The Journal of Charles Rawn
March 26, 1842 to July 9, 1842 (Book 13)

Edited by Amy L. Cooper

At the time of these entries, Charles Rawn was approximately 40 years of age and had been practicing law in Harrisburg for eleven years. He had been married to Frances Clendenin for nine years, and they had a son, Charles; a son, Joseph (who died April 12, 1842, during the course of this journal); and a baby girl born to them April 10 of the same year, a few days prior to the death of little Joseph. There was a daughter, Elizabeth, mentioned in journals kept around 1837, who had also died. This portion of the journal tells us that some time in the late 1820s, while living in Delaware County, Rawn was a teacher. In the entry from July 4, 1842, he notes that he and his sister, while out shopping, encounter a former student of his who tells him he looks just as he did when he was her teacher some 14 years before.

Rawn became seriously ill at this time in his journal and is plagued with hoarseness and a "weak breast." He carries on his regular business and leaves home on May 26 on an extended business trip, from which he does not return home until July 7, the end of this particular series of journal entries. He travels first to Philadelphia, where he visits a doctor concerning his on-going health problems, and is "cupped and leached" on June 3. From there he goes to New York, then to West Point to see the review of cadets. He returns to New York, where he sits in for an evening on the famous trial of Col. Monroe Edwards, a swindler. He says of Edwards that he was a very distinguished looking gentleman who dressed well, "but may for all that be more of the rascal." He returns to Philadelphia to conduct some business, stopping to visit his mother and sister for a few days, then returning to the city of Harrisburg. He then leaves the city and stops again with his mother and sister in Philadelphia for a few days, then returns to Harrisburg in early July.

While he is traveling, Rawn makes more notes of a personal kind than he normally does while living in Harrisburg. This is understandable, as his everyday life in Harrisburg is so familiar to him that he does not feel a need to write about the scenery, or about the people he meets. The Harrisburg entries tend to note only those persons he conducted business with, his movements throughout the day, the weather, and his bedtime. Only large or unusual events, such as the death of his son, are mentioned in any detail. But when he begins traveling, Rawn noted the inns in which he stays, some of the people he meets, the mode of transportation--if a ship, the captain’s name--and makes many small notations of things he normally does not write down. He even shows flashes of humor. For example, on his second or third night away from home, he stops at the Temperance Inn. It is not a good inn, and he notes that the "pye" was "miserable," the potatoes were cold; the butter and bread, sub-standard; the keeper, surly; and his wife, a "slattern." He writes in his journal that the two do not "pull well together," and says that "their Temperance extended too far in some things for me." He also writes most admiringly of the scenery on the way to West Point by steamboat.

There is one curious incident worth mentioning from his time at his mother and sister’s. After he has been there a few days, Rawn learns that a local colored man, hired to carry some goods he sent ahead of his arrival, charged his sister, Julia Ann, 50 cents to haul these things less than two miles. He notes this in his journal, on June 28. The man, Jim Counsellor, is noted in parentheses by Rawn as a "nigger" and the word is underlined three times. This is odd for Rawn, who often notes which of the people he is dealing with are black, but only by a simple notation of "col’d." If he holds any particularly racist views, they do not emerge in his journals. Indeed, his biography reveals him in later years as a staunch opponent of the Fugitive Slave Act. Yet here, he uses the word "nigger" to apply to a black man who he feels has cheated his sister through "rascally extortion."

The overall picture which emerges of Rawn in these entries is of a busy, successful businessman who has very close, affectionate bonds to his family. He lists all the things he buys for his mother and sister--foodstuffs, and household supplies, mostly-- and even notes that he spends a few dollars on toys for his son Charles on July 1, shortly before his return home. He is generous with his money, noting several occasions on his return to his mother’s house of looking up old family friends and giving them five dollars or so in cash. He also notes with disapproval that his mother’s landlord, Mr. Homer Eaches, is a stingy man (July 6). Rawn is a religious man--while in both New York and Philadelphia, he often attends two or three different church services each Sunday, noting whether he approves or not of the minister, the sermon, the congregation and the church itself (at one, he found the pew-backs too high for him to comfortably rest his arms). He is a man of definite opinions, but he also seems to expose himself at every opportunity to new information and knowledge. He carefully questioned the woman who came to leech him while he was in Philadelphia, and noted much of what she said in his journal for that day. He professed a healthy respect for her and for the doctor he saw there, for their knowledge of science, their plain way of explaining things, and their lack of shyness about their fees.

The transcription which follows is from Rawn’s diaries dated March 26 to July 8, 1842. As much as possible, his original writing and punctuation--or lack, thereof--has been preserved. Inconsistencies in spelling have also been preserved, and misspellings noted in the text with a [sic] notation. Where words were illegible, there will be a [?], and if I could venture a guess as to what the word or words were, that guess will also appear in brackets with a question mark following. Abbreviations frequently used by Rawn are noted in brackets the first time they appear in the text, and after that, left to stand as he wrote them. Larger spaces between words are used where necessary to keep writing as clear in meaning as possible. Rawn did not use commas very often, substituting dashes for both commas and periods. Where he used a dash, one will appear in the transcription. Every effort has been made to keep the transcription as close as possible to the original handwriting of Charles Rawn.

