The father probably lived until about 1790, soon after which date his son dropped the affix of "Jr.," which he had previously used. Samuel Eaton, born in 1747, lived all his life at Enfield. He married Mary Tiffany at Enfield, 30 July, 1765. Their children were: 1. Mary, born 26 [or 28] July, 1766. 2. Samuel, born 9 Apr., 1768. 3. Sybil, born 22 Nov., 1769. 4. Ruth (an ancestral name), born 17 Oct., 1771. About 1798, the father with his children, Ruth and Elisha, and probably also Roxana, joined the community of Shakers at Enfield, and in that community they died, the father, 28 March, 1817, Ruth, 3 Sept., 1829, Roxana, 3 May, 1853, and Elisha, 1 Nov., 1842. Mary, Lovisa and Ebenezer perhaps died in childhood, as no more mention is found of them. The son, Samuel, born in 1768, refused to join the Community, though urged to do so by his father with some of the severity so characteristic of his supposed ancestor, Nathaniel, and went away from his native town and his relatives, never to return to them. He made his way to the State of New York, and enlisting in the regular army, was stationed in and about New York City for several years. After his term of service had expired, he worked for some time on a farm in Dutchess County. About the year 1807 he went to western New York and took up some land in the town of Boston, Erie County, on what was then called the "Holland Purchase." Two or three years later he sold out and bought a farm in the adjoining town of Concord, where he continued to reside until his death, 4 June, 1841. Of Benoni, the son of the first Samuel, born at Boston in It may 1712, nothing is known beyond the date of his birth. be that later studies will reveal his subsequent history and possibly discover a living posterity. While the identity of Samuel Eaton of Middletown, with the son of Samuel and Ruth, remains only a plausible conjecture, it cannot be affirmed that Nathaniel Eaton of Cambridge has living descendants in the male line, and this paper is offered in the hope that facts, yet to be discovered, may either confirm the pedigree here suggested, or else clearly disprove it. N. B.-This paper, as read, gave some account of the children and grandchildren of Capt. Samuel Eaton, most of whom have settled in the Northwestern States; but these details are not printed, as the Society does not publish genealogical matter of so recent a date. A YOUNG MAN'S JOURNAL OF A HUNDRED YEARS AGO. [Read Oct. 20th, 1884, by SIMEON E. BALDWIN.] IT is not the least important work of a society like this to gather materials for future use by other hands,—to preserve that of which history is made. The historian of the present day spends less time than his great predecessors in the records of battles and sieges, of the doings of courts and the contests of diplomacy. It is perhaps his highest aim to paint in vivid colors the social conditions of the community with which he has to deal, the character of its institutions, the spirit of its life, the principles that govern the common acts of the common people, and the influences brought to bear upon them from the side of education and the higher civilization. of the age. In pursuing inquiries like these in regard to the times of a by-gone generation, we find no sources of information quite so fresh as their familiar correspondence and journals. Pepys' Diary, Cicero's or Walpole's letters bring us straight into the midst of the events to which they refer, and we mingle at will in the society of London or of Rome, like a spirit-guest, seeing but unseen. Such an introduction to the scenes of the past is best accomplished when it is least intended. The letters, or the diary, written with some thought of future fame, tell a tale less trustworthy than those which neither merit nor expect ever to meet the public eye. It is from one of these humbler memorials that I read you a few extracts to-night, the journal of a young man, not a New Havener, though a recent graduate of Yale College, who was earning his support by teaching, and who writes sometimes here, sometimes at Albany, and sometimes by the tavern-fire on a vacation trip. On August 5, 1782, the first date upon the yellow and faded pages, he leaves New Haven with a friend, just out of college like himself, to take charge of the Albany Academy. It was the last year of the Revolutionary War. New York city was in the possession of the British forces, but hostilities in the northern part of the State had virtually ceased. The two young men, and I will give the name of neither, drove, says our journalist, "thro' Waterbury, where we heard the agreeable news of the arrival of the French fleet of 13 sail in Chesapeake. Dr. Wood, of Danbury, favoured us with the intelligence. We saw Litchfield the next morning; found it a pretty, well-situated town; land very good, and farmers wealthy. Breakfast at Mr. Sherman's, of Goshen. After breakfast, were favoured with the presence of the most angelic form in a female that ever I saw. The features of her face were regular and well formed; her skin like the paper on which I write, animated with a little of the vermilion. Her lips, which it would be a feast for an emperor to kiss, displayed the taste of the divine architect who formed them, in a more lively manner than words can express, or the most celebrated painter display; and without the thoughts of flattery, if anything performed by mortals is inimitable, it was the dressing of her hair. It covered her cushion as a plate of the most beautiful enamel frosted with silver. Nor were the flowing ringlets, that innocently played upon her heavenly neck, less beautiful. Her-"Stop," says my Dulcinea; "forbear your praises or I'll be jealous.” Very possibly, had the fair maiden known that the young gentleman from Yale was already provided with a Dulcinea, she would not have foregone breakfast to dazzle him with the charms of powdered hair and curling ringlets, unless, indeed, she could have seen still farther into the future, and known that she was to figure as an unknown beauty of a past age in the grave precincts of an historical society. His first Sunday at Albany opens thus: "Sabbath 11th. The first thing I saw from my window was the butchers killing sheep, and boys driving their hoops, and soon after the wagons were rattling. This at once led me to a thought upon virtue and morality, which as far as it comes to my share I am determined to maintain, and, as I see myself exposed to temptations and surrounded by examples of this kind, will endeavour to double my vigilance in my virtue's defence. Went to worship in the Dutch church, but contrary to our expectation, the Dominie preached and performed the whole service in Dutch, to our no great edification. In the afternoon, the Dominie favoured us with a very good sermon in English upon tempta tion, and at 5 o'clock heard Mr. Catlin preach a most insipid discourse from the grain of corn that died." "Friday 16th. Dined with Gen. Ten Broeck, in company with Esq. Gansevoort, the recorder, Dominie Westerlo, Col. Livingston, Messrs. Stephen and Kilian Rensallear. A grander table I never saw spread. Much politeness and ease were manifest and the whole circle appeared to enjoy themselves happily. Drank for toasts: 1. The day (vis. 16th of Aug.) being the anniversary of the glorious victory at Bennington, and the day on which we received the news of the pacific measures of Europe. 2. Absent friends. 3. Washington. 4. United States. 5. A speedy and honourable peace. Left the table about 3 o'clock." "Sabbath 18th. In the forenoon remained at home. In the afternoon went to the High-Dutch church in expectation of an English sermon, but was disappointed. Was much entertained with organs, which I now heard for the first time. Think it a great addition to the beauty and grandeur of church music." "Sept. 10th, Saturday. This eve, which I observe the more as it precedes the pleasures of Commencement at New Haven, which I am not only deprived the pleasure of enjoying, but was almost obliged to do the duty of a watch in this detested city, was warned, but for 2/6 procured a substitute. Was invited to a funeral; attended, but not a Dutch corpse. Many persons were collected. The corpse preceded, borne of 10 persons, who were not relieved, tho' we went to some distance. The gentlemen fell in by twos in procession, but not a single lady, tho' it was a female corpse. The whole returned in the order |