Who was Estelle Garland, author of 1868 Rye Diary?

After daily labors she liked having fun, playing cards, sledding, berrying, etc.

Marg Carroll

Journal writing has become popular today.  Keeping a diary was popular in the 1800’s.  Through the diary we become acquainted with Estelle and step into the close-knit community of Rye so long ago.

What do we know about Estelle?  We know she was a dedicated caregiver for her mother who was often ailing.  She also worked hard, washing and ironing almost every day.  It is unclear whether the family took in laundry as a business. Jackie Carll thinks Estelle also worked at the Farragut Hotel.

She had fun, too.  Friends were numerous and called frequently.  In the winter they went sledding and played “Old Maid”.  In the summer they went blueberry and strawberry picking.  They also played lots of croquet.  Her friend John had a new horse. (Today young men get a car.)   They enjoyed trips to the Center, Foss Beach and Little River.  Estelle also had trips to Portsmouth and visits with relatives who lived in Boston.  Church was important to her.  She worshiped frequently and sang in the choir.

ESTELLE GARLAND'S 1868 DIARY, Part 2

This is the second of three parts of Estelle's diary from 1868, the year she turned 23 (phraseology and spelling remain as written):

Mon. June 1th - Pleasant. I sewed all day. Lizzie, Etta & William called in evening.

2th - My birthday 23th.
Pleasant. We washed in A.M. I sewed in P.M.  I called up to Edward Garlands & M.A. Bunkers after tea.  John called. Martha & Eliza Jane Garland called.

3th - Pleasant. I ironed in A.M. sewed in P.M. Played Croquet with Etta & Lizzie after tea.

4th - A beautiful day. I ironed in A.M. Carrie called. I called up to Carries in P.M. After tea played Croquet.

5th - Dull & rainy. Called on Garland girls in eve.

6th - Dull in morning, cleared off. Very warm. About 10 o'clock I washed floors.  Aunt Elmira & Eliza called in P.M. I called up to M.A. Bunkers in eve.

7th - Rainy. I about half sick in ride to Albert. John here to supper. We took a ride to the Post Office with Johns new horse.

8th - Pleasant, did not wash.  Mother & I sewed. Eliza & Carrie called in P.M.  Mary Smart came down to play Croquet. I called on the Garland girls in the eve.

9th - Pleasant in A.M. mother washed. A very heavy Thunder shower in P.M. The Garland girls called in eve.

10th - Pleasant. I ironed in A.M. Mr. Shiepl died about one o'clock. I called up to Carrie & Aunt Elmiras. John came in the eve. We took a short ride.

11th - Pleasant in A.M. I called up to Carries. Came on rainy in P.M. Carrie & I went to Portsmouth  on the 2 o'clock Train, returned in 5 o'clock. I staid to tea with Carrie.

Friday 12th - Rainy. I went up to Aunt Elmiras in A.M. and to dinner in P.M. I attended the funeral of Deacon Shapely. Mother & I called on the Garland girls in eve.

13th - A beautiful day.  (Undecipherable)I about have (undecipherable) wash on Saturday. Lizzie called in P.M.

Sunday 14th - A very fine day. I attended church all day. After tea I called into Uncle Calvins, Cousin Abbie there. Ira & Elycl called. John & I went to Portsmouth to an old folks concert.

15th - Pleasant & quite warm. We washed in A.M. Sewed in P.M. Lizzie, Etta & Abbie called after tea. Played Croquet with the above named.

16th -Pleasant & very warm. I sewed all day. Lizzie called in A.M. Mother painted a floor for Mrs. Bunker in P.M. John called a few minutes. Minerva Jenness & Mrs. Bunker called.

17th - Dull & foggy in morning. Cleared off about 9 o'clock. Mother & I spent the P.M. with  Carrie, helping her sew. I called on Mrs. Joe Brown in eve.

18th - Foggy in A.M.  cleared off in P.M. Mother & I went visiting at Mrs. Oliver Jenkins. Etta called in P.M. Mary Watson & Minerva Jenness & the Garland girls called in P.M.

