Background: Born in 1771, Samuel Law, Esq., a graduate of Yale University, came to Meredith (Delaware County, NY) in 1798.  He was a land agent for proprietors of the Franklin Patent.  He advertised, sold, and leased land.  In addition, he was a farmer and businessman. He build a large house on Meredith Square in 1806 which was considered one of the finest in the county.  His wife Sally was born in 1776.  He had four sons: William Lyon Law born in 1814, Samuel Andrew Law, born in 1816, Jonathan Albion Law, born in 1819, and Stephen Dodd Law, born in 1821.

Tuesday, Jan 1, 1839.
Of Gods goodness and mercy I am permitted to hail another year; and, in its unfolding scenes may the path of duty be my path.
Have, to day been busy with divers cares-over my papers & writings, in part; part with business Co. –collecting of Wm. Judson; - divided pork with Wright; adjusted A/C with J. Rowe &c.
My health comfortable: how much more so than a 12 mo. ago.
And my family all well save & excepting my eldest son. He, alas, far away in quest of health-I fear, in vain: Yet hoping and praying he may be spared and restored-can only commit him to Gods holy care and keeping. Is for the present at St. Mary’s in Georgia.

Sunday Jan 6.
To meeting: Mr. W. preached: a.m. New Year’s sermon: Text from Job: “My days are swifter than a weavers shuttle.” P.M. On the Temperance Cause: Tenor of it, addressed to moderate drinkers & bore down upon them - from the example of Paul’s Resolve that he would not eat meat - if his doing so would injure his brethren & jeopardize their souls:- so he argued, -The moderate Drinker, even admitting, (which did not admit,) - it was not wrong to drink moderately, -ought to stop & betake to total abstinence - because, by persisting to drink, - he was, all the while, by his example -speaking louder than words, leading others over the brink & plunging them into hell -
Such the argument: and, answer it who can!
Rather a full meeting & and am not without fears, less some should go away-saying - this is a hard saying: but will hope may do good.
The day, a beautiful winter day – calm - mostly clear & not cold - & good sleighing.
Our healths all so so, but Jona - He ailing & taking bilious pills.

Sun. Jan 13
To meeting: Mr. W. preached. a.m. Christians,- and the Church - should discharge known duties - else may not expect their prayers answered or to have spiritual propriety. p.m. - from Genesis - “In the beginning” &c - God alone has creative power. 1stdiscourse, of a proposed course, on the authenticity of Revelation.
Not a full - only a midling assemblage: Froze last night but so much bare ground that almost no Sleighs out. Sleighing spoilt - by the thaw:-hence thinner meeting - tho the day pleasant & not uncomfortably cold. Toward night, clouding as for storm.
My health comfortable. Evening - wrote to William - also - to Stephen - letters of advice.

Sunday Feb. 17.
To meeting: am Mr. W. Text “Be not overcome with evil; but overcome evil with good!” A good discourse - p.m. a Mr. Fairchild, - an abolition lecture; wholly unexpected - Rather slim! Evening - 2d Lecture - Same subject - but did not go

Friday 22d Feb.
107 years - to day - since the birth of Washington!
Forenoon - in office at accounts: p.m. - Rode to West Meredith and attended the Funeral of Elder Simeon P. Griswold - 55 years of age - who died of a sudden - with Pleuracy: - sick, as said - but 6 days!
A great funeral - the meeting house full of people. Sermon by Mr. Hartshorne - from Paul’s triumphant exultation, in view of his approaching Death:- “ I have fought a good fight,”- &c: a solemn affecting & truly impressive discourse. May God bless it & the solemn providence to me - & the many assembled on the solemn occasion.
Retd - and Resumed the business in my office - where wrote - till hard on to midnight: My health so so.
Weather - a warm - pleasant - thawy day - and just as eve - set in to Rain..

Sunday Mar. 17.
To meeting: Mr. Wright preached - a.m. Txt: “ Is it I?” Doc: Each should ask - Is it I - that, in my practice, - deny, - my Lord. P.M. Funeral Sermon on Mrs. S. Dutton! Text - M. 24 - v 25 “Peace I give unto you; my peace I leave with you” &c. Christian peace, the alone, all suffering peace.
Aided about the burial - tho my health poorly - & tho snowing fast: Morn pleas: pm & Eve - Snow.
 

Sunday Ap. 14.
To meeting: Mr. W. preached: a.m. “Will he always call upon God.” - p.m. On authenticity of the Scriptures: Very thin Meeting - some snow but mostly melted off: Weather clearing & moderating: more pleasant after the storm than expected. Eve wrote to Stephen.

