John William Sterling Journal: January-December 1855

Jan 1, 1855 Tolerable warm weather. How quickly time passes away! During the month of December it was very cold. The snow that fell in the first of the month is on the ground now.

Jan 5, 1855 This is Mother’s birthday. I gave her 39 kisses when I went to bed she is 39 years old.

Jan 8, 1855 This is the anniversary of the battle of New Orleans, warm and mudy.

Jan 11, 1855 A cold day. I went a skating after school. P.M. I went to a place called Fanny Curtis’s which is two lots across from Captain Benjamin on the Bridgeport road. Just before I got home I found that Aunt Sarah and Uncle Beach had got home to our house to make us a visit.

Jan 14, 1855 A rainy day. Father and Mother went to Grandmama’s to tea. I went over to Jimmy Mitchell’s to tea. Aunt Sarah and Uncle Beach went to Grandmamas’ to tea also.

Jan 15, 1855 Dr. Hewit preached for us today, a very fine sermon. One of his subjects was the woman of Samaria.

Jan 19, 1855 Uncle Beach and Aunt Sarah went to the railroad to return home to Marcellus.

Jan 22, 1855 Rained very hard last night and this morning cleared off, this noon cold and blowy.

Jan 27, 1855 A very cold, awful windy, and the thermometer below freezing a great deal. I spent this morning in the shop making a sled which I completed with satisfaction this afternoon. Kitty and Cordelia went to sewing society this afternoon.

Feb 3, 1855 A very pleasant day, which is rather cold or windy. I went a skating this morning. I expect to go this afternoon and go to Singing School. Mother is very well today.

Feb 10, 1855 A very windy[crossed through] Snow. The girls sewing society met at Miss Booth’s

Feb 13, 1855 The weather quite mild but walking horrible. Mother and myself attended meeting this evening.

Feb 15, 1855 Weather quite mild and walking much worse. Mother and myself attended the Thursday night lecture and the subject was Abraham.

Feb 18, 1855 Not pleasant. Sister went to New York yesterday morning.

Feb 21, 1855 We went to meeting this evening. The subject was Abraham continued. I fell down going to meeting and got myself all dirty and when I came home I fell down again and tore my pants.

Feb 24, 1855 A awful cold day windy. Aunt Ann More came up this morning went home 1/4 to 5.

Feb 27, 1855 A fine day. We went to meeting tonight and a prayer meeting in afternoon.

Feb 28, 1855 I went to skating tonight, got in the mire up to my knees.

March 1, 1855 We all went to Bridgeport this afternoon except Kitty and myself.

March 2, 1855 Mother got a sick headache.

March 3, 1855 I expect to go a skating. Singing school this afternoon.

March 10, 1855 A pleasant day, very windy indeed. The March wind has really come at last. It is awful windy. Sewing society met to Mr. Booth’s this afternoon. Jane Plumb was here this afternoon. Peter, her nephew, is a carving wood.

March 13, 1855 A rainy day so much so that we had no prayer meeting.

March 14, 1855 A rainy day or very cloudy.

March 15, 1855 Another unpleasant day has come but has cleared off in time for Thursday night lecture.

March 16, 1855 I stayed home from school all day because I had a headache and a cold in my head.

March 17, 1855 A very unpleasant day indeed so that me and Cordelia stayed in the house and drew pictures. Kitty wrote the genealogy of the Tomlinson family most of which was obtained from Miss Polly Tomlinson and Mrs. Whetmore [name uncertain].

March 18, 1855 A pleasant day, horrid walking. I wore my new breeches to church. Examination is most here, I think I shall not miss

March 19, 1855 A lovely day. We expect Sister home tonight. Papa went to Bridgeport and bought some glasses for the old revelutionary war pictures.

March 20, 1855 Cloudy. Papa went to Bridgeport and bought a slate frame for which he gave a dollar. She has drawn the picture under Miss Curtis’s care and it is to be exhibited on examination day (I hope will not fail) Mother attended the prayer meeting. Last Sunday was Cordelia’s birthday, she was 9 years old. She has not been to school this winter, but is going in the summer.

March 21, 1855 A pleasant day. Sister came home this evening. She brought each of us a present which was a gold pencil. Mine was the prettiest. Mrs Robert Whetmore came up here with her and went home in the evening train.

