The Diary of David Ross - Excerpts -
December 17 - From the above date to this day has been a continuation of bad weather.
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J anua_ry - In concluding last year we had such weather of storms as has never occurred in the memory of the oldest settler. However, we are now enjoying quite the opposite so much so that no one dare venture on the ice - not even foot passenger. Vickerson ploughing yesterday.
April 5 - Wild geese overhead. June 21 - Put Capt to McIntosh’s pasture.
June 26 - Alex. Robertson, the shoemaker, had the impertinance today to put the Capt in pound being found on his farm — cost me 1/11 to release him.
August 4 - Great storm with hail stones 1” in diameter destroyed potato tops, grain, etc. etc. Leaves of hardwood trees strewing the ground as in fall. Window panes knocked in. Continuation of storm nearly an hour but thundering away in the distance all afternoon. Brackley Point Road great destruction — h——l of a country. Rain and thunder after a fine afternoon — hay all ready to put in stack — what the hail left undone, the rain will complete.
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J anum 25 - Went to Marsh Johnston’s River. Carried away 2 of the smallest stacks of hay - rotten - of 6 cwt each.
January 26 - Hauled away another of the smallest of about 8 cwt - sold to Robertson Schoolmaster l stack of 14 cwt @ l/p cwt, one small stack of 7 cwt to Henry Vickerson @1/ —, one to Glason . 7 stacks in all to our share.
January 22 - People in town at election obliged to remain - others frozen and lost attempting to get home.
Febmar‘ y I Z - That friend Scott cut down bridge and shut up west road across the creek.
EebflamLLQ — Marking out new road in place of Scott’s.
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July 26 - Singular enough beginning exactly at the same hour, had a similar thunder storm to that of 4th August last year — hail stones as large - battered the potato tops, beans etc. to many grain and hay levelled - windows knocked in, trees stripped of their leaves.
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January - Measured west line of farm beginnig at Marsh on River side to Gate at St. Peter’s Road — found same 68 chains 71 links - Do east line from Road to Bank on River side. Found same 73 chains 35 links — the length of the line from Marsh to new Bridge 30 chains exactly as measured by Balls — purchased the fee simple of farm with points some week or two ago from Mr. Irvin 75 pounds -10/ - .
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March - Made a Magistrate. Ice began to fall after the 17‘h and now (31 St) all gone. Throughout the winter which was uncommonly severe, the ice lay covered with snow so that hauling was extremely difficult and along the roads in all directions an immense quantity of snow lay.
April 13 - Attended first court 10 Mile House.
April 18 - Agreed with Mr. Lees to do the carpenter work of new house. Complete by the time of potato digging at 45 pounds, he paying board for his men at the rate of 7 shillings per week for man.
April 20 — Went to town and brought out Geo. Maxwell, carpenter. He began cutting out stuff on doors - 10 in number and prepared 94 boards for flooring.
June 11 - Hauling down old house and digging cellar by way of frolic.
June 25 - The cellar completed. June 26 - Hauling frame on to cellar by frolic. June 3!! - Shingling Frolic.
July - Quarreled with Lees - he cut out Maxwell.