John William Sterling Journal: January-December 1854
1854 A new year called 1854.
Jan 1, 1854 Rather a mild and pleasant day considering the snow. Last night the snow fell very fast
indeed for it covered up all our paths; there has been 4 snow plows drawn by horses through the
streets to make paths for people going to church and we had a pretty large number in church on such
a snowy day. Cordelia stayed home from meeting. We miss Sister Sarah a great deal.
Jan 4, 1854 The snow has been quite deep. I had a sleigh ride today. The paths that was made are
very hard indeed and I have had a great many slides on them.
Jan 6, 1854 Mother was 38 years old yesterday and I gave her 38 slaps on her back. It is a very
pleasant day indeed only it is rather slipery. David Ogden spent 2 days over to Grandmama’s and
went home this morning in the 10 o’clock train.
Jan 7, 1854 A very pleasant and mild day. The snow has thawed today on the south side of the
house. Papa and I rode to Bridgeport today and it was rather poor sleighing. I saw 12 prisoners
going off to prison in a sleigh. I attended singing school this afternoon.
Jan 11, 1854 Very pleasant day indeed. I went to doctor’s this morning to have him look at my eye
and he put a piece of silk on it over some salve to stick it.
Jan 14, 1854 Very pleasant day indeed only it is windy. I went to skating this morning. I am going
to singing school this afternoon. Jimmy and I have had some fun this afternoon playing tag around
the house. I have read through the Life of Alexander, which was my Christmas present and now I
have commenced the Life of Hannibal.
Jan 20, 1854 Rather unpleasant day. Sleet and rain fell all day long. Kitty took this morning. We
have just heard of the San Francisco, a United States ship and it was a very sad disaster, 250 lives
was lost.
Jan 21, 1854 Rather a unpleasant day. I am going to singing school this afternoon.
Winter [written as heading on top of page]
Jan 28, 1854 Cold and clear. No snow. I have neglect my journal for the last week, but mean time
nothing has occured very important, it has been rather a stormy week, some snow and hail. Papa
has made a large quantity of soap for shaving and for washing hands. There is here and there a pond
in the street and it is perfect delight to slide on them when I am [illegible]
Feb 4, 1854 Clear but cold. Sister has returned from New York and was there 5 weeks. I expect a
pair of skates next week. Sister brought me Mansion of Happiness. Kitty and Cordelia each a ring.
Feb 8, 1854 A very chilly day indeed. Snow is almost up to your knees it is so high. The streets are
almost in a flood. I got wet feet this morning and so I stayed home this afternoon too pay for it. I
have been painting this afternoon and playing Mansion of Happiness. Mother received a certificate
from the tract society and she has been made a life member of the tract society.
Feb 18, 1854 A very cold day indeed. Cousin Eliza came up to Stratford yesterday afternoon with
Grandmama and when I went over to Grandmama’s after her carpet bag I found Aunt Elizabeth
there. Aunt Mary was sick today and so mother has been down there most all the time. She is very
[illegible]. Mother returned home this evening and brought the news that Aunt Mary had a fine son
weighing 7 pounds. I am very glad that Aunt Mary has got a son for I shall have somebody to play
with.
Feb 20, 1854 Cousin Eliza is still staying with us. Sister had the young ladies to spend the evening
with her. Captain Norris came in this evening and engaged our new house by Aunt Mary’s for a
year.
Feb 23, 1854 Cousin Eliza returned to New York today.
Feb 26, 1854 I commenced getting today. Fine day mud and snow.
Feb 28, 1854 Mother and myself went into Mr. Mitchell’s and to Aunt Mary’s this evening.
1854 Spring [written large on top of page]
March 1, 1854 A fine lovely spring day. The sewing society met here today. Yesterday the blue birds met here.
March 7, 1854 A fine day but mud deep. Cousin John W. Sterling, who has lately returned from
California, came up today with his 2 sisters. I am very busy preparing for the Examination. I have
begun Tominson’s New Practical Arithmetic today.
March 8, 1854 A warm fine day. Uncle Holden and Uncle Ogden and Aunt Kate and Aunt Ogden
came up tonight. We have drinks.
