5/1/1857 Friday. Rainy afternoon. John sick this afternoon. We heard that Lorinda is sick.
JCH: Was dragging in the forenoon in the meadow rather wet. Raining in the afternoon. Was sick most all day. One lamb this morning. Frank H & Norman Putnam called here.
5/2/1857 Saturday. Rainy day. We went to the village. Malvina went with us.
JCH: Went down to Batavia. Took a bushel of wheat to the mill & had it ground. It rained hard most all the forenoon.
5/3/1857 Sunday. We attended Presbyterian Church. Heard Peter Putnam died at 1 oclock afternoon.
JCH: Attended meeting at the Presbyterian church. Heard coming home that Peter Putnam was not expected to live. He (died) at two o clock. Very sudden death.
5/4/1857 Monday. Rained hard all day, Malvina’s commenced making some lamp mats. John cooped up a hen & ten chickens to day.
JCH: Went down to Warren Putnams & brought home 12 bushels of potatoes at six shillings per bushel. It rained very hard most all day. Lambs dying, lost three.
5/5/1857 Tuesday. A rainy day. We all attended Peter Putnam’s funeral. It was held at the house. Good many there. Elder Fuller from Batavia preached a good sermon.
JCH: Attended Peter Putnams funeral at the house. Elder Fuller preached the sermon. Showery all day. Laid up some fence. The creeks all overflowed, one bridge at my homes gone.
5/6/1857 Wednesday. Malvina had another lesson to day. Spring is very backward. I sent my bonnet by Ma down to Mrs. Holtons to be dressed over.
JCH: 5/6/1857 Built some fence to day. Wet & cloudy. Prospect dull for plowing. It seems as if it never clears off. I believe the comet effects the weather.
5/7/1857 Thursday. Pleasant. Aunt Sally Hawley here forenoon. Making John a new frock.
JCH: Tagged the sheep this forenoon. Drew out manure in the afternoon. It cleared off this morning. Mr. Hawley called here.
5/8/1857 Friday. Warm & pleasant. We made soap to day. Commenced making up a garden set out at fore noon & sowed some lettuce.
JCH: Plowing in the orchard, warm & pleasant. Plowed the garden & set out a few onions & some lettuce.
5/9/1857 Saturday. I washed to day. John went up to Mr. Marsh’s to a raising. Ma went with him to Grandfather Showermans.
JCH: Dragging in oats in the meadow in the forenoon. So wet we gave it up. Went up to J. Marsh’s to help raise his barn. Had a good ball play. Warm & cloudy.
5/10/1857 Sunday. Pleasant but cool. We all went up to the school house to meeting at 4 ½ oclock. Ben Moore preached, Elder Short will preach next Sabbath at 4 ½.
JCH: Had a rain storm last night, one clap of thunder very loud & long. Went up to the school house to meeting, Elder Moore preached.
5/11/1857 Monday. I cleaned the chamber this forenoon, afternoon I helped Ma sew. They think of going to Wethersfield tomorrow.
JCH: Was plowing in the orchard, very nearly finished it. Was pleasant all day.
5/12/1857 Tuesday. I helped Ma this forenoon. They started about noon for Wethersfield. I cleaned the front room afterwards.
JCH: Was dragging in the oats east of the house in the meadow. Father & mother Shepard started to day for Mr. Marvin Shepards to help him on his house. Pleasant and some warmer.
5/13/1857 Wednesday. Helen Showerman & I went up to see Lydia Ann Loomis, she has got a bouncing boy, weighs 10 lbs & 1 oz. She is quite smart, it was 2 days old.
JCH: Was dragging in wheat & oats, rather wet. Finished the wheat. Pleasant. Lorette went up to Lydia Ann Loomis. She has a boy 2 days old, weights 10 lbs, 1 ounce.
5/14/1857 Thursday. A rainy day. I cleaned the buttery. Israel bought 2 pigs of John, awful tired.
JCH: Finished in the meadow & stocked it all down & commenced raining about nine oclock.
5/15/1857 Friday. Rainy. I cleaned the kitchen. John cleaned the wood shed.
JCH: Plowing where old barn stood. Finished in the orchard west of the house. James Quance came over and bought two pigs at one dollar apiece. Rained all day.
5/16/1857 Saturday. Doing housework all day. Ira Leonard called. He says they have got a daughter one week old to day. Israel came over & bought 2 pigs at one dollar apiece. It rained most all day.
