1740 October 1 (Wednesday). Sam Bumpso Thrashing Wheat Still. Finish’d it somewhat before night, and winnow’d it over a first Time. Mr. Baxter and Madam in their return from Brimfield call’d here a while. P.M. I visited Thomas Bruces Wife, Ensign Forbushs Child, and Neighbor Cooks[1] Children who were sick, and had my Mare shod. Mrs. Fisher and Mrs. Whittemore visited Sister Hicks.
[1]Cornelius Cook, the blacksmith.
1740 October 2 (Thursday). Thomas and Joshua Winchester gathering apples and Corn in the upper Field. Carry’d in Stalks, etc. I rode to the Fast at Hopkinton which was on account of the Throat Distemper. I pray’d and preach’d a.m. on 1 Pet. 5.6 and at noon I rode to Marlborough to the Funeral of my worthy Friend Colonel Benjamin Woods. There were Mr. Swift,[1] Loring, Cushing, Stone, Rice (of Sturbridge).[2] Mr. Swift pray’d. Colonel William Ward,[3] Major Keyes,[4] Captain Amsden,[5] Samuel Brigham Esquire,[6] Captain Williams[7] and Captain Barnard[8] were the Bearers. I lodg’d at Madam Woods’s with Mr. Swift. N.B. Baines and Marritt came to work about noon at the well.
[1]Rev. Jonathan Swift of Framingham.
[2]Rev. Caleb Rice of Sturbridge.
[3]Of Southborough.
[4]John Keyes of Marlborough. Hudson, Marlborough, 409.
[5]Isaac Amsden of Marlborough.
[6]Prominent resident of the south part of Marlborough.
[7]Abraham Williams of Marlborough.
[8]Capt. Robert Barnard of Marlborough.
1740 October 3 (Friday). I return’d home. Baines and Marritt at the well. Exceeding Cold at Night.
1740 October 4 (Saturday). Baines and Marritt at the Well. They have got down about 21 feet. Very cold. Mr. John Ballantine[1] came from Hopkinton this Evening to preach for me. At the Funeral of Ensign Forbush’s Child which dy’d of the Throat Distemper.
[1](HC 1735). Later minister at Westfield, Mass. SHG, 9:468-472.
1740 October 5 (Sunday). Greatly afflicted with the Cattle breaking into the Corn. Rainy Day. Mr. John Ballantine preach’d a.m. on 1 Tim. 5.22. P.M. on Eccl. 1.2. The Chief, Rice not well. Was at my House at Eve as he went from his Brother Wards to his Brother Seths. In the middle of the Night was call’d out of my Bed because the Cattle had broke into the Corn.
1740 October 6 (Monday). I rode with Mr. Ballantine a mile or Two towards Hopkinton. Was at Ensign Newtons,[1] Charles Rice’s, and other Neighbors. Din’d with the Captain who was grown better. P.M. Lieutenant Baker[2] Sent his son and Team and Neighbor Pratt[3] his Moses to gather my Half of the Lower Field of Corn, Beans, etc. Several Neighbors at Eve.
[1]Thomas Newton.
[2]Edward Baker.
[3]John Pratt.
1740 October 8 (Wednesday). Baines and Marritt at the Well. The Captives went off, desiring Prayers in our Congregation for them. N.B. Captain Tarbell of Groton return’d home. I rode 2 or 3 Miles with him to Shew him the Road. N.B. His levelling Rice and his Brother, etc. I visited Mr. Jacob Rice[1] and his Family, and Mrs. Thankful Rice.[2]
[1]Jacob Rice of Westborough.
[2]Mrs. Josiah Rice of Westborough.
