Month: February 1754

1754 February 1 (Friday).  Mr. Timothy Warrin here, on Sam Bumpso’s Account.  He brings Sam’s Gun here; which I take and give up Sams Note to Mr. Warrin.  Wrote to Mr. Cushing to Change next Lords Day and sent it to t’other House — but it did not go.

1754 February 2 (Saturday).  Mr. Clafflin here, and though I ow’d him but Twenty odd Shillings yet at his Request I gave him a Note of above four pounds (old Tenor).

1754 February 3 (Sunday).  Fowl Day.  Read Judg. 8, and for sermon had prepar’d on Psalm 51.11 in chief part for one Sermon, but considering our present threatned Circumstances with relation to the Fever, which now spreads much in Southborough and very mortally, I took and altered some old sermons on Ps. 119.120, and deliver’d the substance of them a. and p.m.  Read p.m. Heb. 10 to number 18.  At Eve I was not well.

1754 February 4 (Monday).  Had a poor night; and was ill all Day.  Have symptoms of Distemper.

1754 February 5 (Tuesday).  Feel but poorly, yet hope I am better.  Ebenezer kill’d 5 Swine.  One of 13 Score, a sow of nigh 11 Score, and three pigs of 5 or 6 score.  Three of those swine he sent to Mr. James Allen of Boston, Tayler, per Lieutenant Maynard.  At Eve came here Foster from Holliston and lodg’d here.  Mr. Clafflin went off last Night.

1754 February 6 (Wednesday).  Mr. Foster puts his Horse into my Chair and rode with Lucy to t’other House.  They return at Eve, and Mr. Foster leaves us.  I sent Billey over to Mr. Jonathan Green with Sufficient silver to pay his Demands of Samuel Bumpso, viz. £6.11.0, old Tenor.  I recover slowly.  P.M. Mr. Ebenezer Maynard Treasurer here; and gave him Receipts agreeable to his Mind, respecting instead of what was given to Collector Grow.

1754 February 7 (Thursday).  I went down below to Day and din’d with the Family.  Blessed be God!  Lieutenant Tainter here.  Settled my accounts with him.  Had I been well I should have endeavour’d to preach to Day at Mr. Grows.  But in divine Providence am prevented but desire to have my Heart with my Brethren that Seek the Lord there.  May God graciously assist them and accept their Offering!

1754 February 8 (Friday).  Through divine Goodness grow better but am interrupted with divers Visitants.  Colonel William Ward din’d here.  P.M. Mr. Ammiel Weeks of Brookfield.  Mr. Cornelius Biglow much engag’d in gathering and bringing Money and Notes.  Snow.  Mr. Hezekiah Maynard from Marlborough from Mr. Smiths[1] to desire my Help at a Fast there next Wednesday.

[1]The Reverend Aaron Smith of Marlborough.

1754 February 9 (Saturday).  Mr. Biglow here again.  I let him have Sam Bumpso’s Gun for 7£ old Tenor, he promising that if either I, or Sam or Mr. Timothy Warrin repay him this Money, we may have it again.

1754 February 10 (Sunday).  Winds very high in the Night.  I ventur’d to the Meeting though Cold.  A.M. read Judg.  P.M. read Heb. 10.19 to the End.  Preach’d on Ps. 51.11.  Mrs. Beeman din’d here.  Mr. Joslin and Mr. Ithamar Bellows Wife and Several Children in that Corner of the Town, Sick; and tis fear’d of the Distemper.  My son Ebenezer not at Meeting, he having cutt himself lately.

1754 February 11 (Monday).  Ebenezer here at Eve.  He seems Somewhat Sick of the Bargain with Mr. Smith of Brookfield and yet does not appear Willing to Throw it up.  He hopes I will Send for no more Indian Corn from the Other House.

1754 February 12 (Tuesday).  Another Very Cold Tuesday.  Sent by Mr. Ephraim Sherman to Boston — for Mr. Fleets Paper as well as Mr. Kneelands.[1]

[1]Thomas Fleet published The Boston Evening-Post; Kneeland, The Boston Gazette.

1754 February 13 (Wednesday).  Went to the Fast at Marlborough though it was very Cold.  Overtook Lieutenant Tainter who was going likewise, and he return’d with me at Eve.  Mr. Stone preach’d a.m. on 1 K. 8.37 to 40.  Mr. Gardner[1] pray’d p.m. and I preach’d from Ps. 119.59.  May God hear in Heaven forgive and Bless his people for His Name’s Sake!  As we return’d at Eve in the Cold, we visited Mr. Jacob Amsden,[2] who Seems to have met with a great deal of Trouble and Affliction which may God Sanctifie to him for his Spiritual and Eternal Good!

[1]The Reverend John Gardner of Stow.

[2]Of Westborough.

