1840
JANUARY
1 January 1840. It was cloudy early in the morning and the rest of the day clear and extremely cold. The river Delaware is full of ice. The Philadelphia ice boat went down it about 1/2 past 9 p.m.
2 January 1840. It was clear all day and evening. The thermometer at daylight was 8 degrees at 1 p.m., 20 degrees at 5 p.m., 19 degrees at 7 p.m. The river Delaware froze over last night. Round at cousins in the evening.
3 January 1840. It was changeable and cold all day. The former part of the evening was clear and the latter part was cloudy. The thermometer at 1/2 past 7 a.m. was 10 degrees.
4 January 1840. The thermometer at 1/2 past 7 a.m. was at 20 degrees and at 2 p.m. was at 56 degrees in the sun. It was cloudy in the morning and the afternoon was changeable.
5 January 1840. It was clear all day. I was at Mr. Suddards' church in the morning, this afternoon the same, and this evening I was at St. Andrews. The thermometer at 1/2 past 7 a.m. was at 22 degrees and at 2 p.m. was at 63 degrees in the sun.
6 January 1840. It was changeable all day and this evening was cloudy. The thermometer at 1/2 past 7 a.m. was at 26 degrees and at 11 p.m. was at 34 degrees. The Harmony sent her engine, tender and hose to Melton(?) today.
7 January 1840. It began to snow about daylight and snowed until about 9 a.m. It cleared up about 1/2 past 10 a.m. and this evening was clear. Mr. and Mrs. Roberts and Mrs. Reiford were here in the evening. There was a fire at the corner of Commerce and 4th St. this evening. The thermometer at 1/2 past 7 a.m. was at 28 degrees and at 11 p.m. 26 degrees.
8 January 1840. It was changeable this evening and cloudy until about 10. The thermometer at 1/2 past 7 a.m. was at 23 degrees, at 1/2 past 2 p.m. 41 degrees and at 1/4 of 9, it was 30 degrees.
9 January 1840. It was clear all day and evening. Lydia went to Bethlehem with Mama to Boarding School(1) at 4 a.m. I got up at 1/4 of 3 a.m. At 1/2 past 3, I went to a fire in Kensington. It was one of the biggest fires ever in Kensington. I was out a skating on the Schuylkill in the afternoon. I skated up to Mr. Roberts' at the falls. My skate broke coming back and I had to walk to the rest of the way.
10 January 1840. It was cloudy all day and evening. I got a letter from Grandmama.
11 January 1840. It was cloudy all day and raining in the evening. I was at the office today.
12 January 1840. It snowed early in the morning and was clear and cold the rest of the day. I was at Mr. Suddards' church in the morning and this evening the same. I was at Mr. Tyng's(2) in the afternoon. This evening was clear and cold.
13 January 1840. It snowed early in the morning, it was clear about the middle of the day and the rest of the day and evening was cloudy. The steamboat Lexington was burnt at Newport and about 120 persons lost. I sold my squirrel and cage at auction this evening. Mama got home from Bethlehem this evening about 7 p.m.
14 January 1840. It was cloudy all day and evening. Sarah E.
Gibbons came up from Wilmington today to a meeting of the Forrest Literary Association this evening. It was very mild all day.
15 January 1840. It was cloudy all day. It snowed at about 1/4 of 3 p.m. and snowed enough about 7 to 1/2 past 8 to cover the ground. Mr. and Mrs. Gibbons were here this evening. Clear this evening about 10.
16 January 1840. It was clear and very cold all day and evening. I was at Grace Church this evening. The thermometer at 1/4 past 7 a.m. and 10 p.m. was 10 degrees. Chester White lent me Nicholas Nickelby.
17 January 1840. It was clear and very cold. The thermometer at 1/4 of 8 a.m. was 6 degrees. The river was frozen this morning, it has been frozen for several days up by Holmseburg so that horses and sleighs can go across.
18 January 1840. It was clear and cold all day and evening. I was at the circus in the evening to see Don Luiscote.
19 January 1840. It was clear and cold all day. I was at Grace Church in the morning, this afternoon I was at St. Andrew's, and this evening at St. Stephen's. It was cloudy in the evening. I was down at the river about 2 p.m. and there were hundreds of people skating.
20 January 1840. It was changeable all day and this evening was cloudy and very mild.
21 January 1840. It was cloudy all day and this evening was changeable.
22 January 1840. It began to snow sometime in the night and snowed until about 10 a.m., it then began to rain. It made the walking very bad. It poured rain all the evening.
23 January 1840. It was changeable in the morning and this afternoon was clear. It got very cold on the river in the afternoon. I was at Church in the evening.
24 January 1840. It was clear and cold all day and this evening clear.
25 January 1840. It was clear and cold all day and evening. I went to hear Mr. Kirk this evening. I was on the Delaware a skating this afternoon.
26 January 1840. It was clear all day and this evening was cloudy. I was at Mr. Suddards' Church in the morning and afternoon and this evening I was at Mr. Tyng's.
27 January 1840. It was cloudy all day and evening. I was at Church this evening on Spruce below 6th St.
28 January 1840. It snowed all the morning, this afternoon was cloudy, and this evening foggy. I went to hear Mr. Kirk at Shiner's Church on Arch above 10th St. that preaches to young men. We had the windows at the office painted white.
29 January 1840. It was cloudy and rainy all day and it poured rain all the evening.
30 January 1840. It was cloudy and rainy in the morning, in the afternoon it was cloudy. This evening it cleared up cold. I was at Mr. Suddards' Church this evening. Papa gave me my light cane today. I was down at the river and the Philadelphia ice boat was coming, breaking her way through the ice.
31 January 1840. It was cloudy all day and evening. I wrote a letter to Lydia today at Bethlehem.
FEBRUARY
1 February 1840. It began to snow in the night. It snowed very hard all the morning and made splendid sleighing. There was a bad fire this morning that burnt 11 houses. This evening was cloudy.
2 February 1840. It was clear and cold all day and fine sleighing. This evening was clear. I was at Grace Church in the morning and afternoon and this evening I was at St. Andrew's.
3 February 1840. It was cloudy all day and this evening was cloudy. This afternoon I was out a sleighing. I was at the Museum this evening to hear Mr. William Burton et al. sing. It was cold this evening.
4 February 1840. It was clear and cold all day and evening. I went out to Fountain Green a sleighing.
5 February 1840. It was cloudy most of the day and cold and this evening was cloudy.
6 February 1840. It was clear all day and the beginning of the evening, the latter part was cloudy. Charles Erwin(3) came home yesterday. I was at Grace Church this evening. There has been good sleighing for 5 days. It thawed very much all day.
7 February 1840. It was cloudy most of the day and this evening was cloudy and rainy. I received a letter from Fin. It was very warm today.
8 February 1840. It was rainy all day and this evening was very foggy. It was mild all day.
9 February 1840. It was raining most all day and evening. I was at Mr. Suddards' Church in the morning and evening and at St. Andrew's in the afternoon. I shaved for the first time today.
10 February 1840. It was changeable and very pleasant all day and there was a hard shower of rain in the afternoon. The former part of the evening was clear and the latter part cloudy. I was at cousins' in the evening.
11 February 1840. It was clear and cold all day and evening. I got my large hair red brush today.
12 February 1840. It was clear all day and clear until about 10 when it then got cloudy.
13 February 1840. It was cloudy all day and evening. I was at Grace Church this evening.
14 February 1840. It was cloudy all day and evening. It blew most tremendous all the evening and rained very hard in the night. John Mitchell had a son today.
15 February 1840. It was clear and cold all day and this evening was clear and cold.
16 February 1840. It was clear in the morning and pleasant. I was at Grace Church in the morning and afternoon and this evening I was at St. Stephen's. This afternoon and evening were cloudy.
17 February 1840. Today was changeable and mild and this evening was cloudy. It rained at about 10 o'clock. I was at Marion Hose's benefit at the Museum in the evening. Papa gave me a silver Napoleon Bonaparte today.
18 February 1840. It was cloudy in the morning, this afternoon it poured rain, and this evening it drizzled rain. I was at the Athenaeum lecture in the evening.(4)
19 February 1840. It was cloudy, foggy and rainy all day and evening. I was at Grace Church this evening. Henry Borden went to Wilmington today. Cousins in 9th St. were here for supper this evening.
20 February 1840. It was clear in the morning and former part of the afternoon and the latter part and evening were cloudy. It began to rain very hard about 10 p.m. It was very warm all day and we had to have the windows and doors open. I was at Grace Church this evening.
21 February 1840. It was clear all day and warm and this evening was clear. I was at Grace Church this evening.
22 February 1840. Washington's Birthday. It was cloudy all day and evening and it rained a little in the afternoon. This evening I was at a meeting of the Forrest Literary Association.
23 February 1840. It was changeable and this evening was cloudy. I was at Grace Church in the morning, afternoon, and evening.
24 February 1840. It was changeable and this evening was cloudy.
25 February 1840. It was changeable, the former part of the evening was clear, and the latter part cloudy. I took a walk down town with P. Broes this evening. We stopped at Machie's auction store and he bought a box of cigars.
26 February 1840. It was changeable all day and this evening was same.
27 February 1840. It was cloudy all day, it rained for about an hour in the morning, and this evening was cloudy. I was at Grace Church in the evening.
