Text
James Cameron (1824-1912)
1886
Transcribed by Rural Diary Archive volunteers
DISCLAIMER: This diary depicts some discriminatory content which some may find
offensive. During the diary’s time period, such racial terms and prejudices were
commonplace in Canadian society. They are considered wrong today.
{first page}
Mr James Cameron Island
Dec 24th 1885 Broke on Stack of 3 Tons Fine E Wind
25th Christmas Day Fine not much snow in the Feilds ice Pretty well Broke up Freezing to
night E Wind and the ice a making some ice took near morning in some places a good many
air-holes
26th open up from the Foot of Francis Island the steamboat Channel Frosty Fine Livinia
Turned very sudden sick E W changed to West
27th Fine Ice making some and took through to night Leander got a Rat. St John the
Evangelist Day
28th First Crossing On the ice Leander and I. The ice thin First time Leander to
Summerstown Bought of Mr Ward sweetys 2 cents Bought of Nicholson Raisins 10 Axe
handle 10 Bought of J Summers 1 lb of Tea 45 paid Raisins 10 paid Raffle 50 paid got a Ride
Down from J Hamilton
29th Our Angus Berth 2.00 Crossed got a Ride up From J Hamilton Bought 15 Dollars of
Flour From J Summers Tom Jack to take it Down to Hamiltons Bought of Nicholsons 1 pair of
overshoes 1.75 Brought home Nicholsons Bag Oil 35 Ice Busting side of shore
30th Fixing a place for the sheep in the shed 2 men crossing over to salmon River Fine ice
Breaking some to night
31st Last Day of the Year E Wind Fine commenced to Rain ice Breaking all up put in all of the
Rest of the 3 Ton Stack Leander and I Tried for EEls got none Leander got a Rat
1
1st of January 1886 Firing in the New Year the Boys all shooting shot a Duck Leander a Rat
took in the Honey-Bees in then put them out. West Wind snowed a little
2nd chopping in the oak Field Leander got a House-Rat in his Trap ice going Down seen a
Boat Fishing EEls
{second page}
Mr James Cameron Island
January 3rd 1886 Allen's Berth Day 1833. Fine Raining seen 2 men Fishing EEls
4th Raining E Wind Dug the Jumper out of a snowBank
5th putting out Manure West Wind Rained some seen a Boat going down the Way of
Rankins Bay ice Leaving the shore Fields Bare Livinia not well Leander got a Rat Lots of
Ducks going Down about Dark Lots of seagulls picking up Minnows on the water
6th Turned cold and Frosty Windy chopping stove Wood
7th W Wind Frosty ice making anchor ice going Down if there was no wind the ice would
take Bent a peice of the Axe cutting Knotty Hemlog cold Day
8th Hugh Ann's Berth Day 1866 Fine very Frosty shut across to Christees Steamboat
Channel open a Great many air-holes and a Big opening up at the Head of the Island W
Wind seen a Mink Track chopping stove Wood House Warm cattle hearty
9th E Wind Drifting Stormy snowing seen a Fox on the ice I think the ice must be Taken in
Steamboat channel open Late Last night snowbanks
19th Sunday W Wind Drifting air-holes smoking
11th W Wind Cold Frosty John H and I to the Pitt Point Set a Trap for the Mink. Leander and I
to the Head of the Island to see how the ice Looked a Great many air-holes seen a Mink
Track. Quite Fresh Lots of Fox tracks ice looks rough. Frosty to night
12th New Years old Style chopping stove Wood W Wind a Very Frosty Day the Frostiest I
think we had yet Air-holes smoking water raising near shore
2
13th First crossing on the ice as the First ice U Broke up. Bought of J Summers 1 lb of Tea 45
Radways R R 25 paid this Bought of Nicholsons Boots 75 losenges 1 paid 1/2 lb Tea 25 all
paid Bought of Mr Ward Alum 3 orange Colouring 10 paid
14th Broke on the 4 Ton stack {cut off}ne Bushing the Road Fine Day EW
15th Drawing Wood got a Mink Fine E Wind
16th Fine E Wind Races in Dundee seen a Weasel Track cutting Marsh hay on the Barn Floor
{rest of entry illegible}
{first page}
Mr James Cameron Island
January 17th 1886 Soft turned Cold snowed Drifted set a Trap for a Mink
18th W Wind Frosty cutting alders and Willows and Brush in the oakfield seen 3 EEl Fisher
going over the way to Christee's Island
19th E W Drifting snowing Drew some Wood cutting Brush Turned Kind of soft in the
Evening
20th Drawing Wood seen the Minks Track set for him. a Fine Day water high
21st St Agness Day E Wind caught a Mink in the shanty Snowing warm putting in some
Marsh hay
22nd E W putting in the Bottom of the Marsh hay stack spoild the Axe another Mink around
the house seen him in the pile of Wood hailed a little to night. wind high from the W
23rd W W cold and Frosty cutting stove Wood
24th Charlie Tupper's Birth Day very cold E Wind
25th E Wind very Frosty Frosty cutting stove Wood
26th Robie Burns B Day Fine W Wind Leander and I to Summerstown. Bought of J Summers
8 yds of Calico 80 Cap 90 paper soap 8 paid all this Left 1 Dollar with Mrs Ward for this
years Witness Forgot to Leave postage Knitting needles 4 Heard Charlie Rose got in the ice
over at Douquetts got his Fingers Badly Frozen Mr Charles {cut off} Thrashing at Hamiltons
3
of the 600 Left 2 Bags at Hamiltons for Pease and other Grain George Renshaw took Down
the Flour from the store got a Gazzette to Day Races in Dundee
27th some cold E W Turned Warmer cut a Basswood for sawlogs Drew some Wood cutting
Brush seen Teams on the St Annicite Road Seen a Horse Rig crossing from Below Christees
Island set Traps for the mink as he made his way to the Milkhouse
28th Cut the Basswood Log in 2 9 Feet Each Drew some Wood alders and Willows
29th E Wind got a Mink in the Milkhouse. Cut a Maple in the Feild Jo Douquett Edward
Charlie Rose came to Bush the Road
{second page}
Mr James Cameron Island
January 30 1886 Fine Day E Wind I went to Summerstown gave 5 cents to Mr Ward for the
Postage for the Witness got a Ride up to Tom Kennedy's from J Hamilton. Races in Dundee
and a Great many Crossing to Battoshe's Heard they had the Measles at James McDougalls
Randolph there got a Mink in the shanty to Day
31st E Wind Fine Gordon here gave him a Comforter
1st of February W Wind Frosty Fine Edward Duquett Jim Burns Barnhart and 3 Indians came
to cut the Manure as its Froze very hard about 1 1/2 Feet Thick
2nd First Teams came to Draw J Nicholson and 2 Douquetts Stephen Tyo Burns 1 Indian
Barnhart made 11 Loads to Day Fine Candlemass Day the Sun shines to Day the Bear if he
comes out will see his Shadow
3rd Jim Nicholson and Jo and Edward with Teams Made 12 Loads to Day Adams Buried to
Day
4th Cold in the Morning Stephen Tyo came and as no one was coming he went off met a
Man up on our Road took the wrong Road he was going to Salmon River I crossed to see
what was wrong with them not coming it was the cold Bought of Nicholsons 1 lb of Tea 45
cents paid Bought of Mr Ward pipe 1 Done Thrashing at Hamiltons
5th Very Very Frosty to Day Tom Jack came Brought me 2 Bags of Grain 600 of Flour 1
Dollar paid this Commenced to Load made 4 Trips to Day John Nicholson 2 Trips {Pecor} or
4
McPhee 2 Trips to Day very very cold and Tom Jack 4 Trips to Day thats 8 Load to Day Tom
Jack took 6 Loads Nicholson 5 pecor 5 {N?}ed 4 Jo 3 G Renshaw here to help thats 13
Loads to Day turned warmer E Wind
{cut off 6?}th Fine Warm
{first page}
Mr James Cameron Island
Feb 8th 1886 Gordon's Berth Day Tom Jack John Nicholson Jn. McPhee here 5..5..5 Ned 4 Jo
3 G Renshaw here
9th Fine Drawing McPhee 1/2 Day 3 Loads Tom Jack 6 Jim Nicholson 6 Ned 4 Jo 3 G
Renshaw here Indian here Leander to store spool 5 calico 10
10 E W Drifting Tom Jack Drew 5 Ned 4 Jo 2 George Renshaw 1/2 Day Took all their things
home E Wind
11th E Wind Fine soft seen a crow for the First Fernandez up to Dickens yesterday Mr
Douquett Gave the children 1.80 old Lally Departed at Mr P Purcell's
12th Went to Summerstown Fine E Wind Gave John Summers 5 Dollars to my account got a
Receipt Took Dinner at Nicholsons Bought of Nicholsons pair of Lace Boots 1.10 paid Making
a Track with snowplough on the ice for Races Charlie Rose's Dog here took some Marsh hay
out of the Marsh Leander and Fernandez and John H sloppy on the ice got the Witness and
Globe
13th Mr Lally Buried to Day E Wind and West Wind Foggy Raining and Fine snow melting in
the Fields slush on the ice Lots of snowbirds Ducks Flying East
14th St Valentine's Day W Wind Raining water on the ice
15th E Wind stormy snowing Drifting cutting Stove Wood
16th S West Wind Drifting Windy Blustery cutting Firewood Leander and I
17th South West Wind Fine Kind of Blustery Drew some Wood Cut a Log of Ash for Rails
seen Teams on the Lancaster Road
5
18th cutting and splitting Rails Fine Day James Hugh's Birth Day 1855 {illegible} wood
19th Fine E Wind crossed to Summerstown. Sent a Letter to James Lee & Co Montreal got
postage stamp 35 cents 3 cents for Postage Envelope 1 cent, pipe 10 Bought of Nicholsons
Tea 25 pepper oil seen the inspector of Weights & Measures Mr Whitt{cut off} and one of
the McKee's of McGee's Point cleaning a Track for Races took Dinner at {illegible} cutting
ice
20th North West Wind snowing Drifting
{second page}
Mr James Cameron Island
Feb 22nd 1886 Washingtons Berth Day Fine. Drew stack of Hay out of the Marsh Drew a
Load of White Birch from the head of the Island
23 cold E Wind cutting Wood cut a Beech on the hill
24th E Wind cold Frosty Day Went across got a Ride to F Covington from Tom Jack stopt at
Jo's a Treat 10 got a present of a pair of overshoes from Jo Bought of McC 3 pairs of Boots
settled up with them they had 75 cents against me and I Brought them in my Debt 3..16
Boots 1..50 Boots 1..35 Boots 1.. for stanley I must Exchange them the'r small got a Receipt
up to this Date. Bought drug store Pink Root 12 1/2 Hoarhound Candy 2 Bought of Y.A. a Bag
25 a Treat at Tyos Bought of Mr G Long 1 3/4 yds of Cloth Bought of smallman Binding 10
credit Heard Emmanuel Morris Departed got a Ride Down to Hopkins Point from Olivers
Father as he is Drawing wood from St Agness to him Races in Dundee stopt at Jo took
supper there. Mr Leslie there got James Lee's Prize
25 St Matthias Day Cold in the Morning E W Turned soft came from Hamiltons snowing
Raining wind South W Drew some Wood. One of my Eye's tie{cut off} sore turned cold to
night
26th Very Frosty and Cold
{2}7th Cold Frosty Fixing a handle in the Axe W Wind
{2}8th Sexagesema {sexagesimal = 60} Sunday Cold Frosty Drifting Marsh hay Done only
about 1 1/2 Tons on the stable loft W Wind
6
1st of March St David's Day the Festival of the Welsh Day came in Like a Lion Very cold and
Frosty high Wind West chopping Stove Wood Commenced the West Mow Feeding all the
cattle Fine hay a peice of hay on the North side yet put MinKey in the Back place to night
2nd cutting Brush in the oakfield Cold Windy snow Drifting North Wind and South West
Wind
3rd W Wind Leander went to Hamiltons got a Letter from Narcisse Leplante with a Dollar in
it got the {paper flipped up} Hamilton in Cornwall.
