S. Jane Hayward diary, 1869-1872
1 volume
Sarah Jane Hayward of Gilsum, New Hampshire, kept this diary between January 1, 1869, and December 31, 1872. In almost-daily entries, she commented on social visits, religious meetings, and her work at a textile mill.
Hayward worked at two textile mills, having quit her previous job for a position at "Collins' Mill" in June 1870, where she worked at a tricot loom. She commented on female millworkers and noted the days on which she, or other women, found substitutes. In August 1872, she mentioned the effects of a dispute over three workers who had been fired; later, most of the mill's German employees left work. Much of Hayward's diary pertains to her social life, which included frequent visits to, and from, friends and family members. She often interacted with a "Mr. Learoyd" (possibly her future husband) and, in September 1872, discussed her efforts to discourage an unwanted suitor. Though she considered his marriage offer, she believed that his children would make too much noise for her mother to bear (September 20, 1872). When community residents died, Hayward noted their ages and death dates. She and her mother hosted and attended prayer meetings, occasionally all-female, and Hayward frequently recorded the subjects of church sermons she attended, relevant Bible verses, and the names of the pastors. On one occasion, Hayward described an interaction with an itinerant woman: after she and her mother took the woman in, Hayward discovered that a gold pin of hers had gone missing (November 16, 1869). Following the diary are 4 pages of quotations and poetry on various subjects, including religion and marriage.