Instructor's note: Sarah Kimble Knight (1666-1727), born in Boston, married and had one child (Elizabeth); widowed in mid-life, she opened a school whose students included Benjamin Franklin, but earlier she also worked as a businesswoman. Her contribution to literature was her journal of a journey she took in 1704-5 from Boston (then part of Massachusetts Bay Colony) to New Haven, Connecticut and the city of New York in the province of the same name. The journal was evidently circulated among

Reasons for her journal’s literary and historical interest:

• Realistic depiction of difficulty of traveling and of city and country life in colonial North America; compare "anthropological" information provided by women's captivity narratives.

• Novelistic or fiction-like depictions of characters and scenes

• Humorous depictions and witty observations on characters and scenes

• Madam Knight’s Journal was not printed or published in her lifetime but evidently was circulated in manuscript among her friends—one way that literature of personal rather than public interest existed before the appearance of novels and other fiction.

The Journal was first published in 1825 by Theodore Dwight (1764-1846), a grandson of Jonathan Edwards. Some scholars have questioned its authenticity—the original manuscript is lost—but it has become a small part of the early Anglo-American literary canon.

The selections below represent app. 2/3 of the entire text, but drastically modernized for expedient reading (with exceptions for some eccentric capital letters). Below is an example of the original text retaining Mrs. Knight's handwriting tics:

[1] Monday, October the second, 1704. — About three o'clock afternoon, I begun my Journey from Boston to New Haven [Connecticut, home of Yale College / University]; being about two Hundred Miles. My kinsman, Capt. Robert Luist, waited on [went with] me as far as Dedham, where I was to met the Western post [mail-wagon].

[2] I visited the Reverend Mr. Belcher, the Minister of the town [of Dedham], and tarried there till evening, in hopes the post would come along. But he not coming, I resolved to go to the Billingses [a family] where he used to lodge [live], being 12 miles further. But being ignorant of the way, Madam Billings, seeing no persuasions of her good spouses or hers could prevail with me to Lodge there that night, very kindly went with me to the Tavern [a public house], where I hoped to get my guide, and desired the Hostess [of the tavern] to inquire of her guests whether any of them would go with me [contract to serve as her guide]. But they being tied by the lips to a pewter engine [all too busy drinking], scarcely allowed themselves time to say . . .

****** [Here half a page of the MS. is gone.]

[3] . . . “Then John shan't go,” says she [the tavern hostess]. “No, indeed, shan't he”; and held forth at that rate a long time, that I began to fear I was got among the Quaking tribe [Quakers], believing not a limber-tongued [loose-tongued] sister among them [the Quakers] could outdo Madam Hostess.

[4] Upon this, to my no small surprise, soon John arose, and gravely demanded what I would give him to go with me?

[4a] “Give you,” says I, “are you John?”

[4b] “Yes,” says he, “for want of a better”; and behold! this John looked as old as my Host, and perhaps had bin a man in the last Century [had passed his prime in the 1600s].

[4c] “Well, Mr. John,” sais I, make your demands.”

[4d] “Why, half a piece of eight [half a Spanish dollar] and a dram [a shot of whiskey],” sais John. I agreed, and gave him a Dram (now) in hand [at once] to bind the bargain.

[5] My hostess catechized [questioned] John for going so cheap, saying his poor wife would break her heart . . . .

***** [Here another half page of the MS is gone]

[6] . . . Thus jogging on with an easy pace, my Guide [John] telling me it was dangerous to ride hard in the Night, (which his horse had the sense to avoid,) [<wit]  he entertained me with the adventures he had passed by late Riding, and eminent Dangers he had escaped, so that, Remembering the Heroes in Parismus [Pyramus?] and the Knight of the Oracle, I didn't know but I had met with a Prince disguised. [wit + satire on romances of chivalry]

[7] When we had ridden about an hour, we come into a thick swamp, which, by reason of a great fog, very much startled me, it being now very dark. But nothing dismayed John: He had encountered a thousand and a thousand such swamps, having a Universal Knowledge in the woods; and readily Answered all my inquiries which were not a few.

[paragraphs 8-9 resemble a scene from fiction or the novel, with action and dialogue displaying character and manners.]

