{Front cover}Plain black cover

Francis Rose's Book March 28th 1873

Wolford March 24th 1873

March 24 Henry and I chopped wood {back?} of the house. Cold day.

25 Finished cutting wood in the forenoon and in the afternoon went to the station. Cold and cloudy.

26 Roxa and I went up to Uncle Harrison's visiting. Stormed like fury all day and was the biggest storm this winter also.

27 Beautiful day. Buried Bill Graham's youngest girl today.

28 We went to the woods for get out two saw logs, but the snow was so deep that we had to draw it out by Sam Graham's so that we only got out one and took it to town.

Woldford March 28

March 28 Went to a sugar party at {creek name?} creek had a pretty good time.

29 Went to the sugar bush and cleaned the snow out of the buckets and then went and cut a load of wood and drew home. It commenced raining about 10 oclock and rained the rest of the day pretty hard Henry and I went over to the sugar bush and gathered 23 buckets of sap in P.M. We got two large Photos of Alberts wife today. We tapped 60 trees on the 19 of this month but have not made any sugar up to the present time

Wolford March 30th 73

March 30 Stormy and rough part of the forenoon. Rev Mr Lockhead preached; only a few out. Pa preached at the station in the afternoon I went with him.

31 Pa and I went over to the sugar bush and boiled in 23 buckets of sap, and gathered 21 more. Henry went to the Halls after the {illegible} that we took the log up for. We got {illegible} He got a piece of Birch for 80 to make a {gunstock?}.

Wolford April 1st 1873

April 1 Went to the sugar bush and tapped 91 trees. Beautiful dy Henry went to the station to see about his boots, he did not get them.

2 Henry and I went to the bush and gathered 39 buckets in the old and 39 in the new bush. Boiled in 37 Buckets of sap. There are 91 buckets in the back bush and in the old 82

3 Henry and I went to the bush and boiled in 39 buckets of sap and gathered in 20 today. We have {now?} about 4 1/2 {buckets?} of syrup on hand now.

4 Sugared off 46 lbs today in the bush. Gathered 11 bucket John {Street?} sugared about {70?} weight today. Brought home about a pail and a half of syrup.

Wolford April 4th

April 4th We took the old {horse?} across the brook; the ice is pretty good there {illegible}.

5 Henry and I boiled and sugared off 18 lbs of sugar tody Henry went to the station and got his boots today We had a big snow storm this morning, it snowed about 3 inches.

6 Had a big thunder storm this morning. Rained like pretty hard for about an hour. Dark and gloomy all day Rev Lockhead preached only a few there Chopped some wood and piled what was behind the house in the forenoon. Set 4 muskrat traps and Henry set 5

Wolford April 8/73

April 8 Henry got four rats and I got one this AM. Wet stormy day.

9 We got 7 Rats today. Henry and I went over to the Sugar bush and gathered in the old bush 24 buckets of sap. Henry and Mary were at the station yesterday. They took Jim {Synek?} a bush of corns.

10 Beautiful morning the sun rose in all its splendor. We got 4 Rats today.. Henry and I went to the bush and gathered 27 buckets of sap in the back bush. Boiled all day The water is very high it covers more than 1/2 the {illegible}

Wolford April 11th 1873

11 Henry and I went to the Bush in the PM. gathered 23 buckets of sap Minnie Aggie and {Jennie?} Ballantyne were {here?} this PM

12 Pa and {I?} went to the bush and sugared off a boiled and sugared off 36 lbs.. Henry did not come over untl after dinner; he was skinning muskrats and he went to the {somers?} for some {shot?}. We got 16 muskrats tody.

13 Raining a little in the A.M. but turned off pleasant but cloudy and cold. Rev R Lockhead preached today. The water keeps raising if it keeps coming up a few day longer it will go over the {gatesill?}. The ice is not out but a very little as yet.

Wolford April 14th 1873

14 We got 5 Rats this AM. We have got 44 now. We skined 13 this morning. Cold and rough all day, not doing any-thing in particular.