March 22, 1855 Today is examination day. All the exercises went off well. I passed a very good examination. It is very lucky that all my classes has resited today for then I can play tomorrow while the rest are resiting. Mother went in the morning and Father all day.

March 23, 1855 A very pleasant day. Examination is today. Mother attended in the morning and Father all day. Tonight is the exhibition. We have printed tickets so that they cannot forge them. Mr. Weed attended this afternoon and the scholars thought they did themselves credit. Mr. Weed this evening also. I spoke a piece named “The Fate of the Indians” and also spoke a dialog named “From Paul Perry.”

March 24, 1855 Singing school and sewing society too. Cordelia and myself was sick but we attended singing school.

March 26, 1855 A pleasant day. Martha Flagg came to see Cordelia. Papa made me a bow and arrow. I kept shooting it all of the afternoon. Cordelia and myself played in the afternoon outdoors till Martha Flagg came and then we played in the house with her.

March 31, 1855 A fine day. Kate and Cordelia went to tea and I went after Cordelia and myself went home about a quarter to 8 oclock and then sister came and spent all the evening, our visit was at Mrs. Russell

April 1, 1855 Today is Solemn Sunday. Mr. Weed preached a home missionary sermon. In the evening, the church was opened and a converted Catholic preached.

April 2, 1855 Very cold and exceeding high wind in consequence the boys had not a game of ball. Papa was moderator. The Democratic candidate was elected in this place.

April 3, 1855 HIgh wind today. Uncle David went to New York and I assisted Uncle Henry in keeping store.

April 4, 1855 Sarah [illegible] Cordelia and myself went to Aunt Mary’s to tea and come home about dark.

April 6, 1855 Fast day, warm and pleasant. Attended church in the morning and went to walk in the afternoon. Aunt [illegible] is quite sick and she is threatened with the lung fever.

April 13, 1855 A splendid day. [illegible] had a few young friends to see her in the afternoon. I had a headache in the evening.

April 15, 1855 Sister and myself stayed home from church all day both us were sick yesterday and we were sick today, so we stayed home.

April 16, 1855 A pleasant day. Sister and myself are very sick with the flu and suffer intense pain.

April 21, 1855 Fine lovely day. I have been sick all the past week but I am slowly recovering now. The Children’s sewing society met here this afternoon.

April 30, 1855 I commenced a going to school this morning. I am better.

May 4, 1855 Cordelia was taken sick today.

May 8, 1855 Cordelia has been sick since Friday or the 4th. I have got well of my cold but I took another one today.

May 11, 1855 Today is the last day that I am 10 years old and I am eleven tomorrow.

May 12, 1855 Today is my birthday. Mother gave me a present of “Cyrus the Great.” I was very much pleased with my present. It is pleasant today.

May 24, 1855 A beautiful day but exceeding hot. It lingered all the evening but no thunder. I took off my waist coat this noon. I have been a very naughty boy and trouble Mother very much.

May 29, 1855 A very pleasant day. The annual meeting of the Association a a consortium [?] which decided wether Rev. Wm B. Weed of Stratford, Connecticut will go to Norwalk. They were three hours debating when they gave their decision to go.

May 30, 1855 This afternoon we went to Bridgeport and visited Aunt Cornelia. [illegible]

May 31st We went to Pequonnock [?] this afternoon. Got home at 8:00

June 1, 1855 Papa bought a piece of land of Mr. Batterson down by the railroad. I am in the 1st class in grammer and Kit is the best scholar in the class so when they choose sides Kit is always chosen on the side that the 1st choice is.

June 6, 1855 Papa expects to put his boat in the afternoon. I am coming out at three oclock. Evening: I came home at three oclock but Papa did not put his boat in the river, as I expected he would.

June 7, 1855 A very pleasant day indeed. Papa and myself took the boat down to the river and launched it there. We took it down on the little wheels which he bought of Capt Nichols.

June 8, 1855 Mother walked with us down to the Ship Yard. She and Cordelia made some calls in [illegible]. I bought a quart of clams of old Capt Wheeler.

June 9, 1855 Saturday. Papa took Kate, Cordelia and myself over to Wheeler’s mill with some corn. In the afternoon, I wrote a composition on Fourth of July.

June 10, 1855 Cool and a very high wind. We have had a great deal of rain this season which makes Stratford look very beautiful. Mr. Hamilton preached the gospel to us, a very fine minister. I attended the children’s concert in the church.

