Phebe Pierson's journal, 1796-1797.

Format:

Manuscript

Author/Creator:

Dodd, Phebe Pierson, 1776-1815.

Contributor:

Miscellaneous Manuscripts Collection (University of Pennsylvania)

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

American diaries--18th century--Specimens.

American diaries.

American diaries--Women authors--18th century.

Dodd, Stephen, 1777-1856.

Dodd, Stephen.

American diaries--Women authors.

Bloomfield (N.J.)--Social life and customs--18th century.

Bloomfield (N.J.).

Genre:

Diaries.

Manuscripts, American.

Specimens.

Penn Provenance:

Sold by Alexander Historical Auctions (Chesapeake City, Maryland), 2015.

Physical Description:

1 volume + 1 leaf

Contained In:

Miscellaneous Manuscripts. Box 22 Folder 3

Place of Publication:

1796-1797.

Biography/History:

Phebe (also Phoebe) Pierson was born August 25, 1776, to Elihu and Catherine Baldwin Pierson at Bloomfield, Essex County, New Jersey. On November 28 1799, Phebe married Stephen Dodd, who was a pastor at Salem Bridge Church in Naugatuck, Connecticut. The couple had no children. She died at Naugatuck on February 27, 1815.

Summary:

A slim, hand-sewn, paper-covered volume containing the diary of Phebe Pierson spanning from September 1796 to August 1797. On the first page of the volume is written "Phoebe Pierson's journal, Wardsesson, September 1796." Wardsesson, New Jersey, settled by Puritans in 1660, was renamed Bloomfield in 1796. Phebe recorded the date on the left-hand side each page and wrote one to several lines each day. Miss Pierson's daily life was devoted her religious community and Presbyterian congregation. Some entries divulge her devotion. One November 5, 1796, Phebe wrote "I felt much sweetness in religion." She records attending meetings, who preached (sometimes her uncle), and cites what was read from the Bible. She notes her friends, Betsy Dodd and Hannah Crane among several others. She recorded attending baptisms and funerals. One longer entry on January 15, 1797 discussed the accident and funeral of Mr. Coleman, who was drunk when he fell from his horse and had "lain senseless for 12 weeks." Miss Pierson attended singing school and belonged to the Young People's Society. On May 8, 1797 Phebe wrote of the placement of the corner stone for the new meeting house in Bloomfield. She traveled to Orange and Newark where she attended church, went shopping, and sold chicks. Phebe also mentioned that she sewed and made quilts. On the last leaf of the volume is written Mr. Stephen Dodd and Miss Phebe Pierson. On a small leaf laid in the volume Phebe wrote of her husband Stephen Dodd and noted the date of their wedding.

OCLC:

921889303