Date
|
Surviving
Diary
Fragments
-
References
to 6.Benjamin
Franklin
Massey
|
Source
|
22
Jul.1981
|
Massey
L.
Printz
included
a
copy of his record of these fragments, along with
a mass of data that he and his family had accumulated over a
considerable period of years. 23.Ebenezer
Thomas
Massey was the older brother of
our 6.Benjamin
Franklin Massey, and we were particularly interested in
any references that he might have made concerning B.F. Massey.
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|
|
Regrettably,
the
only
references
to
B.F. Massey that have survived in these Diary
fragments are:
9 Sep.1838
|
20 Mar.1839
|
1845
|
|
|
|
Of
Ebenezer Thomas Massey's
Original
Diary,
the earliest surviving fragment is dated
18 Apr.1822, and the latest is dated 1855.
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|
We
have
no
clue
as
to when he commenced to keep this Diary, or when he
ceased writing in it; or how frequently he made his entries.
|
|
|
The
scope
of
his
entries
suggests that it resembled a Data entry Diary:
Dealings with relatives -
personal
|
Financial transactions -
wide variety
|
Farming problems
|
Buildings and land - his
own and family's
|
Personal observations
|
Notes on trips - called
"Jaunts"
|
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|
|
The
surviving
diary
fragments
offered
the tantalizing hope that the
original complete Diary would fill in a great deal more; particularly
about one 6.Benjamin
Franklin Massey. For five years I have written to
Massey family members who might possibly know its whereabouts;
two-thirds of them replied that they had never heard of the existence
of such a Diary, and the other one-third replied that they had heard of
it, had never seen it, and had no idea where it might be found.
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|
|
The surviving Diary fragments
- Copy:
The copy that I have is very hard to read, a white on black photocopy
made from a photocopy of a carbon copy of some typed notes; the dates
and the capital letters being particularly indistinct.
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|
The
original
notes
were
made
in no particular pattern, and I have written
them out in chronological order.
|
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|
Copyist
No.1.
made
her
notes
as her interest was aroused; Copyist No.2 copied
these notes, and no doubt added errors. The work of Copyist No.3 is a
dim typed carbon copy; and the find that I have worked with is the
white on black photocopy that I have mentioned.
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|
So,
I
fear
that
a
high possibility of errors exists.
|
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|
But,
I
am
grateful
to
Massey Printz and his family for adding their Diary
information to our meager store of early contemporary records.
|
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|
|
|
Date
|
Excerpt
|
Page
|
18
Apr.1822
|
Papa
moved
to
"the
Old
Place Farm."
|
p.1537
|
|
Interpretation:
|
|
1826
|
Wm.
Massey
was
bound
to
me till age of 21 yrs. Son of Widower: Eben Massey
|
|
|
Interpretation:
|
|
1826
|
Elijah
left
home
with
four
teams of one horse each, for the Balt. R.R.; he
intends to move his family alone 22nd of the month. I went to B. to see
how Elijah and Mother are doing. I think Elijah has engaged in a hard
life and I fear he will not make much of it, he and Ed Fisher have
entered into a partnership and have taken two small contracts which
they expect to get $1,500 for them.
|
|
|
Intrepretation:
Elijah is E.T. Massey's
younger brother 37.Elijah
Eleazer
Massey 1803-1853.
|
"Balt. RR" is the
Baltimore and Ohio Railway Co.
|
"Mother" is 13.Elizabeth
Massey 1776-1835.
|
Ed. Fisher is not
identified.
|
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|
1826
|
Mother
is
still
worse
fixed,
as Caroline improvidently rented a house for $225
per annum, they had not succeeded in getting any boarders. Nance was
sick and Mother was very much discouraged. I prevailed upon her to
advertise the house for rent and try to get another one. I am in hopes
Providence will yet do something for my Mother, she has truly had a
hard run of ill luck through life.
|
p.1538
|
|
Iterpretation:
|
|
Oct.1828
|
Sold
Jane
for
$75.
Purchased
Nance for $200, Jane for $120, Sewell for $150.
|
|
|
Intrepretation:
These were all slaves
belonging to 23.E. T. Massey.
|
|
|
1829
|
On
account
against
Pamela
L.
