Union Diary - BINGO - Diarist Identified!

After finding that 1880 census record, I did a little more root digging and believe I can now confirm our diarist was a farmer from Williamstown, New Jersey, by the name of JAMES McMASTER TWEED.

James McMaster Tweed (Sept 1852, NJ - 1938), a farmer in Camden and Gloucester counties in New Jersey, was the son of Irish immigrants Samuel and Rosanna (McMaster) Tweed. He married 7 January 1880 in Camden County, NJ, to Priscilla C. Godfrey (b July 1858, NJ). Their children were:

1. Stewart Leroy Tweed (21 Oct 1880 - 2 Aug 1963, NJ).

2. George Godfrey Tweed (b 26 Dec 1881), a mold maker by trade.

3. J. Richards Tweed (b June 1883 - evidently died soon after the last diary entries mention he was ill).

4. Samuel Finley Tweed (24 July 1884, NJ - Jan 1965, SC). Note the diary entries skip for several days following his birth.

5. Florence Anna Tweed (1886-1887).

7. Emma G. Tweed (1890), a public school teacher.

8. Rose Anna Tweed (26 Aug 1893, NJ - Aug 1986), a stenographer

7. William Godfrey Tweed (31 May 1895, Williamstown, NJ - 29 March 1964, SC).

References:

• 1860 Census, Camden Co, NJ, p 365.
• 1870 Census, Camden Co, NJ, p 226B.
• 1880 Census, Gloucester Co, NJ p 475A.
• 1900 Census, Gloucester Co, NJ p 206A.
• 1910 Census, Gloucester Co, NJ.
• 1920 Census, Gloucester Co, NJ, p 28B.
• International Genealogical Index, www.familysearch.com .

Union Diary - finding people in the 1880 census

Still trying to identify the 1884 diarist . . . and, I think I'm getting close.

Since the diary entries were made only a few years after the 1880 Census, I decided to take a few shots in the dark.

I started by searching records that year for one of the more unusual names from yesterday's list of people mentioned in the diary: Jeff Eldridge.

My search quickly produced a Jefferson Eldridge in Williamstown (Gloucester County), New Jersey -- right in the middle of the area I GoogleMapped. Looked like a definitely possibility, so I pulled up an image of the actual census record. I'm including a copy with this post.

What's most interesting is not just the Eldridge household, but note the names of the folks in the two adjacent households.

After the Eldridge's is a household headed by a fellow named "Casper Kanick," which is very close to another one of the names in yesterday's list: Kasper Kenict.

But, what is MORE interesting, at least in terms of this quest, is the household BEFORE the Eldridge's, transcribed here:

*Tweed, James M. - head of household - age 27 - b NJ - farmer - parents born in Ireland.
*Tweed, Priscilla - wife - age 22 - b NJ - keeping house - parents born in NJ.
* Tweed, Samuel - father - age 74 - b Ireland - parents born in Ireland.
* Wilby, Albert - other - age 19 - b PA - works on farm - parents born in Italy.
* Smith, Mary - other - age 15 - b PA - housework - parents born in PA.

I believe James M. Tweed is a good candidate for being our diarist, but not just because of his proximity to the Eldridge and Kanick/Kenict families:

(1) His wife's name is Priscilla. The diarist mentions going to church with a Priscilla.

(2) His elderly father is living on their farm.

I need to see if I can find out more about the Tweeds to confirm this hunch. So, stay tuned.

Union Diary - From places to people

Here is a list of some of the names mentioned in the diary entries, should be clues to the identity of the diarist:

Only 4 specific kin relationships:
* Cousin Jim and his wife Jennie.
* Uncle Hugh
* Uncle Hiram
* Father - died 27 August 1884

5 specific life events:
Lizzie - had a boy 19 Jan 1884
Emma - married 20 Feb 1884
Nathaniel Smith - funeral 13 April 1884
Richie Tice - funeral 24 June 1884
Mr. Taggart - buried 30 August 1884