19th Foggy again in A.M. Cleared off in P.M. Mother up to Bunkers. Carrie called. Lizzie & I took a walk in eve to the (undecipherable) hill.

20th - Pleasant & very warm. I washed the floor in A.M. sewed in P.M. Mother & Elsie went to Portsmouth.

21th - Hot in morning, came on rainy about half past nine, quite cool. Lizzie & William called. Rainy, did not take a ride.

22th - Rainy. Mother & I sewed all day.

23th - Pleasant. Mother & I sewed all day. N.Y. Circus at Portsmouth. Did not go. In eve I went down to  Mr. John Foss to sing with Mrs. Bunker.

24th - Pleasant. We washed in A.M. I sewed in P.M. Carrie called. I took a walk in eve. down to Alfred Leavey. Charlotte gone away. I did not call.

25th - Pleasant. I ironed in A.M. Mrs. Bunker spent the day here. Lizzie called. John came over played croquet a while. Then took a ride in eve.

26th - Pleasant. I helped Charlie paper all day.

27th -  Pleasant & very warm, I cleaned the chambers.  Belinda, Addie, Lizzie & John called in eve.

28th - Pleasant - little cooler - I attended church, rode with Mr & Mrs Smart. After tea, John & I took a ride down to Foss beach. Carrie & Jane called.

Monday 29th - Pleasant & very cool. Mother & I sewed all day. I called up to Carries. William, Lizzie,  Etta called.

30th - Pleasant & cool. We washed in A.M. Mother helped Aunt Elmira sew. I ironed in P.M.

July I - Pleasant - Mother & I washed for (undecipherable) in morning. John came after us and we spent the day at Mr. Warners. I called at Uncle Sams & Dr. Odells.

2th - Pleasant but hot - Mother & I ironed.

3th - Pleasant - I sewed after cleaning a little. After tea I went to Portsmouth with William.

4th - Very hot Harvey & Mary called in A.M. John came to dinner in P.M. We went down to the horse rocks after tea. We rode down to the Loganmore house.

5th - Very hot again. I did not attend church.  Laid down about nine o'clock A.M. and forgot to get up until three P.M.  After supper, John & I took a walk.

6th - Pleasant & cooler. Wind N.E. Mother & I had a nap in A.M. I went with Anna strawberrying in P.M. Mrs. Lottie Rand called.

7th - Pleasant & cool. We washed in A.M. John called. Had a little shower in P.M.

8th - Dull. We ironed. Mother took the clothes home in P.M.

9th - Raining in A.M. A little more pleasant in P.M. Lizzie & Anne helped on quilt in P.M. William called in eve.

10th - Pleasant. I quilted all day. Anna helped me in P.M. finish. Mother spent the day with Mrs. Brain. Played Croquet after tea.

11th  Pleasant & warm. I done housework in A.M. sewed in P.M. Went down to Chesleys. Went down to a sing up to Bunkers in eve.

12th - Very hot. I rode to meeting with Charlie & Elder Pierce preached. After tea took a ride to the beach. Called at Ira's.

13th - Pleasant & a very little cooler. We washed in A.M. Had a nap in P.M. Belinda called.

14th - Pleasant & very warm. Mother & I ironed all day. Elmira called in P.M.

15th - Warm again. Intensely hot. I ironed a little, mother ironed all A.M. till 3 o'clock pm. Elder Pierce here to dinner. Belinda called, had a slight shower.

16th - A little cooler. We washed in A.M. I (undecipherable) Anna in P.M. Ely Rand called in eve. I played Croquet with Anna, Charles & others.

17th - Pleasant - We ironed. Anna & Addie called in P.M. John here in eve.

18th - A beautiful day. I did housework as usual on Saturday. The choir met here in eve for rehersal.

19th - A fine day. John went to church with me. Orthodox in A.M. Baptist in P.M. In Eve we went for Bay ride in carriage with Anna & Charlie. Had a slight shower.

20th - Dull. We washed in A.M. I called up to Carries in P.M. Mr. & Mrs. White called to the door.

21th - Pleasant. I washed a little ironed the (undecipherable). Charley called.

22th - A fine day. We ironed all day. Anna called. Had a heavy shower in P.M.

