Transcription of W.B Austen Diary, 1821
DAR.1937.21, Darlington Collection, Archives & Special Collections
University of Pittsburgh Library System
Transcribed by David A. Ohliger, April, 2020
Additions and Corrections are appreciated; please contact the Archives &
Special Collections Department using the Ask-An-Archivist online form at
https://www.library.pitt.edu/ask-archivist
Digital Page 5
View of Penwortham Hills of the River Ribble near Preston in Lancashire.
Digital Page 7
Journal, leaving England for America.
Crossing the Atlatnic.
Digital Page 8
Names of People in England
to whom I have promis’d to
write after having been in
America a few months.
Miss Farncombes, Mr. Dixon
Mr. Kennedy Mr. Manley
Mr. Thorn Mr. Sutton
Mr. Davis Mr. Camp Mr. Ed-
wards Mr. H. Patching
May the 21st 1821 pass’d through
the custom house without any
difficulty by showing some
receipts of rent & tythe paid
at different dates & to differ-
ent people a few questions ge-
nerally ask’d as to where you
last lived & what business carried
on bring a certificate from the parson
of your parish sign’d by the overseers
Digital Page 9
Left Brighton the 11 of May at
four in the afternoon arrived at
Ditchling the same evening left
for Downland the next morning
at nine, arrived at Downland at
one in the afternoon left for Lon-
don the 15th arrived the same
evening, call’d on Mr. Nat. Beard
at Bromley the 16th started on
the coach for Liverpool at five
in the evening reach’d that place
at 7 oclock in the morning the 18th
took my passage for new York in
the ship Euphrates Captain Stod
dart, was under weigh at 2 in the
afternoon the 22nd passengers a lady
with three children a man and his
wife with one child 2 Irishmen one
man from the north of England a
young Gentleman from Cumber
land my bed mate and self
by the 25th had reach’d 550
mile at 5 in the afternoon
Digital Page 10
26th 27th 1820 had made 900
miles 29th a breeze blew up at
twelve in the forenoon from the
South west & were then sailing
seven notts an hour, there not
being any cabin passengers the
dining room or aft was fitted up
for the steerage which was so
comfortable we were almost like
being in the cabin 1 lady very
sick from the time of sail
ing till the present date
burden of the Vessel three Hun
dred & sixty five tons a very
fine fast sailing ship. 30th
a gale of wind and rain blew up at
1 oclock in the day & continued till
12 at night it is awfully grand
to see our fine vessel gliding
through the Ocean with si-
Digital Page 11
lent majesty, at one moment
rising on the top of a mountain-
ous wave, then plunging her bow
into the surges below, the lady
still sick – the waves continually
dashing over the ship on all
sides – 31st wind W – sailing
3 notts an hour saw a good many
black fish about the size of a
small boat – at half past eight
in the evening a heavy gale blew
up from the SW which lasted
till 12 at night with a good deal
of rain, it was quite a hurricane
the seamen were troubled to
get down the sails fast enough
to prevent their being torn
which however they did with
-out any accident –
Digital Page 12
Friday June the 1st 1821 –
a fresh breese in the morning
we were sailing at the rate
of 3 notts an hour, but not
in our right road to America
at 8 in the morning a big came
within a hundred yards of us, but
the sea was so rough could not
speak to her with the speak
ing trumpet, we saw another
brig to the Leeward of us 2 or
three miles – yesterday saw a
ship a brig & a bark 5 or 6 miles
to the Leeward – at 10 this evening
passed a vessel close alongside
another gale sprung up at
this time and lasted till morning
from the NW – the lady still
sick – Saturday 2nd a blusterous
