1839

JANUARY

1 January 1839. It was a clear day.

The Baltimore firemen in the City went away today and the soldiers on duty for the disturbance in Harrisburg were dismissed. It was cloudy this evening. Baltimore co. - Mechanics & Union.

2 January 1839. It was cloudy all day and it thawed very much. The rivers froze up. There were sleighs out today.

3 January 1839. Foggy all day and thawed very much. It rained in the evening. Down at the river persons were walking over. [The] Schuylkill has been froze[n] for two weeks and [they] are cutting ice.

I finished a deed tonight; it was the first I ever wrote.

4 January 1839. It began to snow last night and it snowed until 11 o'clock. It made no sleighing, as it thawed very much all day and was very slushy.

5 January 1839. It was cloudy all day and it hailed a little. Down at the river, men, horses and sleighs were going over the ice. I got a very bad headache. I got my velvet vest tonight. It was cloudy tonight. I was out with Phineas Fletcher.

6 January 1839. It was clear and rather cold today. Early in the evening it was starlight. After part cloudy.

I went to Grace Church in morning and afternoon; Mr. Suddards⁽¹⁾ preached. This evening I went with Chester to Dr. Cuyler's.

7 January 1839. It was cloudy all day and it rained in the evening. I was down at Miss Buck's with Chester White; it was very bad walking. Uncle gave me 23 cents to go to the Chinese Museum.

8 January 1839. It was clear all day and the evening was starlight. 18 of us went to the Chinese Museum. The Montezuma was towed down the river by the Philadelphia ice boat.

9 January 1839. It was clear through the morning, but got cloudy about 1/2 past 2. It began to snow about 1/4 past 6 in the evening.

10 January 1839. It was clear in the morning, but began to get cloudy about 3 o'clock. It was starlight part of the evening. The snow last night did not make sleighing. I got my cloth vest tonight.

11 January 1839. It was clear all day until 1/4 of 5. It was cloudy then until about 7 and then starlight until 9 when it got cloudy again. The river was open these 3 days. I was down at Miss James' tonight.

12 January 1839. It was clear this morning, but it got cloudy about 4 o'clock. It was the same this evening.

I went out to Aunt Nancy's today with our old gray horse. It was so warm today and yesterday that we had to have the doors and windows open. The river broke up.

13 January 1839. It was clear all day and this evening was cloudy.

I was at Mr. Suddards' Church in the morning. He preached from the 30th chapter of Isaiah, the 1st verse. He also preached this evening from the 4th chapter of John, the 4th verse. Uncle is here this evening.

14 January 1839. It was cloudy and rainy all day, and it rained very hard all evening.

Went up to Mrs. Ramboe's in our carriage. They were hiring. Uncle is here tonight.

15 January 1839. It was cloudy all day. It began to snow last night about 11 o'clock and it snowed until about 12 today - it made very good sleighing.

I did not go to school today. I was at Miss James' to supper.

16 January 1839. It was clear and cold all day. It was very good sleighing.

I got a bad pain in my breast. I went up to Kensington this afternoon with Papa.

17 January 1839. It was clear and cold all day and cloudy in the evening.

I was down at the Exchange with Chester White. I got a new picture today. There was good sleighing.

18 January 1839. It was clear and cold in the morning and cloudy in the afternoon.

19 January 1839. It was clear and cold early in the morning. It got cloudy soon, then snowed and rained. It got clear again about 1/2 past 4 p.m.. It was moonlit this evening.

I was up at Mr. Roberts' this evening. Fin got mad at me today.

20 January 1839. It was clear and cold all day and this evening was cloudy.

I went to Mr. Suddards' church this morning. The text was the 19th chapter of Genesis, the 21st verse. The words were "but the Lord was with Joseph and showeth him mercy." In the afternoon, the same. The text was the 3rd chapter Proverbs, the 17th verse. The words were "Her ways are ways of pleasantness and all her paths are peace." I was at Methodist meeting tonight with Chester.

21 January 1839. It snowed very hard in the morning and it got clear in the afternoon. The early part of the evening was moonlit and the latter part of the day cloudy.

I was not in school this afternoon. It was clear in the later part of the evening.

22 January 1839. It was clear early in the morning and the latter part of the day was cloudy. This evening was cloudy and snowy, moonlit in the latter part.

I ran a knife in my hand today.

23 January 1839. It was clear early in the morning and it began to snow about 8 a.m. It was one of the greatest hurricanes I even saw; you could not see across the street. It cleared up about 1/4 of 12 very cold. It was moonlit in the evening and very cold.