[8] In about an hour, or something more, after we left the Swamp, we come to Billings, where I was to Lodge. My Guide dismounted and very complaisantly [politely] helped me down and showed the door, signing to me with his hand to go in; which I gladly did — But had not gone many steps into the Room, ere [before] I was Interrogated by a young Lady I understood afterwards was the Eldest daughter of the family, with these, or words to this purpose, (viz. [that is]) “Law for me — what in the world brings you here at this time a night? — I never see a woman on the Road so Dreadful late, in all the days of my versall [universal; i.e. whole] life. Who are you? Where are you going? I'm scared out of my wits” — with much now of the same Kind.

[8a] I stood aghast, preparing to reply, when in comes my Guide — to him Madam turned, roaring out: “Lawful heart, John, is it you? — how de do! Where in the world are you going with this woman? Who is she?” John made no answer but sat down in the corner, fumbled out his black Junk [tobacco], and saluted that instead of Deb [the young lady]; she then turned again to me and fell anew into her silly questions, without asking me to sit down.

[9] I told her she treated me very rudely, and I did not think it my duty to answer her unmannerly Questions. But to get rid of them, I told her I come there to have the post's company with me [to join the mail-wagon] to-morrow on my Journey, etc. Miss stared awhile, drew a chair, bid me sit. And then run upstairs and puts on two or three Rings, (or else I had not seen them before,) and returning, set herself just before me, showing the way to Redding, that I might see her Ornaments, perhaps to gain the more respect. [<wit] But her Grand-dame's new Rung sow, had it appeared, would have affected me as much. I paid honest John with money and dram according to contract, and dismissed him, and prayed Miss to show me where I must Lodge. She conducted me to a parlor in a little back lean-to [slope-roofed backroom], which was almost filled with the bedstead, which was so high that I was forced to climb on a chair to get up to the wretched bed that lay on it; on which having stretched my tired Limbs, and laid my head on a sad-colored pillow, I began to think on the transactions of the past day. . . .

[10] . . . Now was the Glorious Luminary [the sun], with his swift Coursers [fanciful allusion to Apollo’s chariot as the sun] arrived at his Stage, leaving poor me with the rest of this part of the lower world in darkness . . . . The only Glimmering we now had was from the spangled [starry] Skies, whose Imperfect Reflections rendered every Object formidable. Each lifeless Trunk, with its shattered Limbs, appeared an Armed Enemy; and every little stump like a Ravenous devourer. Nor could I so much as discern my Guide, when at any distance, which added to the terror. [paragraph playfull adopts “literary language” in anticipating gothic imagination]

[11] Thus, absolutely lost in Thought, and dying with the very thoughts of drowning, I come up with the post [mail-rider], who I did not see till even with his Horse: he told me he stopped for me; and we rode on very deliberately a few paces, when we entered a Thicket of Trees and Shrubs, and I perceived by the Horse's going, we were on the descent of a Hill, which as we come nearer the bottom, 'twas totally dark with the Trees that surrounded it. But I knew by the Going of the Horse we had entered the water, which my Guide told me was the hazardous River he had told me off; and he, riding up close to my Side, Bid me not fear — we should be over immediately. I now rallied all the Courage I was mistress of, knowing that I must either venture my fate of drowning, or be left like the children in the wood [<folktale? Cf. Hansel & Gretel?]. So, as the Post bid me, I gave reins to my nag [let my horse find his way] . . . , in a few minutes got safe to the other side, which he told me was the Narragansett country. [Narragansetts were an Indian people of New England from which Narragansett Bay of Rhode Island and other place names were called.]

[12] Here We found great difficulty in traveling, the way being very narrow, and on each side the Trees and bushes gave us very unpleasant welcomes with their Branches and boughs, which we could not avoid, it being so exceeding dark. My Guide, as before so now, put on harder [rode faster] than I, with my weary bones, could follow; so left me and the way behind him. Now returned my distressed apprehensions of the place where I was: the dolesome [gloomy] woods, my Company next to none, going I knew not whither [where], and encompassed with terrifying darkness [cf. Ichabod in woods of Sleepy Hollow; gothic]; the least of which was enough to startle a more Masculine courage. . . . Now, coming to the foot of a hill, I found great difficulty in ascending; but being got to the top, was there amply recompensed [repaid] with the friendly Appearance of the Kind Conductress of the night [moon], just then Advancing above the Horizontal Line [the horizon]. The Raptures [ecstatic pleasures] which the Sight of that fair Planet [moon] produced in me, caused me, for the Moment, to forget my present weariness and past toils [difficulties]; and Inspired me for most of the remaining way with very divining thoughts . . . .