Others mentioned with complete (or near-complete) names:
* Addison, George
* Alderman, Oliver
* Alderman, Strat
* Bateman, Henry
* Bodin, C.
* Duffield, Jos.
* Eldridge, Jeff
* Firth, Sam
* Gaunt, Lill
* Gerling, Aaron
* Harper, Charlie
* Harper, Jacob "Jake"
* Ireland, George
* Johnson, James "Jim"
* Kenict, Kasper
* Lawson, John
* Mallett, Sam
* Miller, Bob
* Miller, John
* Nicholson, C.
* Hires, S.K.
* Tweed, John/Johnny
* Tweed, Sam

Mentioned by first name or surname only:
* Addison, Mrs.
* Bugbee, Mr.
* George
* Godfrey, Fr.
* Halsey, Dr.
* Harry
* Haven, Mr.
* Mame
* Murph
* Richard
* Rob
* Rodgers, Rev.
* Ross, Mr.
* Stewart, Mr./Capt.

1884 Union Diary - Mapping places mentioned

Hoping to narrow my search geographically, I employed GoogleMaps to pinpoint some of the places mentioned in the diary entries.

With the exception of Philadelphia, PA, they all appear to be in southern NJ: Blackwood, Camden, Cross Keys, Glassboro, Gloucester, Hammonton, Malaga Mill, and Woodbury.


View 1884 Union Diary in a larger map

Union Diary - August/September 1884

Aug 15, Friday
Jake quit working for us. I was carting out manure today.

Aug 16, Saturday
Carted out the rest of my manure for wheat.

Aug 18, Monday
Warm. Hired George Addison to work at 14 dollars per month for 3 months.

Aug 19, Tuesday
I went to Markell last night, was late of getting home tonight.

Aug 20, Wednesday
Warm. Went to Blackwood & took my truck body to be fixed. Brought home my new one-horse wagon. Daisey cow with calf.

Aug 21, Thursday
Warm. Father was taken sick last night.

Aug 22, Friday
Doctor Halsey came to see Father about noon today.

Aug 23, Saturday
Doctor came today, said Father had dysentery.

Aug 26, Tuesday
Warm. Was in Markell today. Things very dull.

Aug 27, Wednesday
Pleasant. I was up with Father all last night & stayed with him all day until he died at 5pm. Uncle Hugh & Sam Tweed here when he died.

Aug 28, Thursday
Warm. Cousin Jim & Jennie came over today to help a little while.

Aug 29, Friday
Pleasant. Lizzie came tonight, alone.

Aug 30, Saturday
Warm. Lizzie went back this morning. Had a very heavy shower about 7pm. Mr. Taggart was buried today.

Aug 31, Sunday
Pleasant. Richard was taken sick yesterday with dysentery.

Sept 1, Monday
Pleasant. Father’s funeral was today. Richard very much worse today.

Union Diary - July 1884

July 1, Tuesday
Warm. Began cutting wheat today. Charlie & Jake were binding.

July 2, Wednesday
Warm. Finished cutting wheat this morning about 10am. Was cutting rye in the afternoon. Sold a calf to Bob Miller for $10.00.

July 3, Thursday
Warm. Carted in our wheat today. 8 loads. Johnnie Richards came tonight.

July 4, Friday
Warm. I bound some rye this morning, then went to Williamstown in the afternoon with George & John. George & Rose & their family came this morning. Jake went to Woodbury.

July 5, Saturday
Warm & cloudy. Finished replanting my tomatoes this morning. Planted some sugar corn this afternoon, then shocked up some rye. Jake finished the corn the 3rd time today. Had a heavy shower last night.

July 6, Sunday
Pleasant. Went to church & SS today. Stewart & George went to church, then George went home with Cousin Jim’s. They brought him home in the evening. We had a hard shower last night, and some hail.

July 7, Monday
Pleasant. Bound up some rye & carted in 3 loads in the afternoon. Jake began the corn this morning & worked til noon.

July 8, Tuesday
Cool. Jake cut a piece of rye this morning & bound it up. We carted it in this afternoon. Father went to Blackwood with 1cwt of flour.