1754 February 14 (Thursday).  Lucy rode with Ebenezers Wife to See Mrs. Martyn[1] and Mrs. Molly her Daughter who, we hear, are not well yet.  Lucy brings me at Evening a most bitter Letter from my Brother Martyn, full of Misrepresentations and hard Reflections.  God grant him to See his Errors and retract them!  But Darts foreseen may be better warded off.  I confess I have been full of fears Time would come when our Peace would be broke up.  I was early premonish’d what I might Expect from him; and have all along been watchfull and upon my Guard — and have been very far from Willingly giving the least Ground of Offence.  Have always defended him when I have heard any Word to his Disparagement, and been ready always to give him a good Character; or oblige him in any Thing in the World that lay in my Power, or any of his:  and would Still Serve him with my whole Heart.  I therefore look upon this as a sore Frown of Heaven:  and do beg of God to Sanctifie it to me; and Since it bodes exceeding ill with regard to the Interest of Religion among us, I would heartily mourn and grieve for it.  May God avert the Omen!  These Things came upon me a little the more heavily because I had in the Day preceeding receiv’d an undesirable Letter from Mr. Abraham Smith of Brookfield, in which he tells me he shall come down with his Family the beginning of next Week if he does not hear from me and it contains also some Threatenings.  I went over presently to Ebenezer p.m. but he was gone to help Mr. Daniel Maynard drive to Marlborough the Cattle he had bought of my Son (the Oxen I gave him) for 75£ old Tenor — but Ebenezer Came over in the Evening.  I visited old Mrs. Rogers who is sick.

[1]Wife of the Reverend John Martyn of Northborough.

1754 February 15 (Friday).  Thomas and Lucy ride Ebenezer’s Mare to Brookfield and they carry a Letter from me to Mr. Abraham Smith to prevent his coming and if he pleases throw up the Bargain:  Ebenezer being much against going there, though he was So much for it before:  Says he would give Smith 50£ rather than not throw up.  P.M. I borrow’d Lieutenant Forbush’s Horse and visited Mr. Chamberlins, Ithamar Bellow’s, and Mr. Joslins Family, because of their Sickness — and old Mr. [sic in Walett] Garfield who is very bad tis fear’d of a Malignant Fever.  N.B. Mr. Chamberlin with me from House to House.

1754 February 16 (Saturday).  Having Sent a Letter by my Son Thomas yesterday to Mr. Cushing to desire him to Change, he came here and I rode there.  N.B. was Shav’d by Dr. Smith[1] at his House.  A Somewhat Cold Time but I got up safely, and rested Comfortably, D.G.

[1]Joshua Smith of Shrewsbury,

1754 February 17 (Sunday).  I thought it very Seasonable to preach on Mat. 24.44, a. and p.m. considering the Sickness had entered into the Town of Shrewsbury and Mr. Benjamin Goddard had dy’d there and others had been taken ill of it.  But it happened likewise to be the Next Lords Day after the Funeral of the Honourable Edward Goddard[1] Esquire (and but a little while since the Death of his aged Wife) at Framingham:  but his son Edward and Family now desir’d Public Prayers.  O that I myself might be ready for my own Decease!  At Eve I return’d home.

[1]Goddard, a prominent citizen, held numerous town offices, was a justice of the peace, and a member of the Council of the province.  Temple, Framingham, p. 566.

1754 February 18 (Monday).  Wrote some proposals and offers to my son Ebenezer which I sent by Lieutenant Tainter, having understood that both son and his wife were under Discouragement.  Lieutenant Tainter has taken fruitless pains with Mr. Grout for an Horse for my Wife to ride to Boston upon.  And although I depended upon my son Ebenezer to go down with his Mother instead of Thomas who is gone to Brookfield; and that he might wait upon his Father Harrington respecting our Trading with Mr. Smith.  Yet he also throws it by.  Lieutenant Tainter therefore strikes in and proposes to go with my Wife in my Chair, with my own Mare.  This therefore

1754 February 19 (Tuesday).  They undertake, a.m.  But p.m. was the most violent Storm of Wind and Rain, So that I was exceedingly concern’d about ‘em.  But they (as I heard afterwards) got safely to Colonel Buckminsters and lodg’d there.

1754 February 20 (Wednesday).  Lieutenant Forbush brought me his Horse on which I rode to old Mr. Nathaniel Hudsons[1] Funeral.  He was in his 85th Year according to his Children’s Reckoning.  I went from the House of Mourning to visit old Mrs. Garfield who lies very bad of the Pleuretick Fever which has been of late very Mortal in Neighbouring Towns.  Mr. Grove and Mr. Joseph Woods din’d with me, and Mr. John Brighams wife here all the afternoon.

[1]Of Marlborough.