The Journal

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Transcriptions for this section of the journal begin March 26, 1842 and end July 9, 1842. Click on a date to begin reading.

List of Names Mentioned

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  • Abbot, John - Partner in Abbot & McClure
  • Aitkens, Jno. - Owns a store
  • Alricks, Herman - Attends to Rawn’s business while he is ill
  • Ard, Dr.
  • Barnes, Rev. Albert - Preached at 1st Presbyterian church
  • Bazzel, Alfred - Client
  • Bear, E. S. - Client
  • Beaty, George
  • Bellman, O. - Shoemaker
  • Bitting, Jacob - Client
  • Boardman, Rev. Mr. - Old school Presbyterian
  • Bonsall, Wm.
  • Boyd, Wm.
  • Brenizer, Elizabeth - Client
  • Brenizer, Jno. G. - Deceased, husband of Elizabeth Brenizer
  • Brenizer, Sarah - Daughter of Elizabeth and Jno. G. B. Brenizer
  • Briggs, Jno.
  • Broom, Mr.
  • Brown, Mrs. - Sent by Dr. Sharpless to cup and leach Rawn
  • Brownewelt, Mr. - Sells asparagus to Rawn
  • Buck, Christopher - Client
  • Buehler, Henry
  • Carmell, Niel - Miller
  • Catrells, Wm. - Runs a store, sells flour and oil to Rawn
  • Cheyney, David
  • Cheyney, Thos. - Rawn sees him at the hotel in Harriburg
  • Clendenin, Joseoph
  • Clendenin, Mary Scott - Rawn’s sister-in-law, boarded with Rawn
  • Clendenin, Mother E. - Frances’ mother
  • Cochran, W. J. - Assistant, former student of Rawn
  • Counsellor, Wm. - Lives near Juliann
  • Counsellor, James - Lives near Juliann
  • Crown, Thos. M. - Keeper at Buck Tavern
  • Davis, Mr. - Driver
  • Douglass, Wyeth - West Point Cadet (4th class), visits Revolutionary fort with Rawn
  • Dunlap, Mr. - Has a coach maker shop
  • Eaches, Homer - Ma’s landlord
  • Eaches, Saml.
  • Earle, Thos.
  • Echert, Geo. - Tavern owner
  • Edwards, Monroe - On trial for forgery, Rawn goes to his trial
  • Ekel, L. M.
  • Elser, Jos. - Witness in Herron v. Miller
  • Ely, George - Tenant of James Trimble
  • Fessler, Jno. - Client
  • Forster, Major - Client
  • Fox, Philip - Baptized in the river by immersion by Rev. Kelly
  • Fry, Elizabeth
  • Gamber, John - Rawn handles his bankruptcy
  • Ghenny, Mr.
  • Gilchrist, Rob S.
  • Grace, David - Man near where Rawn formerly lived
  • Graydon, Mrs. Alexr. - Wife of prominent attorney in Harrisburg
  • Greenawalt, Wm. (Billy)
  • Griffith, Wm.
  • Grimshaw, Arthur - Attorney in Harriburg
  • Grimshaws, The - Family friends of the Rawns. Arthur and Charlotte Grinshaw
  • Haldeman, Mr. - Stockholder and director at Harrisburg Bank
  • Hale, Bennezer
  • Hancock - 4th class cadet from Norritstown Montgomery Co. PA
  • Handy, Geo.
  • Hannlen, C. F. - Kept Rawn’s horse for him, also a client
  • Hardy, Saml.
  • Hatch, Lucius Lucene
  • Hatch, Mary Adelaide
  • Hatter, Andrew
  • Haviland, Mary Ann
  • Hays, Saml. P. - Sadler
  • Heffelfinger, Peter - Witness in Herron v. Miller
  • Herron, Jos.
  • Heyers, Geo.
  • Hickok, H. C.
  • Hiesters, Mr.
  • Hitton, Rev. Mr. - Late pastor of Trimbles
  • Hobart, Mr. - Lawyer, but does not practice, farms instead
  • Hoffman, Mrs. - Sells milk and cream to Rawn
  • Hoopes, Abner - Former scholar of Rawn
  • Houser, Mr. - Sells wheat flour to Rawn
  • Hufnagle, Wm.
  • Hummel, Mrs. David - Neighbor of Rawn, present at birth of Elizabeth
  • Hyers, George - Tenant of James Trimble
  • Irving, Wm.
  • Jackson, Mrs.
  • Jacob
  • James, Curtis - Store owner
  • Jenkins, Capt. - Captain of the steamboat Rawn takes, bound for Albany
  • Jones, A. J.
  • Jones, S. L.
  • Kehler, Joshua - Tavern owner in Lancaster
  • Keiter, Peter
  • Kelly, C. V. - Reverend of the Episcopal church
  • Kelly, Jno. - "Black ostler at Hahnlens" [?]
  • King, Jno. - Old neighbor from when Rawn lived with his mother
