12/2/1857 Wednesday. I called to Israels she is quite sick. John & I went out to Wm Hamiltons. Ma & Grandma visited to Peters. John & I went to Israels in the evening.
JCH: Went over to Wm Hamiltons. Lorette went with me. We took a buck of Wm to keep through the winter for the use of him.
12/3/1857 Thursday. Grandma here all day, she & Ma called on Elizebeth she is better. I commenced a pair of striped mittens for John.
JCH: Chopped wood all day, 2 cords is about all I can chop & do my chores.
12/4/1857 Friday. Ma & Grandma visited to aunt Julias. I went over to see Elizebeth a while. She is better. Mr. Holden called here. John sold the chickens at 7 cents. We picked them this evening.
JCH: Was chopping all day. I cut 2 cords. Thawing some to day. Mr. Holden called here. I sold him some chickens.
12/5/1857 Saturday. We carried the chickens down. John got a pair of pants. We pared apples this afternoon.
JCH: Went down to Batavia carried some 17 chickens. We received 7 cents per pound for them. Bought me a pair of pants for $3.87 1/2. Cool and cloudy.
12/6/1857 Sunday. Windy & rainy. At home all day. John & I went up to see Franklin Shepard heard he was sick.
JCH: Went up to James Shepard to day Frank Shepard is there with the rheumatism.
12/7/1857 Monday. Warm & pleasant. John & I visited to Warren Putnams in the evening.
JCH: Was chopping all day. Warm & pleasant.
12/8/1857 Tuesday. It rained hard last night and this morning. We killed hogs to day.
JCH: Killed our hogs to day. They weighed about 290 pounds a piece. We killed 2. James Quance helped us. It rained hard last night and this morning.
12/9/1857 Wednesday. It rained this morning. We took care of the lard this morning & other things. John chopping up south in the woods.
JCH: Went up south in the woods chopping, came back by James Shepard to see Frank. He is about well. It rained again this morning. Asahel Shepard took his 20 bush of corn.
12/10/1857 Thursday. Cool & cloudy. At work on my black collar.
JCH: Went up in the south woods, chopping, chopped about a half cord, did not feel very well & quit.
12/11/1857 Friday. It snowed a little last night. At work on a black collar for Ma. Delora took lesson.
JCH: Drew up 2 or 3 loads of wood, I went down to Batavia to get some boards for a sheep rack, brought them home & worked some at it.
12/12/1857 Saturday. Our folks went to the village, left Charlie with Ma, I went over to Elizebeths.
JCH: Worked at the rack in the forenoon. Drove our sows off in the afternoon. One to Walter Cole’s, the other to Orrin Putnams. Walter’s is the full blooded Berkshire.
12/13/1857 Sunday. I alone all day, John went away. Pa & I went to meeting up to the schoolhouse.
JCH: Was about sick to day. Lorette went up to meeting in the evening. Elder Fister preached.
12/14/1857 Monday. Pleasant but warm day. I put some new trimming on my broadcloth cape. Rather downhearted.
JCH: Finished our sheep racks & drew them down to the barn. They work first rate.
12/15/1857 Tuesday. Pleasant. Our folks went up to Grandma Showermans. John chopping. Mary Brainard called Finished my cape. Delora took her lesson.
JCH: I chopped all day, 2 cords.
12/16/1857 Wednesday. Pa & John went to the village to pay taxes. It was $13.74 I believe. I am at work on some flowers for the Christmas tree.
JCH: We went down to Batavia & paid our taxes $13 & 50 cents. We came around by Mr. Sprague’s to trade horses. Went up to Frank Shepard’s school.
12/17/1857 Thursday. Aunt Quance came here. I made a pair of pants for John. Mary Brainard & Olive Powers, Lucy & Sally & aunt Roxanny visited here. John & I went to a spelling school up to Franks school.
JCH: I went up in the south woods chopping. I broke my axe & came home. Father Shepard went to mill up south. We paid our taxes on the wood lot 74 cents. We had company all day. Went up to Frank Shepards spelling school. A very good one.
12/18/1857 Aunt Quance finished the pants about two oclock. I mad e may mince pies, also finished Ma’s black collar. It snowed a very little last night.
JCH: Father Shepard traded horses with Gilbert Smith this morning. I chopped some in the afternoon. It rained this morning. I chopped some in the afternoon. It blew very hard most all day. It snowed some some to night & froze up again.