March 11, 1854 A fine day. Papa has got 2 men for sawing wood. He has engaged 7 rooster and 3
hens. We have been clearing out our hen house and making ready for our hens and a rooster next
week. He has engaged them of a man named Capt Brothwell, who lives down by the river and he
used to keep our boat in good order last summer. We are going to keep our 7 chicks and our hens
and roosters in the same house and are going to keep them there 4 or 5 days. Mr. Wheeler’s down
by our new house is almost done and is very large indeed, but not so large as Mr William Booth’s. A
girl by the name of Ann Lynch has lived with us for 2 years. Sister’s most trusted friend
now is Jane Wilmot and she is going to Bridgeport to board next Wednesday. Dr. McEwen
vaccinated on the 8th Mother, Kitty, Cordelia and myself.
March 15, 1854 A very lovely day indeed. Aunt Cordelia arrived this morning with her 2 little girls
Julia and Kitty. One was 7 and the other is 8, they are very small children indeed.
March 16, 1854 The morning pleasant and afternoon cloudy with a few drops of rain. Cousin
Rebecka came up this morning with her little baby in the cars and went home with Sherwood
Sterling. The greater part of the day the baby slept in Cordelia’s crib. Cousin Rebecka thinks that
she shall name him Cornelius.
March 17, 1854 This day is celebrated by the Irish as St. Patrick’s Day. Aunt Elizabeth had a little
party which Father and Mother attended.
March 18, 1854 A fine day and the wind tremendous high. This is Cordelia’s birthday and she is my
chief playmate yet she is 8 years old. She wears her hair backward from her forehead and confined
to an India rubber comb which mother bought her last August.
March 22, 1854 The sun arose this morning and after 1 or 2 o’clock this afternoon the clouds came
up from the East and West both and filled the sky, so at little before 7 o’clock snow came from the
heavens and is now filling the ground. Mother and I have had some conversation in the front room
and all the conversation was privet. Father and Mother and Cordelia went to Bridgeport this
morning and bought Kitty a pair of earrings [words scratched through] and I think that they are very
nice.
March 23, 1854 Another unpleasant day. Examination and Exhibition is very near for it is
tomorrow and I hate it and I am very sorry that I do to.
March 25, 1854 A very pleasant day indeed wind high. I have stayed in the house most all day. I
went in the shop this morning with Father. He is going to get a new boat of Capt Norris. There was
an examination yesterday and in the evening there was an exhibition.
March 27, 1854 A very pleasant day indeed. Today is the first day of vacation and it will last 3
weeks, that is to the 17th of April.
March 28, 1854 A very pleasant day but it is as cold as Greenland almost.
March 29, 1854 Rather a cold day but milder. All the family except Sister Sarah went to Bridgeport
this afternoon in our carrige. Sister Sarah received a worked handkerchief from mother. My sisters
Kitty and Cordelia and myselve received a present too and the name of Kitty’s is Cleopatra, of
Cordelia’s Charles the First and of mine, Xerxes the Great.
March 30, 1854 Rather cloudy this morning and it has rained nearly all the afternoon. I made a
little furnace this morning with two chimneys and then I put in some shavings and got a match and
set it a fire. I have not been out this afternoon only in the shop a few minutes. For the last fortnight
it has been very windy indeed.
March 31, 1854 Rather a unpleasant day, cloudy and rainy. The snow is almost gone. Our hens lay
eggs finely. Tomorrow is the 1st day of april or April Fool Day. Ann Lynch continues to reside here
yet. Papa made me a bow and arrow this morning. Papa and myself have been in the shop most all
the forenoon. Papa expects his boat next week. I hope it will suit him. Tomorrow I expect to
have a good time of April fooling persons.
April 1, 1854 Today is April fool day. I have been making Maria, Aunt Mary’s girl, a
little book and I hope that she will learn to write. I april fooled Maria, Aunt Mary’s girl,
12 times this afternoon but I could not april fool Aunt Mary for she is too spry. It has been sort of
raining all day long. Monday is election day. I expect to have a good time a eating peanuts Monday
afternoon. Father is a going to be moderator. Uncle David and Aunt Elizzepeh Judson
returned home before twilight this evening.