JCH: Went up to fathers this morning got 2 sticks for some pokes. Manured in the hill & planted about a quarter of an acre. It rained some to day.
5/17/1857 Sunday. It snowed a little this morning, cold & backward. At home all day. Ransom Shepard & Wallace Hawley here. John attended a meeting at the north school house.
JCH: Went down to the stone school house to meeting. Elder Davis preached. Turned out my horses to day. It snowed some to day. It cleared off at night. It froze last night.
5/18/1857 Monday. Pleasant. Washing after that Malvina & I scoured the floor. We called to Peters.
JCH: Drew out manure to manure in the hill. Finished hauling out in the old barn yard. Made a couple of polks. Quite cool. Sold father Shepard calf for 3 dollars.
5/19/1857 Tuesday. Cool, pleasant.
JCH: Finished planting potatoes. Plowed some in the barn yard. Quite cool with a prospect of snow or rain. Very discouraging.
5/20/1857 Wednesday. John, Malvina & I went to the village. I brought my bonnet home. It cost me 18 shillings. Malvina left hers to be dressed over. Alva Smiths ? called here this morning. Butter 18cts.
JCH: Went down to Batavia to mill. Lorette & Malvina Shepard with me. Lorette took some butter but we got it all dirty & had to bring it back. A circus at Batavia. Cool rain.
5/21/1857 Thursday. Mr. Shepard called this morning. I bought one song & Malvina an instruction book. I cut out some collars for John.
JCH: Dragging in the west orchard for corn. Finished plowing where the old barn stood. Quite warm & pleasant.
5/22/1857 Friday. Hellen Showerman here this afternoon. Eliza Hamilton came here. Also a peddler ate dinner & gave me a course comb.
JCH: Finished dragging in the orchard, & marked it out in the forenoon. Commenced planting in the afternoon. Warm & pleasant. Nancy Hamilton was here.
5/23/1857 Saturday. Eliza & I called to Peters had considerable housework. I churned twice bad luck with Ma’s. Eliza went home afterward.
JCH: Planted over three acres of corn to day. Pleasant. Warm a growing time.
5/24/1857 Sunday. Beautiful day. I think it is the warmest day we have had this spring. At home all day. We went down in the swamp.
JCH: Did not attend meeting to day. Went down in the swamp. Quite warm. Leaves are budding out very fast & things look more encouraging.
5/25/1857 Monday. Very warm, John finished planting corn to day. Malvina had another lesson.
JCH: Very warm. Finished dragging where the old barn stood also finished planting corn. Sold a bushel of corn for one dollar cut down some thistle.
5/26/1857 Tuesday. Very warm. John & I cleaned the cellar this morning along the wood shed.
JCH: Went down to the blacksmith shop & had four shoes set & the crow bar sharpened. Afternoon drew stone. Warm & pleasant, things are coming forward fast.
5/27/1857 Wednesday. Mr. Charles Thompson here afternoon. Cooked some for John to carry a fishing.
JCH: Drew a few stones. Charles Thompson called here. He killed two chipmunks one red squirrel that was around the house. We had a fine shower. Mr. Hawley & Dan Shepard called. Agreed to go fishing with them.
5/28/1857 Thursday. Vina & I making flowers all day. John started for Silver lake a fishing. Helen staid here all night. Ransom Shepard done the chores.
JCH: Cool with some rain. Mr. Hawley, Henry Showerman, Daniel Shepard & myself started for Silver Lake. Arrived there about noon. Hired a seine of Mr. J. Keaton & commenced about four oclock. Caught 300 by nine.
5/29/1857 Friday. Pleasant but cold. Twisting some cotton yarn for socks. Mrs. P. Showerman & I went to the village. I got Vinas bonnet, it cost her 17 ½ shillings.
JCH: Caught three hundred this morning & started for home. Sick of hauling in the rope. But had a good time. Cool & cloudy.
5/30/1857 Saturday. Pleasant. Malvina & I went up to uncle Nelson Hawley’s, but did not stay. Visited to uncle James Shepard.
JCH: Drew stone this for noon. Went up to a ball play at James Shepards. Had a good one Mr. Andrews just alive. Warmer to day with a prospect of rain.
5/31/1857 Sunday. We went down to the north schoolhouse to meeting at 5 oclock.
JCH: Had a fine shower last night. Warm but cloudy. Went down to the stone school house to meeting. Elder Kingsley preached.
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