Background: The diary of Matthew Griffin was discovered under some hay in the corner of a carriage barn in Fleishmanns, New York in the summer of 1916.

Matthew Griffin was born in Fishkill, New York in 1808 and moved with his family to Middletown, Delaware County, New York in 1823. He was an "Up-Renter": he disapproved of the "Down-Renters" (Anti-Renters). His diary provides vivid accounts of both the Anti-Rent conflict and daily life in Antebellum rural New York.

Warning: For serious researchers only: may be hard to read, as is the original diary

Excerpt from p. 457:

"...I there continued Business until the fall of 1842. I had also Built a Dwelling House and commenced the Tavern Keeping Business...

"...for My Self = prior to this After Selling My old farm My father + Mother came and lived with Me. My Mother had been quite out of health for Several Years and in the fall of 1841 She was [] with the inflamation of the lungs. and After a Short but Severe Illness Died at 11 Oclock P. M. My father continued to live with Me in the Spring of 1843. He was afflicted with a Small Sore on his left Cheek which had been there in the Shape of a Small lump for Thirty Years  This lump looked of a Bluish Couler and Continued to grow + Increase  He finely Aplyed to Physicians + a Doctor Dewit of Ulster County comensed an Operation on it  Succeeded in Eating and Burning it untill Several peaces of the Flesh came out  The Sore Continued to Assume a Cancerous Appearance and grew quite Rapidly until the month of February 1844 when it Terminated his Existance..."

Matthew Griffin's diary courtesy of the Delaware County Historical Association Archives, 46549 State Hwy 10, Delhi, NY, 13753.