June 13
Laura M., age 15, North Carolina
June 13, 1997
Awesome! We were all (Renée, Chrissi, Audrey, Ashley) on the road by 9:00. We got to Wilmington and shopped. Got a halter top. Swam in the ocean for 3 hours. Went to Lake Waccamaw. (Renée’s grandparents.) Swam and did wave runner. Awesome! Ate spaghetti. Chilled in hot tub. We all watched “Carrie.” Had a lot of sun on my back/face. Talked some, but were asleep by 11:30. FUN.
Anna L., age 75, Illinois
June 13, 1960
Rainy and miserable, very windy. Over to Mrs. B.’s. Later in P.M. did some washing, hung on porch. Up stairs to rest, fell asleep. Cooked meat patties. Geo came about 5:00 so went out. Back early both tired so to bed early.
Marcy S., age 19, Tennessee
June 13, 1944
I wish Betty weren’t leaving tonight. She wouldn’t be if her aunt hadn’t planned their vacations to coincide with her visit. Up at 7 — work at 8:30. Nice morn. Mr. Harris had gone to Kingston when I got there so I borrowed one of his Harvard classics and read “Legend of Sleepy Hllow” and “The Man Without a Country” again. A few people ’phoned. Once the ’phone rang and I answered as usual “D.A. Harris’s office” and the voice said laughingly, “This is D.O. Harris”! and I felt so silly. He finally returned about 10:30. Mrs. Harris had come in meantime and was waiting in his office. He greeted her with “Howdy, howdy, what can I do for you?” And she said, “I want a divorce”! He said “All right, I’ll get Miss Pattie to make out the papers!” It was so funny. Well, I didn’t have a bit of work to do all morning and felt very restless. Home for lunch at 12 to find a letter from Jim with a snap enclosed. He’s very good-looking — Mum thinks he looks much older than 24. He told me his post-war plans and signed it “Sincerely.” The mail situation is certainly improving. Back at 1. I optimistically took The Robe down to read but was busy all afternoon. About 4:30 a storm started to blow up so Mr. H. very kindly let me go early. I went to P.O. and met Betty there about 5. We went to McKinney’s to find a tie for her pop but it started to rain so we decided to head for home. Mrs. Bowman hailed us at the Methodist church and offered to drive us home. We piled gratefully in. Madge and Janie were in the back seat + me. Betty B. came soon and then we drove home. It was pouring by then. We almost got soaked just dashing to the porch from the car. There wasn’t any lightning so I washed my hair. We had a good light supper. The Stephensophia came today. Betty played the piano and I looked at it. Then Clure came over and we talked. I played my recital pieces and then played for Betty to sing. Clure looked at the annual and about 9:30 Pop came with a new chair for the porch. It had stopped raining. Clure left. About 10 Betty and I went to bed. Around 12 Pop woke me — I had been dead to the world and hadn’t even heard Betty get up. She was all dressed. I put a skirt and shirt over my gown and a few minutes later we left. We were trying to sneak quietly out so as not to wake the neighbors when Pop fell over the milk bottles on the porch. We made a dash for the car before people started throwing things — and then nearly choked laughing. It was lovely driving over to Oakdale. The train was on time but wasn’t due till 12:40. Pop got out and talked to some people but we sat in the car. Soon he came back with the news that our Mrs. Geasland was going on the same train as far as Birmingham and Betty could sit with her! Of all the good luck! A train — northbound —- went through full of sleeping soldiers. Betty’s train pulled in presently and we all got out and climbed through a train that had stopped on the inside track. I looked a sight with my red bedroom slippers, orange head gear, etc. but no one fainted. Pop took Betty’s bag and got her on the train — they found Mrs. Geasland. Mum had put up a lunch for Betty — enough to last her the whole trip! Mum and I stood by the window and waved and smiled and tried to talk. Pop got off — ditto Mr. Geasland. Betty came to the platform between cars and we kidded till the train started. There was a friendly conductor standing nearby. He asked Mum and I if we didn’t want to go, too. Finally, after many “All aboards” had been shouted, the train pulled out. We waved until they were out of sight and then went back to the car. I didn’t feel sad because I’ll be seeing Betty in the fall again — I hope. It was fun driving back in the damp night and I dozed most of the way. Tumbled back into bed at 1:30 a.m.
