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

Excerpt from p 467:

"22.  The Sheriff and his possee has this day Succeeded in Aresting 6 Other prisoners and Stashed...  

Excerpts from p. 468:

(continued from p. 467) "them off to Delhi   They take a tour in the AfterNoon View the Situation of the Country and Return then in the Night  they make a rush and Take people upon Surprise.   I hear important disclosures being Made daily Before the inquest...

"23.  The possee Succeeded in arresting 4 prisoners During the past Night and this day being Saturday They all Start for Delhi   Their Number has increased to 45 or 7.  I shall look for them again in 3 or 4 day[]  The country is in a deplorable condition   Women + Children Mourning the loss of their Husbands + Fathers.  Still a further difficulty.  People Dare Not work and Crops are going back to the Earth.  I have 2 days During this week rode out from 6 to 8 Miles and Came[] Not in a Single instance See a Man at work   Our county must become bankrupt.  The weather again is about as dry as usual and extremely warm  So much So Horses Swet Standing in the Stables"

"26.  The weather is Still hot and dry the Men about the C[] are Scudding hiding in the woods + leaving the country .- I have been some 8 or 9 Miles Out from holm this day and see the Crops are Returning to the ground again for the want of Men to Cut and Secure them   The  Sheriffs possee h[] again returned to Our Neighborhood."

"27.  The possee have Just Returned from a place called Dry brook where the indians have threatend to Shoot +e but Met with No... (continued on p. 469)

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