day a good deal of wind with
storms of rain frequently –
Digital Page 13
wind NW = Hurricanes all night
Sunday the 3rd Wind W=S=W. Hur-
-ricanes all this day increased
very much in the night so –
heavy the seamen employed the
whole of it in shifting the rig-
-ging, none of the passengers any
sleep all night, (illegible word; boxs) chairs tables
&c rolling from one part of the
room to the other ship continu-
ally tossing the sea very rough
wind very changeable – Monday
June the 4th still very heavy
Hurricanes a brig passed us at
10 oclock in the morning saw
some birds call’d sheer wa-
-ters likewise some very small
birds called mother carries chick
ens always on the wing & lay
their eggs in a bag under –
the wing and are hatched
Digital Page 14
flying – in that situation, never
alight to roost but sometimes
walk or paddle in the water
wind W=N=W= a Calm night
Tuesday the 5th 1200 miles –
from Liverpool lady still sick
little wind and that a head
of us Wind W=N=W= an accident
while we were sitting at tea at
six in the afternoon the ladys
husband who has been sick
fell from the top of the stairs
to the bottom his hands both
being full of pots of hot water he
endeavouring to save them
lost his hold and fell a dread-
-ful heavy fall with his
Digital Page 15
head against the corner of
a box he was stunned for some
time and as much as ten or fifteen
minutes before we could bring
him to himself to know what
had happened to him, his head
cut just above the right ear
we bathed his head with hot
vinegar and his breast and
saw 12 Wild ducks
back with vinegar and salt
then put him to bed immedi
-ately giveing him some rum
and water to take, only made
fifteen miles in two days the
wind being dead a head of us
Wednesday the 6th the Gen-
tleman something better
Digital Page 16
this morning but still very
sore has taken little or no-
thing since the accident
lady still very sick – a calm,
only made fifteen miles to day
variation of time since we left
Liverpool 2 hours 40 minutes
and seven seconds, Thursday
the 7th Gentleman much better
and on deck today saw some –
small vapours or balls of water
call’d portugese fleets – a Vessel
passed us to day in the morn
ing with a great deal of sail
up - from her appearance a
brig Friday the 8th Wind NW
it having been against us for
the last ten days we are obliged
Digital Page 17
to sail twelve miles to make six
the right way, cast lots for the
last Herring this day Mrs.
Maxwell the lady with three
children got it – are now
thirteen hundred miles from
Liverpool, we have now two
thousand miles to New York
as the moon chang’d her first
quarter yesterday at three
oclock, we are in expectation
of the winds changing which
we are all in hopes of – we saw
a brig to the windward of us
in the same road as ourselves
another to the Leeward –
Digital Page 18
whether bound the same road
as ourselves could not tell from –
the distance she was from us
difference of time between
London and new York four-
hours and fifty seven minutes
being nearly five hours dif-
ference thus when it is twelve
at noon in London it wants
three minutes to five in the
afternoon at New York this
ship when new cost thirty-
two thousand dollars, a new
suit of sails costs four thou-
sand five hundred dollars
rigging and sails cost half
the price of the Vessel when
Digital Page 19
complete, thus this ship the
Euphrates cost thirty two thou
-sand dollars the hull sixteen
thousand the sails and rigging
the other sixteen – Gentleman
better but still very sick
and sore, lady still sick –
at twelve at night the vessel
to the windward of us we passed
she was from Waterford in Ire-
land had been from that place
thirty two days bound for St.
