Benjamin Hunt Diary – 1807
5th Jan. 1807, Went to Waggontown: lodged at John Hughes.
6th. rode about through that neighborhood collecting old debts. Eli Hunt, grandson of John Hunt and son of John Hunt, came to my house from Virginia. This night lodged at John Sloans.
7th. Got home.
Jan. 9th, 1807. Asher Hunt and Frederick Richards ‘came to my house from Bald Eagle Valley
15th. Eli Hunt from Virginia, Son James & myself went to Philad. in my cart; put up at Mr. Calvert’s North Fourth street. this night some rascal stole my cart cover.
16th In town.
Sfrth Stwt. this night some raskal
stole mv Cart Cover. 16th, m town.
17th. Returned home
1st Feb. About this time died Dr. Joseph Peirce’s wife, Amos Harvey’s wife, Wm. Thatcher and Abraham Williamson
6th. Most severe cold weather
12th: Caleb Hunt from Bald Eagle was here.
18th Feb. 1807: Benj’n Matlack died.
23rd: Caleb Hunt left here bound for Bald eagle.
26th. This day was on a Jury to Value some property of Wm Rogers deceased with John Graves, Esqr Tho. Taylor, Wm Sharples. Tho. Tucker Jabez Hoops, Jacob Righter, Eph Buffington, Wm Worthington Esq., Wm Eachus, Benj’n Miller and William Wollerton. Job B. Remington Brought his Mare to hay.
2nd March: Jabez Baily killed at Worths Mill by the Sawmill wheel the same place Where his Cousin was killed the sixteenthApril last.
5th: Cold snowy Weather since this month came in.
6th March 1807: Nathan Hunt returned
from Liverpool via Cork where they had
put in in distress and lay four months. There had a passage of about fifty days, very disagreeable.
7th. Settled with Job B. Remington and
recv’d payment of him in full for Rent
and boarding up to the twentieth last month
16th. Went with Nathan to Phllad. with my Cart to bring his Chest home went the turnpike on account of bad roads.
18th. Returned home: very cold weather for this time of Year.
22nd, Little Eli Hunt Started home to Virginia.
26th March 1807: This day I was present at the Marriage of thomas Baker and Sarah Massey at James Jackson’s in West Chester before John Graves, Esq.
30th: This night Isabella Pearce, wife of Cromwell Pearce, died in this town West Chester, likewise this night fell a pretty stour snow, the largest we have had this winter.
31st. This is a most terrible snowy blowing day.
April 1st. Snow drifts four feet deep. Such a first day of April has scarcely ever been seen here I believe, People in their sleighs.
2nd. Pearces wife buried: uncommon bad roads two o’clock. Isicles two feet hanging to the eaves. now comes on rain.
April 6th 1807: This morning Nathan and myself started to Philad.: roads in many places impassable with snowdrifts.
7th. in town: got Nathan in the ship Rebecca Capt. Barry, bound for London. he gets 16 Dollars a Mo.
8th. the Ship hawls off from the wharfand I return home.
Joseph James takes a part in my Stable till the first of August next, for which he is to pay me 6 Dollars.
12th: Wet, Snow Chiefly gone.
13th: Very wet day: Wind E. & N.E.
very high: wrote a letter to Thos. Francis, Virginia
16th. Went with my mare & cart to help David England move from West Chester to Marlborough.
18th: this night about. 11 O’Clock John
Hvtield the elder died in West Chester.
19th April 1807. this evenign Jemmy and myself started for Philadelphia with mare and cart to get Shad.
20th. bought Shad for $8 per hundred. I heard the Ship rebecca was returned from sea. went and found them out the wind that blew so hard on the 13th occasioned the ship to leak, the sailors got dishearted and refused to proceed. the consequence was they returned to Philad. and put six of the men in jail. Got home this evening.
25th. Recv’d a letter from Nathan in Philad. informing me that they had repaired the Sips upper parts a little and got a new pump in and expect to sail tomorrow.
26th. A great rain; thunder and lightning.
30th. Jabez Hoopes & John Patton sstars to the Westward for sheep.
May 1st 1807, George Cochran died at his house in West Chester.
3rd: Cold and Windy after thunder & rain & lightning night before last.
4th, Recv’d ten Dollars of D. Moore for one Years rent for room.
10th: this morning a white male infant child was found in the borough of West Chester in a piece of woods belonging to John Patton by George Worth and his Journeyman Cooper who was walking through the woods with a dog, the dog pulled it out from under an old stump, it appeared to have lain there a considerable time as it was in a very decayed State. John Lindsay’s wife derainged.
May 10th 1807, took my Colt to Joseph
Taylor’s.
11th. Went to Wilmington on my re-
turn paid Wm Dilworth for 5 busheis
apples got of him last fall at 1-3 per bushel, 6-3.
14th, Went to Philadelphia.
15th, Returned home.
17th. Charles Kenney and James McKenny started to the Westward.
20th, Went to batalion at E. Webbs: this morning frost.
26th: Jehu Robert’s Barn burnt by lightning this night.