April 3, 1854 Today is election day. I went after [name illegible] later this morning. I am almost
through my Question Book at Sunday school.
April 10, 1854 A day sometimes like April Fool day. I feel sorry to skip over so many days. One
reason I have not wrote sooner is because I have been playing and working most every forenoon.
April 14, 1854 Rather a unpleasant day. At 1/2 past 8 o’clock this evening a snow storm began.
Today is fast day. I went to church this morning and to the prayer meeting this afternoon. Aunt
Cordelia came up this morning and spent the day with us.
April 16, 1854 Sunday A deep snow upon the ground many persons came to church in sleighs.
Very cold and unpleasant.
April 17, 1854 It is very cold and unpleasant.
April 22, 1854 Rather a unpleasant day in the morning sun up a little while this morning and then it
began to rain very hard and has done so all day.
April 27, 1854 It is a clouding up very much rain came in a fore noon and was very destructive in
New York there was a perfect tornado and a sinkships tearing roofs off of houses and rain turned on
sky all the evening. Thunder showers all day long one clap struck very near us.
April 29, 1854 Chilly and unpleasant a light thunderstorm last night.
Sunday Very unpleasant day. There has been a great freshet most every where. It has been a great
deal of damage done in Derby for it has taken away the bridge. A man was drowned this morning
and besides the current was so great that nobody has seen him yet. logs, furniture &c has floated
down the river a great deal of it has gone into the sound.
[Transcriber Note: No entry for Sterling’s 10th birthday on May 12th, 1854]
May 22, 1854 You must excuse me from not writing since last I saw you. The reason why I have
not written is partly because I forgot it and nothing has happened worth writing. This morning Papa
put his new boat into the water and has gone a chumming and has got very good luck.
May 23, 1854 I have been aquincted with some boys and girls a staying at Mr. Brooks our
Postmaster. Their last name is Horner and the boys names is William and Robert Horner and the girl
Annie Horner. Their mother is gone to Europe on a visit and Mr. Horner is in bosten where he
resides and are very nice people.
May 26, 1854 There has been no freshet as that rain in Derby prophesied. It is a very windy day
indeed I seen the eclispe at 9 oclock 19 min afternoon it began to grow dark 6 oclock 36 min
June 1, 1854 A very pleasant day indeed. There is a lecture tonight. and has got some company of
some [illegible]. Chas Mitchel has got some hens. Mrs Mitchel has just came in. We have got our
oil cloth painted today.
June 11, 1854 A very pleasant day indeed. The wind is very high indeed.
June 14, 1854 A very pleasant day indeed. I went after flags tonight. The sky is not very clear
tonight. I expect that we are going to have a very hot summer.
June 29, 1854 A pleasant day. This is almost the last day of school. I shall be delighted when
vacation comes. There is a balloon going up in Bridgeport on the 4th of July 1854 in Bridgeport. I
do not want to go over and see it.
June 30, 1854 Rather a unpleasant day. Rain this morning. I hope Fourth of July will be pleasant
for I want some fun and I expect to have a nice time rain or shine. Today is the last day of school.
Vacation will continue till the 17th of July for 2 weeks. Tomorrow I expect to go over to
Bridgeport. Miss Elizabeth Brown went away in cars this afternoon. I expect to have a very nice
time in vacation.
July 1, 1854 A very pleasant day indeed. I went over to Bridgeport this morning and took Jimmy
Mitchell with us. I bought some fire works and cannons.
July 3, 1854 Tomorrow is fourth of July. I am a going to fire fire crackers all day and fireworks in
the evening. Today is the first day of vacation of which I am very glad indeed. Papa went down a
fishing this morning. Uncle John and Uncle Henry Plant went a riding with our horse and carriage.
Jimmy Mitchell has a fire in their woodburner every Monday. We have 12 chickens now besides
four hens and a rooster. Saturday after tea mother and Kitty and myself walked up to Mrs. Weed
and Willie’s rabbit.