June 16, 1855 Papa went down to the river today. For the first time we got some clams and some [illegible]. The first day in the year that we have not a fire. We had Cousin Julia and Abbie Ogden and Miss Linsley this afternoon. They took tea with us.

June 17, 1855 Mild and pleasant. A minister from Hampden near New Haven. Went to church in the conference room with my mother.

June 20, 1855 Mr. Hubbell and Fairchild have brought us some boards and shingles for we are going to have a new roof and a Corn Garret. They have began at the roof today. They will finish

June 23, 1855 The roof and corn garret was finished today and the barn looks very nice. We have got two windows in the barn. We went this morning to Bridgeport to get the sashes. We met Cousin Helen and Aunt Anna in the Omnibus and went to Bridgeport and back again and caught them up and passed them. Then Cousin Helen spent the day with us. Aunt Ann went back. Aunt Cornelia has a daughter.

June 24, 1855 Quite a rainy day. Dr. Hewit preached for us. Aunt Cornelia’s baby died today.

June 29, 1855 Very hot day indeed. It seems something like summer now. We have plenty of cherries now and I believe every one else has too.

July 1, 1855 A very pleasant day. Mr. Noah Porter preached for us today. The Rev. Mr. [name illegible], a missionary which has preached for the last 5 years in Kansas and Missouri delivered a lecture in the church.

July 3, 1855 Father, Jimmy and myself went to Bridgeport this morning. We went for firecrackers of which we got a box and I took half and he the other half of the box. A box consists of 40 packs. Papa went over to get the two Bunnell girls. Aunt Cornelia is not well yet.

July 4, 1855 Not a very pleasant day, sweltering, sprinkled in the morning. I got up early. I had 20 packs, used 4 of them, sold 6 packs, got 9 left [?]. I went to see the fire works in the evening. Mr. Orly [?] had a celebration down to Miss Linley’s on the grove. I went there at 9 am and got home 8 pm. They had a table set. We went to the table and eat food.

July 5, 1855 Katy and Julia Bunnell went home today. We were all so tired today that we have not done much work.

July 7, 1855 Papa has had his hay cut these two days but the rain has pevented it from drying. We should go to Locust Hill on Sunday but we cant go because it has not been dryed.

July 9, 1855 Hugh Quin made hay in the lots by the Depot. I helped him in the morning.

July 10, 1855 Hugh Quin and Mr Curtiss (whom the people call DP Knocker) got our hay in the barn today. We expect to go to Locust Hill tomorrow. I hope we shall have a nice time, don’t you

July 11, 1855 We started this morning at half past 7 oclock for Locust Hill, in the cars between Stratford and New York. We met a very pleasant man Papa and mother know him. Mr. Lewis was his name. When we arrived in New York, we took the South Ferry omnibus and went to the Ferry boat and crossed the Ferry.

July 12, 1855 I spent the day with Uncle Holden. I fell off his horse. I hurt myself badly.

July 13, 1855 I spent the night with Uncle Holden. I went home this morning in the boat. The name of the boat was the Cataline, bound to Bridgeport. We had a very pleasant sail indeed. From Bridgeport we came up in the Omnibus. Father, Mother and in fact all of us, thought that it was the most tedious part of our journey.

July 19, 1855 Very pleasant day, best about 7 oclock

July 29, 1855 A very pleasant day. The wind is very high. Papa, sister Kit, Cordelia and myself went a sailing. We had a very pleasant time.

Aug 1, 1855 Uncle Henry got home this morning. There was a dreadful thunder shower and a succession of _____

Aug 11, 1855 Saturday. Pleasant day. We got our oats in today. Our corn garret has come in use.

Aug 13, 1855 A elegant. We had Mr. Thatcher for Minister yesterday, he was from Meriden, Conn. He is a splendid minister. We had a children’s concert last evening. It went off splendidly. Uncle Henry lead us in singing. Mr. Thatcher is as thick through him as he is broad. He staid at Mr. Strong’s. Cousin William left us this morning. He has been here 7 weeks. He left us all very hansome presents.

Aug 18, 1855 Very pleasant day. Father went sailing today.

Aug 21, 1855 Cousin Diantra Bunnell came from Bridgeport to spend a few days with sister.