Sunday May 19.
At meeting: Revd. Mr. Harrison preached and administered the sacrament: Text from Isaiah’s prophesy & from the passage - as a sheep, dumb, before its shearers &c. Mrs. McGary admitted to the Chh: About 60 communicants present, believe: Myself, Mrs. Law and Albion & Stephen of the number.
A solemn season: O to live answerable to our mercies and privileges!
The day, clear & pleasant, - but still, pretty cool. Just at Eve, - Stephen off to Delhi - to take the stage for New Haven - latter part the night.
Self: my health so so: Eve, wrote my brother, Wm Law; & up till past

Sunday June 2d.
Attended meeting: Mr. Wright, a.m. a discourse urging the claims of the Central Education Society - and a Contribution took up of - said 10.47 - of which I furnished 50, - believing it - a duty incumbent on me: - to aid that fare; and if consistently able, would gladly, further.
Evening in office, writing - till late - my health so so.
Weather - cloudy & very damp & drisley - and this Eve, - has Rained considerable: has grown milder & warmer than it was yesterday: A very growing time - especially - for grass & grain - the Right kind of weather.

Friday June 14.
Into office & a.m. completed and got off letters to Wm - also - to Stephan.
Notified - by Sister Dodd - that Brother Baldwin - as feared - dangerously sick!
Spare, O spare him, Heavenly Father, and Restore that he & his may sing of mercy; or prepare him, if his days are numbered & save him for Christ’s sake; and prepare my sister & him for whatever, in thy holy providence may be allotted them!
Received advice afresh from my sick and absent son. O that he may live to praise thee, - Father, Son, and Spirit. And O prepare him & me & all of us, for all thy dealings toward us - merciful - or afflictive.

Sunday June 23.
Attended meeting - Mr. Wright - on the busy scene of life - all busy - for what! - or heaven - or hell - the issue!
Weather - pleasant but rather cool.
My health feeble: yet into meeting - & this eve - writing to Land holders - till midnight.
 

Tuesday June 25.
A.M. Of: at accounts of C. & J. W.[C. & J. Wharton] & H. D.[Henry Drinker] - p.m. into the Meeting of Presbytery - Eve: Co of Rev. Mr. Bassett - Deacon Wheeler of Deposit & a Mr. Marvin of Hd Dela - Day, clear & pleasant: My health so so: poorly: weak & feeble: onto my bed - a spell:

Wednesday June 26.
Session of Presbytery continued & closed today: p.m. Meeting for the behalf of the Foreign Miss. [Missionary] Society: and Col. [Collection] took up of 15 or 16 Dols - 5 of which had to furnish myself & think if others of our people had done as ought, - might well Raised 50.
The day - the weather delightful: my health, a little better.

Sunday July 14.
To meeting: Mr. Wright preached: a.m. On the theme, that Certain of the Israelites were interdicted, saying - They shall not enter in into Rest: So of all sinners, they may - & we may suppose, may do, - out-live their day of grace - their case, awful, hopeless! - and who are they? P.M. - on the Prophesies, as to the dispersion of the Jews - fulfilling - before our eyes. Able & energetic discourses!
My health so so: comfortable, for me. Evening into Office - and wrote - till midnight - at M & C’s Land accounts.
Weather - warm - damp - & showers about - slight perceptible sprinkles - a few drops - here.

Sunday July 28.
Self, Mrs. Law & Albion attended Meeting and Sacrament: Revd. Mr. Williston preached & administered the sacrament: a solemn day: and a goodly number assembled.
After meeting, a thunder shower, - preventing a 5 oCl. meeting. Eve: Co Mr. W. & his son with us.

Sun. Aug. 4
To meeting: last day of Revd. Crispus Wright’s supply: been with us 2 years: P.M. Preached his Farewell Discourse, - from Philippians 1st 27 & 28.
“Only let your conversation be as becometh the Gospel of Christ: &c”
What constitutes - being so:
Duty to be so, urged:
Being so, no fear: all will be well.
A sound & good farewell, - in which duty plainly enjoined & its happy issues proclaimed.
A full meeting!
And now, we are left! O to be, anew, supplied, - with a Godly Pastor!

Wednesday Aug. 21.
Day, perhaps half - about my haying & calling cares: Rest, at Land accounts, - at which, up, - writing, - till 11 o’Clock.
Recvd a letter from William: discouraging, as seems to me: indeed, strongly fear he may soon be dead & gone!
O God, have mercy upon him. Mercifully inline[?] him by thy Holy Spirit, to Repent of all his sins & to believe in the Lord, Jesus Christ, to the salvation of his soul. O God, Father, Son & Holy Spirit, have mercy on him: spare & Restore him, if may be: If not, O grant that he may be prepared to go hence; O grant him peace in believing and holy acquiescence in whatever thy dispensations. O pardon, sanctify & save him thro Christ & for his sake: and to the be all the praise & glory - ever & forever.
And, O mercifully prepare me, for whatever thy dealings may be. Grant me saving faith. Lord, I believe: help thou my [illegible] . O God, be merciful to me, a sinner. Thro Christ & for his sake, pardon, sanctify & save me and mine :& be all the glory thine.

Sunday Sep. 1.
To Reading Meeting: 2 of Burder’s sermons - Read - by Stephen - finest of his Reading - at meeting.
Samuel - unwell - teeth ache &c and not into meeting.
But few attended - most off - to Baptist meeting - afternoon, singers, all off there! Alas, that it should be so! What will become of our society? - Of our Church, - above all!
Own health, comfortable: Weather clear & most delightful: the 1st day of autumn! The summer is ended! O may our souls be saved, thro Christ Jesus, our lord!
 