{first page}
Mr James Cameron Island
March 4th 1886 West Wind Cold some cut a Beech in the pasture
5th Eclipse cold Windy cutting stove Wood
6th Fine W Wind Crossed to Summerstown Bought Nicholsons 3 spools of Thread 12 cents
Bought from Ward pipe 1 got the Glengarrian but did not Get the Globe I suppose my time
Done John Hamilton to Lancaster Drawing stones to the Lighthouse a Good many teams
7th Shrove Sunday West Wind Fine and cold and Warm
8th East Wind cold Drifting snowing some cutting Stove Wood cutting hay in the Barn
9th E Wind Drifting Fine Cold cutting Alders in the swamp Last churning to Day circle
around sun Fine in the Evening Sun sets at 6 to night
10th Ash Wednesday crossed to Hamiltons put a Letter in the PO for Narcisse Charante
Care of William Dupois Postage 3 cents got the Witness went with J Hamilton to Fort
Covington Windy Drifting Fine Bought of Mr K 6 lbs of Tea 2 Dollars to 24 1/2 yds of Plaid
2..45 got a Pair of Lace Boots to be exchanged for the ones I took home the next time I go
the on take them Back Heard one of the McKenzie {torn away} Gore Departed Buried on
the Front {illegible} Trunk Track crossed from the head of our Island to the south catching
Fish in the ice at Frashers on the South side cook Eaton told me
11th Wind West Blew hard Drifting Drew some Wood
12th on this Day of the Month Dell McMaster Senior First came to the Island Drifting
7
13th Fine Leander went to Summerstown got the Mail Bought of Nicholsons 2 spools of
Thread 8 Losenges 3 pipe 1
14th Stanley's BirthDay 1880 West Wind snowing
15th E Wind Drifting snowing Teams with Loads to the Lighthouse cutting Brush in the
oakfield
16th Stormy snowing Turned very fine and Warm J Hamilton and {illegible} took my Logs to
Mr Purcell
{second page}
Mr James Cameron Island
17th of March 1886 St Patricks Day the Festival of the Irish Went to Cornwall got a Ride from
Thomas Jack seen Mr D B. McLennan got the Ballance from him gave him a Receipt Met Mr
George S McDonald and took him for Mr Douquett then we asked him to come and have
something or take us where we could get something good we travelled for a Longtime
where did he take us but his own house we never thought of going there But we got what
we got Good A Very fine Fellow used us well Bought of Mr Pitt Shovel 1 Dollar Axe 75 Bought
of Mr D McRae Pork 2..43 Bought of Mc McDonald Furniture 6 chairs 3..60 childs chair 1..25
Big chair 1..75 took Dunn 50 took dinner at Mrs Fultons and sent a Parcel of Things to the
Children which was well Receved Bought of John Summers 6 yds Cotton 30 cents Gave 5
Dollars to my Account got a Recept Bought a Pipe at Derushee 1 got almanack seen Mr
Butter and G Grant a very fine Day seen a Shelland Pony Gave Leven{cut off} 5 cents came
to Hamiltons and John Drove me Down with the cutter James McDougall here to Day
18th Went for the chairs to {torn off} Leander and I got a Basket of Apples {torn off}ome
their Bag to Day chopping stove Wood E Wind very Fine Day
19th Drifting E Wind Blowing and stormy change in the Moon J Hamilton and Tom Jack
came spring or Last Day of Winter
20th First Day of Spring High E hailing Raining Snowing
21st EW high Drifting snowing stove smoking
8
22nd Livinia's Birth Day 1840 Drifting
23rd Randolph came from McDougalls Windy Fine Leander crossed for the paper
24th Went to Summerstown Bought of J Summers soap 10 RR 16 25 {illegible} this Bought of
Nicholsons Shot 15 2 spools 8 paid Bought of Mr Ward axe handle 15 Fine W W crust on the
ice
25 Lady Day Randolph went to Ducquetts H Wind 4 cents {bottom line illegible}
{first page}
Mr James Cameron Island
26th of March 1886 John Hamilton Cameron's Birth Day 1876 J Hamilton {came?} with Tea
Kettle 1 Bag of Oats sack of Flour sold 2 Hides over the River gave me 2 Dollars Cash
Randolph to McDougalls for the Pot got 15 Buckets set of hames water on the ice under the
snow Fine Robins came Blackbirds Hawks Grassbirds
27th E Wind Fine good crust I crossed to Mr P Purcells mill 60 Boards 1..50 for sawing Paid
this T Jack took them Down for me Nicholsons got the Post Office yesterday Old Mr Akins
Poorly cutting Sugar Bush Wood thawing
28th Went to Christee Island Randolph and I
29th E Wind crust good. Went to Fort Covington Bought of Congdon Downs' Elixer 25 Doll
25 Hoarhound Candy 2 Bought of spoils 75 Bought of N.G. Boots {illegible}ting 20 snack 10
Bought of G Long Knife 25 Tax 10 {Spools?} 5 pens 3 pipes H Wines 40 Taking the scow
{illegible} of the ice to take to Hopkins Point Tapt 60 Trees to Day {?} stopt at Jo
Douquetts all night had supper and {illegible} no hay got a Ride Down from John Plumades
{?} Lambs came from Jo Douquetts Fine seen Black Ducks
31 Gathered Lambs 12 pails of sap Raining
1st of April all Fools Day snow Windy Randolph crossed to Summerstown Bought of Mr
Ward Wormy Candy 12 awls 4 Matches 8 Drawing to Lighthouse {illegible} in sugar Bush
Cutting Wood Fine Flurries of snow
9
3 Boiling {cut off} Bush for the First Time made 1 1/2 Gallons John and Leander McDougall
here a strange Man came from Lancaster here inquiring the Road to St Regis and Tom Jack
from here his name Alfred Woods
4th Fine crossed to Summerstown Archy Grant (Bishop) Bought of Nicholson Boots 2..75
paper 18 {cut off}
5th Fine Day Tapt some
6th Boiling E.w. Turned stormy {cut off} Oxly calved
7th very Stormy Big Storm of snow Wind
8th Boiling Sap ice opened on 12th
9th Lily Calved a {illegible} to the Sugar Bush Made First Sugar 40 lbs
10th in the {illegible}
11th Made 52 lb
12th Horses crossing {illegible}
{illegible}seen snakes, Pewits yellow hammer {illegible} Lots of shooting at Douquetts {rest
of page illegible}
{second page}
to here X
Mr James Cameron Island
April 14th 1886 {first line illegible}
16th Brindle calved
17th Made 2 Gallons for the Last Killed a Snake
18th Duncan's Berth Day Palm Sunday John G and {McKey?} here to night Leander got 2
Rats {illegible} the Calfe Pasture {illegible}{3 eels?}
10
19th Granadas First Trip Thunder and Lightning Fine Clearing up Wood {toward?} the Door
Men Working at the Light House some {working?} Lights on it to night
20th Taking home sugar Bush Rigging. Killed a calf
21 Traveller went Down Taking away the Banking from the house
22nd Hector in Rae's Daughter Departed Maunday Thursday got 4 Pikes John Adams an
Indian here gave him stuff for oars Randolph to Summerstown Bought of J Summers 2
Bottles 50 Broom 15 Bought of Mr Ward Worm Candy 24 Pipes 2 got Papers from Dan's.
23rd St George Day and Good Friday The Festival of the English West Wind Went to
Sturgeon Island Randolph shot 2 Ducks Putting Manure on the Yard
24th splitting Rails {illegible}
25th Easter Sunday and St Marks Day. The Sun Danced to day East Wind Fine Day
26th Fisherman came {illegible} Calvett Dog had Puppies 4 of them
27th Randolph and Narcisse to Fort Covington for Rubber Boots
28th Working at Fences
{first page}
Mr James Cameron Island
April 29th 1886 Went to Salmon River Sold Rats and Calf Skin Bought oil cloth 75 oil 15 Boots
Mended 60 2 yds Cottonade 30 crape 1/4 yd 25 Matches 10 Wrench 15 Back {illegible}
Teapot 25 Basket 40 Starch 10 Blue 5 {illegible}kers 5 Left pair of Boots to be mended
30th Lighthouses Lit up Lewis the Indian and his 2 Boys here made axe handle Planted 3
Rows of Potatoes
1st of May St Phillip & St James Day Fixing Fences
2nd Gordon here Granada's 1st Trip to Lancaster
3rd piling Rails Fixing Fence
11
4th Mr Kelly and Bill and his Boy here Looking after the Fisheries Randolph to Summerstown
Bought of Mr Ward a Trunk 2..55 Book 10 2 Lines 20 2 hats 20 Castor oil 15 Bread for
Fishermen
5th Boheminean came up first Trip Fixing Fence in the Grove Propellers to Day Drudge went
up
6th some peices of ice going Down Ploughing First Trip Down for the Boheminean
7th Putting out manure Drawing Calf Pasture Fence away
Fishermens First Trip with Fish to Montreal
8th Randolph and Narcisse to Lancaster for {illegible} Phillip took 4 Bags of Potatoes for me
from Montreal 2 and the Bags {20?} and Freight 20 thats 2..40 he owes me as I gave him 3
Dollars Birds came Last night on a Raft from Ogdensburg Planted a Row of Early Rose
Potatoes
9th John McDougall and A Fraser here Fine all the children to Christees Island Leander to
Hamiltons for the Papers
{second page}
Mr James Cameron Island
10th of May 1886 Planted 13 Rows of Potatoes and 100 hills Ploughing settings some Brush
heaps on fire on the Pitt Point and upper Field Found the hook of the chain piling manure
11th E Wind Raining changed to West Foggy
12th Foggy E Wind Fine Randolph to Summerstown 18 lbs of Butter at 18 cents a lb Bought
of Mr Ward 15 lb of salt 20 oatmeal 30 1/2 lb 94 Due Bill 1..50 Bought of J Summers soap 5
Flour 62 spool 5 Money calved a heifer Mr Kelly at Fishermans Boheminean Late coming up
with the Fog Gave 2..40 to Narcisse to Fetch up 4 Bags of Potatoes
13th Foggy Boheminean Late going Down E Wind changed to West Ploughed the Potatoes
Peice all Fixing Fence went to head of Island Let out the 2 Bulls for to Day
12
14th Planted 4 Rows of Potatoes Ploughed the Bean Place Fixing the Fence Granada went to
Lancaster high E Wind changed Rain to night young Chickens 12 Trimming the Apple Tree at
the Door and one at Lane fence Fernandez caught Perch Randolph caught Duck. Water high
15th Raining high south West Wind Fisherman took 4 Bags of Potatoes from Montreal 45 a
Bag good Many Rotten their going to take them Back cut some Trees for Building high Wind
to night Jo Lemays Fish came Back from Montreal could not sell them Fixing Brush Fence.
Water high in the swamp
16th {?sh} here from Murdock McDonalds
17th Leander and I to the head of the Island
18th Planted a Few Rows planted potatoes in the Bean place
19th Sheared the 2 Rams planted 8 or 9 Rows to the appletrees got a channel Catfish from
the Fisherman
20th Began the East End of the House Narcisse Randolph and I Hewing scoring Laid the
Foundation Keeping in the Bulls at night
{first page}
Mr James Cameron Island
21st of May 1886 The Drudge came to Summerstown working at the Frame
22nd the Surveyors at the head of the Island putting up their marks. Sheared the 2 Ewes.
