The Journal of Charles Rawn
May 25, 1833 to July 26, 1833 (Book 4)

Edited by Neil H. Leifert

This pocket-sized volume is the smallest of all the books. Rawn wrote that he had intended to copy it into the larger Book 4, but finally he was not inclined to do so. He probably needed a more compact journal because, over the two months I was able to track, he and his new wife, Frances, traveled extensively throughout the central and eastern Pennsylvania countryside, and included visits to Lancaster, Marietta, Philadelphia, West Chester, and Lebanon, among other stops.

The journal begins on Charles Rawn’s wedding day, May 25, 1833. It is an entry devoid of romance that simply enumerates the events of the day and is not unlike every subsequent entry over the next sixty days. In fact, I was struck by how consistently matter-of-fact his style was, punctuated with only a few exceptions, such as his chance encounter with President Andrew Jackson in Philadelphia during the week of June 8th, and in a later entry, commenting that a particular art exhibit was not proper for mixed company.

The impressive number of people who passed through Charles Rawn’s life included a rich mélange of friends, acquaintances, business associates, clients, and a few unnamed service people, such as deliverymen, hackmen (carriage drivers), and the like. Mentioned frequently throughout were the Peacocks, the Clendennins (his spelling of his wife’s family), and the Shunks, among others. Charles Rawn was also an avid letter writer, communicating with many persons, most of whom were more or less ancillary to his professional life.

The Journal

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Transcriptions for this section of the journal begin May 25, 1833 and end July 26, 1833. Click on a date to begin reading.

