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.

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

Excerpts from p. 460:

"July 25  Wm D. is Not as well; the Doctor is absent  I am Inclined to Think he has the Cancer rash is in Much pain Across his Bowels by Spells...

"...I [] [] of Spoken of the Antirent difficulty heretofore existing amongst the [] of the Cou[] -- More Espicaly in Delaware Schoharie Renselaer Albany + a part of Ulster. The People Resolved to pay the Landlords No More Rent ! and to avoid the law they prepaired themselves with Masks and when they were [] wan so completely disfigured that my nearest neighbors coud Not be Recognized. They []slew the Horse only where they [] [] to Repel an Officer in the Discharge of his official dutys. Upon the 15th day of March last Sheriff Steel + his posse arived in Roxbury a Joining town and Succeeded in Capturing Five of the Antirenters lodged them safely in the Delhi Jail + [] pf there number was tried and Justly centenced to Two Years imprisonment in States prison - I have this day Signed a petition in Behalf of one of the Said Convicts -- alth I was upon various accasions Ill treated threttened to be tard and Feathered and threttened of being Burnt? our by [][] I choose in this case to return good for Evil  They did in Several instances Tar and Fether the Officer and Rob them of ther papers []. They have now cince the [] has been put in force against them been More Sociable and Friendly.- Many Men and these too whose [] heretofore Sustained a good Character utterly Refused to Trade with or Do any buisness with any..."    (continued on p. 461)

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