Benjamin Hunt Diary – 1808
1st Jan. 1808, Return’d Home.
12th: Ebenezer Worth died.
13th: James Gibbons, son of Thomas Gibbons, died, this night came on snow.
14th: Snow continues till about noon: in the afternoon clear & and windy.
27th: Wm Huey & wife came here: this Night snow.
28th: Richard Jones died, aged about 70.
30th, Went to Isaac Taylor’s, being Summoned bv the Sheriff (T. Taylor), together with Abraham Sharpies, “Wm. Bennett, Cheney Jefferis, Jos. Brinton, Sam’l Osborne. Benjamin Sharpies, Jesse Mercer, Sam’l Jones, Jacob Righter, Richard Jacobs and Philip Price to enquire whether he was noncomposmentus or not. the opinion of the Jury was that he was noncomposmentus and incapable of transacting business.
1st Feb. 1808: this day Court Begins, wet weather.muddy roads. Heard of the death of Elizabeth Walton, Daughter of Robert Yearsley.
2nd: Buried at Concord. George Hoops Sued Yesterday before John Graves Esqr.: stay of Execution till the first of May next. A Child of Joshua Jackson’s died.
7th: Meriam Ingram, wife of Wm. Ingram, died Suddenly.
9th or 10th Feb. 1808, Was on a Jury of enquiry at the Jail together with John Graves Esq., Jesse M’Call, John Lindsay, John Rinehart, Job B. Remington. Joshua Gibbons, Jacob Hains, Gid’n Williamson, Wm. Sharpies, Richard Jacobs & William Seal.
11th, Brought two loads hay from P. Prices, while putting on the Second load saw a parcel of hounds in pursuit of a Fox, hard upon him. I ran but before I came up the dogs had him dead.
15th: Martha Painter, Wife of Sam’l Painter, died.
20th: Snow. Settled with J. B. Remington and there appears a balance due him $19.12.
26th: Nathan goes to Philad. to go to School: a very Cold morning.
1st March. This night part of Brandywine Bridge fell.
2nd March 1808: Joseph James died at Dilworths Town.
15th: Abraham Woodward, son of Mary Baily, was found dead in Richard Woodwards fields but a few rods from the house, where it is believed he had lain above five weeks.
17th: Billy went to his uncle John’s.
18th: Eleanor Pennock died.
22nd. Andrew Byers Killed by the waggon going over him.
27th. Jane Gibbons, daughter of Thomas Gibbons, died.
30th. John Rankin leaves West Chester and bound to Byberry. Benj’n Jefferis and Frances Osborne Married in Philad. Dr. John McLaughlin to Benj’n Hunt for one years Rent $25. Dr. Benj’n Hunt to John M’Laughlin for Schooling $12.84 Balance recv’d of him this day, 12.16
Apr. 8th 1808. We have had fine Weather for the Season: this night Cloudy.
9th. Snow most all day: this night froze pretty hard.
10th. fine Sun shiny morning.
11th. wrote a letter to T. Francis, Virginia
13th. Jemmy & myself went to Philad.
14th, Bought Shad for %$ doll’s and
came home.
24th. This morning about one o’Clock Samuel Chamberlin died in West Chester.
29th: Wm. Worthington’s (little) wife Buried at Goshen.
28th: Samuel Osborne Married to Sarah Pvle
30th: Jesse Tharp killed by a Waggon loaded with wood passing over him near the little grave Yard on the barrens above Henry Hoopes, to use the Doctor’s language his death was occasioned by a partial Luxation of the spine, the consequence of a loaded waggon passing over his body. Ephraim Buffington, Esqr., Coroner: Jury. John Marshall (Kennet), Dennis Whelen, Jabez Hoopes, Emmor Bradley, Thomas Evans, James Miller, John Patton. Doct. Josiah Ankrim, James Ryan, Thomas Worth, Charles W. Humphrey, Esqr. & Benjamin Hunt.
30th: This Evening Betsey Hyfield Married to Tho. Williamson.
Sometime about the beginning of May a boy was killed in the valey by a Cart overturning.
11th May: John Marshall, son of David Marshall, died in consequence of a fall from his horse a few days before.
12th, Nathan return’d from Philadelphia.
17th: Charles Kenney Starts to the Westward.
18th May 1808: Ziba Vickers leaves the Store and Nathan Hunt goes to it in his place. Ann Welch (formerly Davis), Wife of John Welch, died in West Cain.
21st, Settled with Job B. Remingtnn and recv’d of him in Cash and Store goods S87.S5 for 3 Months past including 126.85 for one Years Interest on Bond. Samuel Cheney Buried
26th: Elizabeth Neilds died.
29th, Went to Philad. with Capt. Crow.
31st, Returned home.
June 3rd. Planted 10 rows potatoes, 4 bushels seed, at M’Clellans.
4th June: Hilly begins to right in the Registers office.
ISth: A man hung himself in the Jail. Dr. Moses Peirce died about seven O’Clock this evening.
19th: uncommon Cold for the season.
23rd June 1808: Charles Kenney returned from the Westward.
24th: Edward Thornbury buried.
29th: John Woodward the elder died in consequence of a fall from a load of hay. uncommon warm weather.
July 2nd. was call’d on by Benjamin Hickman to sign his last Will & Testament.
6th: Joseph Worthington Starts to Zeans Ville.
11th: Susanna Thornbury died aged about 92 Years.
30th: Eli Hunt, after night was thrown from his horse and pretty badly hurt in his left hip.
1st August: Henry Guest was killed by a fall from the Scafold at Gideon Williamson’s Barn where he was going to point (or paint).
6th August 1808. Joseph Taylor (the
elder) died about 12 O’Clock this night.
18th. John Walton’s wife died.
20th. Isaac Webb died.
24th Isabella Anderson died in West Chester.
30th. Joshua Vaughan d.ed
5th Sept. Benjamin Taylor died at his house at Kennett Square.
6th. Rebecca Embree died, wife of James Embree of Bradford.
11th: Mary Boulton died at Joseph Matlack’s in Goshen.
12th: Isaac Jackson died suddenly in his cart going to market.
14th: Job B. Remington Married to Hannah Pim. Eli Hunt, son of John Hunt. was here from Virginia, the Boys Nathan & James wrote letters to T. Francis.
20th: Sept. 1S0S: A severe storm of wind & rain, not having had any to signiy this six or seven weeks: it has been an uncommon dry time.
7th Oct.: Job Brings his wife home to West Chester.
24th: Sarah White died at West Chester.
3rd: Nov: James Jackson died at his huuse at West Chester.
7th: Paid Wm Worthington $6.75 in full for hay & drawing and likewise in full of all acc’ts.
15th: Jane Hannum died in Concord, Age about 90. Thomas Finney, an Irishman, died in Goshen, said to be occasioned by falling over a log in the dark.
6th Decm., Setled with. J. B. Remington for his Boarding, keeping horse, store house rent etc., up to the 20th last month.
20th Decm. 1808. Nelly Nathan. James and William. Thomas A: Sally Taylor Started for Philad.
23rd. Returned home: most terrible muddy roads.
25th, May be call’d green Christmass: a small skift of Snow. Job B Remington & wife dined with us. John M’Goodin Wife came here in the afternoon.
20th: M’Goodin & wife left here.