Freegift Wells . page n

1865 (cont.)
18 Feb Visited Joseph and inquired what he had learned from Elder Peter about affairsat
Grove land.
22 Feb Begun to do light chores again. Sharpened 215 tacks for BrotherAlbert.
4 Mar The care of the mill is given toThomas Almond, 17 yrs and 8 mon. old " but he is a
smart fellow and I hope will always do well and honor his privilege by faithfully bearing
his cross to the end ofhis days. If he does this my blessing w i l l always
remain with him
and he will receive a rich reward for all hisbbors. Hush now--what have I been
writing! Likely as not he will get a peep at itsome time but surely I hope it will not
do him any hurt. "
11 Mar 1 have been grinding and polishing broken-pointed and dull-pointed sewing needles--
ground about 240 and have more to do. Have enjoyed better health this,week than'!
have for several months.
18 Mar Finished off a pair of oak whiffletrees ready "forironing. " We are informed that the
water In the Mohawk River rose up tothe windows of the second loft ofour house on
the island.
25 Mar Began work at altering the large table in the visitorsdining room at the Office.
Cutting it in two and making two tables of It,
31 Mar Finished the tables.
1-4 Apr More spells of cholic.
8 Apr Have recovered and "feelsomewhat like myself again and have begun to work a 1 ittle. "
15 Apr During past week have made a gown ladder for Catherine, a pair of hand slippers for
himself "with steel In the palm for an experiment to wear at night and see if itwill not
prevent the twinging and numbness with which I am much affected day and night.
Today made a thorough cleaning of our little room in the mill .
25-27 Bored and turned spools.
28 Apr Chauncey brought him 2 bbls of clams. Freegift helped shuck them--about 1500.
29 Apr M\ending window sashes. "Feel somewhat tired out. Hands and arms very feeble and
distressing, especially nights. "
23 Apr- Daily spells of cholic. Stays in 2nd House.
2 June
4 June Back from 2d House.
13 June Jesse took load of timber down to our new spring farm where they are going to build a
house and barn. On Aug. 19 he says "our Spring Farm beyond the Cold Spring."
14 June Planed out timber for a cellar window frame.
15 June Turned 20 spools for Lucy Fairchild.
16 June Distressing night with left leg and right arm.
27 June Cholic every day. "How long, oh how long, must 1 be thus distressed."
August In and out of 2d House with spells of cholic.
27 Aug Went on visit to 2d Order with Brother Joseph Pelham.
5 Oct Went to 2d Family and gathered 2 1/2 bushels of black walnuts. The next morning Thomas
wheeled them home, Freegift shucked them and got 3 pecks of nuts.
8 Oct Had short spell of cholic, first since Aug.
(There are no longer dail^entries.)
31 Dec "Had no turns of cholic since October ofmuch account but abundance of distressin my
hands and arms, including pain, throbbing, twinging, itching, a prickly feeling like
that experienced in the feet when asleep, and sometimes shocks like those received from
an electric machine." Since these take place increasing at night is deprived of sleep
and many times during the day his fingers are so numb he cannot hold a pen to write or
a tool to work with.
(END OF JOURNAL) (He did not die until 1871 .)