Drew some Logs Randolph Went to Summerstown Bought of Mr Ward 24lb of salt at
Nicholsons 1 lb of Crackers 8 Let out the sheep
23rd Gordon and T Rose here gave Tommy Rose a puppy Dog
24th Queens Birth Day a Meeting at Summerstown Dan to Be there I crossed to Hamiltons
Fine W Wind changed to East Wind Trowling Caught a pike some of the First potatoes
planted is peeping up
25 Raining Windy 3 chiefs here Wanting pay from Fishermen John Isacc Thompson and
George Mosquitoes Bad
13
26 Cleaning out upper shed John Hamilton came Down with Randolph got the Loan of the
Pic-axe Rained some Windy
27th Ploughing the Back Bean Place and up in the Brush at the cherry tree
28th Fine Went to F Covington Bought of Mr Minkler 2 Bushels of Potatoes 80 Bought J Y
Tobacco 8 Candy 2 Bought of McCartney 5 yds of Calico 40 of Tyo Bottle of 20 in a Billy
Bones Mr Long is closed Keep in the 2 Bulls got Papers from MrBa{cut off}
29th Royal oak Day or oak apple Day High West Wind Planted 10 Rows at apple Planted up
at the cherry Tree 8 Rows and some at the Back Garden Altered the spring calves the 2
Bulls Thunder Narcisse took a Bag of Potatoes from Montreal 25 Freight 5
30th Rogation Sunday Fine J Summers Geordie Annan and Mr Ritchie here going down to
Rosse's Island to see the hole that was dug there Livinia and I to head of the Island
{second page}
Mr James Cameron Island
31st of May 1886 Crossed to Summerstown Bought of Nicholsons 100 Wt of Flour 2..50 Tea
25 Tea 12 1/2 Hats 50 Randolph a Hat 10 Pair of Braces 30 Bought of Mr Ward for the
Fishermen 2 pans of Bread 1 Hat
X
1st of June Rowena's Birth Day Fine the Boys went for Pine George Thomas came for a Boat
Planted some Beans
2nd cut some sticks for the House planted the rest of the Beans Raining Thunder
3rd Ascencion Day or Holy Thursday Windy Randolph and Leander to Ross's Island to see
where J Summers was digging Mr Derushie here piling Manure Fixing fence on the Pitt Point
Line Boat came up to night Lots of Towing now
4th Hewing some sticks and Beams Pete Henery here for all their {illegible}
5th Randolph crossed Bought of J Summers 7 yds of Cotton at 34 Candlewick 8 paid
Bought of Nicholsons Powder 30 Games at Cornwall McArthurs left Broke {illegible} at
Hamiltons G.Arnet a Pic Nic Fixing Fence Bought of Wards
14
6th Went to Plum Island seen Frank Laplante and Wife 2 men and 2 children Drowned. Seen
Pecor Fishing. Mr Spink here for a Puppy Antwines Boy wanting horse hair for Minnow Lines
Lashey came Fine clearing small stone out of the Bee Place and Putting them on the Wharf
Thunder Lightning Raining Windy E and West and South Fishing Perch got 27 Fernandez and
I Fixing hoe handles
7th at the Potatoes weeding them Killing a Great many Grubs pegging some stones at the
East End of the house Let out the 2 Bulls tonight Fixing the Tobacco place Letting the horse
out in daytime putting in at night {illegible} Windy {illegible}
{first page}
Mr James Cameron Island
9th of June 1886 Our Mary's Birth Day 1813 73 years at Potatoes Fine
10th Piling Logs at the Door Fixing the Sail
11th Randolph to F Covington got his hair cut 2 men Drowned Stewart and Saya on the 5th
or 6th Sunday Morning found the Boat. Bottom so deep Bought Cotton 3..56 on credit (Tea
1 Dollar paid) Bismarck came home Washing the Wool
12th Fine Went home with Hamiltons Boat William Duncan and Gordon came Brought some
of Bismarcks cloths Put out Tobacco Narcisse Boy and Phillip came Bought of Ward soap 1
Bar 10 2 pipes 2
13th Raining Blowing Whit Sunday
14th Raining at Potatoes Heard that Saya Drowned Stewart it is thought so or talked about
as Saya is a Bad character and Stewart had a Lot of money on him
14th Mr Sticklers son here for sand Gave me a Dollar Raining Cutting hay for the 2 Bulls at
Potatoes Killing Grubs Heard those men were Found
15th at Potatoes
16th Randolph and Bismarck to F Covington Sold Tennet of Butter (Paid for the We{illegible}
of Cotton Bought 100 of Flour 2..50 2 Tennets 50 Brought 22 cents Cash home Rained hard
got 15 cents for Butter
15
17th Tore Down The Cookhouse
18th The Ever Memorable Battle of Waterloo at the Cookhouse
19 Working at the Cookhouse Randolph and Bismarck crossed for nails 10 lb 40 Thread 5
20th Fine Day Randolph crossed to Plum Island seen one of the Cattle with a Cut in her
21st First Day of Summer Bismarck and F. crossed Bought of Mr Ward sack of salt 80 on
credit Pepper paid Got 25 {illegible} Randolph
{second page}
Mr James Cameron Island
21st of June 1886 1st Day of Summer Bought of Nicholson 100 of Flour 2..50 44 lbs of Fine
Salt 44 spools of Thread 5 Randolph got a Lunge
22nd Fixing Floor in the Cook house Warm set a Line Weeding Potatoes and Beans
23rd 2 Fishermens Boys went of to night put the Plough Through some of the Potatoes
24th St John the Baptiste Day Corpus Christie Fixing a Door on East End of the cookhouse
Taking up Randolphs Line 3 Raftsmen here Looking for Timber had a stick of Elm with them
25th Raining
26th Raining Angus Cameron and John and Allen here Gave them a puppy Dog Fernandez
sold his Perch to them Raining Thunder and Lightning Randolph and Bismarck crossed for
the Mail J Hamilton working at the Wharf Jo Lemay came Down with Narcisse the
Fisherman
27th Grand Procession Sunday Raining Thunder
28th Randolph cut his Foot Ploughing Potatoes at the Apple Tree Working at the Front Door
of the cookhouse 2 men shooting Ducks had a Dog Randolph Drove them away Weeding
Potatoes in upper Field Fine Day
16
29th St Peter & St Paul cannons shooting Back the way of Williamstown Windy West and
Changed to high North Wind. Weeding Beans. Northern Lights or Merry Dancers to night
and they are Dancing Took a Big Stone out of the Ground before the Door Keeping in the
Bulls
30th crossed to Summerstown Bought of Nicholsons Matches 10 Hooks 2 J James came
here put sheep on Ross's Island
1st of July Dominion Day a Great Day in Cornwall Bismarck crossed to the Pic Nic at
Hamiltons Mrs Chisholm Brought his cloths there Sunday School scholars
2nd at Potatoes and Potato Bugs one of the sheep Lame
30th Let out the 2 Bulls
{first page}
Mr James Cameron Island
July 3rd 1886 cut some hay around the scythe place smoky Randolph took up his Line and
set it over. Randolph crossed to summerstown stopt at Hamiltons all night they took his
Boat to Fish
4th Came home {illegible} The Baby Stanley Hugh Ann Rowena Sissy to Hamiltons
5 very Warm John B Day 83 to Antwine Bosell and Dishaw here for Boat Mosquitoes Bad
6th Warm put the Plough Through the Potatoes for the Last time all in Blossom cut the hay
at the West End of the Potatoes cut the hay at the West End of the Potatoes Mosquitoes
Bad at nigh
7th put in some hay for the First Fishermen's First Trip to Renshaw with their Fish
8th Went to Summerstown paid J Summers 5 Dollars to my account got a Receipt Bought
of J Summers Thread 1{cut off} nails 8 47 yds of calico 40 paid this the scow of the Drudge
sunk too much Load on for Frank Laplante Bismarck at sand Stickler's yacht sailing Round
9th E Wind some Rain Mowing kept in the young Bull as he is Lame or out of the hip A Man
here Mr Young from Valleyfield wants a place to camp Sullivan a survey and Wilson Hard
17
ware Merchant then on Charlies Island made a smoke-house in the Big cellar English
Cherries Ripe Rasberries Ripe the Oil-Boat went up to Feed the Lighthouses
10th 11 12" Orangemans Day Firing Big Shots
13th Went to H sold J Y Cameron 2 Tennets of Butter 10.. {illegible} 14 cents 2 scythes 100
of Flour 3 lb of Tea snaith pipe overalls stuff 2 Tennets Bought of Kimballs store 3 yds 2 yds
of Cottonade Boots 1..25 Bought of smallman oil and carpet shoes Bought {illegible} 50
Went to A Tyo's {?}
{second page}
Mr James Cameron Island
14th of July 1886 not very well Randolph to a Bee on McLaughlins Place Forgot to write any
Down the rest of this month
15th St Swithen's Day or 16th
17 - 18 19th Fernandez Birth Day 1874
20th 21st 22 23 24 25th St James Day
1st of August Lammas Day
2nd Minnie's Birth Day 1864
4th 5th
6th Randolph Birth Day 1867 Minnie Came Gordon put her across from Hamiltons
7th Mowing
8 Sunday Went to Plum Island and Kit Kit Bismarck sold his Fish for a Dollar
9th Randolph Minnie Hugh Ann went to F Covington Brought a Tennet of Butter Tea Tennets
Dishes Boots Buttons
10 at hay
11th at hay
18
12 at hay
13" Leander Hugh Ann and Minnie went to Summerstown Bought 27 yds of Calico a Big Bowl
1 lb of Crackers sweetys got the mail Thread
14th Minnie and Bismarck went to Williamstown
15th John Angus and wife and the 2 children and Gordon came
16th Rained
17 Bismarck came from Williamstown
18" at hay
19" Bismarck's Birth Day 1870 Randolph to Rubber Boots and 9 Buttons for Narcisse Girl
Married to Day
18th
21st at Marsh Hay Donald Cameron Departed 2nd Con Randolph crossed to Summerstown
22 B.D Cameron Buried to Day Laflesh and his sister here McDougalls and 2 of Dan Frasers
Girls here and Laflesh stopt all night with Lucias on the Kit Kit Randolph went off
{first page}
Mr James Cameron Island
October 1st 1886 Drawing Wood
2nd Drawing Wood hailed
3rd Windy
4th Bismarck to A Tyo's to HW 40 Raining Windy Picking Grapes
5th Fine Day Cutting and Drawing Wood from the Pit Point
6th Windy Fine Went to Dundee Bismarck and I to 4 Tubs of Butter 15..48 To Mr Long
Bought To Rope 4 1/2 lb 56 Bot Worm Med 25 Paper Tax 52 square of Blue 10 1/2 lb Pepper
12 1/2 lb starck 5 3 lb nails 12 cents 1/2 lb Powder 20 Cash 5 sack of salt 8 caps 10 7.35.. 8..13
19
Due Bought of Mr Smallman 100 of Flour 2..60 oil 15 Downs Elixer 25 Tongs spear Griddle to
Blacksmith 30 Bought of McC Cash 2 cotton 3..85 3 lb of Tea 1 6 yds of satinette 3 2 pair
2..10 1 Pair 1..25 1 pair 2..25 1 pair 2..50 comes to 18.5 To Butter 6 Dollars Leaves 12..5 Bought
of T K 6 yds of stripe 1 Went up to Shannons Mill not Making yarn Mr Hume Came to Tent Mr
Steve and Mr Burtch
7th Fine Day went up to the Tent Mr Hume here came from Lancaster had a chat with him
First Wild Geese Last night and a great many Flying this Evening very high some Black
Ducks to night making a noise Foggy this morning Baby sick Rowena sick all sick whooping
cough
8th Drawing Wood Mowing some Mr Hume for Potatoes Eggs and Butter 1 Dollar Treated me
with good old Rye Drawing Wood
9th Drawing and cutting in the oak field Fine
10th Hugh Ann McMaster's birth Day 1844 Fine Gordon Randolph Tommy Rose Leslie Baker
here I went to see Mr Hume at the Tent
11th Drew some sticks for a shed Made a Stack 38 in Back Marsh Ploughing Potatoe ground
Fine
12th Commenced Banking East End of the house Raining high East Wind
{second page}
Mr James Cameron Island
13th of Oct 1886 Banking the East End of the House Fine East Wind Mr A Tyo and John
Bowen here To Butter 10 Dollars gave him a Bottle of Wine Leander and I up to see Mr Hume
him over at Lemays Treated us sent for a Saw to Montreal he says he will sell me his Ducks
not Plenty
14th Went to Lancaster with the Wool 14 lbs Paid a Dollar on it to be made on the 23rd to be
made coares 13 cents a lb Fine E Wind changed to South Wind a Blew a Gale sent Bismarck
to the store for a 1 lb of Crackers 1.0 and a Bottle of Worm Medicine 25 passed Suse's Island
and turned Back stopt a good while there then tried for the Squaw Island and got there with
hard work made up our minds to stop all night there but made another start and got home
with hard work very high wind working at Grapes 9 Gallons of Juice
20
15th very windy. the tops of the Stacks blew Down water very low with the wind this
morning and at night raised working at the Banking some cutting brush on the Pit Point only
1 Boat came up to Day the Granada did not come out of Dundee the wind was too high Mr
Hume here Bought 1/2 Bushel of Potatoes 3 lbs of Butter Loaf of Bread paid 1 Dollar Gave
Bismarck 25 cents for going up with him
16th Dan to be at Lancaster {illegible} Andie Mc{illegible} cold to Day but Fine some few
Grains of Snow the Fishermens Lines broke with the wind Narcisse took me up his cross cut
saw 1..50 it looks pretty good took the Leaves of the Turnips
{first page}
Mr James Cameron Island
Oct 17th 1886 Sunday the Hunters Mr Hume Steve Griffin and Burtch Left to go to Jo
Lemays Fine some Rain and a Few Grains of snow
