Extracts from Philip Vickers Fithian's Diary, 1775.

Notes on Women, Housekeeping and Social Life. Fithian's tour took him through regions that appear to have been widely varied in economy, ethnic background, progress of settlement and social values. His initial route through Virginia runs southwest along the Shenandoah Valley roughly from the Potomac to the James River.

“May 12. [Head of Elk, Maryland.]We rode, out of Compliment, & too see the Country, to Mr. Finley’s, near the Head of Elk, thirty Miles. This is a fertile, & well cultivated Spot of Country, & is, at this Time in its highest Gaiety - The Village, at the Head of Elk, is small, but contains some large Eligant Houses.

Mr. Finley appears to be a Man of much Frankness & Simplicity - He has a good House & neat Farm…” p. 5.

“May 13. [Georgetown, Maryland.]At George-Town once more - thirty Miles - Expence going & returning 8/8 -… There isthis afternoon, in Town, a great Muster - The Porches & Doors are lined, are thronged, with Ladies - Perhaps they are patriotic, & wish well to our common, & sacred Cause - I wish, from my Heart, it may be more than female Curiosity!-” p. 5.

[Little-Britain, Pennsylvania.]We stopped in the Evening at Mr. Ewing’s, of Little-Britain - They speak in a shrill, acute, Accent, & have many odd Phrases - ‘My Son, said Mrs. Ewing, lately lost his Foot in the small-Pox.’ - She meant he could not stand - ‘Will you just take a Check?’ - She meant a late Dinner - ‘Our Neighbour Mr Olahlan, since you left us, has flitted’ - She meant has moved away - &c” p. 6.

“May 17.York-Town, Pennsylvania.-A considerable Village. The principal street near half a Mile in Length, the Houses a great Part of the Way very near & joining each other, many of them are large & fine; some three Stories high - There are three considerable public Buildings with Steeples- the Court-House; English Church; & Dutch Meeting-House - The Inhabitants here are enthusiastic in the American Cause, & united almost without an Exception - Manywere on the Common, & in different Parts of the Town, exercising themselves… Fifteen Miles from York is a small Village, perhaps twice as large as our Roadstown, called Berwick, or Abbets-Town - One Dutch Lutheran Church with a Cupola; All the Houses built with Square Logs - An old, kind, Dutch Landlady gave our Horses, for Breakfast a dish of Spelts,’ They are a coarse Species of Wheat - Our Horses, however, were not over-fond of the new, & harsh Grain! - On the Conewaga-Creek, isanother Settlement of the Scotch-Irish. - Mr. Hunter has some Relations here; We dined with one of them, who was highly civil to us -” p. 8-9.

“May 18The Blue Mountain [Maryland. Ed: “South Mountains.”]Here we arrived, late last Night, at a small log house - A smart, neat, young, landlady; A spry, golden-hair’d, buxom, Maid; Several Sturdy Waggoners; Huge Hills on every Side; A vast Distance from Home; Mr Hunter very unwell - I had, indeed, like afflicted Job, a ‘Night of Tossing’-! We are at, what is called, Nicholson’s Gap - Mr.Hunter is better, & we jogg on over the ragged hills - A middle-aged, dropsical Dutch

Woman, with her face muffled up in the Mumps, boild up for our Breakfast, a little Coffee, in the Sugar & Milk; indeed it made good Broth -!” p. 9.

“Hager’s-Town [Maryland.]A considerable Village - It may contain two hundred Houses - Some of them are large & neat, built with Stone or brick; but the greatest Part of the Houses are built with Logs neatly squared, which, indeed, make a good House - There are many Stores here - And many Mechanicks, & it is a Place of Business - The Inhabitants are chiefly Dutch -” p. 9-10.

[Virginia.]

“May 23StephensburgA small Village - Well situated - 4 Taverns kept in this Town - One large Store kept byMr. Holmes where I am to lodge - With Mr. Hunter I rode out with the intention of visiting Mr. Hog the late Minister here - he is now from home at Redstone over the Alegany mountain - Dined - They live in a well-chosen, rich, & many ways agreeable Farm - But in several Articles of domestic Life, I discovered Inaccuracies which I could not easily get over -!” p. 14.

“May 24 [1775. Stephensburg, Virginia.]Before Dinner, Col: Isaac Zane, Burgess for this County, came to the Store with Miss Betsey McFarland, his kept & confessed Mistress, & their young Son & heir - Mr. Zaneis a man of the first Rank here, both in property & office - He possesses the noted Malbrow Iron-Works, six Miles from this Town - he has many Slaves, & several valuable Plantations - He is, with regard to Politicks, in his own language, a ‘Quaker for the Times.’ - Of an open, willing, ready Conversation; talks much; And talks sensibly on the present Commotions - He is a Patriot of a Fiery Temper - In DunmoreCounty, he is Col: of the Militia - But he scorns to have a Wife -!” p. 14-15.