Andrews – Saturday the 9th
we presently left her behind
us the wind being N=E this day
we sail’d about three notts and hour
Digital Page 20
taking an average of the whole
day, wind favorable all night
Sunday the 10th Wind N.E= sail-
Ing four Notts an hour Gentle-
-man better, lady still sick
we are now half way to new
York Mrs. Maxwells daughter
mary fell from the top of the
ladder to the bottom yester-
day and hurt her chin very
much it affected her speech
and made her mouth very
sore within side. Mrs. Maxwell
with Mr. Penrice & myself were
on deck till twelve this even-
ing the cause of her sitting
Digital Page 21
up so late we were not aware
of till this morning Monday
the 11th of June, when at half
past three Mr. Hurst came
to our bed side and
requested us to get a light
as his wife was in labour
This fully accounted for
Mrs. Maxwells sitting up
so late as she of course
was apprised of the beformen
tioned ladys situation –
we were routed with all pos
sible speed on deck, after hav
ing procured them a light
and had they been able to
Digital Page 22
get that themselves, we pro
bably should never have –
known anything about it
till our usual hour of rising
Mrs. Maxwells refusing to as-
-sist in any way till the
Gentleman were all sent
on deck thus at this hour
we were all routed, but for
a short time, as we were
not on deck more than ten
minutes before to our great
joy we were inform’d a man
child was born into the
world and of course heir
Digital Page 23
to all the fish in the Atlan
tic Mrs. Hurst the lady of whom
the child was deliverd bore the
pains of labour with great seem
ing patience and fortitude
half past ten in the morning
the lady asleep easy and
comfortable the child a fine
boy who is to be christen’d after
the ship Euphrates Hurst
Mrs. Maxwell of whom I shall
now give a description is the
mother of two children mary
five years old and archibald
eighteen months she was mar-
Digital Page 24
ried at eighteen to her cousin
James Maxwell who by profes
sion is a chemist now living
at Philadelphya where she
is going to join him she is now
not more than twenty six
and has that agreeable su
avity of manners which makes
her esteemed and beloved
by all in the ship, and in
deed had she not been pas
senger with us we should
have experienced many dif-
ficulties with respect to
cooking which her presence
Digital Page 25
entirely obviated, being willing
to assist all of us at all times
her figure is tall and shape
good slight rather than stout
with flaxen hair blue eyes a good
set of teeth regular features
and a beautiful complextion
indeed to do her justice you
seldom see a finer woman
added to her amiable dispo
sition I think her a prize
to any man – she has a nephew
with her about twelve years
of age Mr. Maxwell, we have
made two hundred and
twenty miles since yester
Digital Page 26
day at six oclock in the
morning, we are now sailing
eight notts an hour before
a fine breeze from the SW
the seamen on board this
ship are four frenchmen
four americans besides the
cook a black an american and steward
ditto a mulatta the Captain
Cheif and second mate all ame
ricans – Captain Stoddard Mr.
Hammond Cheif Mate and
Mr. Vigott second Ditto
the captain in his manner
of talking puts me in mind
of my brother Charles as
Digital Page 27
well as in his person in the
lower part of his face, he
is a gentlemanly man and
pleasant and free in his man
ners he has been twelve years
in the London trade from new
York and three in the Liverpool
at eight in the morning we saw
a brig to the Windward of
us apparently for England
at twelve we saw an Am
erican ship appeared to
be the same way bound
one passenger saw a
shark close to the side
Digital Page 28
of the ship, wind this
day S=W= the lady and child
go on well – Tuesday the 12th
we saw a Ship to the leeward
at eight this morning an
American, we are sailing seven
notts an hour, wind N=E at
six in the Evening we saw a Ves-
sel to leeward of us, out of our
sight in half an Hour, as we
were sitting at tea rather
a curious scene presented
itself to our view. Mr. Hurst’s
son John having eas’d nature
in a very unceremonial man
ner directly before us, a cry
Digital Page 29
was immediately made for the
sire, who soon made his appearance
and after a short reprimand
to the darling of his heart, began
an operation with a little cerem-
-ony as his son, a knife being the first
thing that presented itself to his
view he having laid his son in a
suitable posture began scraping
him over as we sometimes see a -----
after a good scald. he certainly
exercise’d a great deal of patience
he informed us sometimes he made
use of a table spoon when the other
instrument was not so handy
the novelty of the scene caus’d
Digital Page 30
a general burst of laughter,
however the Gentleman was not
to be put by his purpose and
having a utensil near at hand
which is frequently made use
of by the sons of Bacchus as
well as the daughters of Venus
in the dead of night, he began
loading the beforementioned
vessel with the treasure he
had just found very delibe-
-rately throwing it overboard
as a feast to the finny race
who doubtlessly swallowed
it with that avidity they
*arrived on the banks of Newfoundland
about 12 oclock P.M.
