Collection number: MC 199
Size: 1 box
(0.33 cu.ft.)
About Daniel J. Hopkinson, Jr. (1783-1866)
Daniel Hopkinson was born in Bradford, Essex County, MA on January 22, 1783, the son of Daniel and Hannah Hopkinson. He married Sarah Poore (1793-1867) in 1816. They had one daughter, Abigail.
Hopkinson spent his entire life in Essex County, near the border with New Hampshire, where he farmed , maintained an orchard, and fished the Merrimack River. By his own accounts, he was an active, church-going citizen in this rapidly developing region. He died in 1866 at the age of 83.
About the Daniel J. Hopkinson, Jr. Diary
Hopkinson maintained a diary for nearly four decades, the first extant entry coming on December 1, 1818. Although there are a few gaps, some attributable to illnesses and injuries, he recorded event regularly through 1862. There are faint pencil injuries at the end, the last dated 1865. Entries cover the weather, local events, farming, fishing, and business affairs. Hopkinson names many Essex Country residents with whom he traded and did business. He also noted the advent of local rail travel (1836) and industrialization along the Merrimack River.
In addition to the diary, there are loose miscellaneous accounts and a very detailed fishing account book (1816-1824), in which he recorded the numbers of salmon, shad, and alewives caught and often the amount for which they were sold.
Administrative Information
Access Restrictions
This collection is open.
Copyright Notice
Contents of this collection are governed by U.S. copyright law. For questions about publication or reproduction rights, contact Special Collections staff.
Preferred Citation
[Identification of item], Daniel J. Hopkinson, Jr. Diary, 1818-1865, MC 199, Milne Special Collections and Archives, University of New Hampshire Library, Durham, NH, USA.
Acquisitions Information
Purchase, 2007 (Accession number: 2007.10)
Collection Contents
| Box 1 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Box 1, Folder 1 | Diary, Dec 1, 1818-July 16, 1825 | |
| Box 1, Folder 2 | Diary, July 17, 1825-Nov 13, 1827 | |
| Box 1, Folder 3 | Diary, Nov 14, 1827-Dec 26, 1830 | |
| Box 1, Folder 4 | Diary, Nov 27, 1830-Nov 15, 1834 | |
| Box 1, Folder 5 | Diary, Nov 16, 1834-Nov 20, 1839 | |
| Box 1, Folder 6 | Diary, Nov 21, 1839-Oct 24, 1841 | |
| Box 1, Folder 7 | Diary, Oct 25, 1841-Sept 24, 1844 | |
| Box 1, Folder 8 | Diary, Sept 26, 1844-Nov 5, 1847 | |
| Box 1, Folder 9 | Diary, Nov 6, 1847-June 29, 1850 | |
| Box 1, Folder 10 | Diary, June 30, 1850-Nov 24, 1852 | |
| Box 1, Folder 11 | Diary, Nov 25, 1852-Nov 14, 1854 | |
| Box 1, Folder 12 | Diary, Nov 15, 1854-Dec 28, 1856 | |
| Box 1, Folder 13 | Diary, Decr 29, 1856-Nov 13, 1859 | |
| Box 1, Folder 14 | Diary, November 14, 1859 to [1865] | |
| Box 1, Folder 15 | Fishing records and accounts, 1816-1824 | |
| Box 1, Folder 16 | Loose items, including locations for fishing, estate inventory, receipt, etc. | |
