DIARY
LIFE ON A CORAM FARM IN 1871
Abstract by,
Mrs. Eleanor Davis Erhardt
Daughter of Daniel R. Davis
William Lester Davis was born in the Davis Town Meeting house in Coram on July 5, 1850. He was one of ten children of Lester H. Davis, a prosperous farmer, innkeeper, and politician.
As an adult he farmed his property on the Coram Mt. Sinai Road, one mile north of his birthplace. William died March 3, 1930.
This diary illustrates the daily life on a typical Long Island farmer of the period.
Introduction written by,
Davis Erhardt
June, 2000
May, 25- Daniel and I have been planting watermelons
26- fixing to plant garden
27- Daniel, Chris and William planted garden. In P.M Chris and Wm. Planted 4 acres corn where it did not come up or was pulled up by crows
29- plowing out corn- Pa went to mill in AM, left his grist and fetched back load of lumber
30- Wm., Daniel and Chris driving team on highway
31- plowing out corn-rain-
June, 1- Carting manure (Chris helping) from around barn so as to be ready to lay foundation
2- Carting manure to Raynor farm for turnips and plowing out corn
3- Wm. and Daniel helped carpenter pull down barn. When finished, helped mason lay foundation of new barn, which we half finished.
5- Helping mason most of day
6- Plowing and harrowing turnip piece
7- Plowing out corn- (Daniel and Wm.)
9- Dank and Wm. Plowing out potatoes and corn
10- Cultivating out corn
12- Dank and Wm. Each went with load of wood part way to Port Jefferson so as to make up a full load. It is very sandy till we get part way over-
13- Went with one load of wood and cultivated a little corn- In P.M Chris and I planted potatoes and spread one load of fish scraps on corn
14- To Patchogue with load of wood and back with load of fish scraps which Chris and I spread on corn
15- greasing harness- In P.M Dank and I have been filling in with sand around foundation of barn
16- Patchogue with load of wood, back with load of fish scraps
17- Dank and I plowing out corn. Finished raising barn without accident
19- Daniel and I went to Patchogue with load of wood and back with load of fish scraps, Chris and I spread on load
20- Spreading fish scraps and cultivating corn
21- Plowing out corn- now high
22 - "
23- " " " and in P.M working in garden
24- Plowing out potatoes. Dank (Daniel's nickname) and I carted 2 loads wood to Town House (Town Poor House in Coram)
Daniel R. Davis
26- Plowed out potatoes- Then Pa and I each went to Patchogue with loads of wood, back with fish scraps
27- At Raynor farm plowing out turnips and buckwheat
28- At Raynor farm Dank and I have been plowing out buckwheat. In P.M. helped carpenters raise rafters of the barn
29- cultivating corn
30- At Raynor farm, made commencement of moving- In P.M Dank and I raked hay, then I mowed more
July-1 Finished mowing field commenced yesterday at Raynor farm- P.M started carting hay cut yesterday. At 4 P.M. Pa and Daniel came up so Dank and I went to raking and Chris and I went carting- not a good hay day
3- Rained all night. Plowing out corn and Potatoes in A.M, in P.M finished plowing out potatoes in A.m., in P.M. finished plowing out potatoes. Set out a few cabbage plants
July-4 In A.M plowing out corn- In P.M Pa and I got in hay left out over Sunday at Raynor farm "fourth of July is an holiday but I have not made it so"
5- plowing out corn
6- Wm. and Elbert Hammond, young man who is helping through harvest sowed buckwheat at Raynor farm- In P.M Wm. And Daniel raked hay
7- Finished harrowing buckwheat and sowed clover seed at Raynor farm- P.M have been raking and binding wheat. Shower last night
8-Raking and binding wheat until 4 P.M- Then Dank and I carted in - 140 shocks. It was all got in the barn today- kept six of us busy-
10- A.M plowing out corn- warm -90
11- At Raynor farm cutting, raking and getting in hay- not a good hay day. Rain stopped them at 4PM
12- Plowing out corn which looks fine and has prospect of being a good crop. PM- Pa went to mowing in swamp. Wm. And Chris raking and carting in hay at Raynor farm- Hay cured fast
13- Wm. And Elbert finished getting in hay at Raynor farm- In PM getting in hay at home
14- Carting in hay- have put in ten loads
15- A.M plowing out corn. P.M- Wm. and Daniel raking scattering of wheat stubble
17- A.M- Plowing and harrowing turnip ground. P.M mowing
18- AM- Plowing out corn and mowing. PM- Raking and carting in hay
July 20- A.M- Plowing and mowing. P.M- Pa, Wm. And Daniel have been raking and carting in hay, -raining a little
21-Pa and Daniel finished getting in hay. Wm. Raking oats at Raynor farm
22- Plowed out corn until dew was off, then went with Elbert to Raynor farm to rake oats- took up 33 shocks
