Find A ProjectSign Up To TranscribeSign In
Globe Icon EN
DeutschEnglishEspañolFrançaisPortuguês

Mann, Elias, 1778-1807. Diary of Elias Mann, 1796-1800. HUD 800.5, Harvard University Archives.

ReadAboutContentsHelp

Elias Mann kept this diary during his undergraduate years at Harvard College. The diary begins August 17, 1796 and ends in August of 1800 and also includes several undated sheets filled with excerpts of poems. The daily entries describe many aspects of Mann's life, including not only his experiences at Harvard but also his involvement in the larger community. Entries related to life at Harvard describe club meetings (coffee club, Hasty Pudding Club and Phi Beta Kappa); trips to the theater; dinners at taverns; games and recreation, including a card game called "Loo," cribbage, backgammon, bowling, playing ball, fishing, skating and going for sleigh rides; gathering, and sometimes taking from others' gardens, food (most often plums, peaches, nuts and apples); what he ate (including one breakfast of three raw eggs and two glasses of wine); what he read (including Tristram Shandy and one of "Mrs. Ratcliffe's novels"); his friends, often mentioned by name; and academic work and formalities. In one entry he mentions the theft of several possessions from his room, and there are several entries about trips to Fresh Pond.|Mann's life beyond Harvard was very active. He traveled around Massachusetts, often on foot, making frequent trips to Boston, Wrentham (to visit a Masonic lodge), Medfield, Walpole (for corn), and Natick (to collect on a debt owed to his grandfather by an Indian). He seems to have been hired on occasion to borrow money or collect debts on behalf of friends. On May 20, 1799 he traveled to Boston to watch a frigate launch, and on June 12, 1799 he watched Governor Sumner's funeral procession. He writes lengthy entries about the death of George Washington in 1799, which greatly upset him, and attended a funeral commons in honor of Washington in January 1800. Mann also writes about rumors circulating that the Duke of York had been taken prisoner. Mann also describes various illnesses from which he and family members suffered, including his father's attack of what was diagnosed as Palsy, his mother's long illness, and his own itching and injured hand. He also mentions, in an entry made June 3, 1800, seeing a new machine "for drawing large stones out of the ground."|Throughout the four years this diary spans, Mann loved a woman whose name is always written in code. Many entries describe letters from her, their visits, and his pining for her.

Biographical Notes

Elias Mann was born in Medfield, Massachusetts on September 9, 1778, the son of Sabin Mann. Elias Mann entered Harvard College in 1796 and received an A.B. in 1800, an A.M. 1803 and an M.D. 1806. Mann practiced medicine in Medfield until his death on March 9, 1807.

Pages

(seq. 26)
Page Status Needs Review

(seq. 26)

3 May 1799

chaise, who going throu[gh] Dedham with an intention to take the stage, which he missed and one of consequence was obliged to walk in the rain. Adams came with me in the chaise.

Saturday 4 In the morning, Albee not arriving from Boston. I concluded that I would myself take the the chaise into town and find him if possible. Sewell [Jewett?] upon my invitation gave me his company. We met Albee just at the head of the causeway, took him in and we all rode together into Boston. Entered my father's name for the [centinel? [sic]].

Sunday Nothing of consequence has occureed this 5 day. ------- The room is most remarkable , vegetation [?] begins to start and winter seems determined not to have us out at present.

Monday Went to Boston in the fore part of the 6 day to purchase books for several of my several of classmates and for my self. In the afternoon [down?] meeting to hear a refutation[?] [?] [?].

7 May 1799

Tuesday This morning commenced [?]. 7 Nothing very particular occurred that Sewell and myself took a very long walk. The Militia company turned out and made a very good appeareance.

Wednesday The senior class was [?], and had by 8 but one of the corporation to attend the examination and had but a part of the day. Jewett Bates and myself walked after dinner to Jon's Hill and gathered some lost [?]nuts, which we found &[?] by good.

Thursday 9 A company of infantry and one of freshers from Boston passed through town this day. In the beginning of the evening a company of scholars collected on the common and began foot[?] moves, and among the rest it was [?] to get out of the ground once or have as past[?] as [?] [?].

Last edit over 4 years ago by SRMA
(seq. 27)
Page Status Needs Review

(seq. 27)

10 May 1799

Fryday Nothing of con uncommon the the forenoon. Afternoon. Roger Swell [?] and mysilf want our a [granary?].

Saturday 11 About three AM I was alarmed by the [?] of fire; on geting up I found that it was in Boston and that it had raged violently. I then [dressed?] myself & walk to down in town, and finding that they want [in?] [hand?] [I?] hall the engine I [found?] mysilf walk to the rest and went to Boston. The fire was quelled after [?] [?]

