Month: December 1746

1746 December 1 (Monday).  I Catechiz’d both a. and p.m. at the Meeting House.  P.M. Mr. Daniel Forbush came with some Hearthstones and new laid my Kitchen Hearth.  Mrs. Sarah Henry here. Mr. Jenison keeps at Mr. Barns’s and Eli lodges with him at Captain Forbush’s.

1746 December 2 (Tuesday).  Mr. David Maynard and his Brother Ebenezer came and kill’d Two Hoggs for me.  One weigh’d 232. The other 202. Mr. Harrington also brought a Hogg which I bought of him lately — which weigh’d 335.  In all 769 pounds of Pork cutt and Salted up this Evening. N.B. Mr. Whitney here with Mr. Harrington. N.B. Mr. Cushing absent last Sabbath from his people by reason of the sickness of his son Jacob at College.

1746 December 3 (Wednesday).  Very Cold.  I rode by Mr. Thomas Goodenows (where I call’d) to Mr. Jesse Rice’s of Marlborough.  Return’d to his mother^[1] Mr. Fenner on Conscience.^[2]  Din’d at Mr. Smiths — he not at home.  At Dr. Gotts reckon’d with him and paid all.  N.B. Captain Brintnall^[3] and Lieutenant Cleveland^[4] at the Doctors.  As I return’d home visited Mr. Jacob Amsden who has been very ill, and still confin’d.  When I came home found Mr. Maccarty here from Worcester.  N.B. A post went to the Governour to Day with Letters from Albany of Several of the Mohawks going to Quebec with Pretences of Friendship to the French but return’d with Scalps to Albany etc.

^[1]The widow of Joseph Rice of Marlborough.

^[2]William Fenner, The Soul’s Looking-Glasse . . . With a Treatise of Conscience (Cam- bridge, 1640).  Another edition appeared in 1643.

^[3]William Brintnall of Sudbury.

^[4]Josiah Cleveland of Watertown.

1746 December 4 (Thursday).  Mr. Maccarty tarried and din’d with me and then return’d to Worcester. At Evening Elijah Warrin here, and (it raining and freezing) he lodg’d here.

1746 December 5 (Friday).  Mr. Upham^[1] (of Sturbridge) and his Daughter here in their Journey downwards.

^[1]Ezekiel Upham.

1746 December 6 (Saturday).  [No entry.]

1746 December 7 (Sunday).  On Tit. 2.12 — to live Righteously.  P.M. repeated on Rom. 8.6. Mr. Jenison and Mrs. Grow din’d here.  At Night after Family Devotions read Mr. Edwards on Religious Affections

1746 December 9 (Tuesday).  Mr. Pratt and Neighbour Ebenezer Maynard kill’d an old large sow which weigh’d 267.  Read Mr. Edwards on Religious Affections, and find him much Study’d in his subject.

1746 December 10 (Wednesday).  Lieutenant Tainter had encourag’d me that he would take the Care of marketting the Pork (kill’d yesterday) if I send it to Boston by my son Thomme; we accordingly got ready.  Ebenezer got the Mare shod at Mr. Cooks and went over to Lieutenants — acquainted him we had kill’d, and to know his Purpose; but it prov’d dull misty and Rainy Day, and it being a very heavy and difficult Load and Lieutenant not to go till late, together with diverse other Things which perplexed us, therefore we deferr’d it till another Day.  N.B. Mr. Ebenezer Baker of Marlborough here and din’d with us. At Eve my Son was at old Mr. Maynards and Ebenezer Maynard offer’d to go to Boston with our Pork, though his Design was to trade with Nathan if he had been at home.

1746 December 11 (Thursday).  Rainy yet. Neighbour Ebenezer came; we tackl’d and loaded, and he went off — but before noon he return’d — the Rain and bad road discourag’d him.  He din’d with us but would take nothing for his Pains about the Pork. At Eve we Salted it up. N.B. Our Two first Hoggs weighed 232 and 202. Mr. Harringtons 335.  This Sow weigh’d 261. In all that we Salted up 1030.

