I also don't see any sign that their letters were published, so I wonder if this diarist (who was also from Middletown and roughly their age) was reading a scribal "journal"? Whatever is blacked out seems to be prompted by his encounter with their story--like he has some shit on them or on himself.
You would know much better than I, Bryan. Middletown is such an interesting place--shipbuilding a big industry there in the 18th century. Spent two years there on postdoc and working. Middlesex County Historical Society has a great research collection: mchsctorg.wordpress.com/research-edu...
Research & Education : Collections The Historical Society's collections include: Archives: The Middlesex County Historical Society archives feature a broad spectrum of 18th- to 20th-century public re...