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 477:

"after being admonished by the Judge why the centence of the law should not be passed upon them they both said they were not guilty..."

"...Notwithstanding all this the Jury had found them guilty of Murder ..."

"...---They were therefore centanced to be hung on the 29th of November by the Neck till they were Dead between the hours of 10 A. M. + 3 P. M...."

"...Earl Squires Nothrop + Zera Preson whome had also been Indited for Murder Inter[] Pleas of Guilty of Manslaughter in the 1st degree to which the Court accepted   were all 4 centanced to the Clinton County Prison for the term of their Natural Lives (Earl was 65 Yrs Old and Healthy)..."

"Yet notwithstanding all this the Antirenters Many of them will not Yeald[?] Observance to the Law.  They are daily thretning in case the Authority does Execute the Law on those 2 who are under the centance of Death   What the End will bee is Yet unknown..."

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