31. Only 2 days this month that the family could do without fire in the keeping room.

June, 1807.

1. Artillery election.

4. Worcester Turnpike Directors met.

5. Sold my son's pair of horses to Elbridge Gerry, Esq. for 300 dols.

6.

Mr. Jackson paid his Rent to the first inst.

10. Went to Worcester in a Chaise with Eliza Weld. 12. Rec" the last payment of the County for building Court house. Paid bank 500 dollars. Sat by a fire this evening.

13. Fire very agreeable. Qualified under my new commission as a Justice of Peace.

16. Went to Boston in a Chaise with Miss E. Weld on the 10th and returned to Boston with her this day.

20. Rode to Dorchester Point with Mr. E. T. Andrews & the Misses Weld.

1 In March, 1801, the Court of Sessions appointed Daniel Clap, Isaiah Thomas and Salem Towne a committee to report a suitable place for a Court House, and to ascertain the quantity and boundaries of the land belonging to the County upon which the Court House then stood. This committee reported at the same term of the Court "that the site where the present Court house stands, together with a peice of land adjoining the same, which will be presented gratis to the County by Isaiah Thomas, and also another peice of land lately belonging to the Town of Worcester, which will be presented gratis by Mr. Samuel Chandler, provided the same is appropriated for the accommodation of the Court house, or lies common, is, from its vicinity to the gaol, its pleasantness, dryness of soil &c. the most eligible of the many that have come under their observation, and where the new Court house ought, in their opinion to be erected. The land proposed to be given by Mr. Thomas adjoins and lies back of the land now owned by the County and of that proposed to be given by Mr. Chandler-is about 100 feet in front & about 112 feet in rear. The condition of the gift is, that the land now occupied by the Court house is to lie open & common. Mr. Thomas will give another convenient spot for a vault & necessary house, and engages not to erect any building at the East end of his new wood house that may incommode the new Court house."

This report was accepted and the building was erected chiefly under the direction of Mr. Thomas. On a silver plate inclosed in a leaden jar which was placed in the corner-stone was this inscription:-"The corner stone was laid Oct. 1, 1801, by Isaiah Thomas, Esq. who with William Caldwell, Esq. Sheriff of the County, and Hon. Salem Towne, were appointed a committee for building and completing this (now intended) Court House. The old Court House now stands two feet southeast from this spot, 1801."

In 1804 the committee appointed to examine the accounts of the building committee state in their report that Mr. Thomas had made no allowance for his services and "are of opinion that Isaiah Thomas Esqrs. services as Agent for building the Court house, is, at least, fully equal to his proportion of the expense of repairing the Court house hill. And that allowing the whole amount of the Account reported within, said Thomas agrees to accept the same in full for his services."

21. Went to Medford to see Mr. Bigelow, with Mrs. Thomas & Miss Weld.

22. Mrs. Thomas, Eliza, Mary Rebecca etc. returned to Worcester in Coachee.

23. Paid Maj'. Murray1 20 dollars.

24. Went to Lynn. Mount Carmel Lodge installed. 25. Levi returned in the Coachee from Worcester.

26. Bought bill of Exchange of Dan Murray, £63 shil. 9.

27. Sent Horse and Chaise to Worcester by Maj' Murray. Paid Majr Murray 20 dollars.

29. Mary B. came to see me.

30. Dined with Mr. J. Andrews.

1 Daniel Murray, the son of Colonel John Murray, of Rutland, was graduated from Harvard in 1771, studied law and opened an office in Rutland, but probably