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SYMONDS [?] : 1867 ORIGINAL MANUSCRIPT POST CIVIL WAR DIARY HANDWRITTEN BY A WELL TO DO BUILDER LIVING IN THE WINTER HILL AREA OF SOMERVILLE MASSACHUSETTS

16mo - over 5¾" - 6¾" tall. On offer is a very interesting post Civil War Boston area well filled 193 page manuscript diary handwritten by an unidentified [though the family name may be Symonds as explained further along in the description] carpenter/builder who begins writing daily on May 1st 1867 through May 11th, 1869. He lives in Winter Hill Massachusetts which is a neighborhood located in Somerville Massachusetts. While the writer is unknown local researchers and historians will have a wealth of clues to perhaps identify him: he celebrates his 25th wedding anniversary on September 20th, 1867 and his writings of the occasion include many of the people who were there. His wife's name is Merriam, his sister is Charlotte and he mentions Aunt Sally M. Sargent whom he ends up building a house for during the time this diary represents. There are the entries about his two homes that they owned (and I believe end up selling) on Federal St. in Boston. In fact he gives the address as 24th Federal Street. At one point while selling the place he says that the deed came for "Charlotte W. Symonds" and "M. Symonds" so he might be a Symonds. Here are some snippets: 1867 "May 9th & 10th, Pleasant. Got the deed from Currier and all signed. Saw Gallagher and settled about the house he is to go in on 15th. Paid for fixing pump. Afternoon made rounds with Mr. Pierce and freelanced to see about selling houses and took a look at the city. Got all ready to go home to Somerville…Pleasant. At 9 ½ left with Charlotte for Boston 10 A.M train in E. RR. Home at Winter Hill. To dinner 1 P.M. Found Merriam no better. Potatoes planted. Looked around things." "June 24th, Rather cloudy but came out hot. Folks all went into the Masonic Celebration, a very large procession. 45 bands of music. President Johnson rode with them. Had a real jam, about 9,000 in the procession. Bot lamb and beef. Had some." "July 4th, Pleasant and very hot. Not much doing. Boys burned some powder at 3 P.M. Showers, dust, mostly wind north east and in the eve quite a rain. Philly and wife came up but went into Mr. Dawson's to play croquet. They took them into the house. Had ice cream, salad, lemon cakes and rained so they stayed over night with us." "August 8th, Hazy. Young folks went on a tramp to Winchester. Fred and Philly went to N.P. fishing and around the bluff. P.G. to North Port and lost the train but left at 10 ½. Paid Weeks and the gas bill. Bot ice. Very hot day. Made ice cream for the party. At 7 they got home full of glee and frolic. They stopped and had a coalition. Fred and Philly got home at 8 ½ and joined them at ice cream." "September 20th, Pleasant. Digging potatoes. The family getting ready to celebrate our 25th anniversary or Silver Wedding. Eliza Agnes came up from N. Port. Eve all the following were present. Mrs. Philip Johnson, Sally M. Sargent, Charlotte W. Symons, Philip Johnson and wife, Fred W. Johnson and wife and son Walter. Charlotte E. Johnson, C. Woodberry, M. Woodberry, P.O. Woodberry and wife, N. Y. Woodberry, Eliza A. Woodberry, Charles A. Davis and William H. Woodberry. 18 in all. Had a pleasant time and valuable presents. We were remembered by all that were here and some that could not be present. We left before 12 M." "October 12th, Cloudy and chill with some rain. Charley did not go to work. Nick left for the wharf and Still River. Fred painting the lower front entry. Got Philip and plastered the attic. Had a hard job but got it done with some swearing. Fred finished up painting. House better. Barberries came from South Berwick." "November 26th & 27th, Cloudy and dull. Went into the city bot turkeys, sugar and raisons. Got samples of tea. Collected the Concord R.R. Div. Paid Mr. Williams and sent things out by express. Folks in to see J. Richardson. Said weather prevented Mrs. Richardson. Went to Berwick. Came out at 2 P.M……Pleasant nice day. About home. Bad cold. At 4 P.M. Merriam rode to Franklin St. for Alice. Boys went to the city to see the ship off. Went down to the harbor in her but she had to come back into the harbor on account of the change of wind and weather. The boys got home at 8 P.M. well pleased with the days jaunt…." "December 6th, Pleasant but cold. Miss Crosby came up to pass the day. Went up to the auction of Miss A. Tuft's old house and contents. Then went and saw the new chapel building by Oakman. Found Mrs. Reid here to see sister Agnes from the city. Some little snow and rain fell in the afternoon. Mr. Crosby and wife called and took Alice down to East Somerville with them. Eve some rain with high wind from south. Boys have a fine time. Two of the Hanson boys here and E. Mainard came over…." 