List of Names Mentioned

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  • Babbs, Mr. and Mrs. Sampson - Purchased the Washington Hotel in West Chester and owned it for 25 years
  • Backlemy, Wm.
  • Badger, Mr. and Mrs. Bela - Rawn was invited to tea by them
  • Barnes [Barns], Mr., Rev. - Clergyman at 1st Presbyterian Church in Harrisburg
  • Bedells, Mr. - Rawn and Frances went to St. Andrews with him
  • Benefit, Cooper
  • Benghau, Dr. Geo.
  • Bennet, Mr.
  • Berghaus, Geo. - Of Williamsport, MD
  • Biorem, Mr. - Visitor of Rawn
  • Blattenberger, Esqr.
  • Boyd, Senator
  • Bradley, Mrs.
  • Brent, Robt. J.
  • Brewster, F. E. - From Philadelphia
  • Briggs, Mr. G. E. - A local Harrisburg barber
  • Buehler, John
  • Buehler, Mrs. - Ran the Spread Eagle Inn
  • Buehler, Wm. - Ran the Buehler House
  • Buffington, Geo. - Of Lykens Valley
  • Cameron, Genl. L. - Slept in the room next to Rawn is Lancaster
  • Chancetery, Mr.
  • Cheyney, Charl. H.
  • Cheyney, G. T.
  • Cheyney, Mary - Rawn’s aunt [?]
  • Cheyney, Wm. - Visitor of Rawn while he was staying at his mother’s house, Rawn’s uncle [?]
  • Child, Wm - From Marietta
  • Clarkson, Mr. and Mrs. Ely - Rawn and Frances dined with them
  • Clarkson, T. G.
  • Clayton, Capt. - Captain of Frenchtown steamboat which Rawn too to Baltimore
  • Clemson, Amos - Of Lancaster
  • Clendennin, John Joseph - Groomsman in Rawn’s wedding
  • Clendennin, Lieutenant [also spelled Clendenen in journal]
  • Clendennin, Mrs. Francis P. - Rawn’s wife
  • Clendennin, Mary Scott - Rawn’s sister-in-law
  • Clendennin, Saml. - Realtion of Frances’
  • Clendennin, T. J.
  • Connicks, Mrs. M. - Mrs. Clendenen and her children went to tea at her house
  • Coop, Miss - Rawn met her in the street
  • Darlington, Judge - Frances’ uncle
  • DeWitt, Rev. Wm.
  • Dietrich, Elizabeth - Niece of F. R. Shunk
  • Dietrich, Harriet - Niece of F. R. Shunk
  • Dietrich, Maria - Niece of F. R. Shunk
  • Dietrich, Mr.
  • Dietrich, Mrs. - Does washing for Rawn
  • Dorsey - Rawn paid him for shaving
  • Douglas, Capt. - Captain of steamboat on Rawn’s way to Baltimore
  • Douglas, Saml. - Rawn was invited to his funeral
  • Duncan, Mrs.
  • Elders, Mrs. Thomas
  • Ely, Dr.
  • Espy, James T.
  • Espy, Mrs.
  • Espyo, Mr. and Mrs. - Rawn called on them in the room above the mint
  • Fairlamb, Mrs. T.
  • Findlay, Governor William [also spelled Findley] - Former Governor of Pennsylvania, friend and frequent visitor of Rawn
  • Findlay, King - William Findlay’s son
  • Francis, Col. Slough
  • Franklin, T.
  • Franklin, Walter S. - Had tea with Rawn
  • Freeman, Mr. and Mrs. - Sister and brother-in-law of Lieut. Clendenen
  • Gallagher, Mrs. Geo.
  • Garzon, Mrs. - Washerwoman
  • Gibson, Judge John Bannister - Of the Pennsylvania Supreme Court
  • Grayson, Alex
  • Grayson, Wm.
  • Halderman, Mary - Ran off with Robt. S. Ross
  • Hamilton
  • Hare, Mr. - Preached at the Episcopal church
  • Heinman, Mrs.
  • Henderson, Mr. - Owns stallion "First Consul Jr."
  • Henderson, Mrs. - Visitor of the Peacocks at the same time as Rawn
  • Hepner, Geo. - Wrote letter to Rawn
  • Herman - Read the Declaration of Independence at meeting of the Democrats
  • Hetzel, A. R. - Lieutenant in the Army, went to see "Panorame of Mexico" with Rawn
  • Hiester , A. O. - Went with Rawn to buy carpet and sofa, builder and businessman in Harrisburg
  • Hoover, Owen
  • Hubley, Mrs. - Rawn and Frances had breakfast at her house
  • Hume, Mrs.
  • Isaac - Driver of carriage
  • Jackson, President - Visited Philadelphia at the same time Rawn was there
  • Jacoby, Danl. - Wrote a letter to Rawn
  • Jefferies, James - He owned Hale’s Hotel in Harrisburg
  • Jones, T. - Rawn wrote to him about business
  • Karthaus, Adm. - Of Philadelphia
  • Kelker, John - He owned the Temperance Hotel and Boarding House
  • Kemble, Mrs. Fanny
  • Kimble, Mr.
  • Knepley, Mr. Conrad - Owner of Harrisburg Hotel, also held position of high constable of the Borough
  • Kunkles, Mr. - Rawn bought wine from him
  • Lewis, Mr. Jos.
  • Lutherean, Judge - His court was visited by Rawn
  • Lydia
  • Mahany, Mrs. - Sister of Mrs. Rogers, daughter of Judge Fahnestock
  • McAllister, Capt.
  • McCall, Thomas
  • McClures, The
  • McCullough, Nancy
  • McElhanen, G.
  • Mckelly - Rawn was on a job-committee with him
  • McKinney, Dr.
  • McKinney, Mrs. Wharton
  • Miller, Mr., Rev. - Baptist clergyman, married Robt. S. Ross and Mary Halderman
  • Mitchell, Genl. Wm. B. - Rawn saw him at Parkers Stable
  • Nabb, Perry C. - Rawn saw him in the orchard
  • Peacock, Fanny and James (children: Jane, Mary, and Elizabeth) - relation and friends of Rawn, Elizabeth was a bridesmaid of Frances’
  • Pearson
  • Plitt, Geo. (blk.) - Rawn wrote to him
  • Powel
  • Pyle, Eli - Visitor of Rawn while he was at his mother’s house
  • Quaid, Thomas
  • Rawn, Charles
  • Rawn, David - Rawn’s brother
  • Rawn [Rawn], G. W.
  • Rawn, Julianne - Rawn’s sister
  • Reed, David
  • Reed, Wm.
  • Rogers, Mrs. - Sister of Mrs. Mahany, daughter of Judge Fahnestock
  • Rohrer, A. M. - Rawn was on a job-committee with him
  • Ross, Robt. S. - Of U. S. N., ran off with Mary Halderman
  • Rutter, Mr. and Mrs. - Visitor of Rawn and Frances
  • Sergeants, Thomas
  • Serlies, Mrs.
  • Shell, Jacob - A lumber merchant who also owned a dry goods store
  • Shick, Hamilton - Delivered oration to military in Lutheran Church
  • Shocks, Samuel
  • Shunk, Elizabeth
  • Shunk, F. R. - Took breakfast and boat ride with Rawn
  • Shunk, Isaac - Friend of Rawn
  • Shunk, Maria
  • Shunk, Mrs. - Had a bridal party for Frances
  • Siegfried, Mr. - Preached at Court House (Baptist)
  • Siple, Henry - He was a local lumber merchant out of Middletown
  • Sisle, Mr. - Went with Rawn to the parade in honor of President Jackson
  • Snyder, Mrs. Catherine - Wm. Buehler’s sister-in-law
  • Solomon, Mr. - Rawn paid him to clean hi black coat
  • Stine, Daniel - Rawn paid him in full of his Burough tax for the year
  • Strong, H. K. - Delivered oration to young men of Harrisburg in Episcopal Church
  • Taylor, Randall
  • Toland, Mr. - Visitor of Rawn, dined with Rawn at the Clarkson’s
  • Van Haag, F. R. - A cabinet maker in Harrisburg
  • Wallace, Mr. and Mrs. - Called on Rawn in Philadelphia
  • Walters, Jacob
  • Watson, Mr. - Old teacher of Rawn
  • Weidman, John
  • Weidman, Tho. A.
  • Wharton, T. J.
  • Wilber, Woodbury T. [L.] - Rawn wrote a letter to him
  • Williams, Mr. Rudolph - Apothecary
  • Williamson, William - Rawn collected money for him from Abram
  • Winebrenner, Rev. John - Pastor, Union Bethel Church
  • Wisler, Lewis - Rawn wrote to him
  • Wood, Mr. - From New Penitentiary
  • Woodside, Jacob
  • Woody - Baltimerian gentleman
  • Worthington, Mr. - Rawn bought grass from him
  • Wright, H. B. - New client of Rawn
  • Wyath, Mr. and Mrs.

Works Consulted

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Egle, William Henry, ed. Notes and Queries (Harrisburg, PA: Harrisburg Publishing, 1896).

Egle, William Henry, Commemorative Encyclopedia of Dauphin County (Chambersburg, PA: J. M. Runk & Co., 1896).

Sturtevant, P., ed. Harrisburg Directory, 1839.

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

Download in PDF Format

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PDF files contain the author's original formatting for the content appearing on this page and on the journal pages. They require a PDF viewer such as the free Adobe® Reader®.

PDF Icon Book 4: 1833-05-25 to 1833-07-26