28 February 1840. It was cloudy and cold all day and evening and it cleared off about 10 p.m.
29 February 1840. It was clear and pleasant all day and evening. A fellow was arrested for striking Jim Kelly about 11 o'clock this evening.
MARCH
1 March 1840. It was raining in the morning and the rest of the day was changeable. The first part of the evening was cloudy and the latter part was clear. I was at Mr. Suddards' Church in the morning and the afternoon, and this evening I was at St. Andrew's.
2 March 1840. It was clear and warm all day and evening. There was a bad fire in water below Walnut St. this evening. Ma was at the Museum this evening.
3 March 1840. It was cloudy and warm all day and evening. Around at Cousin's this evening.
4 March 1840. It was clear and warm all day and evening - so warm as to have the windows and doors open all day.
5 March 1840. It was clear and rather colder than yesterday and this evening was clear. I was at Grace Church. There was a great Whig meeting at the Masonic Hall this evening. Mr. Wise and Mr. Nailor spoke.
6 March 1840. It was clear and pleasant all day and evening. Papa went to New York this afternoon at 3 o'clock. I was around at cousin's this evening. I got my iron cane.
7 March 1840. It was clear and very windy all day. I got my stock.
8 March 1840. It was clear all day and evening until about 1/2 past 9 when it got cloudy. I was at Mr. Suddards' Church in the morning and evening and he preached. I was at St. Andrew's in the afternoon. There was ice made last night. Pa got home about 1 o'clock tonight.
9 March 1840. It was cloudy in the morning and the rest of the day and evening were clear.
10 March 1840. It was clear in the morning and this afternoon was cloudy. It began to snow at about 1/2 past 4 and it snowed very hard all the evening. Mr. Doolittle had his first sale in his new auction store on 4th Street this evening.
11 March 1840. It was clear and cold all day and evening. When I got up this morning the houses and the pavement on the south side of the way were covered with snow. Mr. Flake died this morning. Also, Governor Wolf dropped down in the street dead. Cousins were here for supper this evening. I got my second stock today with a seam in the middle of the bow.
12 March 1840. It was cloudy early in the morning and latter part of the afternoon, the rest of the day clear and the evening was cloudy. I was at Grace Church this evening and Mr. Suddards preached.
13 March 1840. Changeable all day and evening.
14 March 1840. It was changeable and this evening was cloudy. Pa and Mr. Roberts went up to Bethlehem this morning at 4 o'clock. I was at a meeting of the Uphradean Society this evening.
15 March 1840. It was snowing when I got up this morning and it was changeable the rest of the day. I went to Grace Church in the morning and the afternoon and this evening I was at St. Andrew's. This evening was cloudy until about 10 o'clock and it then cleared off.
16 March 1840. It was clear all day and this evening was cloudy. Pa got home from Bethlehem this evening about 6 o'clock.
17 March 1840. St. Patrick's Day. It snowed early in the morning. It rained about 5 o'clock and then cleared up. Chester White went to Fredericksburg today. This evening was clear.
18 March 1840. It was cloudy all day and evening. Dr. Parrish(5) died this morning with gout in the head.
19 March 1840. It rained most all day and this evening was cloudy. I was at Grace Church in the evening.
20 March 1840. It was cloudy all day and evening. Dr. Parish was buried today; he had a very long funeral.
21 March 1840. It was cloudy in the morning and this afternoon was clear. I went up to see a brig of 220 tons burden launched. Henry Borden and I were launched aboard her.
22 March 1840. It was clear all day. I was at Mr. Suddards' Church in the morning and afternoon and this evening I went to hear Mr. Kirk.
23 March 1840. It was cloudy all day. I was at Miss Shaw's farewell benefit for 2 years at the Museum this evening. I got my new powder flask today.
24 March 1840. It rained all day until about 4 p.m. and then stopped and snowed until about 10 p.m.
25 March 1840. When I got up this morning all the houses were covered with snow. It was cloudy, raw and cold all day and this evening was clear and cold. I was at the Museum this evening.
26 March 1840. It was clear and cool all day and this evening was the same. I was at Grace Church this evening.
27 March 1840. It was cloudy early in the morning and the rest of the day and evening were clear and warm. The firemen had a splendid parade today - it was about 9 miles long.
28 March 1840. It was raining in the morning, this afternoon was cloudy and this evening was rainy.
29 March 1840 It rained in the morning and the rest of the day was changeable and very warm. I was at Mr. Suddards' Church in the morning and afternoon and this evening I was at Dr. Tyng's.
30 March 1840. It poured rain all day but the middle of the day and evening were not so bad.
31 March 1840. Today was changeable. It snowed a little about the middle of the day, the beginning of the evening was clear, the latter part cloudy, snowed about 10 p.m. I was at Miss James' this evening.
APRIL
1 April 1840. It was changeable in the morning and in the afternoon it rained and hailed a little. Papa gave me two boxes of percussion caps.
2 April 1840. It was clear and pleasant and this evening was clear. I was at Mr. Suddards' Church in the evening. Mr. and Mrs. Mitchell and their two daughters were here this evening.
3 April 1840. It was clear all day and evening.
4 April 1840. It was changeable in the evening and the afternoon and evening were clear. This evening I was at the Museum to see Miss A.R. Mills the magicianess.
5 April 1840. It was clear and warm all day and evening and the latter part of the evening was cloudy. I was at Grace Church in the morning and afternoon. 84 confirmed in the morning - Sarah Ellis and Mary Burr were confirmed. I was at St. Andrew's in the evening and about the same number confirmed there.
6 April 1840. It was cloudy all day and this evening was clear.
7 April 1840. It was clear all day and evening. Mrs. Reynolds came up from Wilmington today.
8 April 1840. It was changeable and cold and this evening was clear and cold. I wrote a letter to Lydia yesterday.
9 April 1840. It was clear all day. I went to the circus this evening. They had one of the longest performances ever performed in America. I got out at about 1/2 past 12. It was cloudy.
10 April 1840. It was clear all day and evening. Mrs. Reynolds went home today.
11 April 1840. It was clear in the morning and very warm and this afternoon and evening were cloudy. It began to rain about 1/2 past 9 and it rained very hard all night.
12 April 1840. It rained all day. It began to thunder and lightning and rain about dusk and it poured rain all the evening. I was at Mr. Suddards' Church in the morning and evening, and this afternoon I was at St. Stephen's.
13 April 1840. It was clear all day and evening and very pleasant. The Ledger has the cornerstone laid for the new house at the corner of 3rd and Chestnut St. Ma got her new shawl (blue with flowers).
14 April 1840. It was cloudy all day and evening. The circus went away today.
15 April 1840. It was cloudy all day and this evening was clear.
16 April 1840. It was cloudy early in the morning and the latter part of the afternoon. The rest of the day and evening were clear. I was at Grace Church this evening.
17 April 1840. It was clear all day and evening. I was over in Camden this afternoon.
18 April 1840. It was clear in the morning. This afternoon was cloudy and it rained a little. This evening was cloudy. It was clear about 10 p.m. I was over in Camden where I took a walk up in the woods.
19 April 1840. It was cloudy early in the morning and the rest of the day was clear. This morning and afternoon I was at Mr. Suddards' Church and this evening I was at St. Paul's.
20 April 1840. It was clear all day and evening. Cousins were here this evening. Fin and Len came in from the country today; tomorrow they are going away to Hamilton, NY to live.
21 April 1840. It was clear all day. Ma and Pa went to New Castle and from there to Wilmington this morning at 1/2 past 6 on the Steamboat Robert Morris. The Washington and Franklin Squares were opened for the first time this season. Phineas Fletcher slept here tonight.
22 April 1840. It was cloudy and it rained most part of the day and evening. Ma and Pa got home this afternoon.
23 April 1840. It was clear all day and this evening was cloudy. I was at Grace Church this evening.
24 April 1840. It was clear in the morning, this afternoon was cloudy and it rained, and this evening was cloudy. We had no fire for the first time this season. We bought some black cloth and a satin vest pattern for me today.
25 April 1840. It was clear in the morning and the afternoon and evening were changeable. I was over in Camden this afternoon with the cousins and Mrs. Kaufman.
26 April 1840. It was clear in the morning and this afternoon it clouded over and rained very hard. I was at Mr. Suddards' Church in the morning and afternoon and this evening I was at home. It was cloudy this evening. I put on my white pants for the first time this season. It was very warm.
27 April 1840. It was clear all day and evening. Fin and his parents and sisters came in to go to Hamilton NY, to live. It was very cold.
28 April 1840. It was clear in the morning and this afternoon and evening were cloudy.
29 April 1840. It was cloudy and rainy all day and it poured rain all the evening. Mrs. Gibbons and Margaret came up from Wilmington today.
30 April 1840. It was clear all day and evening. Mrs. Gibbons went home today and her daughter Margaret went on to Poughkeepsie. Ma, Sarah Roberts, and I were at the concert of the Musical Fund Society this evening.
MAY
1 May 1840. It was cloudy until about 1/ 2 past 11 a.m. and then it began to rain and it rained about 3/4 of an hour very hard and then cleared up. I went over Schuylkill this morning; got over about 12 past 1 p.m. and then came over in the boat to Fairmount. I was at Harding's Tavern during the rain. I went to Fountain Green with Ma and the cousins and to 9th St. at 3 p.m. I came in the carriage in the evening and got in about 8 p.m. I brought in a large bunch of flowers. I was out in a boat for a while on the Schuylkill.
