The Barkers of Branford: Life in America Through a Local Lens-1

Do you wonder what a fourteen year old boy's life was like in 1865? Llewellyn Barker (1850-1937) grew up in the Mill Plain section of Branford (see map-Supply Pond to L; I-95 at bottom). He started writing in 1865 from age fourteen until the day before he died in 1937. The following show daily life as a young boy.

"Late at school harnessed the horse....Stayed in from recess for whispering Evening unharnessed the horse Now I turn in 1/3/1865

“I worked like fury all day choping wood” 1/28/1865

“set another trap at noon played fox and houne... it snowed hard” 2/7/1865

“In the morning pulled bean poals then I harrowed the union (onion) ground then I carted manure” 3/25/1865

“I went to school ...played ball set my trap and I sawed wood... I find the bait taken off my trap... I don’t know weather it is a mouse or mink” 1/11/1866

The teacher in this one room schoolhouse often had 25 students spanning six grades. Young teens like Llewellyn went to school only during the winter months when not needed on the farm. By age 15, school was over and it was time to go to work.

He had his share of youthful mishaps.

“I went a trapping with Chauncey... mashed my finger setting a trap” 12/27/1865

“I got hit with a snow ball in the eye after school” 1/19/1866

“shot my pistal at a squirl and my pistol went off accidently and the ball went thrue my finger” 6/1/1866_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

“The Barkers of Branford: Life in America Through a Local Lens” is available for $30 at the Blackstone Library in Branford. Richly illustrated, it traces not only the history of a family but also of the town and the nation. Details at https://tedbraun135.wixsite.com/barkers-of-branford