24 January 1839. It was clear and very cold all day. The Schuylkill froze again; [they] cut ice off about 9 inches thick. In the evening it was moonlight and very cold.

I was out with Chester White in the evening.

25 January 1839. It was clear until about 10 a.m. and then it got cloudy. It was not very cold this evening. It began to rain about 1/2 past 10 p.m.

26 January 1839. It poured rain until about 1/2 past 3 p.m. It then got very cold and blew so hard that it blew the covering off Mr. Mitchell's house.

I got two new pair of pants and an umbrella. The pants are 1 brown striped the other blue and black.

The tide & wind were so high as to carry away the middle of railroad bridge at Gray's Ferry - and the floating bridge also. It was one of the greatest freshets ever known.

27 January 1839. It was clear all day.

I went to Mr. Suddards' twice. He preached in the morning. The text in the morning was the 39th chapter of Genesis, the 21st verse. Bishop Onderdonk⁽²⁾ preached in the afternoon from the 2nd chapter of Romans, the 16th verse. It is snowing tonight.

28 January 1839. It was clear and very cold all day.

I went out in the afternoon with cousins Gainor & Tacy,⁽³⁾ and Ma, to see the destruction of the freshet of the Schuylkill [the destruction done by the freshet at the Schuylkill]. We went down to the point house. We broke down when coming back at the corner of Queen and Front Streets, and we all had to walk back. I went around to cousins' this afternoon.

29 January 1839. It was clear all day and this evening was cloudy. I went down on horseback to see if our carriage was done. On Saturday 26th, it [the freshet] carried away all the bridges on the cricks and rivers & mills and everything else.

30 January 1839. It was cloudy all day, excepting a little while in the afternoon. It got very foggy at 3 p.m, but after part of the evening it was moonlight.

I was out at Fountain Green this afternoon with two of the cousins.

31 January 1839. It was clear in the morning. This afternoon and evening were cloudy.

FEBRUARY

1 February 1839. It was cloudy all day. It began to snow at 5 min past 4 p.m. It was snowing this evening and was starlight.

2 February 1839. It was clear all day and this evening was starlight. I got my gun today.

3 February 1839. It was clear all day and this evening was clear.

I was at Mr. Suddards' Church this morning. He preached text the same as last Sunday. This afternoon was the same. I was at the Methodist Church tonight with Chester.

4 February 1839. It was clear all day and very cold. This evening was the same.

5 February 1839. Same.

6 February 1839. Do

7 February 1839. Do

8 February 1839. It was cloudy all day. I was out skating with the boys at the store.

9 February 1839. It was rainy early in the morning and cloudy until 1/2 past 10 a.m. It then got clear and warm.

I went out a riding. I went down to Fin's after I came home and was down there to supper. This evening was clear.

10 February 1839. It was clear and cold all day and this evening was clear.

I was at Mr. Suddards' Church in the morning - he preached. In the afternoon, I was down at Fin's and St. Andrew's. In the evening I was at Mr. Suddards' - he preached.

11 February 1839. It was clear in the morning and in the afternoon cloudy. It began to snow about 1/4 past 4 p.m. and it snowed until 8 p.m. The latter part of the evening was clear.

I wrote a deed for Pa this evening and was up until almost one o'clock.

12 February 1839. It was clear and cold all day and this evening was clear.

13 February 1839. Do. I wrote a deed for Papa.

14 February 1839. It was clear and mild all day and this evening was clear.

15 February 1839. It was clear all day and this evening was starlight and foggy. Lydia had company today.

16 February 1839. It was very foggy early in the morning. The latter part of the day was clear and this evening was clear.

I got my gun changed for a handsome hass(?)-mounted single barrel gun and a powder flask and a box of caps to boot. I got a new hat too.

17 February 1839. It snowed and rained most all day. I went to Grace Church in the morning and Mr. Suddards' preached.

18 February 1839. It was cloudy in the morning and after the heart of the day it was clear and warm. This evening was clear.

19 February 1839. It was clear all day and this evening was clear. I wrote a deed for papa.

20 February 1839. It was clear and warm all day. This evening was clear.

21 February 1839. It was clear and cloudy all day and this evening was clear.

22 February 1839. Washington's Birthday. It was cloudy in the morning and this afternoon was clear and warm.

I was out at Fountain Green in the afternoon. This evening was cloudy and I was down at Fin's.

23 February 1839. It was cloudy and rainy early in the morning. It was clear part of the day and the other part was cloudy.

I was down at the office in the afternoon. This evening was cloudy. I was at Fin's.

