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<\/a>Ellicott\u2019s Diary is four volumes made by folding long sheets of paper in half and sewing them together, with a piece of brown paper for a cover (the third and fourth volumes are missing their covers, or perhaps never had them). Ellicott wrote in a very legible hand, managing to create even lines without use of a ruler, which indicates to me a very patient and methodical man. And as far as I can tell, he never missed a day.<\/p>\n
But first, a note of explanation. The author was not a New Jersey native. He was born in Maryland on February 6, 1809.1<\/a><\/sup> His parents were Jonathan Ellicott (1756-1826) and Sarah Harvey (1764-1840). The Ellicott family came from Bucks County and moved to Maryland during the Revolutionary War. They joined the local Friends Meeting and became very prominent, successful millers at Ellicott City, Maryland.2<\/a><\/sup><\/p>\n Jonathan and Sarah Ellicott had twelve children, and Benjamin was the youngest of them. He worked in his father\u2019s company, Ellicott & Sons for several years, but appears to have given that up when he married. Before that happened, he was disowned by the orthodox Baltimore Monthly Meeting, as recorded in the minute book for November 9, 1836. His fault was associating himself with \u201cthose who have separated from Communion with the ancient Society of Friends\u201d and of \u201cidentifying himself with the Seceders.\u201d3<\/a><\/sup><\/p>\n Two years later, on February 22, 1838, Ellicott married Mary Ann Warford at the Episcopalian Christ Church in Baltimore. Ellicott was 30 years old when he married. His 23-year-old wife was born on December 11, 1815 in Kingwood Township, NJ, to Elisha Warford and Mary Arnwine. She was the only surviving child of this marriage. (In a later post, I will present a history of Elisha Warford written by Egbert T. Bush.)<\/p>\n Around the time that Elisha Warford married his second wife, his daughter Mary Ann Warford went to live in Baltimore with a distant cousin named Rachel Colvin. She was nine years old at the time, so this would have been about 1824. Miss Colvin was a wealthy spinster who gave Mary Ann a lady\u2019s education, something she apparently could not get in Kingwood. Rachel Colvin herself was described in court testimony as very smart and shrewd, but lacking a cultural education. After Mary Ann was married, the Ellicotts lived with Miss Colvin, and Benjamin H. Ellicott became her agent and manager of her real estate investments, of which there were many.<\/p>\n For the first ten years of their marriage, the Ellicotts were childless. I have not found any explanation for that. Their first child was not born until 1848, but it did not survive childhood. Some years earlier, around 1845 there was a falling out between Miss Colvin and the Ellicotts, causing the Ellicotts to leave the Colvin house. Subsequently, Rachel Colvin suffered from some sort of senile dementia when in her late 70s, and in 1850, at the instigation of Elisha Warford, she was declared a lunatic. Benjamin H. Ellicott was named to oversee her affairs until Colvin\u2019s death in 1853. Then it was discovered that her will, written in 1848, gave the bulk of her estate to another cousin, Richard Colvin Warford. The will was challenged in court, again at the instigation of Elisha Warford, on behalf of the \u201cheirs-at-law,\u201d which led to years of litigation\u2014another subject for a future post.<\/p>\n As students of the Civil War know, life became increasingly tense in the late 1850s, especially in the South. After the war began, the Ellicott family, probably at the insistence of Mary Ann\u2019s father, left Baltimore for the relative safety of Hunterdon County. The trip was not an easy one. The first pages of Ellicott\u2019s diary provide a description of their journey, which Ellicott called a Hegira.\u00a0Here is my transcription, with some annotations.\u00a0I have taken the liberty of adding a few paragraph breaks to make reading easier.