February 1, 1748

1748 February 1 (Monday).  Went to the Funeral of Mr. Jonathan Fay’s young Child.  Dined at merchant Rice’s.  Sent by Mr. Abner Temple for 3 volumes of Pools Synopsis from Boston.  My wife went to Marlborough on Mr. Nathan Maynard’s Mare, and returned at Eve.  Sarah Henry at work here.  Town Meeting falls through for want of a third selectman.  At Eve I rode over to Neighbour How’s.  Mr. Wellman[1] came and lodg’d here.  He is going down to get Mr. Chase’s[2] sermon at his Ordination printed.  Wants my Right Hand.[3]

[1]The Reverend Mr. James Wellman of Millbury.

[2]The Reverend Mr. Stephen Chase of Lynnfield.

[3][Additional note: Stephen Chase (1705-1778), The angels of the churches. A sermon at the ordination of the Reverend Mr. James Welman, in the Second Parish in Sutton: October the 7th. 1747. Published at the desire and expence of a number of Reverend ministers and other gentlemen present, unto whom it is humbly dedicated.  Boston: Printed by J. Draper, for D. Gookin, over against the South Meeting-House in Marlborough-Street., M,DCC,XLVIII. [1748]; Evans 6110.  Parkman’s “right hand” was not printed, although the charge by Campbell of Oxford was printed, [30-31].]

 

February 2, 1748

1748 February 2 (Tuesday).  Mr. Wellman left us. Mr. Bezaleel Eager brought Mrs. Bekky Gott.  Mrs. Dunlop in spiritual Troubles here and dined with us. Ebenezer preparing Timber for a Slay.  This Day Twelve Years my dear wife was buryed. I remember the wormwood and the gall and my Soul is humbled within me — but the Continual interruptions of Company prevented my Retirements.

February 8, 1748

1748 February 8 (Monday).  Bright and Comfortable. Nineteen persons came to get wood for me, viz. Mr. Grow, Harrington with his team, Daniel Forbush, Ebenezer Miller, Samuel, Daniel and Phinehas Hardy, Zebulon Rice, Tim Warrin, Joseph Grout, junior, Samuel Baker and Benjamin Willson, Benjamin Tainter for James Bradish, Martyn Pratt, Robert Dunlop, Jonathan Forbush, Solomon Woods, John Kelly for Beriah Rice, William Pierce.  N.B. We had Mr. Richard Barr’s oxen to go with mine to make up a second Team and they brought up to the Door about 30 loads. N.B. They cut it in Mr. Barr’s swamp. Mr. Phinehas Hardy went to him to know his mind, besides my message to him to come up to me, by my Billy. By both which we had free leave.

February 12, 1748

1748 February 12 (Friday).  Ebenezer at Mr. How’s.  Mr. Peam Cowel[1] of Boston came.  N.B. Lieutenant Ward of Southborough here, I paid him in full of 24£ old Tenor, for 6 yeards of Blue Broad cloth which my wife bought of him at Boston.  Mr. Ebenezer Maynard brought up a variety of Things for us — Sugar, Molasses, Chocolate and a Box from Brother Samuel Parkman’s containing 3 volumes of Synopsis Criticicorum and a Black Coat which Brother offers to sale for 10£.  Mr. Cowell lodged here.

[1]Parkman’s niece, Elizabeth, married Peam Cowell.

February 15, 1748

1748 February 15 (Monday).  Mr. Ebenezer Rice here in the morning with Mr. Cowell.  Mr. Cowell left us to go to Boston. N.B. The Precinct met to make answer to my Two last Papers sent in to them and to see whether they would build New meeting House within 30 Rods of the Burying place.  Affairs of such weight and Consequence (as I humbly apprehend) read[?] the direction and influence of Heaven which may God’s people obtain! Molly and Lucy to Mr. Martyns.

February 16, 1748

1748 February 16 (Tuesday).  Deacon Whittemore[1] and John Hicks junior here in the morning, they having lodged at Captain Maynard’s last night.  Mr. Stone[2] going to Oxford and Cushing (Jacob)[3] here.  These last dined here.  Sent home Mr. Cushing’s Calmet, Volume 1.[4]  Snowed p.m.  Ebenezer at Howe’s.

[1]Samuel Whittemore of Cambridge.

[2]The Reverend Mr. Nathan Stone of Southborough.

[3](Harvard 1748).  The son of the Reverend Mr. Job Cushing of Shrewsbury who later became the minister of Waltham, 1752-1809.

[4]One of the works of the French theologian, Augustin Calmet (1672-1757).

February 21, 1748

1748 February 21 (Sunday).  Few at Meeting. On John 5.28.29.  P.M. repeated latter part of Sermon on Phil. 4.7.  Lieutenant Tainter and his daughters Sarah and Elizabeth dined here.  Some that were at meeting in the forenoon came not in the afternoon. Mr. Francis Whipple who read the psalm came not: or Captain Maynard where as it was better coming when the way was broke.  But ‘tis a very tedious Time.

February 22, 1748

1748 February 22 (Monday).  A fine Day though the snow is deep.  Lieutenant Tainter came and killed me an Hog.  Weighed 245. P.M. had a great deal of Discourse with Lieutenant about the sorrowful Divisions in our precinct.  I observed it the rather because: Captain Maynard came, but understanding that Lieutenant Tainter was here would not come in.  N.B. Dominique Dyer, a young Frenchman of Chandelieu, here.

February 23, 1748

1748 February 23 (Tuesday).  Snowstorm again, and snowed fast for great part of the Day.  A great Body of Snow on the Earth: the Ways are very much blocked up: little Stirring but Neighbour Ebenezer Maynard here most of the afternoon.  Discourse was chiefly concerning the precinct’s late proceedings particularly with reference to my Affair. He tells me that Yesterday was the Day appointed for the Committee and Surveyor for finding the center of the precinct to attend that Business.

February 24, 1748

1748 February 24 (Wednesday).  It being a pleasant Day though the snow was deep, I attempted to ride over to the South Road.  Called at Neighbour Pratt’s and Mr. Williams proceeded to Captain Baker’s, dined there. We had no small conversation, (But in Harmony) about the Precinct’s Affair.  He showed me the papers of their later proceedings. One paper was the Report of the later Committee (viz. Deacon Newton, Captain Warrin, Mr. Whipple, Mr. Miller, and Mr. Abner Newton) which the precinct would receive but in part, but were ashamed to let me know some articles of.  They exhibited therein that they were uneasy that I did not give them a Discharge for or else. N.B. Squire Baker’s earnest Advice to discharge the Town, though they do not pay me, and by no means to sue, endeavor to recover from the Town in a Lawful way the Debt for my service four months and 15 Days before the Town was divided: again they were uneasy at the vote of the precincts in which they promised me 500£ in Case etc. and that I preach old Sermons.  This last I have not met with any man til now that would discover to me, nor own. When I left the Squire I went to Deacon Newton’s. Talked over the same things. N.B. The Deacon not pleased with any proposals of Discharging the Town, so well as with my suing the Town. He says a just War must be upheld. I remarked to him my unhappy Praemunire: it being impossible to please them either way. And viewing the Case and its grim aspect upon our dearest Interests I very solemnly said, The Lord look down upon us in Mercy etc!  It was evening, and, calling at Mr. Ebenezer Rice’s (where came Dominick Dyer) and at Neighbour Pratt’s (of whom I got a Leather Apron for Billy) I returned home.