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UNIDENTIFIED WOMAN OF THE MINER FAMILY [?] : 1878 ORIGINAL MANUSCRIPT DIARY DETAILING THE HARD LIFE OF A YOUNG RURAL WASHERWOMAN AND THE HARDER BURDEN OF GRIEF SHE CARRIES

16mo - over 5¾" - 6¾" tall. On offer is an original manuscript diary handwritten by a young woman who with her pencil and her words paints a picture of toil and hardship. Dated Coleraine in Franklin County Massachusetts near Greenfield and Deerfield River which are frequently mentioned, collectors and researchers of the area will delight in the specific and detailed genealogical information as our author does a superb job in her entries. A casual reading suggests this woman is married to the 27 year old Charlie and they are part of the Miner 'clan' with mention of many, many Miners in their daily life. A washerwoman for the most part everyday she says whose sheets, whose pillowcase, whose other articles are washed along with her own family's duties, food preparation, travels to church, visitors who frequently stay over and other domestic chores the reader will wonder at her strength and her grit. Throughout the 5 x 4.5 inch 'chunk' of what was obviously a larger note pad roughly cut in half she writes clearly in tight script a gem of Massachusetts Americana. She mentions many dozens of names including: Uncle Wash, Frankie, Jerre, N. and D. Brown, Elder Whittaker, Miss Rug, Willie Richardson, Baldwin Miner, his singing school?, Carrie and Marilla Shearer, Payson Flagg, Charlie Miner. Sam Miner ['his whole conversation show him to be a true Christian whom it always gives me pleasure to find'], Ed Coombs, Atta Barber, Clarence Brigham, Charlie Denison. Besides the work, the family information and local news and events she will make a particular entry as with Sam Miner and sometimes incredibly personal intimate revelations when tragedy strikes: Timmie died this forenoon about nine. G___G___G___ How grievous this affair I am very sorrowful today for one more grief is fresh and will leave its mark on my mind through all time…'. 'I washed for us. Mr. M. and D.B. came. I did not shed tears til evening. Memories are so unpleasant when they are of suffering.'; 'perhaps my self reproach is unjust…that I know it was'. Cover is absent but text block is clean and overall VG.. English. Book Condition: Very Good

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