The more things change...

Boylston Chronicles: Bad roads and heavy drinking

The following is from the 1797 journal of Simon Davis , a businessman and father who lived in a part of Boylston that is now West Boylston.

Simon Davis admits to drinking too much. He travels west and then out of state into Vermont. He thinks the Connecticut River is a grand and magnificent stream. Roads not good for a cart. He thinks he will not go again until the people improve the roads. Then he blames nature and not the people. Simon mentions a severe thunderstorm. His destination is Newfane, Vermont. Newfane was settled mostly by people from Worcester County.

Holden – Tuesday 15th – Fair and cool – Walked to Mr. Newton's – left Addison there – then to Father's and back to Harrington's – Tackled and pursued my journey to Hubbardston – some rough way – fell in with some old acquaintances at Clarke's – drank more than was to my good – tarried at D. Benett's and Abel Smith –

Hubbardston Wednesday August 16th 1797 – Cool morn – Warm pleasant day – did not start early – went only to Athol – put up at Streeter's – some very rough way for a cart – particularly between Templeton and Athol –

Athol Thursday August 17th – Fair and warm – made myself very busy on the road which was much of ye way very bad – Crossed the Connecticut River perhaps after 1 o'clock p.m. at Northfield – A most grand and magnificent stream – I suppose about 30 or 40 rods wide – Arrived at Brattleborough City half after 5 – found Windsor Newton in health and business – at Mr. Whitney's – pays 22 per week for his and his apprentices board – played 1 game at cardes – late at rest – slept with Windsor – full of talk – Warm and rainy night –

Brattleborough Friday August 19th 1797 – Warm and sultry – Went to Newfane – much bad road – Nature has done her work in such a manner and placed her rational offspring in circumstances which require much time to bring about any considerable degree of perfection in the works of art and civilization – left my cart at Major Holland and rode out to ye Bradley's – found them poor – tarried with Col. Reed – heavy thunder and sharp lightening – think I have not been personal witness to so much thunder and lightning before this season.

Newfane Saturday August 19th 1797 – rode to Wardsborough – foul day tarried with Col. Reed – alternate shines – think his improvements exceed any I see in the Town – He lets his Tan Yard – rainy evening –

Wardsborough Sunday 20th – Very heavy rain all morning – read an account of Mrs. Johnson's sufferings in captivity – hard days work sitting in the house – intended to have gone to meeting but Cousin Reed did not seem disposed to go – his wife an amiable woman – exceedingly rainy towards night –

NOTE: Simon mentions the captivity of Mrs. Johnson. She and her family were taken captive by Abenaki Indians in a raid in Charlestown, N.H. They were sold into slavery to the French in Quebec. Later released, she returned to her home in Charlestown. Susannah Willard Johnson was born in Lunenburg, Massachusetts. She was captured in 1754, released in 1758. She died in 1810 at age 80.

To be continued.