[13] From hence we kept on, with more ease than before: the way being smooth and even, the night warm and serene, and the Tall and thick Trees at a distance, especially when the moon glared light through the branches, filled my Imagination with the pleasant delusion of a Sumptuous [splendid] city, filled with famous Buildings and churches, with their spiring steeples, Balconies, Galleries and I know not what: Grandeurs which I had heard of, and which the stories of foreign countries had given me the Idea of.

Here stood a Lofty church — there is a steeple.
And there the Grand Parade — O see the people!
That Famous Castle there, were I but nigh.
To see the moat and Bridge and walls so high —
They're very fine! says my deluded eye.

[The verses in 13 make an example of pre-Romantic fancy or imagination, which transforms a landscape to an enchanted realm, but “deluded” in last line and the following paragraph indicate the period’s skeptical or reserved attitude toward such imaginings.]

[14] Being thus agreeably entertained without a thought of anything but thoughts themselves, I on a sudden was roused from these pleasing Imaginations, by the Post's [the mail-rider, her guide] sounding his horn, which assured me he was arrived at the Stage [inn, as in “stage”-coach], where we were to Lodge: and that music [from the horn] was then most musical and agreeable to me.

[15] Being come to Mr. Havens' [inn], I was very civilly received, and courteously entertained, in a clean comfortable House; and the Good woman was very active in helping off my Riding clothes, and then asked what I would eat. I told her I had some Chocolate, if she would prepare it; which with the help of some Milk, and a little clean brass Kettle, she soon effected [achieved] to my satisfaction. I then betook me to my Apartment, which was a little Room parted from the Kitchen by a single board partition; where, after I had noted the Occurrences of the past day [written in her journal], I went to bed, which, though pretty hard, [was] yet neat and handsome. But I could get no sleep, because of the Clamor [noise] of some of the Town tope-ers [topers, drinkers] in next Room, who were entered into a strong debate concerning the Signification of the name of their Country, (viz. [that is,]) Narragansett. One said it was named so by the Indians, because there grew a Briar [bush] there, of a prodigious height and bigness, the like hardly ever known, called by the Indians Narragansett; and quotes an Indian of so Barbarous [wild-sounding] a name for his Author, that I could not write it. His Antagonist Replied no — It was from a Spring [water-source] it had its name, which he well knew where it was, which was extreme cold in summer, and as hot as could be imagined in the winter, which was much resorted too [visited] by the natives, and by them called Narragansett ([for] Hot and Cold,) and that was the original of their place’s name — with a thousand Impertinences [extraneous comments] not worth notice, which He uttered with such a roaring voice and Thundering blows with the fist of wickedness on the Table, that it pierced my very head.

[15a] I heartily fretted, and wished 'em tongue tied; but with little success . . . . They kept calling for t’other gill [another bottle], which while they were swallowing, was some Intermission; But presently, like oil to fire, increased the flame. I set my Candle on a Chest by the bed side, and setting up, fell to my old way of composing my Resentments, in the following manner:

I ask thy Aid, O Potent Rum!
To Charm these wrangling Topers dumb. [to make these argumentative drinkers silent]
Thou hast their Giddy Brains possessed —
The man confounded with the Beast —
And I, poor I, can get no rest.
Intoxicate them with thy fumes:
O still their Tongues till morning comes!

[15b] And I know not but my wishes took effect; for the dispute soon ended with 'tother Dram [another drink]; and so Good night!

[16] Wednesday, October 4th. About four in the morning, we set out for Kingston (for so was the Town called) with a French Doctor in our company. He and the Post put on very furiously [rode off very fast], so that I could not keep up with them, only as now and then they’d stop till they see me. This Road was poorly furnished with accommodations for Travelers, so that we were forced to ride 22 miles by the post's account, but nearer thirty by mine, before we could bait [feed and water] so much as our Horses, which I exceedingly complained of. But the post [mail-rider, guide] encouraged me, by saying we should be well accommodated anon [soon] at Mr. Devill’s, a few miles further. But I questioned whether we ought to go to the Devil to be helped out of affliction.