Massey.
|
p.1538
|
|
Interpretation
|
|
Jul.1829
|
Went
down
to
Joshua
Massey's
on our way to Lewistown. Emily Ann, child
Bedford and Nurse. Left Joshua's on Monday morning + got to Lewistown
that night a distance of some 60 miles, too far to go in one day. Found
Joshua so bad, in fact I believe he is ruined forever. Remained in
Lewistown Tuesday + Wednesday. Left Thursday morning + got home on
Friday morning about 1/2 past nine. We went by way of Rd. of Chester,
Bullock Town, Camden, Frederick + Milford, returning by way of Milford,
Frederick, Camden, Benton, Blackestown X-rds. The way we went it was
about 74 miles. Poor country for the most part. I was not at all
pleased with my jaunt, there is little or nothing worth seeing on the
road. Lewistown is a real poverty stricken place. Cost me about $15,
and no satisfaction. Pretty much killing me and my horse.
|
p.1538
|
|
Intrepretation:
|
|
1830
|
Rented
to
Daniel
Jordan
for
a year from etc. at one half of the wheat, I
finding half the seed and for 1/3rd of the corn, the Farm has cost me
in operation and repair $7,000 under holding of the Old Place Farm.
|
p.1538
|
|
Intrepretation:
|
|
1830
|
Caroline
was
sent
to
Md.
Gen'l Hospital; paid $20. on board.
|
p.1538 |
|
Intrepretation:
|
|
4
May
1830
|
My
wife,
Emily
Ann,
made her carpet + finished it at cost of $26.87.
|
p.1537
|
|
Intrepretation:
|
|
1831
|
Paid
Elijah
for
boarding
Benjamin.
|
p.1537
|
|
Intrepretation:
|
|
1832
|
Am
busy
engaged
in
saving scantlings for Elijahs' building in Sandtown. In
seeding he took great pains with his clover seed. Soaked it in
salt water 24 hrs. + then soaked it in plaster, which increased the
quantity in bulk three fold.
|
p.1539
|
|
Interpretation:
|
|
1833
|
Joshua
J.
Massey
moved
to Massey's, the rental of an ox-team and haul for 1/2
day was $1.00 - and six hauls, ox-teams + driver for $5.00.
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|
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Interpretation:
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1833
|
To
Methodist
Chapel
at
Geo-Town + House $25.00 + 1,000 bricks burned on
the back half of his farm.
|
p.1537
|
|
No
interpretation.
|
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1833
|
Dr.
Samuel
Martingale
and
Dr. Scott were "moderators."
|
p.1537
|
|
Interpretation:
Unidentified
gentlemen.
|
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1833
|
Gave
$5.00
towards
plastering
the chapel in Geo.Town + House
|
|
|
No
interpretation.
|
|
1834
|
I
went
to
Philadelphia
and purchased a threshing machine at a cost of
$88.00.
|
|
|
Interpretation:
Those
were
the
good old days.
|
|
1834
|
I
went
in
Queen
Annes + planted tomb stone over the graves of Emily Ann,
Father + Mother at a cost of $20.00.
|
p.1537
|
|
Interpretation:
This date must have
suffered at the hands of the sequential copyists. All of these people
were alive in 1834.
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|
|
1834
|
Buys
of
Thos.
Gilpin
110 acres of land in Sandtown for $880. payable in
three years for Elijah.
|
p.1540
|
|
Interpretation:
|
|
1835
|
Moved
to
the
old
McClinton farm, encountering a fearful responsibility, a
heavy debt + buildings in ruins.
|
p.1539
|
|
Interpretation:
McClinton Farm not
identified.
|
|
|
1835
|
Sold
150
wt.
of
iron, realized $4.50.
|
p.1537
|
1836
|
Repaired
the
old
Porter
property in Millington - it needed so much.
|
p.1539
|
|
Interpretation:
Porter property not
identified.
|
|
|
1836
|
Have
Philadelphian
at
work
saving stuff for building an addition + new
Kitchen - have to pay them $1.0 apiece a day.
|
p.1539
|
|
Interpretation:
No clue as to what this is
all about.
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1836
|
Millington
Meeting
House
$10.00
|
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|
Interpretation:
The Methodist Meeting
House?
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1837
|
Took
Bet
+
Sophia
to Millington to school.
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|
Interpretation:
|
|
9
Sep.1830
|
Mr.
Tingle,
partner
of
Benjamin, I took to Ford's Landing this morning on
his way to Missouri. He has a Negro of his own. He took with him, one
to Franklin. Theodore is about 20 yrs. old but I doubt know what
Franklin will allow me for him. He wrote me that he would give me a
liberal price. I wish the proceeds to go toward paying off a debt I owe
to J_____ Massey which will evoke Franklin to have time on it, as I
only want the interest on it for the money I gave him.
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Interpretation:
Mr. Tingle is Wm. Tingle,
partner with 6.B. F.