Digital Page 31
seldom experienced in so de
licious a meal, thus ended a
truly comic performance with
a suitable reprimand to the
son of his hearts delight. I
think the powers of Grimaldi
and Kean are likely to be eclip
ced by this august actor, we are *
Wednesday the 13th –
now on the banks of newfound
land – at ten minutes before
(in 30 fathom water)
twelve began fish for Cod, not
having a bite did not try again
till one when in less than two
minutes caught a very fine
one in three minutes after
another still larger at two
Digital Page 32
we caught a dog fish which
is a species of shark excepting
a great deal smaller and the dog
fish having no teeth - the mate
Mr. Hammond tie’d a bit of
board to his tail and threw into the
sea again the Steward informs
me the method of treating the
yellow fever is by giving a dose
of Calomel and Jalap mixed toge
ther if that does not succeed
they tag a blister of mustard
and flour on the feet, if the
patient has what is termed
a black vomit they scarsly
ever recover, there is a heavy
mist on this day all the
Digital Page 33
banks which is general at
almost all times which makes
it dangerous to pass them mixt
with the chance of meeting im
mense pieces of ice but little
wind to day what there is NW
we found it much colder forty
miles before we reach’d them
at half past five this afternoon
we saw a vessel three miles a
head of us Thursday the four
teenth at two this morning
we pass’d her close alongside and
found her to be the Huron of
Boston she sail’d out of Liv
erpool four or fives days be
fore us at seven oclock Mr.
Digital Page 34
Vigott call’d us to look at an
immense (illegible word; piece) of ice floating
about a mile an a half from
us over the lee bow he consi-
dered it to be seventy feet
above the surface of the
water they calculate 1 third
above and two under which mul
tiplyed by three gives it two
hundred and one feet, the sup
posed size, at twenty min-
-nutes past nine we saw a
brig over the weather bow a-
-bout six miles distant
from us, we also saw two
Digital Page 35
smaller pieces of ice one
very near the large piece, the
other some distance off. wind NNE
we are sailing seven notts an
hour – we have been off the banks
ever since seven this morning
twelve at night we have eight
hundred miles to New York
Friday the 15th at nine oclock
this morning we have made
twenty miles, wind SW we are
now sailing three notts an
hour at six in the evening
wind SSW – Saturday the 16th
wind W – making no way
sea rough – twelve at noon
Digital Page 36
wind NW sailing 5 notts an
hour, at three a vessel call’d
Lydia from Newberry, a tra
der from that place had a
cargo she had fetched from
Leghorn of Wines and dryed
fruit, we passed close to her
and the Captain exchanged
a few words in their speak-
ing trumpets just enough
to knew where each one
bound and from whence –
came – we saw her about half
an hour before we came
up with her, and in less
Digital Page 37
than an hour was out of
sight of her – the Captain says
a small vessel or fishing smack
will carry as much sea as a large
ship, 10 years ago when he was
Chief mate they made a Voyage
to England in the month of Janua
ry when the sea was so rough
they never cook’d but three times
when the water was boiling, threw
in two or 3 hams, beef &c and the
cabin passengers were all shut
in with candles burning as if
it were night all the voyage
the way they took their meals
was to cut a slice of Ham or beef
Digital Page 38
and eat with their biscuits -
he was himself in his cloths for
a month without ever changing
in this state night and day
with the sea running over the deck
they were all wet almost the
whole of the time the reason
it lay so heavy on him was
owing to the captain’s being
sick and the second mate not
sufficiently experienced in
the management of the
Vessel, he thinks it will shor
ten his days considerably
Sunday the 17th all hands em-
ployed painting the vessel
Digital Page 39
we saw a vessel over the weather
bow apparently a schooner going
to the fishing Bank – a calm to
day we are in the American ter-
ritories is as pleasant to day
as it was otherwise yesterday
we have gain’d three hours and 57
minutes, every fifteen miles make
