Tenth month 8th [1803].

This morning George
Vaux's

horse appeared to be very much amiss, but we
all set off early and rode six miles to a good tavern
where the store-house formerly was. Breakfasted
and fed our horses; but when we set off it was thought
by us all [that] George Vaux's horse would not be able
to travel so as we might reach the meeting of Friends
at Mud Creek to-morrow. We then unanimously
agreed for Isaac Bonsall and me to go forward in order
to reach the meeting, and the others to get along as
well as they could, and all of us to meet next Third-
day evening near the outlet of Crooked Lake. We
two then rode on and crossed the Genesee River and
thence to General Hall's tavern, where we had good
accommodations; it being thirty-six miles from Ba-
tavia.

9th and first of the week.

Set off early and rode
about twelve miles to Jacob Smith

's and got break-
fast; he and his daughter accompanying us about six
miles more to the meeting heretofore called Mud
Creek, but which is now called Farmington, that be-
ing the name of the township. And they have now
a monthly meeting, which is held the fifth day of the
week before the last First-day in every month. I
was glad to meet with divers Friends with whom I
had formerly spent some time very agreeably. The
meeting appears to be very much increased since I
was here before. It was silent to-day. We dined at
Nathan Comstock's and then rode to Abraham Lap-
ham's, where a considerable number of the Friends
of the neighborhood came and spent the evening with
us; amongst whom were Joseph Jones and wife, he
having purcased [land] and living near here. Upon
the whole it was a very agreeable and satisfactory
evening. Many subjects of a religious nature were
conversed upon which I believe ended to mutual sat-
isfaction; and I think I was not mistaken when here
before, when I believed if they improved in a religious
sense according to their activity and talents, they
might be a shining light in this fast settling northern
county of good land. This day, twenty miles.

10th.

Spent this [day] in order to let our horses
rest and get some of our linen washed. We took the
opportunity of walking to see some friends and view
the improvements made by these Eastern people,
which exceed what can be conceived in the idea of a
Pennsylvanian or more southern man, for the time.
They seem as if there were scarcely anything too hard
or too heavy for them to undertake and go through
with, especially in opening a new country heavily
timbered. Said Lapham

, though he does not appear
a robust man, has made a surprising improvement
for the fime he has been settled here which is about
eight years; and although there has been an uncom-
mon drought in this country this year, they have made
250 cheeses this summer, many of which will weigh
fifty pounds, and but very few less than thirty pounds,
which, to be sure, in their cheese-house has a beauti-
ful appearance. Although I have such an opinion of
the Eastern men in opening the wilderness, I think
they are far short of a good Pennsylvania farmer in
keeping their farms in good order after they have them
cleared. We propose to lodge another night with these
our kind friends, Abraham and Esther Lapham, who
seem disposed to do everything they can to accommo-
date us. The neighbors hereabouts have been two
nights and one day collecting and bringing their hogs
to Lapham's, and to-morrow morning they propose to
set off with 250 of them about seven or eight miles into
the woods to feed upon the acorns and beech nuts
which are very plenty, and have agreed with four per-
sons to stay in the woods with them, night and day,
for about two months; these they call hog shep-
herds.

11th and third of the week.

Joseph Jones

came
early this morning to Lapham's and set off with us