2 May 1840. It was clear and warm all day and evening. I got my black cloth pants and black satin vest today.
3 May 1840. It was clear for part of the morning and the rest of the day and evening were cloudy. I was at Grace Church in the morning and afternoon and in the evening at St. Andrew's. It blew very hard this evening.
4 May 1840. It was cloudy most all day and this evening was clear. I began to take the Daily Chronicle today.
5 May 1840. It was changeable and cold for this season of the year.
6 May 1840. It was clear all day and evening. I got my black cloth coat today - the second frock coat I ever had. Got my pink stripe suspenders.
7 May 1840. It was clear all day and evening. I was at Grace Church this evening - it was the last night of the lecture on Pilgrim's Progress for this season. The delegates from the Baltimore Convention came in today. They had a ball about 12 ft high rolling before them and a log cabin drawn by four white horses.
8 May 1840. It was cloudy all day. It began to rain about 1/2 past 5 p.m. and it rained all evening. A man was killed by falling off an old scaffold on Union St. near 3rd St.
9 May 1840. It was raining most all day. I got my black cloth pants home from Mr. Bates. Henry Stump was sick.
10 May 1840. It rained most all the morning. In the beginning of the afternoon it was cloudy and in the latter part the sun came out. In the evening there were fleeting clouds. I was at Mr. Suddards' Church in the morning and evening. Mr. Cook preached in the morning. In the afternoon I was at St. Andrew's.
11 May 1840. It was clear all day except about 1 o'clock when it rained for about 5 minutes In the evening there were flying clouds and moonlight. I was at singing school tonight.
12 May 1840. It was clear all day and this evening there were flying clouds. We began to tear down the plastering, to plaster it over again in our back room. Mrs. Reynolds was up from Wilmington.
13 May 1840. It was clear all day and this evening was clear and moonlit. I began to go to the Athenaeum today.
14 May 1840. It was clear all day and warm and this evening was clear and moonlit. I was at Grace Church this evening and Bishop Onderdonk preached. There were 7 men and 19 ladies confirmed.
15 May 1840. It was clear all day and this evening was cloudy. It rained at about 1/2 past 9 p.m.
16 May 1840. It was clear all day and this evening was clear. I got a pair of shoes lined with red from Mr. Hous today.
17 May 1840. It was clear and very warm today and this evening was the same. I was at Grace Church in the morning and afternoon and this evening I was at St. Paul's. There was a bad fire this morning at about 7 o'clock on Green St. Wharf. It was two bark houses valued at $20,000.
18 May 1840. It was clear and very warm all day and this evening was the same.
19 May 1840. It was clear in the morning and this afternoon and evening were cloudy. Our office was on fire today - 7 or 8 engines played on it.
20 May 1840. It rained all day and evening. I wrote a long deed for Mr. Campbell.
21 May 1840. It rained all day and evening. I wrote a letter to Lydia today.
22 May 1840. It was clear but there were flying clouds. This evening was clear. I went up to see the Magic Lantern at Grace Church. I also went to see the Belgian Giant at the Museum. He is 7 ft. 8 in. high and he weighs 340 pounds.
23 May 1840. It was clear all day and evening. I was over in Camden in the afternoon. I went into swim for the first time this season. There was flying clouds.
24 May 1840. It rained all the morning and this afternoon and evening were cloudy. I was at Mr. Suddards' Church in the morning and afternoon and this evening I was at Mr. Barnes' to hear Mr. Kirk. It rained hard last night.
25 May 1840. It was clear all day and evening. I was over in Camden in the morning.
26 May 1840. It was clear all day and evening. I was at Mr. Barnes' Church this evening. It did not let out until 1/2 past 10 p.m.
27 May 1840. It was clear all day until latter part of the afternoon and then got cloudy. This evening was cloudy. I got my stain for my name today.
28 May 1840. It was clear all day and evening.
29 May 1840. It was clear all day and very warm. This evening I was at the Museum with Rebecca Gibbons to see the Giant and Dr. Valentine.
30 May 1840. It was clear all day and evening. I got my black cane with a crooked white handle today. I was over in Camden to swim today for 2nd time this season.
31 May 1840. It was clear and very warm all day and evening. I was at Mr. Suddards' Church in the morning and afternoon and this evening I was at Trinity with Rebecca. Gibbons was here today and took dinner with us.
JUNE
1 June 1840. It was clear and very warm all day until about 1/2 past 3 p.m. then it got cloudy and rained very hard. It rained most of the evening.
2 June 1840. It was cloudy, damp, drizzling rain and very cold and unpleasant all day. This evening I was at a meeting of the Forrest Literary Association with Miss C.E.W. Parker.
3 June 1840. It was cloudy in the morning and poured rain all the afternoon and evening. It hailed on Monday night about 12 o'clock. We had strawberries for the first time this season - they have been in market for better than 3 weeks - I gave 12 1/2 cents per quart.
4 June 1840. It rained all day and evening. Ma preserved her strawberries at 16 per quart today. The rain today was extremely hard.
5 June 1840. It was clear and warm all day and very pleasant. Ma & Pa went out with a party to cousins. I was at Fountain Green to eat strawberries.
6 June 1840. It was clear until about 5 p.m. and then got cloudy. It began to rain about 1/2 past 8 and it rained all night. I was in at Murphy's swimming bath to swim this evening. It was the first time I was in his bath this season and the third time into swim.
7 June 1840. It rained all day and this evening was clear. I was at Mr. Suddards' Church in the morning and afternoon and in the evening at Dr. Cuyler's. I got my flying squirrel yesterday.
8 June 1840. It was clear and rather cool all day and evening.
9 June 1840. It was clear all day and evening. It was warm through the day, and this evening was rather cool.
10 June 1840. Today was clear and this evening was cloudy. I was at the exhibition of the Artist's Association at the arcade with Miss C.E.W. Parker.
11 June 1840. It was clear all day and warm.
12 June 1840. It was clear and very warm all day and evening.
13 June 1840. It was clear until about 1/2 past 11 then clouded over for about two hours and a half. It then got clear. I was over in Camden this afternoon to swim - the fourth time I was in this season. It was very warm.
14 June 1840. We commenced taking ice yesterday. It was clear all day and evening and very warm. I was at Grace Church in the morning and evening and in the afternoon at St. Andrew's. The latter part of the evening was cloudy.
15 June 1840. It rained until about 1/2 past 10 a.m., it was cloudy the rest of the day, and this evening rather clearer. The Whigs had a great meeting in the State House yard - there were from 10,000 to 15,000 persons there.
16 June 1840. It was clear and very pleasant all day and evening.
17 June 1840. It was clear all day and evening. I wrote a letter to Grandmama by Mr. Carr.
18 June 1840. It was clear very early in the morning and then got cloudy. It began to rain about 12 p.m. and it rained on and off till the afternoon. This evening was cloudy. There was a very handsome rainbow about dusk.
19 June 1840. It was clear until about 4 p.m. and then it got cloudy and rained. This evening was cloudy and rainy. I got my rosewood cane mounted with an octagon silver head this evening. I gave $2.50 for it and 25 cents for engraving. Miss Fanny Elssler made her second appearance at the Chestnut St. Theater.
20 June 1840. It was cloudy until about 4 p.m. then cleared off and this evening was clear.
21 June 1840. It was clear and very warm all day and evening. I was at Quaker Meeting in the morning and this afternoon at Grace Church. This evening I was at Mr. Bridman's.
22 June 1840. It was clear all day and evening. I went to see Madamoiselle Fanny Elssler and Monsieur Sylvain - two of the handsomest dancers ever upon the stage. They were at the Chestnut St. Theater. It was the first time I ever was at that theater.
23 June 1840. It was clear and warm all day and evening. I got my three draw pocket spy glass. I went to Camden to swim in the water. It was very warm. It was the fifth time I have been in this season.
24 June 1840. Clear and very warm all day and evening. There was a parade today to celebrate the 400th anniversary of printing.
25 June 1840. It was clear and extremely warm all day and this evening was cloudy. Mrs. Eliza Jones was here for supper this evening. Lydia got home from Bethlehem
boarding school this evening about 1/2 past 7 p.m.
26 June 1840. It rained all the morning. This afternoon was cloudy but it did not rain. This evening was cloudy and it cleared off about 1/2 past 10 p.m. I went to see Master Diamond the great Negro dancer this evening at Maran's Garden.
27 June 1840. It was changeable and warm. This afternoon I was over to swim at Cooper's Point for the 6th time this season.
28 June 1840. It was clear and exceedingly warm. I was at Mr. Suddards' Church in the morning and afternoon and this evening I was at Mr. Boardman's at the NE corner of 12th and Walnut St.
29 June 1840. It was cloudy early in the morning and the rest of the day clear and warm. This evening clear until about 10 and it rained very hard at about 11 o'clock. Lydia and I went to the Museum this evening to a concert. It was clear at 1/2 past 11 p.m., but I think that it will cloud again.
30 June 1840. It was clear and exceedingly warm all day until about 5 p.m. and then clouded and rained a little. This evening was clear and very warm. I got my Guiakeil hat today, but it is broke at the top.
