1847 Stelle Diary Surfaces

The Historical Society of the Somerset Hills recently acquired an 1847 diary written by John Stelle (1790-1850). This important diary provides a fascinating insight into the hard life of a 19th Century Bernards Township farmer, with its endless back-breaking work and dependence on family and community.

The Stelle family was prominent in the "Millington" section of Bernards Township during the entire 19th century. John Stelle inherited from his father Oliver Stelle 1756-1832) the property that now comprises Spring Ridge. Oliver Stelle's homestead on the east side of the road was inherited by John's brother, Clarkson (1795-1850). This is now the Kennedy-Martin-Stelle Farmstead, a National Register Historic Site.

The discovery of this diary offers an exciting opportunity for Bernards residents to see life as it was over 150 years ago, through the eyes of a fellow resident. Although currently barely a handful of active farms remain in the township, the traditions and values of family and community remain just as important to residents today as they were to John Stelle in 1847.

The historical society is pleased to share with residents a transcription of the first month of the diary, January 1847. Old spellings and original grammar has been retained and clarified when necessary, using [brackets]. Some words are undecipherable and these missing words are also indicated with brackets. In addition to frequent reference to Clarkson, the diary also mentions Jacob and Freeman, John's sons, and Ephraim, his brother. Other names mentioned - Randolph, Vail, Thompson, and Smalley - will likely be familiar to many long-time township residents.

                                                                                                        - THSSH, July 2004

John Stelle's Diary - January 1847

Friday, January 1, 1847 I wish you ahappy New year its warm and foggy has not froose [froze] abit last night wind in the South we sawed the big maple tree Down - Jacob Came from the [?] and the mud Deep frost all dirt Clear all Day -

Saturday, 2. the wind in North west but warm its not froose abit last night alittle blowy this morning Cleared of [off] and we thrash all the ry in the Barn and Cleaned it up. warm anouf for first of April. ---------------

3 Sundy wind west and warm it hant froose one bit last night and hant froose abit this year its quite foggy this morning - I think its agoing to be Colder went to Chirch the mud is very Deep getting Colder I think it will freeze tonight.

Monday, January 4, 1847 the weather has got Colder it froose quite hard last night wind North East and Clouday looks like Snow. It began to Snow at 12 Oc and Snod til 2 1/2 Oc then turned to Rain and hail [probably sleet] we got wheat and ry in out of the Barreck its Raining very hard the Snow most gon its Raining hard at Dark.

Tuesday, 5, It Rained till 4 Oc this morning and the wind Blew very hard it Cleared of at 5 Oc not Cold water quite high we finish Cutting the Big mapel tree Jacob went to John Worth for the girls it has Been very Clear all Day and pleasant I sod [sowed] som Salet [lettuce] and Redish to Day -

Wednesday, 6. the weather is pleasant froose alittle last night my Self and Clarkson Jacob and Freeman went to Ephraim Came back and thrash 160 sheeves of ry the[n] Jacob and Freeman Drawed [Sand?] for the Path of the Machine

Thursday, January 7, 1847. Foggy wind East and began to Rain at 9 O'c it Raind alittle all the foure noon we sheld Corn freeman wash the one horse harnes Jacob Com from I. Randolph it Raind very hard all the Afternoon wind Blew hard from the N.W. and Cooler

Friday, 8, the weather has taken a grate Change last night and very Cold the theemomenty[thermometer] stood at 17 I went to Isaac Lewis and got aload of tarr for the path for the house walk and very Cold.

Saturday, 9. Clear and Cold the thermomety Stood at 14 Jacob and Clarkson went to Plainfield we thrash ry and finish the ry I went to bring Margret Thompson home the water and ice was so high we Could not Cross I took her up to James Vails. ---------------- 10 Sunday Cloudy wind west and Snoes wind got East and has Snod alittle all Day M[?] Compton hear [here] high water & ice Didnt go to Chirch Snow 3 inches

Monday, January 11, 1847. Wind North East and Snod alittle all the fore noon. We Cleaned up the ry had 34 bushel it Cleared of in the after noon and goes Colder I kild two Sheep for felt Vill [Feltville], Cleard of and its quite Cold the Snow is aboute 7 inches, its very Dry Snow.

