BETHEL — The Bethel Historical Society will share details from a series of diaries written by Jacob Lovejoy, a 19th century Albany Township resident, from 2 to 3:30 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 2, at the Moses Mason House.
Executive Director Randall Bennett said the six small but highly-detailed diaries were written from 1863-1892 by Lovejoy, a storekeeper, church deacon, postmaster, town treasurer, farmer and selectman.
“We already had one of his diaries, but these six are proving to be quite useful and revealing,” Bennett said. “We’re looking to see if there’s a diary from 1865 out there.”
Bennett said the diaries were procured following two generous donations to the Society’s Collections Fund, which allowed it to purchase the diaries.
The diaries are being transcribed and annotated by Michael S. Stowell, a Bethel Historical Society board member. Bennett said Stowell is a “good researcher and a very avid genealogist” who has “done a lot of research on these diaries.”
“Mike is still pursuing other items from Jacob Lovejoy’s family, so hopefully, in the future, we’ll have more material, whether its diaries, letters, or photos,” Bennett said.
Bennett said Stowell is “going to talk about how he approached this project, and the things he has found interesting while transcribing the diaries.”
“The diaries cover quite a lot,” he said. “Lovejoy wore a lot of different hats. He didn’t just write about the weather.”
For more information, call the Bethel Historical Society at 207-824-2908.
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