“After Dinner with Mrs. Holmes & Andrew I walked out of Town a Mile to a lovely Farm of Mr. Whitehead’s; an old, grey-headed Batchelor - He is a singular Character. - An Englishman of Yorkshire by Birth - left home early. - Has been through America with a Sett of Pictures, & Magic-Lanthorn, by which he has made a Fortune - Is acquainted with many of the highest Rank in Jersey, Pennsylvania, & Virginia - An intimate Acquaintance of Lord Fairfax in this County - Talks much of Lords & Ladies - often mentions, to be contradicted, his Poverty & Want of Money - His house is small,but the Walls on every Side are covered with maps, Paintings, & well chosen Pictures - But I fear he has no proper Sense of Religion.” p. 15.

“May 25 [1775. Stephensburg, Virginia.]Mr. Hunter left us this Morning & rode down to Martin-burg - I spent the Day in Mr. Holmes’s Office, preparing for the Sabbath - There are here many useful & amusing Books - The Spectators, Popes Works, Shakespear’s Works, Gay’s Works, & many single, valuable Books - So that, since Reading, & Scribling, are my chief Amusements, as the Song says, I ‘live in Clover.’-” p. 15.

“May 27 [1775. Stephensburg, Virginia.]…What Figure is yon approaching-? Indeed, Sir, said Mrs. Holmes, he is a Man. - But, Madam, as Lady Montague said of Pope, it is only a ‘Sign-Post Likeness’ - A little, deformed, dwarfish Squab, passed wadling by to the Store - He is three Feet five Inches high, & otherways has the Hardiness, & Stoutness of a Man - Coarse hair;

thick Beard; knotty Limbs; & a sunburnt weather-worn Presence! - He is near forty, was married last year, & has one Child - Of but mean Extraction, & still worse Reputation.” p. 16-17.

“May 31 [Mr. Glass, of Opiekon Church.]… -Mr. Glass, however, has a sensible, very comely, well-instructed, & sociable Daughter! - O but she was married four Days ago! - Yet he has seven left - He was blessed, while he was filling up his Family, so far as to have eight Daughters in continued Succession - Eight Daughters, & but three Sons! - Seven Daughters yet unmarried, & poor Impotent I in the midst amongthem!… [Fithian reminds himself that he is engaged.] I visited a Brother of his, a Mileoff, at the Head of Opiekon-Creek, A solid, lusty Farmer - Lives neat; has a Clean, well-fill’d Garden - A small, brown, brisk, tidy, very sociable Wife - A little, spruce, well-turned Daughter -” p. 18.

“Monday June 5 [1775. Cedar-Creek Church. “Six miles from Stevensburg, North-West…” At Mr. Colville’s, the Minister there.]-We breakfasted sociably & heartily on the richest Produce of a fat Farm. Boiled Milk highly buttered; plenty of best Butter; & fine Cheese, of two Kinds, one made last Summer, the other last Week…” p. 23.

“Monday June 5 [1775. Stephensburg, Virginia.]…-Four o’Clock at Stevensburg. This is Whitsun-Holliday. The Village is full of People. Men busy mustering. Women in the Street, & at Doors, looking on; All things festive.”p. 24.

[Fithian retraces his route, then heads north into Pennsylvania, making a circuit of the Susquehanna Valley.]

“Teusday June 20 [1775. Upper West Conococheague (Mercersburg), Pennsylvania.]…Mr. Black’s - He lives neat, under the North Mountain - Has a smart pleasant Wife - &a sweet Child - I had here pleasant Society; Mr. Black & I played for our Diversion & amusement many airs on the German-Flute; We recollected & chatted over the Course of our Peregrinations since we parted, All was simple, sociable & friendly -” p.34.

“Thursday June 22 [1775. Fort Loudon. Path Valley.]…I rode 18 Miles to one Elliots, he keeps a genteel House, with good Accommodations;I saw a young Woman, a Daughter of his, who has never been over the South Mountain, as eligant in her Manner, & as neat in her Dress, As most in the city; It is not Place therefore, but Temper makes the Person -” p. 35.

“Thursday June 23 [1775. Mr. James Gray’s, Tuscarora Valley.]…He was kind, & received me civilly, he had good pasture for my Horse, & his good Wife prepared me a warm suitable Supper - Forgive me, my Country, I supped on Tea! It relieved me however, & I went soon to Bed.” p. 36.