[16a] However, like the rest of Deluded souls that post to the Infernal den, We made all possible speed to this Devil's Habitation [<wit]; where alighting [dismounting], in full assurance of good accommodation, we were going in. But meting his two daughters, as I supposed twins, they so nearly resembled each other, both in features and habit, and looked as old as the Devil himself, and quite as Ugly, We desired entertainment [food and lodging], but could hardly get a word out of 'em, till with our Importunity [persistence], telling them our necessity, etc. they called the old Sophister [nickname for the Devil], who was as sparing of his words as his daughters had been, and no, or none, was the replies he made us to our demands. He differed only in this from the old fellow in t’other Country [the other Country, i.e. Hell]: he let us depart. . . .

[16b] Thus leaving this habitation of cruelty, we went forward; and arriving at an Ordinary [Inn] about two mile further, found tolerable accommodation. But our Hostess, being a pretty full-mouthed old creature, entertained our fellow traveler, the French Doctor, with innumerable complaints of her bodily infirmities; and whispered to him so loud, that all the House had as full a hearing as he: which was very diverting to the company, (of which there was a great many,) as one might see by their sneering. But poor weary I slipped out to enter my mind in my Journal, and left my Great Landlady with her Talkative Guests to themselves.

[17] From hence we proceeded (about ten forenoon [in the morning]) through the Narragansett country, pretty Leisurely; and about one afternoon come to Paukataug River, which was about two hundred paces [feet or yards] over, and now very high, and no way over to t’other [the other] side but this. I dared not venture to ride through, my courage at best in such cases but small. And now at the Lowest Ebb, by reason of my weary, very weary, hungry and uneasy Circumstances. So taking leave of my company, though with no little Reluctance, that I could not proceed with them on my journey, stop at a little cottage just by the River, to wait the Waters falling [subsiding, lowering], which the old man that lived there said would be in a little time, and he would conduct me safe over.

[17a] This little Hut was one of the wretchedest I ever saw a habitation for human creatures. It was supported with shores [floor-struts] enclosed with Clapboards [siding], laid on Lengthways, and so much asunder [separated], that the Light come through everywhere; the door tied on with a cord in the place of hinges; The floor the bare earth; no windows but such as the thin covering afforded, nor any furniture but a Bed with a glass Bottle hanging at the head on't [on it]; an earthen cupp, a small pewter Basin, A Board with sticks to stand on, instead of a table, and a block or two in the corner instead of chairs. The family were the old man, his wife and two Children; all and every part being the picture of poverty. Notwithstanding [regardless], both the Hut and its Inhabitants were very clean and tidy: to the crossing the Old Proverb, that bare walls make giddy [careless] housewives. . . .

[18] . . . I had scarce done thinking, when an Indian-like Animal come to the door, or a creature very much like himself, in mien [attitude] and feature, as well as Ragged clothing; and having alit, makes an Awkward Scratch with his Indian shoe, and a Nod, sits on the block, fumbles out his black Junk [tobacco], dips it in the Ashes, and presents it piping hot to his muscheto's [moustache / lip], and fell to sucking like a calf, without speaking, for near a quarter of an hour. At length the old man said, “how does Sarah do?” who I understood was the wretch’s wife, and Daughter to the old man: he Replyed — “as well as can be expected,” etc. So I remembered the old say, and supposed I knew Sarah's case. [<that is, she remembers hearing old people speak that way, and Sarah must be expecting a child?] But he [the Indian-like Animal] being, as I understood, going over the River, as ugly as he was, I was glad to ask him to show me the way to Saxtons, at Stoningtown; which he promising, I ventured over with the old man’s assistance; who having rewarded to content, with my Tattertailed guide, I Ridd on very slowly thro' Stoningtown, where the Rode was very Stony and uneven. . . .