1868 "January 3rd, Had a bad night. Told Nick to see the Dr. He came up and gave strict orders to keep quiet and still and to keep in my room and bed until better" (The next time he writes is on January 15th when he finally is better and decides to come down stairs.) "February 4th & 5th, Pleasant and more mild. About the house all day. Deed came for Charlotte to sign of the two houses on Federal Street. Sold to Dr. Gale for 4500 dollars. This is all the real estate of M. Symons. Sale is law….Pleasant and milder but still cold. About the house. Bill of Administration came for the signature of C. W. Symons. Signed and returned. Eve tea party at Mr. Stickney's and Agnes went. Paid Brook's bill of lumber. 8 P.M. snowing." "February 16th, Pleasant, rather cool. Barker came. Brown bread and beans for breakfast. Folks off to Sunday school. E. Agnes and Alice to church. Afternoon Nick, Alice and E. Agnes went over to Phillip's and spent the afternoon. Eve folks off to lecture. Heard a crazy ridicule on Woman's rights and kindred themes." "February 25th, Pleasant and some what milder. About home. Dr. Hemingway called. Afternoon up to the house. Miriam and Charlotte went over to Spring Hill. Mr. Whitney called. Eve came very near burning the house with fluid. Had a real fright for a short time. Gas failing was the cause." "April 11th, Pleasant after the snow storm. Boys shoveling off and making paths. Nick left for the city. Charley at work. Have to keep house. Eve snow has gone. Much today. Gov. Chamberlain gave lecture at the hall tonight. Bad walking but the folks attended in good numbers." "May 16th, Cloudy and dull. Had Dennis ½ day to put down sods. Sturgis went into the city. Sarah came out to see us. Went in at 1 ½ by horse cars. Sturgis out home at 1 P.M. Sort of pleasant. Bad east wind. Mr. Wood came out, said the impeachers had failed to depart the President." "June 17th, Foggy and dull. Very little rain. Young folks went on picnic and to ride in afternoon and eve went into Mr. Hayes (?) to Crystal wedding. Nice time. About 80 present. At 6 P.M. young folks got home. Had had nice day and good time." "July 3rd & 4th, Pleasant up at 4 A.M. Out hoeing. Got it all done at 8 ½ A.M. Very hot and dry. Gas up to 98. Big trot up to Mystic Park. Charley went up. Came home very much heated. Bot salmon and halibut and lobster. This is the hottest day so far….Pleasant. Boys up early and off to the park to see the sights. Then they went into the city and out to Cambridge to see Bale match. Home at noon. Very hot. Gas 100 in shade. Nick Hanson and James Henry came here and called again in afternoon. Had our first peas today." "July 17th, Pleasant, cool east wind. All getting ready for the great time at Town Hall. The High School Exhibition went down at 9. Got a good seat. The exercises soon began and sere got through with at 2 ½ P.m. then the speeches &c. Closed at 3 P.M. Eve the grand finale, an eve procession. Mrs. Stimpson here to tea." "August 6th, (Building his Aunt Sally's house) Cloudy. Dennis Martin and Mike Downy on the cellar. John Downey taking away dirt all day. Meserve putting down frames together. Charley sick. At noon Meserve went to Framing. Charley and Sturgis helping Pollard. Brought 4 loads of stones today. Miriam and sister Charlotte went into the city to shop and made calls, out by 5 ½ train. Sister Agnes came up from her visit to Salem. Sturgis primed window and door frames. Fred painting house. 2nd coat. Light sprinkle of rain…." "September 2nd, Pleasant and quite cold. Wind est. Left at 8 by the horse cars for Boston and Himgham. R. C. Danner (?) and Frank, Miss Pennock, Sister Charlotte, C. Agnes and Willy and self make the party. Left the wharf at 9 ½ had a fine sail. Sister Charlotte and self returned on the boat. Got home at 1 P.M. found Charlotte and Sarah bad. Left for Derry at 12 M. Sarah sent her things out by express. The young folks got home rather late having missed the ¼ of 4 boat." "October 10th, Pleasant. Helped Fred paint until 8 ½ on the west end. Meserve came and took list of doors and hardware waited and left for the city by way of Charlestown at 9 ½. I took steam cars for the city. Went to Pickin's and Washbumm. Paid for white wood for ice chest. Called to see Mr. Bowen not in, then meet Meserve and selected the doors at Languard's then to Morse's and got the hardware. Meserve then left for home to work. I bot close line and boiler and sent them out. Saw Mr. Bowen and came out by two o'clock horse car. Afternoon Fred hung blinds and fixed paint. Meserve painting floor boards…." Many names are mentioned, in part: Hunt, Gray, Johnson, Gilman, Thomas Gallagher, Currier, E. L. Weeks, Esq. Pierce, C. Hubbs, Kitty Eldridge, Alice Crosby, E. Haskell, Sampson, Sawyer, Bowen, Austin, Dr. Hemingway, Cudworth, Captain Adams, John Richison, Sarah Woodberry and so many more. The full leather diary measures about 4" x 6 ½" and although the cover is worn and a bit stained the pages and binding look great. Overall G+.. Manuscript. Book Condition: Good+. Binding: Full-Leather

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