JULY
1 July 1840. It was clear and very warm all day and this evening was clear and rather cool.
2 July 1840. It was cloudy all day and evening and rather cold. It rained a little through the day and evening.
3 July 1840. It was cloudy and cold all day and evening and it rained most of the day. A company of NY soldiers were here today. Richard Johnson, the Vice President, made a visit also - he was escorted by about 20 carriages well filled with Locofocos.(6)
4 July 1840. It was clear and warm and very pleasant all day. I started off at 8 a.m. for Havre de Grace on an excursion. We arrived at Gray's Ferry at 20 minutes of 9 a.m., the ship was going through the draw [drawbridge], passed a picnic party with a booth. We crossed Crum Crick at 1/2 past 9 a.m. and Ridley Creek at 25 minutes of 10 a.m. We arrived at Lazaretta at 20 minutes after 9 a.m. We arrived at Chester at 20 minutes of 10 a.m. - a number of passengers got out here. We left at 1/4 of 10 a.m., arrived at Marcus Hook at 10 a.m., crossed Crosby Creek at 20 minutes after 10 a.m., crossed the Brandywine at 1/2 past 10 a.m. and arrived [in Wilmington] at 25 minutes of 11 a.m. We left Wilmington at 20 minutes of 11 a.m. and arrived at Newark, Delaware at 20 minutes past 11 a.m. We arrived at Elkton at 20 minutes of 12 p.m. - it is quite a large town - and arrived at the Susquehanna at 1/2 past 12. We took the steamboat Susquehanna and went up around the Island down by the tide water canal and arrived at Havre de Grace at 1/2 past 1 p.m. The odd fellows were here from the Baltimore, the Jefferson and the Columbia Lodges - they laid a cornerstone of a Methodist Church. Started from Havre de Gras at 4 p.m. at the first watering place. There was a hard cider barrel and a log cabin with some rakes, scythes and cradles and a stick upon a pole surmounted by a flag. We arrived at Elkton at 5 minutes of 5 p.m. and then arrived at Wilmington at 1/4 of 6 p.m. I got out here and went up to Mr. Hedges and took supper. From there I went up to Dr. Gibbons'. At sundown they fired 26 minute guns from the arsenal.
5 July 1840. It was clear and very cool at Dr. Gibbons'. I went to Quaker Meeting and heard Ino Brook preach a singing kind of sermon. In the afternoon and evening I was at Dr. Gibbons'. It was clouded over in the morning.
6 July 1840. It was cloudy all day and it rained very hard all the afternoon. I was down at Christiana Creek in the morning and heard a Locofoco expressing his sentiments on politics to a Whig, a Mr. Bush. He had quite a crowd around him. I then walked up to Mr. Hedges'. From there I went to an ice cream shop and got some ice cream. I then went up to Dr. Gibbons'. It is rather cold here. In the afternoon I was out in all the rain with the boys picking mulberry leaves for silk worms. I left Wilmington at 10 minutes of 9 p.m, arrived at Gray's Ferry at 1/2 past 10 p.m, and arrived in the City at the depot at 20 minutes past 11. Mr. Campbell came here today.
7 July 1840. It was cloudy all day and it rained in the morning. This evening I was at the Museum to hear Mr. Watson sing with the Australian trumpeter. I got a handle put on my cane in Wilmington yesterday.
8 July 1840. It was cloudy all day, it rained on and off and in the evening it poured rain. I saw some peaches for the first time this season.
9 July 1840. It was cloudy all day and afternoon. At about dusk we had a shower of rain; it then cleared off and this evening was clear. I was at the Museum this evening. We had a fire today in Black House Alley.
10 July 1840. It was clear and very warm all day and this evening was clear and moonlit. I went over to swim at the Island this evening in a row boat for the 7th time this season.
11 July 1840. It was clear and very warm all day and [I went] over to Camden to swim this afternoon for the 8th time. This evening. I slept with Warner Jones at Berger & Shober's Store.
12 July 1840. It was clear and extremely warm all day. This evening was warm but cloudy. I slept again at Berger & Shober's. I was at Grace Church in the morning and evening and in the afternoon I was at Washington Square.
13 July 1840. It was cloudy and extremely warm all day and evening. It poured very hard about the middle of the day. I was at the Museum this evening to hear Mr. Watson and Mr. Davenport, and also Wells Quale.
14 July 1840. It was clear and very warm all day and evening. I went into Murphy's swimming bath this evening for the 9th time I have been into swim this season. Miss Rebecca Mitchell was married to Captain Smith.
15 July 1840. It was clear and very warm all day and evening. The thermometer at 12 p.m. in the sun was 121 degrees. I was down at the river when the Burlington boat arrived. A black man fell over board but he was saved with much exertion. Another broke a blood vessel and he died in about 10 minutes.
16 July 1840. It was clear all day and evening. I was at the Museum this evening for Mr. Watson's benefit. It was extremely warm today. I had my hair cut today.
17 July 1840. It was clear and extremely warm all day. The thermometer was at 96 degrees in the shade. I was over at the Island to swim this afternoon for the 10th time I have been into swim this season. I jumped off in 15 ft water for the first time I ever jumped over my head. I was up at 4 this morning and it was rather cloudy then.
18 July 1840. It was cloudy all day and evening and it rained all the afternoon. I was at the Museum this evening at Mr. Davenport's benefit. It was very warm today.
19 July 1840. It was changeable and very warm all day and cloudy in the evening. I took a walk over to Hamilton Village this morning with Henry Borden. I got home about 20 minutes of 11 a.m. I was at Mr. Suddards' Church in the morning and afternoon and this evening at St. Paul's - I heard Mr. Bedell Jr. preach his first sermon there. Mr. Bedell Jr. was ordained this morning at St. Andrew's Church and he preached his first sermon there in the afternoon.
20 July 1840. It was clear and rather cool all day and evening. I walked with Warner Jones as far as Mr. McAdam's Garden to see the eruption of Mt. Vesuvius, but we did not go in. Ma and Lydia went out with Mrs. Eliza Jones and Warner Jones to Aunt Nancy's.
21 July 1840. It was clear and warm all day and evening. I left Philadelphia on the steamboat Clifton at 1/4 past 10 a.m. We had a very pleasant and cool trip, passing the Point House, Lazaretto and arriving in Chester at 20 minutes after 12. We were an hour and 25 minutes coming to Chester; passed the steamboat Kent of Smyrna at 12 and opposed Hooke - we exchanged bells. We arrived at Penn's Grove at 1 p.m., which is a pleasant place. I met with a young man on board, we walked up to the house and from there we took a walk out. He went up to a relation's of his and I walked back to the tavern and got my dinner. After dinner I went down on the shore and took a swim for the 11th time this season with a gentleman from Wilmington and his three sons. Afterward I went out a gunning, but did not shoot anything. I got back to the tavern about 5 p.m. The steamboat Pioneer stopped here about 3/4 past 5 p.m. and landed 7 or 8 gunners and their dogs. I went out to Mr. Patterson's where I never was before - I was invited by this young man A.M. Pedroch. We took his two horse light wagon and got out there just as they were going to eat supper. We took supper and lodged there which was a very novel thing for me to go to a stranger's house in that way.
22 July 1840. It was clear and warm all day and evening. I took breakfast at the said Mr. Patterson's and then took a walk to Old Mr. Patterson's with the young man. I left him there and went on to the Pier. I took the steamboat Clifton at 1/2 past 10 a.m. and arrived in Philadelphia at 1/2 past 1 p.m. I went out to see the explosion of Mt. Vesuvius in the evening. Charles Nailor, the Senator, was escorted in by a large procession of horsemen, carriages and bootmen; he was drawn by 6 white horses.
23 July 1840. It was cloudy all day. It began to rain about noon and it rained on and off all the afternoon and then poured rain all the evening. I got my white pants with gaiters today.
24 July 1840. It was cloudy all day. This evening was clear and cool for this season. I went out to see Mount Vesuvius again tonight.
25 July 1840. It was clear all day and evening and cool and pleasant. I went to the Museum this evening to Mr. Murdoch's benefit. I slept at Berger & Shober's. I began to take The Chronicle again today.
26 July 1840. It was clear and very pleasant all day and evening. I started in the morning at 5 minutes past 8 in the steamboat New Philadelphia for Bordentown with Henry M. Borden. We had a beautiful excursion up with about 600 passengers. We arrived at Burlington at about 1/2 past 9 a.m,; about 300 passengers got off here. We then went over to Bristol - a number got off here. We then proceeded up the river to the landing place of the boat. We then took the cars for Bordentown, which is about a mile. We arrived in Bordentown at 1/4 of 11 a.m. We then took a walk through the town, which is a beautiful one and contains from 1000 to 1500 inhabitants. We then went out to Joseph Bonaparte's place and walked through the different paths, which are very beautiful. After walking back to the house again, we met E.P. Borden. We then took another walk through the place and back to the tavern. We started from Bordentown at 4 p.m, stopping at Bristol, Burlington, the Bake House and several other places, arriving in Philadelphia at 7 p.m. with about 600 passengers and spending a very pleasant day.
27 July 1840. It was clear all day and evening except a little while in the morning. I was over to swim this afternoon for the 12th time this season.
28 July 1840. It was clear and warm all day. This evening was very cloudy and warm.
29 July 1840. Today was changeable and very warm all day. This evening was clear. I was out at McAdam's Gardens to see Mount Vesuvius. I did not go in the several times that I have been out.
