The
following excerpt is from Cynthia Hutchinson's diary, a
Middle Island resident who eventually married Dr. Samuel
Norton. Her diary of 1809, reprinted in the Long Island
Advance on Jan. 19, 1952, page 23, provides an intriguing
sketch of daily life of Middle Island families.
FOOTNOTES TO
L.I. HISTORY
"Beach Parties in 1809, Too"
by Thomas R. Bayles
In 1808, Thomas Jefferson, third president of the United
States, was rounding out his second term as the nation's
chief executive. Daniel D. Tompkins was serving as New
York state's fifth governor, and Long Island was a
sparsely settled community in a progressive state having
a population of about 900,000 people.
Here are extracts from the
diary of one of Long Island's residents, a Middle Island
woman (Cynthia Hutchinson Norton) in the year 1808, and
the years following:
May 16, 1808--3 men planting
corn. It is very late. Luther Case is going to the New
Country where he has property.
May 29-- I sat in a cool
room and took the ague and had a fit of sickness which
lasted until the 29th of August. Remitting fever and
ague.
Aug. 29-- Attended singing
school and rode horseback. Rev. Moses Swezey preached
Sunday. Singing school was held in the afternoon. Mr.
Hubbard spoken of as a school teacher.
Sept. 5--Singing school on
Sunday afternoon so well attended that those who came
late could hardly find seats.
Sept. 28--Mr. Joseph Gerard
from new York called. he is paying his respects to Miss
Charry Swezey. Loading sloop (probably with cord wood on
Sound shore) frequently spoken of.
Nov. 1--Thrashed clover
seed. Simeon Hulse died after three weeks sickness with
lung fever.
Nov. 5--Funeral of young
woman Matilda Yarrington at Coram. There seem to be
funerals oftener than any other meeting.
Nov. 6--reading meeting. Few
people out. Evening meetings at Coram were very largely
attended and frequent and held very late.
Nov. 18--A night meeting was
held at the meeting house.
Nov. 29--Paul (probably the
indian preacher Paul Cuffee) preached.
Feb. 3, 109--At the
schoolhouse in the evening Mr. Allen, who had been hired
to preach 4 Sundays, preached.
Feb. 19--Rev. Woolworth of
Bridgehampton preached and a number taken into the
church. Spinning flax seemed to be the order of the day.
March 17--Papa went to Coram
to Republican meeting. Mrs. Gerard expects to move down
the river before long.
March 26--Mr. Woodruff read
a sermon. Had a full meeting so that they had to remove
into the meeting house. (Perhaps they met in the
schoolhouse.)
April 7--Daniel Terry of
Oysterponds (Orient) called. He has been at Albany on the
Assembly two months. He went away in the morning
"with the post."
April 18--In the evening
Debby and I went to meeting, which was very melancholy,
there were but few who did not shed tears. Mr. John
Turner and his cousins Isaac and Charry, who we can't
expect to ever see again as they are going to move a
great way off up in the "new country."
May 21--Mr. Daggett preached
in A.M. and went to Fire Place in the afternoon.
June 5--A company training
was held at Christopher Swezey's.
June 14--General training. A
gala day and women and all went to see it. (In July twin
children of Mr. G. Brown died a week apart. the funeral
of the second child is thus described.) Just as we got
there Mr. Corwin came and made a short prayer and then
went to the meeting house. The corpse was carried to the
door by its parents, then Debby and Polly Howell carried
it into the meeting house. Mr. Corwin preached. After the
service Debby and I carried it to the burying ground
across from the meeting house.
Aug 3.--In the morning I
went to the store and got a gallon of rum. Mr. Petty and
Mr. Hulse are to work here today.
Aug. 18--Mr. Brown's beach
party took place. Papa went, also old Mr. Joshua Swezey
and Harmony and Mr. and Mrs. Wooster. Reached home 11
o'clock at night.
Sun. Aug. 20--Meeting inthe
schoolhouse in the evening very much crowded and very
warm. Miss Harmony Swezey almost fainted away, it was so
warm. Her brother Joshua and her cousin Sylvanus Overton
carried her home in a chair.
Sept. 30--Jeffrey Randall's
wife died. At the funeral there were so many in
attendance that the services were held in the edge of the
woods instead of in the meeting house. Mr. Robinson
preached. Quilting, knitting and spinning are common
occupations.
Jan. 9, 1810--Daniel and
Charles Swezey called, going to meeting at Mr. Davis'
where Mr. Hallock preached. Mr. Hubbard is school
teacher, boarding around still.
Feb. 3-- Mr. Brown came
running in and told Papa to get his horses immediately
and go after his father and mother. He said their horse
had run away and they were both thrown out of the wagon
and hurt. He went as quick as possible and brought them
back, and then went after the doctor. He came and bled
grandfather and believes there are no bones broke. Uncle
John went after the horse, which ran to Patchogue. He
came back about places.
Men on their way from New
York to the eastern part of the island frequently call
and stay all night. (Evidently conducted an inn.)
April 3--Vendue of Joel
Swezey attended. They are going to move to the new
country.
May 30--Jonathan Edwards
came and warned us all to training. Cherries were
plentiful at Mr. Brown's and Joshua Swezey's place's.
July 29--Papa and Mama went
to the carding machine (down the river). Stayed all night
and got home the next day.
Dec. 18--Mr. Brown had his
barn raised. Charity Hulse married to lewis Ritch.
Jan. 1, 1811--Dr. Norton had
a singing school about this time in the Coram school
house.
Aprl 23--Mr. Woodruff and
family left for the new country.
June 23--Mr. King moved here
June 6th. (The Rev. Ezra King, pastor of Presbyterian
Church at Middle island and South Haven for over 30
yers.) Mr. King and Mr. Prime of Fresh Pond exchanged
pulpits at times.
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