Monday, Feb 17, 1834: Today brother Wm fetched his wife here on a visit and then he took me into his wagon and carried me to the northeast part of Pittsfield on the Dalton road near the Dalton line. Brother Wm went to look of a farm to work on shares that belongs to one old Mr. Marrels. We took some bitters at the tavern near said Marrels and Wm paid it and then we were waiting to said Marrels for him to return home and we took dinner with his family and then we went about three miles to see his son that was in the wood lot about his farm to let, but no prospect of making a bargain. We then returned to the old gentleman’s and he agreed that if he did not sell his farm he stood ready to bargain to let it to brother Wm, and if disposed of he agreed to write by mail by Saturday. We took the horses from the wagon and tied them to a tree and when we returned to the wagon after we untied them and a turning the wagon by hand the horses started for home. I jumped and got hold the lines, but the lines being put through the harness I could not hold them. The horses started and pulled me down and pulled the lines out of my hands and then went back to the stream at the tavern near old Mr. Marrel’s. We had the trouble to walk after the horses nearly three miles and take them back to the wagon.. We then started for home.
Friday, February 21, 1834: I chopped alders in my swamp. On this evening my wife and I walked up to Mr. Hiram Thayer’s on a visit and tonight I bargained with him for to hire the south half of the house on my Rodgers Farm where brother Sylvester lives and the south garden for one year from the first day of April next and said Thayer agrees to work for me for one month to commence the beginning of haying and to work every other week until he works the month.
Saturday: I chopped alders in my swamp and my boys piled up said poles.
Monday: I called to see Mr. Solomon Carpenter for he is quite unwell so that he has watches, and I agreed to come tomorrow night and watch. On this evening I went up to the widow Betsey Wylie’s for she was quite sick and called the doctor. My wife stayed all night with her.
Tuesday: I tended to chores and chopped wood to the door. Tonight I watched with Mr. Solomon Carpenter and tonight a snow storm.
Wednesday: Today I drew two loads wood to Doc Dwight Right and he credits the same to my account.
Thursday: I drew two loads wood to said Doc Right which makes two cords for four loads.
Friday I drew a load of wood home from my Rodgers Farm. Today I lent brother Sylvester four dollars. He wanted the money to pay E. Pierce for his old cheese house and today brother Sylvester had a drawing and drew said building onto his land, onto part of the Rodgers Farm east of my Rodgers house on a piece of land he bought from Joseph Brown. I helped brother Sylvester today about getting said building onto his land. He had a little misfortune about drawing said building, he had one end sill tore out and post and siding.