14 Handwritten West Coast San Francisco CA Diaries Matilda Cobb Perley 1875 - 1898
Item History & Price
WELCOMETO SALLY’S DIARIES: Iget asked on occasion if I split up family lots and sell diariesseparately but this is a perfect example of why I don’t. Always agood question to ask your sellers though just in case they haveothers. Upfor auction are 14 handwritten diaries that tell an incredible storyof a young mother living in both Maine and California, San Franciscoto be exact. The diaries begin in 1875 and go through to 1898. Theexact years of the diaries is: 1875 1876 1879 1880... 1881 1882 18831884 1899 1890 1892 1894 1895 1898 Althoughher name is not written in the diaries I was able to discover who shewas and I’m so glad I did. Ourauthor is Matilda Hull Cobb Perley who was born on June 28th, 1848 to the parents of Ebeneezer Cobb and Hannah Haskell in the townof Gray Maine. She married Albion Starbird Perley (b.1843) in 1873.When the first diary opens up Matilda and Albion are living in SanFrancisco. They are desperately trying to have children and shementions having several miscarriages which is terribly hard on her.Finally on August 17th, 1876, Albion Edward “Eddie”Perley is born. By the 1879 diary the couple is back in Maine living.I’m not quite sure why they moved back east but I can tell you sheis desperately trying to have another child. She gets very depressedwhen her monthly period comes (which she just marks with an “x”)and she seems very distraught at times, even mad. At the end of 1879she writes this…..“December31st, O I am so tired of being in doubt, full of worry. IfI could only be as other folks are, strong and well. Do hope nextyear I won’t have a thought or shred of doubt but I have been allright. And I can’t help hoping for better fortune than that.” Inspring of 1883 they decide to head back to San Francisco. She saidthere were US troops on the train heading to Indian country. And onlya few years later, to my great surprise, Matilda and Albion givebirth to a baby girl in August of 1886. Here’s another great thingconcerning Matilda’s diaries. At the end of most of them in thememoranda section, she has written all the funny things the childrensay at their various ages. Thefamily spends the rest of their life in San Francisco, where Matildatakes up landscape painting. Albion passes away in 1911 and Matildain 1951 at 102 years of age. And that’s just the tip of theiceberg. Now, the diaries are not full of handwritten entries; a couple are just ¼full and some nearly all full. As the years go on, she writes moreand more. But with 14 diaries, there is really so much and in facttoo much for me to read them all right now. I stopped reading in 1883so I could get these listed. My quotes are short too as I didn’twant this description to get too long; longer than it already is.Again, they tell a fascinating story, one not to be missed……. 1875(124 dayswritten on)“January24th& 26th, Found I was all right or wrong, didn’t know which this morning. Inbed nearly all day. May be miscarrying so will be a little careful.Won’t have to go home I guess….Feel so miserable, don’t knowwhat to do with myself.”(She’s up and about by the next day or two)“March23rd, Got a letter that mother is sick. O, dear. Went to all day prayermeeting. Took lunch at Swains restaurant with Mrs. Whipple. SarahBerry has gone to Nevada. Mr. W. got a China man.”“April23rd, About 40 gave us a house warming. Such a time. Danced, played cards, eat supper, sung, &c. I was tired enough when they went homeabout 12.” “May22nd, In bed alone all day. Mad a good deal. I wonder what made me sick.Can it be another miscarrying. O dear. I don’t know.” “June17th, Albion and Iwent to Belmont Bunker Hill picnic. As was sick, went to hotel, hadlittle room, opened door to garden, staid till 2 o’clock. Then wentto picnic grounds. A. felt much better….” “August11th, Albion come home about 2, said Maine and Webster girls were comingtomorrow. I wasn’t feeling strong, had peaches to put up and I_____ and cried. Was naughty maybe. Went down town for second timetoday…..O dear so tired, provoked &c.”“October21st & 23rd, Collinwrote me that mother is sick. O it cannot be that I must loose mydarling mother. Will hope she will be spared….A letter come andsaid, “Mother is dead.” O what an awful afternoon. No mother canit be? Must I give up seeing her on earth?”1876(150 days written on)“January17th, Got tired again today. Somehow, Alvin helps me but I don’t like tohave so much fussing to do. Evening went to Mr. Howe. Jones roomcaught fire and there was another fire near ninth. Quite anexcitement.” “February9th, Had ham and eggs. I didn’t cook them as A. wanted me to. Didn’tknow how. He provoked me. I got mad. Oh so out of temper. What am Icoming to…..” “April26th, Got up 5 ½ started for car 7. 8 o’clock train for Belmont O. F.picnic. Sarah Thompson went with us. Snails awful, caterpillars &c.O dear. Walked to Ralsta’s house. Couldn’t get in to grounds.Cars got off of track coming home from depot. Real tired but ___runall night. So glad.” “June28th, Got up about 8. Late breakfast. A. & I went to Alemeda. Worelinen suit. Took bill of lunch in coffee house then went out amonglive oak trees to river. Sat in trees and read. Come home at 3, gothome about 5. Made Johnny Cake, boiled potatoes, pies, cooked stock.Hungry. A. went to Mr. Ewells Croquet.” “August17th, Woke up suddenly about 2 to find I was going to be sick. Little napstill morning then A. went for Mrs. Center, Mrs. Shaw and Dr. O whatawful suffering. Baby born at 4 P.M. So glad, so glad it’s over.Glad it’s a boy too.”