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 480:

"Nov 14   ...I have been wriding about the Country buying Cattle -- Cattle are quite Scarce Especially fat Cattle owing to the Dry season   I however Succeeded in buying a few for the 2nd drove this season    I must now give a breif sketch of the Prices    Beef in the country on the foot averages about $3-00 a hundred   that is they only count the weight of the meat of the creature..."

"I have Sold My horse Jack which I have before Spoken of   got $110 - 00    So I Now take my pleasure Horse Cream an Excellent horse tho Not as Elegant as Jack nor in fact so perfectly Broke..."

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