24- Raking oats at Raynor farm with the men. P.M- carted two loads home
25- Wm. And Christopher cradling oats in piping tree lot
26- Rain most of the day- clearing rubbish from around new barn
27- Have been ½ way to railroad with load of wood- Wm. and Chris cradling oats in swamp
28- Wm. And Chris finished cradling at piping tree- P.M raking and binding- brought one load home
31- Wm. And Daniel raking and getting in oats at Raynor farm
Aug. 1- To Port Jefferson with a load of wood- went from there to piping tree lot to help Daniel and Chris rake oats- We each got in a load of oats
2- Plowing ground for turnips where we had early potatoes, P.M harrowing the ground and Chris went to drilling them in- got last load of oats from Raynor farm- Harvest over
Aug.- 3- Wm. Daniel and Chris, threshing oats with machine
Aug. -4- Carting manure for wheat, stopped by rain
5- Wm. and Elbert carting out manure for wheat- 90 degrees
7- carting manure for wheat
8- Elbert and Wm. Carting manure for wheat
9- Carting out manure, made a commencement of plowing oat ground which will be plowed twice
10- Two loads of wood to Patchogue, back with two loads of shells
12- Wm. And Daniel to Port Jefferson where they got 550 bushels of ashes
13- Wm. And Daniel each went to Port Jefferson with a load of wood and brought back 4 loads of ashes
14- Wm. And Daniel to Port Jefferson with a load of wood and each fetched back a load of ashes to the Raynor farm- Later plowed a little in the swamp
16- Plowing the oat ground
17- Finished plowing oat ground and sowed it
18- Plowing for Rye at Raynor farm
21- Wm. Daniel and Elbert have threshed with machines- about 100 bushels. Very dry weather
22- Sowing Rye and later grass seed
24- Fixing a fence at Raynor farm- looking for lost sheep without success
26- Wm. Daniel and Elbert cleaning up oats- P.M carting turf in the hog been and carting away old timbers from around the barn
28- Both Wm. And Daniel to Port Jefferson with loads of wood and back with ashes for the Raynor farm
29- To Port Jefferson with wood and back with ashes for Raynor Farm
30- Wm. And Elbert hoeing turnips at Raynor farm
31- Wm. And Elbert carting turf and leaves in hog pen
Sept. 1- Plowing for Rye at Raynor farm
2- Threshing seed wheat- a good day- never threshed when it worked better
4- Wm. And Daniel to Bellport for salt hay
5- Took about 20 bushels of grain to mill and from there to Bellport for salt hay
6- Wm. And Elbert hoeing turnips and cutting wood in the swamp
7- To Port Jefferson with a load of wood, returned with load of ashes and spread it on the ground where rye will be planted- mowed grass that was cut yesterday
8- Plowing for wheat at Raynor farm in A.M- In P.M Wm. And Daniel spread fish scraps and finished spreading ashes on Rye ground
9- Plowing for wheat at Raynor farm in A.M. In the P.M Wm. And Daniel loaded up the clover- 2 loads- took it home and threshed it
11- Elbert Hammonds time is up and Charles Crosier takes his place. Wm. And Charles cut about two acres of corn
12- Plowing for wheat at Raynor farm, tedious work as the ground is hard
13- Cutting corn was stopped by rain
14- Have been half way to Port Jefferson with two loads of wood. The first part of the road is very sandy- from there on we put on more wood
15- Plowing for wheat at Raynor farm- until 10A.M when it began to rain
16- plowing for wheat at Raynor farm- the ground being wet enough now
18-Wm. And Charles have been cutting corn, 95 stacks, very good corn- In P.M Daniel and Mr. Clark helped
19- Wm. And Daniel spread a load of fish scraps on the wheat ground- then spread 400 bushels of ashes
20- Wm. And Daniel spreading fish scrap and ashes on ground
21- Wm. And Daniel spread a load of fish scraps, then sprouted a few bushes around the hedge- In the P.M cutting corn
22- Wm. And Charles spread a load of fish scraps at Raynor farm- Then Wm. Went to sowing wheat- sowed it both ways and Charles harrowed. Then sowed Timothy seed- A heavy frost last night
23- Plowing for wheat in the swamp
25- Plowing all day with the exception of spreading one load of fish scrap
26- Plowed for wheat until 3 O'clock - halted by rain
27- Plowing and spreading fish scrap and ashes for wheat
29- Plowing and spreading manure, getting ready to sow wheat tomorrow
30- Finished sowing wheat, about 10 acres
Oct. 2- Wm. And Daniel raked buckwheat at Raynor farm and fetched home a load- threshed it in the P.M
3- Pulling beans that we planted between hills of corn
4- Wm. And Daniel carting cordwood and firewood where they intend to clear
5- Carting fire-wood in A.M. Wm. and Charles cutting wood in P.M.
