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94 Documents tes. After which we all returned to M: Richards before 3 pm where we dined and spent the afternoon. From Belvidera to Mount Church is 10 Miles. Saturday, April isf. At 6 pm M: Martin Heely schoolmaster at Newport for M' Spotswoods Children came here to pay me a Visite and staid with me all night. Sunday, ^th. This day a good number of Company dined here among which was M! and M? Porter from Town, who heard their eldest son read and seemed verry well pleased with his performance since he came to me ; Myself at home all day. Freiday, 14th. This being good Freiday, I broke up school for Easter Holly day, and the Col'.' three sons went to Town with M' Por- ter's two sons this forenoon I went a money hunting but catc'd none. Saturday, ijth. This forenoon I went a Money Hunting again an other way but hade no better success then yesterday. This afternoon M' Frazer went up the Country to see his Mother and friends, and I give out corn for him, untill he returns again. Munday, ijth. At 8 AM I rode to Town in order to see the boys and Amuse myself fore some hours. On my Aravel in Town the first thing I got to do was to dictate and write a love letter from M' Anderson, to one Peggie Dewar at the Howse of Mr John Mitchel at the Wilderness. After that I went to M' John Glassell's store to enquire for letters from home but found none ; here I mett with the Coll who gave me two pair brown thread stockins for my summers wear. At 2 pm I dined with him in Mr Porters, and soon after Returned home. Thursday, 20th. This morning all the boys came to school again at their Usual hour. On tuesday last was missed out of the pasture a breed- ing mare, search being made fore her by the Overseer he found this afternoon the Neiger fellow who hade rode her off and after riding her about 24 Miles from the Plantation turned her loose in the high road, he is a Blacksmith by trade and belongs to and works at a Plantation of M.' Corbins,^ and after he had confessed the fact M' Frazer ower Over- seer stript him to the [skin] and gave him 39 laches with Hickry switches that being the highest the Law allows at one Wheeping. Munday, 24th. This morning the Col' began to have his Indian Corn planted which they do in following maner Viz! The plowers plow three furrows close together from one end of the field to the other, the midle furrow of each three being 6 feet distance from the middle of the next three and so on from the one side of the field to the other, Then they run one furrow across the field and at 6 feet distance another and so on in streight lines from the one end of the field to the other which leaves the whole field like a dambrod' then the Neigers drop the corn in every square and at the same time with a strock of their How cover [them] . the grown betwixt the furrow are brocke up Afterw^' at Liesure with the Ploughs without any Damage to the corne. But the best method is when the ploughs is lay off the ground withe one furrow a Neiger 1 To whom Harrower was afterward overseer. 2 Checker-board.