Martha Ballard's Diary, January 12 - 17, 1796

12 3
Clear and pleasant. mr Finny here giting wood 1/2 ye Day. Ezra Town went to See his Unkle and Aunt Gill. Laban Princes wife & Child Sleep here. mr Ballard returnd from Surveying at m. Tabors. I have Done my house work, feel fatagud. at home.  
13 4
Clear. I have been at home. Bulah Sleeps here has washt for me. I paid her 1/6 for her Service. mr Town Sleeps here. at home. mr Town here.  
14 5
Snowd. I was Calld at 7h Evn to See mrs Mathews who is in Labour. I tarried all night, Slept none. at Wm Mathews.  
15 6
X. Birth Wm Mathewss Dagt. XX.
Cloudy. I was at mr Mathews, his wife was Deld at 6h morn of a fine Dagt after a Severe illness, her first Child. I receivd 9/, made a prest of 1/6 to the infant. I returnd home and find my house up in arms, how long God will preserv my Strength to perform as I have Done of late, he only knows. may I trust in him at all times, and do good and hee will fullfill his promis according to my Day. may he giv me Strength and may I Conduct accordingly. at Ditoes. Birth 4th. this is the 612th Birth I have attended at Since ye year 1777. the first I assisted was the wife of Petton Warrin in July 1778.  
16 7
Cloudy, Snowd Some. I have Done my house work and ironed my Cloaths. mr Ballard been at Coart. at home.  
17 D
Clear day, Snowd at night. mr Densmr, his wife and Dagt Mary, Son & Dagt Lambt, Ephm & Phillip Dind here on roast Chickins. I have not been to Meeting. I was Calld at 6h Evn to mr Peter Clearks to See the wife of Wilm Moore who was in Labour. mr Eads Came there for me. Shee would not Dismis me. I had no Sleep. at mr Peter Clearks. Death Jimy Pagess infant

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