WILLIAM B. CLARK - 1869 Original Manuscript Diary Handwritten by a Prolific Connecticut Cobbler and Farmer

MILFORD, CONNECTICUT, 1869. . On offer is an interesting manuscript diary dated January 1, 1869 through to March, 1870 handwritten by William B. Clark of Milford, Connecticut. Mr. Clark is a cobbler who works heeling shoes along with farm work at home. His is married to Mary, and his children include Willie, Frank and Charlotte. William is a prolific writer writing every day from the mundane to the sensational: local events including seeing Tom Thumb from the train, births, deaths, family news, work and mentions of the flu which appears to be going around. Here are some snippets: Jan 1 - New Year's Day. Willie's foot and leg in part was scalded this morning. Went down to church to bid on W. Seat. Same price as last year, 12 dollars. Right cold. Jan 13 - Arrived in New York this morning about 6 o'clock. Pleasant but coolish. After wandering around till 10 o'clock, went to Tracy. After work could get a job, but could not agree on price. Left for home on 4:25 train. Jan 18 - cold day. commenced snow about noon. Commenced to work in straw factory. Blake's part pushing the balls all day. Am tired.....Jan 20 - Splendid day. cutting cloth this forenoon. Afternoon curling hats. Nice work, but hard on the fingers. Night clear wind blows. Ed Clark was at my house to see about going to the factory. March 1 - Cold this morning. It's splendid out. Good sleighing and cold. I heeled 20 pair today. the wages for heeling french heels was raised 21 cents more a dozen. Night clear and cold. Sleighing never was better. We were paid tonight. April 2 = Morning sun rose, stayed out a little while then went in again. Cooley was robbed of all his clothes last night. commenced to rain this afternoon. I heeled 14 pairs. April 26 - Dug garden before breakfast. Went to New Haven on first train. Heeled 13 pair this forenoon. Odd Fellows parade in the city. Grand turn out. Night clear and warm, like summer. May 24 - Heeled 27 pairs of shoes today. The Irish folks had a cock fight up near the old camp ground yesterday, so I heard. Very warm today. Night went down to Bristol. May 31 - I heeled 24 pair today. Afternoon, citizens of Milford headed by the band, marched to the graveyard to decorate soldiers graves.......June 1 - I heeled 24 pair shoes today. A boy.... had both legs cut off by jumping off the freight train. Very warm day. June 16 - Went over on half past 8 train. Saw Tom Thumb and wife on board. Heeled 12 pairs shoes today. August 7 - Working at haying today. Little warm. Carted loads of hay today. Eclipse about 5 o'clock. Did not get home till about 8 tonight. Very cool again. Dec 11 - Fisinished 10 pair of shoes today. Beautiful day, warm. Real summer day. Sunken Schooner was raised today. Tonight went down town. Bought an undershirt for Willie.....Dec 20 - Hezekiah Clark died about 2 this morning. Beautiful day, but cool. Bought half barrel of apples of Hawkins. Burnished and finished 10.5 pairs of shoes....Dec 26 - None of us could get out to church. Sent for Doctor to come up and see Mary. Left her some powders to take. Rained hard all day. Night dark wind blows up. colder. Charlotte was here to tea. Mary feels a little better. ; Manuscript; 48mo - over 3" - 4" tall; KEYWORDS: HISTORY OF, COBBLERS, SHOE REPAIR, WILLIAM B. CLARK, MILFORD, CONNECTICUT, FARMING, RURAL LIVING, POST CIVIL WAR, RECONSTRUCTION ERA, COBBLING, AMERICANA, HANDWRITTEN, MANUSCRIPT, AUTOGRAPHED, AUTHORS, AMERICANA, MANUSCRIPT, DOCUMENT, LETTER, AUTOGRAPH, KEEPSAKE, WRITER, HAND WRITTEN, DOCUMENTS, SIGNED, LETTERS, MANUSCRIPTS, HISTORICAL, HOLOGRAPH, WRITERS, AUTOGRAPHS, PERSONAL, MEMOIR, MEMORIAL, PERSONAL HISTORY, ARCHIVE, DIARY, DIARIES, antiquité, contrat, vélin, document, manuscrit, papier Antike, Brief, Pergament, Dokument, Manuskript, Papier oggetto d'antiquariato, atto, velina, documento, manoscritto, carta antigüedad, hecho, vitela, documento, manuscrito, Papel,. Good .