[From a diary in Acton, Massachusetts]
May 3rd, 1775. Clouds all day and it was cold for the month. Got the stumps and the brackin out of the new field. There was a negroe boy presented himself for work and sd he wd work for food. Ast him had he halled out stumps before and he sd yes he could. After some time with us struggling with the lever and the ox was skittish I ast him had he realy ever halled stumps and he sd no sir. It hd begin to rain. We was all mud. He was shivering so bad he cdnt barely move and he just kept staring. I sd can you cut wood. He sd yes. I sd you cut wood before? He dnt answer, so I sd it agin, You cut wood before? He sd nothing, then sd Yes, lyeing. I give him the ax and sd so cut and he jus stood and helt the ax and the rain fell on him. I sd Tilly-vally!, you hant cut wood befor boy. what can you do? have you ever done any thing? and he dint anser. I sd I ast you what can you do can you do anything, can you cut wood, can you carry? and he sd nothing.
Get off of here I sd. I cd of whipt him, shoud of. I yellt at his worthless hide and told him did he stand around Id take the whip to him and then he dropt the ax and walked away. He dint run just walked, shivering, across the chopt down trees. I sd run but he walked, and good riddance.
John and I pullt out the rest of the stumps. Rain got harder in the afternoon. The Jerseys baby it is sick, and we could here it wailing thro the day. It wailed in their cottage, and the rain fell, but it loosened the mud and it was easier to pull out the stumps then. We got it all done before night.