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Cornelius Younglove Diary
transcribed by
Click here for an index to the diaries of Cornelius Younglove and his
sons Samuel
Younglove, Timothy Meigs Younglove and Cornelius S. Younglove
Introduction
Cornelius Younglove was a descendant of Samuel Younglove who came to
this country from England in the ship "Hopewell" with Captain Babb in
September 1635. Cornelius was born March 7, 1772, at New Brunswick, New
Jersey. Six of his uncles, sons of his grandfather Isaiah Younglove, had
been in the Revolutionary War.
He went to Vermont, where he was a stone-cutter and farmer until June,
1807, when he removed to Steuben County, New York, and became a farmer
and wool grower. Cornelius settled in Pleasant Valley in a log cabin that
was located where the home of Richard Wood now stands.
He had married Hannah, daughter of Samuel and Hannah Meigs Bartlett of
Sunderland, Vermont, on February 21, 1802, and they had eight children:
Aaron, born May 30, 1803; Julia Ann, born February 27, 1805; Samuel, born
June 7, 1807; Joseph and Dugald who both died in infancy; Timothy Meigs,
born March 5, 1814, who lived until 1892 and kept his diary for over 50
years; Myra, born in 1815 who died of scarlet fever when she was 20; and
Cornelius S., born November 29, 1824.
Their mother, Hannah, had been born November 13, 1780, and she lived
until October 26, 1852. Cornelius died September 16, 1856. He had a brother,
Aaron, who lived in Gorham, New York, and is mentioned in Cornelius's
diary, and he had three sisters: Hannah, Elizabeth, and Polly.
Cornelius's son, Timothy Meigs Younglove was a well-known farmer and
surveyor. He built the octagon house a short distance from his parents'
home in 1859. The diaries of Cornelius were kept at the octagon house
along with the diaries of his sons Samuel, Cornelius S. and Timothy. The
diaries had been moved and were sold at an auction, then eventually, through
the good will of Harold McGuire of Bath, New York, were returned to the
family.
Leonard P. Wood, Cornelius's great-great-great grandson, who still lives
in Pleasant Valley, copied and transcribed the diaries and put them on
computer disks for the use and interest of future generations.
Cornelius Younglove Diary
April 1826
April 16, 1826 was the first entry in Cornelius's journal. He was 53
years old.
16 Sunday April 1826 Rain—Went to Squire Powers, found him sick,
left a complaint against Simeon Burges for not appearing to work on the
highway.
17 Monday Fine weather, Self, Aaron & Saml went to Bramsville—fixed
sills & sleepers to the grocery.
18th Tuesday Went to Bramville—fixed the beams & overhead in the
grocery. Aaron & Saml tagging the sheep at home. Smith & his man Read
came at night.
19 Wednesday Fine morning. I went to see N. Taylor, found him at Covels
log house. Aaron & Sam tagging sheep. Took out the potatoes. Made a little
rope. Planted some scions with ends dipped in pitch. Little black sheep
lost.
20 Thursday Self & boys went to Bramville, began to plough. Got some
hay into the old house. Jas. Weeks raising his house. Cold weather.
21 Friday Cold. Got in some wheat to Esq. Bennet's barn for Bendict to
thresh for the straw. Boys ploughing, had Jas. Weeks half day.
22 Saturday Cold, went to L Casterlines, got two thousand shingle. Cold,
could not plough.
23 Sunday Brigham Smith and wife came over night. Went home on Sunday.
We settled. I paid him off for weaving and all acts. Borrowed five dollars
of Jas. Brundage.
24 Monday Saml went to Clarks in the morning, got 2 shoes resot on the
old mare. Taylor came to help fix my grocery, like to rain, went home.
Self and boys doing but little. Wet. The old cow in the mire at night.
25 Tuesday Went to Bramsville, boys ploughing. I draw some stone.
26 Wednesday At Bramsville. Boys ploughing. I underpinning the grocery.
27 Thursday Went to Bramsville, Got John Townsend to drive the plough.
Took Saml to turn the mill. Cleaned & brot home wheat. Left two bushel
at Bennet's barn for Casterline.
28 Friday N. Taylor helping board the grocery. Boys got done ploughing.
John Weeks after dinner till 4 o'clock Digging cellar for Weeks. Had the
oxen to draw a load from Drew's mill.
29 Saturday Taylor came. We went to Bramsville. Came on rain, came home.
30 Sunday Cleared off, not very warm, Graft some.
Pegtown was an early name for Hammondsport, for the wood shoe pegs
made there. Bramsville was the upper part of Younglove's farm on the
higher level above his home in the valley.
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