one minute difference of time,
therefore we shall gain four
hours fifty seven minutes by
the time we get to New York
if we gain nothing else in
our Exchange of situation-, at
four this afternoon we
passed a scooner the
name of her was Only son Boston
Digital Page 40
captains convers’d toge
ther some time she was
from Boston bound for New
York had laid in her cargo
at Mallagan – the Captain
observed somthing floating
a small distance from us
which was a turtle the mate
with two seamen got into
the boat and went after
it and brought it on
board the ship. the way
they took it was by stri
king a grainer into it
which has barbed heads that
when struck in holds the fish
Digital Page 41
fast by the shell, they take
them when asleep floating on
the water. It weighs about se
venty pounds and is very fat
they will live for six months with
out any thing to eat or drink or
being in water. they lay them
on the deck on their backs
Monday June the 18th a beauti
ful day wind SSW sailing three
notts an hour at six this morn
ing passed the Galliott Blu-
cher 37 days from Quebec bound
for Bengal - at 7 oclock pass’d
the Montreal Brig 21 days
Digital Page 42
going to the South Seas for
whales, the name of the Owner
of this Ship Euphrates and several others
is Mr. Preservfish and Company, at twelve
we saw a ship and schooner
to the leeward of us – Mrs. Hurst
has never been sick since her
lying in, and has been remarkably
well ever since as well as the
child. at 2 we came in sight
of a brig, the Captains name who
commanded this ship before
Captain Stoddard was Nash de
cost. he has the command of
a Vessel under the same own
ers still – the name of her
Digital Page 43
is the Cortes – a very fine ship
and a regular trader to Liverpool
From New York – the Owners of all
Vessels are bound in a bond of 500
dollars for every Family or single
person that land at new York
Philadelphia Baltimore or any
part of the United states, that
they do not become chargable
to the parish under two years
after their arrival, and every
passenger has to pay a dollar
before he enters the port, in sup
port of a Hospital in New York
which if he falls sick he is
entitled to a place in untill
his recovery, where every atten-
Digital Page 44
tion is to be paid to the patient,
the Owners of this ship had to
pay 700 dollars for a family
becoming chargable not long
ago, and 300 for another before
that, this evening we observed
some vapours or small balls of
fire in the sea, close by the ship
which the seamen consider a
sign of a southerly wind at
11 we heard a whale spout
but did not see it, we were with
in forty five miles of sable
Island two days since there are
generally 20 vessels wreck’d
there every year cheifly
Digital Page 45
English, there is two familys on
the Island to succour the distres’d
seamen placed there on purpose
by the English who send a ves
sel once a year to take them
home, there are beautiful wild
Horses which these families kill
some of the young ones and salt
down for beef which is tolerable
but rather tough the Island is sandy
consequently fit for little in
agriculture, several families
might live there very well by
fishing salt them down & ship
them to different ports – saw
an immense number of porpouses
Digital Page 46
June the 14th at four this morn
ing came up with the ship we
saw yesterday which proved
to be the Rufus King the cap
tains convers’d a short time with
there trumpets – she is 32 days
from Liverpool bound for New
York – she sail’d 5 days before
us, we have been 27 – she is
an English vessel taken
by the Americans in the
last war, her burthen is 560
tons as she had a great deal of sail
up and the wind dropping almost
to a calm she pass’d us again
in half an hour – we then hoist
Digital Page 47
ed more sail and a breese spring
ing up we again came alongside
of and passed them at half past
ten in the morning, the Captains a
gain convers’d a short time with their
trumpets, they have an old metho
dist parson on board her, who is
running away with a young girl,
tis for this subscriptions are raised
with plates at the doors of all those
meeting houses in England which
you are sure to have the pleasure
of a sight, if ever you chance to
stray accidentally into them.