24 February 1839. It was first cloudy, then clear and this evening was rainy.

I was at Grace Church in the morning - Mr. Suddards' did not preach. In the afternoon I was at home and this evening I was at Friends Meeting with Sarah [Roberts].

25 February 1839. It was rainy early in the morning. It was cloudy until 1/2 past 4, and then got clear. This evening was clear. I was down at Fin's. Mama was at the concert this evening.

26 February 1839. It was clear early in the morning, but got cloudy about 1/2 past 8 a.m. It began to rain about 11 a.m. and poured rain all day. This evening was rainy.

I was down at Fin's this evening; he went to the Menagerie.

27 February 1839. It was cloudy in the morning, afternoon clear. Part of the evening was moonlight and the other part was cloudy and rainy. I was at the concert in the evening.

28 February 1839. It was clear part of the morning, but it got cloudy about 1/2 past 11 a.m. It began to rain about 3 p.m. and poured rain until about 9 p.m. It snowed in the night sometime.

MARCH

1 March 1839. It was clear all day and evening.

I went to hear the ventriloquist with Lydia this evening.

2 March 1839. It was clear all day.

I was out at Aunt Nancy's in the afternoon.

3 March 1839. It snowed early in the morning and the rest of the day was clear.

I was at Mr. Suddards' Church in the morning - he preached. In the afternoon I was at Christ Church⁽⁴⁾ and this evening I was at Mr. Waterman's. This evening was clear and cold.

4 March 1839. It was clear and very cold all day and night.

5 March 1839. It was clear all day and night and very cold.

6 March 1839. It was clear and moderate all day and evening.

7 March 1839. It was clear all day and warm. This evening was the same.

I was out a riding in the afternoon. Mama went to the museum.

8 March 1839. It was clear part of the day and the other part was cloudy. It was raining in the evening.

9 March 1839. It was cloudy in the morning and in the afternoon it was raining. This evening was cloudy.

10 March 1839. It was clear all day and evening. In the morning I was at Mr. Suddards' Church and he preached. In the afternoon I was at the Tabernacle. This evening I was at Mr. Suddards' and he preached.

11 March 1839. It was clear all day and evening.

12 March 1839. It was clear all day and evening. I began to take The Public Ledger today.

13 March 1839. It was clear all day and evening and rather cold.

14 March 1839. It was cloudy in the morning. This afternoon was clear and this evening was the same.

15 March 1839. It was clear all day and evening.

16 March 1839. Do

17 March 1839. The evening was changeable. I was at Mr. Suddards' Church in the morning - he preached.

I was at home in the afternoon and evening. I wrote to Grandmama.

18 March 1839. It was clear all day and this evening was changeable.

19 March 1839. It was clear all day and evening.

20 March 1839. It was cloudy all day and rainy in the afternoon and evening.

21 March 1839. It was cloudy and rainy all day.

22 March 1839. It was rainy part of the day and cloudy the rest. This evening was cloudy.

23 March 1839. It was cloudy part of the day and this evening was clear.

24 March 1839. It was clear all day. I was at Mr. Suddards' Church in the morning - 53 were confirmed.

25 March 1839. It was clear all day and evening.

26 March 1839. The North American Newspaper came out today.

27 March 1839. Do

28 March 1839. Do.

29 March 1839. Do.

30 March 1839. It was raining in the morning, but was clear in the afternoon and evening.

31 March 1839. It was clear all day and evening. I was at Mr. Suddards' Church in the morning and afternoon - he did not preach.

APRIL

1 April 1839. It was clear all day and this evening was clear.

2 April 1839. Do.

3 April 1839. Do.

4 April 1839. Do.

5 April 1839. Do.

6 April 1839. Do

7 April 1839. I was out at Warner Roberts'⁽⁵⁾ all morning. I went out to Warner Jones' all day.

8 April 1839. It was clear all day and evening.

9 April 1839. Do

10 April 1839. Do.

11 April 1839. It was cloudy and rainy all day and this evening was cloudy.

12 April 1839. Do.

13 April 1839. It was rainy and cloudy all day.

Henry Borden⁽⁶⁾ got on today.

14 April 1839. It was cloudy in the morning and this afternoon was clear.

I was at Mr. Suddards' in the morning. In the afternoon I was at Mr. Grant's and this evening at Grace Church [Mr. Suddards' Church].

