Martha Ballard's Diary, May 1 - 12, 1791

1 B
Clear Except a Sprinkleing of rain. I have been at home. mr Burtun & wife, mr Partrage & mrs Rockwood, & mr Livermore Drank Tea. Polly Livrmr here at Evng. at home.  
2 2
Clear. I Sowd Peas, mr Ballard went to Town meeting. mrss Savage & Benjamin here. my Girls washt. my throat is Soar. at home. mrs Savage here.  
3 3
Clear. I was very unwell ys foren, finisht Sowing my Gardin Pees aftn. Old mrs Norcross Calld here. mr Ballard & Ephm Drove our old Cow Down here, Shee Calvd ys Day. at home. mrs Norcross here.  
4 4
Cloudy, raind Before night. old mrs Norcross & mrs Livermore here on a visit. Hannah has been very unwell. at home, had Company.  
5 5
Cloudy & Some rain. mr Lankester Dind here. I have been at home. Hannah is better, Dolly not so well as Shee has been. mr Ballard been makeing fence. at home.  
6 6
Clear Except a Squall of Haill & rain. mrss Dorcas & Polly Pollard here, mr Savage allso. I have been at home. at home, had Company.  
7 7
Clear part of ye Day. Esqr Coney here, Juett Foster allso, Directly from the westward. I have been at home. Ephm went to mr Joness, brot a hen & Chicks. Shee hatcht 16, Eleven of ym perisht for want of proper Care. at home. Cyrus Came here.  
8 B
Clear. Capt Daviss Brigg & two other vessels went up ys Day, Jona was here aftern. mr Ballard & I went in at mr Livirmors ys Evng. Parthenia went to mr Burtuns to work for them. at mr Livermors.  
9 2
Clear. my girls washt & went to mr Voces. I planted Potoes foren, was Calld to mr Shaws aftn, his oldest Child Sick. I watcht with it. at mr Shaws.  
10 3
Clear & warm. Naby Shaw Expird at 3 h pm & I returnd home at Evn. Son Town here. at Ditoes. Son Town here. Death.  
11 4
Clear. Dolly was Sick, mrs Livermore to See her. I was Calld to See James Moores wife. mrs Shaws Dagt interd aftern. at James Moores, mrs Welman allso.  
12 5
At mr Moores, his wife So ill her women were Calld. we were all there thro the night. at Ditoes.  

Source: www.doHistory.org. Transcription courtesy of Robert and Cynthia McCausland.