Wednesday, February 13, 2019

August Entries in the 1876 Diary of Ida Isadore Reynolds (1860-1946) of Acton, Maine; future wife of John Jotham Shapleigh (1856-1923)


August entries in the 1876 diary of Ida Isadore Reynolds (1860-1946) of Acton, Maine.  Ida would marry John Jotham Shapleigh (1856-1923) in 1881. 

Links to the months of September 1876 and July 1876 appear here and at the end of this post.  

This diary is one of three known: 1873, 1874 and 1876.  If a reader knows of the existence of any other diaries of Ida, please contact me.

See an overview post for a description of Ida's 1873, 1874 and 1876 diaries, which also contains combined alphabetical lists of surnames and people, with descriptive information where known.

Shown below are images and transcriptions of the entries and a description of the people mentioned, in order of appearance, first time only. Your comments noting errors and sharing information are requested.

Ida was the  daughter of Jonathan Prescott Reynolds (1820-1899) and Rachel E. (Tupper) Reynolds (1833-1923), who were natives of Maine and Nova Scotia, respectively.  

Other members of the Reynolds household, at times, were Ida's older brother Edward Everett Reynolds (1855-1945) and a Samuel/Sam/Sammy, presumably Ida's maternal cousin Samuel Muir Francis (1858-1928), son of Dr. Daniel Francis (1810-1867) and Christie Ann (Tupper) Francis (-1893).

In 1881 Ida married John Jotham Shapleigh (1856-1923), a native of Lebanon, Maine.  After the death of their son Ernest in 1882, they moved to Rochester, New Hampshire, where they had a daughter Doris, born in 1898.


Although Ida's home was in Acton, Maine, it was on the border of Lebanon, Maine.  As you can see from the image shown below, from Ida's 1873 diary, the Reynolds family got their mail through the North Lebanon, Maine, Post Office.



Below, the J. P. Reynolds farm along the southern border of Acton, Maine; with Lebanon, Maine, to the south; from an 1872 map of Acton, Maine, held by the Digital Maine Repository


Following the images and transcriptions below is a list of the people mentioned, in order of appearance, only once, as some are mentioned multiple times.

Since early July, Ida has been working for the Wesley family at their inn on Martha's Vineyard, Massachusetts, at No. 25, Commonwealth Sq.  In 1879, the Wesley family would open the Wesley House.  

Ida will leave Martha's Vineyard for home on August 29, 1876, take the boat to New Bedford, Massachusetts and travel to Boston, Massachusetts, where she'll spend the night with "Mrs. Hersom", possibly Emily Jane (Prescott) Hersom (1843-1901), wife of Joel G. Hersom (1840-1900), presumably at Boston, Massachusetts.  

Ida will then travel with to Milton Mills, New Hampshire, where she'll spend three nights with her maternal aunt Lucy Jane (Tupper) Sawyer (1837-1880) and husband Rev. Seth Sawyer (1808-1892), before reaching her own home in Acton, Maine, on September 2, 1876.


Saturday, July 29, 1876:  Fair. About the same as usual.

Sunday, July 30, 1876:  Fair. Worked pretty hard. Did not go to church.

Monday, July 31, 1876:  Fair. Feel some tired. Mr. Young came back. He is going to stay till Friday.

Tuesday, August 1, 1876:  Fair. Fred Caller went back to Cambridge.



Wednesday, August 2, 1876:  Fair. Nothing new today, I guess. Every day is nearly the Same.

Thursday, August 3, 1876:  Fair. Worked pretty hard.  Bishop Haven & party began to board here. Mr. Hamilton, Minister in Boston, is one of the party. Miss B___ [Butler ?] from Mexico another.

Friday, August 4, 1876:  Mr. and Mrs. Young went home. Their two boys are coming soon. One for waiter, one for Clerk.

Saturday, August 5, 1876:  Fair. Been pretty busy.



Sunday, August 6, 1876:  Fair. It does not seem much like Sunday. Have had to work very hard, feel very tired. Got about $42.00 checks. Most we have taken.

Monday, August 7, 1876:  Fair. Had a very hard day today. Got more checks than any day before. Expect two more girls tomorrow.

Tuesday, August 8, 1876:  Fair. Have worked pretty hard today. Mamie & Lucy came to help us. Am very glad they have come.  Past 10 o'clock. Must go to bed (Good Night)

Wednesday, August 9, 1876:  No entry



Thursday, August 10, 1876.  No entry

Friday, August 11, 1876:  No entry

Saturday, August 12, 1876:  No entry

Sunday, August 13, 1876:  No entry



Monday, August 14, 1876:  Fair. Willie & Bertie Young came to help us.

Tuesday, August 15, 1876:  Fair. Had quite a lot today. Think we will like the boys very much.

Wednesday, August 16, 1876:  No entry.

