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William Gravell was born in Indiana on 13 August 1840 to John (1804-1876) and Sarah Gravell (1807-1889). William had a twin sister Elizabeth and a brother Thomas (b. 1848). Between 1850 and 1860 the Gravell family moved to Upper Darby Township, Pennsylvania. After the enactment of the Conscription Act prior to the first draft in July 1863, William Gravell left the United States and sailed to London, England where he lived for four years. In England he met his paternal uncles and aunts: Thomas Gravell (b. 1798), a gilder and framer; William Gravell (1796-1866), a watchmaker; and his two unmarried aunts, Mary and Sarah Gravell. During William Gravell's four- year stay he lived with his cousin Thomas Gravell (son of Uncle Thomas Gravell), cousin Thomas's wife Betsy, and their son Walter in New Cross, London, England. William acquired a job at Causton & Sons, Printers in the warehouse. In the summer of 1866 William's sister, Elizabeth Gravell, arrived in London and lived there for a year. William and Elizabeth Gravell returned to the United States in August 1867. Shortly after the death of his father in 1876, William married Adelaide Vogel. The couple had two children William H. Gravell and Arthur F. Gravell. Sister Elizabeth married George Berry and had two sons. William Gravell died in Philadelphia in 1929. This leather-bound, ruled diary was kept from 14 July 1863 to 31 August 1867 by William Gravell during his four-year stay in London, England to escape the draft of the Civil War. Gravell traveled from Upper Darby Township, near Philadelphia, Pennsylvania to New York where after being swindled; he eventually boarded a cargo ship named Plymouth Rock bound for London. Gravell writes daily about his life on board the ship, including his sea sickness, storms, other passengers, amusements, rations, and his acquaintance with a sailor from Philadelphia. Shortly after celebrating his twenty-third birthday on 13 August, William arrives in London, England. He meets his Uncle Thomas, a gilder and framer, and then meets his Uncle William, a watchmaker. Uncle William provides William with "the document which made me a soldier in the U.S. service for the space of three years." William lives with his cousin Thomas, acquires a job at Causton & Sons Printers in a warehouse where he works from 7:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. William's entries in the diary appear weekly, recording events, excursions, holidays, and family gatherings. William describes the yearly tours of the Crystal Palace at Easter time, Guy Fawkes's Day, Christmas, and Boxing Day. He records the passing of his birthdays. William describes going to lectures, museums, plays, pantomimes, recording the titles and theatres. William writes about attending service on Sundays at St. Paul's Cathedral, dinners with his extended family, and games they play, such as Whist. He writes of the walks he takes with his cousin Thomas or Mr. Jewell to Black Heath, Greenwich, and London Bridge Park. At times William becomes depressed and writes of his dislike of London weather and his search for friends. In the summer of 1866, after the death of his Uncle William, Elizabeth, William's sister arrives unexpectedly. William and his sister spend much time together during the year she is there. In May of 1867 William's parents send tickets for his and Elizabeth's passage from Liverpool to Philadelphia. The pair leave in July, arriving in Philadelphia on 31 August 1867, the last entry in the diary. There are two inscriptions on the first leaf: "Minnie presented Aug. 22nd 1878" and "Watch Jacque Roulet Locle No. 28483." Some lines regarding William's departure for London to avoid the draft have been crossed out in pencil. After the last entry the rest of the diary is blank.

Primary language: English. Gravell, William, 1840-1929 1v 13r 13v 14r 15r 15v 16r 16v 17r 17v 19r 19v 21r 21v 22r 23v 24r 24v 25r 26v 27r 29v 30v 33r 36v 38r 38v 40r 40v 41r 42r 43r 43v 45r 45v 46v 47v 48r 48v 49v 50r 50v 51r 51v 52r 52v 53r 53v 54v 55r 55v 56v 57r 57v 58r 58v 59v 61r 61v 62r 62v 63r 63v 64r 64v 66r 66v 67v 68r 69r 69v 70r 70v 71r 71v 72r 72v 73r 73v 74r 74v 75r 75v 76r 76v 77r 77v 78v 79r 79v 80r 80v 81r 81v 82r 82v 83r 83v 84r 84v 85r 85v 86r 86v 87r 87v 88r 88v 89r 89v 90r 90v 91r 91v 92r 93r 93v 94r 94v 95r 96v 97r 98r 98v 99r 99v 100r 100v 101r 101v 102r 102v 103r 103v 104r 104v 105r 105v 106r 106v 107r 107v 108r 108v 109r 109v 112r 112v 113r 133v 114r 114v 115r 115v 116r 116v 117r 117v 118r 119v 121r Sketch of interior From 1863 to 1867 London (England) American diaries--Specimens--19th century American diaries--Male authors--19th century Diaries Manuscripts, American--19th century London (England)--Description and travel--19th century London (England)--Social life and customs--19th century United States--History--Civil War, 1861-1865--Draft resisters