Wednesday Sep. 18.
Some general care: a.m. Wrote my Brother, Wm Law: also, line to my son, Wm. My hlth so so.
Weather, - early morn, a flush shower - & day, damp - main cloudy & very warm: Eve, lightning & shower, in the distance Round.
All my laborers, (save one,) off to Delhi, - to a Training; - where, as they say, an abundance of drunkenness & noise & quarreling! Shame, O shame! - where is thy blush.

Sunday Oct. 6.
Into Reading meeting - Self - Mrs. Law, Samuel & Albion: a.m. Burder’s Sermon on the trinity - Read by Saml - p.m. his Do on Paul’s declaration “I am not ashamed of the Gospel - & - Read by me. Solemn discourses - & yield of important truths.
Weather - pleasant - but cold - a chill, S. wind & hazing - as if for a cold Rain.
My health so so: In spirits, sad, - with thinking about William - O that God may bless him and Restore, if may be: Above all, that mercy, in Christ Jesus, may be his portion!
And still, additionally, depressed, to day, - in the prospect of Samuel’s - shortly going away - to Erie, - to leave me, perhaps, for good. O that the mercy of God, in Christ Jesus, may also be his portion!
 

Wednesday Oct. 30.
A poorer night & this morn more poorly, seemingly; - and fever, some of - but - impd, a little - after up, - awhile: And, forenoon, wrote - to Mr. Sanderson. By E. mail a further letter from St. Mary’s of 17th when, -
William - alive - but, alas! - no better! If yet living, - O that he might be spared: but - above all, prepared, pardoned sanctified & saved, thro Christ our Lord.

Wednesday Nov. 13.
This forenoons Mail arrived and bro’t the solem, tho not unexpected, - tidings, that my eldest Son, William Lyon Law - is no more!
Recvd advice Certifying us, that he died, at St. Mary’s, Ga - the 31 ult: and, as we are mercifully assured, died a placid, peaceful death - conscious to the last & calmly Resigned to his Maker’s will; and as we humbly hope & are happy to believe, trusting in his Almighty Savior!
Sorrowful & deeply afflicted with loss of a darling Son, we, nevertheless rejoice, that such, to human view, was his departure from this world of sin & sorrow. We thank thee, Heavenly Father, that thou grantest us such solace of our sorrow: And O, sanctify our bereavement - to me - to us all, - to our spiritual & everlasting good: and enable us on & all, father, mother and brothers, to feel & say, - The Lord gave & has taken away, and blessed be his holy name.
After the affecting news Received, passed the day, pretty much, with my Wife & Albion, the only of our family at home! Wrote & forwarded mail, to Samuel & to Stephen, the solemn tidings!

Sunday Nov. 17.
Kept my Room: tho comfortable: my mind much occupied on the theme of our Son’s late departure: Finished transcribing an Obituary Memorial of him.
O that his dying, his Farewell Message, to Us, - may be blessed to me, to his Mother, and to all his Brothers, for our Spiritual good!

Sunday Nov. 24.
Revd. Mr. Abel preached, with us, today - the day stormy - a furious South wind & snow storm - very few into Meeting; - so stormy Mrs. Law complaining of not being well enough to go out & not attending: Self - and Albion attended: And, p.m.: presented our Humiliation - asking, prayer, on account of William’s Death!

Friday Dec. 27.
Began Dispatches for Mr. Stewardson - stating the Drinker A/C - also Table of Drinker Debts - and of Lands - on hand.
Mail in - p.m. brot advice from Dr. Judson - also from him & Mr. Williams - Inventory of Williams left things!
O the painful theme! Heavenly Father, O sanctify it all, to me, for my spiritual good: aid me, by thy spirit, to improve thy Chastizing, bereaving dispensation acceptably, in thy sight: may it lead me to Repentance and faith; led me to Christ!

Tuesday Dec. 31, 1839!
Drew & engrossed Deed of School-house Site - on the Square: And, Eve, into School Meeting. My health midling, for me: Mrs. Law, feeble, but better today & a little about: Albion so so.
Weather moderated & storm over - been, since Saturday, till last night, a tempest of wind & snow & snow drifting & drifting: - and Roads, now, almost blocked up - no mail - since last Friday.
And, - the year 1839! - where is it? “With the Years beyond the flood.” The trials, O the trials it has been fraught with. In it, William, my son! My son has exchanged worlds: left this sublunary scene & gone, I humbly trust, to a better & thrice blessed world; to a home & a house - not made with hands, - eternal in the heavens!
O God of mercy grant, that the trials I have, the past &, now closing year, been carried thro, may thro thy mercy in Christ Jesus, & by aids of thy Holy Spirit, be sanctified to me, for my spiritual & eternal well being - O Triune God, Father, Son & Spirit: for Christ’s sake, hear & grant my prayer & by the glory thine. And, O bless & have mercy on my Family that survive, my Wife & my three spared Sons.
The Year is just drawing to a close! And this is the last shall date 1839! Farewell, lapsed Year: Thy joys & sorrows are gone by. O may they live, in memory, to quicken me, in preparing for another and better state of being; for happiness & heaven, thro Christ Jesus in whom alone, I desire to trust.

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