  • Kitty - Black girl who worked for the Rawn family
  • Knepley, Jno. - Tenant of James Trimble
  • Kunkles, Geo. - Wine maker/seller
  • Lemer, Miss
  • Lewis, Mr.
  • Lyman, Chas.
  • Lyne, Eliza
  • Maglauchlin, John - A Major
  • Mahon, Charles - West Point Cadet (2nd class), Rawn visits at West Point
  • Manly, Harriet - Tends the store for Curtis James when he is gone
  • Martin - "Hahnlen’s Ostler" [?]
  • McClure, Mr.
  • McCord, Peter B.
  • McCormick - Attends to Rawn’s business while he is ill
  • McCulloh, Thos. - Young lawyer
  • McFaden, John
  • McGowan, Mr.
  • McPehersons, The
  • Menough, Jos. - Rawn bought beef from him
  • Merily, Jno.
  • Milleisen, Mrs. - Sells butter to Rawn
  • Miss Charlotte - Present at baptism of Joseph
  • Mitchell, Jno. - Marrying Miss Sarah Brenizer
  • Mitchell, Wm. - Client
  • Mix, Philip - Plumber
  • Nathans, Betsey - Does the washing and baking for the family
  • Neville, Rev. Mr. - Preacher at St. Philips
  • Nightman, Jas.
  • Parke, B.
  • Peacocks, Mrs. - Gives recipe for tar pills
  • Peacocks, The
  • Peakson, Edwd.
  • Philips, Jno. - Occupies former property of James Trimble, tenant
  • Pollock, E. M.
  • Radle, Jno.
  • Rauch
  • Rause, D.
  • Rawn, Charles, Jr. - Rawn’s son
  • Rawn, D. W. - Rawn’s brother
  • Rawn, E. - Rawn’s mother
  • Rawn, Elizabeth - Rawn’s daughter, born in 1842
  • Rawn, Geo. W. - Has store in 2nd street
  • Rawn, Joseph - Rawn’s son, dies in Spring 1842
  • Rawn, Juliann - Rawn’s sister
  • Reichart, David - Witness in one of Rawn’s cases
  • Reilers, Esqr.
  • Rider, Francis - Keeps hotel in New York
  • Roberts, Col.
  • Rodney, Mrs. - Rawn stops at her house when it starts to rain on a walk
  • Ross, Robt. J. - Cashier at Saving Institute
  • Roth, Henry - Tenant of James Trimble
  • Rus, Mr. - Trimble’s pastor
  • Russell, Eliza - Nurse for Rawn’s wife and children
  • Russing, Saml.
  • Rutherford, Dr.
  • Sedgwick, P.C.
  • Seiler, Christian - Justice of the Peace
  • Seiling, Geo.
  • Sessman, A. - Owns a tavern which Rawn stops at while traveling
  • Sharpless, Dr. Jno. - Rawn went to see him about his hoarseness
  • Shoemaker, Geo. J. - Town Clerk
  • Sills, Arron
  • Sly, Geo.
  • Smallsreed, Conrad [spelled as Mueltzries and Smaltzreid] - Shoemaker
  • Snyders, Charles - Justice of the Peace
  • Stahl, John
  • Stare, Mr. - Has a blacksmith shop
  • Stoughton, A. B. - Rawn saw him in Market Street
  • Thomas, Braxton - Cuts Rawn’s hair
  • Thomas, Geo. - Neighbor of Rawn’s mother
  • Thompson, Mrs. - Whitewashed Frances’ room (Rawn’s wife)
  • Torbet, Jas. - Landlord at the Eagle Hotel
  • Tracy, F.
  • Trimble, James - Deceased
  • Trimble, Thos. R. - Heir of James Trimble
  • Trimbles, The - Family Rawn stays with during his travels
  • Twain, Schaeffer
  • Walborn, Cornelius A. - Rawn traded his sorrel horse to him
  • Walters, H.
  • Warner, Saml. - Bought land from Rawn years ago
  • Weistling, George P. - Wood and coal dealer from whom Rawn purchases firewood
  • Westheim - Police officer or constable
  • Wier, Prot.
  • Williams, James
  • Wister, Charles - Philadelphia client for whom Rawn collects rents
  • Witt, R. D. - Reverend, baptizes Joseph (Rawn’s son)
  • Wolfersbergers, Jno. - Rawn stops at his house for dinner while traveling
  • Wyeth, Thos. - Makes tar pills for Rawn
  • Yundt, Henry - Owns tavern which Rawn stops at during his travels
  • Ziren, Geo. - Client

Works Consulted

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Napey, H. The Harrisburg Business Directory, January 8, 1842.

Spoffard, J.A. The Harrisburg Directory. 1843.

Sturtevant, P. The Harrisburg Directory. 1839.

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PDF Icon Book 13: 1842-03-26 to 1842-07-09