July 9, Wednesday
Pleasant. Jake was working in the corn all day. I was working in the truck. Ploughed the watermelons, citrons, etc.

July 10, Thursday
Warm. Jake finished in the corn this morning, then we were working in the cabbage & tomatoes. I went to church at night.

July 11, Friday
Warm. Jake was helping Jeff thresh in the morning, then we threshed our wheat & rye rakings in the afternoon.

July 12, Saturday
Warm. Jake was working in the cabbage in the morning & I harrowed down my late potatoes. In the afternoon, we cut some rye.

July 13, Sunday
Warm. Went to church in the morning & took Stewart & George. Did not go to SS. Went to Blackwood in the evening.

July 14, Monday
Cool. We finished our new ground rye this morning, then Jake began in the corn. I cut off my hedge in the afternoon.

July 15, Tuesday
Warm. Jake was working in the corn. I went to Blackwood & took 1 cwt of flour. Got some corn & bran at the mill.

July 16, Wednesday
Warm. Jake finished working in the corn before dinner. I was working in the tomatoes. We went down to Williamstown in the evening.

July 17, Thursday
Cool. I took Hebe home this morning. Uncle Hiram & I went to Camden & bought a horse. Jake worked in the cabbage with the gang plow.

July 18, Friday
Cool. Jake tried to cut the oats with the reaper, but had to give it up. They were so short. We sowed some flat turnips in the afternoon.

July 19, Saturday
Warm. We put the manure in for our rutabaga turnips today.

July 24, Thursday
Sowed our rutabaga turnips today.

Union Diary - June 1884

June 7, Saturday
Warm. Henry Bateman & I went to Paulsboro & got our new carriages. I traded our old one in part pay.

June 8, Sunday
Clear & warm. Floral gathering.

June 9, Monday
Warm. Went down to the town hall to clear away the remains of the festival.

June 10, Tuesday
Warm. Father went for Emma this morning.

June 11, Wednesday
Cloudy & rainy. Finished setting out cabbage plants today. 7,660.

June 12, Thursday
Cloudy & warm. Went to the city & got a woman to work. Got home at 9:30pm. Flora was taken sick & died about half past 11.

June 13, Friday
Warm. Buried Flora in the field back of the house.

June 14, Saturday
Warm. Finished putting out tomatoe plants today. Jake finished going through the corn the second time. Went down to Father Godfrey’s in the eve.

June 15, Sunday
Pleasant. Went to church in the morning, did not go to S.S. Went to Mrs. Ross in the evening.

June 16, Monday
Cool. Heavy frost last night. Got 500 bran today.

June 17, Tuesday
Warm. Jake carted out some manure for potatoes.

June 18, Wednesday
Warm. Began mowing this afternoon. I got a calf from Kasper Kenict.

June 19, Thursday
Warm. Began casting in hay today. Jake went to Cross Keys picnic in the afternoon.

June 20, Friday
Very warm. Working in the hay today. Charlie Harper helped.

June 21, Saturday
Warm. Finished one field of hay today. Had 8 loads on 15 acres. Went to Blackwood in the evening & got Hebe. Charlie Harper was here.

June 22, Sunday
Warm. Went to church in the morning & SS in the afternoon. Took the children.

June 23, Monday
Very warm. Finished cutting our hay today. Had 2 small loads on 4 acres.

June 24, Tuesday
Warm. Was hoe harrowing in the afternoon. Went to Richie Tice’s funeral in the morning.

June 25, Wednesday
Warm.

June 26, Thursday
Cool. Raining hard from 3am until 10. Was setting out tomatoe plants this afternoon.

June 27, Friday
Cool & pleasant. Jake plowed for potatoes & I replanted cabbage. Father got a calf from John Tweed.

June 28, Saturday
Pleasant. Planted pumpkins today, then put out some sweet potatoes.

June 29, Sunday
Cool. Went to church & S School & took George & Steewart. Sam Mallett was here for supper.

June 30, Monday
Pleasant. Planted potatoes today. Charlie Harper was helping.