Manuscript daybook of William S. Benchley of Newport, NY, Aug 1st, 1839 through April 5, 1845
[ Newport, NY ]: [ self published ] 1839-1845. First Edition. [207] vertically lined pages. Not paginated. Folio (8 3/8 x 12 3/4 inches). Swede over chipboard with "Hotel Register" spine label. Front section of register leaves excised. William Smith Benchley's name inked in several places, and a faint WSB scratched on the front board upper left corner. The first entry (August 1, 1839) begins "This Memorandum commenced August 1st 1839." Usual scribbling to endpapers. The last page is (unrelated?) information on Dr Benjamin Wright of Adams, Jefferson Co. A single receipt laid in for an insurance company premium for Benchley dated Dec 13th, 1842. 200+ pages are entirely filled, date in first column, entries filling the balance. Some sections and/or entries written in different hands. Good. Boards. [27470]
William S. Benchley was married twice, first to Mary Willoughby (died 1836) and in 1838 to Roxy Ann Post. It appears that Benchley started this diary/daybook after marrying his second wife.
The Benchleys ran a tavern, bar and hotel establishment in Newport, N. Y. Dinner guests and local visitors are often identified by name, patrons as "travellers" from other places identified by occupation, party size, or money spent. Interesting reports break up the daily weather reports - sermon topics, births/deaths, the "catholic church raised on the hill" (probably St. Patrick's Roman Catholic Church), Van Buren (a politician) talking in Herkimer and Little Falls, occasional political commentary, the local democratic meeting and delegates sent to Herkimer. A few macabre details (Humphrey of Deerfield hung himself), and odd but interesting periodic business details like the amount of money taken in for food and/or lodging. Benchley was also buying a local tannery from Smith & Welle. Details about the tavern operation are sparse, but when found are interesting: getting up at 5am to make mince pies (Oct 16), returning from New York Oct 19 having spent $1000 on goods - finding Randall Price in the store and bar, and the wife in the kitchen with everything "in order". Wife making soap for the first time (Nov 14), Benchley being made Commissioner of Deeds (Nov 15), killing and salting pork for winter (Nov 20), an Oyster feast (Nov 30), and on Dec 31st a large party of 20 couples with significant revenue resulting among others! We find mention of the ice house 1/22/1840, as well as toddy's taken before bedtime on some cold days. Many days record but a few lines including the weather, but on the whole it is an interesting read in a legible hand.
We only read the first 19 pages (about 10%) after realizing it was a worthwhile scholarly source. Randomly flipping pages, some details we saw include: Sept 1841 the purchase (for $1000!) of 1/10th of the rights to a patent, and setting up a company for that. Benchley sold 2 shares (days later) for $1000 to Porter. Sept 27 the Bank at Little Falls was robed (sic) of $71357 by Brown a clerk in the bank and two others by the name of ? & ?. Benchley goes fishing, sometimes reporting his success. Finished digging potatoes, put about 100 bushels in cellar. In later entries Benchley can become philosophical: (Jan 9 1844): "A cold stormy day. Mrs. Raymond died this morning at 4 o'clock. She has gon & left 4 little children + her husband in a lamentable situation indeed. She was a fine woman but death is no respector of persons..." Surnames include Smith, Weller, Ellison, Port, Brown, Sherwood, Dr. Westen Willoughby Jr., Leonidas [Benchley], Raymond, and many others. The last entry is Sunday April 13, 1845.
Leonidas Benchley (referenced throughout as Leonidas) was William S. and Mary Willoughby Benchley's son. He worked in local banks, but eventually left Newport circa 1850 for San Francisco, CA where he became a very successful businessman. While still in Newport, he bought a building with another person for $70, and in Oct 1 1841 went "to Utica to buy instruments for a brass band." Occasional glimpses into his early life appear in the narrative.
William S. Benchley's attribution was confirmed by genealogical data, details in the history of Herkimer County, NY, birth/death reports (confirming Newport, NY) and finally an entry for Feb 17th, 1840 noting his 45th birthday. The location (Newport, NY) was confirmed by online cemetery records and other details in the diary. One misleading entry threw us for a few moments - another birthday noted in the first person - until we noted it was in another hand. Occasional sections are in other hands (one signed "LBB") but most are unidentified and are found most often when Benchley is traveling.
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