Diary of a Journey

through Massachusetts, Vermont &

Eastern New York in the Summer

of 1800

Probably

by

John Russell Davis

THE DIARY

5th mt. 25th 1800 2nd day of the week

This day we took our departer from Longplain for Montpelier Rode 15 miles to Deens Tavern in Taunton watered our horses and mounted and passed on 12 miles to Bolkcoms Tavern in Norton watered our horses and refreshed ourselves paid our reckoning and rode 15 miles to Elisha Kelleys in Bellingham we went through Wrentham which is not a very good township of land especially the first part of which we passed through looks very barren covered with nothing but shrub-oaks looking to appearance almost dead after this we had a more pleasant prospect round the Meeting house in Wrentham looks more delightsome pretty level good houses etc.

At the aforesaid Jacob Bolkcomes Tavern I see the remarkable little Dwarf viz Calvin Phillips he appears to be but a little more than 2 feet high every way proportionate his intellects do not appear so bright as others of his age which is about 9 years

3 day of the week and 27 of the mt. A heavy rain last night fair this morning after breakfast we took our leave of the family and pursued on rode through Mendon which is a pleasant Township pretty good land large houses the people appear to live in affluence

Upton is rocky uneven and rather poor-Grafton (in this town at Luke Drury's inn we watered our horses) is a fine township of land extraordinary good for grass abundance of beef Later after this we pass through Worcester a handsome town many elegant houses merchant shops from thence to Rutland very mountaineous we had to ascend and descend the hills most of the day till we got to Gay's inn in Hubbardston-The land this afternoon which we have

pass'd is according to my judgment not very good except in this Town which is very good for grass and grain expecially for grass some rocky.-28th 4 day of the week and third of our journey we feel quite smart this morning rested well intend to start immediately the sun is not up a nice landlord good housekeeping & cheap

This morning took a view of that sublime mountain Wahchusetts its in princeton east from whence we staid last night which is said hath a pond of water on its top part of the season. We have rode 21 miles this morning through Templeton Winchendon this town I don't like very well poorish land. Then part of Royalston which I have cause to remember for its wilderness aspect it abounds with Pine a thin flashy kind of soil; but what few people inbabit it appear to live tolerable.-We rode 10 miles through this Piney wilderness extreme poor road by reason of its being newly laid out; it saves 3 miles, but by coming it we pay I think very dear for the saving:-We are now in Fitzwilliam at the Inn of one Brighams a pretty good tavern; a rocky land town to raise corn in bad road mountaineous long hills somea mile ascent and descent.-had nothing pleasant this day till the sun about an hour high when we came into the beautiful compact town of Keen I was pleas'd with the new prospect; It is compas'd of elegant houses neatly finished & painted I have......seen more elegant houses of... ...I observed was built of hewn stone it looks very neat; There is a large congregational meetinghouse and a courthouse in this town, the land good and very level for some ways round also the road is as level as a floor none rocky we are now at Chases Tavern 1 or 2 miles from the compact village sometimes though not more than could be expected considering the road most of the day and the distance which is about 43 miles.-5th day of the week; 29th of the mt and 4th day of our journey The aforesaid Chases Tavern where we lodged last night is a good tavern in many

respects good attendance but all sorts put up here.-We lodged in a large chamber with 3 beds in it; Then came up 4 creatures after we got to bed; who were as noisy profane mortals as my ears were ever the witness of their abseene discourse and filthy stories were exceeding burdensome they appear to be inconsiderate hardened wretches we said nothing to them arose early paid our reckoning mounted

...and pursued on our journey......miles to James Lewises in...... thence took breakfast. This poor man is in a discouraged disconsolate disposition of mind he said he was glad to see us but could not be sociable.

Yesterday we rode along by that lofty Mountain cald Manadnock-I was told it is 3 miles from the foot to the top there is a pond on its top containing between and an acre. We came through......this morning-Walpole is an excellent country some of it is mountaineous.-Walpole street or the compact town is composed of quite elegant large painted houses.-The next town viz Charleston was the first of our coming in sight of Connecticut River this town affords various scenes for as we rode along by Bellow'es falls we passed between the river and a tremendous looking Mountain. I heard a man say as we rode by it he supposed it to be miles nearly perpendicular right up and down that is uncertain but to be sure it looked terable high to me: it sides are lined with cragged rocks of an enormous size projecting as though they would roll down: it exhibits not an pleasant aspect-From thence we rode some miles by the side of this River to Berretts Ferry crossed into I have forgot the name of the town rode northerly a number of miles to Steel's Tavern we there watered our horses and mounted for Silas Sear's in Weathersfield; we here turned west or WSW course over the mountains here are some of the largest and steepest hills we have yet met with to ascend and descend we were tired when we arrived to Sears'es in Weathersfield have rode 40 or more miles and have had some