15. Went with Mrs. Thomas and Augusta in the forenoon to the South parish Church-In the afternoon to the Baptist Church with Augusta only. Dr. Bancroft being absent, his Church was not opened. First time of going to Church with the present Mrs. Thomas.

17.

A number of Ladies & Gentlemen paid what is termed a wedding visit.

18. Rode out.

19. Rode out.

20. Visit, Mrs. Staunton.

21. My Grandsons Isaiah & William came from Northboro' on a visit for a fortnight, being a vacation at School. 22. Went to Church twice.

25. A number of Ladies & Gentlemen visited us-Tea and spent the Evening.

26. Miss Lynde & Miss Bangs visit.

27. Rode out with Mrs. Thomas. The bookstore robbed this Evening or night of a small trunk containing 8 or 9 dollars in silver-it must have been done by some one acquainted with the Store, and a part of it must have been left unfastened.

29. Went to Church twice.

31. Mrs. Thomas from Lancaster and Mrs. Cutter from West Cambridge, came on a visit.

September, 1819.

1. Mrs. & Mr. Boylston, from Princeton. Visit, dined, &c.

2. Mrs. Thomas went to Sterling & Lancaster, and Augusta to Sterling. Mrs. Cutter and Mrs. Thomas' Sister accompanied them.

3. Mrs. Thomas returned from Lancaster.

6. My Grandsons Isaiah & William returned to Northborough in the Stage-they have [been] on a visit 16 days. 8. Miss Lynde & niece spent the Evening.

9. Spent Evening at Miss Lyndes, Mrs. T. Mrs. K. and myself.

10. Visit at Dr. Bancroft's-Spent the Evening Mrs. T. and myself, with company.

12. Went to Church twice. Mr. Dogget1 of Mendon preached.

13. Had the complaint of the season, moderately for 6 days past.

1

Rev. Simeon Doggett became the minister of the Congregational Church in Mendon in 1814; but in 1818 after a warm controversy he persuaded the majority of his congregation to adopt the Unitarian belief. He was dismissed in 1837.

15. Mrs. Thomas went to Boston in the carriage. My grand daughter Augusta returned from Sterling. Moses Thomas visit. Mrs. T. dined with the Hon. Mr. Lloyd in Weston, and then went to Jamaica Plains.

16. Parker returned with the Carriage. Am. Antiq". So. met and adjourned.

18. Met again by adjournment and again adjourned to the 23d. inst.

19. Went to Church twice.

23. Met again by adjournment. Chimnies in the Parlours, South Chamber and Kitchen burnt.

25. Authorized Mr. Denny, and made out papers, as my Agent to Dixmont.

26. Went to Church twice.

27. Invitation to Tea from Mrs. P. Lincoln on Wednesday next.

28. Sent Parker with the carriage to Boston for Mrs. Thomas. My grand daughter Augusta went in it, and also Mr. Austin Denny, who is going to Dixmont on business for me. Indian Corn gathered.

29. Moses Thomas visit.

30. Mrs. Thomas returned from Boston accompanied by Miss Eliza Andrews, of Roxbury Plains. Moses Thomas returned home.

October, 1819.

1. Gathered the remains of the Bury pares.

2. Corn husked in the orchard this afternoon and Evening.

3. Went to Church twice.

4. Went this Evening to fire Club meeting, & presided.

5. Went with Mrs. Thomas and Miss Eliza Andrews to visit Mr. Boylston in Princeton. Lodged at Mr. Boylston's.

6. Went from Princteon to Sterling and dined with my nephew Moses Thomas Esq.-called on Rev. Mr. Nash at Westboylston, & returned home. Military Muster at Oxford.

7. First Cattle Shew in Worcester, and in the County.1 Fine Exhibition of excellent Cattle. Very large number of people assembled-Some Gentlemen from Boston, &c.

Although cattle fairs were held annually in Hardwick before the Revolution, and the Shrewsbury Agricultural Society, and the Brookfield Association of Husbandmen were formed before the Worcester society, this was the first cattle show to be held in the county. The committee of arrangements were Daniel Waldo, Theophilus Wheeler, Nathaniel P. Denny, Levi Lincoln, Jr. and Edward D. Bangs. The early exhibitions were held on the common, and the annual address, until the completion of the Town Hall, in 1825, was delivered in the Old South Church Along Front street, and extending nearly to Salem square, were built rows of pens for the live stock, while the rest of the common was given up to refreshment booths, itinerant peddlers and side shows. The manufactured articles were exhibited in rooms provided outside.

The exercises of the day began with the ploughing match, always one of the chief features of the early cattle shows, which took place on "Baptist Hill," now Salem square. The Judges on Working Oxen, reported that "fifteen yoke of Oxen were entered conformably to the rules of the Trustees. The tests to which they were subjected, were calculated to exhibit their strength and docility, and the perfectly

Mr. & Mrs. Boylston & Son, visit and dined. I dined with the Agricultural Society.

8. Military Muster at Holden.

9. Isaiah & William, came with Rev. Mr. Allen from Northboro.'

10. Went to Church twice. Have a bad Cold.

11. Isaiah & William returned to Northborough—Parker carried them 7 miles on their way. Mrs. Simmons arrived here from Burlington, Vermont. She came with Mr. Mills.

12. Unwell with a cold-my eyes much blood shodlaid in bed all the forenoon. remarkable appearance of the Aurora Borealis.

good management of their drivers. The cattle were uncommonly fine in size and appearance; and, great as were the expectations of the public from this part of the Exhibition, anticipation was more than satisfied. Indeed, it is difficult to conceive of a greater degree of perfection in animals of this description; and it was only by the liberality of the Society, through the exercise of a discretion reposed in the Trustees, in the allowance of an additional sum to the amount of premiums advertised, that the Judges were relieved from the most embarrassing perplexity, in deciding upon the nearly balanced claims of many of the competitors.

"The Oxen were tried by the single yoke, upon a cart weighing 11 cwt. 2 qrs. and 14 lbs. loaded with 44 cwt. of stone; making an aggregate of 55 cwt. 2 qrs. and 14 lbs. gross weight, which was drawn up a hill of the elevation of 4 deg. 50 min. and which also many of the cattle backed up the same elevation. They were next attached by the chain to a drag, loaded with 17 cwt. gross weight, placed on the travelled path, up the same hill--and were afterwards tried with a plough on a piece of unequal and partly rough-swarded ground. After all these trials, the whole were placed in a line, and were carefully examined and compared, and the premiums adjudged."

At eleven o'clock, the members of the society and the invited guests marched to the church, where, after a prayer by Dr. Bancroft, the address was delivered by Levi Lincoln, Jr. When the names of the judges and the arrangements for the day had been announced, the procession, escorted by the band of the first brigade, seventh division, "who at the request of Brig. Gen. Thomas Chamberlain, volunteered their services," made a circuit of the pens, and was dismissed. At half past one a new procession was formed for the dinner at the United States Hotel, where Governor Lincoln presided, assisted by Daniel Waldo, as vice-president. The official program of the day closed with the reading of the reports of the various committees, and the awards of the premiums, in the church, at half past five.