The spring of the year 1819 was a very busy time with Lye, and a few
entries in his diary reveal the versatility of his career.
May 5, “helped set fence in front of our premises in the forenoon.
Performed military duty in the afternoon.”
May 9, “helped move Mudge’s new shop. Went to Chelsea to purchase pigs,
but found none to be bought.”
Saturday, May 23, he “trained again.”
June 30, “sailed from this town for North Yarmouth in the sloop Jane,
Capt. Ross, for the purpose of recovering the boat Humbird, which Ellis
and myself sold to David Libby last November.”
Sunday, July 12, “arrived in Lynn with the boat, which we took
possession of July 1 without much difficulty, having had a quick voyage
of ten days, Capt. Ross, S. Hutchinson and myself being all the crew to
manage both vessels.”
Monday, July 27, “bought of James Austin one sixth part of the boat
Humbird for $16.66.” (It was for using this boat in the cod fishing
industry that Lye got the bounty of $35, by the way.)
At some time or other during the year, Lye acquired the pigs for which
he made his vain trip to Chelsea, and on Jan. 1 he “killed our two
hogs. Their weight was 384 pounds.”
The variety of Lye’s tasks certainly surpasses those of the average
shoemaker of these days.