15 Beautiful day. Henry and I went to the bush and I gathered in 14 buckets of sap and boiled them and {seven?} more and had 18 1/2 lbs sugar Henry and I chopped wood for to boil sugar next year

16 I went to John Marquette for to get some money he {sure?} us but did not get it. I went to the station to see about my boots but did not get them. We have got fifty four musk Rat skins, they are worth 25 cts Pa got a letter from Albert

Wolford April 17th

17 Henry and I went to the bush and I chopped and Henry gathered the sap in the AM. sugared off 8 lbs {illegible} Rained all the afternoon

18 Raining a little

19 Sold Rat skins we had 56 got {dollar sign above illegible number followed by 4} Rained a little. The roads are fearful muddy. The ice is all out of the creek.

20 Beautiful day. Sunday sweet is the day of sacred rest. No {illegible} care shall cease my breast. Rev R Lockhead preached

21 Henry left home this AM by Pas {authority?}. Beautiful day Commenced plowing in the field back of the orchard Plowed all day. {F Rose?}

Wolford April 22nd

22 Went to the sugar bush and gathered and boiled 33 buckets of sap. We brought it home in molasses there was about 1 1/2 Bucket full. Uncle {Ezra?}'s wife came here today.

23 Plowing untill supper then I went to the station Pa and Margaret and Aunt {Julia?} went up to Uncle Hughs for a visit. Sugared off some in the forenoon.

24 Pa and I went to the bush and gathered and sugared off 25 buckets sap Had 18 lbs of sugar. Gathered buckets in old bush John Street bought us a new shovel yesterday. price $1.00

Wolford April 25

25 Plowing. I took Mary up to the station for to go over to uncle William's Aunt wont live long. It is a rough cold boisterous day, snowed. I went over to Geo Barbers and got my hair cut I went to Uncle John Coolidges and got 1/2 bushel of grass seed at 4$ per {bushel?}

26 It is a cold rough boisterous day snowed in the AM. I went to the station today and got my boots at last. There is a new Milliner shop at the station kept by a fine young lady

27 Rev Mr {Slater?} preached today middling fine day

Wolford April 28

28 Plowing in the PM Sowed a piece of wheat Harrowed and rolled it in the AM. Plowed in the back field in the PM

29 Plowed in the back field. Beautiful day

30 Finished plowing in the back field and harrowed in the tobbaco field.

May 1 Sowed about half of the tobbaco field. Harrowed in the back field. for sowing peas

2 Sowed the back field {80 peas?} Cold and rough. Rained all the afternoon. I went to the {illegible} Conners and to the station in the P.M. I wrote a letter to {Helen?} last night and mailed it today

May 3rd 1873

3 Drawing dung from the horse stable all the A.M. Finished rolling the wheat at the point

4 It is a most beautiful day. {Quarterly?} meeting today. Rev Mr. Slater preached, Wallace McCrae was buried in the P.M. Rev McGill preached Louisa Phillips is very sick.

5 Drew {illegible} loads of manure from the cow stable and then went to plowing beside the road. Cool and windy.

6 Pa went to the Halls to get some corn and peas ground for the horses. I sent my watch up by {illegible} to get it fixed. Plowed beside the road in the afternoon.

May 7th 1873

7 Plowing in the big field. It is a pleasant Day.

8 Finished the upper end of big field and sowed 3 bush of wheat Sunday school meeting this evening

9 Sowed oats beside the road in the forenoon; drew three load of dung in the afternoon went fishing did not get any

10 Plowing in the lower end of big field. Rained some in forenoon. Got a letter from Mary. Aunt Catherine is dead. She died thursday.