[19] Friday, Octor 6th. I got up very early, in order to hire somebody to go with me to New Haven [in Connecticut], being in great perplexity at the thoughts of proceeding alone; which my most hospitable entertainer [inn-keeper] observing, himself went, and soon returned with a young Gentleman of the town, who he could confide in [trust] to go with me; and about eight this morning, with Mr. Joshua Wheler my new Guide, taking leave of this worthy Gentleman, We advanced on towards Seabrook. The Roads all along this way are very bad, encumbered with Rocks and mountainous passages, which were very disagreeable to my tired carcass; but we went on with a moderate pace which made the Journey more pleasant. But after about eight miles riding, in going over a Bridge under which the River Run very swift, my horse stumbled, and very narrowly escaped falling over into the water; which extremely frightened me. But through God's Goodness I met with no harm, and mounting again, in about half a mile’s Riding, come to an ordinary [inn], were well entertained [provided for] by a woman of about seventy and vantage, but of as Sound Intellectuals as one of seventeen. She entertained Mr. Wheeler with some passages of a Wedding awhile ago at a place hard by, the Brides-Groom being about her Age or something above, Saying his Children was dreadfully against their fathers marrying, which she condemned them extremely for. . . . [gossip]

[20] Saturday, Oct. 7th, we set out early in the Morning . . . [A]bout two a clock afternoon we arrived at New Haven, where I was received with all Possible Respects and civility. Here I discharged Mr. Wheeler with a reward to his satisfaction, and took some time to rest after so long and toilsome a Journey; And Informed myself of the manners and customs of the place, and at the same time employed myself in the affair [business] I went there upon.

[21] They [people of New Haven and Connecticut] are Governed by the same Laws as we in Boston, (or little differing,) throughout this whole Colony of Connecticut, And much the same way of Church Government, and many of them good, Sociable people, and I hope Religious too: but a little too much Independent in their principals, and, as I have been told, were formerly in their Zeal very Rigid in their Administrations towards such as their Laws made Offenders, even to a harmless Kiss or Innocent merriment among young people. Whipping being a frequent and counted an easy Punishment, about which as other Crimes, the Judges were absolute in their Sentences. . . .

[22] Their Diversions in this part of the Country are on Lecture days [Sundays] and Training days [<militia exercises] mostly: on the former there is Riding from town to town.

[23] And on training days the youth divert themselves by Shooting at the Target, as they call it, (but it very much resembles a pillory [post for public punishment],) where he that hits nearest the white has some threads of Red Ribbon presented him, which being tied to his hatband, the two ends streaming down his back, he is Led away in Triumph, with great applause, as the winners of the Olympic Games. They generally marry very young: the males oftener as I am told under twenty than above; they generally make public weddings, and have a way something singular (as they say) in some of them, viz. Just before Joining hands the Bridegroom quits the place, who is soon followed by the Bridesmen, and as it were, dragged back to duty — being the reverse to the former practice among us . . . .

[24] There are great plenty of Oysters all along by the sea side, as farr as I Rode in the Colony, and those very good. And they Generally lived very well and comfortably in their families. But too Indulgent (especially the farmers) to their slaves: suffering too great familiarity from them, permitting them to sit at Table and eat with them, (as they say to save time,) . . .

[25] There are everywhere in the Towns as I passed, a Number of Indians the Natives of the Country, and are the most savage of all the savages of that kind that I had ever Seen: little or no care taken (as I heard upon enquiry) to make them otherwise. They have in some places Lands of their own, and Governed by Laws of their own making; — they marry many wives and at pleasure put them away, and on the least dislike or fickle humor, on either side, saying stand away to one another is a sufficient Divorce. And indeed those uncomely Stand-aways are too much in Vogue among the English in this (Indulgent Colony) as their Records plentifully prove, and that on very trivial matters, of which some have been told me, but are not proper to be Related by a Female pen, though some of that foolish sex have had too large a share in the story.

[26] If the natives commit any crime on their own precincts among themselves, the English takes no Cognizance of. But if on the English ground, they are punishable by our Laws. They mourn for their Dead by blacking their faces, and cutting their hair, after an Awkward and frightful manner; But can't bear you should mention the names of their dead Relations to them: they trade most for Rum, for which they’d hazard their very lives; and the English fit them Generally as well, by seasoning it plentifully with water.

