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

Continued from p. 463:

"At this Moment the Indian Cheif Order them to fire upon the Horses, Edgertons Horse was shot...

Excerpts from p 464:

"in the Breast and trough the body the ball passing between the Stirrip lether and E's leg  At this moment a fire was Made at Steel + his Horse was wounded and sprang forward   at this instant he was fird upon three balls Taking Effect  2 through his boddy + through his Arm  he lingered until 8 Oclock in the Evening when he Died   A brave Officer and a Patriot.  In Principle  [] tis hard for Me to Discus] My feelings   My bosom[?] thobs[?] with the[?] Shot[?] that m[] S[] [] conduct and [] as they are Upheld by a majority of the comunity"

"Whilst pondering over the Sad News of Murder I listened a moment and heard the Alarm of Fire and upon Jumping Up I Saw a boy Riding who Cried out fire is Set in D Huggins bark (This bark is a quantity of 1000 cords worth $1500. P [] by Said Huggins our lands belonging to Armstrong a Landlord for which Huggins pay 50 c a cord to the Landlord. + the Antirenters are Mad at him because he is an honest man + willing to fullfill his contracts. I proceeded to the woods + found fire Set in four Different places.  by this time some 20 or 25 Men had arrived and after about one Hour hard fighting fire we Succeeded in Aresting the flames.  And how so You think we effected this.  we threw the bark back until we got it back far enough,  And there dug a Trench Around the burning places.- the fire was without a doubt Set by some of those antirenters. - I will give a more full Statement of these indians   they are dressed in a Calico Dress loose made and a Sheepskin Cap Drawn Over the head and face so Completely Masked that tis Not posible to Detect them in any Manner.-"

"Augs 9   The weather Continues warm and dry as usual people are constantly running two + fro and talking of the Murder. the Down Rent Committeemen are Taking the part of the Murderers justifying the Shooting and people here Abouts Almost to a Man Join in with the Cry   I am glad Steel is Shot.  tis no more than Justice and It will help Down Rent []."

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