Voice of the People: Daily Life in the Antebellum Rural Delaware County New York area

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Business/Labor Home page | Excerpts from the diary of Nathanial Arbuckle, Delhi farmer, 1852-1861 Table of Contents

Note: For serious researchers only: may be hard to read, as is the original
Background:  Nathanial Arbuckle was a native of Scotland and came to Delhi when he was 17. His usually terse diary entries give some idea of the daily life of a farm family in the Antebellum rural Delaware County area.  Weather was vitally important to the success of his farming business, so he frequently comments on it. He also makes occasional comments on local and national events.

1852  December 24:   "I  have this Day Commenced feeding on the Midle Peice of the hay Bay    I hope that with the Straw it will last till the first of March   if it will Do that I will have Plenty"

1852  December 25:   "Chrisamas Morning   wind North west   Chilley and Cold   Ground all Bare  Looks More like March than Chrisamas   James finished working for John Wight Yesterday"

1852  December 26:  "Mild Sabath Morning   Snowing and Raining   Alternately  the road is Quite Disagreeable   Thomas went to Church horseBack"

 

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Courtesy of the Delaware County Historical Association Archives, 46549 State Hwy 10, Delhi, NY, 13753. 

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