[27] They [people of Connecticut] give the title of merchant to every trader; who Rate their Goods according to the time and specie [currency] they pay in: viz. Pay, money, Pay as money, and trusting. Pay is Grain, Pork, Beef, etc. at the prices set by the General Court that year; money is pieces of Eight, Ryalls [reals or royals], or Boston or Bay shillings (as they call them,) or Good hard money, as sometimes silver coin is termed by them; also Wampom [wampum], vizt Indian beads which serves for change. . . .

[28] We may Observe here the great necessity and benefit both of Education and Conversation; for these people have as Large a portion of mother wit, and sometimes a Larger, than those who have been brought up in Cities; But for want of improvements, render themselves almost ridiculous . . . .

[29] December 6th. Being by this time well Recruited [refreshed] and rested after my Journey, my business lying unfinished by some concerns at New York depending thereupon, my Kinsman, Mr. Thomas Trowbridge of New Haven, must needs take a Journey there before it could be accomplished, I resolved to go there in company with him, and a man of the town which I engaged to wait on me there. Accordingly, Dec. 6^th we set out from New Haven, and about 11 same morning came to Stratford ferry; which crossing, about two miles on the other side Baited [fed and watered] our horses and would have eat a morsel ourselves . . . .

[30] The City of New York is a pleasant, well-compacted place, situated on a Commodious River which is a fine harbor for shipping. The Buildings Brick Generally, very stately and high, though not altogether like ours in Boston. The Bricks in some of the Houses are of divers colors and laid in Checkers, being glazed look very agreeable. The inside of them are neat to admiration, the wooden work, for only the walls are plasterd . . . . The House where the Vendue [party, reception] was, had Chimney Corners like ours, and they and the hearths were laid with the finest tile that I ever see, and the stair cases laid all with white tile which is ever clean, and so are the walls of the Kitchen which had a Brick floor. They were making Great preparations to Receive their Governor, Lord Cornbury from the Jerseys, and for that End raised the militia to Guard him on shore to the fort.

[31] They are Generally of the Church of England and have a New England Gentleman for their minister, and a very fine church set out with all Customary requisites. There are also a Dutch and Divers Conventicles [religious meetings] as they call them, viz. Baptist, Quakers, etc. They are not strict in keeping the Sabbath as in Boston and other places where I had been, But seem to deal with great exactness as far as I see or deal with. They are sociable to one another and courteous and civil to strangers and fare well in their houses. The English go very fashionable in their dress. But the Dutch, especially the middling sort, differ from our women, in their habit [dress] go loose, were French muches [?] which are like a Cap and a headband in one, leaving their ears bare, which are set out with Jewels of a large size and many in number. And their fingers hooped with Rings, some with large stones in them of many colors as were their pendants in their ears, which you should see very old women wear as well as young.

[32] They have Vendues [parties, receptions] very frequently and make their Earnings very well by them, for they treat with good Liquor liberally . . . . Their Diversions in the Winter is Riding Sleighs about three or four Miles out of Town, where they have Houses of entertainment at a place called the Bowery, and some go to friends’ Houses who handsomely treat them. Mr. Burroughs carried his spouse and Daughter and myself out to one Madame Dowe’s, a Gentlewoman that lived at a farm House, who gave us a handsome Entertainment of five or six Dishes and choice Beer and metheglin [spiced mead], Cider, etc. all which she said was the produce of her farm. I believe we met 50 or 60 sleighs that day — they fly with great swiftness and some are so furious that they'll turn out of the path for none except a Loaded Cart Nor do they spare for any diversion the place affords, and sociable to a degree, their Tables being as free to their Neighbors as to themselves.

[33] Having here transacted the affair [business] I went upon and some other that fell in the way, after about a fortnight's [two weeks’] stay there I left New-York with no Little regret, and Thursday, Dec. 21, set out for New Haven . . . .

[34] . . . Thence we travailed through Merrinak, a neat, though little place, with a navigable River before it, one of the pleasantest I ever see . . . . Here we took leave of York Government, and Descending the Mountainous passage that almost broke my heart in ascending before, we come to Stamford, a well compact Town, but miserable meeting house . . . . I was exceeding tired and cold when we come to our Inn, and could get nothing there but poor entertainment . . . . And this I think is the most perplexed night I have thet had. From hence, Saturday, Dec. 23, a very cold and windy day, after an Intolerable night's Lodging, we hasted forward only observing in our way the Town to be situated on a Navigable river with indifferent Buildings and people more refined than in some of the Country towns we had passed, though vicious enough, the Church and Tavern being next neighbors. . . .