[Tuscarora Valley. “…at one Mr. James Gray’s, in a little Hamlet in the Woods…”]“Saturday June 24 [1775.]Before Breakfast came in a Scotch Matron with her Rock & Spindle, twisting away at the Flax - The Rock is a long Staff on one End of which is her Flax like a Distaff; The Spindle is a peg about eight Inches long, sharp at one End where the Thread is twisted, & large at the other end where it is rolled on.” p. 36.

[Then to Mr. Samuel Lyon’s, also in Tuscarora Valley.]“I rode on after Breakfast to Mr. Saml Lyon’s 12 miles yet in Tuscarora - He lives neat, has Glass Windows, & apparently a good Farm -” p. 36.

“Fryday June 30 [1775. Mr. Andrew Gibson’s, 2 miles up the West Branch from Northumberland.]I was last night almost brought with Bob Carter of Virginia, to speak hard of the Chinches & Fleas; they kept me restless till after Midnight!-” p. 42.

“Sunday July 2 [Northumberland-Town.]…Mrs. Scull very kindly invited me to make her Home my House while I shall stay in Town - She has a pleasant, & valuable Garden, the best by far in Town; in is a neat, & well designed Summer-House - She has a well finished Parlour, with many Peices of good painting - Four in special, which struck me much; large heads, from ancient Marbles, of Hypocrates, Tully, Socrates, & Galen.” p. 46-47.

“Friday July 7 [1775. William Gray’s, Buffaloe Valley.]…I drew, with a Fife which I was playing, the Ear of all the Swains around - In particular a Woman who was washing in the river on the other Side she gave remarkable Attention; She seemed to catch with Eagerness the ‘Floating Notes’ - Indeed on so still an Evening it is fine!” p. 51-52.

“Sunday July 9 [1775.]Buffaloe-Valley…The Assembly was very attentive; [there was no meeting house, so Fithian preached outdoors] I could not avoid smiling at the new Appearance, to see them peeping at me through the Bushes - I am told there is at present, in Philadelphia, an independent Number of Men, call’d the ‘Silk Stocking Company’ - I will also call this the ‘Silk Gowned Congregation’ - I saw here the greatest Number & the greatest Variety of Silk Gowns that I have yet seen in my Course- It is, & shall be therefore the ‘Silk Gowned Congregation.’ -” p. 52.

“Teusday July 11 [1775. Mr. Gray’s.]…There is one thing a little remarkable these damp Evenings the Musquetoes are thick & Troublesome!

But o the Fleas! Some Mornings, at some houses, I rise spotted & bepurpled like a Person in the Measels! Moderation itself must quarrel with such female Inattention.” p. 54.[Ed: Notes similar trouble at Nomini Hall. “Journal and letters: 1767-1774,” p. 199, 239.]

“Thursday July 13 [1775. Captain Piper’s, Warrior Run.]…At Mr. Hayes’s I saw a large Gourd, it hold nine Gallons -” p. 56.

“Mrs. Piper keeps a clean House, neat, well fix’d Beds, here I have not seen or felt either a Bug, or Flea.” p. 56.

“Fryday July 14 [1775. Captain Piper’s, Warrior Run.]Last Evening, after Sunset, I walked with Mrs. Piper to four Neighbour’s Houses all within half a Mile. She was looking [after the?] harvest-Men while her ill-conditioned,Husband was asleep, perspiring off the Fumes of the Whiskee! - It is now seven

oClock. There are two Reapers - Miss Piper is out carrying Drink to the Reapers - her slothful Father is yet asleep. Time is about House as a kind of Waiting man; an old, liquor-drown’d, impotent, garrulous, Man of War’s man. - There is also a close-set, modest, young Irish Widow, who on her Passage lost her Husband & two Children at Sea! She came in Capt. McCullach’s Ship, last Summer, with 600 Passengers, of which 105 died at Sea, & many more on landing.” p. 56.

“Monday July 16 [Captain Piper’s, Warrior Run.]Oh! my poor Body, thin and bloodless as it is, was tormented all Night with these vileFleas! I slept none.” p. 59.

“Saturday July 22 [Mr. James Morrow’s, Chilisquaqua.]…One thing here I don’t like - In almost all these rural Cots I am under the Necessity of sleeping in the same Room with all the Family - It seems indelicate, at least new, to strip, surrounded by different Ages & Sexes, with the Eyes of, at least, one blinking Irish Female, searching out Subjects for Remark.” p. 67.

