Friend Benjamin Leedom, and Bristol PA (Hazard Diary 011)

[continued from previous page] of Philadelphia, who is my junior only about eighteen months, and with whom I expect to enjoy another visit there, this coming summer of 1883.

Jos. Peace Hazard

Dec. 20, 1883. Returned to Peace Dale today - having been abroad from Rhode Island since Sept. 20 the last, when I left Peace Dale for Philadelphia, stopping for ten days in City of New York.

On the first of October, my friend Benj. J. Leedom was again at the Farm House at West Town School - in comfortable quarters - where we remained together about a week - myself eleven days, Leedom having been called home.

We expected again [to] repeat our annual visit, but Leedom died at his home in Germantown Pa about Nov. 1, 1883. J. P. H.

I have given my life chiefly to Planting Trees and Travelling, at least such has been my taste and desire in a highly dominant degree.

I recollect - perfectly well - that when I lived at Bristol Pa (that is on the Delaware River, and opposite to Burlington, New Jersey, where I was born on February 17th 1807), the quince trees in the large garden were trimmed. My brother William (then about nine years age) planted a large number of these trimmings.

After he had finished, I planted one. This cutting lived and grew to be a fine tree while every one of those my brother planted died - before the end of the summer. I think not one of them "Sprouted".

I have been in the habit of visiting Philadelphia very often, all my life, and while in the city - making a visit to Burlington and Bristol, and visiting the above mentioned Quince Tree - it was a good bearer. The last time I was in Philadelphia was in the year 1883, but I did not go to Bristol on that occasion. It appears that my last visit to Bristol, Pa was on July 10, 1862. To me, Bristol in Pennsylvania is a Mecca.

I have had a good deal of work done in the way of building etc. etc. during my life, but have usually had it done not by Contract but by day work, excepting when I was engaged in Woollen Manufacture; in that case the work was done by Contract, at a fixed price per yard of cloth, etc., as is usual.

Transcribed by Jessica Wilson

12-27-2019