The Stillman Taylor Diaries
By Valerie Britton - During September of 2008 while I was surfing ebay for Troy related antiques, I came across a captivating listing for a “Lot of 2 Diaries Troy NH – 1858 &1859 - entries mostly farm related” which also mentioned a receipt from the Cheshire Railroad. Since I’ve been involved in the restoration of the Troy Cheshire RR Depot I decided to bid on them. When I got the diaries I transcribed each page. I became deeply intrigued with the owner/writer Stillman Taylor. The following weeks more diaries were listed and I continued to bid on them until I had won the entire lot of nine.
Stillman Taylor was born on November 7, 1813, in Monadnock Township No. 4 (Fitzwilliam) near the base of the Grand Monadock, son of early settler, Dr. James Taylor and his wife Louisa Belknap of Sterling, MA. He married Susan Adoline on January 26, 1841. Susan was born April 25, 1814, daughter of Samuel and Fanny Tenney of Winchendon, MA. Stillman addressed his wife by her middle name, Adoline. They had three children, James Samuel, b. Oct 4, 1842, Warren Howard, b Feb. 17 1845 and Martha Adoline, b. 1852.
Stillman was raised with nine siblings on 70 acres of land located on Lot 4 Range 1 near the NH/MA State Line. This parcel later fell into the hands of his older brother Asher. The first five diaries, 1858, 59, 67, 69 and 71, had Stillman and his family residing in Fitzwilliam. NH and in the 1874, 75, 80, 83&87 diaries Stillman removed to Troy, N.H.
Stillman bargained for and bought a 12-acre piece of land that bordered the Cheshire Railroad line in Fitzwilliam. His new parcel was so close to the track that written into the eight-five dollar sales agreement was permission for the railroad to remove any gravel or other materials from said premises. Stillman worked at the railroad for James N. Robinson, (JNR) as a backup Station Agent. He also cut, split and delivered tons of cordwood to warm the State Line Depot and for use on the railroad. He loaded the cars with various goods for a local merchant and fought RR fires and witnessed “smashups”.
I learned a lot about what life was like in the 1800’s from the time Stillman was 44 years old until he was 70 years old. He was so much more than “just a farmer”.
At the end of deciphering all the diaries I began my search for a living relative because I wanted to return them to their rightful owner. Ultimately, my goal was accomplished when I found Stillman’s great-great-great granddaughter, Martha. One of the greatest gifts she could have ever given me was a photograph of Stillman. I was able to finally put a face to the man that I had begun to feel was like family.
There were many entries that mentioned the days and hours worked at the depot for JNR. I have taken a few words from his diaries where he mentions his life with the railroad.
One of his diaries is in a showcase at the depot and Stillman and Adoline’s names are listed on the Commutative Plaque on the wall in the lobby, never to be forgotten.
Quotes Stillman Taylor Diaries 1858-1880
Monday, June 28 – 1858: “fire on the RR I ft (fought) it part of the pm 50 cts”
Wednesday, June 30, 1858: “ft fire on the RR part of the pm 50 cts”
Wednesday, July 21, 1858: “T J Streeters (Thomas) oxen killed on the RR”
Saturday, February 5, 1859: “at depot loaded a car for New York”
Wednesday, January 30, 1867: “got 1 load wood to depot
Thursday, January 31, 1867: “wt 2 loads depot”
Monday, May 13, 1867: “found 5 young cattle on the RR they come up
and Martha (daughter.) put them in the yard”
Monday, May 20, 1867: “on Sollar (cellar) for RR Co pm”
Tuesday, May 21, 1867: “on Sollar for RR Co
wt Depot a Brakeman brock his arm at the Depot”
Wednesday, May 22, 1867: “on Sollar for RR Co am
rainey wt Depot Aldrich Mill”
Thursday, May 23, 1867: on Sollar wall for RR Co”
Friday, May 24, 1867: “ on Sollar wall for RR Co”
Saturday, May 25, 1867:“on Sollar for RR Co Hiland came and found a mistake
on the wall”
Tuesday, December 31, 1867: “helped JNR load some flour hirt my back”
Friday, April 30, 1869: “at fire on RR”
Wednesday, May 12, 1869: “wt to fire on the RR”
Tuesday, May 25, 1869: “smashup on the RR”
Tuesday, May 16, 1871: “a great fire at the RR”
Thursday May 18, 1871: “fit fire in woods pm”
Friday, June 12, 1871: “from Stanford to Keene
a fire on the Conn RR hindered train&hours”
September 2, 1971: “come home stopped over on train at Fitchburg”
Tuesday, October 10, 1871: “Patrick Fitzgerald killed on the Monadnoc RR”
Saturday, November 18, 1871: “come from Keene the local had a smashup at
State Line”
Saturday, January 24 1874: “wt Depot in morning and got Martha and
carried her to take mail train in the pm”
Saturday, October 9, 1880: “Warren (son)&folks started for home on the 7.25 train”
Monday, November 15, 1880: “wt Fitzwilliam after Dr. Gleason for Mrs. Alexander (Prudence)
and to the Depot for seating did not get any”
Friday, December 24, 1880: “carried Newtons papers from depot for 10 cts”
*Hiram Newton, the owner of a store on South of the town common sold newspapers, magazines tobacco, and candy. Stillman often picked up the newspapers at the depot for Newton and delivered them to the store.