Massey in partnership of Tingle & Massey.
Theodore is a slave that Tingle took to B. F. Massey in Missouri
|
"Benjamin" and "Franklin"
both refer to his brother 6.Benjamin Franklin
Massey 1811-1879, then in
Missouri.
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20
Mar.1839
|
To
cash
sent
Franklin
this day $200. This to enable him to pay for 160
acres of land that he has purchased in Missouri + which he is to have
entered in my name + by this means I hope to get paid for both this
advance and for Theodore sent him as above.
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|
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Interpretation:
|
|
1840
|
Bought
a
carriage
for
Joshua J. Massey to go West, paid $90.00.
|
p.1537
|
|
Interpretation:
|
|
1840
|
Sold
to
Dr.
North
1,000 hard brick for $8.00
|
|
|
Interpretation:
Dr.
North
not
identified.
|
|
1841
|
The
severest
drought
known
to the history of man; there has not been enough
to wet the roots of the corn since the flood in planting time.
|
p.1539
|
1841
|
On
account
with
Pamela
with her Market Farm.
|
p.1538
|
|
Interpretation:
|
|
1842
|
Gave
a
balance
to
Pamela on Maynard Farm.
|
p.1538
|
|
Interpretation:
Maynard Farm and Market
Farm probably the same but location not identified.
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1843
|
On
account
with
Pamela
with Timber gathered off the Bullock Town property
+ a total account of indebted me of Sis to me, and cash paid to J.
McCormac on arrangement.
|
p.1538
|
|
Interpretation:
J. McCormac arrangement
not identified.
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1844
|
On
Account
against
Dan'l
C. Hopper - move part of the dwelling house and
stable up from the Old Place.
|
p.1538 |
|
Interpretation:
|
|
1844-1845
|
David
C.
Blackiston
paid
cash to E. T. Massey on his mothers Dower.
|
p.1540
|
|
Interpretation:
This
is
all
an unsolved mystery.
|
|
1845
|
Took
a
Jaunt
this
Summer to see Franklin in Missouri, saw many wonders +
variety of same, but was not pleased. Was fully convinced that if the
same exertion was made , the same economy practiced, + the same
deprivations submitted to, that the poorest immigrant has to put in
practice, they could make out much better in the old States + live much
more comfortable and happy. I returned fully convinced, fully cured of
all desire of moving to the wild West. Found Franklin poor enough to
gratify the most ardent desire of any hermit and almost as solitary.
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|
|
Interpretation:
|
|
Jun.1845
|
Commenced
putting
up
a
new brick building on the Smith Park Place.
|
p.1538
|
|
Interpretation:
Smith
Park
Place
not identified.
|
|
1846
|
Painted
Clints'
house
roof
(Belmont).
|
p.1538
|
|
Interpretation:
|
|
1847
|
I
place
the
costs
of Clints' building at $661. I bought 2 door sills of
Stone at a cost of $16. (For Belmont) am afraid it will break me.
|
p.1538
|
|
Interpretation:
|
p.1538
|
1847
|
Guano
was
$20
a
ton and with guano was mixed a barrel of powder.
|
p.1538
|
1847
|
Have
my
first
trial
at seeding wheat with a Drill.
|
p.1539
|
3
Apr.1848
|
Clint
left
home
for
Tallahassee in search of a wife, Bertha
Bolton.
|
p.1537
|
|
Interpretation:
|
|
Sep.-Oct.1848
|
Moved
from
the
Old
Place, on the Branch the remaining room of the Old Place
buildings, + built an addition to it for a tenant house, costing me
$350. A fearful outlay in my present crippled condition, but I think
the farm large enough to make two out of it in some future day.
|
|
|
Interpretation:
Location of "Old Place"
and the large farm site still not determined.
|
|
|
1849
|
Wheat
was
$1.00
a
bus; Oats 50 cts.
|
p.1538
|
1858
|
Putting
up
a
building
on the Hovman farm.
|
p.1537
|
|
Interpretation:
Hovman
farm
not
identified.
|
|
1850
|
Raised
215
bus.
of
Wheat on the White House Farm; it being half of the crop
raised by me. Gave 1/2 to Mr. Crane for raising it + sold in Balto. for
$1.20 a bus.
|
p.1537
|
|
Interpretation:
White House Farm location
not known.
|
Mr. Crane probably E. T.
Massey's tenant farmer.
|
|
|
1855
|
Cash
to
Parson
Smith
of $5.10
|
p.1537
|
|
Interpretation:
Parson
Smith
not
identified.
|
|