(It seems to be taking her awhile to “like” the baby) “September5th& 6th, Begin to tremble in my shoes. Oh the responsibility to have restingupon me when Auntie Shaw leaves…..New girl, Dee Carmon came, 18years old. Seems pleasant. Auntie Shaw went tonight. How awful blue Ifeel. O for comfort of some kind. If only I had a sister or someoneto be with me that knew how to take care of babies.” “November2nd& 3rd, Gave Eddie an injection. First one….My breast is so sore. Eddiethrows up blood after nourishing. Seems far from well, himself, soremouth.” 1879(Her entries don’t begin until April 28th.During this time is when they are living back in Maine and she’snot happy and seems to be very sick as you can see with her entry forthe end of the year. There are 149 days of handwritten entries) “May10th, Well Eddie seems to be broken out, guess he has measles after all.Wish I hadn’t given him the oils. Don’t seem very sick, nor verywell….” “June27th, (Now she’s sick). Beginningto break out on face. Hope it isn’t scarlet fever.” “December31st, O I am so tired of being in doubt, full of worry. If I could only beas other folks are, strong and well. Do hope next year I won’t havea thought or shred of doubt but I have been all right. And I can’thelp hoping for better fortune than that.” 1880(They are still in Maine. 267 days of handwritten entries)“January17th, Eddie had the croup last night. We took him up about 2 o’clock, putwater on his throat, gave him ipecac and pigs feet oil and molasses.Vomited him twice. A. went for Dr. He vomited him again, put bakedpotatoes on throat.” (Theydid similar the next day)“March24th, Comfortable. Got up and worked but O so blue and heart sick. Was inhopes everything would be so different. Already building castles inthe air.”(Diphtheria is running rampant in the area and she’s afraid Eddie’sgoing to contract it)“June18th, Work round a little, not much. Thought I’d go to Mr. Jewett’swith Eddie but gave it up, was so tired. Feel kind of discouragedsometimes. O I do want to get strong but how can I.” “August11th, x Bad dream after I went back to bed again. Got up found before longI was x. Well I won’t cry. I won’t be wholly discouraged but I dofeel bad enough. Is it possible that I am losing my strength in thisway.” “August27th, Went to Portland in cars. Went directly to Dr. Fosters. We thoughtprobably I hadn’t had those little troubles that I was afraid of somany times miscarriage. Trouble inflammation inside womb. Thinks Ican have ____in two years. O dear.”(she only writes a letter and then a blank and I think that letter isa “v”)“September13th, Well Albion is elected Representative to Legislature. Quit a time atthe town house about voters. Some rather mad.” 1881“January4th, Albion started for Augusta early this morning. Eddie was taken sicksoon after he left. Vomited, didn’t seem to be able to sit up, wasafraid of diphtheria but concluded it might be worms. Gave him sagetea…” (Eddiehas Scarlet Fever) “March2nd& 4th, Went to Insane Asylum. Awful. One woman took hold of me, had quite acrying spell. Walked about a mile and a half, very tired. Don’tfeel very badly about my clothes now……A few of us wentto the jail. Saw the murderer from there to the “House”. Wenthome at 2 o’clock. Quite good time on the car……”“April7th, ….Amgoing to try and be happier and look happier. Don’t know as I shallsucceed….” “April9th, Found I was x first thing. Well I’m use to disappointment. It’san old story with me. Thought till noon it might be then gave up.Went round as usual. It is to be as always? I hope Albion is bitterbut don’t feel sure of that.” “April13th, Don’t do anything hardly about the house. Still feel I have tothink of women worse off than I am to cheer me up. Am blue, don’tfeel well nor very happy for what I so much desire, seems to bedenied me…” 1883“March24th, Paid $266.60 for tickets. Bought a ring for Albion, paid $3.00, verypretty. Lindly came back, is going to N. Orleans with us. Took trainfor Stonington at 6. Arrived there at 9. Took boat for N.Y. Supper onboat. Eddie is well, had very good nights sleep.”(They arrive in NewOrleans on the 28th)“March29th, Albion, Eddie and I went after something for our basket. Got cannedgoods, tin of nice crackers &c. Also wine and pickles. Started at12. Got Eddie boots before we started, $2.25. Beautiful route thisside of New Orleans. Am not much tired.” “March30th, Got up late. Past company with rickpoles who go to San Antonio. Going through plantations a good deal.See wild cactus. Had enough to have a lunch basket with us. Allfeeling nicely. Am a little afraid of the Indians.” “March31st, Got up early to see Rio Grande scenery. Very grand indeed. Since thenhaven nothing but plains, dry and barren, with the exception of a farwild flower and cactus, that is all….” “April1st, Took breakfast at Deming. U.S. troops joined us there going throughto Indian country. Car full. Mr. Winstock lends us books. Treats uson candy and is my escort.”(Arrived in Colton on the 2ndand then on to San Francisco) Thereis so much more than what I’ve quoted here. A fabulous West Coastdiary lot that deserves further research and reading. All of thediaries are in good shape and on average they measure about 3” x6”.
![Naval 07/04/39, U. S. S. West Virginia, San Francisco, Ca [e552017]](https://pic-g.avaluer.net/imgstmb/c/c/d/q/b/-naval_070439__u___s___s___west_virginia__san_francisco__ca_e552017-1_252_tmb.jpg)