11 Raining in the AM. The S. School commenced this A.M. Rev R Lochead preached. Pleasant in the P.M.

May 12th 1873

12 Beautiful day Sowed grass seed in the upper end of the field beside the road. Plowing. Went to the station for Mary. Went in to see Miss Webster She is a splendid girl. {F. Rose?}

13 Plowing {illegible} Wet in the AM.

14 Plowing in the A.M. Sowed the field beside the road 1 Bush of wheat

15 Rolled field beisde the road. Went to the station to have a temperance lecture. Uncle John Coolidge is very sick.

16 Beautiful day. plowing corn ground

17 Finished the back end harrowed and marked it out Uncle John Coolidge died last night about nine o clock.

May 18th 1873

18 Beautiful day. Uncle John was buried today. Rev Robt Lochead preached.

19 Pa planted corn in the AM. I drew dung in the AM. In the PM I harrowed over corn and pottatoe ground by the orchard. After supper pa and I plant corn. Went fishing Didnt get any

20 I finished the back piece of corn. Pa took Mr Lochead to S. Falls go to District meeting I took Brock to the station. Got 3 bush. of rats at uncle Harrisons in eschange for 2 bush of peas

21 Planted pottatoes and finished the corn. It looks like rain and I hope it will come.

22 Plowed and sowed the field behind the barn. Harrowed at the point for sowing oats Went to the station for Brock. {F Rose?}

May 23rd 1873

23 Harrowing in oats; finished sowing yesterday. Finished springs work today

24 Beautiful day. I went over to the sugar bush and brought home a Cooler in the AM. In the P.M. went up to John Phillips to see about buy ing a {colt?} didnt get one .

25 Beautiful day. Rev Mr Slater preached today. I went to the station to {illegible} got home about eight oclock. Louisa Phillips is very sick.Spinal disease

26 I went to the Halls to mill. Beautiful day. Dr Hoey went up with me.

27 Beautiful AM. Rained Henry and I went fishing Washed 9 sheep in AM

May 28th 1873

28 Wind blowing a stiff breeze from the South all day I went to the station to get Rose's shoes; didnt get them.

29 Sick all day. Beautiful day Pa and Margaret went to see her folks day before yeaterday.

30 Sick. Pa and Mary Margaret came home this evening. Henry came home. I went to the post office.

31 Pa and I went over and gathered in the buchets in the back bush had 98. Sheared sheep in the P.M. Henry did it.

June 1 Beautiful day. Rev R. Locheed is sick and Pa had to take his appointments. S Falls and {Lombiss?} in the P.M. Rev B. Rose preached in Wolford.

June 2nd 1873

2 Beautiful day. I plowed a little patch of ground at the point for turnips in the morning. At noon I took Brock to the station for to go to London for conference. In the P.M. I went to a funeral. After tea I washed Mr Locheads buggy. B

3 Built fence between us and Uncle Hugh. Along side the {Muller} field, in the AM In the PM. went to the coners and got aload of {type of bark?} for to put on the ice. Took a calf skin to the Tannery. Went to the station. Beautiful day We were warned not to work on the roads tomorro.

June 4th 1873

4 Working on the road {illegible} {father?} the break ground bridge drawing {illegible}.

5 Working on the road. Had a smart shower of rain in the Forenoon otherwise a beautiful day I {scribbled out text that is illegible}

6 Finished road work in the PM I went to the {illegible} and the station in the evening drove Brocks horse and buggy.

7 Pa and Margaret went to the Falls. Cold raw day. Roxa and I were weeding onions all the AM.

8 Beautiful day. Pa preached. Rev R Lochead is unable to attend his work. I mailed a letter for Rev Lochead last night at the station. F Rose

Wolford June 9th 1873

9 Beautiful day, very warm. {Sister Edwards?} and I went to the {Tannrack?} swamp for {illegible} and we got a splendid lot of good {gum. We went out to {Lewises?} back in Montagu.

10 Mary and I went to S Falls in the AM and I got me some cloth for pants? and a jacket which cost $4.25 {illegible} Washed the double harness . James {Pack?} came down for to fish didnt get only 2.