18th St Luke's Day Began the West End Banking Fine shot a Black Duck did not get him
19th Fine Alexandra Went Down Banking the inside of the shed Back of the milkhouse Drew
away some of the Logs around the potato Ground Mr Barnhart came here through the night
Looking for a Raft of Board for Summerstown Wharf
20th Fine WW Went to Jo Lemays with the clock Bismarck and I Wind Raised came around
the head of Christee's Island took Lunch then went Down to see the house Lewis the Indian
was Building got some nuts offered the Fisherman Narcisse his hay for the crosscut - Saw
and he would not take it now Harrowing the Potato Ground Lewis the Indian on Christee's
Island not many Boats a going Putting out some manure Rowena sick and Tonia sick all Bad
with the Whooping cough Bismarck crossed for the Mail did not get the Witness got the
Star and Glengarrian (Yesterday)
21 at the Stable
22nd cutting sticks
23 Livinia's Birth Day 1868 Fine
24th Our Hugh's B Day
25 Tonias Birth Day
21
26 at the stable
27th the 2 Fishermen went to Montreal to Day {illegible} Died {illegible} Died
28th at the stable
29th at stable
30th at stable
31 Went to Jo Lemays for clock 50 Leander and I seen Mr Kelly and Mr Leslie this is
Halloween or Holy Eve Cracking nuts
{second page}
Mr James Cameron Island
1st of November 1886 Bismarck and I to Lancaster for the yarn 10 3/4 14 lbs when we
Brought it there 1..40 Fine Bought of McCrimmon RRR 25 All saints Day The Harvest Month
of Death
2nd Went to Fort Covington Brought a chain shovel hinges to be Fixed 50 all Souls Day
Bought of Mr Long Tin pail 50 Mustard 20 Salts 10 Powder 20 Shot Sugar 20 lbs 1..40 oil 15
sweetys 3 Knife 15 cloth 4 Tea 1 Exchange on Boots 25 a pair for John 2..50 on credit Bought
of Mathews Hinges and screws 33 Got Medicine from Dr Gillis 25 Got a Present of a
Package of Tobacco and sent a Package of Tea to the Mrs From Mr Tuthill treated me to
Beer Died or Buried to Day Bill Farlinger settled and got a Receipt from Mr Long went to A
Tyo's Bought 1 Gallon of High Wines 3 Dollars sent a Bottle of Brandy to Livinia Bismarck got
his hair cut 25 cents Election in F Covington
3rd Making a Door for the new shed Windy Fine
4th Cutting and Splitting Windy Rowena very Bad with her head
5th Guy Fawks Day the Gunpowder Plot very Windy south West Banking in the Cookhouse
Went up to see Mr McMaster Tenting at the upper Point sent his Boy Down for milk
6th East Wind commenced to snow a very stormy time 2 men came here Mr Makepeace
and Lafave came from the Yachts to Lancaster going to Jo Lemays to see Mr Hume the 2
22
Fishermen put them across for 2..50 and they had a hard time took Dinner here sent me
{50?} cents Gave me a Package of Tobacco 20 Gave {cut off} the house
7th Helen's Birth Day Mcmartin Coloured man came to Boil a Pot of Potatoes
{first page}
Mr James Cameron Island
8th of Nov 1886 Drifting and Blowing Mr McMartin went off. went to the head of the Island
snow Deep Narcisse Tore about 10 Fathoms of his seine got Fast in Logs Feeding the cattle
Killed 2 Rusters took in the Tobacco out of the Barn Boats going
9th Prince of Wales Birth Day Killed a sheep Fine Cattle out Picking took in some Turnips we
had Left out the Wine (Ready to strain Alexandra went Down and Tugs a steamer to Charlie
Island to see the Hunters from Ogdinsburgh Leander sawing an old oak on the Lower Point
Rowena very Bad with her head
10th Fishermen went off Left their Boat Made a Trip to Lancaster before they went of got a
Lamp from Phillip Left their Lines and some snoods axe got a sturgeon from them Left the
Key
11 Martin was went to Summerstown sent a Letter to D M M Fine Bought of Mr Ward Flour
1..25 Thread 15 Soap 10 paid this Bought of Nicholsons 15 lb of Sugar 1..5 Raisins 5 Postage 3
Craigs taken their cattle from Francis Island J Summers away hunting Deer. Nomination Day
in Alexandria for D M M
12th Drew up the Boats and Boxes at the River Covered the new Stable with Marsh hay E W
Drew some Boards from the shanty
13th E W Snowing Stormy
14th Windy Drifting
15th Killed the Bull a Fine Day strained the wine and put the sugar in it about 53 lbs Drudge
went Down
16th Fine Fixing the Stables Alexandra went Down early to Day First Rats Cutting hay on
East Mow Tied the cows Rowena Poorly Better to Day
23
17th E Wind high Snowed Rained to night hard and high Wind a Man crossed with 2 Boats to
the South Side from the Head of the Island cutting stove Wood seen a Robin
{second page}
Mr James Cameron Island
18th of Nov 1886 Wind Foggy Wind changed to West Blowing hard Began Bottling the Grape
Juice got 2 Rats Rowena not very well Mice very Plenty the Cats destroying a Lot of them a
change in the Moon this Evening the water Raised with the E W and Fell very low with the W
Wind
19
20 Bismarck crossed for the Mail Bought of Nicholson Matches 12 sawing stove Wood
putting Manure around the Appletrees got a Bag of apples for Rowena R Briggs here for
Butter for A Tyo sent 1 1/2 Gal of Grape Juice for him to put 1/2 Pint of HW in it Rained some
21st On this Day of the Month D M Meash Departed 1846 Fine Randolph came from Craigs
Frank Laplante and Boy here looking for those Drowned Men McLachlin & Summer
22nd Fine Day Sawing stove Wood Fixing around the stables J McDougall and D John for
the Ram took over Bismarcks Clothes that Mr Chisholm left there got the sheep in for the
first time Paul Grey Fishing EEls Leander and John H Fishing got 1 seen a Large owl
Boheminean all night in Lancaster
23rd W Raining Froze some last night changed to West Fixing a place for the sheep to be By
themselves The Government sale of Tools they had Working at the Wharf to Day in
Summerstown Rowena not well to Day
24th John H and I up to the Head of the Island had the crosscut saw marked a Butternut
tree that fell with the Wind piled some of the troughfs West Wind
25th St Catherine's Day Boheminean went Down a Tug Towing her Wind high Snowing got
aground below Tuppers Island McDonald and Eugene here going to Hungary Bay to Look for
the Drowned men.
{first page}
24
Mr James Cameron Island
26th of Nov 1886 Sawing stove Wood W Wind snowed some Drew some Flat Stones to the
stable a Tug came up to night and a Boat came up to the Boheminean aground yet
27th South West Wind snowing Drifting no Boats to Day Boheminean aground yet sawing
Wood I Think the Boheminean got of
28th Snowing Blowing Thawing Raining
29th cold soft Raining at night sawing wood plastering
30th St Andrew's Day the Festival of the Scotch E Wind Freezing some T Jack and Gordon
here took my Papers and a Letter from Dan with 2 in it Lost my Money Firing in St Andrew's
a Man Making a Blend at Christees sawing stove Wood Tried to set Fire to the Marsh wont
Burn Tom and Gordon Looking for the Drowned Men had St Andrews for them Rowena not
well with her Head no Boats Running to Day Lights Lit up yet
1st of December Snowed Last night Drifting W Wind made a stick for sawhorse Lights up
yet no Boats to Day no Light on Cherry Island to night
2nd Windy Freezing no Lights up to night John H and I to the North side of the Island Cold
some Windy sawing Stove Wood the Hay on the Barn Floor Done to Day
3rd Cold Frosty Windy Making Ice in the Back Bay Killed the old Duck as something Broke
her Leg sawing Wood the White Owl Flying about
4th Frosty W Wind sawing stove wood took the Preserves honey syrup in from the
milkhouse some ice going Down Leander got a Rat Rowena Knitting to Day the White Owl
Flying about
5th Reading cold Frosty
6th Festival of the Germans Frosty Cold Fine St Nicholas Day
{second page}
Mr James Cameron Island
25
7th Dec 1886 Frosty moved the Double stove cold
8th Killed the Heifer Fine Day warm snowed Wind changed to West
9th Fine E Wind a Fine Day a Big Gathering in Alexandria 4 Big speakers there for D MM
Bought of J Summers Flour 1..25 Cottonade 50 RRR 5 Pain Killer 25 Soda 10 Oil 30 paid this
got 2 pipes at Nicholsons got my mail ice Froze into Summerstown Left our Boat at
Hamiltons Lighthouse got my GunMole From Gordon
10th Leanders Birth Day Bismarck and I went to A Tyos Fine wind Raised high had a good
sail home Bought of A Tyo a pint of HW 40 cents paid a Treat 10 A Tyo Fixing the Road in
the Marsh Moving some of the hay from the East side of the Mow to the West side soft to
Day Rain
11th some Rain soft Drew the stack in the Back Marsh W Wind Fixed the Black Cherry wine
put the Barrels in the shed Leander got 2 Rats the White Owl Flying around a yacht on the
other side of Alexis Island with her sails up at anchor 2 Men EEl Fishing at Christees Rowena
not very well Made a Lot of ice But Broke up
12th E Wind Cold
13th E Wind Raining Bismarck went to Hamiltons for the paper got a Basket of Apples for
Rowena put out Narcisses Bun Leander and I went to try for EEls
14th Cold Windy snowed some sawed the Butt of Basswood sawlog on the Pitt Point shot at
the White Owl Fixing the saw
15th Cold Frosty turned the 2 Boats cutting Brush a mock sun on the East side of the sun
splitting stove Wood a Yacht on the South side of the Alexis Island got a Rat got a squirrel
in the trap
{first page}
Mr James Cameron Island
16th Dec 1886 W Wind Frosty cut the Butternut sawed the Butt end of went to upper point
some frosty John H getting squirrels
17th high W Wind sawed the Butternut 12 and 9 Feet Drew some wood from the Pitt Point
26
18th Change this morning snowed Rained E Wind soft Leander and I cutting Brush putting it
on the Brush fence in the swamp East Wind Breaking the ice near shore Broke on a 4 Ton
stack of Marsh hay
19th Sunday Windy
20th Last Day of Fall a Fine Day went to Summerstown a good deal of Anchor ice in the
channel Bought of Nicholson 100 of Flour 2..40 Electrick oil 25 1/2 lb of Crackers 7 2 pipes 2
a Bushel of Oats J Hamilton in Cornwall Left our Boat opposite Kenneth as the Channel is
Froze at Summerstown Wind Raised high Breaking the ice to the shore
21st First Day of Winter Nomination for Mr McLennan Windy cutting Brush and putting it on
the swamp Fence some snowing
22 Fine calm cutting a Tree on the hill Antwine Bosell and Lemays son here Antwine Fixed
the clock gave them a stick for eel poles Gave me 6 EEls 2 Boats Fishing EEls at Christee
told me Young Henerys wife Departed 2 weeks ago Rowena not well to Day something
wrong with the Horse
23 Fine Day put hay out of the stack and put some in the Stable-Loft Fixing shutters for the
outside of the Windows the Horse not well Giving him Medicine but he is going to Die
24th Raining E Wind Meeting at Tyo Town and Summerstown Dan McLennan {illegible} to
Day
{second page}
Mr James Cameron Island
25 of Dec 1886 Christmas Day Fine W Wind Frosty the Horse Died Drew him out of the
Stable got a Muskrat alive put the skin on Rowena's Head as they say its good for taking the
pains out of the head Kind of Slippery walking. the Eagle Flying about not much snow on the
Ground if it was Calm the ice would take to night making some
26th ice Took E Wind Frosty cold
27th West Wind Cold some Freezing
28th Election for McLennan & Rayside First crossing on the ice Fine cold West Wind a good
many air-holes a good many crooks in our Road went to Hamiltons Frosty to night They say
27
Rayside got in with a small majority of 32 but its not Known right yet it may be contested
yet
29th Our Angus' Birth Day Went to Hamiltons Harpers Girls there from Lachine. Dan
McGreggor there got a Razor and my own Razor from Gordon got some Apples Tom went
to Cornwall Frosty to night
30th cold E Wind smoky with the Fog out of the air-holes Gusty Hence here crossing to
Antwines its too cold he turned back Bismarck got a Mink skinned him hurted my Back or a
pain came on it as I was Lifting a Stick
31st Last Day of this Year E Wind cold snowing Drifting a Man crossed from the south side
to the head of our Island on scates
For more information on James Cameron, check out the “Meet the Diarists” section
under “Discover” on our website: ruraldiaries.uoguelph.ca
28
1886
Transcribed by Rural Diary Archive volunteers
DISCLAIMER: This diary depicts some discriminatory content which some may find
offensive. During the diary’s time period, such racial terms and prejudices were
commonplace in Canadian society. They are considered wrong today.
