Latest update: 7 December 2024 - gmc
From Chaplin's entries, it appears that he did not enjoy the holidays very much. In 1845, he wrote: "Dec. 25th. Thursday, Christmas Day. Dull. Dull. Dull. No rain but very thick & foggy, do not think we will be able to go down to the Island. Capt. & J.L. Chaplin came over in the morning to go -- the latter pretty well corned. [i.e, drunk]. Very sorry for it, but do not know what to do with him. If we go will have to take him down with us. Killed 2 beefs for the Negroes this morning. Looks a little like clearing -- wind NW. Got a very early dinner & started for the Island. Got down & pitched our tent by dark. Cloudy all night, but we slept very comfortably. Not very cold."
Two years later in 1847, he noted that "So far Merry Christmas is rather on the other extreme. But there is a party tonight at Pope's, I expect some amusement. Once upon a time, Christmas was to me a very jolly time, fun & frolic for a week, but times & disposition have both greatly changed." Unfortunately, his subsequent entries do not mention whether or not he enjoyed Pope's party. Odds are, he did not since he sent Isaac [his slave] to town for liquor on the 26th. Chaplin wrote that he had a hangover on New Year's Eve "from too much liquor yesterday."
His disposition was even more glum in 1850 when he wrote:
Two years later in 1847, he noted that "So far Merry Christmas is rather on the other extreme. But there is a party tonight at Pope's, I expect some amusement. Once upon a time, Christmas was to me a very jolly time, fun & frolic for a week, but times & disposition have both greatly changed." Unfortunately, his subsequent entries do not mention whether or not he enjoyed Pope's party. Odds are, he did not since he sent Isaac [his slave] to town for liquor on the 26th. Chaplin wrote that he had a hangover on New Year's Eve "from too much liquor yesterday."
His disposition was even more glum in 1850 when he wrote:
Dec. 25th. Wednesday -- Christmas. Merry Christmas, yes, merry to all the world but me. Here I sit moping at home all day, no pleasure, & I care for none but to see the children enjoy themselves, which they appear to do every other day as well. I will try and amuse them by setting off a few little fireworks Webb sent up tonight. I only wish the Negroes were at work. I had nothing to give them but a few turnips, but they are satisfied and I suppose will enjoy themselves, though I don't.
The dull theme arises again in 1851: "Dec. 25th. Thursday. Christmas Day, clear, and devilish dull."
But, in 1853, the White Christmas seemed to distract him a bit from his customary grumping:
But, in 1853, the White Christmas seemed to distract him a bit from his customary grumping:
Dec. 25th. Sunday. Christmas Day. The ground is covered with snow this morning but not thick, trees covered icicles. Clear but bitter cold. Saxby & I rode up to Farmer's. Took him up & went on to Minott's. We all returned & dined with Mother. She had a very fine dinner, too much in fact. (I hear that the snow or sleet & cold weather extended to the Island.)The Library has plenty of copies of Tombee to share with our customers. In addition, the BDC has copies of A Subject Index to the Plantation Journal of Thomas B. Chaplin as found in Tombee: Portrait of a Cotton Planter by Theodore Rosengarten by Michael Trinkley (2001, 1994), several maps of the plantation and vertical files about Tombee Plantation and the Chaplin Family to share with in-house customers.
You might also like to read the "Snowfalls in Beaufort District's History," "White Christmases" and "Beaufort District's Record Snowfall" posts elsewhere in this blog. - gmc
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