NOTES FROM THE JOURNALS OF DAVID AUSTIN BUCKINGHAM, of Watervliet Church Famil
1854 - 1884
(On mlcroflim in NYS Library, originals in Western Reserve Collection, Reel #45)

* 1854
* 19 June Joseph Hodgson of 2d Family died at 3 a.rru of dropsy.
1 July Elders and deacons met to decide what to do about exposure of Henry Hanson's fraudulent
behavior etc. Agreed to expose him to public as to his forgery of letter& false statements
about going to England; also falsityof ribbon & penknife published in the TELEGRAPH
but not to imprison him.
5 July Ruth Johnson died. "So passes from the stage of action another of the good & faithful
souls, who have been in Zlon as strong & unmovable pillars from the first."
12 Sept Arthusa White died of dropsicle consumption. "Closed her existence on this mortal or
earthly shore and gone to explore the worlds above a "
31 Oct "The conduct of Mary Ann Bates has been such for many years up to the present time as
to disinherither from a night In Mother's house; she Is therefore advised to make her home
among those whom her works claim the nearest affinity. She Is directed to the Office to
stay until her articles ofclothing etc. can be collected & inventoried,, This afternoon,
about 2 o'clock, Jesse Harwood started with her to go to her parents, somewhere on Grand
Island In the Niagara River."
3 Nov Robbery - $15-16 counterfeit money taken from herb shop and $9-10 good money from
various places ($4 from farmers shop-, $4 from James Langridge, etc D ),spiritlevel worth
$10 D 50 fromJoiners Shop, 5-6 calfskins from shoemakers shop D
27 Nov C. Miller and Alex Youngs to Schenectady "to ferretout the thieves 0 "Think they have
some track of fellow or fellows who took the 20 bushels of corn from South Family,
28 Nov Search warrant served on Charles Soules & his father at Brandywine Mills. Son escaped,
found several of the calfskins,Nehemiah's hone, etcQ Old man claims innocence, blames
son. (See also account of this in notes from Ann Buckingham's Journals,,)
1 Dec D Caught Soules

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1855
1 Jan C. Copley and D D Sherman started west with garden seeds.
2-6 Jan Trial of Soules 0 C. Miller & N 0 White attended Sentenced to 10 years in Clinton.
9 Jan Charming Pre'ntiss
left on journey west with garden seeds, will meet C 0 Copley at Watertown
27 Jan "Oliver Prentlss of 2d Family settled off with Believers lastThursday and has gone to enjoy
what he can of the / world,
*
fleshand devil "
2 Feb Benjamin S. Young's health seems on the declines He has a bad cough."
Desire Harvvood at 2d Order Is verymuch afflicted with a breaking out, some like the salt
rheum. Itseems to pervade nearly all over her 0
14 Feb "Ephraim Prentlss returned from New Gloucester (Maine) to take up his residence in the
Valley. "
22 Feb Jesse & Justice Harwood went to Albany to get "another furnace for our meeting house
Mought itout next day (and Patentee also) to put up immediately inplace of old onec"
This Is Said to produce about as much heat as three ofthe ones we now have in use."
25 Feb Furnace heated up. Meeting House not as comfortable as anticipated or desired; about
58, the highest.
March DAB has been making set of wire harness for weavers to use En weaving palmleaf for bonnets.
Others are cutting wood; now he Is printing seed bags for the gardeners "as there seems
to be no one else to do it c "Also printing labels and papers for packing herbs, etc0
24 Mar Benjamin S0 Youngs died "In a very easy and quiet manner and has gone to meet with his
gospel friends In the other world." Funeral on 26th
Jesse Harwodtl built soapstone oven in kitchen.