[35] They have abundance of sheep, whose very Dung [manure (for fertilizer)] brings them great gain [profit], with part of which they pay their Parson’s salary, And they Grudge that, preferring their Dung before their minister. [<wit] . . . From hence we went to Stratford, the next Town, in which I observed but few houses, and those not very good ones. But the people that I conversed with were civil and good natured. Here we staid till late at night, being to cross a Dangerous River ferry, the River at that time full of Ice; but after about four hours waiting with great difficulty we got over. My fears and fatigues prevented my here taking any particular observation. Being got to Milford, it being late in the night, I could go no further; my fellow traveler going forward, I was invited to Lodge at Mrs. --, a very kind and civil Gentlewoman, by whom I was handsomely and kindly entertained till the next night.

[36] The people here go very plain in their apparel (more plain than I had observed in the towns I had passed) and seem to be very grave and serious. They told me there was a singing Quaker lived there, or at least had a strong inclination to be so, His Spouse not at all affected that way. Some of the singing Crew come there one day to visit him, who being then abroad, they sat down (to the woman's no small vexation) Humming and singing and groaning after their conjuring way - Says the woman, “are you singing Quakers?” “Yea,” says They – “Then take my squalling Brat of a child here and sing to it,” says she, “for I have almost split my throat with singing to him and cant get the Rogue to sleep.” They took this as a great Indignity, and immediately departed. Shaking the dust from their Heels left the good woman and her Child among the number of the wicked. . . .

[37] December 24. I set out with the Gentlewoman’s son who she very civilly offered to go with me . . . , and crossing a ferry having but nine miles to New Haven, in a short time arrived there and was Kindly received and well accommodated amongst my Friends and Relations. . . .

[Note how little attention is paid to Christmas, which was not celebrated in early New England and for the most part elsewhere until the mid-19c]

[38] January 6^th. Being now well Recruited [refreshed] and fit for business I discoursed [conferred with] the persons I was concerned with, that we might finish in order to my return to Boston. They delayed as they had hitherto done, hoping to tire my Patience. But I was resolute to stay and see an End of the matter, let it be never so much to my disadvantage - So January 9^th they come again and promise the Wednesday following to go through with the distribution of the Estate which they delayed till Thursday and then come with new amusements. But at length by the mediation of that holy good Gentleman, the Rev. Mr. James Pierpont, the minister of New Haven, and with the advice and assistance of other our Good friends we come to an accommodation and distribution, which having finished though not till February, the man that waited on me to York taking the charge of me I set out for Boston. . . .

[39] We were now in the colony of the Massachusetts and taking Lodgings at the first Inn we come too had a pretty difficult passage the next day which was the second of March by reason of the sloughy [muddy] ways then thawed by the Sun. Here I met Capt. John Richards of Boston who was going home, So being very glad of his Company we Rode something harder than hitherto, and missing my way in going up a very steep Hill, my horse dropt down under me as Dead; this new surprise no little hurt me meeting it just at the entrance into Dedham from whence we intended to reach home that night.

[40] But was now obliged to get another Horse there and leave my own, resolving for Boston that night if possible. But in going over the Causeway at Dedham the Bridge being overflowed by the high waters coming down I very narrowly escaped falling over into the river Horse and all which it was almost a miracle I did not — now it grew late in the afternoon and the people having very much discouraged us about the sloughy [muddy] way which they said we should find very difficult and hazardous it so wrought on me being tired and dispirited and disappointed of my desires of going home that I agreed to Lodge there that night which we did at the house of one Draper, and the next day being March 3d we got safe home to Boston, where I found my aged and tender mother and my Dear and only Child in good health with open arms ready to receive me, and my Kind relations and friends flocking into welcome me and hear the story of my transactions and travails, I having this day been five months from home and now I cannot fully express my Joy and Satisfaction. But desire sincerely to adore my Great Benefactor for thus graciously carrying forth and returning in safety his unworthy handmaid.

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