In Their Own Words: Daily Life in Antebellum Rural New York

Health/Sickness/Mortality

Health/Sickness/Mortality Homepage | Letters, Diaries, etc. | Excerpt from the 1857 diary of Ebenezer Lindsley of Downsville, NY: on marriage

Background: Ebenezer Lindsley of Downsville, NY was born in 1826.  He kept diaries from 1854 - 1898. Excerpts are included here from 1855 - 1860 recounting his marriage and the sickness and death of his wife Mary from smallpox in 1857. Upon her death, his 7 month old daughter Lilly went to live with relatives.  Ebenezer remarried and was reunited with Lilly in 1860.

 

1855: October 10: Marriage of Ebenezer to Mary
1856: October 3: Birth of daughter Lilly
1857: May 17: Mary sick--missed church
1857: May 18: Mary worse--Doctor called
1857: May 19: Mary worse--another Doctor called
1857: May 20: Mary weaker
1857: May 20: Mary still weaker
1857: May 20: Mary's last words
1857: May 21: Mary died
1857: May 22: News of Mary's death spread
1857: May 23-24: Family arrive: Mary's funeral
1857: May 24: Mary's funeral
1857: May 25: Lilly sent to relatives; Ebenezer gives up house
1857: June 18: Ebenezer visits Lilly; remembers Mary
1857: June 18: Ebenezer remembers Mary
1857: December 21: Ebenezer finds the world cold and gloomy
1860: February 6: Ebenezer's thoughts on remarriage
1860: April 23: Ebenezer marries Julia Shafer.

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

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