“Sunday July 23Chilisquague…I slept in a bad Bed with many, many Fleas. A clean Woman is an excellent, most unspeakably valuable Prize - But a Drab. O let Moderation guide me. - a slattern is the Sublime of Wretchedness!-” p. 67.

“I pass my Time here with great Satisfaction, but commonly I dread the approach of Night. So here I am unwilling to go to Bed when I am certain it is not to Rest.” p. 68.

“Monday July 24. [1775. Chilisquaqua.]…Yesterday, & this morning we breakfasted on Tea. It is boild in a common Dinner-Pot,of ten or fifteen Gallons, & from thence poured out in Tin Cups - we have with it boil’d Potatoes, & Huckleberry-Pye - All in Love, peace, & good Welcome.

My Horse, however, feeds now upon the Fat of the Earth; He is in a large Field of fineGrass; Generally Timothy-Grass higher than his Back. He has not fared so well since we left Mr. Gray’s on the other Side of Juniata.” p. 68.

Again I had near been all over bemeaseled with the Fleas. - Fleas biting! - Bugs crawling! - On a hard Board, surrounded with a snoring Family!” p. 68.

“Mrs. Morrow, wears three Golden Rings; two on her second Finger of the left hand, & one on the middle Finger of her Right - They are all plain.

Her Daughter Jenny, or as they call her Jensy, wears only two. Jensy is a name most common here. Mr. -Gray,- Mr. Fruit, Mr. Allen of Buffaloe - Mr. Hays of Warrior’s Run -And Mr. Morrow here all have each a Daughter whom they call Jensy -” p. 68.

“Salt here is a great price. The best is selling at ten Shillings, & ten & six pence - & the lowest eight Shillings!” p. 69.

“Teusday July 25 [1775. Rode to Mr. Candliss’s the previous evening. “He has a cleanneat Woman for his Wife.”]… I slept sound & fine without being disturbed by either a Bugg or a Flea. And the House is as mean, & as much surrounded with Woods & Brush as other houses are, where, through entire Carelessness, I am wounded by numberless numbers of these leaping insects.” p. 69.

“Thursday July 27 [1775. “’Squire Flemings…” “Seventy Miles from -Sunberry.-” West of Sunbury.]A very rainy Morning - I slept til’ seven & was then ‘Lazy til’ get up’, when the two Miss Flemings were in the same Room.” p. 72.

“Saturday July 29 [1775. Perhaps Bald Eagle.]I drank Coffee last Evening at Mr. Read’s. They appear to be a sociable, kind, neat Family. Indeed I have not seen domestic Affairs adjusted, making allowance for the Earth-Floored hamlet, any where in the Purchase more to my Mind. They treated me with a clean Dish of fine Huckleberries - & with a Dish of well-made clear Coffee, which is here a rare Repast.” p. 77.

Five oClock afternoon - With Miss Betsey Fleming, Miss Jenny Read, & Mr Gilaspee, I crossed over the river, in a Canoe, & went up a very high & steep Mountain to gatherHuckleberries - On the Top of the Hill we found them in the greatest Plenty - Low Bushes bended to the Ground with their own Weight.” p. 79-80.

“On our return, however, we had rare Diversion. The Water is, in all Parts shallow. Gilaspee was Helmsman. He overturn’d the Canoe I discovered that my little ‘Water Nymph’ Miss Read, was more fearful of the Water, & less dexterous in it, than I - MissFleming stood, the beautiful Current gliding gently by her Limbs, & squawled, & begg’d, like a distressed Female - The Water was near Waist-High - our Canoe was filled with Water - I stood almost spent with Laughter, tho’ in the same, & indeed, in worse Case, then they -- Many were standing on the Shore - We left all our Fruit, and with the empty Cups, the Girls turned & bespattered Gilaspee, till the poor Irishman, impotent of Help, was entirely wetted - We then waded, dripping to the Shore.” p. 80.

“Monday July 21A fine clear cool Morning I have Company to the end of this Days Ride; Mr. Gilaspee is going up Bald-Eagle Creek as far as the Nest.

Bald-Eagle’s NestMr. Andrew Bogg’s lives here 25 Miles from ‘Squire Flemings. We dined on Fish, Suckers, Chups, & on Venison - It is a level, rich, pleasant Spot the broad Creek running by the Door.

Many of the Trees on this Road are cut by the Indians, in strange Figures; in Diamond’s - Deaths Heads - Crowned heads - Initial Letters - Whole Names - Dates of Years - Blazes.