<\/p>\n Diary commenced on the 1st day of February 1862<\/p>\n Before proceeding with this Diary, as contemplated and commenced now with a view of preserving some Record of our Hegira from Baltimore, during\u00a0the \u201cReign of Terror\u201d there consequent upon the assault made upon the Massachusetts Troops on the 19th April 1861, it is proper to state – That B. H. Ellicott with his Wife Mary Ann W. – their Three Children – Rachel W – B. Warford, and Geo Washington Ellicott – Catherine Dorsey, as Nurse, and her Niece Mary Frances Grugaw[?] – left Balto. by the Steamer Lancaster for Havre de Grace, on Friday 26th of April 1861, that being the first opportunity for leaving the City, after the Riot of the 19th, either by Rail Road or Steamer in an\u00a0Easterly or Northerly direction, by reason of the destruction of the Tracks and the Bridges of the Phila & N. Central R. Road and the Embargo of all S. Boats, by the orders of the Metropolitan Board of Police \u2013<\/p>\n Upon the Steamboat we found a miscellaneous company of about 150 fellow passengers – most of whom were, like ourselves, seeking a refuge more secure from the turmoil and danger which , apparently were then _npended [?] over our beloved City \u2013<\/p>\n After a run of about 7 Hours we arrived at Havre de Grace and being transferred, with our Baggage, \u00a0across the River Susquehanna to Perryville we were detained there until the Train was ready to start for Philadelphia, the Rail Road being then under the control of the military authorities and used chiefly for the transportation of troops &c then being forwarded to Washington City \u00a0as fast as possible. Whilst at Perryville we had full opportunity, during our detention there of 4 or 5 Hours, to witness the arrival of Troops and their Embarkation on board of several Steamers bound for the City of Annapolis \u2013<\/p>\n We arrived at Phila and reached our Lodging \u00a0Then about Midnight having accomplished our journey thus far without accident or interruption, other than the detention above noticed. The Railroad Line for Flemington NJ leaving at 2 1\/2 o\u2019clock P.M. an opportunity was afforded to dispose of some Baltimore Bank Notes at 10 pr\/cent Discount, that being the best rate therefore, for Phila funds owing to the disturbance, and precarious condition of affairs in our City at that time, and we also purchased some indispensable articles before the departure of the S. Boat for Tacony.<\/p>\n thence to Flemington, where we arrived about 7 o\u2019clock P.M. of Saturday, 27th April 1861 – and took Lodgings at the Union Hotel, kept by Geo. F. Crater, who agreed to board and lodge our Party for 20 dolls per week. The accommodations and fare at the Union, we found to be quite as comfortable as we could expect and after meeting there with our Parent, and friend, Elisha Warford, we soon became settled down in our new quarters to await the development of the arrangements which he had in contemplation for our more comfortable and permanent location in New Jersey, which should have been hereinbefore noticed and mentioned as one of the main objects of our visit or removal to New Jersey, hastened now, by a Month or so, by reason of the unprecedented tumults in Baltimore, and the unparalleled condition of National affairs at this juncture.<\/p>\n Besides the calls made upon us by Mrs. Miller Kline. Mrs. Dr. Schenck and Mrs. Edmund Perry, and our introduction to several of the visitors at the Hotel, we experienced none of the hospitality of the good Citizens of Flemington during our sojourn of more than six weeks – of this lack of attention to us we ought not to complain, perhaps, as our reserve and disinclination to participate in the Society of the place may have tended to prevent some \u00a0advances on the part of the Aristocracy of this county Town of Hunterdon.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n I expect that Mr. Ellicott, being a southerner, was not accustomed to Northern manners, which were not quite as gracious as the ones he grew up with.<\/p>\n Mrs. Miller Kline was probably Mary Roberson (1820-1890), wife of Henry Miller Kline (1807-1884), who was generally known as Miller Kline. (There were several Miller Klines, so caution is advised.) Miller Kline dabbled in real estate and moved from Klinesville to Flemington in 1859, where he was Justice of the Peace in 1860, and by 1870 was described as a land agent and commissioner of deeds.<\/p>\n Mrs. Dr. Schenck was the wife of Dr. John Frelinghuysen Schenck. She was born Annie M. Churchill and was Dr. Schenck\u2019s second wife. Dr. Schenck was certainly qualified to be considered among the Flemington \u201cAristocracy.\u201d He began practicing medicine in 1820 and was active in the county Medical Society.<\/p>\n Mrs. Edmund Perry was Elizabeth D. White (c.1825-1905), wife of Edmund Perry Esq. (they married on July 15, 1848). Mrs. Perry was important in her own right. She is described as\u00a0\u201cAn accomplished linguist and musician, frequent contributor (under her maiden name) to magazines & periodicals, like ‘Columbia Magazine’. She also published an article against flogging in the US Navy that helped to end the practice.