1746 December 12 (Friday).  Exceeding Cold Morning. At Eve Thomas Winchester here. Lately return’d from his Station at Fort Pelham.

1746 December 13 (Saturday).  Very Cold Day.

1746 December 14 (Sunday).  Preach’d all Day upon Micah 6.8, those words — but to do justly — carrying on from thence the Same Subject which I have been lately on from Titus 2.12.  Mr. Stratton^[1] of Waltham din’d here.

^[1]David Stratton.

1746 December 15 (Monday).  Precinct Meeting — partly to receive a Memorial from me which I sent — but they did not see Cause to do anything at all upon it.

1746 December 16 (Tuesday).  Very Cold from Day to Day. Dr. Gott here. My sons thrashing.  P.M. though Cold yet my wife and I rode over to see old Mrs. Whipple and tarried till Eve among the Whipples.

1746 December 17 (Wednesday).  Ten Young Men Cutt wood. James Bradish (by his Proxy Mr. Daniel Hardy), Jonas Bradish, Noah and Daniel How, Benjamin Whipple, Meradach Devereux, Elijah Warrin (by his proxy his Brother Aaron), Nathan Maynard, Jonathan Bruce, and Silas Newton.  P.M. I went over to Mr. Whipples to meet with the precinct Committee who were there except Mr. Abner Newton. There was also present Neighbour Benjamin How. I discours’d with them of my late Memorial which was Sent to the precinct last Monday. I ask’d Deacon Newton, and Mr. Whipple whether the Representation which I therein made of what they said to me when they came to my House the Evening after that Precinct Meeting (there referr’d to) was a just and true Representation?  And they reply’d in Terms of Consent, that it was. I ask’d Captain Warrin and Mr. Williams also, who Said that they remember’d that being at the Said precinct Meeting they did perceive that That was the precinct Meeting, viz. that my Sallery Should be that Money which pass’d before the Soldier Money (in 1744) was made, which was according to Gold at 4.18 shillings per ounce — but I could not prevail with any of them to Sign any Line of Memorandum of it. When I got home young men all gone home.

1746 December 18 (Thursday).  The last Night and this Day were More than ordinary Cold.  Should have expected Mr. Maccarty from Worcester to preach my Lecture to Young Men, had it not been so extreme Cold.  I preach’d myself on Rom. 8.6 former part to a few that Ventur’d out. Mr. Jenison spent the Evening with me and Supp’d here.  N.B. I ask’d him why he was not at Communion last Opportunity? He said he did not know that it was to be Communion Day, till the Day before.

1746 December 19 (Friday).  Continues very Cold. Ebenezer much taken off by Tooth ach. Thomme cyphers again.

1746 December 20 (Saturday).  [No entry.]

1746 December 21 (Sunday).  All Day upon Micah 6.8 going on Still with the Subject from Tit. 2.12.  Mr. Jenison, Mrs. Mary Steward,^[1] Widow Thurston, and Mr. Zebulon Rice’s Wife^[2] din’d here.  My God grant us these dire principles to Love one another, and to delight in shewing Mercy!

^[1]Daughter of Daniel Steward of Marlborough.

^[2]Zebulon Rice married Abigail, daughter of Daniel Forbush of Westborough.

1746 December 22 (Monday).  A.M. I rode over to the Southside of the Town.  Was at Mr. Beriah Rice’s, Deacon Forbush’s^[1] where was Mr. Child of Roxbury, Glazier.  Visited Mr. Dunlop who is Sick; This and to Speak with the Glazier were my Chief Errands: was also at Mr. Martin Pratts — din’d (as I return’d home) at Lieutenant Tainters.  Very Raw Cold towards Night — but Lieutenant Hezekiah Ward came with a Plott of Land he had laid out for me of 7 1/2 Acres by the Burying place, and would have me go and See it.  I went just before sunsett.  At Mr. Nurses at Eve and as I return’d home I visited Jonathan Maynard who is ill of a Dropsie.

