Creator

Purdy, Horace, 1835-1909

Title

Horace Purdy Journal, June 1860 Entry

Date

1860-06-01

Description

6pgs

Subject

Danbury (Conn.) -- History.

United States -- History -- Civil War, 1861-1865 -- Personal Narratives.

Brother Pegg

Father Griswold

Gussie Purdy

Harriet Griswold Wheeler Stevens

Harriet Purdy

Hat Finishers Association

Phoebe Palmer

Purdy Family

Publisher

Western Connecticut State University

Abstract

JUNE 01 – FRIDAY – I left my work in the shop with the promise of getting it tomorrow and left for Ridgefield for Mr. Crofut to get Aunt Mary for a nurse, but she had been exposed to the small pox so I could not bring her home with me. I went to drill in the evening. JUNE 02- SATURDAY – Windy in the forenoon. Having yesterday’s and today’s work to do in the shop kept me nearly all day at work. I came home and hoed my peas and worked around home. We went out in the street in the evening but did not get there soon enough to meet Harriet who came on the train and took a ride out to Mill Plain with Mr. Beatty to deliver a passenger before he delivered her to her home. We did not go up to see her as it was too late. JUNE 03 – SUNDAY – It was 7 o’clock before we rose this morning, we being very tired last night. The day has been pleasant. Brother Pegg preached good as usual. Mrs. Pegg’s father and mother are visiting them and were at church. The text in the morning was John 11. He used the first clause of the 39th verse. In the PM, Job 34:29, the first clause of the verse. I was sleepy during the afternoon service for the first time since he has preached here. It was a misfortune of my own and not the preaching which was good, what I heard of it. After tea, we were getting ready to go up home to see Harriet. Mr. and Mrs. Gilbert from Derby. Mrs. Pegg’s parents, but fortunately, they were on their way up to see Father and Mother Purdy, so instead of it putting us to any inconvenience, it was a pleasure for us to accompany them up home. They started early to church with Mother. Gussie and myself waited until church time before we went. JUNE 04 – MONDAY - I took our sickle to the shop in the morning to grind it, but there being no work, I returned home and cut my door yard grass and put on a final coat of paint on the south side of my house. After tea, we put Frank’s plants in her mounds and borders over home. There being prospects of a shower, I hastened downtown to Benedict & Nichols. After I came home, I found that one of the pieces of meat smelled bad. I hastened back with it and exchanged it for another. JUNE 05 – TUESDAY – Cloudy all day, but no rain of any account. I had work nearly all day in the shop. After I came home and before tea, I took some straw over to Dr. Benedict’s and cut it with his hay cutter and covered the ground around my strawberry plants so that the berries will all keep clean. I went downtown and paid Noah Hoyt the bill I owed him -$1.75. I also paid Norris, the butcher, $1.27 that I owed him. I went to the cars when the train arrived to meet Father and Mother Griswold just for the General Conference in Buffalo, New York. Gussie had tea ready for them when they came. They seemed to enjoy their tea with us very much. After tea, we went over home with them to talk a short time and unpack. We stayed until after prayers and the came home to retire. JUNE 06 – WEDNESDAY – I went over to Dr. Bennett’s before breakfast to cut some more straw to put around my strawberry plants. We have been very busy in the shop on small Pearl hats. Rowena Pease and her husband called on Gussie and her folks today. Her husband’s name is Pease also, her own cousin, I believe, and an officer in the army. I went to market in the evening and was rather late to class. Gussie did not attend as she was too tired. JUNE 07 – THURSDAY – Warm and showery with a south wind in the AM and a hard shower in the afternoon. The wind got around in the west before night and the sun shone brightly. The evening was beautiful. We went to market, but it took so much of the evening, that we did not get to the Prayer Meeting. I have all the work that I could do in the shop. Mr. Smith paid to Gussie his last month’s rent today - $4.00. Augustus Seeley was married this PM to a Miss Hoyt. JUNE 08 – FRIDAY – Pleasant in the morning. A thunder shower before dinner. Showery in the PM. Plenty of work again in the shop today. Judge Culver gave a political address in the evening. The Wide Awakes turned out in the evening in a torch light procession. I went to drill in the evening, but the Captain dismissed us early, so I came home for Gussie to go down to see the procession. She went and was pleased. JUNE 09 – SATURDAY – Pleasant, but cool for the season. The work in the shop not being ready in the morning, I went up to Main Street and bought a new silk hat on credit for a few days - $4.00. I was rather late home from the shop. After tea, Gussie and I went down to market. I took a letter from the Office for Father Griswold and also one for Harriet Purdy. JUNE 10 – SUNDAY – Cool for the season, more like September or October than June. Text in the morning by Brother Pegg, Luke 23:52. Sabbath School Missionary