\u201d4<\/a><\/sup><\/p>\n Perry was an attorney who moved to Flemington in 1850. He probably did legal work for Elisha Warford, for in that same year, he was named one of three trustees to manage the half share of the heirs-in-law to Rachel Colvin\u2019s estate; this was arranged by Elisha Warford after he had her declared a lunatic. (According to the Maryland Court of Appeals, the other trustees were residents of Maryland, G. M. Gill and F. W. Brune.) By 1861, Perry was serving in the State Senate of NJ, as Senate President. He was acting Governor and was one of the greeting party when Lincoln stopped in New Jersey on his way to his inauguration.<\/p>\n In spite\u00a0of the Wintry and inclement weather of many days of May we all had more or less opportunity to enjoy the advent of Spring, and the quick progress of vegetation, before we left Flemington on the 20th day of June for Locktown.<\/p>\n The recent supply of Spring water and Gas Light introduced into Flemington has added so much to the comfort of living there, that, with the advantages attending the RailRoad thereto, much inducement is offered for the settlement thereof as large a population as can find any means of support from the trade & intercourse with the contiguous District of country. For it is difficult to discover any other means for the support of this Town. The population is said to be about Eleven (11) Hundred all told \u2013<\/p>\n All the cost and charge of our entertainment having been assumed by our Parent and friend E. Warford He had provided accommodations for us at the Tavern House of Wm Nixon at Locktown, whither we removed on 20th June 1861 – and here we have remained up to the present time, in the enjoyment of comparative quiet, if without many of the comforts to which we have been accustomed at home, and blessed with a good degree of Health considering the change of climate & mode of living, to which we have been subjected since our transplantation to these parts.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n Nixon\u2019s Tavern House was the old Locktown Hotel, originally owned by Daniel Rittenhouse. (You can read a short history of the place here<\/a>.) The tavern also featured in the naming of the village (which you can read about here: \u201cBaptists Divided<\/a>\u201d). There is so much to say about William Nixon, and I am so confused about him, that I will publish his story in a separate post.<\/p>\n Since our domiciliation in \u201cthe Swamp\u201d here all of our family appear to have gone through an acclimatizing\u00a0more or less marked. About the latter part of August, B. H. E. [Ellicott is referring to himself] had an attack of Ersyphilus which confined him to bed for 3 or so weeks time. 5<\/a><\/sup> Since which his health has been more regular and confirmed than for some time previously. In Sept. Rachel had a severe attack of Colic succeeded afterwards, by a spell of Gastric Fever, which confined her to bed for about 3 weeks, and the recovery of her strength thereafter was very tedious indeed. Warford, and George, each suffered from some indisposition showing dysenteric symptoms during the Summer; and Mother [Mary Ann Ellicott] has experienced some aggravation, rather than any relief to her rheumatic complaints during the Summer and Autumn-<\/p><\/blockquote>\n The children of Benjamin and Mary Ann Ellicott were Benjamin Warford Ellicott (1853-1896), Rachel Warford Ellicott (1854-aft 1900), Charles Warford Ellicott (1857-c1860), and George Washington Ellicott (1858-aft 1930). It is surprising \u00a0that last child was not named\u00a0George Warford Ellicott, given the established naming pattern. Clearly Elisha Warford had a great deal of influence over this family.<\/p>\n Catherine Dorsey with her niece left us the 9th of December 1861 and returned to Baltimore – She has corresponded with us\u00a0regularly since she reached there, and Leans now to wish herself back again with us here \u2013<\/p>\n During the Summer and Fall, prior to the last Election, Party Politics ran so high that some high handed and most unjustifiable proceedings were attempted to be carried out by the leaders of the Republican Party in this County. The secret arrest, at midnight, of several of their political opponents and their subsequent discharge from custody without any proof of the charges made against them brought matters to a crisis, and caused such a reaction in the Public sentiment of this County that the Election of Dr Blane as the State Senator, by a majority of nearly 1400 votes over Charles Bartles, the Union & Republican Candidate, showed the Democratic strength elicited by this struggle, and put a quietus upon the further intolerant intentions of the Republicans, against the peace, rights and persons of their fellow citizens in this section.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n
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