15 April 1839. It was clear all day and this evening was clear.

16 April 1839. It was clear all day and this evening was clear.

17 April 1839. Do.

18 April 1839. Do. Mrs. Williams was here from Pittsburgh.

19 April 1839. Do. The Dr. made me go to bed for my sore leg.

20 April 1839. Do.

21 April 1839. Do. I was in the house all day for my sore leg.

22 April 1839. Do.

23 April 1839. Do.

24 April 1839. Do.

25 April 1839. Do.

26 April 1839. Do.

27 April 1839. Do.

28 April 1839. Do. I was in the house all day for my sore leg.

29 April 1839. Do.

30 April 1839. It was cloudy and rainy with thunder and lightning in the night.

MAY

1 May 1839. It was cloudy and rainy all day.

2 May 1839. It was clear all day. In the evening it rained and there was thunder and lightning.

3 May 1839. It was clear all day.

4 May 1839. Do.

5 May 1839. Do.

6 May 1839. Do.

7 May 1839. Do.

8 May 1839. Do.

9 May 1839. Do.

10 May 1839. Same.

11 May 1839. Same.

12 May 1839. Do.

13 May 1839. Do.

14 May 1839. Do.

15 May 1839. Do. Wrote to Algernon.⁽⁷⁾

16 May 1839. It was clear in the morning and fore part of the afternoon. The latter part [of the afternoon] was cloudy and the night was rainy.

I went down to Wilmington in the afternoon.

17 May 1839. I was out at the Brandywine in the morning. It was clear all day.

18 May 1839. It was cloudy early in the morning, but after part of the day it was clear. I was out at the Brandywine in the afternoon. I caught a coon out there.

19 May 1839. It was clear all day.

I was at Quaker Meeting in the morning. In the afternoon I came up from Wilmington. We started at 1 o'clock p.m. and we were up at 1/2 past 3 p.m. by the steamboat Telegraph.

20 May 1839. It was clear all day and this evening was clear.

21 May 1839. Do.

22 May 1839. Do.

23 May 1839. It was cloudy and rainy all day and evening. It was so cold that I had to wear an overcoat.

24 May 1839. It rained very hard in the morning. The other part of the day was clear.

25 May 1839. It was clear most of the day and it rained a little about 11 p.m.

26 May 1839. It was clear all day and this evening was cloudy.

27 May 1839. Today was changeable. Hail stones fell as large as peas.

28 May 1839. It was raining today. I planted my Morus Multicaulis (Mulberry tree) today.

29 May 1839. It was cloudy all day.

30 May 1839. Do.

31 May 1839. Changeable.

JUNE

1 June 1839. It was cold and rainy.

2 June 1839. It was clear in the morning and this evening was cloudy. I wore my check pants for the first time today.

3 June 1839. Changeable.

4 June 1839. Do.

5 June 1839. Clear.

6 June 1839. Do.

7 June 1839. Do.

8 June 1839. Do.

9 June 1839. It was cloudy early in the morning and then clear until about 2 when it rained a little. It cleared up fine.

Pa and I went to Salem, NJ at 7 in the morning per steamboat Clifton. We arrived there at 12. We went up into the town to look for Mr. Suddards' house and found it. It is a very pleasant place. We went to the tavern and got our dinner. When eating our dinner, we saw a man get up to his middle in a mud hole with white pants on. After dinner, went down to the boat. We started at 1/2 past 3 o'clock. A gentleman and his lady left. We got up to New Castle about 5 p.m. When we landed there, we walked up into the town and saw the Sheriff there. We started off to walk to Wilmington and got there about 7. We got supper, went to Church and then to the boat.

10 June 1839. I went up to Mrs. Gibbons' and came down with her in the gig. We went down to the boat, met Mama's cousins, and took a walk up to the Brandywine as far as the paper mills. We returned about 1/2 past 11 a.m., stopped and got some ice cream, and then went to Mrs. Reynolds' and got lunch. I came up in the steam boat Robert Morris with the Washington light infantry. I got here at 1/2 past 4 p.m.

11 June 1839. Clear.

12 June 1839. Changeable. Elizabeth Laurece and Charles Gibbons were married.

13 June 1839. It was clear all day and this evening was rainy.

14 June 1839. Clear.

15 June 1839. Do.

16 June 1839. Do.

17 June 1839. Do.

18 June 1839. Do.

19 June 1839. Do.

20 June 1839. It was clear. I went out to Fairmount in the evening. I got home about 1 o'clock.

21 June 1839. It was rainy early in the morning, but very warm. It was clear the rest of the day.

22 June 1839. Clear. Philip went to Wilmington. I began to take The I.C.E. today.

23 June 1839. Clear.

24 June 1839. Do.

25 June 1839. Do.

26 June 1839. Do.

27 June 1839. Do.

28 June 1839. Do.

29 June 1839. Do.

30 June 1839. Do.

JULY

1 July 1839. Clear

2 July 1839. Changeable.

3 July 1839. Same.

4 July 1839. It was clear all day. I went up to Germantown and up in the Schuylkill.

5 July 1839. Clear.

6 July 1839. Clear.

7 July 1839. Clear.

8 July 1839. It was clear part of the day.

9 July 1839. It was clear all day. The dog catchers got my dog

"Bravo" today at about 9 in the morning.

