Following is the set of footnotes associated with research of the transcription of the July 1857 diary entries by Lorette Shepard & John Hamilton. These footnotes are also interspersed and embedded within the transcription.
- watched ♢ Watching was commonly done in the 19th century, by a close friend or family. It was the earliest form of a Wake and done from the minute of death until burial. Often it was watched over to prevent burying someone who was still alive, to prevent rodents, and/or to keep a watch over the body’s soul until burial, and many other reasons in other traditions.
- Aaron Webster & Emily Bryan ♢ Aaron and Emily were two close friends of the Putnam family, and residents of Putnam Settlement. They married in 1862.
- Mr. Prestons ♢ Lyman O. Preston (1820-1899) was married to John Hamilton’s first cousin, Louisa F. Lord (1820-1901). The couple had two children in 1857, Norval 13, and William 11.
- Avon water ♢ Avon Mineral Springs as they were known, was compared to Saratoga Springs, NY, with springs with healing qualities. The Village of Avon had several high end hotels located in the vicinity. Read more about it at The Federation of Historical Bottle Collectors website fohbc.org.
- pretty baby ♢ Edith Maria Leonard was born May 9, 1857 in Pike, Wyoming County, NY.
- Miss Stevens & her sister ♢ This could possibly be Emily Stevens 17, and one of her sisters. They were children of Abial and Betsy Norton Stevens of Bethany.
- Dennis Chaddocks ♢ Dennis Chaddock (1796-1868), married to Lorette’s aunt Polly Shepard (1809-1882) lived on Chaddock Road in the southeast corner of Alexander, just west of Linden, and next to his brother Luther Chaddock (1797-1874)
- Elder Madden ♢ Loren James Madden (1825-1868) was a Free Will Baptist minister, born in Hilton, NY and preaching in Byron, Middlebury, and West Bethany. In 1849 he married Catherine Perry (1826-1863) in Jackson County, Michigan.
- O. Putnam ♢ Orrin Putnam (1810-1894) was married to Sophia Huntington (1820-1905) and they had six children. He was the oldest son of Peter Putnam, who had recently passed away, and Prudence Johnson who died in 1844.
- Mr. Levings ♢ Abel Levings (1797-1867) and wife Sophronia Willard (1796-1872) lived on Bethany Center Road, across from their daughter Mrs. Laura Levings Hamilton.
- Will Stewart ♢ William Stewart was married to John's sister, Adeline Hamilton around 1849.
- Sarah Shepard ♢ Sarah A. Bartlett (1818-1888) was Asahel Shepard’s second wife and they married around 1844 and had five daughters. She was a daughter of Stephen Badger Bartlett (1774-1830) and Anna Nurse (1782-1878) of Monroe County.
- Mr. Charles ♢ William Charles (1820-1891) born in England and married to Elizabeth Laramy also born in England in 1825, ran a blacksmith shop at the north end of Shepard Road.
- ??? ♢ Hiram Hamilton first came to Genesee County in 1825 from Hamilton, Madison County, NY. He and his wife Lucinda Lord belonged to the West Bethany Baptist church where in 1839 they purchased a pew.
- Mrs. Marsh ♢ Louisa (1814-1886) married Joel Marsh Jr. about 1834. Their children were Delos 22, Orlando 19, Eugene 16, Delora 12.
- Sumner Lawrences ♢ Sumner Lawrence (1830-1877) was a son of Henry Lawrence (1799-1840’s) and Relief Foster (1805-?) of Middlebury, Wyoming County.
- Mr. & Mrs. Read ♢ “Here to dinner” meant at Lorette’s parents’ house, as she and John were still living with them. Henry Reed (1796-1877) and Laura Sumner (1795-1881) of Bethany, were the parents of Mary Reed (1831-1891) wife of Leumuel Lincoln (1824-1870) also of Bethany.
- Elder Emmons ♢ Elder William Emmons (1814-1866) was a Methodist minister who lived in Elba, NY with his second wife, Caroline. First wife Mary Babcock died after childbirth of their son Albertis in 1845.
- Mr. Green’s ♢ Lorette was with Mrs. Clarissa Moore Calkins (1828-1921) went they went to visit their other friend Martha Green (1834-1918), daughter of Shubael and Abigail Green on Ellicott Street Road.
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Read the July 1857 transcription.