1740 October 9 (Thursday). In great perplexity in the fore part of the Day by Reason of the Cattle and Hoggs breaking in upon my few Apples, tossing about the piles of Stalks, etc. Old Mr. Maynard at my urgent request Sent his son Ebenezer who with his Cousens Team carted the Stalks into the Barn and the Apples over to Mr. Hows Mill. Mr. Cushing preach’d my Lecture on Luke 16.11, 2 last words. Baines and Warrin work’d at the well, Marritts arm being sprain’d. Husk’d at Eve, but my wife not well.
1740 October 10 (Friday). Last Night my Wife had a terrible Convulsion Fitt, But through Gods great mercy it did not continue long. She by Degrees came to her Senses again. Brother Hicks was call’d and sent for Dr. Gott. His young man came, he being himself at Boston, celebrating his own Nuptials.[1] The young man attempted to Bleed my Wife but miss’d the Veins Some Number of Times; but when daily Light came on he succeeded and she bled freely. She was in her pregnancy 4 or 5 Months gone. The bleeding She judg’d was very beneficial to her. Mr. Baines went home.
[1]Benjamin Gott married his second wife, Lydia Ward of Boston, Oct. 5, 1740.
1740 October 12 (Sunday). Sacrament. I preach’d on Ps. 126.3.4 a. and p.m. Deacon Fay, Mrs. Knowlton and Mrs. Whipple din’d with us. After meeting Mr. Ezekiel Upham of Sturbridge here.
1740 October 13 (Monday). Dr. Gott and his young man here. Catechiz’d at the meeting House a. and p.m.
1740 October 14 (Tuesday). Notwithstanding that it was Somewhat rainy My Wife and I rode down to Marlborough to attend upon the preaching of the Reverend Mr. George Whitefield. My Neighbor Barns carried my Sister Willard, Daniel How carried my Daughter Molly, and old Mr. Green[1] carried Thomme. Mr. Whitefield preach’d at Sudbury in the forenoon, and came about 1/2 after 3 this afternoon. He preach’d to a great Assembly from Luke 18.14. N.B. Governor Belcher present. In Dr. Gotts Name I asked Mr. Whitefield and his Fellow Travellers to his House and they accordingly went, but could not be perswaded to make any Stay nor to lodge Short of Worcester, even although the weather was rainy. I Supp’d at Mr. Smiths in Company with Mr. Dorr, Mr. Stone, and Mr. Hemingway[2] of Townshend, but I lodg’d at the Doctors. My Sister rode home with Captain Warrin, and Thomme with Mr. Green, but My Wife and Molly Stay’d because of the Rain. N.B. Mr. Dorrs Account of their Troubles in Mendon Strengthened by the Testimony of Mr. Bruce[3] of the Same Town.
[1]John Green of Westborough.
[2]Rev. Phinehas Hemenway (HC 1730), first minister at Townsend, Mass., 1734-1760. SHG, 8:724-726.
[3]Benjamin Bruce. See John G. Metcalf, Annals of the Town of Mendon (Providence, 1880), 237-238.
1740 October 15 (Wednesday). My wife Stays at Marlborough. Molly rode home with me. When I came home I had the Sorrowful Sight of the Mischief done by my Cattle breaking in upon my Corn which lay husk’d in the Barn, for I could have no Convenience to carry it up. The Disaster respecting the Corn was so much the more trouble some as my Corn was exceeding Short having but half the Field and what there was was exceeding poor and mean and soft. P.M. James Bradish so kind as to give me the cutting of Three Load of Wood, and the Carrying up the good Corn which I had in the Barn, which the Cattle did not get over to (but to the Soft Corn only). N.B. The good Corn carry’d up from the Barn was 14 or 15 Basketts — and this was the biggest part of my Corn this Year.
1740 October 16 (Thursday). Neighbor Daniel Warrin kill’d a small shoate for me which weigh’d 44 pound. Lieutenant Tainter Carted 3 Load of wood for me. P.M. at the Burial of the Child of Mr. Noah Rice. N.B. This is the Third Funeral at which I have been when Bearers have had Gloves and their minister none. Nigh Evening I rode up to Daniel Warrin, junior at Shrewsbury and to neighbor Eliezer Rice’s. N.B. Dr. Gott brought home his Wife, but I could not wait upon him.
