseph Hoyt 1835-?, son of Morrill Hoyt, resided Lynn, MA
Andrew Hall - Andrew J. Hall 1834-1873, son of Benjamin and Polly (Wells)
Father - William Brown 1796-1887, son of John Brown and Sarah (Allen) Brown
Sam Knowles - likely Samuel B. Knowles 1811-1882
John Weeks - John M. Weeks 1831-1876, son of Samuel, married Abby Chapman, Annie's sister
Billy Babb - William Pickering Babb 1828-1911, son of John and Salome (Rand) Babb
Malve - George Melvin Sherburne 1843-1899, son of George Washington Sherburne
Mary Griffin - likely Mary E. Griffin 1839-1872, daughter of John and Fanny Griffin, sister to Manson
George Chapman - George S. Chapman, 1824-1892, brother to Annie
Jacob Langley - a son of True Langley and Mehitable Dow
Nathan Griffin - there were several in town, likely Nathan 1797-1869, married Mary Cate
Jim Marden - James William Marden 1840-1919 married Emily Chapman, sister to Annie
Lewis Healy - Lewis P. Healey abt. 1851-?, son of Simon W. and Abigail (Robinson).
Charles Steele - Charles Augustus Steele 1820-1899 married Hannah Cilley, sister to Tom Cilley
Joel Sanborn - Joel Libby Sanborn 1832-1906, son of Benvolio, brother to Edwin and Drusilla
Frank Hoyt - Frank E. Hoyt 1847-1898, son of Morrill Hoyt, brother to Joe
Dan Hall - Daniel H. Hall 1847-1922, son of Benjamin Hall and Mary Dowst
Henry Hall - likely Charles Henry Hall 1831-1904, married Lucy Jan Langley, sister to Jacob Langley
George Bixby - George S. Bixby 1842-1918, married Eliz. Cass, dau of Mary (Brown) Cass, sis. to Charles
Eliza Bickford - likely Eliza A. Bickford 1833-1878 daughter of Nathan and Eliza (Dickey) Bickford
Lill Cass - Unknown
Charley Chapman - Charles A. Chapman 1844-1921, younger brother of Annie
Wm Goss - William Goss 1820-1887, merchant in Epsom
Alonzo Wallace - Alonzo Wallace 1821-1890, married Mary Griffin, da u. of Nathan and Mary Cate
George Swain - George W. Swain 1826-1869, parents unknown
Ben Hall - Benjamin Hall 1805-1884, parents unknown, father of Charles Henry Hall
Philip Babb - Philip Babb 1807-1883, son of John and Salome (Rand) Babb
Daniel Locke - likely Daniel Philbrick Locke 1815-1893 son of Francis and Mary (Philbrick) Locke
John C. French - known writer of history for Pittsfield NH Newspapers
Mr. Clifford's - Josiah Kittredge Clifford 1820-1877 married Malinda Chapman, Annie's sister
George Sanders - likely George Sanders 1832-1905, son of George and Mary Twombly
Mr. Lawrence - Joseph Lawrence 1818-1893, married Lucy M. Philbrick
Joe Ham - Jospeh E. Ham abt. 1844-?, Civil War vet, son of George Benson Ham
Warren Yeaton - Warren Yeaton 1818-1890 son of John and Betsey (Towle) Yeaton
Mr. Fisk - either Varnum or son James O. Fiske
Nancy Heath -Nancy Weeks (Goss) Heath 1833-1889, wife of John Warren Heath
Charlie Heath - Charles W. Heath 1854-1885 son of John Warren and Nancy (Goss) Heath
Augustus Brown - Augustus True Brown 1844-1868, son of Newell Brown
Mr. Tarlton - Likely William Tarlton 1794-1886
Rand - likely Joseph Warren Rand who lived nearby for a short time.
Alex - Alexander Forbes 1836-1903, married Susan E. P Brown, Charles's sister, of Byfield, MA
Eben Hoyt - Ebenezer B. Hoyt 1832-1917, son of Morrill, brother to Joe and Frank
Eldora Lawwrence - Eldora, 1850-1865, daughter of Joseph and Lucy (Philbrick) Lawrence
George Ladd - possibly son of William Perry Ladd of Deerfield
Kidder Haynes - Kidder B. Haynes 1823-1899 son of Levi & Polly (Dolbeer) Haynes
Austin - Austin E. Sanborn 1837-1873, son of Benvolio, brother to Edwin, Drusilla & Joel Sanborn
Jonathan Chesley - likely Jonathan Steele Chesley 1816-1879, son of John and Elizabeth Blake
Mr. Paine - possibly Charles H. Paine of Chichester
George B. Sanders - George B. Sanders 1850-1892, son of Jonathan Curtis Sanders
Sarah Jane Griffin - Sarah Jane Griffin 1831-1865 daughter of John Griffin, sister to John Manson