Obed Macy: Journal 6

25) 1840 Two lighters viz. the Bolivar, Maniel Eneas Master and Sloop Teazor, John Riddell master arrived from Old Town loaded with Oil 24th 1 mo from the ship Zenas Coffin, and grounded on the Bar the tide uncommonly low, pretty soon they were surrounded with ice, and no prospect appearing to get the vessels in to Brant, means were adopted to get some of the oil ashore from the ice, which did not succeed except with a few casks. 29th Both vessels on the bar and the ice rising along side and is already 3 or 4 feet above the deck, and the people talked of leaving them. Both vessels in a leaky condition. The Bolivar leaks 1000 strokes per hour. 30th The weather being moderate and calm it enabled the Lighter to be hauled in near the shore. 31st Rainy and warm, the ice mostly gone at the back of Brant Point. Discharging the lighter on the beach at Brant Point.

28th A still snow storm about 3 inches deep. 29th The weather this day or two past has been mild and but little wind. Today very calm, small air SW, and very thick of Fog with a little rain. Snow mostly gone. The harbor full of ice and as far out as the bar. Much ice in the sound. Remarkable dull, no out of doors business but eeling and getting brush. Many are short of wood and coal & none to be bought. Brush seems to the order of the day. Many people are glad to procure bountiful fuel. The Slam [SMALL} Pox is very prevalent in Boston. A number have become victims to the disease. This town feeling somewhat alarmed have employed some of the Doctors to vaccinate all those who are liable to take the Small Pox. 1st 2mo The board of health have advertised all who wish to be vaccinated to meet at the Phoenix I.O. [INSURANCE OFFICE] 3rd inst. from 10 to 12 & from one to 4 o'clock.

26 31st 1 mo 1840 The Brig [BLANK SPACE] Master [BLANK SPACE] belonging to Philadelphia, and from Curriso [CURACAO?] bound to Boston went ashore on the west end of the Island loaded with salt, hides, goat skins & rum and bilges very likely to loose [LOSE] vessel and cargo.

31st The weather pretty moderate. Many people employed in breaking up the ice in the harbor and docks to prepare their vessels for lightering or going to sea. This is done by powder put under the ice in bottles, & fire conveyed to them, by this mode the ice is broken so that a channel that vessels may pass in is soon made.

1st 2 mo This morning a snow storm. Wind NE but moderate. Snow three inches deep. Evening, the snow has continued falling through the day, and proves the greater fall of snow we have had this season. The snow is six or eight inches deep and still snowing.

2nd Fine pleasant weather except a great quantity of snow. Toward night small wind at East & looks likely for storm.

4th This morning very cold. Thermometer at 4.

Information is received that a great Fire has lately occurred in New York which destroyed buildings & Goods to the ammt. [AMOUNT] of 1000000$.

I was vaccinated for the Cow Pox in 1813 by Benjamin Hussey. He pronounced it an entire sheald [SHIELD] against the Small Pox, notwithstanding which I thought I would be vaccinated again by Doctor Winslow to prove what has frequently been urged, that the kine Pox vaccine Pox in time will wear out, and the person be liable to take some Small Pox. I was this day examined by two doctors who pronounced me perfectly sheilded [SHIELDED] from the Small Pox.

27) 1840 4h 2mo The extreme cold last night, thermometer at 4 has made much ice, but it soon gave way and the weather again became like spring.

11th For a number of days the weather has been spring like, very foggy & but little wind with frequent showers of rain, some heavy ones. The ice is all gone from the harbor, and mostly from the docks. Last night was NE snow storm. The is covered with snow but like spring over head.

9th, 10th, 11th The Annual meeting was held. The subject of a new house at Quaise occupied the attention of the people more than any other subject. The Committee who were appointed to superintend the building a new house at Quaise for the reception of the poor (see page 12) which was to cost 500$ now made their report, that they employed William H. Tabor as master builder by the day at 2$ that the home was now finished at the expense 13 hundred dollars. the dimensions of which was [BLANK SPACE] the price was so much more than was at first calculated, that the town appeared much dissatisfied, and went into the subject in a very close manner. And finally determined that Tabor had done well and merited the applause of the town.

Russia. According to the official accounts of the births and deaths in the Russian Empire, it appears that in the course of last year a great many persons died who had attained to a remarkable high age. The births was 2,333,992, deaths 1563733; excess of births 770,259; Marriages 494424. Among the deaths there were of persons from 100 to 105 years, 858; 100 to 115, 125; 116 to 120 to 130 3; o f 145, 1; from 150 to 156, 3; of 160 years, 1; of 166 years, 1. According to the report of the finance department, the population of the Russian Empire in 1838 was 60,000,000.

28 1840 2mo 29th Since this month came the weather generally has been mild, but wet, the most of the time it has like spring. Vessels passing and repassing which gives a pleasant appearance the business time.

29th 2 mo Three ships arrived today from Old Town. The Ship Phoenix, Isaac Hussey Master, her cargo ammounted [AMOUNTED] to 2411 barrels of oil. The Ship Charles Carrol [BLANK SPACE] Master [BLANK SPACE] Cary [BLANK SPACE] bars. [BARRELS] and the Ship Orion [BLANK SPACE] Master, Cargo [BLANK SPACE] bs. [BARRELS] I do not recollect of three Ships coming in one day.

Thomas Macy sole owner of the Ship Phoenix has sold of her cargo rising 40,000 $ worth of oil 95 P [PER] Gn. [GALLON] to be shipped to England.

2mo The weather has been like spring since this month came, which causes the business part of the community to move in the line of their business. The farmers are preparing their land to receive the benefit of the coming season, some have planted their Peas, etc. The merchants traders, and the shipping owners are all moving in their business.

8th 3mo A great change in the weather. The wind blows a heavy gale at NW and looks very wild. Cold emerges fast.

9th Very cold and clear this morning. Thermometer 11 degrees.

12th This morning a smothering snow storm, wind at NE. It proved not much snow.

5 We have but little else than remarks on the changes of the weather to make at present. Strong winds and frequent rains seem to be the course of the weather which the usual business of the place. But little out of doors weather suitable to perform much business; but we have very little snow this spring.

29) 1840 4 mo See Page 9 The difficulty between our government and the English respecting the N Eastern boundary still continues without an apparent prospect of an adjustment more likely to be brought about than there was 15 or 20 years ago. But it may be remarked that the parties are getting more rancerous [RANCOROUS], and neither seem disposed to compromise, and yet pretend they don't want war, and that it might be settled very early. I am apprehensive that war must bring about a settlement, which in my opinion would be a wicked foolish thing in both Nations. The Americans (as far as I can understand) require nothing more than what the treaty agreed upon by both parties states. There is a large number of Ships out & many of not [LOOKED?] in several years which in case of a War probably the most of them would be sacrificed & bring distress in a large number.

Jared Coffin is building a very large new brick house where Paul Gardner's house stood which is the spot of land where my Grandfather Daniel Pinkham's house stood.

1st 4 mo The morning was very fine, in the afternoon the weather looked wild, in the evening it began to rain thunder & lightning, which increased to the hardest tempest that we have known within 30 years. The thunder jarred the houses very much, the rain poured down at the same time in torrents, several vessels were on the bar, and a number of the men were knocked down and stunned and some were wounded, but none lost their lives. Abner Small in a schooner laden with dry goods from Boston was aground on the bar, the lightning entered the vessel ( it is not assertained where) and set her on fire. The people left her shut up, and came ashore, next morning many people went off & got her in while on fire to the Straight Wharf, great exertions with the help of two engines the fire was subdued. The cargo was then discharged, considerably damaged, but not so much a [AS] was apprehended.