Freegift Wells page 9

1 864 (cont Q
16 Mar Done nothing but a little writing but received a valuable present from the physicians
for my health and 1think itwill do me much good. "
17 Mar "No buzzing/ buzzing wood today. Had a fine visit from Elder David Hawkins. And 1
am not yet able to do much else but visit. "
19 Mar "The old man does not seem to get much better."
20 Miar "Freegift taken with another severe turn of the cholic which appeared to come near
taking my life . "
28 Mar "Returned again to the 1st house, having been to the 2d house since the 20th."
29 Mar "Went to the 2d <3r,der on a visit. Brother Albert took me."
30 Mar "Visited too hard and got very much exhausted and my cholic pains came on and 1 had a
very distressed night and returned home about 2 this afternoon."
4 Apr "Sylvester and others have been tearing away the cook works at the Office to replace
itwith a range."
5 Apr Albert and Neherniah went to New Lebanon and Thomas tool^fcare of the boys in their
absence and took inone new boy.
16 Apr "Freegift remains quite feeble, unable to do much except to read and write. Has had
4 turns of severe cholicbut itnow 12 days since the last turn which gives him some hopes
of a season ofreleasement. "
1 May Sun "Read my second testimony in our afternoon meeting. "
2,-May "Went to the 2d Family this afternoon on foot and returned the same w a y . " (He's 79 yrs.)
5 May Bottomed my big chair.
6 May Had a ride out as far as the railroad between Albany & Schenectady.
16 May "Having been unable to do any work of consequence since my last attack I have had
nothing worth recording." _ -_ ,
Great things in my absence. Elder Chauncey (Sop'ke^ transferred to the the Eldership at
2d Order. Brother Austin Bucking^a"ppointed his successor in the eldership, Brother Chas.
Brackett'is to live with him. Jesse Harwooa returns home from the 2d Order to live and
officiate with Chauncey (Miller) at the Office, and Sylvester (Prentissjtakes his place
at the 2d Order,
24 May Ohio Ministry arrive - Elder Aaron Babbit, Elder Cephas Holoway and Eldress Sally
Sharp and Eldress Naomi LIgier.
6 June Put up some pin boards in the Office,
Spends most of his days writing, copying sermons, letters of Charles D. Hampton, and
occasionally having spells of cholic,
Thomas Is mowing in the dooryard, almost cut end off his 3d leftfinger, painted a wagon.
4 July "It is now almost 5 p.m. and I have not heard the report of a cannon or gun throughout
the day. I do not believe that such a circumstance has happened before for the last
50 years on the 4th of July. "
6 July Went down to the river farm with Jesse, walked u p on the hill, saw the cattle and
sheep and got well tuckered out."
13 July "Finished off what is called a pair ofclothes tongs with 5 cross slats forSister Lydia
Annas at the Office."
(some pages missing)
20 Aug "Rode out as far as the watering trough or kettle forthe purpose of testing my bowels, and
find they will not stand jolting any better than they wouth1 two weeks ago today. "
22-Aug "Thomas cji\o)ghtsome watermelon thieves this morning and brought one boy with his melon
to the Office and^ after putting a chain round him and fixing him up for the state prison,
he confessed rousingly and exposed several others."
26 Aug Thomas has gone with Brother Charles to see his sick mother at Cl iftonPark.