{first page}
Mr James Cameron Island
Dec 24th 1885 Broke on Stack of 3 Tons Fine E Wind
25th Christmas Day Fine not much snow in the Feilds ice Pretty well Broke up Freezing to
night E Wind and the ice a making some ice took near morning in some places a good many
air-holes
26th open up from the Foot of Francis Island the steamboat Channel Frosty Fine Livinia
Turned very sudden sick E W changed to West
27th Fine Ice making some and took through to night Leander got a Rat. St John the
Evangelist Day
28th First Crossing On the ice Leander and I. The ice thin First time Leander to
Summerstown Bought of Mr Ward sweetys 2 cents Bought of Nicholson Raisins 10 Axe
handle 10 Bought of J Summers 1 lb of Tea 45 paid Raisins 10 paid Raffle 50 paid got a Ride
Down from J Hamilton
29th Our Angus Berth 2.00 Crossed got a Ride up From J Hamilton Bought 15 Dollars of
Flour From J Summers Tom Jack to take it Down to Hamiltons Bought of Nicholsons 1 pair of
overshoes 1.75 Brought home Nicholsons Bag Oil 35 Ice Busting side of shore
30th Fixing a place for the sheep in the shed 2 men crossing over to salmon River Fine ice
Breaking some to night
31st Last Day of the Year E Wind Fine commenced to Rain ice Breaking all up put in all of the
Rest of the 3 Ton Stack Leander and I Tried for EEls got none Leander got a Rat
1
1st of January 1886 Firing in the New Year the Boys all shooting shot a Duck Leander a Rat
took in the Honey-Bees in then put them out. West Wind snowed a little
2nd chopping in the oak Field Leander got a House-Rat in his Trap ice going Down seen a
Boat Fishing EEls
{second page}
Mr James Cameron Island
January 3rd 1886 Allen's Berth Day 1833. Fine Raining seen 2 men Fishing EEls
4th Raining E Wind Dug the Jumper out of a snowBank
5th putting out Manure West Wind Rained some seen a Boat going down the Way of
Rankins Bay ice Leaving the shore Fields Bare Livinia not well Leander got a Rat Lots of
Ducks going Down about Dark Lots of seagulls picking up Minnows on the water
6th Turned cold and Frosty Windy chopping stove Wood
7th W Wind Frosty ice making anchor ice going Down if there was no wind the ice would
take Bent a peice of the Axe cutting Knotty Hemlog cold Day
8th Hugh Ann's Berth Day 1866 Fine very Frosty shut across to Christees Steamboat
Channel open a Great many air-holes and a Big opening up at the Head of the Island W
Wind seen a Mink Track chopping stove Wood House Warm cattle hearty
9th E Wind Drifting Stormy snowing seen a Fox on the ice I think the ice must be Taken in
Steamboat channel open Late Last night snowbanks
19th Sunday W Wind Drifting air-holes smoking
11th W Wind Cold Frosty John H and I to the Pitt Point Set a Trap for the Mink. Leander and I
to the Head of the Island to see how the ice Looked a Great many air-holes seen a Mink
Track. Quite Fresh Lots of Fox tracks ice looks rough. Frosty to night
12th New Years old Style chopping stove Wood W Wind a Very Frosty Day the Frostiest I
think we had yet Air-holes smoking water raising near shore
2
13th First crossing on the ice as the First ice U Broke up. Bought of J Summers 1 lb of Tea 45
Radways R R 25 paid this Bought of Nicholsons Boots 75 losenges 1 paid 1/2 lb Tea 25 all
paid Bought of Mr Ward Alum 3 orange Colouring 10 paid
14th Broke on the 4 Ton stack {cut off}ne Bushing the Road Fine Day EW
15th Drawing Wood got a Mink Fine E Wind
16th Fine E Wind Races in Dundee seen a Weasel Track cutting Marsh hay on the Barn Floor
{rest of entry illegible}
{first page}
Mr James Cameron Island
January 17th 1886 Soft turned Cold snowed Drifted set a Trap for a Mink
18th W Wind Frosty cutting alders and Willows and Brush in the oakfield seen 3 EEl Fisher
going over the way to Christee's Island
19th E W Drifting snowing Drew some Wood cutting Brush Turned Kind of soft in the
Evening
20th Drawing Wood seen the Minks Track set for him. a Fine Day water high
21st St Agness Day E Wind caught a Mink in the shanty Snowing warm putting in some
Marsh hay
22nd E W putting in the Bottom of the Marsh hay stack spoild the Axe another Mink around
the house seen him in the pile of Wood hailed a little to night. wind high from the W
23rd W W cold and Frosty cutting stove Wood
24th Charlie Tupper's Birth Day very cold E Wind
25th E Wind very Frosty Frosty cutting stove Wood
26th Robie Burns B Day Fine W Wind Leander and I to Summerstown. Bought of J Summers
8 yds of Calico 80 Cap 90 paper soap 8 paid all this Left 1 Dollar with Mrs Ward for this
years Witness Forgot to Leave postage Knitting needles 4 Heard Charlie Rose got in the ice
over at Douquetts got his Fingers Badly Frozen Mr Charles {cut off} Thrashing at Hamiltons
3
of the 600 Left 2 Bags at Hamiltons for Pease and other Grain George Renshaw took Down
the Flour from the store got a Gazzette to Day Races in Dundee
27th some cold E W Turned Warmer cut a Basswood for sawlogs Drew some Wood cutting
Brush seen Teams on the St Annicite Road Seen a Horse Rig crossing from Below Christees
Island set Traps for the mink as he made his way to the Milkhouse
28th Cut the Basswood Log in 2 9 Feet Each Drew some Wood alders and Willows
29th E Wind got a Mink in the Milkhouse. Cut a Maple in the Feild Jo Douquett Edward
Charlie Rose came to Bush the Road
{second page}
Mr James Cameron Island
January 30 1886 Fine Day E Wind I went to Summerstown gave 5 cents to Mr Ward for the
Postage for the Witness got a Ride up to Tom Kennedy's from J Hamilton. Races in Dundee
and a Great many Crossing to Battoshe's Heard they had the Measles at James McDougalls
Randolph there got a Mink in the shanty to Day
31st E Wind Fine Gordon here gave him a Comforter
1st of February W Wind Frosty Fine Edward Duquett Jim Burns Barnhart and 3 Indians came
to cut the Manure as its Froze very hard about 1 1/2 Feet Thick
2nd First Teams came to Draw J Nicholson and 2 Douquetts Stephen Tyo Burns 1 Indian
Barnhart made 11 Loads to Day Fine Candlemass Day the Sun shines to Day the Bear if he
comes out will see his Shadow
3rd Jim Nicholson and Jo and Edward with Teams Made 12 Loads to Day Adams Buried to
Day
4th Cold in the Morning Stephen Tyo came and as no one was coming he went off met a
Man up on our Road took the wrong Road he was going to Salmon River I crossed to see
what was wrong with them not coming it was the cold Bought of Nicholsons 1 lb of Tea 45
cents paid Bought of Mr Ward pipe 1 Done Thrashing at Hamiltons
5th Very Very Frosty to Day Tom Jack came Brought me 2 Bags of Grain 600 of Flour 1
Dollar paid this Commenced to Load made 4 Trips to Day John Nicholson 2 Trips {Pecor} or
4
McPhee 2 Trips to Day very very cold and Tom Jack 4 Trips to Day thats 8 Load to Day Tom
Jack took 6 Loads Nicholson 5 pecor 5 {N?}ed 4 Jo 3 G Renshaw here to help thats 13
Loads to Day turned warmer E Wind
{cut off 6?}th Fine Warm
{first page}
Mr James Cameron Island
Feb 8th 1886 Gordon's Berth Day Tom Jack John Nicholson Jn. McPhee here 5..5..5 Ned 4 Jo
3 G Renshaw here
9th Fine Drawing McPhee 1/2 Day 3 Loads Tom Jack 6 Jim Nicholson 6 Ned 4 Jo 3 G
Renshaw here Indian here Leander to store spool 5 calico 10
10 E W Drifting Tom Jack Drew 5 Ned 4 Jo 2 George Renshaw 1/2 Day Took all their things
home E Wind
11th E Wind Fine soft seen a crow for the First Fernandez up to Dickens yesterday Mr
Douquett Gave the children 1.80 old Lally Departed at Mr P Purcell's
12th Went to Summerstown Fine E Wind Gave John Summers 5 Dollars to my account got a
Receipt Took Dinner at Nicholsons Bought of Nicholsons pair of Lace Boots 1.10 paid Making
a Track with snowplough on the ice for Races Charlie Rose's Dog here took some Marsh hay
out of the Marsh Leander and Fernandez and John H sloppy on the ice got the Witness and
Globe
13th Mr Lally Buried to Day E Wind and West Wind Foggy Raining and Fine snow melting in
the Fields slush on the ice Lots of snowbirds Ducks Flying East
14th St Valentine's Day W Wind Raining water on the ice
15th E Wind stormy snowing Drifting cutting Stove Wood
16th S West Wind Drifting Windy Blustery cutting Firewood Leander and I
17th South West Wind Fine Kind of Blustery Drew some Wood Cut a Log of Ash for Rails
seen Teams on the Lancaster Road
5
18th cutting and splitting Rails Fine Day James Hugh's Birth Day 1855 {illegible} wood
19th Fine E Wind crossed to Summerstown. Sent a Letter to James Lee & Co Montreal got
postage stamp 35 cents 3 cents for Postage Envelope 1 cent, pipe 10 Bought of Nicholsons
Tea 25 pepper oil seen the inspector of Weights & Measures Mr Whitt{cut off} and one of
the McKee's of McGee's Point cleaning a Track for Races took Dinner at {illegible} cutting
ice
20th North West Wind snowing Drifting
{second page}
Mr James Cameron Island
Feb 22nd 1886 Washingtons Berth Day Fine. Drew stack of Hay out of the Marsh Drew a
Load of White Birch from the head of the Island
23 cold E Wind cutting Wood cut a Beech on the hill
24th E Wind cold Frosty Day Went across got a Ride to F Covington from Tom Jack stopt at
Jo's a Treat 10 got a present of a pair of overshoes from Jo Bought of McC 3 pairs of Boots
settled up with them they had 75 cents against me and I Brought them in my Debt 3..16
Boots 1..50 Boots 1..35 Boots 1.. for stanley I must Exchange them the'r small got a Receipt
up to this Date. Bought drug store Pink Root 12 1/2 Hoarhound Candy 2 Bought of Y.A. a Bag
25 a Treat at Tyos Bought of Mr G Long 1 3/4 yds of Cloth Bought of smallman Binding 10
credit Heard Emmanuel Morris Departed got a Ride Down to Hopkins Point from Olivers
Father as he is Drawing wood from St Agness to him Races in Dundee stopt at Jo took
supper there. Mr Leslie there got James Lee's Prize
25 St Matthias Day Cold in the Morning E W Turned soft came from Hamiltons snowing
Raining wind South W Drew some Wood. One of my Eye's tie{cut off} sore turned cold to
night
26th Very Frosty and Cold
{2}7th Cold Frosty Fixing a handle in the Axe W Wind
{2}8th Sexagesema {sexagesimal = 60} Sunday Cold Frosty Drifting Marsh hay Done only
about 1 1/2 Tons on the stable loft W Wind
6
1st of March St David's Day the Festival of the Welsh Day came in Like a Lion Very cold and
Frosty high Wind West chopping Stove Wood Commenced the West Mow Feeding all the
cattle Fine hay a peice of hay on the North side yet put MinKey in the Back place to night
2nd cutting Brush in the oakfield Cold Windy snow Drifting North Wind and South West
Wind
3rd W Wind Leander went to Hamiltons got a Letter from Narcisse Leplante with a Dollar in
it got the {paper flipped up} Hamilton in Cornwall.