for these diabolical purposes are
those collections made, wrung
from the pockets of the indigent
and poor, the captains name
Digital Page 48
on board her is Bennett. Captain
Stodart tell us he took out four
of these saints about 4 years ago
two married and two Single men
the husband of one of these was
sick all the way nevertheless
he was obliged to wash all the
clothes, besides a continual war
the whole of the Voyage from her
tongue – which clack seldom ceased
night or day – the first Sunday
morning they wished to preach –
which the Captain had no object
tion to consequently one of them of
ficiated in the steerage the cap
tain makeing one of the congre
gation and was much pleased
Digital Page 49
with the service. The next arrived
and a cabal arose among these sons
of the church to know who should
Labour and after a great deal
of altercation among them, all
wishing to be exemt the captain
soon put a stop to it altogether
by saying he would have no preach
ing at all under those circum
stances. this tongue banging lady
had a happy method of stealing
eggs from the Captain and other
things which she used to make
into cakes for herself not even
allowing her husband a taste
nor any in the Cabin. at last
the Captain found it out and
Digital Page 50
told her he had no objection to
her having cakes but that in fu
ture the steward should make
them and they would all share
alike as the other lady had
as much right to some as her,
the wind today, south south west
we are sailing 5 Notts and hour
four oclock this afternoon we are
300 miles from new York – a breese
sprung up at 10 oclock this evening
from the NNW Wednesday the
20th from last evening at 10 – we
have been sailing 5 notts an hour
till this morning at 7 oclock
6 oclock this evening 334 miles
Digital Page 51
from new York – having been sail
ing 12 miles to make C in the
calm today – Thursday the 21st
at 4 oclock a breeze sprung up and
we are sailing 6 notts an hour wind
south, at half past six we pass’d a
ship call’d the Washington from New
York bound to the Mediteranian.
we also saw a brig at a distance
at the same time, at 8 this
morning was within 3 miles of a
Man a War bound the same way
at a quarter before four this morn
ing saw 3 Whales spouting and play
ing in the water – at 4 oclock this
Afternoon within 250 miles of
Digital Page 52
New York. Friday the 22nd
12 o’clock we are 168 miles from
New York a breeze springing up
we are sailing 6 notts an hour
a Vessel a head of us, overtook
her at half past ten this evening
from Sligo, the Weser, the Capt
ain Pease out 34 days bound for New
York- the wind Changable, the Cap-
tains exchanged a few words in their
speaking trumpets, out of sight
of her at 7 oclock Saturday morn
ing the 23rd, at 9 oclock 45 miles
from New York, a calm to day
what wind their is E – saw a schoon
er this morning at 9 oclock – Sun
Digital Page 53
day 24th at one oclock this morning
saw the Light House – and a ves
sel to the Leeward of us – a Quarter
after 4 came in sight of three
Islands the highlands of never sink
Jersey –
Island, Long Island and Stratten &
9 Vessels we are in sight of the first
of these Island has a good deal of
timber on it we observed as we passed,
Stratten Island a great deal of
Cedar which belongs to Govern-
ment for the use of shipping these
Islands appear pleasant from the
view we have of them, opposite the
Light house at ten oclock call’d
the sandy hook . the ship Hercules made
her passage from Liverpool -
Digital Page 54
to New York in 32 days, we
have made ours in 33. The mag
nett and we were under weigh
together at Liverpool she is still
behind us Monday the 25th at 8 oclock
this morning we went on shore to
sandy hook, all the passengers but
four its very sandy and a few shrubs
and trees upon it 3 light Houses and a
Tavern – where we took some rum and milk
and stopt half an hour some of the
shrups had a very fragrant and
pleasant smell particularly
the Bayberry tree. there are some
cedars upon it, 2 oclock we are now
in the narrows have seen several
fortifications one on a rock the coun-
Digital Page 55
try on each side of us, Long Island
in particular very fertile and
pleasant jersey on the other side
equally pleasant, a Quarter to
four in the afternoon a steam boat
passed us and gave us
three cheers, at six oclock we landed
at new York. The docks somthing
like London a fine city & kept remar-
-kably clean & neat. the City Hall or
State House is built of marble a very
good substantial building. Tuesday
the 26th passed the Custom House & remain
-ed in the City this Day. Wednesday
The 27th at 12 at noon Mr. Penrice Mrs.