meeting at noon; Sacrament in the PM. We were asked to go up in the choir and help sing in the morning, but we refused. We expected Harriet Purdy to tea, but she did not come. We went over to Abel’s and sang a little before church. We attended in the evening and Abel, Harriet, Gussie and myself went up into the choir and helped them by the urgent request of Peter Starr, the chorister, thought we much preferred to sit downstairs. Brother Pegg preached from 1st Timothy 1:19. Subject, “The Shipwreck of Faith”. JUNE 11 –MONDAY – Pleasant but cool. I have had a severe headache today. Our foreman being in a great hurry to ship some hats which we were at work on, I stayed until the lot was finished and were paid off, then went into the street and paid Charles Sanford $4.00 for a hat I bought of him last Saturday and then came home. Harriet Purdy called a few minutes on her way to her church. I did not go out in the evening, except to walk up to the new street between Barnum and Olmstead with Gussie. JUNE 12 – TUESDAY – Warmer today. I spaded up the flower bed beside my piazza before breakfast. I worked in the ship until after sundown and earned $3.62. I came home very tired. Harriet Purdy spent the PM with Gussie and took tea with us. We had a fine dish of strawberries from my bed. Father Griswold came home this morning on the train and mowed his front yard before night. I had intended to mow it for him but could not get the time. I went to market in the evening. JUNE 13 – WEDNESDAY – I hoed my lima beans and set out the poles before breakfast. I had work all day in the shop. We had class in the evening. Brother Cosier led the class, Brother Starr being absent. JUNE 14 – THURSDAY – I worked in the shop as usual today. Julia Pine helped Gussie clean house. It was late before she finished. I helped tack down the carpet after I came home. We both retired very tired. JUNE 15 – FRIDAY – I had to wait some time for work in the morning. A trial of several different mowing machines was had today by their agents, near Deacon Beard’s just east of our village. Gussie went up home in the forenoon and stayed all day. I came home from work and got my own tea and went to drill. Mr. Horace Crofut, our old tenant became the father of a 7 lb. boy this afternoon about 5 o’clock. JUNE 16 – SATURDAY – Warm and dry. A shower passed over us in the PM and sprinkled a little but not enough to lay the dust. I hoed in my garden before breakfast. We had a fine mess of strawberries for tea. We gave some to Mr. Smith who lives upstairs and also some to Harriet Wheeler. Mother Griswold called just at dusk, and Gussie and myself made a call with her to George Starr’s. JUNE 17 – SUNDAY – Pleasant and warm. Mother Griswold called in and walked down to church with us. Brother Pegg preached in the morning from 1st John 3 and the first clause of the 2nd verse. The text in the PM was Galatians 5 and the latter clause of the 6th verse. I had a severe headache all day. Mother Griswold and Harriet Purdy took tea with us. Gussie wrote a letter to Cornelia Post in Essex. We mailed it with two others for Harriet on our way to church. The Prayer Meeting was a good one. Mr. Wing from Goshen was there and we spoke with him after the meeting. JUNE 18 - MONDAY – Foggy in the morning, but pleasant and warm during the day. We have been stinted in our work in the shop today on $2.50. After I finished my work in the shop, I went up to Mr. Weiss’ and got some winter cabbage plants and set them out after I came home. It was dark when I finished. JUNE 19 - TUESDAY – I worked in the garden before breakfast. The morning was cloudy, but the sun soon made its appearance for a short time when it became cloudy and we had some rain. The sun shone again before night. We were stinted again on $1.87. When I came home, I found Gussie picking strawberries. I helped her. We picked about 4 quarts and gave Mr. Smith a dish of them and Harriet Wheeler also. After tea, I painted the ceiling to my stoop and then went to market. JUNE 20 – WEDNESDAY – Rain last night. Cloudy, rainy and some sunshine during the day. We have been stinted again today on our work in the shop. Another house was entered last night on Rabbit Hill and a watch taken. After I came home from the shop, I painted my piazza until tea time. Stormy in the evening. I went to market but was late to class meeting. The Universalist Strawberry Festival came off at Concert hall this evening. The weather being stormy, I think their attendance must have been small. Harry Thompson died this morning about 7 AM. JUNE 21 – THURSDAY – I went to the shop this morning and finished up one dozen hats. That being all the work to be done, I came home. Mother Griswold took dinner with us. In the afternoon, I mowed my dooryard. Harriet Purdy took tea with us. We had a fine lot of strawberries form our vines, about two quarts. Harriet relished them every much. There was nearly a bowlful left which we sent by Harriet up to Mother. After tea, I worked about the yard until dark and then went to market. I saw Charles Stevens. He gave me the certificates which Martha brought him from New York for Clark Beers and myself. They