Tuesday, 12, Wind west and Cold themom 13 its quite Clear and fine winter weather I went to felt Vill with two Sheep they weyed 88 lb at [?] $4.40 I was Back home at 3 Oc Jacob went to Long hill its first Neight Sleighing freeman Drawd wood out of the field west of the Farm John Stelle

Wednesday, 13. Wind South west and very Cold and Clear the themometer Stood this morning at 4 above zero - I went on the Sled to pepack and got 1 load of lime freeman went to turkey [Summit] with ry not quite so Cold looks like Rain

Thursday, January 14, 1847. wind west and Clouday not very Cold I went to Pepack and got 1 load lime on the Sled it goad [got] warmer and the Snow run and Spoilt the Sleding freeman went Turkey with ry and Buckwheat and we went to S[?] Randolph and paid an Evening Visit and Eat oyersters first Raite [rate]

Friday, 15, wind in the South west and quite moderate but frose som last night we hitch up three teams and got one Oats Stack in the Sooky Lot, and thrash two Loads quite Damp thrash Bad its quite warm and is foggy and looks like astorm it hant froose none at 8 Oc

Saturday, 16. the wind South west and Rains not frose any last night it Appears like thaw its quite foggy and warm at 9 Oc we went and finish thrash the Stack that we Brought from the Sookey Lot Daniel Ayers helpt we had 65 bush[els] I think its going to be Cold -

Monday, January 18, 1847. wind North East and looks like astorm I kild one hog and went Down to Clarkson's and helpt him kill three hogs and one Beef. Raind at 12 Oc Freeman and Jake Drawd in the little Stack of wheat Over the Ditch and it Raind quite hard before we get done it Raind on till Dark

Tuesday, 19, Cloudy wind North west and its growing Colder it hant freese any last night its freesing now we are going to thrash the wheat 10 Oc - we thrash all the little Stack and I kild one Sheep - we got Don Thrashing half past 4 its going to bee a Cold Night -

Wednesday, 20. Cloudy wind East it looks like a storm I went to Felt Vill and to turkey with Oats I took 21 bush of Oats to turkey and 40 to feltvill 1 hog 1 sheep - quite Cold all Day Freeman and Jake Drawd in one Stack of Wheat

Thursday January 21, 1847 Clear wind North west - and pleasant freeman went and got a load of lime Jake and I Cleand up wheat we had 22 B. in the afternoon their [there] Raisd [arose] black snow Squals and groes Colder it has the appearance of a Cold night the Squals keep Rising

Friday, January 22, Clear and very Cold the themomety Stood at 11 this morning I went to Pepack and got 1 load of lime. Freeman Sheld Corn and fixt for mill - at 4 Oc I think the weath is moderate som.

Saturday, 23. Clear and pleasant wind west thawd alittle. I went to pepack and got 1 load of lime Freeman got the Big Colt Shod Jacob Came from Plainfield and left his wife there. Sunday 24 Clear and not Cold them. Stands at 34# Sund[ay] Jacob mother and my Self went to John Worths and paid them a visit.

Monday, January 25, 1847. Clear and fine this morning Ephraim and I went to the mountain and got [fence]Rails it Clouded up in the After noon and looks like a storm. freeman went for lime Jacob went to Smalleys and their [there] I beleave Staid all Day for he Did not git home til [?]

Tuesday, 26, Cloudy wind East and looks like Rain Ephraim and my Self went to the mountain for Rails we had Vendue [auction?] and Sold 2 lots of Wood it Raind before we got home - Freeman went for lime - we heard of the Deth of Charles Smaley['s?] Child at Mr. Coxes

Wednesday, 27. wind in the North west and Colder & Cloudy Freeman went for lime I went to the funeral of Charles Smalley Child its quite Cold the Roads fine Hugh Kirkpatrick stopt and took Dinner with me, its verry Cold.

Thursday, January 28, 1847. Wind west and Clear and Cold went to the mountains and Freeman went for lime Jacob went to Plainfields and got his New harnes, its Clear and fine weather as ever was Roads first Rait [rate] - Jacob paid $28.00 for his harness -

Friday, 29 Cloudy wind East and looks like Rain we went to the mountains and it Camon [came on] to Rain Jest as we began to load, and it Raind all the way home and then Raind all afternoon Jacob helpt Clarkson boy thrash wheat - Freeman went and got aload of lime/ Corn [?] 80 lb at New market

Saturday, 30. the wind Northwest and Cold began to freeze at 9 Oc we hung up the meat to Smoke, we thrash 1 Stack of wheat and Cleand it up, Jacob helpt 31 Sunday quite Cold but Clear, I went to Thomas Simpson and to Chirch Jacob and Freeman went Chirch fast ice on the [?]

to read John Stelle's February 1847 entries