1771

Year 1771

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“You will be turn’d into hell, with ugly devils, to eternity.”

 

Mr. Beacon

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A trip by stage from Philadelphia to New York City would take two days.

This was considered so fast, the stages were called "flying machines."

 

 

ANNA GREEN WINSLOW has just turned twelve, when her 72-page diary or journal (edited in 1894, by Alice Morse Earle) begins. It has been a hard winter in Boston, where her parents have sent her to “finishing school.”

 

She writes home from Nova Scotia to let them know how she is faring, as well as to practice her penmanship.

 

Earle sets the scene:

 

Through this journal we see “Nanny Green’s” simple and monotonous daily life; her little tea-drinkings; her spinning and reeling and knitting; her frequent catechisings, her country walks. We find her mother’s testimony to the “appearance of reason that is in my children and for the readiness with which they seem to learn what is taught them.” And though she repeatedly thanks God for living in a warm house, she notes that “my bason of water froze on the hearth with as good a fire as we could make in the chimney.” This rigor of climate and discomfort of residence, and Anna’s evident delicacy shown through the records of her fainting, account for her failing health.

 

Anna herself begins with an undated note, and then an entry for November 18, 1771, addressed to her mother:

 

I guess I shall have but little time for journalising till after thanksgiving. My aunt Deming says I shall make one pye myself at least. I hope somebody beside myself will like to eat a bit of my Boston pye thou’ my papa and you did not (I remember) chuse to partake of my Cumberland performance. I think I have been writing my own Praises this morning. Poor Job was forced to praise himself when no man would do him that justice. I am not as he was. I have made two shirts for unkle since I finish’d mamma’s shifts.

 

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November 18:

 

Mr. Beacons text yesterday was Psalm cxlix. 4. For the Lord taketh pleasure in his people; he will beautify the meek with salvation. His Doctrine was something like this, viz: That the Salvation of Gods people mainly consists in Holiness. The name Jesus signifies a Savior. Jesus saves his people from their Sins. He renews them in the spirit of their minds – writes his Law in their hearts. Mr. Beacon ask’d a question. What is beauty – or, wherein does true beauty consist? He answer’d, in holiness – and said a great deal about it that I can’t remember, & as aunt says she hant leisure now to help me any further – so I may just tell you a little that I remember without her assistance, and that I repeated to her yesterday at Tea – He said he would lastly address himself to the young people: My dear young friends, you are pleased with beauty, & like to be tho’t beautifull – but let me tell ye, you’l never be truly beautifull till you are like the King’s daughter, all glorious within, all the orniments you can put on while your souls are unholy make you the more like white sepulchres garnish’d without, but full of deformyty within. You think me very unpolite no doubt to address you in this manner, but I must go a little further and tell you, how cource soever it may sound to your delicacy, that while you are without holiness, your beauty is deformity – you are all over black & defil’d, ugly and loathsome to all holy beings, the wrath of th’ great God lie’s upon you, & if you die in this condition, you will be turn’d into hell, with ugly devils, to eternity.

 

NOTE TO TEACHERS: I wonder what modern students would think of Mr. Beacon’s lecture. Would they see any relevance to their lives?

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November 29:

 

My aunt Deming gives her love to you and says it is this morning 12 years since she had the pleasure of congratulating papa and you on the birth of your scribling daughter. She hopes if I live 12 years longer that I shall write and do everything better than can be expected in the past 12.

 

Miss Attwood as well as Miss Winslow are of this family. And Miss N. Glover did me honor by her presence, for she is older than cousin Sally and of her acquaintance. We made four couple at country dansing; danceing I mean. In the evening young Mr. Waters13 hearing of my assembly, put 7his flute in his pocket and played several minuets and other tunes, to which we danced mighty cleverly. But Lucinda14 was our principal piper. Miss Church and Miss Chaloner would have been here if sickness,—and the Miss Sheafs, if the death of their father had not prevented. The black Hatt I gratefully receive as your present, but if Captain Jarvise had arrived here with it about the time he sail’d from this place for Cumberland it would have been of more service to me, for I have been oblig’d to borrow. I wore Miss Griswold’s Bonnet on my journey to Portsmouth, & my cousin Sallys Hatt ever since I came home, & now I am to leave off my black ribbins tomorrow, & am to put on my red cloak & black hatt—I hope aunt wont let me wear the black hatt with the red Dominie—for the people will ask me what I have got to sell as I go along street if I do, or, how the folk at New guinie do? Dear mamma, you dont know the fation here—I beg to look like other folk. You dont know what a stir would be made in sudbury street, were I to make my appearance there in my red Dominie & black 8Hatt. But the old cloak & bonnett together will make me a decent bonnett for common ocation (I like that) aunt says, its a pitty some of the ribbins you sent wont do for the Bonnet.—I must now close up this Journal. With Duty, Love, & Compliments as due, perticularly to my Dear little brother (I long to see him) & Mrs. Law, I will write to her soon.

 

I am Hon^d Papa & mama,

 

Yr ever Dutiful Daughter

 

Anne Green Winslow.

 

N.B. My aunt Deming dont approve of my English & has not the fear that you will think her concernd in the Diction.

 

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December 6: Yesterday I was prevented dining at unkle Joshua’s by a snow storm which lasted till 12 o’clock today, I spent some part of yesterday afternoon and evening at Mr. Glovers. … The snow is up to the peoples wast in some places in the street.

 

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December 14:

 

I went to Mrs. Whitwell’s last wednessday—you taught me to spell the 4 day of the week, but my aunt says that it should be spelt wednesday. My aunt also says, that till I come out of an egregious fit of laughterre that is apt to sieze me & the violence of which I am at this present under, neither English sense, nor anything rational may be expected of me.

 

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December 24:

 

Elder Whitwell told my aunt, that this winter began as did the Winter of 1740. How that was I dont remember but this I know, that to-day is by far the coldest we have had since I have been in New England. (N.B. All run that are abroad.) 

 

This day, the extremity of the cold is somewhat abated. I keept Christmas at home this year, & did a very good day’s work, aunt says so. How notable I have been this week I shall tell you by & by. I spent the most part of Tuesday evening with my favorite, Miss Soley, & as she is confined by a cold & the weather still so severe that I cannot git farther, I am to visit her again before I sleep, & consult with her (or rather she with me) upon a perticular matter, which you shall know in its place. How strangely industrious I have been this week, I will inform you with my own hand – at present, I am so dilligent, that I am oblig’d to use the hand & pen of my old friend, who being near by is better than a brother far off. I dont forgit dear little John Henry so pray mamma, dont mistake me.

 

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December 28: Last evening a little after 5 o’clock I finished my shift. I spent the evening at Mr. Soley’s. I began my shift at 12 o’clock last monday, have read my bible every day this week & wrote every day save one.