Diary: Robert Hartshorne Miller, 1866-1870

1^st mo 1866

2^nd 1^st

To day is the beginning of the year 1866 and I am going to try and keep a diary of the whole year what I do & and every thing of importance that happen[s]. I did not go to school, went up after my books. Found Summers & Cousin Mary Anna here when I got back.

3^rd 2^nd

Went to school to day but we had very few scholars.

4^th 3^rd

Sister started to school to day we went up in the caryall, walked down to Ashton in the evening.

5^th 4^th

We went to school on horse back the roads were frozen hard, very cold when we came back

6^th 5^th

Took our skates too school, went skating on Broker's Dam. The ice was rough but there were a good many there. I went to Cousin George Brook's and stayed all night.

7^th 6^th

Went skating this morning. there was a large party on the Dam. We stayed until dinner time and then went home. Found Dick Dorsy hawling ice, got the house about half full.

1^st mo 1866

1^st 7^th It has been very cold and blustery to day Harry came down this afternoon with Corrie & Belle who went up the evening before. We all went down to Granfathers ice pond.

2^nd 8^th The thermometer was -5 [degrees] this morning Evan and Bob cut ice. Harry and I went down to the pond to skate but found it too cold

3^rd 9^th I did not go to school today helped Uncle Asa cut ice in the morning.

4^th 10^th Sister B. C. Cousin Alice Taylor & my self went skating Schooleys dam had a splendid time about 20 there we got back very tird.

5^th 11^th Cousin Ellen Farquhar an Aunt Cary S spent the day here. Mother Father and they went to the reading scircle in the evening

6^th 12 Went to school nothing particularly happened

7^th 13 Bob and I measured up fifty bushels of potatoes for Beny Johnson to take to town. Hawled some straw in the yard

1^st 14 Went to meeting to day William Hartshorn was here in the afternoon.

1^st mo 1866

2^nd 15

We went to school Uncle Henry taught as Uncle Frank was in Alexandria. Snowed in the afternoon.

3^rd 16

Did not go to scholl took Grandmother up to Aunt Sarah's in the sleigh. Sister and went up to Edward & Mary Thomas's in the evening seighing was splendid.

4^th 17

Went to school. Uncle Frank got back yesterday

5^th 18

Did not go to school. Cousin Carry Mary & Willy Bond were here in the eveniⁿg.

6^th 19

Did not go to school. I took Corry & Belle up to Rockland brought Sister ^back.

7^th 20

Went down to Uncle Bobs to get him to make me a sled but he was busy. Lew Stane came up in the evening to draw mothers teeth.

1^st 21

Lew drew Mothers teeth this afternoon he used all the chloroform so I had to go up to Uncle Franks after more Annie & Eddy Hallowell were here in the evening

2^nd 22

Lew went down this morning. Bob & I hawled in 8 loads of fodder and one of straw I read the rest of the day.

1^st mo 1866

3^rd 23

I went down to Uncle Bobs and he made me a jumper. Went up to a Lecture delivered by Edward Parish it was very poor. It has been snowing a little all day

4^th 24

Commenced snowing hard in the middle of the day kept snowing all the evening I went up after sister in the jumper broke one of the runners.

5^th 25

I took Mother up to Ashton Father took her from there up to the Assosiation I came back in the afternoon got the sleigh ready and we all went up to the reading circle except the two little Boys Father and Mother. brought cousin Alice Taylor back

6^th 26

Went up to Uncle Edwards after a harse for Uncle Asa Bob & I meshered up 20 bushels of potatoes. Mother & Sister went up to Cousin Mary Osburns

7^th 27

Took some corn up to the steam mill to be ground into Cow feed. The Children had a little party

1^st 28

Sister & I went up to cousin George Brooks went skating on the Dam

2^nd mo 1866

2^nd 29

Went up to fulford at 3Oc. took sister over to the dam got back home found Cousin Isaac Briggs here. Commenced reading history of the United States

3^rd 30

Commenced Reading the history of England Cousin Mary & Albina spent the day at our house. Mary and Richard [Kirk?] were here in the evening.

4^th 31^st

I was out sliding this morning went up to the school house at the gate in the afternoon.

5^th 1^st

Bob and I meshered up 18 bushels of potatoes this morning. Mother Father Corry and the Baby went to Alexandria to day.

6^th 6^th 2

Went skating this afternoon brought Hannah Roberts back with us

7^th 3

We went up skating this afternoon pulled taffy this evening.

1^st 4

Mother & Father came back from Alexan^dria

2^nd 5

Mother & Father & all the Children went up to a large skating party. I stayed home took care of Janet. She had the colic badly.