{first page}
Mr James Cameron Island
March 4th 1886 West Wind Cold some cut a Beech in the pasture
5th Eclipse cold Windy cutting stove Wood
6th Fine W Wind Crossed to Summerstown Bought Nicholsons 3 spools of Thread 12 cents
Bought from Ward pipe 1 got the Glengarrian but did not Get the Globe I suppose my time
Done John Hamilton to Lancaster Drawing stones to the Lighthouse a Good many teams
7th Shrove Sunday West Wind Fine and cold and Warm
8th East Wind cold Drifting snowing some cutting Stove Wood cutting hay in the Barn
9th E Wind Drifting Fine Cold cutting Alders in the swamp Last churning to Day circle
around sun Fine in the Evening Sun sets at 6 to night
10th Ash Wednesday crossed to Hamiltons put a Letter in the PO for Narcisse Charante
Care of William Dupois Postage 3 cents got the Witness went with J Hamilton to Fort
Covington Windy Drifting Fine Bought of Mr K 6 lbs of Tea 2 Dollars to 24 1/2 yds of Plaid
2..45 got a Pair of Lace Boots to be exchanged for the ones I took home the next time I go
the on take them Back Heard one of the McKenzie {torn away} Gore Departed Buried on
the Front {illegible} Trunk Track crossed from the head of our Island to the south catching
Fish in the ice at Frashers on the South side cook Eaton told me
11th Wind West Blew hard Drifting Drew some Wood
12th on this Day of the Month Dell McMaster Senior First came to the Island Drifting
7
13th Fine Leander went to Summerstown got the Mail Bought of Nicholsons 2 spools of
Thread 8 Losenges 3 pipe 1
14th Stanley's BirthDay 1880 West Wind snowing
15th E Wind Drifting snowing Teams with Loads to the Lighthouse cutting Brush in the
oakfield
16th Stormy snowing Turned very fine and Warm J Hamilton and {illegible} took my Logs to
Mr Purcell
{second page}
Mr James Cameron Island
17th of March 1886 St Patricks Day the Festival of the Irish Went to Cornwall got a Ride from
Thomas Jack seen Mr D B. McLennan got the Ballance from him gave him a Receipt Met Mr
George S McDonald and took him for Mr Douquett then we asked him to come and have
something or take us where we could get something good we travelled for a Longtime
where did he take us but his own house we never thought of going there But we got what
we got Good A Very fine Fellow used us well Bought of Mr Pitt Shovel 1 Dollar Axe 75 Bought
of Mr D McRae Pork 2..43 Bought of Mc McDonald Furniture 6 chairs 3..60 childs chair 1..25
Big chair 1..75 took Dunn 50 took dinner at Mrs Fultons and sent a Parcel of Things to the
Children which was well Receved Bought of John Summers 6 yds Cotton 30 cents Gave 5
Dollars to my Account got a Recept Bought a Pipe at Derushee 1 got almanack seen Mr
Butter and G Grant a very fine Day seen a Shelland Pony Gave Leven{cut off} 5 cents came
to Hamiltons and John Drove me Down with the cutter James McDougall here to Day
18th Went for the chairs to {torn off} Leander and I got a Basket of Apples {torn off}ome
their Bag to Day chopping stove Wood E Wind very Fine Day
19th Drifting E Wind Blowing and stormy change in the Moon J Hamilton and Tom Jack
came spring or Last Day of Winter
20th First Day of Spring High E hailing Raining Snowing
21st EW high Drifting snowing stove smoking
8
22nd Livinia's Birth Day 1840 Drifting
23rd Randolph came from McDougalls Windy Fine Leander crossed for the paper
24th Went to Summerstown Bought of J Summers soap 10 RR 16 25 {illegible} this Bought of
Nicholsons Shot 15 2 spools 8 paid Bought of Mr Ward axe handle 15 Fine W W crust on the
ice
25 Lady Day Randolph went to Ducquetts H Wind 4 cents {bottom line illegible}
{first page}
Mr James Cameron Island
26th of March 1886 John Hamilton Cameron's Birth Day 1876 J Hamilton {came?} with Tea
Kettle 1 Bag of Oats sack of Flour sold 2 Hides over the River gave me 2 Dollars Cash
Randolph to McDougalls for the Pot got 15 Buckets set of hames water on the ice under the
snow Fine Robins came Blackbirds Hawks Grassbirds
27th E Wind Fine good crust I crossed to Mr P Purcells mill 60 Boards 1..50 for sawing Paid
this T Jack took them Down for me Nicholsons got the Post Office yesterday Old Mr Akins
Poorly cutting Sugar Bush Wood thawing
28th Went to Christee Island Randolph and I
29th E Wind crust good. Went to Fort Covington Bought of Congdon Downs' Elixer 25 Doll
25 Hoarhound Candy 2 Bought of spoils 75 Bought of N.G. Boots {illegible}ting 20 snack 10
Bought of G Long Knife 25 Tax 10 {Spools?} 5 pens 3 pipes H Wines 40 Taking the scow
{illegible} of the ice to take to Hopkins Point Tapt 60 Trees to Day {?} stopt at Jo
Douquetts all night had supper and {illegible} no hay got a Ride Down from John Plumades
{?} Lambs came from Jo Douquetts Fine seen Black Ducks
31 Gathered Lambs 12 pails of sap Raining
1st of April all Fools Day snow Windy Randolph crossed to Summerstown Bought of Mr
Ward Wormy Candy 12 awls 4 Matches 8 Drawing to Lighthouse {illegible} in sugar Bush
Cutting Wood Fine Flurries of snow
9
3 Boiling {cut off} Bush for the First Time made 1 1/2 Gallons John and Leander McDougall
here a strange Man came from Lancaster here inquiring the Road to St Regis and Tom Jack
from here his name Alfred Woods
4th Fine crossed to Summerstown Archy Grant (Bishop) Bought of Nicholson Boots 2..75
paper 18 {cut off}
5th Fine Day Tapt some
6th Boiling E.w. Turned stormy {cut off} Oxly calved
7th very Stormy Big Storm of snow Wind
8th Boiling Sap ice opened on 12th
9th Lily Calved a {illegible} to the Sugar Bush Made First Sugar 40 lbs
10th in the {illegible}
11th Made 52 lb
12th Horses crossing {illegible}
{illegible}seen snakes, Pewits yellow hammer {illegible} Lots of shooting at Douquetts {rest
of page illegible}
{second page}
to here X
Mr James Cameron Island
April 14th 1886 {first line illegible}
16th Brindle calved
17th Made 2 Gallons for the Last Killed a Snake
18th Duncan's Berth Day Palm Sunday John G and {McKey?} here to night Leander got 2
Rats {illegible} the Calfe Pasture {illegible}{3 eels?}
10
19th Granadas First Trip Thunder and Lightning Fine Clearing up Wood {toward?} the Door
Men Working at the Light House some {working?} Lights on it to night
20th Taking home sugar Bush Rigging. Killed a calf
21 Traveller went Down Taking away the Banking from the house
22nd Hector in Rae's Daughter Departed Maunday Thursday got 4 Pikes John Adams an
Indian here gave him stuff for oars Randolph to Summerstown Bought of J Summers 2
Bottles 50 Broom 15 Bought of Mr Ward Worm Candy 24 Pipes 2 got Papers from Dan's.
23rd St George Day and Good Friday The Festival of the English West Wind Went to
Sturgeon Island Randolph shot 2 Ducks Putting Manure on the Yard
24th splitting Rails {illegible}
25th Easter Sunday and St Marks Day. The Sun Danced to day East Wind Fine Day
26th Fisherman came {illegible} Calvett Dog had Puppies 4 of them
27th Randolph and Narcisse to Fort Covington for Rubber Boots
28th Working at Fences
{first page}
Mr James Cameron Island
April 29th 1886 Went to Salmon River Sold Rats and Calf Skin Bought oil cloth 75 oil 15 Boots
Mended 60 2 yds Cottonade 30 crape 1/4 yd 25 Matches 10 Wrench 15 Back {illegible}
Teapot 25 Basket 40 Starch 10 Blue 5 {illegible}kers 5 Left pair of Boots to be mended
30th Lighthouses Lit up Lewis the Indian and his 2 Boys here made axe handle Planted 3
Rows of Potatoes
1st of May St Phillip & St James Day Fixing Fences
2nd Gordon here Granada's 1st Trip to Lancaster
3rd piling Rails Fixing Fence
11
4th Mr Kelly and Bill and his Boy here Looking after the Fisheries Randolph to Summerstown
Bought of Mr Ward a Trunk 2..55 Book 10 2 Lines 20 2 hats 20 Castor oil 15 Bread for
Fishermen
5th Boheminean came up first Trip Fixing Fence in the Grove Propellers to Day Drudge went
up
6th some peices of ice going Down Ploughing First Trip Down for the Boheminean
7th Putting out manure Drawing Calf Pasture Fence away
Fishermens First Trip with Fish to Montreal
8th Randolph and Narcisse to Lancaster for {illegible} Phillip took 4 Bags of Potatoes for me
from Montreal 2 and the Bags {20?} and Freight 20 thats 2..40 he owes me as I gave him 3
Dollars Birds came Last night on a Raft from Ogdensburg Planted a Row of Early Rose
Potatoes
9th John McDougall and A Fraser here Fine all the children to Christees Island Leander to
Hamiltons for the Papers
{second page}
Mr James Cameron Island
10th of May 1886 Planted 13 Rows of Potatoes and 100 hills Ploughing settings some Brush
heaps on fire on the Pitt Point and upper Field Found the hook of the chain piling manure
11th E Wind Raining changed to West Foggy
12th Foggy E Wind Fine Randolph to Summerstown 18 lbs of Butter at 18 cents a lb Bought
of Mr Ward 15 lb of salt 20 oatmeal 30 1/2 lb 94 Due Bill 1..50 Bought of J Summers soap 5
Flour 62 spool 5 Money calved a heifer Mr Kelly at Fishermans Boheminean Late coming up
with the Fog Gave 2..40 to Narcisse to Fetch up 4 Bags of Potatoes
13th Foggy Boheminean Late going Down E Wind changed to West Ploughed the Potatoes
Peice all Fixing Fence went to head of Island Let out the 2 Bulls for to Day
12
14th Planted 4 Rows of Potatoes Ploughed the Bean Place Fixing the Fence Granada went to
Lancaster high E Wind changed Rain to night young Chickens 12 Trimming the Apple Tree at
the Door and one at Lane fence Fernandez caught Perch Randolph caught Duck. Water high
15th Raining high south West Wind Fisherman took 4 Bags of Potatoes from Montreal 45 a
Bag good Many Rotten their going to take them Back cut some Trees for Building high Wind
to night Jo Lemays Fish came Back from Montreal could not sell them Fixing Brush Fence.
Water high in the swamp
16th {?sh} here from Murdock McDonalds
17th Leander and I to the head of the Island
18th Planted a Few Rows planted potatoes in the Bean place
19th Sheared the 2 Rams planted 8 or 9 Rows to the appletrees got a channel Catfish from
the Fisherman
20th Began the East End of the House Narcisse Randolph and I Hewing scoring Laid the
Foundation Keeping in the Bulls at night
{first page}
Mr James Cameron Island
21st of May 1886 The Drudge came to Summerstown working at the Frame
22nd the Surveyors at the head of the Island putting up their marks. Sheared the 2 Ewes.