Maxwell & myself left this City for
Philadelphia we went by the South
Amboy & Bordentown line to the
first place by the steam boat
Digital Page 56
and to the next by the Coachs by land
at half past 11 oclock at night we
were upset no one received any in-
jury but Mrs. Maxwell hurting her
back a little. Thursday the 28th
we left Bordentown at six this morn
-ing by the steam boat, arrived at
Philadelpha at 9 the same morning
where we delivered Mrs. Maxwell safe
into the arms of her husband. Mr. P
& myself still together he not being
able to get employ in New York or
here, still travels on with me towards
Pittsburgh. this is a beautiful city
indeed & very handsomely laid out
in squares the regularity of it is
such it would be impossible for one
to lose himself in it, Friday 29th
left we left this City at six this
Digital Page 57
morning on foot for Pittsburgh. having
put our trunks in a Waggon for that
place & taken our receipt for their
delivery accordingly. this day we
travell’d 24 miles through the heat of
the day with pleasure – I shall take
little or no notice of what we saw be-
-tween here and pittsburgh but the Citys
& towns as I think no one would do
themselves any good as farmers in the
Eastern States. Saturday the 30th we
made 26 miles – Sunday July the 1st
we pass’d through Lancaster at 12
oclock to day a fine City good Houses
& many places of worship in it. 62
miles from Philadelphia & there
are 64 Taverns between the two plac
es – when we come to a Cherry tree
we eat as long as we like then
Digital Page 58
lay ourselves under the Tree and
sleep, once a day we wash our feet
& according to the custom of the
Country wear no stockings – we wear
loose trowsers – we have made 28 miles
to day, Monday July the 2nd at
five this afternoon we pass’d through
Harrisburgh situated on the Bank
of the river Susquhannah a very
good City with a beautiful State
House & a bridge over the river a
mile in lengh & a handsome one
it is a wet day to day. we have
made 23 miles to day Tuesday
July 3rd we pass’d through Carlisle
at one in the Day a pretty town with
a good College, & many places
Digital Page 59
of Worship in it – we have travell’d
to day 25 miles. Wednesday July
the 4th we pass’d through Shippins-
burgh at 11 to day a small town
pass’d Chambersburgh at 5 in the
evening where they were celebrate-
ing the 4 of July. we stopt & heard
a very good speech, & saw them fire
several volleys they had
1 piece of cannon – we have made
29 miles to day July the 5th we
pass’d through Macdonaldstown a
small place we have made 26 mi
les to day. Friday July 6th we pass’d
through Bedford town to day at
4 in the afternoon a small place
in a Valley we have made 29
miles to day, Saturday July
Digital Page 60
the 7th we came through Stys town
a Village, we have made 30 miles
to day. Sunday July the 8th
we have made 27 miles to day
Monday July the 9th we came
through Greensburgh at 7 this
morning arrived at Pittsburgh
this Evening. having been 11 days
on the road there not being any
miles stones at many places on
the road. from the distance the
two places are from each other
we must frequently have travel
led several miles in a day farther
that we supposed it being 300 miles
between the two Citys. Pittsburgh
in its trade like all other places
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at the present time is dull, many
of the Inhabitants leaving it for
farms in the Western States, when
there is any trade it must be brisk
from its situation, as it always
has been when trade was good.
