Benjamin Hunt Diary – 1803
Jan. 2nd 1803. This night fell a pretty large snow, the first we have had this winter of any account. , ,,
5th. this day thomas England and Mary Clemson laid their intentions of marriage before freinds for the first time. William England Jun. and Lydia Pierce came to my house. This night fella great rain; took away most all the snow; an uncomfortable long dull damp snow now gone..
January 10th 1803. This morning went to Sam’l McLean’s store; bought of him seven lb pepper @ 2-6 per lb: paid 17-6 in full. Likewise went to George Baldwin’s and paid him 5-7y 2 in full for Repairing my watch left with him some time ago. 12th. This dav went to Mathews tavern near Hybernia forge to a Constables Vandue.
13th This dav Wm Dawson informed me that he heard a frog peep, peep. peep.
14th. a very wet day. John Collins and Matthew Philips being sued came to beg time. I went to Squire McClellan but nobody appeared.
15th, a fine pleasant sunshiny day.
17th Jan. 1803. This Morning started to Wm Huey by Bradford Meeting house; turned aside ‘to Moses Marshall’s at his mill: then to Wm Smith’s; stayed all night.
I8th. Went to West Chester; stayed all night at Wm Sharples’s.
19th. Went to Wm. Huey’s; stayed all night: went to John Sharples’s to see my old step Mother, Susanna Hunt.
20th, left Huey’s and turned towards home by Eli Hunt’s. James Huey’s, and to West Chester: stayed all night.
21st. this dav rode home By Bradford: Dined at Margaret Marshall’s.
25th Jan. 1803. paid Alexander McFarson 4-6 for steeling my ax. and 12-2 for repairs done mv waggon some time ago.
31st. Went to Eli Shugert’s six Miles above Lancaster.
Feb. 1st. Returned home. .
3rd Went to West Chester: agreed with J. Miller & T. Tucker for their store House: gave mv obligations for £141,5s.
5th. This evening fell a small snow a little after night oame on rain and continued Drettv hard most of the next day.
9th. This day Thomas England & Mary Clemson appeared before friends at Bradford and continued their intention of Marriage.
16th Feb 1S03. Went to John Bicking’s paper Mill: this afternoon began to snow & continued to snow & blow all night (very cold).
17th. a great deal of snow on the ground. This afternoon Black Joe, playing some fool gaggery with a Gun, accidentally shot a cow for Owen Afflick, this evening lent Richard White twenty Dollars.
21st Went to West Chester Court. Wm. Hare was Indited for stealing ten Yds tee linnen from Aaron Davis, ten Yds linnen from Nathan Scholfeld Esqr. and tor breaking Jail, was Sentanced to undergo a Servitude of three Years at Philadelphia.
23d A. Young man in this neighbourhood of the name of Wm. Neally was killed at the falling of a tree.
24th. Feb. 1803. Thomas England & Mary Clemson was married at West Caln.
26th. got home from Court.
1st. March. Snow.
15th Met Caleb Brinton by Appointment at West Chester: articled with him for part of his house, to give him twenty seven pounds for one Year.
21st. paid John Withrow $2.19, Road tax in full.
23rd This a severe stormy snowy day. I had advertised a vendue but few people came.
2Sth. Vendue again.
21st. sent one load goods to West Chester
2nd April, sent another load.
7th Anril 1S03. Went with my family to West Chester. .
15th It has been fine pleasant weather for some time but dry this night snow.
16th. Continues cold and Spitting snow
17th. this morning snowing: ground not covered.
18th. went with my wife to Philada. to lay in fresh goods.
21st. Returned. .
25th. Opened my store in West Chester a cold rainy day. Benanuel Ogden’s Daughter died.
2nd May. Volunteers paraded, afternoon
Cool for the season.
3rd This Morning Ouite Cold. I am all but shivering as I write, people say there is frost.
4th. This Morning Richard Hannum’s Clover field White with frost.
5th. Rain.
6th Clear Windy and uncommon Cold.
May 7th 1803. This morning frost: went to the pump to wash: found hard ice in a cup.
8th. This morning whe I first peep’d out of my bed I was Surprised. I saw what had never been seen in the country by the oldest man: that was large flakes of snow falling and a considerable Quantity on the ground: the trees so loaded that the limbs broke.
9th. a pretty stout frost.
10th. Still frost.
23d Thomas Hoops Burled at Goshen. I suppose the oldest man in the neighborhood. This day supreme court begins.
June 1st. This morning started to Waggon town to Collect my outstanding debts in that neighbourhood: lodged this night at John Hughes’s in Waggontown.
2nd Went to John Boyds in Landcaster County: returned as far as James Entrikins: lodged with him.
June 3rd 1803. Came to Waggon town: stayed a while and started for Vanleers furnace: returned to waggon town; lodged with R. White.
4th Went to the turnpike a while; returned to waggon town; from thence home in the Evening.
5th. Wm Beaumont’s wife Buried at Goshen.
13th. Went to Philad. in the Stage.
15th. Returned.