1740 October 19 (Sunday). On 1 Cor. 3.9 a. and p.m. Repeating partly from Sermon on Acts 26.16.17.18; the last Sermons on that Text from page 36 to 40, and from page 60 ad finem.
1740 October 20 (Monday). Mr. Pomeroy set out on his Journey. Town Meeting for my Support — granted an hundred and Twenty pounds (without mention of the wood, but a very cold season; Ground mostly covered with Snow in the Morning) in Case I supply the pulpit this Year.
1740 October 21 (Tuesday). Mr. Baynes came; went to work after noon. He had been absent so long that he spent all the Afternoon in emptying the water out of the well. Mr. Cushing here. Three Barrels and a part of a 4th of Cyder made by Mr. How, of my apples. N.B. Silas Warrin[1] brought the whole home. I rode to Neighbor Thomas Goodenows and to Mr. Elieser Beemans first of Evening. N.B. Samuel Allen with me.
[1]The son of Capt. Daniel Warrin.
1740 October 22 (Wednesday). Eleaser Williams help’d Mr. Baynes at the well. Mr. Baynes early in the morn kill’d a Shoate for me which weighed 60 and which I got Mr. Jesse Brigham to carry to my Mother at Boston. Marritt thrash’d Rie.
1740 October 23 (Thursday). Mr. Daniel Warrin work’d with Mr. Baynes at the Well. Eliza Newton Sick.
1740 October 24 (Friday). Storm of Rain, a.m. Cold. Very difficultly perswaded Mr. Baynes to go on with the Work when it clear’d up, but Mr. Warrin came and was forward and then he consented. Greatly Troubled about my Trading with Mr. Warrin, he apprehending that I had sold him a young Sow which I did not judge I had properly and really bargained away to him.
1740 October 25 (Saturday). No Sign of a Good Spring yet. They dugg till more than the Middle of the Afternoon and then broke off for this year.
[1740 October 27 (Monday)?] P.M. I rode accompany’d by Mr. Whipple to see Mr. Seth Hudson[1] who was sick. Call’d at Mr. Allens[2] and at Mr. Pilatiah Rice’s.[3] Heard that Mr. Whitefield was taken up and carry’d off.
[1]Of Marlborough. Hudson, Marlborough, 399.
[2]Ephraim Allen, who lived in that part of Westborough that later became Northborough.
[3]Palatiah (Pallatiah) Rice lived in Westborough.
1740 October 28 (Tuesday). Ministers Meeting at my House. Rain p.m. Mr. Loring, Mr. Cushing, and Mr. Stone. Mr. Dorr also of Mendon came. I deliver’d a Concio on 1 Cor. 2.9.
1740 October 30 (Thursday). Mr. Tainter, Mr. Harrington,[1] Mr. Aaron Forbush and Warrin came to take down my wild steer. They perswaded me rather to fell [sell?] him and buy my Beef notwithstanding the keeping I had bestow’d and I consented and Sold him to Mr. Harrington for £13. Mr. Hezekiah Ward of Sturbridge here. We Shut up a Third Swine for Pork. Exceeding Cold for the Time of Year.
[1]Samuel Harrington.
1740 October 31 (Friday). Mr. Hezekiah How and Eliezer Rice got down poles to cover my well with. I bought a pair of Steer one coming 4 which I had for 11£ 5 Shillings, and another coming 5 which was valued at 12£ 10, for which I was to give him a Young Cow with Calf, valued at 8£ 10, and a Red Steer coming 4 valued at 7£ 15, and he to give me in money 3£ 15. A.M. I rode to Marlborough to wait upon Mr. Aaron Smith in bringing home his New wife. Lodg’d at Dr. Gotts upon whose new wife I now wished [blank] also.
