5. Capt. Cheever arrived from Hamburg. Capt. J. Endicott sailed for Sumatra. Mrs. Lloyd very sick.

7. Mr. Batchelder28 cleaned clock. Bought a new large Bible.

9. Vendue of our part of the mills & other property. 10. Mrs. Floyd died. President's message received, all parties like it very well, it seems to speak of war with England, if we cannot make them come to terms any other way.

11. Capt. [Thomas] Cheever sailed for Leghorn. Bot box glass ware.

13. Married last evening, the Amiable Miss Polly Fowler To John Page.

16. Mrs. Marsh very sick.

19. War is raging tremendously in Europe. Doc. Read moved his old house down on the bank.30

20. Put up fish for a vane.

22. Went to night meeting, it was very full.

23. News from Saturday's Centinel of a sea Battle between the English & combined French and Spanish ships. By accounts it was the greatest battle of the kind that was ever fought in so short a time, in which was dreadful carnage that ever was beheld, some a sinking some a blowing up & some falling into the hands of their enemies, while hundreds of lives were destroyed in an instant. lord Nelson, which had the command of the English fleet, was killed in the midst of the battle, he having been in a number of battles and wounded 23 times. He died in an hour after he was wounded, thus died the greatest Commodore & sea warrior that ever was known. The English gained the victory by taking 18 or 20 ships. Now take a view of the continent & the carnage & bloodshed may be said to equal to this. Bonaparte has killed & taken, if the account be true, above one hundred thousand Austrians! Such is the raging element of the heart of man. Mrs. Marsh died.

24. Mr. Sheldon moved to Portsmouth. A large fire was discovered this morning early, toward Newbury, which proved to be the Almsbury Iron works and other buildings.

28 Ezra Batchelder, clockmaker.

29 The Hutchinson grist mill, where Lummus & Parker's mill now stands.

30 This house still stands on the bank of the river on Water street, nearly opposite the Porter estate, a portion being used as a store. It belonged to Joseph Endicott, of whom Read bought the farm, and it occupied a site near the cottage on the driveway to the Porter house.

25. (Christmas). By the fire yesterday, there was a loss of 80,000$.

26. They keep fast today in the upper parish on account of the frown of Providence in burning their meeting house. Mr. Coffin come up to do work on vessel.

27. Sent flaxseed to Boston, price there 9/. The singing school kept by Mr. Holyoke31 begins this evening.

30. Capt. Jeremiah] Putnam sailed in Pindar & Co.'s new Brig for Savannah & Copenhagen.

31. Capt. Moses Endicott sailed for the Havana.

Mar. 1, 1806. This day a court formed at Salem to examine two men arrested on suspicion of robbing Mr. David Runnels of Andover the sume of 250$ on the night of 29th Jan. last.-ten Indian Chiefs of different tribes are on a visit at Boston. A large number of counterfeit bank notes in Circulation.

3. I was summoned about 10 o'clock by Mr. J[ohn] Page to appear at Salem as quick as may be with my Brother's day book as a witness to strengthen proceeding proof that the two men arrested at Salem were at the D. & B. I. F. on the 30th Jan. last, by the circumstance of Mr. Floyd, one of the workmen, having a piece of meat charged that day & cooked it for that day's dinner while they were there.

5. Received a quantity of Logwood from Boston.

8. Proposals for an Instrumental school. I am not determined about joining it.

9. Spent the evening at Grandsir's. Mr. Holyoke being there, we sung a number of new tunes.

10. Capt. [Samuel] Page here telling the proceedings of G[eneral] Court. A paper handed here for subscribers for a new road from Mr. Webb's house in Bridge street to Mr. Foster's in Royal side, to make a shorter cut to Beverly.82 Fire in Salem, Mr. Adams' Cabinet maker's shop burned.

11. Fowler & Page put mast in their vessel. Mr. Cushing has made a machine for Nails, began to make nails today at the D. & B. Factory.

12. Capt. Tho. Putnam mentioned today as a choice for a Selectman.

81 Samuel, son of Rev. Elizer Holyoke, of Boxford, who graduated from Harvard in 1789, was a distinguished composer of music, and died, unmarried, Feb. 22, 1820, at Concord, N. H.

82 The proposed road was that portion of the present Elliott street, from corner of Liberty to Foster street (Dark Lane). See ante, vol. 2, p. 101.

14. Mr. Read supped here, he is from Bridgewater & is going to take charge of Read's Nail Machine.

15. Last evening made choice by written votes of 3 leaders in each part, viz., tenor, treble & Bass. But I am confident that they have made choice of an Incapable one as the 2d leader of the Bass.

16. Last evening had open doors in our singing school for spectators & there appeared a large number & we believe that we gave them tolerable satisfaction. I went to meeting & sat in the singing seats for the 1st time.

17. Opened and sat up a crate of ware. There is a late account from Europe that peace is about to take place on the continent. Town meeting today, Capt. Putnam chosen as Selectman. News of Wm. Pitt of England being dead. Just before writing, 1/2 past nine, fire was cried here, suppose to be in Salem, but the bells soon stopped, so we did not proceed to it.

18. An Englishman learning Mr. Black to color skins. We hear that the alarum last evening about fire was in Marblehead. Mr. Fox, the new prime minister of England proposes Peace to all powers. Fowler & Page's vessel sailed for the eastward. The old shop belonging to Mr. Aaron Putnam,88 which stood as a monument of age, is moved today, to make room for a shoemaker's shop. Samuel Towne moving on Endicott's farm.