30 July 1840. It was cloudy in the morning and the rest of the day was clear. This evening was cloudy. It was very warm all day. I got a sword mounted with brass. I got my wash stand.
31 July 1840. It was cloudy all day and evening and it rained about 10 p.m. I was out to see Mount Vesuvius. Mrs. Gibbons' sister and Adaline Hedges came here to go to the sea in the morning.
AUGUST 1840
1 August 1840. Today was changeable. It was clear in the evening and we had a little rain about 1/2 past 6 p.m. I was at Mrs. Watson's farewell benefit this evening at the Museum. I was over to swim for the 13th time this season.
2 August 1840. It was cloudy and rained a little while in the morning and this evening and afternoon were clear and very warm. I was at Mr. Suddards' Church in the morning and afternoon and in the evening I was sitting in the Washington Square. Mr. Cassidy and Miss McNutt were here for supper this evening and went to church. They are from Louisville.
3 August 1840. It was clear early in the morning and the rest of the day was cloudy. It poured rain extremely hard in the middle of the day. This evening was cloudy. Mr. Hart moved out of Pa's lower house on 8th St. today.
4 August 1840. Today was changeable. It rained very hard about dark. I was at the Museum to see Master Young the Magician.
5 August 1840. It was cloudy early in the morning, rest of the day clear. I got up at 4 a.m. to go into swim for the 14th time this season. I was out to see Mt. Vesuvius with A. Thompson.
6 August 1840. It was clear all day and this evening was cloudy. Mama and Papa went to New York today. They started at 7 a.m. in the steamboat New Philadelphia. I was at the Museum tonight to see Master Young for the 2nd time. I was over to swim for the 15th time this season. Mr. Campbell was hurt very much so as he had to be brought home in a carriage.
7 August 1840. It was cloudy in the morning and in the afternoon and evening it rained very hard. I started for Wilmington at 8 a.m. with Lydia. We arrived there at 1/4 of 10 p.m. and then went up to Dr. Gibbons'. In the afternoon I went into swim for the 16th time this season.
8 August 1840. It was clear all day. I went into swim with Henry Borden in the morning and afternoon for the 17th and 18th times this season. I went in again about dusk with Dr. Gibbons' boys for the 19th time this season. The three last times I was in I went in the first dam from the mouth of the Brandywine, the first time in the Race.
9 August 1840. It was clear all day. I went to Quaker Meeting in the morning and this afternoon I took a walk up the Brandywine with Bill Chandler. I then came down the other side and stopped at Edmund Havies' to a fellow workman of his to try a small a locomotive of his which he had been making - it works well and fast.
10 August 1840. It was clear all day and evening. I came home from Wilmington today. I went to the Museum tonight to see Mr. Young the Master Magician.
11 August 1840. It was clear in the morning and in the afternoon and evening it rained very hard on and off. I was at Museum this evening to see Master Young.
12 August 1840. It was cloudy all day and very warm and it poured rain at about 10 p.m. I was at the Museum to see Master Young.
13 August 1840. It poured rain all day and evening and blew very hard. Mama and Papa got home from New York.
14 August 1840. It was clear all day. This evening it clouded over and began to rain at about 10 p.m. and it was pouring rain when I went to bed at 11 p.m. I was at the Museum to see Master Young.
15 August 1840. It was clear all day and evening. I was over to swim for the 20th time this season. This evening I was at the Museum to see Master Young.
16 August 1840. It was cloudy most all day. It rained a little in the morning. This evening was clear. I was at Grace Church in the morning and afternoon and this evening I was at the Methodist Church on Christian St. near 7th.
17 August 1840. It was clear all day and evening. I went into swim in the Brandywine for the 21st time this season. I went up about 1/4 mile above the first toll gate with Miss Brinkl�. I had to walk home in the dark. I came down to Wilmington today - we started at 8 a.m.
18 August 1840. It was clear all day and evening. I went into swim for the 22nd time this season. I went out a gunning with William Brinkley.
19 August 1840. It was clear all day and evening. Mama came down to Wilmington this morning. I was out a fishing with Julius Bradford down at the Mills. I went into swim for the 23rd time this season. I was down in town all the morning and got three glasses of ice cream and a small tin cup.
20 August 1840. It was clear and warm all day and evening. I went into swim twice for the 24th and 25th times this season. I was out a fishing this afternoon down at the Mill with Rod and Frank Gibbons and Uncle Bradford. - I got 8. I went to town with Mama in the evening.
21 August 1840. It was clear and warm all day. I took an excursion to Havre de Grace from Wilmington. We started about 1/4 after 10 a.m., having a very pleasant trip there and stopping at Newport, Newark, Elkton and other places. When I arrived at the landing, I met the Miss Alriches and their company, which I joined in with, and had a very pleasant time. We then went aboard the steamboat Susquehanna and took an excursion three or four miles down in the bay. We then turned around and went up as far as Port Deposit, passing the Island, the Tide Water Canal, and great deal of handsome scenery. We then returned to Havre de Grace and tried fishing for a while. We had a fine picnic dinner on board, with ice cream, and we started for Wilmington at about 1/2 past 3 - passing said places and we arrived at Wilmington at 20 minutes of 6 after spending a very pleasant day. I then went home with the ladies. After that I left them after having an invitation to supper and went down to Mr. Hedges' for supper. After that I went up to Mr. Gibbons' and went to bed.
22 August 1840. It was cloudy in the morning early and the rest of the day and evening were clear and extremely warm. I was out a gunning in the morning and I was almost dead with heat. I shot about 18 birds but did not get but about 10. Went into swim for the 26th time this season.
23 August 1840. It was clear in the morning, in the afternoon it clouded over and in the evening we had a great storm. I was out on the Brandywine walking in the afternoon with Edward Harvey. I went into swim for the 27th time this season. I was at Mr. Gilbert's Church in the morning.
24 August 1840. It was clear all day and evening. I went over the creek with Randman to fish - we caught 31. I was in town tonight with Sarah Gibbons at Mr. Louring's. We did not get home till 20 minutes of 11 p.m.
25 August 1840. It was clear all day and evening. I was out a gunning and I shot 21 birds.
26 August 1840. It was clear all day and evening. I shot 26 red birds and sent them home to Mama this morning. I went into swim for the 28th time this season.
27 August 1840. It was clear all day and evening. I was down in town in the morning and in the afternoon out a gunning.
28 August 1840. It was clear and pleasant all day. I was out a gunning in the morning and I shot about a dozen. I was into swim for the 29th time this season - I swam 4 times across the dam.
29 August 1840. It was cloudy all day. I was out at the Brandywine Mills most all day. I went into swim twice there where it was about 20 ft deep for the 30th & 31st times this season.
30 August 1840. It was changeable all day, and clear in the evening. At Mr. McCullogh's Church in the morning - it was the first time they had Church in it since the enlargement. I was at Dr. Gibbons' in the afternoon and part of the evening I was in town.
31 August 1840. It was clear all day. I was down in town in the morning and this afternoon I was at Dr. Gibbons'. The National Theater opened for the first time this evening.
SEPTEMBER
1 September 1840. It was changeable all day, and rather cool. I was out a fishing in the morning. At about 6 p.m. Mrs. Gibbons, Sarah, Rebecca and myself went out to Mr. Sam Canby's which is about 4 1/2 miles. We got home about 9 p.m.
2 September 1840. It was clear all day until about dark when it clouded over and rained very hard all the evening. I was out a rowing in the Brandywine in the morning and in the afternoon I was at Dr. Gibbons'. I was into swim for the 32nd time this season.
3 September 1840. It was cloudy all day. I was at Dr. Gibbons' in the morning and this afternoon I was out a rowing on the Brandywine.
4 September 1840. It was cloudy all day and it rained in the evening. I was out a gunning all the morning. I shot 14 birds and brought them to Philadelphia with me. I came up from Wilmington today.
5 September 1840. It was cloudy and rainy all day and it cleared off a little in the evening. I got a new pair of shoes. I was not at the office. It was so cold that I had to wear an overcoat in the evening. Papa got home from New York tonight - he went on Wednesday last.
6 September 1840. It was clear all day and evening. I was at Grace Church in the morning and afternoon and this evening I was at St. Andrew's.
7 September 1840. It was clear and pleasant all day and evening. I was at McAdam's Garden this evening - it was Mrs. McAdam's benefit.
8 September 1840. It was clear all day and evening. I was at the American Museum tonight at the corner of 3rd & Chestnut St.
9 September 1840. It was cloudy all day and it rained in the afternoon and evening. Mr. Gardener was here for dinner today.
10 September 1840. It was cloudy all day. It rained in the afternoon and this evening was cloudy.
11 September 1840. It was clear in the morning. This afternoon was cloudy and in the latter part it rained. The early part of the evening was cloudy and the latter part was clear.
12 September 1840. It was clear and cold all day and evening. It is my 16th birthday. I was at Burton's Theater to see Nicholas Nickelby played. It was the 12th night it had been opened.
13 September 1840. It was clear all day and evening. This morning and evening I was at Grace Church and this afternoon I was at St. Andrew's.
14 September 1840. It was clear and cool all day and evening.
15 September 1840. It was clear and cool all day and evening.
16 September 1840. It was clear all day and evening. I was in the house for my sore on my left foot for the first day.
17 September 1840. It was clear all day. It clouded over in the evening and got cold. I was in the house all day for sore foot.