7- Wm. and Daniel carting sand and filling in around the barn. Looking for 10 lost sheep
9- cutting wood with Charles
10- Clearing up around barn and cutting wood
11- carting sand
Oct. 12- Carting sand and looking for lost sheep
13- Killed two shoats- cutting wood in swamp
14- threshing oats
16- Helped butcher 2 shoats- cutting wood in swamp
17- Cutting wood
18- Cutting and carting wood- husking corn
19- carting sand- filling in old cow yard
20- Clearing up around barn
21- pulled a load of turnips at Raynor farm and went to Port Jefferson with them
22- Husking corn in the A.M.- getting in stalks and plowing for rye in P.M
24- Plowing for rye in swamp- stopped by rain. In P.M cleaning up oats 88 bushels
25- Carting manure and spreading for rye in A.M. In P.M Charles helped Wm. get in one load of stalks, then carted sand around the barn
26- Carting sand and plowing for rye
27- Carting sand
28- In A.M. finished plowing for rye then sowed it and Daniel harrowed. In P.M sowed on the grass seed and finished barrowing
30-Carting sand and leveling around barn in A.M. In P.M burning new ground- In evening saw a light in the east which proved to be burning of Mr. King's barn
31- Threshed 30 shocks of wheat
Nov. 1- Cleaning up wheat
2-plowing new ground
3- plowing new ground
4- Chas, Daniel and Wm. pulled a load of turnip and will went to P.J. with them and put them on the packet to go to NY
6- plowing new ground
7- plowing new ground
8- plowing new ground
9- Finished plowing new ground- not sorry for it is very tedious work
10- rain- no work
11. Wm. and Daniel spread shell line on the new ground, plowing and husking corn
13- Wm. and Daniel finished spreading lime, got in one load of stalks, then spread a load of fish scraps on new ground
Nov. 14- Husking corn in the barn on account of rain
15- killed 4 in number- In P.M spread gass lime on new ground
16- husking corn and helping cut up pork
17- Finished pulling and cutting turnips- we raised between 200 and 300 bushels- They turned out more than 400 bushels to the acre
18- sowed the new ground with rye- husked corn
19- cleaning out horse stables and husking corn in barn
20- Husking corn with Daniel and two others
22- Daniel and Wm. putting leaves in hog pen - loaded one load of corn- husking corn
23- Husking corn
24- Helping father cut and stack stalks
25- Husking corn in A.M- In P.M. Wm. and Daniel each carted a load of turnips to Port Jefferson
27- Husking and storing corn
28-In A.M Wm. and Daniel finished getting in turnips- In P.M husking corn
29- Wm. and Daniel stacking stalks
30- National Thanksgiving Day- To church to hear Thanksgiving sermon
Dec. 1- Got 2 loads of stalks in barn- husking corn the remainder of the day
2- Husking corn
3- Wm. and Daniel each carted a load of wood to P.J.
5- Carting sand in cow yard, filling it up so as to get the cows in the yard for winter for it is very cold
6- Working around the barn and yard
7- Husking corn
8- Husking corn
9- Stacking stalks in the barn
11- Work diversified- stacking stalks, removing turnips from barn to cellar, storing corn
12- Threshed 54 shocks of oats
13- Finished threshing and cleaning oats
14- Helping clean up oats in A.M and in P.M threshing wheat
15- Threshing wheat
16- Finished Threshing wheat
18- Pressing hay at Raynor farm
19- Pressing Hay
20- Cleaning up wheat
21- Finished cleaning yp wheat and in the P.M fixing the sheep stables
22- Killing a hog
23- Cutting up a hog, cleaning out stables
25- The school children had a x-mas tree here in the evening- very pleasant
26- Spreading gass lime on the corn ground
27- Spreading gass lime on the corn ground
28- Cutting wood at wood pile, carted one load of old board from around the barn to burn
29- Carted load of wood to wood-pile and cut some
30- Father and Wm. each carted a load of hay (pressed) to P.J. to send to NY
31- Alas a year has gone- Tempus Fuget and we are now to welcome the New Year
Contact with neighbors
March 2, 1871- Attended Davis Norton's funeral in Selden. Dr. Baker took dinner with us. The girls spent the evening with Emma Norton
March 5, 1871- Family attended the funeral of Mrs. Charry Ritch, 80 years old
March 26, 1871- Attended funeral of Thos. King in M.I. church, a large congregation
Political meetings
June 3, - Town trustees met
March 1, - Supervisor of the Town met here for purpose of paying interest on Town Bonds
March 28, -The justices, Supervisor, Town Clerk and other officers of the Town met here with their accounts for this year, and the Democrats of the Town met to nominate their officers
April 4, - Town Election- unpleasant day
May 1, - Justices met here to grant licenses
Nov.- Annual election- Wm. cast his first vote
Activities
March 31, - Wm. and sister Ada attended Divison at Millers Place- had a very pleasant evening and got home about midnight
June 10, - Attended a trial that originated from a horse trade. Went to a circus at P.J. - warm day 90 degrees
Aug. 4, - Went to Patchogue with George Thompson to procure a boat to take a company to Fire Island. Raining hard by spells
Diary from the collection of
Davis Erhardt