11 Washed the harness in the AM then harrowed turnip ground then went fishing.. In the PM James and I went to the {illegible} and station came home and oiled and {illegible} the harness, went fishing in the evening

June 12th

12 James and I went down to the river fishing in the AM. In the PM I went down to Mr Ballantynes a visiting. Plowed and hoed early {illegible} pottatoes today

13 S.S. Meeting this evening

13 Plowing and hoeing corn. Beautiful day.

14 Plowing and hoeing corn. Beautiful day. Finished corn.

15 Beautiful day. S.S. well attended

16 Plowing and hoeing pottatoes and corn. Pa went to the {Comess} and got a tire set on Brocks buggy.

17 Finished hoeing. I went down to Mr Ballantyne and {Terrance Thomas?} went fishing down on the river

Wolford June 18th

18 I went to the station for Brock both morning and evening he did not come. Weeding onions

19 Pa and I went back in Montagu to look for a colt found one S.S. Meeting this evening.

20 Pa and Margaret went to the Falls, took some wood up to get carded . Beautiful day. onion. Roxa and I finished weeding

21 Beautiful morning. Saturday Built fence in the forenoone Henry and I went over beyond the {comers?} after our steer calf it run away. Beautiful day

22 Pa preached. Beautiful day Our S.S. was {invited?} to go over to the S S at {castons? Donness} next Sunday. Beautiful day

Wolford June 23

23 Pa took Henry to S. Falls in the AM. Brock came down and brought Nettie with him. I cut down balm of Gilead trees in the AM and in the P.M. built fence along by there After tea went to the {illegible} Committie meeting nothing done the chairman of the meeting absent.

24 Drew old sails from where I was building fence up to the house in the morning. Went up to Uncle Hughs and got a bushel of oats and a bushel of pottatoes. {illegible} the floor in the horse stable. Set a shoe on Charlie.

25 Went out to James Roses for to look for a colt. Didnt get one was gone all day. Charlotte and Hattie went with me. Thomas and Priscilla were here last night.

Wolford June 26

26 Set two shoes on the horses. Ground the scythe and moved the orchard and some behind the barn. Beautiful day.

27 I went to S Falls to a day school picnic, had a splendid good time. Henry came home for the school closed today.

28 Plowed out corn and potatoes beside the orchard. Hoed early Rise pottatoes. Beautiful day.

29 Sunday. Beautiful day. Rev J CSlater preached James Ballantyne is sick.

30 I went up tot Elgue to move a load of Brocks things down to the station . I am to come back tomorrow. Beautiful day only the wind blowing pretty hard.

Wolford July 1st 1873

July 1 Rained all night but turned off pleasant about 9? o'clock. I came home this afternoon. Mrs Cline came down and brought a load {Wes?} got home about - half past ten at night

2 Jennie Ballantyne died last night about ten o'clock. Gone home. Weeding onion in the morning and then went to plowing and hoeing corn. After supper drew some hay from the woods that Pa and Henry cut Monday.

3 Attended Jennie's funeral today She was buried up near the Falls in the Mc{Adammise?}roads. Rained a little I was one of the pall bearers. There were two nice showers of rain this afternooon.

July 4th 1873

4 Rained a little in the morning. We had our S.S. picnic today and we had a good time. Mr Davison is a fine fellow. Beautiful day.

5 Hoeing corn all day. John Woods came down with his mother she is going to stay a few days. John went home.

6 Sunday Beautiful day. Rev B. Franklin preached his first sermon here today. There was a good attendance at the sunday schoool today.

7 Finished hoeing the back piece of corn and commenced the other and pottatoes

8 Went to the station with Hattie expecting Eliza on the train she didn't come Finished hoeing corn and pottatoes Rained in P.M.

July 9 {00?} 1873

9 Mary and Roxa and I went to the Falls today. Beautiful day. Mary is working for Wesley Edmunds. Maggie Muldoon and her sister and Rachel Husksie were here for tea had a pleased time 10Thrashed some corn for to sell

10 Sold 10 Bush of corn for 60 {?} per Bush $ 6.{?} FTo Atkinson {?} Smiths Falls. Rained all the P.M. Beautiful evening not raining

Hattie {bu}(written on the side)