Soon after we had dined, two Indian Boys bolted in / they never knock or speak at the Door / with seven large Fish - One would weigh two Pound! - In Return Mr. Boggsgave them Bread, & a Piece of our Venison; down they sat in the Ashes before the Fire, stirred up the Coals, & laid on their Flesh - when it was a little roasted, they bit it off in great Mouthfuls, and devoured it with the greatest Rapacity. When they were gone Gilaspee threw himself on a Blanket & is now asleep; I sat me down on a three-legged Stool, to writing - This House looks & smells like a shambles [a butcher’s stall]; raw Flesh & Blood in every Part - mangled, wasting Flesh on every Shelf - Hounds licking up the Blood from the Floor - An open Landlady - Naked Indians & Children - Ten hundred thousand Flies - O! I fear there are as many - Fleas.” p. 82.

“Seize me soon, kind Sleep; lock me in thy sweet Embrace before these Vermin hurt me - O! so soon as I lay me down, let me rest on thy Bosom & lose my Senses - Stop! O stop - Sleep to night is gone - ! Four Indians come driving in, each with a large Knife & Tom-Hawk - Bless me two other strapping Fellows! Indeed I am sick of my Station - All standing dumb before us - Gilaspee, chatters to them; I am glad to keep bent at my writing.

Six large Indians!

Now, Laura, when I am at the farthest Frontiers of this Colony, & among wild-natured Savages, I am in Fear - indeed I am -” p. 82-83.

“Wednesday August 2 [1775. Capt. James Potter’s. Penn’s Valley (Old Fort).]How pleasant is Rest to the wearied Body! How balmy is Peace to an agitated Mind! Into the gracious Bosom of both of these I retired when I laid myself down in Bed last night - An eligant Supper - a neat house - All expressions of Welcome - Not a Flea, nor a Chinch, as I know of, within eighteen Miles -” p. 85.

“Thursday August 5 [1775. Capt. James Potter’s. Penn’s Valley (Old Fort).]I miss here the shady pleasant Banks of Susquehanna. It is forty-two Miles to Northumberland & Sunburry - Eight Miles to the nearest Place where Penn’s Creek is navigable with Canoes - and almost surrounded with Hills & Mountains - only a few, and & some of these few, temporary Springs. The low Bottoms now have scarce Water sufficient to moisten a Hog, which in Winter are continually flooded-” p. 86.

“Just at my Bed’s Head is a Window under which stands a Table - here I had laid my clean Linnen finished last night by Mrs. Potter. The Night has been very stormy; when I waked this Morning I found a large Dog had jumped in through an open Lightof the Window & had softly bedded himself, dripping with Water & Mud, among my clean, new-washed Clothes! At first I felt enraged; I bore it however with a Sabbath-Day’s Moderation.” p. 89.

“Thursday August 8This Day I am to climb over the Hills. I am told the Journey will be unpleasant…

Mr. [Thomas] Thompson came, we breakfasted & set out…

At last we came in View, from a lofty airy Ridge, of our desired Kishacoquillas Valley; we stumbled down into it, ten miles, from the East End, & rode quite across it to the South Side, under the Mountains, to one - [John] Fleming’s - We trotted gently along, I was still busy viewing the broad level Country between two such huge hills - We met a Woman, says Thompson to her, ‘How are your Family Marget.’ - ‘Thank you, Tom, says She, ‘they are all on their Feet, thank God’ -

The good Woman meant simply that they were all in Health.” p. 92.

“Thursday August 10Cleanliness & Smartness are visible in our little Hamlet. All is suitable but this going to Bed & rising in the same Room, & in full view, of the whole Family - This, to be sure, puts me often to the Blush.

We have here no Meat of any Kind. Our Breakfasts are Milk, with Bread & Butter; with these at Dinner we have the addition of Cymbalines - and for Supper we have

only Paste & Milk. It is a rich Repast we have with these [‘Original and natural Supports to life,’]* Health & Vivacity - I feel brisk & vigorous; & am, surely, growing fat, I fear corpulent, upon these natural Luxuries, Simplicity in Living, & Health - Much Carnage in Diet, & several Kinds at the same Time, & all highly, & differently seasoned; Great Quantity & Variety of strong Liquors, which grow poisonous by untimely & immoderate Application - these stop up & darken the Understanding, theyeffect that Langour & burdensome Dullness which makes Life & all her Duties appear to many tiresome beyond Measure. Thompson who came over the Mountains with me is a Droll. Last Night our Fire was almost out. -- ‘Peggy,’ quoth he, ‘bring in some Bark to save the Fire’ - Indeed Tom, answered the Girl, I am tired, pulling Flax all Day & cant’ - ‘Well then, quo’ Tom, run out & call in the Neighbours to see it die.” p. 95.[*Fithian’s brackets.]