Thursday, August 17, 1876:  No entry



Friday, August 18, 1876:  No entry

Saturday, August 19, 1876:  No entry

Sunday, August 20, 1876:  No entry

Monday, August 21, 1876:  No entry



Tuesday, August 22, 1876:  Fair. Plenty to do.  Mr. Fred Montsie asked me to go to walk with him tomorrow night. Think I will go.

Wednesday, August 23, 1876:  Fair.  Wet to walk with Mr. Fred Montsie on the Bluffs. Had a very pleasant walk.

Thursday, August 24, 1876:  Fair. About the same as every day. Plenty of work to do.

Friday, August 25, 1876:  Fair. Worked Pretty hard getting ready for Sunday.  Went on the Bluffs with Fred.



Saturday, August 26, 1876:  Fair. Pretty hard day's work.  Went on the Bluffs with Fred for the last time perhaps. Felt hard to part with him for will probably never see him again.

Sunday, August 27, 1876:  Fair. Camp Meeting Sunday. Pretty hard day's work.  Fred Montsie started for Boston on the 4:00 o'clock boat.  Felt lonesome without him. John Richardson also went away.

Monday, August 28, 1876:  Fair. Worked pretty hard. Mr. Wesley Paid me $32.00.

Tuesday, August 29, 1876:  Fair. Started from the Vineyard with Addie & Mr. Boothe. He came as far as New Bedford with us.  Had a nice time on the boat. Will stay at Mrs. Hersom's at night.



Wednesday, August 30, 1876:  Fair. Came home from Boston.  Miss Moss & Miss Gilpatric came to the Depot with me.

Thursday, August 31, 1876:  Fair. Went with Uncle Decker & Aunt Joanna & Walter to Aunt Lucy's.

Friday, September 1, 1876:  Fair. Sung & Played. Uncle & Aunt Decker, Walter, Aunt Lucy & Uncle Sawyer Went to Alton to Camp Meeting. Left me all alone. Wrote to Fred.

Saturday, September 2, 1876:  Fair. Came home from Aunt Lucy's.  Got a letter from Jonny  Richardson.


Since early July, Ida has been working for the Wesley family at their inn on Martha's Vineyard, Massachusetts, at No. 25, Commonwealth Sq.  In 1879, the Wesley family would open the Wesley House.  

Ida will leave Martha's Vineyard for home on August 29, 1876, take the boat to New Bedford, Massachusetts and travel to Boston, Massachusetts, where she'll spend the night with "Mrs. Hersom", possibly Emily Jane (Prescott) Hersom (1843-1901), wife of Joel G. Hersom (1840-1900)presumably at Boston, Massachusetts.  

Ida will then travel with to Milton Mills, New Hampshire, where she'll spend three nights with her maternal aunt Lucy Jane (Tupper) Sawyer (1837-1880) and husband Rev. Seth Sawyer (1808-1892), before reaching her own home in Acton, Maine, on September 2, 1876.

People mentioned in order, first time only. Readers are requested to provide more information.
  • Fred Caller  - presumably Ida's co-worker at the Wesleys' inn on Martha's Vineyard; perhaps Fred Allnut
  • Bishop Haven - possibly Gilbert Haven (1821-1880)
  • Mr. Hamilton, Minister in Boston
  • Miss B?, possibly Butler, from Mexico
  • Mr. and Mrs. Young and their sons Willie Young and Bertie Young - possibly all workers at the Wesleys' inn on Martha's Vineyard, but the sons were at least.
  • Mamie & Lucie - Ida's co-workers at the Wesleys' inn on Martha's Vineyard
  • Mr. Fred Montsie - Ida's co-worker and beau at the Wesleys' inn on Martha's Vineyard
  • John Richardson - Ida's co-worker at the Wesleys' inn on Martha's Vineyard, and later correspondent
  • Mr. Wesley - owner of the inn at 25 Commonwealth Square on Martha's Vineyard, where Ida worked in the summer of 1876
  • Addie - presumably Addie Crawford, Ida's co-worker at the Wesleys' inn on Martha's Vineyard in the summer of 1876
  • Mr. Boothe - took the boat with Ida from Martha's Vineyard to New Bedford
  • Mrs. Hersom - possibly the Mrs. Hersom who would sell her business to Ida's brother Edward Everett Reynolds (1855-1945) and his partner Fred.
  • Miss Moss & Miss Gilpatric - Ida's travel companions from Boston to New Hampshire
  • Uncle Decker & Aunt Joanna & Walter - Nathaniel Curtis Decker (1828-1888) and Ida's paternal aunt Joanna Farnham (Reynolds) Decker (1825-1909) and their son Walter Curtis Decker (1855-1900)
  • Aunt Lucy & Uncle Sawyer - Ida's maternal aunt Lucy Jane (Tupper) Sawyer (1837-1880) and husband Rev. Seth Sawyer (1808-1892)
  • Jonny Richardson - presumably John Richardson, Ida's co-worker at the Wesleys' inn on Martha's Vineyard and, later, correspondent

If you have corrections to anything above or information to share on any of the people mentioned, please leave a comment or contact me directly.

Advance to September 1876 or return to July 1876.

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