Tuesday July the 10th walk’d over
to pine Creek to my brother &
sisters who I found well & comfort
able in farms Mr. P. accompany’d
me and went to work for Squire
Cockrane as he could get nothing
to do in his own trade in pitts-
burgh. Wednesday 11th Thursday 12
Friday 13th Saturday 14th Sunday
15th Monday 16th Tuesday 17th –
Wednesday 18th left pine Creek
for Pittsburgh where I found my
Digital Page 62
fathers trunks which had been
lost for two months seeing a letter
advertis’d for him was the means
of my finding them my own hav
ing arrived, the next morning –
Thursday the 19th July I sail’d
on board a flat bottom’d boat for
Georges town we made 9 miles to
day on the river Ohio. Friday
July the 20th Friday 21st
made 19 miles, landed at George
town on Saturday 22nd at 4 in the
afternoon 40 miles from Pittsburgh,
just my trunks in a Waggon for
Wooster Sunday 23rd pass’d through
New Lisbon a small but well built
place, slept at Osenburgh 24th
pass’d through Canton a town built
with brick with a good Court House
Digital Page 63
Of many places of Worship have tra-
velled only 25 miles to day having
been sick. July 25th came through
Wooster at 9 this morning a good
Court House built of Brick a hand
some town of much business done
in it to the size of the place
arrived at my fathers at Jeroms
ville at 5 in the afternoon – he
and Joseph pretty well in health
spent several weeks with him
paid Mr. Woodhouse and Mr. Palmer
a Visit English families & very
pleasant people in the Neighbour
hood of Mansfield. bought 20 acres
of land of Wm. Ewen the 6th of Septem
ber 1821. began a cabin to live in
directly and by the 9th day of Octo
ber got it so far finished as to live
in it –
Digital Page 65
List of Residents living
In district No 2
Adam Steel & to J. Austen, super
visor 2.00
Jacob Steel, do 2.00
Ambrose Austen, do 2.00
John Winpigler 2.00
George Geer 2.00
R F Caples 2.00
Richard Winpigler 2.00
Henry Winpigler 2.00
William Ewing 2.00
Joseph Bottinfield 2.00
John Glenn 2.00
Mr. Slater 2.00
George Strouse 2.00
Mr. Strouse (illegible word) 2.00
James Cameron 2.00
John Leather 2.00
Digital Page 66
Jacob Leather 2.00
Mr. Brooks 2.00
Mr. Wisner 2.00
Mr. Blue 2.00
Archibald Stuart Kennedy 2.00
Jacob Leather (illegible word) 2.00
Mr. Bigler 2.00
Digital Page 67
Nov. 4th 1853
Receipt for making Potash
Take about 2 Bushels of lime scatter
it in the bottom of your leech
which must hold from twenty to thirty
Bushels this will answer for those
times filling with ashes pound your
ashes into your leech tolerably hard
or tramp them then water them
either with weak lye or water until
they start to run if they start
inside of 24 hours stop watering them
and let them soak. and your lye will
be stronger keep your lye clean and
boil it down. if you find it boil over
trim your fire accordingly when you want
to melt raise your fire and cool it with
your ladle until it wont boil over
then put in about half a bushel of
lime if you think you have 4 hundred
weight if not reduce your Quantity of
lime then dont spare your fire until
it is melted the largest wood you can
get into your arch the better when it
Digital Page 68
is melted dip it into small kettles, your
coolers must be perfectly dry and a little
warm when thus you dip it all out let
it stand over night and next morning
take your coolers turn them mouth down
wards and it will come out if not let
them stand a little longer and it will
part in your coolers this is all the art
I know in making potash
Rob’t Manson
PS. you will know when it is melted
by its being perfectly red hot and it
will stand Right still in the kettles
and not boil nor move.
you must fix the bottom of your leech
with small pieces of sticks similar to a
strainer then put some straw upon the
top then your lime.
Another Receipt
Take the half bushel of lime with
one peck of salt put them both into a
90 gallon kettle filled with water let
them boil 20 minutes then put into
your leech 2 bushels of Ashes then
Digital Page 69
put on 4 of 5 pails of your hot lye then add
2 bushels of of Ashes more then as much of
your white lye as before and so on
while you set a leech of 12 bushels
by this method I will insure 100 lbs
from every twelve bushels of Ashes
Robert Manson
Digital Page 70
Father and Mother.
Joseph Austen was born, County of Kent
Parish of Seven Oakes, England,
Apr 7th 1802.
Dec’d Dec. 5th 1893.
Aged 91 years 7 mths and 28 Days,
Catherine Austen
was born March 18th 1833
Died Sept 13th 1904
Aged 71 years 5 mths and 25 Days
Digital Page 72
Joseph Austen
Was born Kent County,
Parish of Seven Oakes, England,
Apr 7 1802
Died Dec 5th 1893
Aged 91 Years 7 mths and 28 Days
Digital Page 73
Catherine Austen
was born March 18th 1833
Died Sept 13th 1904
Aged 71 years 5 mths and
25 Days
Digital Page 74 [upside down]
One Shillings (illegible word) of Indigo
one small cook
one Pint of Whiskey
N.B. weight of Butter