12/19/1857 Saturday. Aunt Roxanny sewing for Ma. Delora took her lesson. John went to the village. I made flowers this afternoon. Paid aunt 44 for making the pants.
JCH: I chopped wood in the forenoon. I went down to Batavia with James Shepard. Daniel Shepard bought a 2 year old colt.
12/20/57 Sunday. At home all day. John & I went to the south school house to evening meeting. Ben Moore Preached.
JCH: Did not attend church to day.
12/21/1857 Monday. John chopping in the south woods. I finished making my flowers & made a night dress in the evening.
JCH: Went up in the south woods chopping. George Shepard changed with me, we chopped 4 cords. Very pleasant but cloudy towards night.
12/22/1857 Tuesday. Storming, snowed all day. Jannett took her last lesson to day the term is closed. Delora did not come. Most sick all day. Aunt Quance sewing for Ma.
JCH: Went up in the south woods chopping for George Shepard. We chopped 4 cords.
12/23/1857 Wednesday. More pleasant to day. I bought a head dress, Ma broadcloth to day. Ma & aunt Sarah Shepard visited & they talk of going to Wethersfield to morrow. Sewing.
JCH: I was choring around the house & went down to Mr. Charles to see about shoeing my horses. Pleasant but cold.
12/24/1857 Thursday. Our folks started for Wethersfield but came back roads too rough. Mrs. & Miss. Sails, Grandpa Showerman’s sister & niece visited here after noon & evening. Also Israel & Elizebeth.
JCH: Went down to the black smith shop & had my horses shod all around. Mr. John Showerman’s sister & daughter were here from Victor in the afternoon & evening. Cool & pleasant.
12/25/1857 Friday. Pleasant, rough sleighing. We held Christmas at Wm. Hamiltons. All the brothers & sisters there. Had a Christmas tree in evening. Had a pleasant time. We staid to David Knowlton's all night.
JCH: Went up to Wm. Hamiltons. All of our folks were there. We had a Christmas Tree in the evening. We had a pleasant time. Went over to Mr. Knowltons & staid all night.
12/26/1857 Saturday. Snowed some to day. Came home this forenoon. Our folks visited to uncle Asahels yesterday.
JCH: Came home this morning. It is snowy some to day. I sorted some potatoes. Father Shepard drove a bay yesterday up to Peter Showermans. Orlando Marsh brought up my Peoples News from Kansas.
12/27/1857 Sunday. At home all day. Our folks went up south to meeting to day. Left Charlie with me. We all went to evening, Elder Fister preached. Frank Hamilton came home with us.
JCH: Went up to the school house to hear Elder Fister preach. The house was full. Frank Hamilton here all night, he is about sick.
12/28/1857 Monday. Frank & I went to the village he went to see Northrup got some medicine. I traded a little, Pa & John thrashing for uncle Asahel.
JCH: I helped Asahel Shepard thrash all day. A nasty job, Frank & Lorette went down to see Mr Northrup, Frank got some medicine.”
12/29/1857 Tuesday. Delora took her lesson to day. At work on my waist. John & I went up to Josiah Putnams in the evening. The sleighing what there was is nearly gone.
JCH: Pleasant. I drew up some wood & split & corded some. Went up to Josiah Putnam’s in the evening.
12/30/1857 Wednesday. Rained most all day. I finished my waist, commenced a pair of undershorts.
JCH: I split some wood & sorted potatoes. It rained most all day.
12/31/1857 Thursday. Our folks started for Wethersfield. John went to Batavia. Had an invitation to visit to Israels tomorrow, New Years. The End of 1857. Lorette F. Hamilton
End of 1857. (signed) Lorette F. Hamilton.
Tid Bits of 1857 - Horehound leaves fried in lard are good for a broken breast. Sold 8 lbs butter for $1.80. 3 dozen eggs for $.56. 1/2 lb tea for $.25. 25 lbs cheese at $.08. 1 dozen eggs $.15. 1 lb raisins $.18.
JCH: Went down to Batavia with James Quance. Mrs. Gardner paid me for apples. Our folks started a trip south in a buggy. Very pleasant & good wheeling. The End. This closes this book..
Recipe to keep cider sweet: Put two pails of cider in barrel. Fill barrel with sulphur smoke. Bring up tight for two hours. Then fill with cider. It will keep sweet.
Read the Previous diary transcription.
See the December 1857 footnotes.
