Traveling dresses*
1852
July 16th Have been to Boston & Mt Auburn with
Mrs Witherell, S Ames & A L Ames had a
very pleasant time Returned from Mt
Auburn about one or two called on Mrs
Stevens and the rest of the day shopping
bought me a travelling dress &c &c
Did not see any of Mr Orrs family except
Mr Norris Mrs N is at Newburyport
The Ames women went to town today. Apparently they headed first to Mt. Auburn, probably to take a turn around the cemetery, then on to Boston. It sounds as if the four women rode in a carriage or wagon all the way from Easton. One of the women may have driven the vehicle, but it’s more likely that a man, such as Old Oliver’s coachman Michael Burns, drove. Whoever held the reins guided the horse along what is today’s Route 138. The carriage would have traveled a short distance east to get out of Easton, then headed straight north through Canton and Milton into the outskirts of the big city. Normally the vehicle would have taken Washington Street as it veered northeast into Boston, but today they went instead via Jamaica Plain to cross the Charles River.
After their tour of Mt. Auburn Cemetery, a popular destination for many pedestrians and riders, the Ames women crossed back across the Charles River into Boston, where they spent “the rest of the day shopping.” Evelina purchased material and a pattern, perhaps, for a “travelling dress,” such as the one in the illustration. She will spend the next few weeks making this new outfit at home.
Back in Easton, meanwhile, Old Oliver reflected on the week going by and noted that “the 14 – 15 + 16th were all warm good hay days + verry drying.”** He was satisfied with the weather.
* Godey’s Lady’s Journal, November, 1852
**Oliver Ames, Journal, Stonehill College Archives, Arnold Tofias Collection
evelinaames 
Another possibility would be that they took the other turnpike, the South Boston-Taunton one that ran along the current Turnpike Streets in Easton and Stoughton: http://www.stoughtonhistory.com/turnpikes.htm I also wouldn’t be surprised if a train was involved in at least one of the trips. The whole concept of how people got to and back from Boston in this era fascinates me (at least, intermittently ;-).
Hi Dwight. You may be correct that another way was taken. The reason I believe that they did not take “the cars” from Stoughton is that they took the time to meander through Mt. Auburn. It sounded like a leisurely outing to me, so I conjectured accordingly. Thanks!