1754 February 21 (Thursday).  My Son Thomas return’d from Brookfield last night to t’other House without Lucy, but with Mr. Abraham Smith.  P.M. I went over to Mr. Smith and spent the afternoon there.  I return’d home at Evening not a little troubled that after all my Endeavours to gratifie my son, both he and his wife are not willing to Venture to go to Brookfield, but however my son does gratefully acknowledge what I wrote to him by Lieutenant Tainter.  My Thoughts are deeply engaged on these Matters.  We talk’d of Recanting the Bargain with Mr. Smith, who seems willing if we might both of us be just as we were before we began — and I thought to take him but left it untill the next Morning.  Finish’d a Letter to Mr. Martyn in Answer to his of the 12th.

1754 February 22 (Friday).  A very fine Day.  My Wife return’d from Boston while I was gone to the Funeral of old Mrs. Garfield, widow of the late Mr. Benjamin Garfield.  N.B. Mr. Smith din’d with me.  Tells me the meaning of his Talk yesterday (of our recanting upon Such Terms as to have both of us in the same State as we were when we began), was that I pay him what Damages he sustains if he does not go forward — which I refus’d to comply with but would willingly recant for both his and my sons sake, if he saw Cause.  This he rejected, and went to Sudbury to see his Parents.  My son Thomas rode to Marlborough with him.

1754 February 23 (Saturday).  Mr. Smith was to have return’d that he might go home to Brookfield but did not.

1754 February 24 (Sunday).  Read Judg. 12.  Text Ps. 51.11.  P.M. read Heb. 11 from number 17, and Repeated Exposition (with Alterations) on Mat. 9.12, accommodating it to the Present Time of Sickness — for though we are very much spar’d in this place through Gods great Mercy, with regard to our Bodys, yet are we under sore spiritual sickness.  May God grant us to be sensible of it and perswade us to repair to the Lord Jesus Christ for Healing!

1754 February 25 (Monday).  Roger Bruce work’d here p.m. in Clearing.  Mr. Abraham Smith came p.m. and his Father with him.  They Spent the Eve here, and then return’d to lodge at t’other House.  Dr. David Barns,[1] Schoolmaster came and lodg’d here.

[1](Harvard 1752).  Barnes was ordained later this year at Norwell (Second Church in Scituate).  Hudson, Marlborough, p. 317.  In Nov. 1753, Westborough was presented at the Court of General Sessions in Worcester for not having maintained a school for over a year.  Feb. 5, I754, the Westborough selectmen testified before the court that a school master had been hired.  The town was dismissed after “paying costs.”

1754 February 26 (Tuesday).  Went over to my sons, the Smiths being there; and find ‘em much against having their Line to run to the North so far as the Settle.  They want a Notch behind the Barn to take in the low Ground Behind the Barn.  We all din’d at my sons.  P.M. we find we cannot agree about the Line there having been nothing Said in the written Bargain about this nor by Word of Mouth only that it Should go as far East as the West End of the Barn and I conceiv’d nothing but that he would Choose to go North; except that likewise I insisted that my Land should not be cut into bad forms and notches.  We therefore broke wholly off — writ it and sign’d it.  So old Mr. Smith took his Leave and went home, parting in peace.  But his son stayed and when I was going away he ask’d me to walk down to the Barn which I comply’d with.  And no sooner were we come to the East End of the Barn than Mr. Smith started a new Proposal for the Line of his 7 Acres — and to include the Barn for his Over plus — this I hearkened to; but not being well, and much worry’d would Say nothing to, to Night.  Mr. Smith tarry’d and lodg’d there.  In my way home visited Mr. Dodge and his wife and Neighbour Hezekiah Pratt and his new Wife.  N.B. Roger Bruce Clear’d to Day, and lodges here.

1754 February 27 (Wednesday).  A Stormy Night and Morning.  Roger went off.  My son and Mr. Smith came here.  My son appear’d Willing to go to Brookfield and offers to go if I can trade with Mr. Smith still.  Provided I will give him a Deed of Such as comes to the proportion of a Thousand Pounds in our Bargain, and will let him have the use of my remaining part for Two Years free of Interest.  Hereupon Mr. Smith and I reviv’d our Bargain and settled it, and wrote and sign’d it and he is to come down next Week with his goods.  John Dunlop here and wants to let himself to me.

1754 February 28 (Thursday).  Ebenezer goes to Brookfield with Mr. Abraham Smith.  Mrs. Parkman to t’other House, She not having been there ever since Peach Time till now.  Such is her Encumbrance by the Children and Business of the Family.  Mr. Bartlett[1] of Sutton here and tells me that Mr. Edmund Greenleaf of Newbury dy’d about a fortnight agoe.  May God please to teach me to number my Days so as that I may apply my Heart to Wisdom!

[1]Richard Bartlett.