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

Excerpts from p. 458:

"...My family Now consists of a Wife Six Children Two Boarders one clerk a Sick hired man a Sick Visator and a Young woman to Attend the Visator. The Sick hired Man is a Con[] Kipp who is of Rather intemperate habits and was Taken Sick the last of May...

"The Sick Visator is a Wife of One of my Boarders who came here to Visit with her Husband and has been here Sick about Two weeks  She is Now Recovering from an atack of the Billious Fever. Her Husband is a Doctor  So we have the Tools handy for the Sick, - The Billious fever has been quite a Comon Complaint in this Section of the County for a few weeks, Very few Deaths."

"The foregoing is written from personal recollection this 19th day of July 1845. I [] Now propose of Keeping a [direa] Daily of the acurances."

"Sunday July 20th 1845 I arose and found the Sick in an Approving State  Tooke care of the Horses + did not attend Publick Worship [] tis but one Mile to the Methodist Church."

"The wether is extremely dry and warm at 12 Oclock AM...Examined My beese and as I have them at work in drawers I discovered they were in the Same Condition they had been in for Several days.  the weather being do dry they could not Gather honey from the few withered flowers..."

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