18 September 1840. It rained all day and evening. I was in the house all day for my sore foot.
19 September 1840. It was clear all day and evening. This evening was rather cool. I was in the house all day.
20 September 1840. It was clear all day until about 11 p.m. and then got cloudy. It began to rain about dusk and rained until about 8 p.m. and then cleared off some time in the evening. I was in the house all day for sore foot.
21 September 1840. It was clear all day and evening; got quite cold towards evening. I was in the house all day. Papa gave me a breast pin set with 9 stones-the one in the middle rather larger than the rest.
22 September 1840. There was a heavy frost last night - it was the first this season. The thermometer was down at 45 degrees. It was clear and cold all day and evening. Tacy, Sarah and Mary Roberts were here tonight for supper. Mary R. is from the country.
23 September 1840. It was clear and cool all day and evening. William Hanly was here this evening. I was in the house all day for my foot.
24 September 1840. It was clear all day and evening. Papa went to New York today. I was in the house all day.
25 September 1840. There were light flying clouds all day, but this evening was clear. I was in the house all day for my foot.
26 September 1840. It was clear all day and evening. Papa got home form New York last night about 11 p.m. I was in the house all day.
27 September 1840. It was cloudy in the morning. This afternoon it rained and this evening was clear. I was at home in the morning and evening and this afternoon I was at Mr. Suddards' - the hours of service changed today.
28 September 1840. It was clear all day. I got out for a little while this afternoon. William Hanly was here this evening.
29 September 1840. It was rather cloudy or misty all day and evening. I took a walk up to Mr. Engle's school with William Hanly this afternoon.
30 September 1840. There were light clouds or it was rather misty all day. It rained in the evening. Papa went up to Doylestown at 4 this morning. I had my hair cut today. I was down at the office in the morning and home in the afternoon and evening for my sore foot.
OCTOBER
1 October 1840. It was cloudy and rainy in the morning and in the afternoon and evening it was clear. I was at Grace Church this evening - it was the first of the Thursday evening lectures. Papa got home form Doylestown today.
2 October 1840. It was cloudy and rainy all day and evening. I was out with William Hanly this evening.
3 October 1840. It was cloudy and poured rain part of the day. The evening was rather more clear, but rather misty. I walked out as far as the Masonic Hall where they are preparing for the exhibition of the Franklin Institute.
4 October 1840. It was clear and cold all day and evening. There was a frost last night for the 2nd time this season. I was at Mr. Suddards' Church in the morning and afternoon and this evening I was at St. Andrew's.
5 October 1840. It was clear and rather cold all day and evening. We had a large Whig meeting and procession here today. The Harmony Engine was brought from the makers (finished) to the Franklin Institute exhibition today - she is a handsome affair.
6 October 1840. It was clear and pleasant all day and evening. I was at the Franklin Institute exhibition this afternoon.
7 October 1840. It was clear all day and evening. I went to the office today for the first time since my sore foot.
8 October 1840. It was clear all day and evening. I was at Grace Church this evening. The Water Witch Fire Company from Wilmington was here today.
9 October 1840. It was cloudy most of the day and this evening was rainy.
10 October 1840. It was cloudy and rainy all day and evening. I was at the Franklin Institute exhibition in the evening.
11 October 1840 It rained hard in the morning and this afternoon and evening were clear. I was at the Central Church in the morning, in the afternoon I was at St. Andrew's and in the evening I was at Grace Church.
12 October 1840. It was clear all day and evening. Mrs. Van Arsdale and Mrs. Prichett were here to supper. I was at the Franklin Institute exhibition this evening.
13 October 1840. It was clear all day and evening. I was at the Franklin Institute this evening.
14 October 1840. It was clear all day and evening. I was at the Franklin Institute with William Hanly.
15 October 1840. It was cloudy early in the morning and the rest of the day and evening were clear. I was at Grace Church this evening. It was very cold for this season tonight.
16 October 1840. It was clear and cold all day and evening. I was at the American Museum with William Hanly tonight.
17 October 1840. It was cloudy and cold all day and evening. I was at the Franklin Institute this evening. I got a new hat today from Mr. Harris on Chestnut St.
18 October 1840. It rained all day and evening. I was at Mr. Suddards' Church in the morning and afternoon and this evening I was at the Baptist Church on George St. - his text was the 4th chapter of Proverbs and 17th verse - it was on the evils of going to the theater.
19 October 1840. It was cloudy and very damp all day and evening. I was down at William Hanly's in the evening. The Locofoco Party had a procession tonight.
20 October 1840. It rained all day and evening. Benjamin Hunter, a boy from the country, came to our office.
21 October 1840. It was cloudy and rainy all day and it poured rain in the night.
22 October 1840. It was clear and rather cold all day and evening. I was at Grace Church in the evening. I got my black spotted vest today. I got my blue Beaver cloth overcoat lined in front with velvet.
23 October 1840. It was clear and rather cold all day and evening. Papa went to New York at 5 p.m. I went up to see John Hendricks this evening.
24 October 1840. It was clear in the morning and in the afternoon it rained. In the beginning of the evening there were light clouds and the latter part was clear. I got a new pair spotted pants.
25 October 1840 It was cloudy in the morning and it rained in the afternoon. This evening was clear and very cold. I was at Grace Church in the morning and evening and this evening I was at Dr. Tyng's. Uncle was here this evening.
26 October 1840. It was cloudy on and off through the day, but very cold. I had to wear an overcoat all day. We had ice in the gutters this morning - it was the first this season. This evening clear and cold.
27 October 1840. It was clear and cold all day and this evening was cloudy and cold.
28 October 1840. It was cloudy all day and evening. The wind was south southeast. I was at a Whig meeting this morning. Papa got home form New York tonight.
29 October 1840. It poured rain all day and evening. It was rather mild. There was wind early in the morning and the rest of the day it was South Southeast. It blew extremely hard in the afternoon and evening. I was at Church this evening - Mr. Suddards'.
30 October 1840. It was cloudy the greater part of the day and evening. The wind was West Northwest. This is the day of the Presidential Election.(7) I was at the office all day. This evening I was out with Ben Springer and Mr. Swain.
31 October 1840. It was clear all day and this evening was cloudy. The wind was West Northwest. There was a bad fire this morning on Juniper St. The Harmony was in service for the first time, the Columbia and North America christened her. The Locofocos stormed Charles' house on Chestnut near 6th and the Whig headquarters about 1 this morning pelting it with mud and breaking the windows and doing considerable injury.
NOVEMBER
1 November 1840. It was clear and pleasant all day. The wind was West Northwest and North in the evening. I was at Mr. Suddards' Church in the morning and at St. Luke's in the afternoon. It has not been open for more than two or three weeks. This evening I was at St. Andrew's. Lydia went out to Fountain Green yesterday to spend Sunday.
2 November 1840. It was cloudy and misty all day and this evening was clear. The wind was North Northeast. It is rather cool this evening.
3 November 1840. It was clear all day. This evening was rather misty. The wind was North Northeast. B. Franklin Hammor came to our office today. I was out with Ben Springer and Al Swain this evening.
4 November 1840. It was clear all day and evening. The wind was North. There was a bad fire yesterday morning on 5th near Walnut St. I went down with William Hanly to see Miss Snell, and bring his sister home. The new circus on Walnut St. near 8th St. was opened tonight for the first time. Raymond & Warnock's Company performed there.
5 November 1840. It was clear all day and evening with the wind from the North. I was at a Musical Fund Society Concert this evening with Sarah Roberts and her cousin Rebecca, Mama, Lydia, Papa and Tacy Roberts.
6 November 1840. It was rather cloudy all day. This evening was a beautiful moonlit night. The wind was North Northwest. I was out in the evening with William Hanly and Sam Milligan at Whig headquarters. Mr. Algernon Roberts, Tacy and Rebecca Roberts and Mrs. Cuthbert were here to tea this evening. Mama and they went to the first lecture of the Mercantile Library of the season - Dale M. Dallas addressed the meeting.
7 November 1840. It was clear all day until about 4 p.m. and then clouded over. This evening was cloudy. The wind was North Northeast. I went to a private exhibition of the Automaton Chess player this evening at the Lecture Room of the Museum. Hunter went away from our office today. With Ben Springer and Al Swain through the latter part of the evening - we were at the Whig headquarters at 5th and Chestnut, Charles' Exchange, and Chandlers & Co. to hear the election news. Old Tip(8) has a majority of 249 persons.
8 November 1840. It rained all day and evening. The wind was North Northeast. I was at Mr. Suddards' Church in the morning and evening and in the afternoon I was at St. Paul's.
9 November 1840. It was cloudy and misty with the wind from the West Northwest. This evening it cleared off at about 10 with a very strong and cold wind from the Northwest.
10 November 1840. It was cloudy all the morning. This afternoon was clear and this evening was moonlit and cold with a strong wind from the Northwest. I went to the Athenaeum Lecture this evening - David Paul Brown lectured on the Ruling Passions - with two of our cousins and Mama and Lydia. After the lecture we went up to Mr. Roberts' at 11th and Spruce Streets.G ot home about 1/2 past 10 p.m.
11 November 1840. It was clear and rather cold all day and this evening was clear and moonlit. The wind was North Northwest. I was out in the evening with Al Swain. I got the offices papered.
12 November 1840. It was cloudy and rather misty all day and the evening was clear. The wind was North Northwest. I was at the office all day and this evening I was at Grace Church.
