Sarah Jane Norton Diaries: Sharon Springs, NY

In the spring of 1864, 24-year-old Sarah Jane Norton, her 28-year-old husband Austin, and the couple's infant son Charlie emigrated from Sharon Springs, New York, to Ypsilanti. Sarah kept a diary over the next 43 years until her death in November of 1906. Her 1864 diary will be serialized here during 2012. To see all entries to date, see the "Sarah Jane Norton" tag at bottom.

At left she is pictured in 1888 at age 49. Introduction to the Norton family.

2/19/1864: We started at ten this morning for Charleston and arrived there a two* at was very cold but we did not suffer we found them well Lib, Albert and the others went to a society in the evening we stayed uncle Charles all night

[*four hours to travel 15 miles as the crow flies; less than 4 miles an hour]

2/20/1864: Albert, Nelson Austin Mary Lib and I went Uncle Billy Chamber's in forenoon we took dinner there in the afternoon Aut went to Mill Point to see Kate and the rest of us went uncle Rob's Ira is very low. we went Uncle Charles in the evening the young folks went to the hollow Phebe and her husband made down

2/21/1864: Went to Pheobes in the morning. Uncle Charles and Rhod were there to eve stayed to dinner and started for home 1/2 past one it thawed and the roads were not very good bad time for takeing cold we got home all safe a little after four

[it only took around three hours to make the trip home to Sharon Springs, leaving right after "dinner" (lunch); did the party stop for a picnic lunch on the way out?]

2/22/1864: My throt is soror on botle sickes [?]. Mary Moak visited here this after noon Aut and Josh are agoing to set up with George to night

2/23/1864: Charly came very near having the Croup last nigh. I went to Georges after but I did not like to be alone with him Earnest Bowen Bowen and John Whites boys were here to day

2/24/1864: [no entry]

2/25/1864: Mss Georege Fonda was here a little while this afternoon I sold her my gdas [?] dishes Flora called this evening Charly was quite sick this forenoon

These diaries were written by Sarah Jane Norton and are the property of the Norton Family. They may be used and reproduced for genealogical and historical purposes only. No commercial use is allowed without the express, written permission of Dennis Norton and no charge may be made for, nor income derived from their use.