“I observe among the People here, & Mrs. Fleming tells me it is universal, the greatest Plainness & Familiarity in Conversation; Every man, in all Companies, with almost no Exception, Calls his Wife, Brother, Neighbour, or Acquaintance, by their proper Name of Sally, John, James, or Michael, without ever prefixing the customary Compliment of “My Dear,” Sir, Mr. &c.”

They have, in this, arrived to high Singularity.” p. 95-96.

“Sunday August 13East Kishacoquillas ValleyI think, by Appearance, there were more people than I have seen at any Place on Susquehanna - Very many Women, of all sizes, & drest in plain good Taste - and several Men who in their Dress made as an Important a Figure as I should wish to see in Town…

For my own Part I must declare that I am highly pleased with their Manners and Appearance so far as my Observation can extend.” p. 100.

“Monday August 14I am here often much mortified with observations upon People who have settled herefrom our province [New Jersey] - Generally they are upon the lowest parts of Fortune’s Wheel, groveling in low matters, & yet always, when the scurviest Opportunity offers they are feeble & meanly tricking their Neigbours - Taking all Liberties. - Seizing Opportunity in all her complex Foldings - Wherever I have been on Susquehanna, or here their character is Mean Dishonest & Irreligious! A Jersey-Man & an impertinent, every-Way troublesome Scoundrell seem to be Words of the same meaning-!” p. 100.

“I was again at Mr. Cuthbertsons - Spent the Day - It passed brisk & noisy - ‘The Wife,’ as the People say here, has a free, unshackled, Woman-gifted Tongue-” p. 101.

“The young Ladies too were pleasant. After Coffee in the Evening they bantered me on a Vulgar - Pardon me Ladies, I know you all believe it, yet in Reverence to my own Judgement / I will compliment you some other Time / - That Veneration which I have, from Infancy, been taught to maintain for my own Opinion, when it can be confirmed, by reasonable, & undoubted evidence now constrains me to call that a ‘Vulgar Custom.’ - I mean the telling of Fortunes from the Leaves of Tea; or from the Grounds of Coffee - Miss, however, after we had done our Coffee, with a shy designing Air, began the Charm - She took her Cup with a very little of the Liquor, &

all the Settlings from a full Cup; She must look at no Person, til’ she has turned it round many Times, & cut many inexplicable Gyrs. She then turns her Cup in the Saucer - Then Invention, says she in Silence, play thy Part: The fortune always goes with the Complexion of the Tellers Mind, for the Time being. if she be melancholy, it is something grave - If gay & wild, it is on Lovers & Marriage - If she be a female Philosopher, it will be some Problem for Speculation, &c - There is, however, in my Opinion, one nice & dangerous Criterion, in the Manual part of the Process, if too much Liquor be left in the Cup, so that in turning it one single Drop falls out, then however the Fortune runs it will surely be in Tears!” p. 101-02.

Miss, having adjusted to her Mind the Whole Manoeuvre, turned about to me, prim as an unpolluted Vestal, without one wrong-indented Dimple in her Face - she turnedto unfold the Oracle.

‘You, Sir, have been for a considerable Time been fond of a middle-sized, fair-Faced, grave young Woman’ -

And, my good Cassandra, where will this fondness end?

But of this the oracle said not - Indeed Gentlemen & Ladies, it is my Opinion & Advice, that more meritorious Employments ought to engage you in these Hours of Society - I look upon this seriously, especially in Gentlemen, to be far less venial than ‘Female, tea-Table Scandal’ -!” p. 102.

“Wednesday August 16 [1775. “Mr. John Camels’s” [Campbell’s] Little Kishacoquillas Valley (Belleville).]…I rode this Afternoon up the Valley to Mr. John Camels. The ‘Squire along; we rode farther; to one - The ‘Squire was to marry a Couple; I was invited.

We rode up; it was a little Cabin, they were dining; We entered but all continued eating - There were four Women - Four Men - and Four Children. I view’d them all, but, from their Appearance, could not single out to my Satisfaction who was the Groom & Bride.-

After they rose from Dinner, one of the Men brought us a Dram in a Bottle of Whiskee. We drank, &, after some Time, the ‘Youthful Pair’ singled out themselves - Expectation, now glut thy Wish - The Girl look’d ashamed, tho’ lusty; she held down her Head; a coarse Fan was before her eyes, yet I saw, in her dancing Eyes; - she look’d at us twice - that they only accorded with her transported Heart!