Drew some Logs Randolph Went to Summerstown Bought of Mr Ward 24lb of salt at
Nicholsons 1 lb of Crackers 8 Let out the sheep
23rd Gordon and T Rose here gave Tommy Rose a puppy Dog
24th Queens Birth Day a Meeting at Summerstown Dan to Be there I crossed to Hamiltons
Fine W Wind changed to East Wind Trowling Caught a pike some of the First potatoes
planted is peeping up
25 Raining Windy 3 chiefs here Wanting pay from Fishermen John Isacc Thompson and
George Mosquitoes Bad
13
26 Cleaning out upper shed John Hamilton came Down with Randolph got the Loan of the
Pic-axe Rained some Windy
27th Ploughing the Back Bean Place and up in the Brush at the cherry tree
28th Fine Went to F Covington Bought of Mr Minkler 2 Bushels of Potatoes 80 Bought J Y
Tobacco 8 Candy 2 Bought of McCartney 5 yds of Calico 40 of Tyo Bottle of 20 in a Billy
Bones Mr Long is closed Keep in the 2 Bulls got Papers from MrBa{cut off}
29th Royal oak Day or oak apple Day High West Wind Planted 10 Rows at apple Planted up
at the cherry Tree 8 Rows and some at the Back Garden Altered the spring calves the 2
Bulls Thunder Narcisse took a Bag of Potatoes from Montreal 25 Freight 5
30th Rogation Sunday Fine J Summers Geordie Annan and Mr Ritchie here going down to
Rosse's Island to see the hole that was dug there Livinia and I to head of the Island
{second page}
Mr James Cameron Island
31st of May 1886 Crossed to Summerstown Bought of Nicholsons 100 Wt of Flour 2..50 Tea
25 Tea 12 1/2 Hats 50 Randolph a Hat 10 Pair of Braces 30 Bought of Mr Ward for the
Fishermen 2 pans of Bread 1 Hat
X
1st of June Rowena's Birth Day Fine the Boys went for Pine George Thomas came for a Boat
Planted some Beans
2nd cut some sticks for the House planted the rest of the Beans Raining Thunder
3rd Ascencion Day or Holy Thursday Windy Randolph and Leander to Ross's Island to see
where J Summers was digging Mr Derushie here piling Manure Fixing fence on the Pitt Point
Line Boat came up to night Lots of Towing now
4th Hewing some sticks and Beams Pete Henery here for all their {illegible}
5th Randolph crossed Bought of J Summers 7 yds of Cotton at 34 Candlewick 8 paid
Bought of Nicholsons Powder 30 Games at Cornwall McArthurs left Broke {illegible} at
Hamiltons G.Arnet a Pic Nic Fixing Fence Bought of Wards
14
6th Went to Plum Island seen Frank Laplante and Wife 2 men and 2 children Drowned. Seen
Pecor Fishing. Mr Spink here for a Puppy Antwines Boy wanting horse hair for Minnow Lines
Lashey came Fine clearing small stone out of the Bee Place and Putting them on the Wharf
Thunder Lightning Raining Windy E and West and South Fishing Perch got 27 Fernandez and
I Fixing hoe handles
7th at the Potatoes weeding them Killing a Great many Grubs pegging some stones at the
East End of the house Let out the 2 Bulls tonight Fixing the Tobacco place Letting the horse
out in daytime putting in at night {illegible} Windy {illegible}
{first page}
Mr James Cameron Island
9th of June 1886 Our Mary's Birth Day 1813 73 years at Potatoes Fine
10th Piling Logs at the Door Fixing the Sail
11th Randolph to F Covington got his hair cut 2 men Drowned Stewart and Saya on the 5th
or 6th Sunday Morning found the Boat. Bottom so deep Bought Cotton 3..56 on credit (Tea
1 Dollar paid) Bismarck came home Washing the Wool
12th Fine Went home with Hamiltons Boat William Duncan and Gordon came Brought some
of Bismarcks cloths Put out Tobacco Narcisse Boy and Phillip came Bought of Ward soap 1
Bar 10 2 pipes 2
13th Raining Blowing Whit Sunday
14th Raining at Potatoes Heard that Saya Drowned Stewart it is thought so or talked about
as Saya is a Bad character and Stewart had a Lot of money on him
14th Mr Sticklers son here for sand Gave me a Dollar Raining Cutting hay for the 2 Bulls at
Potatoes Killing Grubs Heard those men were Found
15th at Potatoes
16th Randolph and Bismarck to F Covington Sold Tennet of Butter (Paid for the We{illegible}
of Cotton Bought 100 of Flour 2..50 2 Tennets 50 Brought 22 cents Cash home Rained hard
got 15 cents for Butter
15
17th Tore Down The Cookhouse
18th The Ever Memorable Battle of Waterloo at the Cookhouse
19 Working at the Cookhouse Randolph and Bismarck crossed for nails 10 lb 40 Thread 5
20th Fine Day Randolph crossed to Plum Island seen one of the Cattle with a Cut in her
21st First Day of Summer Bismarck and F. crossed Bought of Mr Ward sack of salt 80 on
credit Pepper paid Got 25 {illegible} Randolph
{second page}
Mr James Cameron Island
21st of June 1886 1st Day of Summer Bought of Nicholson 100 of Flour 2..50 44 lbs of Fine
Salt 44 spools of Thread 5 Randolph got a Lunge
22nd Fixing Floor in the Cook house Warm set a Line Weeding Potatoes and Beans
23rd 2 Fishermens Boys went of to night put the Plough Through some of the Potatoes
24th St John the Baptiste Day Corpus Christie Fixing a Door on East End of the cookhouse
Taking up Randolphs Line 3 Raftsmen here Looking for Timber had a stick of Elm with them
25th Raining
26th Raining Angus Cameron and John and Allen here Gave them a puppy Dog Fernandez
sold his Perch to them Raining Thunder and Lightning Randolph and Bismarck crossed for
the Mail J Hamilton working at the Wharf Jo Lemay came Down with Narcisse the
Fisherman
27th Grand Procession Sunday Raining Thunder
28th Randolph cut his Foot Ploughing Potatoes at the Apple Tree Working at the Front Door
of the cookhouse 2 men shooting Ducks had a Dog Randolph Drove them away Weeding
Potatoes in upper Field Fine Day
16
29th St Peter & St Paul cannons shooting Back the way of Williamstown Windy West and
Changed to high North Wind. Weeding Beans. Northern Lights or Merry Dancers to night
and they are Dancing Took a Big Stone out of the Ground before the Door Keeping in the
Bulls
30th crossed to Summerstown Bought of Nicholsons Matches 10 Hooks 2 J James came
here put sheep on Ross's Island
1st of July Dominion Day a Great Day in Cornwall Bismarck crossed to the Pic Nic at
Hamiltons Mrs Chisholm Brought his cloths there Sunday School scholars
2nd at Potatoes and Potato Bugs one of the sheep Lame
30th Let out the 2 Bulls
{first page}
Mr James Cameron Island
July 3rd 1886 cut some hay around the scythe place smoky Randolph took up his Line and
set it over. Randolph crossed to summerstown stopt at Hamiltons all night they took his
Boat to Fish
4th Came home {illegible} The Baby Stanley Hugh Ann Rowena Sissy to Hamiltons
5 very Warm John B Day 83 to Antwine Bosell and Dishaw here for Boat Mosquitoes Bad
6th Warm put the Plough Through the Potatoes for the Last time all in Blossom cut the hay
at the West End of the Potatoes cut the hay at the West End of the Potatoes Mosquitoes
Bad at nigh
7th put in some hay for the First Fishermen's First Trip to Renshaw with their Fish
8th Went to Summerstown paid J Summers 5 Dollars to my account got a Receipt Bought
of J Summers Thread 1{cut off} nails 8 47 yds of calico 40 paid this the scow of the Drudge
sunk too much Load on for Frank Laplante Bismarck at sand Stickler's yacht sailing Round
9th E Wind some Rain Mowing kept in the young Bull as he is Lame or out of the hip A Man
here Mr Young from Valleyfield wants a place to camp Sullivan a survey and Wilson Hard
17
ware Merchant then on Charlies Island made a smoke-house in the Big cellar English
Cherries Ripe Rasberries Ripe the Oil-Boat went up to Feed the Lighthouses
10th 11 12" Orangemans Day Firing Big Shots
13th Went to H sold J Y Cameron 2 Tennets of Butter 10.. {illegible} 14 cents 2 scythes 100
of Flour 3 lb of Tea snaith pipe overalls stuff 2 Tennets Bought of Kimballs store 3 yds 2 yds
of Cottonade Boots 1..25 Bought of smallman oil and carpet shoes Bought {illegible} 50
Went to A Tyo's {?}
{second page}
Mr James Cameron Island
14th of July 1886 not very well Randolph to a Bee on McLaughlins Place Forgot to write any
Down the rest of this month
15th St Swithen's Day or 16th
17 - 18 19th Fernandez Birth Day 1874
20th 21st 22 23 24 25th St James Day
1st of August Lammas Day
2nd Minnie's Birth Day 1864
4th 5th
6th Randolph Birth Day 1867 Minnie Came Gordon put her across from Hamiltons
7th Mowing
8 Sunday Went to Plum Island and Kit Kit Bismarck sold his Fish for a Dollar
9th Randolph Minnie Hugh Ann went to F Covington Brought a Tennet of Butter Tea Tennets
Dishes Boots Buttons
10 at hay
11th at hay
18
12 at hay
13" Leander Hugh Ann and Minnie went to Summerstown Bought 27 yds of Calico a Big Bowl
1 lb of Crackers sweetys got the mail Thread
14th Minnie and Bismarck went to Williamstown
15th John Angus and wife and the 2 children and Gordon came
16th Rained
17 Bismarck came from Williamstown
18" at hay
19" Bismarck's Birth Day 1870 Randolph to Rubber Boots and 9 Buttons for Narcisse Girl
Married to Day
18th
21st at Marsh Hay Donald Cameron Departed 2nd Con Randolph crossed to Summerstown
22 B.D Cameron Buried to Day Laflesh and his sister here McDougalls and 2 of Dan Frasers
Girls here and Laflesh stopt all night with Lucias on the Kit Kit Randolph went off
{first page}
Mr James Cameron Island
October 1st 1886 Drawing Wood
2nd Drawing Wood hailed
3rd Windy
4th Bismarck to A Tyo's to HW 40 Raining Windy Picking Grapes
5th Fine Day Cutting and Drawing Wood from the Pit Point
6th Windy Fine Went to Dundee Bismarck and I to 4 Tubs of Butter 15..48 To Mr Long
Bought To Rope 4 1/2 lb 56 Bot Worm Med 25 Paper Tax 52 square of Blue 10 1/2 lb Pepper
12 1/2 lb starck 5 3 lb nails 12 cents 1/2 lb Powder 20 Cash 5 sack of salt 8 caps 10 7.35.. 8..13
19
Due Bought of Mr Smallman 100 of Flour 2..60 oil 15 Downs Elixer 25 Tongs spear Griddle to
Blacksmith 30 Bought of McC Cash 2 cotton 3..85 3 lb of Tea 1 6 yds of satinette 3 2 pair
2..10 1 Pair 1..25 1 pair 2..25 1 pair 2..50 comes to 18.5 To Butter 6 Dollars Leaves 12..5 Bought
of T K 6 yds of stripe 1 Went up to Shannons Mill not Making yarn Mr Hume Came to Tent Mr
Steve and Mr Burtch
7th Fine Day went up to the Tent Mr Hume here came from Lancaster had a chat with him
First Wild Geese Last night and a great many Flying this Evening very high some Black
Ducks to night making a noise Foggy this morning Baby sick Rowena sick all sick whooping
cough
8th Drawing Wood Mowing some Mr Hume for Potatoes Eggs and Butter 1 Dollar Treated me
with good old Rye Drawing Wood
9th Drawing and cutting in the oak field Fine
10th Hugh Ann McMaster's birth Day 1844 Fine Gordon Randolph Tommy Rose Leslie Baker
here I went to see Mr Hume at the Tent
11th Drew some sticks for a shed Made a Stack 38 in Back Marsh Ploughing Potatoe ground
Fine
12th Commenced Banking East End of the house Raining high East Wind
{second page}
Mr James Cameron Island
13th of Oct 1886 Banking the East End of the House Fine East Wind Mr A Tyo and John
Bowen here To Butter 10 Dollars gave him a Bottle of Wine Leander and I up to see Mr Hume
him over at Lemays Treated us sent for a Saw to Montreal he says he will sell me his Ducks
not Plenty
14th Went to Lancaster with the Wool 14 lbs Paid a Dollar on it to be made on the 23rd to be
made coares 13 cents a lb Fine E Wind changed to South Wind a Blew a Gale sent Bismarck
to the store for a 1 lb of Crackers 1.0 and a Bottle of Worm Medicine 25 passed Suse's Island
and turned Back stopt a good while there then tried for the Squaw Island and got there with
hard work made up our minds to stop all night there but made another start and got home
with hard work very high wind working at Grapes 9 Gallons of Juice
20
15th very windy. the tops of the Stacks blew Down water very low with the wind this
morning and at night raised working at the Banking some cutting brush on the Pit Point only
1 Boat came up to Day the Granada did not come out of Dundee the wind was too high Mr
Hume here Bought 1/2 Bushel of Potatoes 3 lbs of Butter Loaf of Bread paid 1 Dollar Gave
Bismarck 25 cents for going up with him
16th Dan to be at Lancaster {illegible} Andie Mc{illegible} cold to Day but Fine some few
Grains of Snow the Fishermens Lines broke with the wind Narcisse took me up his cross cut
saw 1..50 it looks pretty good took the Leaves of the Turnips
{first page}
Mr James Cameron Island
Oct 17th 1886 Sunday the Hunters Mr Hume Steve Griffin and Burtch Left to go to Jo
Lemays Fine some Rain and a Few Grains of snow
18th St Luke's Day Began the West End Banking Fine shot a Black Duck did not get him
