BEAMER DIARY `1790 Since that it is the Decree of Heaven that I should leave the land of my Nativity I have put myself in Readyness for that purpose During the Summer of the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and Ninety to leave parents and Relations Behind Accordingly Set out for that Purpose on 20th Day of September with my wife and four Children to Seek a home god only knows where Sept. 20th A. D. 1790 Traveled by land From Bethleham township Hunterdon State of New Jersey West to New Brunswick, forty miles Sept. 21st took Shipping with a fair wind and tide to New York where we arrived that Evening about fifty miles. Sept 22d took Shipping from York up the North River for Albany, fair wind till Evening A storm from the North with Rain. Sept. 23rd Strong North wind little Speed. Sept. y 24th fair wind had a View of West Point and the highlands of York. Sept. y 25 fair wind a View of Cusppus WC Sunday 26 fair wind Arrived at Albany All safe and well. Monday 27 Rain Proceeded from Albany to Schenectada with two wagons. There we staid to Friday the first of Oct. Providing for our further passage Friday October ye 1st A. D. 1790 Proceeded from Schenectada up the Mohawk River in Company with two Batteauman with poles and oars and paddles, we travelled this In Difficult weather to Monday Evening when we arrived at the Little Falls This is one of the Extraordinary productions of Nature The water is Coming About a Mile frequently falls over large Rocks Six or Seven feet high there is the best Seat for A mill that Ever I saw on this carrying place. Tuesday October ye 5th A. D. 1790 Crossed the Carrying place and proceed our way up this River which gets smaller at the fork At the German flats, this is as fine a settlement as Any I have seen. Wednesday 6th We still kept on this River which is Now Less Inhabited. This night for the first time we Encampt in the woods. 7. Keep on our journey the few inhabitants and fine farm land This Day we met with ye just Indians at Orisko Friday ye 8th we arrived at the Carrying place Near fort Stamvix and Cross two Miles to wood Creek, here is A small settlement of About twenty families there we laid still till Sunday the 10th Distance by water one hundred and fifty miles Sunday ye 10 Proceeded Down Wood Creek without Anything Remarkable which we Did in two Days, 36 miles land flat and mostly whet Tuesday ye 12th We crossed the Oniada Lake, 36 miles Wednesday 13th Arrived at the three Rivers A heavy Rain Land Chiefly whet here is one house and a small improvement cleared distance 18 miles Ye 14th Arrived Oswago falls her A large River falls over a rock about 8 feet high and a strong Rapid follows Friday ye 15th We arrive at the Mouth of Oswago into Lake Ontario Here we lay weather bound till Sunday Distance 24 miles Sunday ye 17th Proceed to the four mile pond when A Storm Rose that we were obliged to unlode and Draw up the boat here we lay till Tuesday ye 19th Windbound Tuesday October ye 19 Set out from the four mile pond Along the Lake to Little Sodus this is a Convenient harbour for boats About Fifteen Miles from Oswago port and the first we found 20th Left little Sodus & passed Along the Lake to the place known by the Name of the Apple tree this Day we passed Several good harbours for boats the Most remarkable of Which is big Sodus about 30 miles West of Oswago This is Sufficient for a Ship of a Considerable Burden 21st passed on about three miles to A point of land that runs into the lake here the wind Rose and we were obliged to lay to till Saturday 23d we Coasted the Lake to a place known by the name of Jerundeqnd (Irondequoit) this is a fine harbour for boats about Sixty miles from Oswago