The Nicholas Gesner Diary: Volume IINicholas Gesner, born in 1765, was a farmer, teacher shipbuilder, surveyor and creator of wills and deeds for his neighbors. He lived in Palisades, New York and kept a diary from 1829 to 1850, filled with details of life on his farm, the weather, scandals in the neighborhood, diseases, prayer meetings, and local politics. It's a fascinating document.