1780 Diary Fragment by a Farmer in Norwich, Connecticut

Norwich, CT: 1780. Bifolium, 12.25 x 8”, [4] pp of ink manuscript. Numbered pages 90-93 at upper corner. A fragment of a diary kept between April and September, 1780, by an unknown farmer in Norwich, Connecticut. The text includes frequent mentions of the weather, agricultural work, and attending meeting, where the author heard a “Mr. Throop preach” (Throop’s biblical source material is often noted as well). This is likely a reference to Revered Benjamin Throop of Norwich:

“Friday ye 21 being clear I went to Lebanon with a lode of goats…Sunday ye 23 being I had a child born & went to meeting & heard Mr. Throop preach…I mended fence…I plowed…heard Mr. Throop preach from Jeremiah…”

The writer also mentions working for several other men of Norwich, including Joseph Eames, William Egerton, and Samuel Abell. One entry for May 19, meanwhile references “New England’s Darkest Day”: “Friday ye 19 being cloudy & ye darkest day ever known in America I went to mill.” The writer also goes to Goshen and Lebanon, attends a raising, and goes to the funeral of a Reverend Partridge. An intriguing note at the end reads “From the 24th of September 1780 to January 5 1785 my Dyra is silent. Except some short minutes while I was abroad being called abroad to serve my country made it difficult.” Toned and damp stained, with creasing and tearing to upper margin, couple of holes to paper. Item #13757

Price: $250.00