I breakfasted with [Battle?] and Mason This day I have done nothing awry & [fatague?] and want of sleep not having half an houer hours quiet sleep all last night not [?] by rumor of drinking [?] much coffee. A company of equestrians performed on the common this afternoon.

12 May 1799

Sunday About from meeting. In the morning we had several violent snow squawls, which lasted considerable time. For the season the weather is uncommonly cold. At evening Rogers [Switt?] and myself walked down Charlestown rode for about half a mile and then crosed over through the swamp into the other rode coming out by [?] house. On our pasage we lost our way and went down to our house on the [flats?] opposite the tavern, but by following the advise of Switt [?] [?] [even?] [?] we at last made the wished for [?] and arived safe at the mansion of --

Monday 13 About 11 O"clock [gerauld?] arived at Cambridge, with whom I went to [?], bowled for punch and was fortunate. Dined at [?]. [?] left Cam for Boston about 2 o"clock in company with Adams [?] Little and Wilson in order to obtain a berth on board the Boston [frygat?]

Last edit over 4 years ago by erinc
(seq. 28)
Page Status Needs Review

(seq. 28)

May 13 1799

Monday After prayer at [?] they all returned from Boston with their heads well filled with the jovial god. I again accompanyed them to Bloods where they were more like [Devils?] than men. My [chair?] arrived.

Tuesday 14 Gerauld set off for Medfield accompanied by Adams and Wilson at eleven O"clock AM. of The time since gerauld arrived I have been obliged to spend mostly with him consequently I have not studyed much.

Wednesday 15 Nothing [?].

Thursday 16 [?]. Rainy and wet.

Fryday 17 Coffee club met at my room. Slept very little all night by reason of drinking too much coffee.

18 May 1799

Saturday 18 Went to Boston. Bought some [?] and visited the fryers. The whole time I was in Boston I was very unwill indeed.

{Sunday} 19 Not able to study.

{Monday} 20 In the morning not able to study [and?] concluded to go to Boston to see they [fryset?] [?]. Arrived in town 1/2 past 11 oclock and at about twelve she commanded her [?] for that [?] in so much may she be a [support?] of our property and a defence of our flag. S Dined at a [?].

Tuesday 21 The parts so [commencement?] made their appeasements to the general [?], [Chickering?] alone

Last edit over 4 years ago by erinc
(seq. 29)
Page Status Needs Review

(seq. 29)

21 May 1799 _________________________ Who had a part of the [Guck?] dialogue was [dis...?].

Wednesday 22 Nothing remarkable
Thursday 23 [?] to day; Ne nieve from Hegcie.
much released these hard times.
Fryday 23 [Jeranld?] from Medfects all well, but no better
Sat 25 Went to fresh pond for the purpose of build
Sun 26 Nothing of consequence.
Mon 27 [?]
Tues 28 Took my name out of the butler an went
New 10 June 1799
Monday 10 Returned to Cam after [passing?] about a
of my life. [Luasferd?] left my father. On my arrival found the I was later put the OBK much but sound to unite [?] till the night before commencement. Also had a conference at the most as [?].
Tues 11 Nothing of quieter consequence [?] my only
sequence, which were when men [??] [?] of wealth [?] ed fame, & support wealth.
Wed 12 Went to Boston, ran the funeral process
under [?]. The profession was conducted With the [?] under a decotum. A [?] Num was preached by Dr [?]. The Convers of [?] was [?].
Last edit over 4 years ago by alejandroeduarte
(seq. 30)
Page Status Needs Review

(seq. 30)

21 May 1799

who had a part of the [?] [dialogue?] was [?].

Wednesday 22 Nothing remarkable

Thursday 23 [?] to day. No news from [?] which could I receive a letter, my [?] [would?] be much [relieved?] these hard times.

Fryday 24 Gerauld [arrived?] from Medfield all well, but no letter from [Theresa?] [much?] [?] [?].

Sabres Went to [fresh?] [?] for the purpose of [?][?]. Was fortunate.

{Sunday} 26 Nothing of consequence.

{Monday} 27 [?]

{Tuesday} 28 Took my name out of the butlery and went home.

New 10 June 1799

Monday 10 Returned to {Cambridge} after passing about a fortnight [?], which was the most unhappy period of my life. [?] left my father. On my arrival found that I was taken [?] the ΦBK [?] but [?] to [write?] [?] till the night before commencement. Also [has?] a [?] at the [?] [?] [?]

{Tuesday} 11 Nothing of greater consequence than my [?] and myself grieving of the subjects of our con[?], which were [?] of wealth power and fame, I support [wealth?].

{Wednesday} 12 Went to Boston, saw the funeral proces sion of govenor Sumner, who was buryed under arms. The procession was conducted with the greatest order and decorum. A sermon was preached by [?] Thatcher. Then [?] of people was [?].

Last edit over 4 years ago by erinc
Displaying pages 26 - 30 of 64 in total