23th - Dull. We washed. Carrie here to dinner. Mrs. Brain called in P.M. Quite a party as we played Croquet after tea. John came in eve. Took a ride.

24th - Dull all day. We ironed. I called to see Anna in eve.

25th - Rainy. I washed curtains in A.M. Spent the P.M. with Belinda Bunker.

26th - Pleasant. I attended church all day. After tea took a ride down to Boars Head. Eliza James and Jane called.

27th - Pleasant. We washed in A.M. I took a nap in P.M. Went down to the store, Anna & I after tea.

28th - Pleasant. We ironed all day. Mrs. Bunker called in P.M.

29th - Pleasant. We ironed all day. Mother took the clothes home in eve. I played Croquet a while with Anna, & John called.

30th - Pleasant. We washed in A.M. I called on Anna in P.M. In eve. John & I went to Portsmouth. Anna called.

31th - Pleasant. I ironed in A.M. Spent the P.M. at Aunt Elmiras. Mother & I called up to Bunkers in eve.

Aug. 1 - Pleasant. We did the Saturdays work. and (undecipherable) a little in A.M. In P.M. Mother, Anna, Elsie & I went Blueberrys - got caught in heavy rain & got wet through.

2th - Pleasant I attended church. Anna called a minute. Carrie also called. Did not go to ride. John & I took a walk.

3th - Pleasant We washed all day. Elder (undecipherable) called.

4th - Dull. We ironed all day & evening.

5th - Dull, we ironed all day. Carrie & Anna called in A.M. I called to Carries in Eve.

6th - Dull. We washed in A.M. ironed in P.M. Anna called in P.M. Aunt Elmira, Charlie & John called in Eve.

7th - Rainy, we ironed all day. Mother took the clothes home in eve. I called on Anna.

8th - I (undecipherable) all day. Uncle Joe came down and bring a letter to spend a week. Uncle went home at 6 o'clock.

9th - Sunday - Dull & rainy in A.M. Cleared off in P.M. I did not attend church. After supper Anna, Charlie, John & I went to Portsmouth at Aunt Rae's.

10th - Pleasant. We washed all day. John & I went to Portsmouth in eve, to hear the swiss bell ringers.

11th - Pleasant, we ironed all day. Anna called, Mrs. Bunker also.

12th - Pleasant - we ironed all day. John called in eve.

13th - Pleasant. We washed all day. John called in P.M.

14th - A beautiful day. I attended the annual Bicential Hampton Beach. Called at Mr. Howes house?  Albert at home.

15th - Pleasant. I ironed all day. Played one game of Croquet with Albert & William.

16th - Rainy in A.M. I called on Anna and we laid down a while. Cleared off. We went berrying in P.M. After tea John & I went for a ride to the beach.

17th - Pleasant. Albert left on the first. We washed all day. Anna called in eve.

18th - Pleasant. We ironed all day & eve.

19th - We ironed all day & evening. The above as yesterday. Annie Plaisted & husband called to see me.

20th - Dull in A.M. Rainy in P.M. We washed. I called up to corner in eve.

21th - Pleasant  We ironed all day & evening.

22th - Pleasant. We ironed all day. Mother went to the beach in eve, and I did the Saturday cleaning.

23th - A lovely day. I did not attend church. Anna, Charlie, John & I rode to Stratham hill, had a splendid time.

24th - Pleasant  We washed all day. (commencing) no callers. Camp meeting at Epping, commencing today.

25th - Pleasant. We ironed all day & evening. M.A. Bunker & Carrie called.

26th - Pleasant. We ironed all day & evening. John called.

27th -  Same

28th - Pleasant. Mother went to the beach in morning. We washed. John took me to ride to the beach in eve.

29th - Pleasant. I ironed in A.M. Went with Carrie in P.M.

30th - Pleasant. I did not attend church. In P.M. John & I went down on the house rock. In eve John & I took a ride to the beach.

31th - Pleasant Aunt Lotta left by 9:00 train. We washed all day.

NEXT: In April issue, the last of 3 parts of the 1868 diary of Estelle Garland and a brief look at some of Estelle's friends.



March, 2007

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