*
Wednesday July 23 Have been sewing before noon to day working on
different articles among the rest have made
Susan a pair of short cuffs of cambric
trimed with a wide insertion and edging
Aaron Hobart & Charles Mitchell came to the other part
of the house & dined When they returned Mrs Witherell
Mitchell, Mrs S Ames & self went to Mr James Mitchells to tea
Met Mr & Mrs Judge Mitchell Mrs & Miss Hyde & Aunt Orr there
Sewing was in the forefront of Evelina’s activities lately while gardening seemed to disappear. Perhaps the heat and the weeding were too much, perhaps her favorite blooms had gone by and she had lost interest. Then, too, she simply may have neglected to record the time she did spend in the flower beds. Whatever the cause, Evelina was back indoors in the mornings, needle in hand.
Her social life, always a little more active in the summer, continued to thrive. She noted that Charles Mitchell, younger brother-in-law of Harriett Mitchell, and Aaron Hobart dined with Old Oliver and Sarah Witherell. This entry is the first mention of the Hobarts, a family that would become intimately involved with the Ameses in the future. Aaron was the eldest son and namesake of Judge Hobart, a former congressman, and his wife Maria, who lived in East Bridgewater. Recently returned from working in New Orleans, Aaron became “actively identified” with the local Carver Cotton Gin Company**. His youngest sister, Catherine, was at school with Helen Angier Ames in Dorchester.
It was to East Bridgewater that the ladies went today for tea. Evelina and her sisters-in-law met with Judge Nahum Mitchell, also a former congressman and a contemporary of Old Oliver, his wife Nabby, and others. The Mitchells were related to the Orr family, and one of their daughters (Mary Orr Mitchell Ames) was married to an Ames cousin in Springfield. Needless to say, many of the long-established families in southeastern Massachusetts had intermarried over time and thus were related in long-distance ways.
evelinaames 
You said to me this morning, speaking of these intricate inter-family relationships, “It’s all there you just have to find it”. While that may be true, I remain in awe of your ability to “find it”.
Same here, John. Takes passionate and compelled work, much like Evelina’s “sewing” to keep at this. Sarah, you might be interested to know, if you don’t already, that upon Denys’ and my return from Maine last night, I received notice that my Uncle John Thayer Burr passed away the eve of Friday, July 25th. He was married (“forever”) to Joan Ames, Winthrop’s second daughter. He was born the same year as my mother, Catherine, 1919. This September he would have been 95. They lived in Mattapoisett, MA for many years running the (I believe) Burr Bros. Boat Harbor. After being wiped out by 3 hurricanes, they moved to St. Thomas to farm (ranch) Brahma cattle, then to Florida to retire. The service is being held in Gulf Breeze.
Thank you, Caroline, for telling me about your uncle and reminding me that there is, barely but still, an older generation that connects us to our relatives from the past, people who knew the people who knew the people we’re reading about. Fewer than six degrees of separation, I think! We’re losing them now, naturally, and for that I’m so sorry. Best to you and Denys. Sarah