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ABRAHAM CALDWELL and FAMILY : 1867 - 1900 ARCHIVE OF FIVE [5] HANDWRITTEN MANUSCRIPT DIARIES BELONGING TO THE ABRAHAM CALDWELL FAMILY OF IPSWICH MASSACHUSETTS

24mo - over 5" - 5¾" tall. On offer are five handwritten manuscript journals all having belonged to the Caldwell family who lived in Massachusetts, [one of the diaries, 1870, has the name Ezra S. Vieyes written in it. A casual reading does not determine where Ezra fits in with the Caldwell family but a more detailed reading will hopefully flesh out the relationship.] Two of the diaries have the name of the family scion being Abraham Caldwell, of Ipswich Massachusetts. Other towns mentioned include Westminster, Fitchburg, Northborough and Worcester. The diaries represent the years 1867 (full of entries), 1870 (a quarter full), 1875 (a half filled), 1887 (fully written) and the 1890's. Though not all fully written and the entries suggest illiterate writers these diaries represent a true piece of Americana with a treasure trove of local historical detail and genealogical information. For the medical collector there is an interesting thread running throughout - Mr. Caldwell is quite aged and he catalogues his daily ailments certainly a medical professional may assess his health from his writings. Here are some snippets: 1867 - "February 26th, Went to examination. Lizzie Rawson teach good." "March 4th, Went to town meeting. Another trial of Shemp, decided as it should be." "May 10th, Surveyed road to town, distance of about 2 ¾ miles 15 ft." "June 17th, Golden wedding, 75-100 people persons present." "September 13th, Took Templers Degrees. Went to town to lecture. Carried B.M. Balch." "October 13th, On euqaduct to town meeting for roads. Was chosen on committee." 1887 "January 9th, 7 Below. Very cold. Snow flakes flying all day. Ben out very little today. Louitah Lord, little more comfortable but very sick." "February 9th, Sick all day. From Salem paper I see Mr. Joseph Pusfer died in Salem, Oct. 19th, 1886. Born July 18th, 1798." "March 14th, Today I hav made a grait mistak in being two positive when in fact I was rong. My mind is faking me." "June 22nd and 23rd, Stage coach below belonged to Appleton farm…. Boiled out sink, cess pool very hard job. Had nummness in my arm and shoulder. Stage coach passed to day for Salem." "July 25th, Hot and sultry. A young lady came to Mrs. Batysons. Sang for House Benefit." "August 9th, Went marsh with North Harris and Negro. Went to Beverly. Stayed at Edwards over night." "August 21st, Fine and pleasant. John Billy's mother and sister here. Conrad G to made round Cape Ann." "October 6th, Tryed to make some wine. Caried my grapes to Capt. Wilcomb and he pressed them for me." "October 19th, Finished pounding the beans then went to Georgetown. Went in to Noisas Shoe factory. Was kindly received and shown from basement up. Felt interest and enjoyed it muh." "December 14th, Very warm and Pleasant. Went over to south side river to Mrs. Dolls with Edy B. Escamined his stock." "December 16th, Cooler. Gave notice to Mrs. Campbell that I should want the tenement she now ocupies for my own use the first of April next." "December 19th, Mrs. Smith at the Invenational House, left and fell and broke both arms. Slippery this morn. Bought turkey of Perkins." The 1893-1900 journal in the lot is a handwritten financial journal which has about 100 pages of expense type entries. I believe most of the entries have to do with rentals and money collected for the rentals. This journal has the name John Caldwell written on the inside. The front cover has fallen off of this journal and some of the pages are torn. The first 20 pages have also been torn out and are not accounted for. Overall G+.. Manuscript. Book Condition: Good

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