VB-315 Reel 47 Polly Vedder's Journal - CF page 2

1836 (cont.)
T^3 Mar (SunJ "This evening we had a sorrowful union meeting expecting itto be the last we should
have with our good brother Freegift." /s^i^f
14 Mar Frederick Is tolive with Eider Brother, Chauncey to go to the Office to work with
William and Jesse Harwood to move from NF toCF and live with Francis as family
deacon in place of Chaancey Copley.
15 Mar Freegiff has moved to the NE chamber of the office and will remain there until th e
weather allows him to start on his journey to Union Village.
25 Mar "['have varnished 44 bonnets today."
Frederick splitpalm leaffor the firsttime - split 50 leaves.
28 Mar Benjamin Train has gone to the NF to live.
29 Mar Brother Aaron Wood. ^died. 81 yrs. old.
30 Mar "We attended Bro. Aaron's funeral. Our meeting lasted 55 min. All the elders
spoke and Bro. Freegift spoke some. We sang 4 songs. There were 15 sistersfrom
the CF and the chief part of the brethren."
1 Apr NF is planning to build a dwel ling house 54 x 40'.
5 Apr Sylvester Prentiss andGeorge Parks have come here to live.
9 Apr This day has been spent in packing Freeglft's clothes forhis journey.
10 Apr Patience C-ha.se. died, "the 9th day after she was taken." f^i^/^C
LastThursday the SF had their horses stolen and today Asa (Seaton) has returned with
them. Hel understand he found them not far from Little Falls buthe did not catch
the thief.
12 Apr Freegift left. '"This was a sorrowful day; itwas hard to part with our good Elder
Freegift."
13 Apr I understand the horse thiefis caught and put in jail.
15 Apr 7^ Betty Lane died. "She has been sick several months."
22 Apr "William Low was found laying at the door crying for mercy. He wanted to know if
he could have another privilege."
26 Apr Chauncey took 12 doz. bonnets to NY, 6 doz. without capes.
Noah Bigelow has gone to NF to live.
The little elm treeplanted by Mother Ann's grave has been cut down.
29 Apr V0 Charles Bracket? has given up the hogs and taken to shoemaking. Chauncey Miller
has taken the hogs.
The sisters have woven 135 bonnets this week, put 104 together, caped 94 and lined
and bound 51 .
4 May "We have been told that we should lay our knife and fork by the side of our plate when
we have done eating."
15 May (Sun) Vvfe attended meeting at the Meeting House with the PortBay elders and Enfield brethren.
"After meeting the Elders came up into the garret and visited us."
(This would indicate that the sisters wholived in theOffice to take care of visitors
slept on the top floor and leftthe lower floors tobe used as guest rooms. The kitchen
and dining room for guests was in the basement.)
7 July S'ar'ah/Fairchildis brought home from the Lebanon CF where she has been since Dec. 31 .
9 July Joseph Mortimer of Albany came out and left his two daughters.
10 July The younger Mortimer girl has the measles.
18 July "Elder Ruth thinks it is best for
me to give up the burden of the bonnets to Lucy Fair-
child and El izabethSea ley and even so I w i l l
do. " (However, she didn't seem to.)
25 July NF dwelling house raised today. Itis 41 x 55. There were 46 men had dinner there
and nearly as many for supper. The sisters went to provide victuals and drunk, taking
bread, cakes and pies.