She pronounced the Ceremony after the ‘Squire feebly, apparently, with Reluctance - But oh! her Bosom burned! She connected /this is natural logic/ with the transient Ceremony, violent & lasting Joys.

But the Groom - In Appearance, a scurvy, futile, unmeaning Drill - He seem’d highly pleased, but a vulgar-looking, ragged, Weather-worn Peasant.” p. 106.

“I was sitting upon a little Crotch-supported Bed…” p. 106.

“Teusday August 22 [1775. Long description on the “Warm Springs” in “Standing-Stone Valley” near Huntingdon, where persons ailing from various maladies went to bathe and drink the waters.]…The Men, for Exercise, play at Quoits, hunt Deer, Turkeys, Pheasants &c…” p. 114.

“Wednesday August 23I had almost forgot to tell the Person who shall read these papers a couple of hundred Years hence that there is now standing in a Garden at Huntingdon a tall stone Column, or Pillar, nearly square, which has given to the Town & to the Valley the name of ‘Standing Stone Valley.’ - The Column is seven Feet above the Ground!” p. 116.

After breakfasting with Mrs. Fowley a smart neat Woman; her Pewter on the Dresser glistened; her wooden Dishes, Pails & the like, were white & sweet - And after appointing Sermon to be here on Sunday, we rode up to Ofwick six Miles to Mrs. Clugage’s.” p. 116.

“The good little Woman with great kindness received me. She looks to be an old Woman, very healthy, indeed florid in her Presence - Yet She wear neither Shoe or Stocking - It is the Custom in these back Woods almost universally with Women to go barefooted. - Men in common I observe wear Mockisons, or Indian’s Shoes.” p. 116-17.

[Took a walk to a nearby brook:] “As I was strolling along these Waters I found two Sorts of fine Plumbs. The one is a red, or streaked Plumb not yet quite ripe, & quite tart on the Tongue. - The others, by far the best, is a Yellow, & when rubbed a little is a bright Orange-coloured Plumb; now nearly ripe & very juicy & sweet. Both the Kinds are nearly of a Size, & grow upon a low shrubby, thorny Bush -” p. 117.

“Monday August 28 [Traveling towards Fort Loudon, Mr. Harris’s on the Forbes Road.]…Musick, how soft thy Charms! - It is thy special property, to exercise, & not fatigue the Mind! Two young Misses were singing at their Wheels. They sung well. In perfect Unison. They sung deliberately. Not one long pause did either of them hurry over. They moved me.” p. 122-23.

[Virginia.]

“Fryday Sept: 1 [1775. Warm Springs, Virginia. (Berkeley Springs.)]…EveningIn one part of the little bush Village a splendid Ball - At some Distance, a Methodist Preacher was haranguing the People. Frequent writings on the Plates, &c-- In our dining Room Companies at Cards. Five & Forty, Whist, Alfours, Callico-Betty &c.” p. 126.

“Thursday Sept: 7 [1775. Newark, Delaware to Christiana Bridge, Delaware.]…This Day’s Ride seems like a continued Street, Fences on each Side of the Way, & Houses still in View.

Newark reminded me of old Days at Princeton - Full of antic School-Boys - It was Play Hours - Some gallopping out - Some coupled Walking - Some throwing long-Bullets - Some strutting at the Doors before Girls - Others playing at Fives at the Endof the Academy &c - I arrived at Christiana Bridge about seven - A most lovely Evening.” p. 129.

[Fithian’s second tour. A break in the diary until November 13 1775.]

“Monday Evening the 27th [Stephensburg.]…It is wonderful to observe how loud & general is the Demand for Salt! - It is selling current, in small quantities, half a Bushel, or a Peck, /more can scarcely be purchased/ at the Rate of nine Shillings & six pence, & ten shillings pr Bushel! - and over the Mountain at Redstone, at thirty Shillings pr Bushel! - Country Produce of all kinds has no Price with the Merchants - & is exchanged through the Country, commonly without Money, where need calls. - The best Wheat is not sold for more than three Shillings - Rye at Two - oats by the Quantity at a Shilling pr Bushel - No Merchants will book a Shilling’s Value to the best Men; ready Cash or no Goods. The loudest Cry is for Salt, the Farmers killing their Meat, & it is with much Reluctance they bear the Want; & we are told that many let out their Hogs from the fattening pens-!” p. 135.