Aloys F., age 16, County Cork, Ireland
June 13, 1926
Went to 9 Mass and Communion. Poor Mám had terrible neuritis all night and during the morning, but after taking 3 aspirins the pain left her head, and she was able to get up at 1. – My bike actually held. I am delighted with it. Did violin and French for 2 hours in morning. Found a white long trousers of Pappie’s in a trunk, and put it on for fun. It was actually an exact fit. Mám says she will get a blazer for it, so I will have great sport during the hols. playing tennis with long trousers. Nannie came for dinner and brought a bottle of wine for Mám’s health. It is very good of poor old Nan. At dinner we had some very interesting talk. Miss O’Brien is convinced that England made a secret treaty with Russia, for she hopes to get there the market for her goods which she has lost on the continent. For that reason the miners’ strike, which is still going on, is being carried on by Russia’s money with the Government’s eyes closed. She also thinks the trams [tram owners?] are introducing the buses because they are afraid of the Shannon scheme62, and wish to secure a new footing. After dinner went up to Markie, and had talks on cars and motor-bikes. No tennis as ground is saturated. Fr. Pat came unexpectedly this evening, and I got him tea. While I did stamps he had long talk with Mám and Páp.
*(Original Archive Copyright © Estate of Aloys Fleischmann. The Fleischmann Diaries Online Archive by Róisín O’Brien is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License. Used with permission.)
Henry S., age 25, Michigan
June 13, 1887
Kate was sick the most of last night, with a bad ear. I was afraid she was going to be seriously ill, but warm applications seemed to maker her better after a while. I went up town with Jimmie and the stone-boat this morning and got my Acme cultivator also some flour, and sugar. I did some cultivating and think the machine is just what I want. Fred Waters and his wife came over and got Kate and the baby this afternoon. I went up town with the washing, got the mail, and went over to Waters and took supper. Dor and Fred went fishing and had good luck. Expected the buggy tonight, but is has not come.
*(R. Henry Scadin Collection, D.H. Ramsey Library Special Collections, UNC Asheville)
Cornelia H., age 25, North Carolina
June 13, 1862
My head ached all night & this morning it feels no better. I eat no dinner today. Mr. Henry complains of headache also. He has been with me all day. I have been in bed the greater part of the day. Mail brought no news. I got a letter from Ell. They are all well. Fowler has a discharge from the army. I know she is glad. I have done nothing this day but read a little.
*(Fear in North Carolina: The Civil War Journals and Letters of the Henry Family, Eds. Karen L. Clinard and Richard Russell, used with permission.)
Samuel P., age 34, London
June 13, 1667
No sooner up but hear the sad newes confirmed of the Royall Charles being taken by them, and now in fitting by them — which Pett should have carried up higher by our several orders, and deserves, therefore, to be hanged for not doing it — and turning several others; and that another fleete is come up into the Hope. Upon which newes the King and Duke of York have been below —[Below London Bridge.]— since four o’clock in the morning, to command the sinking of ships at Barking-Creeke, and other places, to stop their coming up higher: which put me into such a fear, that I presently resolved of my father’s and wife’s going into the country; and, at two hours’ warning, they did go by the coach this day, with about 1300l. in gold in their night-bag. Pray God give them good passage, and good care to hide it when they come home! but my heart is full of fear: They gone, I continued in fright and fear what to do with the rest. W. Hewer hath been at the banker’s, and hath got 500l. out of Backewell’s hands of his own money; but they are so called upon that they will be all broke, hundreds coming to them for money: and their answer is, “It is payable at twenty days — when the days are out, we will pay you;” and those that are not so, they make tell over their money, and make their bags false, on purpose to give cause to retell it, and so spend time. I cannot have my 200 pieces of gold again for silver, all being bought up last night that were to be had, and sold for 24 and 25s. a-piece. So I must keep the silver by me, which sometimes I think to fling into the house of office, and then again know not how I shall come by it, if we be made to leave the office. Every minute some one or other calls for this or that order; and so I forced to be at the office, most of the day, about the fire-ships which are to be suddenly fitted out: and it’s a most strange thing that we hear nothing from any of my brethren at Chatham; so that we are wholly in the dark, various being the reports of what is done there; insomuch that I sent Mr. Clapham express thither to see how matters go: I did, about noon, resolve to send Mr. Gibson away after my wife with another 1000 pieces, under colour of an express to Sir Jeremy Smith; who is, as I hear, with some ships at Newcastle; which I did really send to him, and may, possibly, prove of good use to the King; for it is possible, in the hurry of business, they may not think of it at Court, and the charge of an express is not considerable to the King. So though I intend Gibson no further than to Huntingdon I direct him to send the packet forward. My business the most of the afternoon is listening to every body that comes to the office, what news? which is variously related, some better, some worse, but nothing certain. The King and Duke of York up and down all the day here and there: some time on Tower Hill, where the City militia was; where the King did make a speech to them, that they should venture themselves no further than he would himself. I also sent, my mind being in pain, Saunders after my wife and father, to overtake them at their night’s lodgings, to see how matters go with them. In the evening, I sent for my cousin Sarah [Gyles] and her husband, who come; and I did deliver them my chest of writings about Brampton, and my brother Tom’s papers, and my journalls, which I value much; and did send my two silver flaggons to Kate Joyce’s: that so, being scattered what I have, something might be saved. I have also made a girdle, by which, with some trouble, I do carry about me 300l. in gold about my body, that I may not be without something in case I should be surprised: for I think, in any nation but our’s, people that appear (for we are not indeed so) so faulty as we, would have their throats cut. In the evening comes Mr. Pelling, and several others, to the office, and tell me that never were people so dejected as they are in the City all over at this day; and do talk most loudly, even treason; as, that we are bought and sold — that we are betrayed by the Papists, and others, about the King; cry out that the office of the Ordnance hath been so backward as no powder to have been at Chatham nor Upnor Castle till such a time, and the carriages all broken; that Legg is a Papist; that Upnor, the old good castle built by Queen Elizabeth, should be lately slighted; that the ships at Chatham should not be carried up higher. They look upon us as lost, and remove their families and rich goods in the City; and do think verily that the French, being come down with his army to Dunkirke, it is to invade us, and that we shall be invaded. Mr. Clerke, the solicitor, comes to me about business, and tells me that he hears that the King hath chosen Mr. Pierpont and Vaughan of the West, Privy-councillors; that my Lord Chancellor was affronted in the Hall this day, by people telling him of his Dunkirke house; and that there are regiments ordered to be got together, whereof to be commanders my Lord Fairfax, Ingoldsby, Bethell, Norton, and Birch, and other Presbyterians; and that Dr. Bates will have liberty to preach. Now, whether this be true or not, I know not; but do think that nothing but this will unite us together. Late at night comes Mr. Hudson, the cooper, my neighbour, and tells me that he come from Chatham this evening at five o’clock, and saw this afternoon “The Royal James,” “Oake,” and “London,” burnt by the enemy with their fire-ships: that two or three men-of-war come up with them, and made no more of Upnor Castle’s shooting, than of a fly; that those ships lay below Upnor Castle, but therein, I conceive, he is in an error; that the Dutch are fitting out “The Royall Charles;” that we shot so far as from the Yard thither, so that the shot did no good, for the bullets grazed on the water; that Upnor played hard with their guns at first, but slowly afterwards, either from the men being beat off, or their powder spent. But we hear that the fleete in the Hope is not come up any higher the last flood; and Sir W. Batten tells me that ships are provided to sink in the River, about Woolwich, that will prevent their coming up higher if they should attempt it. I made my will also this day, and did give all I had equally between my father and wife, and left copies of it in each of Mr. Hater and W. Hewer’s hands, who both witnessed the will, and so to supper and then to bed, and slept pretty well, but yet often waking.
*(The Diary of Samuel Pepys M.A. F.R.S., edited by Henry B. Wheatley F.S.A., London, George Bell & Sons York St. Covent Garden, Cambridge Deighton Bell & Co., 1893.)