27th: Valey John Hoops’s wife Buried. Obed Beaumont maried. Wrote a Letter to Nathan: sent it by the Eliz. Ann, Capt. Williams, for London.
June 1st 1807, Setled with Job B. Remington my acc’t with him to this date; iikewise settled for boarding Rent &c up to the 20th last month.
12th. Abraham Hoops & Joshua Scott died Suddenly.
14th, Went to Joseph Taylor’s, paid him five Dollars for Cutting my Colt and keeping these five week past.
16th, Caleb Marshall died.
18th. Charles Kenny & J. M’Kenny Returned from the Westward.
29th. Went to Robert Yearsley’s; paid him 32 Dollars in full for interest to 27th Instant.
30th: Daniel Sharples’s Barn Burnt with lightning.
3rd July, John Patton returned: left Jabez Hoops beyond Lancaster with 600 Sheep.
22nd: Benjamin Jacobs Buried.
24th: People busy at harvest.
25th: J. Righter reaping his field in the Borough of West Chester.
3rd. August, this evening Jacob Marshall died.
4th. put my mare to pasture.
8th: Edward Brinton Buried.
13th: A child of Thomas Evans buried at Uwchland. a very wet day: great deal of rain.
11th: A Child of Amos Warren’s died.
21st. Early this morning Wm Worthington’s Wife died (Goshen). Setled with Job B. Remington and recv’d payment of him in full for rent and boarding up to the 20th instant. Nelly, James & William went to John M’Gudgins.
August 29th 1807. Patrick Kirk, an Irishman. drowned in Amos Brinton’s dam.
2nd Sept. This night about eight O’clock Cheyney Jefferis’s Wife died.
11th, Paid John Thomas $5.50 per Cord for 4 Cord of Hickory wood delivered, amt. 22 Dol.
13th: A great quantity of rain with unusual hard thunder.
14th, Patrick Cannon’s wife died suddenly.
17th, Nathan arriv’d from London in 70 days.
19th, A child of Jas. Chamberlain died.
24th: Edge Taylor died. This day returned from Phila. with Nathan’s chest.
29th, Moses Pierce started for Charleston.
1st Oct., John Townsend left here.
Oct 2nd. 1807: Jonathan Davis drowned in B. Rees’s Mill dam.
14th. Went with Nathan to Phila. to draw his wages for last voyage.
15th, In town. this night Emmor Worthington, son of William Worthington of West Bradford, was married to Sarah White, Daughter of Wm. White of Kennett.
16th. This night got home.
19th. Went to Battalion at Henry Pelens in East Bradford, this day small spitting snow.
20th: this morning ice in a tub, the first I have seen, this fall.
29th: Jesse John. Sheriff, leaves the Jail and Titus Taylor succeeds.
31st, Benjamin Jefferis returned from Petersburg.
4th Nov. 1807: Isabella Entrikin, Daughter of George Entrikin of Crum Creek, buried at Sam’l Entrikin’s burying ground.
5th: Thomas Hare, Convicted of Larceny, Sentenced two and an half years to hard labour, has been but five Months since he came out of Philad. Gaol for serving two years for stealing a horse.
5th: Thomas Hare haveing cut his Irons off had like to have muade his escape by a rope and hook which he threw over the wall and had got almost to the top when his rope broke and he fell, his hook was seen by somebody outside who informed the Sheriff.
10th Nov. 1807, Was at the funeral of Peggy Hanthorn, wife of Isaac Hanthorn, Daughter of Henry Faucett & Hannah his wife.
Hth: Torn Hare went to Philad. John Welsh moves from Westtown to West Cain.
12th: This Evening John Townsend (Carpenter) Married to Hannah Warner at Jos. Miller’s Tavern in West Bradford.
17th, Zibah Vickers came to board with me at 11-3.
20th: Gheen died.
21st. Sent Billy to Wm Cain & Wm Weston’s for Money: got none. Went myself to C. White’s, G. Bradley’s & J. Thomas’s for Money: got none. Wrote a letter to G. Hoops requesting- the payment of Money.
21st Nov. 1807: Abraham Chandler died. Settled with Job B. Remington for boarding, rent & keeping horse up to the 20th Instant.
24th: Wm. Mann & Biney Beatimount Married at Ephraim Buffington’s in West Chester.
26th: Isaac Weaver & Fanny Pearce Married in Philad. they and above two couple all of the Borough of W. Chester.
2Sth: James Jefferis of East Bradford died aged 80 y.
16th Decm.. Went in Miller’s Stage with Nathan to Philad.
17th, Got him a birth on board Ship Ganges, Capt. Bray, bound for London Derry.
18th: this day his time begins at sixteen Dollars per Mo.
10th.I1 returned home.
23rd Dec. 1807: Ship Ganges halls off from the wharf.
25th: I hear the Ship is not permitted to proceed in consequence of an Embargo. Green Christmas, no Snow to be seen.
30th, Went to Philad.
31st. Got Nathan releas’d by paying back 11 Dollars of his wages.