Diaries and Journals

Nothing can take the place of a first-hand account in genealogical research. Diaries and journals are wonderful glimpses into the everyday lives of our ancestors, and can provide a wealth of genealogical information as well. The New Hampshire Historical Society and the New England Historic Genealogical Society (NEHGS) are two repositories that contain a wealth of diaries and journals. Titles that are helpful to the Strafford County researcher include The Journals of Enoch Hayes Place, The Diary of Master Joseph Tate of Somersworth, N.H., and The Journal of James Tuttle of Barrington, all at the New Hampshire Historical Society. The Diary of Master Joseph Tate is also fully contained in the New England Historical and Genealogical Record (NEHGR), published in four parts: Part 1: Volume 73, Pages 304-15; Part 2: Volume 74, Pages 34 - 50; Part 3: Volume 74, Pages 124-30, and Part 4: Volume 74, Pages 179-99. The New England Historical and Genealogical Record is available online to NEHGS members on the NEHGS website at http://www.americanancestors.org. NEHGS has compiled a list of the diaries in their special collections, Guide to diaries in the R. Stanton Avery special collections / compiled by the NEHGS special collections staff.