13 November 1840. Today was clear and very pleasant all day. This evening was clear and rather cold with the wind from west. I was at the office. In the evening I was out with Ben Springer, at the Athenaeum, and at the exchange on Chestnut St. Yesterday there were 1000 guns fired on the Delaware from a vessel decorated with flags and drawn up and down by the steamboat in honour of the Whig victory in Pennsylvania and elsewhere.
14 November 1840. It was clear in the morning and this afternoon was cloudy. The wind in the morning was west and in the afternoon and evening it got round to the Southeast. It began to pour rain about 10 p.m. I was at the office all day and this evening I was at home to write a Deed Poll. There were severe claps of thunder and lightning this evening. Mr. McHenry was here this evening, he said it began with a little snow. At 20 minutes of 11 p.m. it was pouring rain extremely hard. If it snowed as above mentioned, it was the first snow of the season. It also hailed very hard about eleven p.m. - first this season.
15 November 1840. It was cloudy in the morning and the afternoon and evening were clear. The wind would change alternately to Southwest, West and Northwest. I was at Mr. Suddards' Church in the morning and afternoon. In the evening I was at St. Paul's with William Hanly. It cleared up, rather cold, but was very pleasant after the rain.
16 November 1840. It was cloudy and cold all day and the evening was clear. The wind was West Northwest.
I was at the office all day and this evening I was at home sorting jewelry. Papa gave me a breast pin, a ring and a watch key - all of them are gold.
17 November 1840. It was cloudy all day. The former part of the evening was clear and the latter part cloudy. The wind was Southwest.
Mr. and Mrs. Mitchell were here tonight. I was at the office all day and in the evening I was out with Al Swain.
18 November 1840. It began to snow about 1/2 past 5 a.m. and it snowed steady all day and evening. At 20 minutes of 11 p.m. it was snowing very hard. The wind today was North Northwest. This is the first snow I have seen this season.
I was at the office all day and this evening I was at home. There was a bad fire this morning about 2 o'clock at 7th and Chestnut St. It was very cold all day today and yesterday. I got my breast pin all stuck in the snow where it laid at the depth of 5 1/4 inches. I saw two or three sleighs out today but it was rather poor work.
19 November 1840. It was clear early in the morning and the rest of the day was cloudy. Also, the evening. The wind was West.
I was at the office all day and this evening I was at Grace Church. It was a rather cold day and evening and it was bad walking.
20 November 1840. It was clear all day and evening, but rather cold. The wind was Northwest. I was at the office all day and this evening I was out with Al Swain. I went to Cousins on 9th St. about 9.
21 November 1840. It was cloudy all day and this evening was clear. The wind was West Northwest. I was at the office all day and this evening at the store and the Athenaeum.
22 November 1840. It began to rain about 8 a.m. and it rained hard all day. This evening it poured rain and blew very hard. The wind was Northeast. I was at Mr. Suddards' Church in the morning and afternoon. This evening I was at home and I wrote a letter to Grandmama.
23 November 1840. It was cloudy all day and this evening was clear. The wind in the morning was Southwest; it got round about the middle of the day to Northwest. I was at the office all day. This evening I went to see the Chess Player at the Museum.
24 November 1840. It was clear all day and evening. The wind was west.
I was at the office all day and in the evening at National Theatre to see Mr. Power the great comedian - they played 3 pieces. I did not get home until after twelve o'clock. It was very pleasant today.
25 November 1840. It was cloudy all day and evening. The wind in the morning was west; it got around to Northeast about noon. It rained hard all the afternoon and evening. I was at the office all day. I went up to see the Magic Lantern at Grace Church this evening, but it was postponed until next Wednesday on account, as I suppose, of the weather.
26 November 1840. It was clear in the morning. It got cloudy about 2 p.m. and it snowed all the evening. The wind was West Northwest.
Today was the removal of the remains of General Mercer(9) to Laurel Hill. They had a great procession of all the military of this city and some of other cities. For the particulars look at The Ledger Vol. 10 No. 53 or The Chronicle Vol. 2 No. 21.
I was at the office all day and in the evening I was at Grace Church. There were upwards of thirty persons here today to see the procession of Mercer.
27 November 1840. It was clear all day and evening with the wind from the Northwest. I was at the office all day and in the early part of the evening I was out with Al Swain. I went up to Mr. Elliot's for Lydia about 1/2 past 8. I got home about 11. For the particulars of the procession of yesterday see papers of today - The Ledger vol. 10 no. 53.
28 November 1840. It was clear all day and evening with the wind from the Southwest. It was rather cold all day. There was plenty of ice in the gutters this morning. I was at the office all day and this evening out with Al Swain in Chestnut St., at the Athenaeum, and at Lord & Carlisle's Auction.
29 November 1840. It was clear all day and this evening was cloudy. The wind was South Southwest. I was at Grace Church in the morning. In the afternoon I was at St. Luke's and this evening I was at Dr.Tyng's at the corner of 8th & Chestnut St. with Al Swain, Bill Hanly & Sam Milligan. Margaret Hedges was here to dinner and at our church in the morning.
30 November 1840. It was cloudy all day. The wind Southwest, but it cleared off with a strong and cold wind from the west in the evening. I was at the office all day and this evening out with Albanus Swain in Chestnut St. The Arch Street Theatre was opened tonight.
DECEMBER
1 December 1840. It was cloudy in the morning and this afternoon and evening were clear. The wind was Northwest. It was very cold all day. I was at the office all day. This evening I went down town to sell my old coat. Stopped in at Laurny Tailor's for about an hour - it is at 5th & South St.
2 December 1840. It was clear all day and this evening was moonlit. The wind early in the morning was Northwest and the rest of the day it was Southwest.
I was at the office all day. In the evening I went up to see the Magic Lantern, I was out at 1/4 of 8. After that I went up to see John Hendricks. Caroline Gibbons was here today - it was the first time that she was ever in Philadelphia in her life.
3 December 1840. It was clear and cold all day and evening. The wind early in the morning was Southwest and the rest of the day it was north.
I was at Grace Church this evening and Mr. Suddards preached. I was at the office all day. Mama had a mantua(10) maker here - it was her first time here.
4 December 1840. It was cloudy and very cold in the morning with the wind from the Southeast. It snowed a little in the afternoon. It began to snow hard about 1/2 past 4 p.m. and it snowed very hard all the evening, giving every appearance of sleighing tomorrow.
I was at the lecture of the Mercantile Library this evening - Dr. Dorr(11) lectured on the American merchant. I mashed the little finger of my left hand with a pair of dumb bells about 1/4 past 5 at Mr. Chash's office. I was at the office all day. At 1/4 after 10 p.m. it was snowing as hard as I ever saw it.
5 December 1840. It was cloudy all day and evening. The snow was 8 inches deep this morning - fine sleighing. Mama and Lydia were out with cousin Elizabeth a sleighing. The wind was south. My finger was very painful today and I was in the house all day and evening. It blew extremely hard in the night and snowed.
6 December 1840. We had a great snowstorm today - it snowed as hard as ever I saw it and made first rate sleighing. The wind was Northeast. It snowed in the evening until about 1/2 past 9 and then cleared with a westerly wind to a beautiful moonlit night.
I was at Grace Church in the morning and afternoon and this evening I was at home on account of the snowstorm.
7 December 1840. It was clear and cold all day with the wind from the Northwest. It was splendid sleighing and there was a great quantity of sleighs out. I rode up and down Chestnut St. 3 times today in an omnibus sleigh and found it very fine. I was at the museum tonight to hear a lecture on the journey of the Israelites. I slept at Berger & Shober's with Warner Jones tonight. Mr. Campbell went away to live in his new house. I was at the office all day. For account of the snow see The Chronicle vol. 2 no. 29.
8 December 1840. It was cloudy all day and evening with the wind from the Southeast. I was at the office all day and this evening I was at the house. It was cold today. There was fine sleighing and I rode 3 times up and down in the omnibus sleigh.
9 December 1840. It was damp and foggy all day. This evening was extremely foggy. The wind was Southeast. I was at the office all day. This evening I was at the first meeting of the National Literary Institute. The snow melted very much today, but a number of sleighs out.
10 December 1840. It was cloudy and it thawed very much all day. The wind was Southwest. It cleared up about dark and the wind got around to the northwest. I was at the office all day. In the evening at the Museum with Joseph Cardoza and another young man. Mr. & Mrs. Roberts were here this evening.
11 December 1840. It was clear all day and evening with the wind from the West Northwest. I was at the office all day. In the evening I was at the lecture of the Mercantile Library Association. Mr. Law lectured on literary impostures. There was heavy thunder yesterday morning which cleared away the fog - it is said that it was the most dense since 1799. There were sleighs out today and yesterday.
12 December 1840. It was cloudy all day and the wind was Northeast. It commenced raining about 1/2 past 8 p.m. and it rained from that time all the evening. At 12 at night it was still raining hard.
I went to see Mr. Booth at the Arch Street Theatre play Richard the Third. Al Swain was with me at the office all day. Thursday last was the first night that I slept in the front room of the third story since Mr. Campbell went away.
13 December 1840. It was cloudy when I first got up but it was clear all day. This evening was cloudy until about 9 o'clock and it then cleared off. At 10 p.m. it was clear. The wind today was West Southwest.