20. A committee visited our school today. Mr. White finishes his school. An African society is formed in Salem, they met and had a sermon delivered to them at Washington hall.

21. Capt. Giddens arrived from Holland. Mrs. Black had a male child born to day.

22. Samuel Fowler's machine for picking hair, tried it today.

23. Mr. Black's child lived about 10 hours & was buried yesterday afternoon at our burying ground. Mr. Holyoke finished his school last evening and by the desire of his scholars gave his answer to keep a month more.

24. News of Capt. Cook in the Aurora from India being in the West Indies crew all sick, four of which dead. Hiram

33 Probably Aaron, son of Lt. Stephen Putnam, who was born Aug. 30, 1730, married Lydia Waters and died in 1810. He was a carpenter. This shop was opposite Warren's store.

84 Probably the neighborhood burying ground, which was located rear of the Gilbert A. Tapley house on High street.

Putnam and [Samuel Holten] Webster85 on board. Destruct meeting this evening. Sam. Fowler, jr., chosen surveyor. Nath. Putnam one of the Assessors & clerk, voted to raise 250$.38 Chose a committee to employ a master for a private School this summer.

25. Three young men here wanted to let themselves, they are acquainted with [Noah] Whittier.

26. Mr. Pike & Shelden here conversing concerning a rule of court in Topsfield between Mr. Pike & David Town.

27. Tackled our horse & shay & rode as far as Fox hill with Mrs. Sally Cheever, it being the first slay ride I have had this past winter. We have a revised Militia law, which states 4 dolls. for non-appearance at Regimental training, and at the Company muster the fine is augmented to $2 for nonappearance. By the late successes of Bonaparte, we fear he will resume his plans for an invasion of England. May God avert it, for there is reason to think if he should succeed it will raise his ambitions not only next to conquer America, But the whole World.

28. I, with Mr. [Joseph] Stearns & Doke, went over to Kimball's singing school last evening. Doke prevailed on me to lodge with him last night at Mr. Black's.37

31. Nehemiah Fuller died yesterday morning, his body was carried to Middleton last evening to be buryed there. Andrew Fuller lost a daughter, buryed today.

April 2. Finished a pigeon house. A duel was fought by a Boston & Charlestown man, neither of them was killed, one wounded, arose from political writing.

3. Fast Day. Though custom tells us not to dine, yet we had coffee, eggs and wine.

4. Last evening went to the wedding of Mr. Noah Whittier & Mary Whittier at Mr. Black's, enjoyed myself very well. Mr. Holyoke's father buried today.

5. Party rage is at great height now as next Monday is the meeting for choice of Governor & Senator.

7. Votes for this town, 290 for Strong, 130 for Sullivan. A light was discovered this evening in Salem, not certain

35 Putnam and Webster were grandsons of Judge Samuel Holten.

36 New Mills was a separate district called "the Neck of Land," from 1772-1840, and paid its own taxes for schools and highways. The records are preserved in the Town hall.

87 Moses Black bought of Capt. Jeremiah Putnam in 1814, the large three-story house which occupied the site of the Creese & Cook factory on Water street.

whether a building or graving vessel. Rec'd a basket of hollow ware from Capt. Giddens.

Rain with heavy squalls of wind. Wm. Pinder's vessel went adrift. When I was going into the house last evening, 1/2 past 10, saw a very bright light to the westward which seemed like a large barn on fire, viewed it 1/2 hour & went to bed. The light which we saw in Salem last evening was graving a vessel. Large number met here this evening, it seems the Political fever is not yet abated.

9. Pinder & Co.'s vessel Mary gone down today to Beverly. We made soap.

10.

Chaise cleaned today.

13. A Mrs. Merrill & Wells were baptised this morning. 14. Mr. Chaplin preached a sermon relative to the commotion in Europe. He thinks this is only a prelude & that Peace will not be fully established, not for a century to come!

16. Capt. Moses Endicott arrived from Havana, brought Capt. Levi Putnam38 with him, he having been absent from this place 6 years & been through a series of misfortunes & dangers.

19. Mr. Chaplin was married on Wednesday last at New bury.39

21. A fine boy born to Mrs. Putnam, my sister. A vessel loaded with sand at our wharf for the use of making mortar for Danvers Meeting house. Took stove down.

22. A dispute arose last evening begun by Uncle Fowler. His land which laid between Mr. Pinder & McIntier, had no definite bounds. They came to the point of having an obligation wrote. I wrote it, which was to have Gen, [Gideon] Foster come to establish their lines.

24. Dispute last evening between Capt. Job. Anderson & S. Dwinnel.

28. Mr. Kimball's singing at Mr. Felton's, it being the last evening there were a good many spectators. I was perfectly satisfied that ours was its equal without any prejudice. Four Anderson brothers with each a vessel unloading wood here within a week past.

29. Putting up Fishermen's stores for Capt. Richardson in schooner Nancy. I have had thoughts arisen in myself of the importance of necessary learning, which has prompted me to

38 He was son of Capt. Jeremiah Putnam, and was master of the schooner Nancy.

39 Rev. Jeremiah Chaplin and Marcia S. O'Brien were married, Apr. 16, 1806.