10 July 1839. Clear.

11 July 1839. Clear.

12 July 1839. Do.

13 July 1839. Do.

14 July 1839. Do.

15 July 1839. Do.

16 July 1839. It was clear. There was a bad fire about 7 p.m. in the gorge near Schuylkill.

17 July 1839. It was clear part of the day.

18 July 1839. It was clear all day.

I went to Burlington per steamboat Burling's Lineus at 8 o'clock a.m. We arrived there at 25 min past 10 a.m. with the tide against us. I left there at 10 minutes of 4 p.m. and arrived in Philadelphia at 25 min. past 6 p.m. Papa had the headache.

19 July 1839. It was clear. School broke up today.

20 July 1839. It was cloudy early in the morning and the rest of the day was clear.

I got up at 1/2 past 3 a.m. I got my white pants today. It rained very hard in the night.

21 July 1839. It was cloudy early in the morning and rained very hard at 9 o'clock a.m. It then got clear till about 3 p.m. when it got cloudy again until 10 p.m. when it then cleared up.

22 July 1839. It was clear and very warm all day. This evening cloudy and warm and it rained very hard in the night.

I went to see Mr. Adrian in the evening at the Museum.

23 July 1839. It was clear all day.

24 July 1839. Today was clear.

B.G. Mitchell went to the Falls of Niagara. I went over to the Schuylkill in the afternoon. It was cloudy part of the afternoon and this evening. Ma and Lid went to Aunt Nancy's.

25 July 1839. It was clear all day and this evening was rainy.

26 July 1839. It was clear all day. Papa's house on 8th St. near Arch caught fire by a rocket about 11 p.m., but did not burn much.

27 July 1839. It was clear all day. I got my coarse brown pants today. Lydia went out to Fountain Green today.

28 July 1839. It was clear in the morning. This afternoon and evening were cloudy.

29 July 1839. It was cloudy all day.

30 July 1839. Cloudy.

31 July 1839. Do.

AUGUST

1 August 1839. It was clear all day. Flora and Lid [Lydia] went over to Camden.

2 August 1839. It rained all day. Mrs. Gibbons' son Frank was up today.

3 August 1839. It was clear all day. I went to Mr. Aaron Gordon's in the evening.

4 August 1839. It was clear all day. I went to Fountain Green in the morning. I got home about 1/4 past 7 p.m.

5 August 1839. Today was clear. Sheridan's Stables was burnt today.

15 August 1839. It was clear all day. I was at the Museum to see Mr. Adrian.

16 August 1839. Today there was a very great storm and it was so cold that we had to wear overcoats. I went to see Mr. Adrian tonight.

17 August 1839. It was cloudy and cold today. I went down to Wilmington at 8 o'clock a.m.

18 August 1839. It was cloudy part of the day.

19 August 1839. Do.

20 August 1839. Clear and warm.

21 August 1839. Do.

22 August 1839. Do.

23 August 1839. Do.

24 August 1839. Do.

25 August 1839. It was cloudy in the morning and after part of the day it was clear.

26 August 1839. Clear.

27 August 1839. Clear. I learned how to swim in the Brandywine at the first dam from the mouth.

28 August 1839. Clear.

29 August 1839. Clear. It rained in the night.

30 August 1839. It was very stormy and cold.

31 August 1839. I came home from Wilmington and Lydia went down.

SEPTEMBER

1 September 1839. Clear all day.

2 September 1839. Clear.

3 September 1839. Do.

4 September 1839. Clear.

5 September 1839. Do.

6 September 1839. Do.

7 September 1839. It was cloudy and it rained in the afternoon. Papa & Mama went down to Wilmington at 4 p.m.

8 September 1839. Today was changeable. I was up at Aunt Erwin's in the afternoon.

9 September 1839. It was clear and very warm. Papa came home from Wilmington.

10 September 1839. It was clear all day and warm.

11 September 1839. It was clear until about 6 p.m, and then it got cloudy.

12 September 1839. It was clear and cool in the morning. It got cloudy about 2 p.m. and began to rain about 10 p.m.⁽⁸⁾

13 September 1839. It was cloudy early in the morning and the latter part of the day and evening was clear.

14 September 1839. It was clear all day.

I went out a gunning in the morning. I shot about 1 dozen birds and then broke my gun. I got home about 5 p.m.

