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 478:

"...I had a very unpleasant task to perform Yesterday I and My late partner held a personal mortgage to Secure the payment of 230 Dollars Coming from a Cousin of Mine  He had previously lost his wife and is very intemperate  has 5 or Six Small Children   He kept drunk during the Day and to See the Small Children Running about + No Father or Mother to instruct them nor give them good advise - and the Same time Selling the property from the farm was Really unpleasant.  I however Bid in Some things to wit Sheep and Bee hives and made a present to the Children - hoping the poor Father cannot Dispose of them   to Rob the Children as I had[?] the wright of the Property in trust for the Children..."

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