[Ca. December 20-22 1775. “Calf-Pasture, Augusta County[?] West of Staunton, Virginia.]“Wednesday Morning the 20th we began to look round in the Calf-Pasture… The Inhabitants live in great plenty - They have not, it is true, Coffee, Chocolate, nor many other of what is allow’d to be needful in polite Life - But they have Bread, meatof many Kinds, Milk, Butter, & Cheese, & all in great plenty, & of the best Quality-” p.145.

“Provision & Living here is very Low. In the best Times, when Grain & meat was at their highest Price, the whole Expence here pr Annum of a Labourer for Diet, Washing, & Lodging was only five Pounds - at most five Pounds, ten Shillings. -- And yet the Price of labour is high - two Shillings pr Day in common - & in Time of Hay & Harvest half a Crown - & forty Shillings pr Month - This, considering the Currency, & the Price of Living, makes it a good Place for labouring Men-

These Pastures take their name from the killing in this, several Buffaloe-Calves - in the other a Drove of Buffalo Cows - & in the last some Bulls.

But they are properly called Pastures for each are fertile.” p. 147.

“Christmas Morning-Not a Gun is heard - Not a Shout - No company or Cabal assembled - To Day is like other Days every Way calm & temperate - People go about their daily Business with the same Readiness, & apply themselves to it with the same Industry, as they used-

The Air of Virginia seems to inspire all the Inhabitants with Hospitality - It has long been a Characteristic of the lower Counties - I am sure these Western ones deserve it - Every thing they possess is as free to a Stranger as the Water or the Air - Living to be sure, is not among these frugal Irish so fantastical as with the native Virginians- But they have in very great Abundance the leading Supports to human Subsistence- and by these, & their healthy Situation among these Mountains & pure Waters, through Gods Blessing, they raise a Brood of Youth, young Men, & young Women, forSize, Activity, & Complection, such as I have seen in no Place before- !” p. 151.

“Since I left Stephensburg I have seen no Coffee, Chocolate - Tea is out of the Question; it is almost Treason against the Country to mention it, much more to Drinkit - nor any superfluous, vapourous Nick-nack - But in the Place of these plenty of rich Milk in large Basons, & Noggins; to which you may put your Mouth, & drink without Order or Measure - Large Platters covered with Meat of many Sorts; Beeff; Venison; Pork; - & with these Potatoes, Turnips, Cabbage, & Apple beyond your

Asking - A low Bench for a Table you will have covered with such Provisions three Times every Day - And the Air, & customary Labour, or Exercise, will set you down to each of them with a raging Appetite - Is it then to be wondered at that the Inhabitants are so strong & lusty!-” p. 150-51.

“Upper Cow-PastureSunday Jan: 7th…Now at Times I am a little pinched for Bed-Clothes - Often I wade deep in Rivers - But there are no murderous Fleas - Oh! none.” p. 160.

“Monday 29th [January, 1776. Near Staunton, Virginia.]…We supped up a couple of wooden Noggins full of hot ‘Swatts;’…” p. 177.

“So I went and quartered with another Man, for Elder -Allen- has no feed for Horses. It was with a Gentleman of the same Name, James Allen, - But of another disposition; he has plenty of Food for horses; he lives elegantly - has plenty of Meat for me; and has two Daughters of Taste.

Women of Taste born & educated in Augusta! - You tell Wonders, Fithian; I tell Truth, Miss Jenny Allen is a Girl of Taste. And Betsey too - At their Wheels you shall see them neat; - Exposed to the curse of the Irish here, they wear Rolls, & dress their Hair high!” p. 177.

“Shall we go to the ‘Scotching’ Frolick - O no - There are to be more than ninety Males and Females gathered to dress Flax - Yes, young Women dress Flax - Will you go, there is to be a Dance too -?” p. 180.

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[The diaries at length offer much better context than any extracts can convey.]

Fithian, Philip Vickers; “Philip Vickers Fithian: Journal, 1775-1776. Written on the Virginia-Pennsylvania Frontier and in the Army around New York.” Albion, Robert Greenhalgh, and Dodson, Leonidas, editors. Princeton University Press, Princeton, NJ. 1934.

The latter part of the above volume records his experience as Chaplain of Newcomb'sRegiment from New Jersey in the 1776 campaign which terminates in his untimely death.

Also very worthwhile is Fithian's diary as a schoolmaster at Nomini Hall in Virginia.

"American Notes, Travels in America, 1750-1920."http://memory.loc.gov/ammem/lhtnhtml/lhtnhome.html

[See Fithian in the author index as:] Philip Vickers Fithian, journal and letters, 1767-1774, student at Princeton college, 1770-72, tutor at Nomini Hall in Virginia, 1773-74; edited for the Princeton historical association by John Rogers Williams.

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