15 September 1839. It was clear all day. I went to Burlington in the morning per steamer New Philadelphia. We arrived there at 10 min. before 10 a.m. with the tide against us. We started from there at 1/4 of 4 p.m. and arrived at Philadelphia at 1/2 past 5 p.m.

16 September 1839. It was foggy in the morning and the rest of the day was clear.

17 September 1839. It was clear all day and this evening it was cloudy. It rained very hard in the night.

18 September 1839. It was cloudy in the morning and in the afternoon it rained very hard and hailed. Ma, Lydia and Mrs. Gibbons came up from Wilmington. This evening was clear.

19 September 1839. It was clear all day and evening. Went to see Mr. Forrest play Metamorah, which was very handsome.

20 September 1839. Clear all day and warm. Mama went to Horticultural Society this evening.

21 September 1839. Clear all day.

22 September 1839. Clear all day. Got my first Frock Coat today. Went up to Burlington in the morning; came home in the afternoon.

23 September 1839. Clear and warm all day; rained about 10 p.m.

25 September 1839 The was a very bad fire about 20 minutes of 3 this morning at a factory for printing calico below the Navy Yard. Today was clear and warm. I got my wide pants home this evening.

26 September 1839. Clear all day and cool.

27 September 1839. Clear all day and cool. It was cloudy in the evening and rained.

28 September 1839. It was clear with a very cool frost this morning.

29 September 1839. It was clear all day and this evening was so cold that we had to have a fire. I was at church twice today. Chester was here.

30 September 1839. It was raining very hard this morning and it was very cold. The latter part of the day was clear. Mr. Wood killed his daughter today by shooting two balls through her head.

OCTOBER

1 October 1839. It was clear and cool all day. Papa lost $30 today.

2 October 1839. It was clear and cold all day and in the evening it was cloudy. There was a bad fire in the night.

3 October 1839. It was misty in the morning and clear in the latter part of the day and evening.

4 October 1839. Clear and warm. One of the greatest fires that ever occurred in Philadelphia broke out about 11 p.m. in the night. It burnt about 40 houses. It broke out on the wharf between Market and Chestnut streets. Chester White slept here.

5 October 1839. It was cloudy early in the morning and cold. The latter part of the day was clear.

I went out a gunning with Chester White. The fire is burning yet.

6 October 1839. It was clear and cool all day.

7 October 1839. It was cloudy all day. There was a bad fire down on 2nd below Dock St.

8 October 1839. It was clear all day and warm. There was a bad fire in the evening up in the alley by the Museum.

9 October 1839. It was clear and warm in the morning, in the afternoon it was cloudy and in the evening it was clear. Banks stopped special payment.

10 October 1839. It was changeable.

11 October 1839. It was clear all day and cool.

12 October 1839. It was cloudy and rainy all day.

13 October 1839. It was cloudy all day and it rained very hard in the afternoon -- I had to stand under an awning for about an hour and a 1/2.

14 October 1839. It was cloudy all day. The President⁽⁹⁾ visited the City and we had a procession.

15 October 1839. It was cloudy all day and evening.

16 October 1839. It was clear and warm all day.

17 October 1839. Today was changeable.

18 October 1839. It was foggy early in the morning and in the latter part of the day misty. It began to rain about 1/4 past 8 p.m.

19 October 1839. It was raining very hard in the morning, but it stopped about 1 p.m. It was clear in the evening.

20 October 1839. It was changeable. I was at Mr. Suddards' Church in the morning. I was out with Chester White in the afternoon and in the evening I was at home. It was clear and very cold all day.

21 October 1839. It was clear all day and cold.

22 October 1839. It was clear and cold all day. I wrote a Deed for Papa. H.E. to W. Simmons.

23 October 1839. Today was changeable. Ma and Pa went to Wilmington.

24 October 1839. They came home today.

25 October 1839. It was clear all day and evening.

26 October 1839. It was foggy early in the morning and the rest of the day was clear.

27 October 1839. It was cloudy early in the morning, but it cleared off about 11 a.m. I was at Mr. Suddards' Church in the morning - he preached. I was out with Papa in the afternoon and with Chester White in the evening. This evening was clear.

