Chiefly diaries, 1843-1888 and 1855-1883, respectively of William J. Bently and his nephew George Willard, primarily describing farm and family life in and around Pamelia, Watertown, Carthage, Champion, and Great Bend, Jefferson County, N.Y., including domestic chores performed by Willard's wife and daughters. Also dairying and other agricultural accounting records, plus others, mainly relating to the insurance business Willard entered after his move to Watertown in 1872. Both diarists mention having seen balloon ascensions of John LaMountain in 1859 and 1860, and Willard describes the flooding of the Black River in 1869. There are briefer entries for two other diarists, including Clara Willard, George Willard's daughter (1887, Jan. 1-April 23), and another woman whose identity is unknown (1898, Jan. 1-1902, July 5). Includes a few business, legal, and financial papers, writings, Willard's photograph, and other papers.