July 4, 1854 A very pleasant day indeed. I have got 5 packs of fire crackers. Me and Lester
Young’s have been firing cannons this morning. Lester Young’s is a going to fire his cannons eleven
times on the 4th of July. The cannons have been firing all night.
July 13, 1854 Very windy indeed which makes it very cool. The wind has been East most all day. I
am afraid that it is a going to rain and if it does it will be a great disappointment to me for I do want
to go a berrying tomorrow morning at 8 oclock with Miss Fanny Brown, Miss Eliza [name illegible]
& Miss [name illegible] & Jimmy Mitchell.
July 20, 1854 A very pleasant day indeed. Aunt Mary, U. Henry & John Plant went to Marcellus
day before yesterday.
July 21, 1854 Very pleasant day. The thermometer stood at 98 degrees in the shade. All my leisure
time during the past has been spent in making mosquitoes nets for our windows. The mosquitoes
for the last few days have almost devoured us. Our cow had a calve today.
July 22, 1854 It continues very hot and dry. We were threatened with a thundershower tonight.
Father has gone a fishing this afternoon. The cholera is in New York and most of our large citties.
July 25, 1854 We have had several hard thundershower. Mrs Elijah Ufford died last night. This is
the anniversary of Father’s [sick?] day.
July 26, 1854 Warm and pleasant day. Aunt Ann and Cousin Holden came up today and made us a
visit. Uncle Henry returned from Marcellus.
July 29, 1854 Jimmy Burrell came up yesterday to spend today.
Aug 10, 1854 My sister Sarah went to New Haven this morning at 10 oclock. Today is very
pleasant but very cold, that is compared with the warm weather we have had.
Aug 12, 1854 The air hot and close -- one week ago today Pa took James Mitchel, Henry Booth,
Kitty, Cordelia and myself down in the sound in his boat. We saw porpoises ten feet long and many
other wonderful things. We had a delightful sail. Yesterday Kittie stuck a needle in her foot. It is
very much swollen, she can’t wear a shoe.
Aug 15, 1854 The mornings and evenings are cool & pleasant, we need rain very much indeed, the
earth is very dry. Kittie is quite sick. Mother has put mustard plasters on her feet. Mr. Robert
Wetmore returned from New Haven with Sister Sarah yesterday. He has spent last evening
and today with her. I attend Mr. Weed’s lectures at the conference room this summer. Cordelia goes
sometimes.
Aug 22, 1854 A very pleasant day. There has been a baby born into this world between 5 and 7
oclock of whom Aunt Elizabeth is the mother and Uncle David the father. We celebrated the 20th
today because Kitty has been very sick.
Aug 26, 1854 We have had a shower this afternoon which scarcely wet the earth. Me and Father
went after bread made out of rye in the midst of shower. it done a little good but not much.
Aug 30, 1854 Fine, cool, pleasant day. Mother and Miss Anna Harves visited the school
this afternoon.
Sept 1, 1854 Mr. Trewick Sedgwick dismissed the school at 3 oclock this afternoon because he had
visitors a hour
Sept 7, 1854 There haas been a general training which consisted about one thousand men in
Bridgeport for the last 3 days. Yesterday was one of the hottest days in summer and Papa gave me
two arrows and a quarter of a dollar if I would stay home because it was so hot, which I was very
glad of. We had a thunder shower last evening.
Sept 17, 1854 A very pleasant and cool day. Rode to Bridgeport this morning and I bought me a
cannon which cost 50 cents. I attended singing school this afternoon.
Sept 22, 1854 During the past week we have had fine cool weather. This evening all the family
except mother went to Mrs. Booth’s to a children’s party. We had a very pleasant time. They acted
charades.
Sept 23, 1854 Very pleasant day indeed. Papa and myself shook all the apples off of the tree which
is 2 bushels.
Sept 30, 1854 A very pleasant day, wind high, I’m temded to go a sailing but the wind so high and
the wind North.