should have certificates of Life Membership in the Parent Missionary Society, but for some reason, they were filled out for the New York East Conference Missionary Society, $10.00 each instead of the $20.00 for the Parent Society. They were sent by Charles Stevens, Jr. He sent to me also another Librarian’s Account Book as I requested. Harry Thompson was buried this afternoon. JUNE 22 – FRIDAY – A pleasant day. I went to the shop and finished one dozen hats. That being all there was to do, I came home and painted the north side of my house. Harriet came down and helped Gussie sew and stayed to dinner and tea. We had strawberries for tea as usual I attended drill in the evening. JUNE 23 – SATURDAY – Warm and pleasant. We have had two dozen hats today at the shop. I came home in the PM and copied the Sunday School classes in a new account book. I worked in my garden. I was so busy that Gussie went to market in the evening. She brought home the news that the houses of Theodore Benedict and Oscar Serine on West Street were entered last night by burglars. JUNE 24 – SUNDAY – Warm and pleasant. Burglars to the number of five tried to enter last night the houses of P. A. Sutton and Widow Sherwood on Deer Hill Street about 12 o’clock. Dr. Bennett and his son, William, saw their maneuvers for about an hour when they were about to enter the houses and they gave chase to them but they could not catch them. Nearly every night they are entering and trying to rob some houses. They have been caught at it several tie but as yet, no one has been able to recognize them. They are either masked or it is too dark. It is causing a great sensation in our village and many persons are arming themselves. They will get in the wrong man’s house yet and will get dealt with as they deserve. They ought to be shot down like dogs and will be yet in they are not careful. The people are getting so that they are afraid to leave their homes by day or to retire by night and they have certainly cause to fear. The Ridgefield minister Joseph Smith preached for us today. He and brother Pegg exchanged pulpits. Text in the AM was Psalm 16, first clause of the 8th verse. In the PM, Acts 16:29-31. He is a good preacher but different in his style from Brother Pegg. Harriet Purdy and Mother Griswold took tea with us. Clark Beers came over before tea and helped me pick strawberries and I gave him a mess to take home for his tea. We attended church in the evening. George Andrew’s son-in-law, Mr. Hill from New Jersey preached. Text John2:25-25. He is a Baptist preacher. The sermon was good. JUNE 25 – MONDAY – I worked in the shop as usual today. G. M. Southmayd’s shop was burned today. The burglars were out again last night. They tried to enter Mr. Sutton’s and Mrs. Sherwood’s houses again and also Mr. McDonald’s. I borrowed a gun of Dr. Bennett so that I could be ready for them if they came around this evening. JUNE 26 – TUESDAY – A man was arrested last night, but not finding anything against him, he was liberated this afternoon. We have been hurried in the shop today. The weather has been very warm. David Knowles called on me at the shop and came home with me to tea. I came around by way of Wooster Street and got some celery plants for Father Griswold. David and I set them out for him. In the evening, I went downtown with Gussie to do some trading. JUNE 27 – WEDNESDAY – Warm and pleasant. I have been very busy all day in the shop. There was a fight yesterday in the PM or evening between some Irishmen and a German on River Street. The German was cruelly beaten to death almost. Mr. and Mrs. Knapp came over in the evening. I left them m with Gussie and went downtown with Abel. JUNE 28 – THURSDAY – I rose a little after 5 o’clock and brought water from Father Griswold’s hogshead for Gussie to wash with again, the second time this week, as she wanted to wash everything she could before she went away. I finished up my work in the shop before night. In the evening, I went shopping with Gussie to fit her out for her visit. I had my measure taken and a shirt cut by the shirt maker this afternoon. It has been a very warm day. JUNE 29 – FRIDAY – A very warm day. I think the warmest we have had this summer. I worked in the shop as usual. Mother came down in the PM and took tea with us over to Mother Griswold’s. I went to the drill room in the evening and got excused after the roll was called and went to a special meeting of the Hat Finishers’ Association. The Wide Awakes turned out in a torch light precession in the evening. Gussie spent the most part of the evening in packing up her trunk to go to Essex in the morning. We both took a bath in a wash tub before retiring. JUNE 30 – SATURDAY – We rose a little after 4 o’clock. Gussie went over home and helped her mother get breakfast and we both ate there. Mr. Beatty came up for her and she in company with her father started for Essex. I went to the depot to see them off, after which I went to the shop. I worked hard and rather late. I am boarding with Mr. Baxter across the way. I went there to tea for the first time. Afterword, I hoed a little in the garden. I went down town for a short time in the evening.