1855 - 1891 SIX [6] ORIGINAL HANDWRITTEN MANUSCRIPT JOURNALS FOLLOWING THE ADULT LIFE OF A MAN AS HE GROWS, MARRIES, HAS CHILDREN AND LIVES A BUSY SOCIAL LIFE IN SALISBURY MASSACHUSETTS

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On offer is a remarkable and comprehensive set of diaries of five [5] diaries by Samuel J. Brown of Salisbury, Massachusetts, and one [1] of his son. There are 6 diaries in all and they represent the years: 1855, 1858, 1860, 1861, 1866 and 1891. The first five were written by Samuel and the last diary, 1891, was written by Fred C. Brown, Samuel’s son, of Amesbury, Mass. Samuel was born about 1835 and married Susan Osgood on September 13th, 1860. They had one son, Fred Currier Brown. The first two diaries were written before his marriage, and then comes the 1860 diary written the year of his marriage. The 1855 diary has an entry for every day but many of those are just short one liners. The 1858 diary is completely full and is the largest and most comprehensive dairy in the lot. He has written long detailed entries in this one including several trips taken. The 1860 diary has 152 days worth of entries, the 1861 diary has 115 days of entries, the 1866 diary has just a few sporadic notes, and finally the 1891 diary has 132 days worth of entries. In the back of the 1858 diary Samuel has written a brief summary of his life’s work between the years of 1851 and 1857 which gives you an idea of the author and his activities during this time: “Commenced services in E. Allen’s store October 1st, 1851. Left store and went to trade at West Amesbury, April 30th, 1855. Left West Amesbury for good November 28th, 1855. Went to school in Boston December 4th, 1855 through School March 4th, 1856. Commenced services second time in E. Allen’s store April 1st, 1856 making 5 years to October 1st, 1857.” Samuel is working in E. Allen’s store when much of his diaries were written. The 1858 and 1860 diary often speak of working at the store, and the activities done and observations made there. In the 1858 diary, his life is quite full with social events, which makes this diary particularly interesting and historically significant. He belongs to the Minnehaha Club and attends their meetings and functions quite regularly. He’s even in charge of taking care of the club room. He loves dances, attending social events at Washington Hall, sleigh rides, attending lectures, singing school and so much more. During the 1858 diary he also takes a camping trip by boat to Black Rocks, Plymouth County, Massachusetts, which he writes all about and in great detail. In the 1860’s diaries it is evident that a great change coming to the United States: the onset of the civil war. Each diary also contains some memoranda at the end of the book as well as a “Cash Accounts” section that details living expenses each month, with the items written next to the date bought and a tally at the end of the month, comprising “Cash Received,” “Cash Paid Out,” and finally, “Cash on Hand” which carries over to the next month: “Cash Account - May. Balance from April - $1.46; Oranges - $.03; Horse-back ride - $.58; Coffee - $.08; Saddle - $3.75; Ale - $.15....” This is present in every diary, with differing degrees of comprehensiveness and completeness, with the exception of the 1855 diary. Excerpts of text: 1855: “Panorama of the American Revolution A.M. and evening at Washington Hall. Oranges &c .06. Raffle .05 Singing School”; “Pleasant. Concert by the Luca Family at Washington Hall. E. S. Worther went to trade 125 lbs.”; “Rain morning.Pleasant rest of the day. Went to Hampton Beach with S. C. Patten and co. Stopped at Eagle Hotel. Took dinner and supper”; “Rainy A. M. Pleasant P.M. Went to Hampton Beach with S. E. N. Stopped at the Ocean House and took supper. $3.90. Comb &c .08.”; “Went to Salisbury Beach by way of cars to E. Salisbury. Walked rest of way. Stopped at the Atlantic House, took dinner and supper.”; “Pleasant. Atlantic House, breakfast, dinner and supper. Walked to Hampton River morn. Chowder at Black Rocks P.M.”; “Pleasant. Walked to West Amesbury. Fire on Larking’s Hill. Old buggy filled with shavings set on fire, burnt up, down round the river.” 