Oct 3, 1854 Rather a rainy day. I expected to go a sailing today, but so rainy I concluded to stay at
home. Me and Father have been fixing the stable floor. I ammused myself this morning by making
jackstraws. Last evening Mother and myself attended a Fernal[?] Tract meeting up to the house of
Mr Weeds
Oct 6, 1854 A very pleasant day indeed. Aunt Cornelia and her little girls Kitty and Julia came up
to spend the day with me having brought them over in the carriage at 10 oclock, they went home at 5 oclock
Oct 12, 1854 The steam ship artic has not been heard of this long time. The artic sunk. There
were 175 of the crew, there were about 200 and so on board.
21st Fine beautifull weather. I attend a sundy school singing school. The girls of the sundy school
have a sewing society every other saturday, today they meet at our house.
Oct 23, 1854 A very pleasant day. Our vacation is ended and school is begun.
Nov 1, 1854 Unpleasant day. We have got plenty of rain. I wish it would stop. I began Latin this
quarter and I am quite a good ways in it - now am very glad I begun it. Father went Wednesday to
New York. This morning he got home.
Nov 11, 1854 Uncle Henry’s baby was baptized last Friday. His name is Henry Tomlinson Plant.
Nov 18, 1854 A fine day, mild and pleasant for the season. The painters have finished our house
blinds and fences now our house looks very nice. Aunt anna and Annett came up this morning and
spent the day with us. I rode horseback this morning, 3 quarters of a hour on Mr. Booth’s little
horse.
Nov 19, 1854 A clear cold day. In the evening we attended the Sundy School Concert. The room
was so crowded they had to go after benches to seat the people.
Nov 26, 1854 Cordelia and myself went to Jimmy Mitchell to tea. I attended singing school this
afternoon and after that I went to court [?] for a few minutes.
Nov 27, 1854 A lovely day. Mother went to Bridgeport this afternoon and bought me a cap $1.25
Nov 28, 1854 A fine day. This evening I carried Mr. Weed a great big turkey as a Thanksgiving
present.
Nov 29, 1854 A half snow storm this morning that is snowed and then melted so that was a great
disappointment.
Nov 30, 1854 First cold we have had this season, clear but cold. Today is Thanksgiving. We all
went to church this morning. Before meeting Sister Sarah and myself went to the depot after Aunt
Ann, Cousin Annet, Cousin Wellen Moore, they to meeting with us and spent the day with us. Mr.
Weed preached about thankfulness.
Dec 1, 1854 The first day of winter, very cold indeed. There is no school today. Mr Sedgwick, Mrs
Caroline and Miss Curtis[?] out of town.
Dec 3, 1854 A unpleasant day. Snowed almost all day, began in the morning and snowed till the
next day. At night the snow was a foot deep. We went to church all day and had a very good
sermon.
Dec 4, 1854 Snow 2 feet deep, some good slaying. I went to hire an fish man who lives down to
the railroad to dig paths.
Dec 5, 1854 School in the morning, but I did not go, in the afternoon I went up as far as the
schoolhouse and I found that the door was locked and I came home.
Dec 6, 1854 Extreme cold weather. Sister went to New York with Mr R.[obert] Wetmore.
Dec 7, 1854 This has been an extremely cold week.
Dec 14, 1854 This week has been as cold as the last. I have used my skates some, but not much on
account of the cold.
Dec 25, 1854 CHRISTMAS DAY Santa Claus broght us a great many Christmas presents.
Mother’s were a worked mat from Kitty and a pair of slippers from Cousin Wellen Moore. Father’s
were Kitty’s first drawing book. Sister a gold thimble and ring, both from mother. Kitty’s present to
sister and one from Aunt Cornelia. Delia’s present was a game from mother and 3 books l from
Mother 1 from sister and 1 from Cousin Annette Moore. Ann, our servant girl, a dress and pair of
gloves, both from Mother. Mine was a book named Romulus from Mother, a little pinball from
Delia, a very hansome portfolio from Mother & dissected map from sister, a very handsome
washrag crocheted. The old year is brought to a close in 4 days.
Good Bye for this Year 1854
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