^[1]Jonathan Forbush.

1746 December 23 (Tuesday).  Very Cold. Storm of Snow. P.M. Mr. John Child the Glazier came to work.

1746 December 24 (Wednesday).  Bright Day, but Cold and Windy.  Mr. Child at Work — last night he work’d very late, finish’d my new Study window, and this morning put it up; Mended my Windows through out the House, which was no Small piece of work.

1746 December 25 (Thursday).  Mr. Child finish’d his work So late and it being very Cold he went not away till this Morning, which proves also a very Cold Day. My own common Exercises in my study without going out save to the yard to chop a little etc.

1746 December 26 (Friday).  Captain Maynard who grows cool and almost a Stranger here.  Some Evenings the Boys Cypher.

1746 December 27 (Saturday).  My Sons frequently Sledding wood and little enough to maintain 3 Fires this Cold Season.

1746 December 28 (Sunday).  Go on with my Subject from Tit. 2.12.  Am now upon Living Godly — but the Text improv’d to Day was 2 Tim. 3.12 one Clause.  Mrs. Rice (Beriahs Wife) din’d here. Earnest Beg that to Days Exercises may have some Suitable Influence upon us!

1746 December 30 (Tuesday).  Dr. Breck here and din’d as he did Yesterday also whilst I was gone from home.  Deacon Forbush, Mr. Moses Pratt of Shrewsbury and Mr. Samuel Warrin of Grafton here, and wants a petition to be drawn to be presented to the General Court for their Compassion towards their Captive children and Friends.  At Eve (though it snow’d) I was at Captain Maynards. N.B. His Wife putts me in mind of my not having visited Mr. Abner Newton since the death of his Father, Mother and little Child: which I was a little surpriz’d at, but told Mrs. Maynard ‘twas Neglected with no Particular Design, but I would endeavour soon to make them a Visit.

1746 December 31 (Wednesday).  Captain Maynard as he was going to Boston gave me his hints and Resentments of my neglecting to visit Abner Newton — but he soon went off.  I consider’d with myself that I visited them Some Number of Times in their Affliction, one Day after another — and when I came from Boston preach’d a Funeral Sermon on Purpose.  But have been of late more than ordinarily fill’d with perplexing Cares and important Business — as particularly my Bond with Mr. Jesse Rice of Marlborough; the weighty Affairs of my settlement with this Precinct; the Sickness at Mr. Whipples; the troublesome Affair, and great Disappointment about my Pork; but especially a Daily anxiety about my Cattle my Hay being very Short and my Stock much increas’d.  My Corn also Much Shorter than Ordinary; which was caus’d me to ride much more than I should have done, and yet without success. It was Somewhat Rainy this Morning, but was moderate air, so I delay’d no longer, but made a Visit to Mr. Abner Newtons. He was not at Home; his wife much confin’d by Lameness. She manifested no uneasiness that I had not been to see ‘em, but said that they had hop’d I would, and I cant but remark that though I have occasionally seen Mr. Newton, and did of very late yet he has shown no Disgust nor was I aware that they had any special Expectation of me — though I acknowledge I should have done well to have gone — and am Sorry I neglected it.  I told Mrs. Newton I hop’d they would not be offended — and She manifested her Satisfaction and ask’d me to come again to see her. Call’d at Deacon Newtons. Return’d and din’d at home. It has been more than Ordinary Cold, difficult Weather, So that I could go out but little unless upon pressing Occasions. Was disappoint’d and hinder’d by the Cold when I was out. The Year Ends with this Uneasiness of my Nearest and most bountiful Neighbours — which I am sorry for — but I can’t but fear there is, and has been of late, a great Dissatisfaction on another Score; and I fear Some Disposition to Watch for my halting. There has been no sweetness I believe Since the Ordination of Mr. Martyn, or as my Neighbour calls him Esquire Martyn.  But God forgive what has been amiss in me! quicken me to my Duty and enable me to walk inoffensively — that the Ministry be not blamed!