The earliest journal found so far is that kept by Jethro
Turner from April 1813 to Nov. 30, 1817. His entry for 26 Oct
1813 tells that "the brethren go to work on the highway to clear
out a new road to Troy."
Other entries of intererst are:
Spring 1814 They drive young cattle to Stephentown to
pasture for the summer.
8 Dec 1814 Decide to buy Winne farm.
10 Dec 1814 Agree to buy Thomas Staats ' farm - actually
swapping it for a afarm they own in Cherry Valley plus
$3000, of which they give h im $2000 when the deeds
are executed.
17 Jan 1815 Families get new titles. 1st family in
Church now called First Order; 2d family called Second
Order; what has been called the "Families Order" is
now called Second Family.
11 Feb 1815 Pay Staats last $1000 for River Farm.
25 Mar 1815 "A man with a span of horses and wagon drops
a second man near the front gate by the blacksmith's shop and
goes off and leaves him. With much difficulty the man got to the
Office where the brethren and sisters clean and clothe him and
minister to his necessities. He says his name is Luther Morse
and that he belongs to the Province of Maine, that he has seven
children, his wife is dead, and he has been a prisoner in
Montreal. That he was exchanged and has been sick for nine
months in a hospital in Sackets Harbor. On his trip from there
he was taken cold and had a relapse of camp fever." The next day
they sent for a doctor but the man died about 9 p.m. On the 27th
a CF brother goes to the other families to come and help bury
the dead man and they give him "a decent burial." (Luther is in
Row A of the Cemetery, the row of those who were not Shakers.)
14 Apr 1815 "The little constable Hocknell comes again to
take some of the brethren to jail for not paying muster fines
but, not knowing the brethren, he misses his aim, the brethren
that were liable being then at the sawmill. Benjamin Train, not
being in the warrant, starts out of the mill apparently in a
fright in order to decoy the constable. Hocknell, seeing this,
chased after Benjamin and they had a severe race. Benjamin
slacked his pace and let him come up with him after he had drawn
him away from the mill. Benjamin then informed him that he was
not either of the brethren that he was after, so Hocknell went
off. "
5 Jun 1815 Brethren assemble after dinner "to hear the
boys confess their wickedness."
28 Nov 1815 Hauling cherry from Stephentown and walnut
from Greenbush for dwelling house'.-
3 Jan 1816 Ministry and elders agree to move Office to
south of Meeting House so dwelling house can be placed where
office now stands.
23 Jan 1816 Went to Watervliet Arsenal and borrowed ropes
and tackles to move Office.
5-10 Feb 1816 Move Office by tackle - no teams.
25 Jan 1817 Deacon Peter and Abijah go and see Dunbar,