19th Fine Alexandra Went Down Banking the inside of the shed Back of the milkhouse Drew
away some of the Logs around the potato Ground Mr Barnhart came here through the night
Looking for a Raft of Board for Summerstown Wharf
20th Fine WW Went to Jo Lemays with the clock Bismarck and I Wind Raised came around
the head of Christee's Island took Lunch then went Down to see the house Lewis the Indian
was Building got some nuts offered the Fisherman Narcisse his hay for the crosscut - Saw
and he would not take it now Harrowing the Potato Ground Lewis the Indian on Christee's
Island not many Boats a going Putting out some manure Rowena sick and Tonia sick all Bad
with the Whooping cough Bismarck crossed for the Mail did not get the Witness got the
Star and Glengarrian (Yesterday)
21 at the Stable
22nd cutting sticks
23 Livinia's Birth Day 1868 Fine
24th Our Hugh's B Day
25 Tonias Birth Day
21
26 at the stable
27th the 2 Fishermen went to Montreal to Day {illegible} Died {illegible} Died
28th at the stable
29th at stable
30th at stable
31 Went to Jo Lemays for clock 50 Leander and I seen Mr Kelly and Mr Leslie this is
Halloween or Holy Eve Cracking nuts
{second page}
Mr James Cameron Island
1st of November 1886 Bismarck and I to Lancaster for the yarn 10 3/4 14 lbs when we
Brought it there 1..40 Fine Bought of McCrimmon RRR 25 All saints Day The Harvest Month
of Death
2nd Went to Fort Covington Brought a chain shovel hinges to be Fixed 50 all Souls Day
Bought of Mr Long Tin pail 50 Mustard 20 Salts 10 Powder 20 Shot Sugar 20 lbs 1..40 oil 15
sweetys 3 Knife 15 cloth 4 Tea 1 Exchange on Boots 25 a pair for John 2..50 on credit Bought
of Mathews Hinges and screws 33 Got Medicine from Dr Gillis 25 Got a Present of a
Package of Tobacco and sent a Package of Tea to the Mrs From Mr Tuthill treated me to
Beer Died or Buried to Day Bill Farlinger settled and got a Receipt from Mr Long went to A
Tyo's Bought 1 Gallon of High Wines 3 Dollars sent a Bottle of Brandy to Livinia Bismarck got
his hair cut 25 cents Election in F Covington
3rd Making a Door for the new shed Windy Fine
4th Cutting and Splitting Windy Rowena very Bad with her head
5th Guy Fawks Day the Gunpowder Plot very Windy south West Banking in the Cookhouse
Went up to see Mr McMaster Tenting at the upper Point sent his Boy Down for milk
6th East Wind commenced to snow a very stormy time 2 men came here Mr Makepeace
and Lafave came from the Yachts to Lancaster going to Jo Lemays to see Mr Hume the 2
22
Fishermen put them across for 2..50 and they had a hard time took Dinner here sent me
{50?} cents Gave me a Package of Tobacco 20 Gave {cut off} the house
7th Helen's Birth Day Mcmartin Coloured man came to Boil a Pot of Potatoes
{first page}
Mr James Cameron Island
8th of Nov 1886 Drifting and Blowing Mr McMartin went off. went to the head of the Island
snow Deep Narcisse Tore about 10 Fathoms of his seine got Fast in Logs Feeding the cattle
Killed 2 Rusters took in the Tobacco out of the Barn Boats going
9th Prince of Wales Birth Day Killed a sheep Fine Cattle out Picking took in some Turnips we
had Left out the Wine (Ready to strain Alexandra went Down and Tugs a steamer to Charlie
Island to see the Hunters from Ogdinsburgh Leander sawing an old oak on the Lower Point
Rowena very Bad with her head
10th Fishermen went off Left their Boat Made a Trip to Lancaster before they went of got a
Lamp from Phillip Left their Lines and some snoods axe got a sturgeon from them Left the
Key
11 Martin was went to Summerstown sent a Letter to D M M Fine Bought of Mr Ward Flour
1..25 Thread 15 Soap 10 paid this Bought of Nicholsons 15 lb of Sugar 1..5 Raisins 5 Postage 3
Craigs taken their cattle from Francis Island J Summers away hunting Deer. Nomination Day
in Alexandria for D M M
12th Drew up the Boats and Boxes at the River Covered the new Stable with Marsh hay E W
Drew some Boards from the shanty
13th E W Snowing Stormy
14th Windy Drifting
15th Killed the Bull a Fine Day strained the wine and put the sugar in it about 53 lbs Drudge
went Down
16th Fine Fixing the Stables Alexandra went Down early to Day First Rats Cutting hay on
East Mow Tied the cows Rowena Poorly Better to Day
23
17th E Wind high Snowed Rained to night hard and high Wind a Man crossed with 2 Boats to
the South Side from the Head of the Island cutting stove Wood seen a Robin
{second page}
Mr James Cameron Island
18th of Nov 1886 Wind Foggy Wind changed to West Blowing hard Began Bottling the Grape
Juice got 2 Rats Rowena not very well Mice very Plenty the Cats destroying a Lot of them a
change in the Moon this Evening the water Raised with the E W and Fell very low with the W
Wind
19
20 Bismarck crossed for the Mail Bought of Nicholson Matches 12 sawing stove Wood
putting Manure around the Appletrees got a Bag of apples for Rowena R Briggs here for
Butter for A Tyo sent 1 1/2 Gal of Grape Juice for him to put 1/2 Pint of HW in it Rained some
21st On this Day of the Month D M Meash Departed 1846 Fine Randolph came from Craigs
Frank Laplante and Boy here looking for those Drowned Men McLachlin & Summer
22nd Fine Day Sawing stove Wood Fixing around the stables J McDougall and D John for
the Ram took over Bismarcks Clothes that Mr Chisholm left there got the sheep in for the
first time Paul Grey Fishing EEls Leander and John H Fishing got 1 seen a Large owl
Boheminean all night in Lancaster
23rd W Raining Froze some last night changed to West Fixing a place for the sheep to be By
themselves The Government sale of Tools they had Working at the Wharf to Day in
Summerstown Rowena not well to Day
24th John H and I up to the Head of the Island had the crosscut saw marked a Butternut
tree that fell with the Wind piled some of the troughfs West Wind
25th St Catherine's Day Boheminean went Down a Tug Towing her Wind high Snowing got
aground below Tuppers Island McDonald and Eugene here going to Hungary Bay to Look for
the Drowned men.
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Mr James Cameron Island
26th of Nov 1886 Sawing stove Wood W Wind snowed some Drew some Flat Stones to the
stable a Tug came up to night and a Boat came up to the Boheminean aground yet
27th South West Wind snowing Drifting no Boats to Day Boheminean aground yet sawing
Wood I Think the Boheminean got of
28th Snowing Blowing Thawing Raining
29th cold soft Raining at night sawing wood plastering
30th St Andrew's Day the Festival of the Scotch E Wind Freezing some T Jack and Gordon
here took my Papers and a Letter from Dan with 2 in it Lost my Money Firing in St Andrew's
a Man Making a Blend at Christees sawing stove Wood Tried to set Fire to the Marsh wont
Burn Tom and Gordon Looking for the Drowned Men had St Andrews for them Rowena not
well with her Head no Boats Running to Day Lights Lit up yet
1st of December Snowed Last night Drifting W Wind made a stick for sawhorse Lights up
yet no Boats to Day no Light on Cherry Island to night
2nd Windy Freezing no Lights up to night John H and I to the North side of the Island Cold
some Windy sawing Stove Wood the Hay on the Barn Floor Done to Day
3rd Cold Frosty Windy Making Ice in the Back Bay Killed the old Duck as something Broke
her Leg sawing Wood the White Owl Flying about
4th Frosty W Wind sawing stove wood took the Preserves honey syrup in from the
milkhouse some ice going Down Leander got a Rat Rowena Knitting to Day the White Owl
Flying about
5th Reading cold Frosty
6th Festival of the Germans Frosty Cold Fine St Nicholas Day
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Mr James Cameron Island
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7th Dec 1886 Frosty moved the Double stove cold
8th Killed the Heifer Fine Day warm snowed Wind changed to West
9th Fine E Wind a Fine Day a Big Gathering in Alexandria 4 Big speakers there for D MM
Bought of J Summers Flour 1..25 Cottonade 50 RRR 5 Pain Killer 25 Soda 10 Oil 30 paid this
got 2 pipes at Nicholsons got my mail ice Froze into Summerstown Left our Boat at
Hamiltons Lighthouse got my GunMole From Gordon
10th Leanders Birth Day Bismarck and I went to A Tyos Fine wind Raised high had a good
sail home Bought of A Tyo a pint of HW 40 cents paid a Treat 10 A Tyo Fixing the Road in
the Marsh Moving some of the hay from the East side of the Mow to the West side soft to
Day Rain
11th some Rain soft Drew the stack in the Back Marsh W Wind Fixed the Black Cherry wine
put the Barrels in the shed Leander got 2 Rats the White Owl Flying around a yacht on the
other side of Alexis Island with her sails up at anchor 2 Men EEl Fishing at Christees Rowena
not very well Made a Lot of ice But Broke up
12th E Wind Cold
13th E Wind Raining Bismarck went to Hamiltons for the paper got a Basket of Apples for
Rowena put out Narcisses Bun Leander and I went to try for EEls
14th Cold Windy snowed some sawed the Butt of Basswood sawlog on the Pitt Point shot at
the White Owl Fixing the saw
15th Cold Frosty turned the 2 Boats cutting Brush a mock sun on the East side of the sun
splitting stove Wood a Yacht on the South side of the Alexis Island got a Rat got a squirrel
in the trap
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Mr James Cameron Island
16th Dec 1886 W Wind Frosty cut the Butternut sawed the Butt end of went to upper point
some frosty John H getting squirrels
17th high W Wind sawed the Butternut 12 and 9 Feet Drew some wood from the Pitt Point
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18th Change this morning snowed Rained E Wind soft Leander and I cutting Brush putting it
on the Brush fence in the swamp East Wind Breaking the ice near shore Broke on a 4 Ton
stack of Marsh hay
19th Sunday Windy
20th Last Day of Fall a Fine Day went to Summerstown a good deal of Anchor ice in the
channel Bought of Nicholson 100 of Flour 2..40 Electrick oil 25 1/2 lb of Crackers 7 2 pipes 2
a Bushel of Oats J Hamilton in Cornwall Left our Boat opposite Kenneth as the Channel is
Froze at Summerstown Wind Raised high Breaking the ice to the shore
21st First Day of Winter Nomination for Mr McLennan Windy cutting Brush and putting it on
the swamp Fence some snowing
22 Fine calm cutting a Tree on the hill Antwine Bosell and Lemays son here Antwine Fixed
the clock gave them a stick for eel poles Gave me 6 EEls 2 Boats Fishing EEls at Christee
told me Young Henerys wife Departed 2 weeks ago Rowena not well to Day something
wrong with the Horse
23 Fine Day put hay out of the stack and put some in the Stable-Loft Fixing shutters for the
outside of the Windows the Horse not well Giving him Medicine but he is going to Die
24th Raining E Wind Meeting at Tyo Town and Summerstown Dan McLennan {illegible} to
Day
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Mr James Cameron Island
25 of Dec 1886 Christmas Day Fine W Wind Frosty the Horse Died Drew him out of the
Stable got a Muskrat alive put the skin on Rowena's Head as they say its good for taking the
pains out of the head Kind of Slippery walking. the Eagle Flying about not much snow on the
Ground if it was Calm the ice would take to night making some
26th ice Took E Wind Frosty cold
27th West Wind Cold some Freezing
28th Election for McLennan & Rayside First crossing on the ice Fine cold West Wind a good
many air-holes a good many crooks in our Road went to Hamiltons Frosty to night They say
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Rayside got in with a small majority of 32 but its not Known right yet it may be contested
yet
29th Our Angus' Birth Day Went to Hamiltons Harpers Girls there from Lachine. Dan
McGreggor there got a Razor and my own Razor from Gordon got some Apples Tom went
to Cornwall Frosty to night
30th cold E Wind smoky with the Fog out of the air-holes Gusty Hence here crossing to
Antwines its too cold he turned back Bismarck got a Mink skinned him hurted my Back or a
pain came on it as I was Lifting a Stick
31st Last Day of this Year E Wind cold snowing Drifting a Man crossed from the south side
to the head of our Island on scates
For more information on James Cameron, check out the “Meet the Diarists” section
under “Discover” on our website: ruraldiaries.uoguelph.ca
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