25th Paid Caleb Brinton 18 Dolls, in
full for one Q’rs Rent.
July 4th. Volunteers met to celebrate Independence. Emmor Moore the Elder was at my house.
6th. Emmor Moore left my house this, morning to join his family fifty miles beyond Pittsburgh.
10th. Paid Robert Yearsley @28.66 in full fur Interest to this dace: from there went to Win Huey’s in Concord.
12th July 1803. Went to help Wm Sharpies Drawin wheat: in the afternoon a thunder Storm Struck Wm.Eachus’s Bam but did no greac Damage.
15th. one of George Entrikin’s Children died (Parkes woods).
17th. Went to Birmingham Meeting, to Peter Osborn’s in the after noon: in the evening came on a pleasant shower of rain, not having had any of Consequence these six weeks?
20th. I went to Philadelphia.
21st. Returned home.
22nd Went to Wilmington in company with Obed Otley to procure a Vessel to convey a number of us down the river towards Cape May.
27th We left home and went to Wilmington and went on board the Sloop Harmony, John Robinet Master: we were about twenty ;n Number, their Names as followeth: Benjamin Hunt, William Sharpless, Ann Sharpies his wife, Ruth Mendenhall. Jabez Hoops, Davis Powell, Jesse Mercer, Thomas Howell, Charles Howell. Obed Otley, Joshua. Hunt, James Hunt, son of Benj’n Hunt aged about 10 Years, Lydia Hains, wife of Jacob Hains, John Williams Jesse Chandler, William Townsend and Mary his wife, Joseph their Child, about seven Years old, Abigail Sharpless wife of Benjamin Sharpless, Rachel Gray, John Shugart.
2Sth. Loose,; from the Wharf and sailed down the River as far as Egg Island that night; stayed there most of the noxt day: in the afternoon Weighed anchor and stood down the River.
29th. Got on Shore near Cape May.
30th. Went to Cape Hand: stayed
there and thereabouts till fourth day
the 3rd nf August; then we stood across the Bay for Lewis town: got on shore there on fifth day, the 4th of August, and went to the light house: then we came to Lewis town, some of us got Dinner and went on board, our Captain remained on shore till the last boat load then came on board so Drunk he could hardly keep his feet, leaving three of our Men on Shore, he was scarcely on board kili he ordered the anchor up and go to Sea: it then looking as if it would blow a hurricain, and blow it did in a few minutes, and away we went for sea everything in disorder, after some time we wore and stood in again and so.m came to anchor, next morning we stood into shore for our three men and then, August 5th we stood up the River for Wilmington: got as far as the pea patch that tide, next day the 6th got to Wilmington wharf: in the evening got home,
7th. Elisha Green’s Barn Burnt with the lightning.
3rd Sept. 1803. John Harper died at Dilworths town.
4th. Buried at Cheney’s burying Ground.
6th. Went to Philad.
7th. Returned.
9th. Democrats meet at Pearce’s to form their ticket for the General Election.
12th. Paid Ephraim Bulnngton 1 Do,. 73 Cents in full for County tax to this date.
24th Sept 1803. Went to Caleb Brintons; left IS Dollars with ms wife, in full for one Q’rs Rent.
16th. Oct. Went to Philadelphia.
IS. Returned.
25th. Samson Derry & Teany Watson marryed.
1 30th Oct. William Gibbons Died this night about ten o’clock.
10th Nov’r. Charles Humphrey Came to board with me.
18th. Richard Baker Died.
19th. Richard Buffington Died
20th R. Baker buried at Bradford. Thomas Francis, his wife and Daughter Polly came to my house from Virginia.
21st R. Buffington Buried at Bradford
21th. Thomas Francis left here to go to Wm Huey’s in Concord,
8th. December 1803. Richard Williams (Barber) came to board with me @ 10-6.
12th. Emmor Bradley came to board at 10-6 week if he or we Choose to move at the end of three Months, but if we continue together the Year he pays L27. this Day old John Chamberlain Died at his house in West Chester.
16th This day let the South Corner of my Store house to Richard Williams (Barber) that is to say from the corner to the Queens Ware Shelves, 5 feet 9 inches & along the same 11 feet, for which he is to pay me six Dollars for 3 Months & he is to be at the expense of making a Door through the corner and putting a partition across at the length of eleven feet above said, & he shall leave the window as good as he finds it; and if any damage should happen to the Queens Ware bv any misconduct from his side of the partition he shall make it good. This day went to Wm Gibbons Vendue
17th Dec’r 1803. T. Francis. Wife and Daughter Returned to my house.
18th. John McGudgin and wife came to mv house.
19th. Thomas. Polly & Daughter John McGudgin & Betsey & Nelly started to go and “see their Father.
2iith This dav I went to Waggon town to Collect old Debts.
24th. Returned home: wet Weather. Muddy Roads.
25th. Green Christmas, this night fell a little snow: very muddy roads.
29th. Fifth day morning: Thomas Francis started for home.
31st. This afternoon William Huey and wife came here.