Living on the shore of Hay Bay, Thomas is oriented towards the water and notes steamers arriving in the sailing season and the conditions of the ice in winter. He draws wood to the wharf, possibly headed for Napanee, and ships 150 lbs of cheese. He’s involved in the cheese factory and attends several of its meetings. Of interest are the list of his cows’ names and the seventeen varieties of apples that he grows. He also includes accounts with labourers, including the Kanyen’kehà;ka/Mohawk First Nation from the Tyendinaga Reserve.

Front cover of Thomas's 1874 diary.

Thomas's handwritten entries in June.