28 October 1839. It was cloudy in the morning. This afternoon was changeable and this evening clear.

29 October 1839. It was clear all day and this evening was clear.

30 October 1839. It was cloudy in the morning. The latter part of the day was changeable and rather cold, and this evening was cloudy. It rained in the night.

31 October 1839. It was cloudy early in the morning and after part of the day, clear. Chester slept here.

NOVEMBER

1 November 1839. It was clear in the morning and this afternoon was cloudy.

2 November 1839. It was clear in the morning and this afternoon was cloudy. I was not in the office today. This evening was cloudy. Mr. Elliott was at our house this evening.

3 November 1839. It was changeable and cold all day. I was at Mr. Suddards' Church in the morning. In the afternoon I was at home and this evening I was around at cousins' on 9th St.

4 November 1839. It was cloudy and cold all day. I began to wear my overcoat. It was clear this evening and cold.

5 November 1839. It was cloudy in the morning and cold. It began to rain at about 1/4 past 12 in the day and it rained very hard all afternoon. It was raining when I went to bed at about 1/4 past 9 p.m.

6 November 1839. It was changeable and cool. This evening was clear. I wore my red scarf.

7 November 1839. It was changeable and cold and in the early part of the evening it hailed. The remainder was clear and cold.

8 November 1839. It was changeable and cold and this evening was the same. Mama was around at cousins' in the evening.

9 November 1839. It was changeable and cold all day. I got my new hat from Freeman's. This evening was cloudy.

10 November 1839. It was changeable and very cold. Eliza Anne McClung was at our house. I was at Mr. Suddards' Church in the morning and afternoon and he preached. This evening I was at home.

11 November 1839. It was clear all day and evening and cold. Mr. and Mrs. Jewell were at our house this evening.

12 November 1839. It was cloudy and cold all day and this evening was the same.

13 November 1839. It was changeable and cool. Papa went to Wilmington this afternoon and Ma was at Aunt Lydia's this evening.

14 November 1839. It was cloudy and rainy all day and this evening was cloudy. Papa got home from Wilmington.

15 November 1839. It was changeable all day. I went down to Miss James' and Mrs. Fletcher and Tim were in.

16 November 1839. It was clear and cool all day. Ma, Pa and Lydia were out at Aunt Nancy's this afternoon.

17 November 1839. It was clear in the morning and in the afternoon and evening it was cloudy. I was at Mr. Suddards' Church in the morning and afternoon. Miss Alrich and S.A. Hedges were here today.

18 November 1839. It was clear all day.

19 November 1839. It was clear and windy all day and this evening it was clear and cold.

20 November 1839. It was clear early in the morning and the latter part of the day was cloudy. It was the coldest day that we have had this fall and there was ice this morning for the first time this year.

21 November 1839. It was clear early in the morning. The rest of the day was cloudy and very cold. The gutters froze for the first time this season. The large fire out at the inclined plane burned 5 locomotives and the depot.

22 November 1839. It was clear and very cold all day. There was a very bad fire this morning on Dock St. below 2nd.

23 November 1839. It was clear early in the morning and the rest of the day and evening were cloudy. I was out skating for the first time at Parker's Woods. It was very fine skating. I broke my skates.

24 November 1839. It was raining hard all day. I was at Mr. Suddards' Church in the morning. In the afternoon I was at home and in the evening I was St. Augustine Catholic Church.

25 November 1839. It was cloudy and rainy in the morning and the afternoon and evening were cold and clear. I was at the cousins' on Chestnut St. near 9th.

26 November 1839. It was clear and cold all day and evening. Mr. Bruce gave me a pair of red squirrels today.

27 November 1839. It was clear and cold all day. Flora went to the [blank] tonight.

28 November 1839. It was cloudy and foggy in the morning, in the afternoon it was clear, and in the evening misty. I was down at Mrs. Torrance's in the afternoon with our black horse.

29 November 1839. It was changeable all day. Miss Fanny Torrance died this afternoon.

30 November 1839. It was changeable. I got my two new waistcoats, double and single breasted, dark and red.

DECEMBER

1 December 1839. It was cloudy in the morning and in the afternoon and evening it poured rain. I was at Mr. Suddards' Church in the morning and afternoon and he preached. This evening I was at St. Andrew's.

2 December 1839. It was cloudy all day and this evening was rainy. Mr. Reynolds was here today. Aaron Thompson came to our office today.

3 December 1839. It was cloudy all day and evening. Michael Israel⁽¹⁰⁾ shot himself in New Jersey today at about 10 a.m. in the ear, but did not kill himself.

