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 468:

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

Excerpts from p 469: "resistance succeeded in capturing + taking 2 prisoners   One of them is one of my neighbors who had fled there for safety.  He had come out of the woods to Cosy in Some provisions   A few of the possee laying in ambush Saw him and wached him going to the Other Company   They carefully pursued him and got near Enough  Call[] to him to Stand or they would Shoot.  he trembled before the Man + Surrendered; had 3 Shirts 2 Coats + a Napsack of Provisions..."

"I am this evening Taking Eals in a Rack which I have prepared in the Stream  Caught During the Evening 10 fine Eals."

"28.   This day I accompanyed the UnderSheriff in pursuit of one of the prisoners..."

"29.  found the UnderSheriff with 14 men Out again...

"...(I omitted to State that on the 28th Col A Parker of Delhi Called on Me and informed Me they have made important discoverys.  found out the whole Indian organization + that the County of Delaware would be Declared in a State of Insurrection in a few Days)..."

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