I was at Mr. Suddards' Church in the morning. In the afternoon I was at Mr. Brainard's with Al Swain and Bill Hanly and this evening I was at Mr. Suddards' with Al Swain & Bill Hanly.
14 December 1840. It was clear all day and evening. The wind in the morning early was west and the rest of the day it was South Southwest.
I was at the office all day. In the evening I was at the Philadelphia Museum. After the Museum was out I took a walk with Bill Hanly. There is still a great deal of snow on the ground despite the rain.
15 December 1840. It was clear all day and evening, excepting a little while in the afternoon when it was cloudy. The wind was South Southwest.
I was at the office all day and this evening I was out with Al Swain & Bill Hanly until about 1/2 past 9 p.m. I then went down to Mr. King's for Sarah Roberts. I got home about 1/2 past 10.
16 December 1840. It was cloudy. It began to rain about 10 a.m. and it rained hard all the morning until about 1/2 past 1 p.m. when it commenced snowing very hard. It snowed hard all afternoon until about 6 p.m. and it then stopped and it melted as fast as it came down. It is 10 p.m. and it is quite clear now. The wind North Northwest.
I was at the office all day. This evening I was at a meeting of the Union Library Association with Al Swain, El Pasy and others - we had good speaking there.
17 December 1840. Today was changeable and there were flying clouds all day. It snowed for about 10 minutes about 1/2 past 4 p.m. The wind was West Southwest.
I was at the office all day. In the evening I was at the Musical Fund Society's 2nd concert of the season with Mama, Lydia and Sarah Roberts. Mr. Brackman & Mr. Bailey sang.
18 December 1840. It was clear and very cold today. It froze quite hard last night. The wind was West Southwest. I was at the office all day. This evening was clear and I was at a concert at the Mitchell Hall on 4th above Vine with Al Swain, El Pasy, Ben Springer et al.
19 December 1840. It was clear and very cold all day and evening with the wind from the West Southwest. It froze very hard last night.
I was at the office all day and this evening I was at the Museum with Sarah Roberts to hear Mr. Bailey and Mr. Norton et al.
20 December 1840. It was slightly cloudy or misty all day, but very cold. This evening was cloudy. It is now 20 minutes of 10 p.m. and it has every appearance of snow, if it is not snowing lightly now.
I was at St. Luke's Church in the morning. This afternoon I was at Grace Church and this evening I was at St. Stephen's with Bill Hanly and Al Swain.
21 December 1840. It was clear and very cold all day and evening. The ground was covered with snow this evening. The wind was West. The wind for several days back has been Southwest and early in the morning and afterward it would get around to the west and remain so all day.
I was out a skating on Parker's lower pond - it has been frozen for several days - it was the first time I was out this season. The dam is frozen, but there are no persons on it yet, and the Delaware was nearly fast on Saturday morning.
I was at the office until 1/2 past 3 p.m. then I went out skating. In the evening I was at the Museum. Mr. & Mrs. Thomas, Mr. & Mrs. Jewell, and Sarah and Lydia Roberts were here this evening.
22 December 1840. It was cloudy all day and evening. The wind in the morning was South Southwest and it got around to the west in the evening and blew very hard in the night.
I was at the office all day and in the evening I was in the house to write a deed for Mr. Campbell. I was up until 12 p.m. Papa gave me a three bladed knife today with a buck handle. At 12 p.m. it was blowing very hard. Mrs. Gibbons was here for supper and slept here. It was very cold and the river was full of ice today. It snowed a little through the day. I rode in a cab for the first time in my life today - they have been in use for about 3 months.
23 December 1840. It was clear and cold all day with the wind from the Northwest. I was at the office all day and this evening I was at the house writing a deed for Mr. Campbell. The Schuylkill is now fast and there are persons skating on it. The Delaware is full of ice.
24 December 1840. It was cloudy on and off all day with the wind from the West Southwest. This evening was clear and cold. I was at the office all day and this evening I was at the Museum until about 8 p.m. with Al Swain. We then called for Ben Springer, and afterwards took a walk up and down Chestnut St. and about town. There were a tremendous number of people out walking tonight.
25 December 1840. It was clear but rather misty and very cold with the wind from the South Southwest.
I went down to the office and stayed there until Al Swain called for me at about 1/2 past 9 a.m.; we then called for Bill Hanly and went out on the dam to skate We skated up as far as the railroad bridge and returned. We then skated about a little and we then went in and got our dinners. In the afternoon I was walking up and down Chestnut St. with Al Swain, Bill Hanly and Sam Milligan. We went to the National Theatre to see the Naide Queen played, which was the most handsome thing ever played. It was clear when we went in at 1/2 past 6 p.m. but was snowing hard and the ground was covered when we came out at 1/2 past 11 p.m. I did not get to bed until after 12 p.m. Mama and Lydia and Papa were up at Mrs. Mary Roberts' this evening with all. I spent a pleasant day.
26 December 1840. It was snowing hard when I got up and the ground was covered to the depth of an inch. It commenced raining at about 10 a.m. and rained hard all the morning and afternoon and made very bad walking; it cleared up about 6 p.m. and was clear all the evening and froze hard. Wind South Southeast. At the office all day; evening at the Vaudeville at 10th and Chestnut St. on the fourth story.
27 December 1840. It was cloudy all day and evening until about 9 p.m. It snowed a little about 1/2 past 4 p.m. with the wind from the Northwest. I was at Mr. Suddards' Church in the morning and afternoon. This evening I was at Mr. Tyng's with Bill Hanly and C.E., W.B & L.W.P. The text from this evening was the 4th chapter of James and the 14th verse. It was extremely cold today and this evening.
28 December 1840 It was clear and cold all day and evening. The wind in the morning was Southwest and this afternoon it was West Southwest. I was at the office all day. I was out with Al Swain, Hanly & Milligan.
29 December 1840. It was lightly cloudy all day, but the sun would shine out at different periods through the day. It cleared off cold about 7 p.m. It thawed very much today. The wind was Southeast. I was at Mr. Barclay's concert at the Museum tonight. I was at the office all day. Lydia went to the party of Louisa Woods tonight.
30 December 1840. It was cloudy all day and thawed very much. The wind was changeable - it was West, Northwest, North, and Northeast at different periods through the day.
I was at the office all day. In the evening I went to Frank Johnson's second concert of the season at the Museum. After it was out I was out to cousins at 9th St. I came home about 10 o'clock. Mrs. Reynold's was here tonight from Wilmington and she stayed here all night. It was cloudy tonight.
31 December 1840. It was cloudy all the morning. The wind was Northeast, but it got around to the Northwest about noon. It was rather clear through the afternoon, but got cloudy about dark and was so all night. There was a general thaw today which made the walking very bad. I was at the office all day. This evening I went to Grace Church to hear Mr. Suddards preach. After that was out, I came down home, and from there I went to a watch meeting at Dr. Grant's Church. I got home at quarter of 1 a.m.; I was with Bill Hanly and Sam Millagan.
Notes:
(1) Bethlehem Female Seminary now Moravian Academy, founded 1742. See A History of the Bethlehem Female Seminary 1785-1858, William C. Reihel, Philadelphia 1858, p. 347 Catalog of Pupils 1840: "Lydia W. Erwin, b. Feb. 1827, d. of Henry Erwin, Phila., Pa. Same: 1844 Mary Catherine Erwin, d. Francis Erwin, Phila., Pa., married H.B. Jones; p.415, 1839, Eliza Roberts, b. Jan. 1826, d. of Edward Roberts, Phila., Pa., m. Lewis S. Ware; 1839, Anna F. Roberts, b. 9 Nov. 1827, d. of same, m. Edward Browning. (FJD)
(2) Stephen Higgison Tyng (1880-1885), clergyman in Philadelphia 1829-1845 (St. Paul's Protestant Episcopal Church) and New York 1845-1878. Renowned as a preacher, leader in the low church party in the Protestant Episcopal denomination. Webster's Biographical Dictionary. He was the first rector of the Church of the Epiphany, N.W. corner 15th and Chestnut Streets. For Tyng see DAB, Vol. IXX, p. 101.
(3) Charles Erwin (b1824) J.Warner Erwin's first cousin.
(4) The Athenaeum of Philadelphia, a library, was founded in 1814. It moved its collection to the present building on Sixth Street below Walnut in 1847. Until then it was housed in the hall of the American Philosophical Society on 5th Street "within the State House yard."
(5) Joseph Parrish (1779-1840), a highly respected and well known physician, an elder in the Society of Friends and an advocate of the abolition of slavery. Scharf and Westcott, p. 1262.
(6) 6. Locofoco, a radical wing of the Democratic party.
(7) Congress established Election Day to be on the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November in 1845. Before that each state could set the date so long as it was 34 days before the convening of the Electoral College.
(8) President to be, William Henry Harrison, hero of Tippecanoe, an Indian village destroyed by United States troops in 1811.
(9) The remains of General Hugh Mercer, who was killed at the battle of Princeton, were moved from Christ Church on Second Street to Laurel Hill Cemetery. Sharf & Westcott, p.783-748.8 President to be, William Henry Harrison, hero of Tippecanoe, an Indian village destroyed by United States troops in 1811.
(10) Mantua: A loose fitting gown worn (mainly) in the 18th and 19th centuries. JRD
(11) Dr. Benjamin Dorr, rector of Christ Church.