Freegift Weils page 8

1863 (cont.)
12 Aug Made a division of shells that had brought back.
28 Aug /vtode a coffin forOscar Merchant "who died in a fit.
"
16 Sept Tried to split out some basket stuff from white oak but did not work well so went Into
woods hunting another tree.
17 Sept Thomas cut tree and brought it home.
21 Sept Worked several days splitting out oak splints tomake 3 eel pots.
23 Sept Got body of eel pots made but caused great pain in his hands and arms so could not
work and went into Infirmary until29 Sept.
1 Oct Have spent the a.m. and part of p.m. recording a dream.
7 Oct Cutting cherry boards for 3 dining room tables/ 2 are 10 ft. long/ 1 is 11 ft.by 3'7" wide.
9 Oct Worked on great chair for Sarah Dean, took off rockers and raised front 1/2"
17 Oct Made a last for stretching muskrat skins forlining India rubber boots.
19 Oct Set eel pot first time,,
baited with chicken inwards.
2 Dec Glued two boards together for table leaves.
8 Dec Oiled leaf and smoothed itby rubbing with a cork.

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1864

Jan. V\brking on the tables.
4 Jan Today we glued m the middle board of our table #1 1composed of 5 boards.
6 Jan Went to Albany-/ bought a pair of sheepskin gloves to sleep in and a wash-dressed lambskin
for a pairof slippers formy arms.
7 Jan Turned 50 pins for the ends of the tables.
9 Jan Finished trimming and smoothing the table and gave It 3 coats ofhot or warm boiled oil
and set it in the hall.
11 Jan Made a beginning to sring broom handles again. Made a new chuck and set a bit In it
for boring broom handles and Thomas had the illluck to bore itthrough his hand between
the fingers.
26 Jan Finished the 3d table and set it In the hall.
27 Jan Began a 4th table by glueing together boards.
30 Jan About 10 a.m. started forthe 2d Family on foot and visited there most of the afternoon.
31 Jan Stayed all night at 2d Family. At 10 a.m. attended meeting and South Family with us and
Sun. we had a very excellent meeting for these times. Stephen (Wells)'and Justice (Harwood)"
"both appear to have very near'their end in this world * "
3 Feb Took the 3 new tables to the dining room.
4 Feb Finished 4th table (& last) and took to dining room. "We are now rigged out with a full
set of new cherry dining tables. "
11-12 Feb Made a clock case. Thomas helping get out ice.
17 Feb "Made a quantity of patterns for Sarah Ann Wood."
23 Feb Stephen Wells'died.
27 Feb Finished a spectacle case for himself out of "turkey boxwood."
29 Feb "Freegift was taken with the cholic this a.m. and before noon was extremely distressed
and concluded Wiy hours in this life were-cry few. Had 9 or 10 spells ofpuking/ went
to the 2d House and took physick and an injection and got released from pain."
1 Mar "Poorly times,"
Next entry is
14 Mar "This day I have returned in the shop/ have so far recovered as to be able to take up my
residence again in the dwelling house. "
15 Mar Nothing done in the shop. Handsomewater for working up wood. "