4 December 1839. It was raining in the morning and changeable the rest of the day. I began to go to Mr. Fife's writing school this evening.

5 December 1839. It was clear and warm all day and evening. John Hendricks was married to my cousin Elizabeth J. Erwin this evening at 25 minutes past 7 p.m. at Mr. Ellis' house on Madison St. All of us were at the wedding.

6 December 1839. It was clear, warm, and pleasant all day and this evening was cloudy. Papa went to New York. Mrs. Fletcher and Amelia came in today.

7 December 1838. It was rainy all day. Papa got home from New York about 1/2 past 11 p.m.

8 December 1839. It was rainy all day. I was at Mr. Suddards' Church in the morning and evening, he preached. I was at St. Andrew's in the afternoon. We had the gas lit for the first time in our Church.

9 December 1839. It was raining all day very hard.

10 December 1839. It was clear and cool all day and evening, until about 9 p.m. when it rained and snowed a little until about 10 p.m.when it cleared up again. Mr. Israel died this morning about 10 o'clock.

11 December 1839. It was foggy very early in the morning and the rest of the morning was clear. The afternoon and evening were cloudy and it was raining about 10 p.m.

12 December 1839. It was clear in the morning, in the afternoon cloudy, and the evening changeable. Mr. M. Israel was buried today at Laurel Hill. I got my boots heeled today.

13 December 1839. It was clear and cold all day and evening. Henry Stump went a gunning today with my gun. Mama and Sally Anne Hedges were around at cousins' this evening.

14 December 1839. It was cloudy all day and this evening it rained very hard. A thief came into our parlor and stole our two glass cologne bottles of the pier table.

15 December 1839. It was cloudy and rainy and cold all day. I was at Mr. Suddards' Church in the morning and he preached. I was at Mr. Brainard's in the afternoon, and this evening I was at St. Paul's. It blew very hard in the night. Uncle was here this evening.

16 December 1839. It was cloudy and cold all day and it blew very hard all day. One of my squirrels died today.

17 December 1839. It was changeable all day and evening. The thief sent our bottles back today about 1 o'clock. Mama was around at cousins'. The Schuylkill bank broke today.

18 December 1839. It was cloudy and cold all day.

19 December 1839. I wrote a letter to Grandma. It was clear and cold all day.

20 December 1839. It was clear and cold all day and evening.

21 December 1839. It was cloudy and cold all day and evening. I was out a skating in the afternoon at Parker's Pond.

22 December 1839. It began to snow at about 1/2 past 7 a.m. and snowed until about 10 a.m. It then rained. It began to snow again about 2 p.m. and it snowed and blew very hard. The snow was about 6 inches thick this morning and made good sleighing. I was at Grace Church in the morning, in the afternoon at St. Andrew's, and I was at home in the evening.

23 December 1839. It was cloudy all day and it snowed between 1/2 past 11 and 12. It thawed very much all day and there were sleighs out today.

24 December 1839. It was cloudy all day and it thawed very much. There were sleighs out today. This evening was clear.

25 December 1839. Christmas. It was changeable and very warm and in the evening it was clear. I went to the office 1/2 past 9 a.m. I then went out and walked about town in the morning. In the afternoon I went to the Circus and in the evening I was out with Henry Borden. Chester White made Mama a present of a prayer book. There were many sleighs out today.

26 December 1839. It was changeable in the morning, and this afternoon and evening were clear. I was at the Museum to see the Miss Shaws with Miss Ellen and Mr. Campbell and Lydia in the evening.

27 December 1839. It was cloudy in the morning until about 11 o'clock. It then began to rain and poured rain all afternoon and evening.

28 December 1839. It was cloudy all day. It snowed a little at 10 a.m., at 11, and at 12. It was cloudy in the afternoon and evening.

29 December 1839. It was changeable and very cold all day and in the evening it was cloudy. I was at Mr. Suddards' Church in the morning and afternoon and this evening I was out with Chester White. There were two bad fires this morning - one on Library St. and the other on 2nd St. near Chestnut.

30 December 1839. It was changeable all day and this evening was clear and cold.

31 December 1839. It was cloudy and cold all day and evening. I was down at Miss James' in the evening. I wrote a letter to Tim. It was very cold all day.

Notes:

(1) The Reverend William Suddards, D.D. (d.1883), rector, Grace Protestant Episcopal Church 1834-1883. Scharf and Westcott, p. 1352. A brilliant preacher, Suddards remained rector for 44 years. Francis James Dallett (hereafter cited as FJD).