Friday, March 4, 1831: I went with I Newton to look at a timber lot, but concluded that it was too high a price. When I was on said mountain David L. Brown was there drawing wood and I met with one of his hands, a stranger to me, but said Brown told me his name was Dean and recommended said Dean to hire my house I have to let. Said Dean went with me on to said premises and I showed him what it was it contained, all that brother Sylvester now occupies excepting the buttery. Dean is to give one months work to be paid in July and August to work every other week until it was paid (rent) and we both consider it a bargain unless either of us concludes to give up the bargain.
Saturday: This evening I rode to Hancock to get a girl to work for us this summer. Phila Nye has disappointed us. I sent Sales Jinks but I did not make a bargain with his daughter Hannah, for her price was too high. I went to Mr. Potters on the mountain and bargained with Maryann Collins at 68 cts per week and she agrees to do any kind of work and milk a large portion of cows and if I concluded not to have her work for me I am to give her notice by next Tuesday. When I got home it was twelve o’clock tonight.
Monday: I called to Sylvester Gardner’s to see if I could hire a Watson girl but I could not, and I called to other places on the road to see if I could hire a girl on my way home. I called to Guy Moffitt’s to see a Griffin girl, but did not make a bargain with her to work for me.
Wednesday: This evening I went and engaged F. Bute to come on Saturday and put runners to my still house and draw it and take his pay in grain. On this evening I went up to Stephen Sheldon’s and bargained with Gardner to work for us to milk or do any other work for seven months to begin the 4th of April and I do agree to pay her 75 cts per week.
Thursday: We drew rowing and brick from my still house home. On this evening I went to the hill to Mr. Hatches and Mr. Marrel’s to invite them to help me draw my still house and sent to Mr. Nap to come and this evening the boy that boards with me by the name of Sylvester Swann, he rode my horse and went down to Mr. John Broad’s and invited hands.
Friday: This morning I went to Adam Brown, Aaron Sackett, Elick Allen, Robert Solomon Goodrich to have them come down and draw my still house. I called and invited Simeon Wylie and I came home and we drew stalks and timber from my still and some brick. and then I went and invited Zach Chapman, Calvin P. Sackett, Edward Carr, James Adams and brother Wm went and invited Guy Moffitt and I invited Sylvester H. Pardee and then went home and got my supper. I then took both horses and Swan went with me to Hancock Village. I got trusted to Wm. Hadsell Store for five quarts rum, and I got one gallon of cider brandy that I had stilled on shares last fall. On the way we called to John Wylie’s Benj Douglass’s and Eli Douglass and John Gardner’s and invited them to my drawing to come with their oxen, Mr. H. Platt, Wm L. Gardner, Daniel Smith had an invite sent them to come and help draw said building.
Saturday: said F. Buten came and helped hew and put said runners under and we drew said still house without much damage, only to break a few chains. I have paid some for braking those chains, I stand ready to pay the rest. I found victuals and liquor. We had about thirty yoke of oxen and twenty six yoke drew the building.