Aug 22, 1855 Cousin Susan Sterling came to see us.

Aug 23, 1855 David Ogden arrived from New Haven.

Aug 24, 1855 Cousin Dianthan and Susan went home today in the cars and Cousin Eliza Holden arrived today to spend a month with us.

Sept 4, 1855 Cousin Eliza and sister went today to New Haven.

Sept 6, 1855 Uncle Holden with his family arrived today. Sister and Cousin Eliza arrived from New Haven and while they were walking with Cousin John Benjamin he had a fit.

Sept 7, 1855 Mother had quite a party, the family friends and the old ladies.

Sept 8, 1855 Mother had another party today comprising the younger people. Today David Ogden returned home. Since he has been here we have played chess. Both he and we have had a very pleasant visit.

Sept 9, 1855 I played with Dannie Holden all day

Sept 10, 1855 Very hot day. Mr. Wilhard preached for us

Sept 11, 1855 Excessively hot

Sept 14, 1855 Uncle Holden’s family returned to New York and Aunt Elizabeth with them taking Hannah, their girl.

Sept 16, 1855 Cousin Eliza returned home after having a very pleasant visit

Sept 22, 1855 Uncle Ogden and Aunt Amanda arrived here from New York or at Grandma’s

Sept 23, 1855 Uncle Ogden preached here today (very good sermon)

Sept 27, 1855 The vessel or rather the schooner was launched here today. There was a large number there. She went off very nicely. Mr. [name illegible] died today. His body was brought to Bridgeport.

Sept 29, 1855 We went over to Bridgeport and bought a hat for myself. It was a very nice one.

Sept 30, 1855 Mr. Foote preached for us.

Oct 6, 1855 We have been at work with rye for the last 2 days. We have got at last it hoisted up in corn garret.

Oct 17, 1855 I have enjoyed myself very much this vacation although it is not past. We cleaned house or rather cleaned three rooms namely the bedroom, sister’s bedroom and the hall carpet upstairs. I worked very hard till 12 oclock.

Oct 18, 1855 Very pleasant day indeed. We have had real nice weather for the last week. A week ago we went to New Haven in the morning in the 10 oclock and got home at 7 oclock

Oct 26, 1855 I have enjoyed myself very much this vacation. We all went to Bridgeport. Kit had three teeth filled with gold. Cordelia and I went a shopping alone for the first time. Cousin Diantha was married Wednesday there.

November 26, 1855 Very fine weather now. We have no settled minister yet. We have a new one every Sunday. Never since my recollection have we had so many apples in our cellar before. Saturday Mother went to Bridgeport and bought Cordelia a doll 2 1/2 feet long. Cordelia had 1 tooth filled. I had two. We are going to have services on thanksgiving in our church. Cousin Elizabeth is going to stay at Thanksgiving with us.

Nov 29, 1855 Very windy but very fine weather. Mr. Ogden preached for us today. We had a very long sermon. I took some dinner to Hugh Quin the man who works for us, his wife is very sick. But when I came back I found the turkey waiting for me about to be carved on the table. In the afternoon David Ogden came over and spent the afternoon and the whole of the evening. We had no school the remainder of the week.

Dec 5, 1855 Sister went to New York with Cousin Elizabeth. She spent 5 weeks very pleasantly with us. She was on the return home. Sewing Society was here and the Temperance Convention was held in Stratford.

Dec 8, 1855 Sister returned from New York. Cousin Elizabeth sent each of us an interesting book.

Dec 13, 1855 The weather has been fine and beautiful until this day. The snow commenced falling last night and is now about 1 ft deep.

Dec 14, 1855 Clear, cold and fine slaying.

Dec 15, 1855 Warm, the snow melting fast.

Dec 16, 1855 But alas for the snow it has vanished all away! Alas! Another rainy Sunday. Dr. McEwen from New Haven preached for us.

Dec 22, 1855 Very rainy day. I have amused myself today with making Christmas presents. [name illegible] is dead, she died yesterday.

Dec 24, 1855 Uncle Holden and his family came from New York this evening.

Dec 25, 1855 An awful day especially for Christmas day. Grandmother had quite a family for Papa and Mama and Cousin Eliza went over there to dine but Danny stayed. Hugh Quin the man who worked for us, was killed on the railroad. We all felt very sorry for him.This is correct title