Benjamin Hunt Diary – 1810
1st Jan. 1810: Fine warm weather for the time of year.
5th, 6th & 7th. still warm: very muddy
11th. Mud continued: very foggy this morning and warm for the season. I forgot to mention that Wm. was on the Sixth Jan. 1810 bound to Mr. Rasch for five years.
Jan. 17th 1810. Son James Goes to Wm Warner’s.
18th, 19th, 20th. Most shaveing Cold weather: some people says it has not been so cold these six Years and goes so far as- to say these fifteen Year*s.
25th: very Moderate and warm for the season.
1st Feb.: Cold again.
3rd: Most terrible snowv, Stormy Blowing day.
4th: Quite pleasant.
5th: Snow again.
24th: Fine weather over head these few days but most terrible roads.
5th March. this night an uncommon Gale of wind Blew down a large tree in Kingsington (Philad.) under which Wm Perm signed his first treaty with the Indians.
March 22nd 1810. Lydia Peirce and John Sugar Married at Bradford Meeting, Chester County. Wm Rose of Blockley township, Philad. County Buried. Ann Fawkes, wife of Richard Fawkes, Died.
4th Apr. 1810. left the tavern in Hamilton village and went over to Blodgets house in the bushes. Atkinson Rose Comes to the tavern with some of his goods, but could not bring his wife on acc’t or sickness.
5th: Rose’s Wife died.
6th. I went to the funeral.
5th May. Sold my horse to a man in Philadelphia for $135.
I omited mentioning mv taking a lot of Ground in Hamilton Village of Jos. Lehman and putting a house on it at my expense.
29th Apr. Began the house.
June 1st 1810. This day I hear that fourteen horses was kill’d with Lightning in the Road about 14 Miles from Lancaster, five in one team three in another, three in another & three In one other.
23rd Julv 1S10: Ann Atkinson Delivered of a son about 12 O’Clock at night.
28th. Eleanor Hunt takes stage for West Chester.
30th. Returned.
4th Aug.: Son James takes Stage for West Chester.
Sth: Moves into our new House in Hamilton Village.
13th: Son James returns from West Chester.
20th: Joseph Hunt’s Black boy Bill got one thigh broke.
23rd. Sent a letter to Virginia.
Sept. 3rd 1810. This day read an acc’t in the Newspaper of the Ship Ganges having been seen under Convoy Near Gottenburgh on the 9th July last.
Oct. 7th: 1 hear of the ship Grace Ann Green arriving at New York in 11 Days from London: left the Ganges there about the 20th Aug’t,
30th: Thomas Francis and Daughter Mary came to my house in Hamilton Village (from Virginia).
31st: Thomas. Mary, Nelly and myself went into Philad, John M’Goodin & wife came to my house.
1st Nov. this morning a trunk was found near my house on the turnpike: had been cut off from the Lancaster Stage. Thomas Francis and Daughter leaves here and goes to M’Goodins,
This afternoon Snow for the first this fall.
2nd: Snow all this day.
3rd: a fine clear morning: snow several inches deep.
9th: Nathan returns from his fifth voyage, having been absent sixteen Months and twenty seven days to Lon-don, St. Petersburg: froze up there from the 14th Nov. 1809 till 28th May 1810.
10th: this day went in town with him: a most terrible wet blowing day.
19th: Still wet: got his wages for 16 Mo. & 26 days @ 24 dol. am’t $404.80.
23rd. Snow all day.
3rd Dec. Snow this day
11th Dec’r 1810: William got his eye burnt by pouring hot lead into the spout of his teapot.
19th: this day I was informed by Thomas Burnett that John Huey’s oldest Boy, William, died on the 13th Instant, aged o Years and 3 Months nearly.
25th, Green Christmas, this morning, seven O’Clock. cloudy and like for falling weather: twelve O’Clock a beautiful clear warm day: nobody to dine with us. Boys all in town, Nathan, James & William.
28th: Very Cloudv, warm foggy weather: saw Richard Crane’s man harrowing
29th, Nathan & myself went into town and Nathan signs shpiping articles, ship Ganges, Capt. Day. $26 per Mo., Bound to Lisbon.
30th Dec’r 1810. Nathan. William and myself goes into town: we meet James and goes on Board the Ship laying below town: stay there on Board till they weigh Anchor and go down as far as the point, then came on shore with the Capt, and they precede to cross the barr in the evening I got home after Dark began to snow.
3tst: Snowing and blowing in the morning: in the afternoon more moderate.