11 Pa and Margaret went up to her folks visiting. I went to the {Comers?} in the AM In the PM I went to Miss Greys School examination. Mr Samuel Davison here He and I went down to {Lims?} {ofivs?} and Mr Ballantynes Their little boy Matthew is very sick and so is Minnie. It is the {diptheria?}

July 12 1873

12 Beautiful day. Roxa and I went to church in the morning. I went over to the other place. Not doing much of anything.

13 Sunday. Rev {?} Franklin preached. Mr Ballatynes little boy died at noon today.

14 I set up with Minnie. Mowed a little in the morning and went to the funeral in the PM and went from there to the Hall with Henry he is going to {Tuttle?}

15 I movwed in the forenoon and put up in the afternoon 12 {cooks?} of hay. Minnie is better today but Agnes and {illegible} are sick.

16 Torrance? Thomas came with Mr Ballantyne's machine and mowed four acres for me. In the PM I went down and helped him draw in 3 loads and we put uip 19 cocks more, Terrance raked it.

17 July 1873

Gloomy and wet looking AM. Rained all day. Minnie is better. Henry came back from Perth.

18 Wet day. Didn't get any hay up. Minnie is worse. I went to the {corners?}

19 Minnie died last night about two o clock. Home sweet home.

19 Put up our hay. Wet looking in the morning but dry and windy in the afternoon.

20 Went to Minnie's funeral in the forenoon. Sunday sweet day of rest.

21 Got our hay all in. Had Terrance Thomas to help us. Miss Carvaldy and Priscilla are here. Worked for Mr J Ballatyne after supper.

22 Working for Mr Ballantyne. We finished haying yesterday. Henry is sick. Diptheria. Frank Ballantyne died today.

23 July 1873

23 Went to little Frank's funeral in the AM and in the PM worked for Mr B and in the evening went for Dr Macy for Henry. Couldn't {sleep?}

24 I went to the station in the AM and then I went up for Mrs Cherrit. Uncle Hugh went for Dr Carnwald. Henry is very sick.

24 Rosa was taken yesterday.

25 Joseph Edmunds went to the Falls for some beef for us.

25 Windy. Rained a little. Uncle William came over last night.

26 Beautiful day. Henry and Rosa are no better. Mr Slater was here in the evening to see them.

27 Rev JC Slater preached. Henry and Rosa are better. We have Dr Cornwald from Toledo attending them.

28 Cut grass seed in the morning. Richard Johnson brought us $6.20 from the church. Uncle William and I went picking {illegible} berries only got about 4 quarts.

29 Tuesday. Uncle Williams went with me to mill to S Falls. Last night we got a splendid nice rain.

30 I was drawing dung until tea.Beautiful day very warm. Lizzie B is a nice girl.

31. I went up to the station to see if I could get Mrs Street to come and wash for us. she didn't come. Cut 426 sheaves of oats beside the {illegible}. Uncle Williams helped me.

August 1 1873

Friday rained during the latter part of the night and part of the forenoon. Doing nothing! We have had cucumbers for most a week. H.R.S.B

2 Had Terrance Thomas helping us {illegible} cut and put up 598 sheaves of wheat behind the barn.

3 Beautiful day. Benny Franklin preached today.

4 Finished wheat behind the barn had 800 Sheaves. We cut and put up the rest of suprise oats had 484 sheaves. They were beside the road.

5 Cutting oats in the forenoon and in the PM. Went to the Falls to see the boat launch had a good time. Pa and Uncle Wm went picking berries.

Wednesday I bound the oats that I cut yesterday in the AM. In the PM we drew in 3 loads of {illegible} and one load of oats.

7 Pa went up with Mrs Sherrit and I cut and bound 230 sheaves of oats beside the road making a total of 481 sheaves.

8 Cutting oats behind the barn. We are not going to bind them there would be about 350. In the PM cut a {illegible} through the wheat beside the road and then drew in 3 loads of oats. Uncle William is weeding onions.

9 Pa and I cut and put up 481 sheaves of wheat out at the point.

10 Beautiful day. B Franklin preached.

11 Finished wehate at the point. Had 719 Sheaves. Drew in 4 loads of oats 3 unbound.