1858: “January 1st, Arose in the morning at 6 ½ o’clock. Wind south west. Pleasant. Opened store at 6:50 o’clock. Thermometer stood 32 degrees above zero. Alley’s once. A.M. Ball at manufactures Hall by the Powon Engine Company. Tickets $1.00. Supper and oysters at Lewis’s.”; “February 18th, Arose in the morning at 7 o’clock. Wind west. Pleasant. Opened store at 7:50 o’clock. Thermometer stood 4 deg. above zero. Alley’s eight times. Flag .04. Promenade Concert by Gilmore’s band at Washington Hall. Danced from 9 ½ until 1 3/4o’clock. 25 S. C. O.”; “April 7th, Arose in the morning at 6:20 o’clock. Wind northwest. Pleasant. Opened store at 6 ¾ o’clock. Thermometer stood 26 deg. above zero. Union Engine Company appeared in uniform at the funeral of J. Kent. Closed store at 8 ½ o’clock. Club room. Kiss. Retired at 9 ½ o’clock. Flag .04. Expense .04.”; “April 15th, Arose in the morning at 6 o’clock. Wind West. Pleasant. Opened store at 6:10 o’clock. Thermometer stood 40 deg. above zero. Alley’s seven times. Engine trail morning. Hall &c 12. Band out P.M. H. & H. C. present. Dramatic Club played The Drunkard and Omnibus Ave. Down to E. Salisbury on Engine .02. Cider .04. Retired 11 ¼ Expense .37.”; “July 14th, Arose in the morning at 5 o’clock. Wind south. Pleasant. Rain. Opened the store at 6 o’clock. Thermometer stood 70 deg. above zero. Alley’s six. Left for Rye Beach at 9 ¼ o’clock with S.E.A., C.H.M. & L. Stopped on way down and ordered supper on our return. Arrived at Rye at 11 ¼. Dinner at the Atlantic House. Stopped at the Lafayette House and had a talk, supper 1.50. Exeter.”; “Left Mills for Black Rocks at 10 o’clock Sunday night. Passed Powder River bridge at 11 ¾ o’clock, Chain Bridge at 12:10 o’clock, Smoking breeze. Passed the E.R.N. Bridge at 12 ¾ arrived at the Rocks and pitched the Nellie Gray at 1 ½ o’clock. Turned in for a nap at 2 ½ o’clock. Turned out at 5 ¾. Pleasant. Wind northwest. Clam chowder at 9 o’clock A.M. All hands piped to shift tent on account of the wind. Went to old Gaters. Turned in at 8 ½. Wind blowing a gale; “September 10th, Arose in the morning at 6 ½ o’clock. Wind Northeast. Cloudy. Opened store at 6 ¾ o’clock. Thermometer stood 68 deg. above. Closed store. Col. Allen on the account of his being joined in the bonds of matrimony gave the Minnehaha club a treat on oysters, ale and cigars at their room in eve. High old time.”; “December 9th, Arose in the morning at 7 ¼ o’clock. Wind Northwest. Pleasant. Opened store at 7 ½ o’clock. Thermometer stood 20 deg. above. Club room P.M. Feltche’s four. Closed store at 8 o’clock. Members of the Minnehaha Club surprised by a party of ladies eve. Refreshments, cards, likening, &c. Grand good time. Broke up at 1 o’clock. Club. Retired at 1 ¼ o’clock.” 