July 4, 1770
Dear Diary,
How do you fare? I, Rufus Homer Martin of the colony of New Hampshire Grants, am writing this diary so future civilizations shall know of the hardships and wonders of New England. I hope thee reads my other entrees.
We settled in the New Hampshire Grants when fathers’ merchant business failed in Redding, CT. We currently live in the town of Ludlow (1 www.kidrex.com). Father, Homer Sampson Martin, is constantly traveling to see ships or new products. Thee should know about my family before I continue. Mother, Molly Martin, teaches dame school. I have four siblings: Molly age 7, Jerid age 9 ¾, little Phoebe age 3, and Timmy who was just born a month ago.
Would thee like to know about me? I have light blue eyes the color of the Caribbean Sea (father had visited there and told me all about it). I am tall as a small corn stock and have dirt brown hair. Mother says, “Thee have father's hair and round face, but thee has my eyes.” Colonial boys wear clothes made of flax (3 New Hampshire Colony). Father’s business is quite successful so I am lucky to have gold buttons! Mother makes my clothes as slaves are traded(2 New Hampshire). Father does not believe in slavery so we do not have slaves. Therefore, mother makes our clothes .
We settled in Ludlow because Redding was a Tory town (2 My Brother Sam Is Dead); Ludlow is a patriot town (4 www.kidrex.com ). Father says the King should mind his own business and not tax the people! That was how father’s old business failed! We came here in 1765 when John Benning was Governor (5 www.vermonthistory.com ). People here love tobacco! Father ships the tobacco and makes a lot of money off this cash crop (6 History Alive).
I think I hear footsteps! I have to get to bed. My eyes are starting to close and my pillowbere feels so comfortable, but thee perchance want to know about our house? We live in a house called a garrison. The whole neighborhood makes one garrison. The house is built in this manner to protect us in the event of an Indian attack. The neighborhood will come to our house for protection. The walls are thick and the house only has only a few windows. Since our family is rich we each each have our own bedroom... Oh Mary! I must have fallen asleep. Before I fall asleep again,
Fare thee well,
Rufus H. Martin
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