1860: “September 13. Left home at 8 ½ A.M. Lawrence at 12. Franklin House dinner; Lowell at 3 P.M. American House. Married by Rev. J. J. Twiss, Lowell Mass., 6 ½ P.M. Called on Mary Ann eve. left 9 ¼. $3.00 Hotel” 1861: “Boy killed by the cars on the Salisbury branch near the bridge, 5 o’clock P.M…..Pleasant. Third Annual Ball of the Minnehaha Club. Danced from 8 ¾ until 4 ¾ o’clock. Baldwin and Richardson’s band of Boston. Tip top time. (3 couples took supper at Clark’s). B.H.M., C.N.D, S.J.B.’s Sleighing. Frost morning. Dancing cost us .42”; “Flag acrosst from Washington Hall to Manill’s House. P.M. Two men belonging to the six regiment of Massachusetts were killed by a mob in Baltimore while on their way to protect the National Capital of Washington.”; “Letter from Orce, Newburyport National Guards marched from N. Port, collation at S. Point. Chowder at Manill’s Hall. Home in the cars at 5:50 P.M.”; “.The members of the Minnehaha Club made up a purse of $16.25 and presented to John Allen, who had enlisted in the National Guards of Newburyport. Capt. J.P.L. Wescott, and bound for the war.”; “Wallace Guards, Capt. Morrill left for Camp at Lynfield in the 9:40 train A.M.”; “Left the Bluff for home at 6 o’clock. Dinner at the Sandy Beach Hotel. Arrived home at 8 o’clock eve. Tip top time. Letter from John and Christine.” 1891 (Fred Brown’s diary): “The New Year opened with a slight fall of snow. Went to the auction again. Today is the fifty first anniversary of Grandpa and Grandma’s marriage. The month just ended was the coldest Dec. for nine years.”; “Went to hear Dixon on “The Negro” at the Opera House with Mrs. Sibley. Only a small audience was present owing to several other attractions. His lecture was very fine with a great deal of whit.”; “Have been at work all day on electrics. My battery for gas lighting now consists of 4 cells of Samson’s. Club meeting with Frank Halley this evening. Have added three electric lighters to the original one….The H. H. S. held their second field day at Salisbury Beach leaving Amesbury at 8 A.M. The party stopped at Mr. Todd’s cottage. The day being cold and rainy part of the sports were given up. In the evening an entertainment was given.”; “The H. H. S. closed today for the summer vacation. The graduating exercises were held in the Opera House this evening. The school occupied reserved seats in the orchestra left as last year. The house was crowded.”; “A large fire at Salisbury Beach. Among the burnt buildings were Hiram Littlefield’s Stables and store, the Amesbury House, Black Rocks S. A. Central Station and many small buildings. Also ice house. Lose unknown.”; “Mr. Cutter preached a very interesting sermon this morning. The Elm St. RR is doing an immense business carrying people to see the ruins.”; “Experiments are being made during this month trying to produce rain by the use of explosives in a very dry spot in Texas which are proving quite successful.”; “Father and I went to Boston on 7:40 train there being no school. In the afternoon went out to Mount Auburn a distance of five miles. In the evening went to the Boston Theatre to see Denman Thompson in his Old Homestead. Home on Theatre train 1:00 A.M.” All of the diaries have worn covers but the bindings and pages are consistently good throughout. The two larger diaries (1858/1891) measure about 3 ½” x 6” and the 4 smaller diaries measure about 2 ½” x 4”. Samuel Brown and his son write in pencil throughout the diaries, and their handwriting, though often small, is very legible and readable.; Manuscript; 8vo - over 7¾" - 9¾" tall; KEYWORDS: HISTORY OF, SAMUEL J. BROWN, FRED C. BROWN, SALISBURY, BLACK ROCKS, PLYMOUTH COUNTY, AMESBURY, MASSACHUSETTS, CIVIL WAR ERA, POST CIVIL WAR ERA, LIFE OF A YOUNG 19TH CENTURY MAN, SOCIAL EVENTS OF YOUNG MEN, CASH ACCOUNTS, MINNEHAHA CLUB, FAMILY HISTORY, SUSAN OSGOOD, WASHINGTON HALL, AMERICANA, HANDWRITTEN, MANUSCRIPT, DOCUMENT, LETTER, AUTOGRAPH, WRITER, HAND WRITTEN, DOCUMENTS, SIGNED, LETTERS, MANUSCRIPTS, HISTORICAL, HOLOGRAPH, WRITERS, AUTOGRAPHS, PERSONAL, MEMOIR, MEMORIAL, ANTIQUITÉ, CONTRAT, VÉLIN, DOCUMENT, MANUSCRIT, PAPIER ANTIKE, BRIEF, PERGAMENT, DOKUMENT, MANUSKRIPT, PAPIER OGGETTO D’ANTIQUARIATO, ATTO, VELINA, DOCUMENTO, MANUSCRITTO, CARTA ANTIGÜEDAD, HECHO, VITELA, DOCUMENTO, MANUSCRITO, PAPEL Show more