November 12, 1754

1754 November 12 (Tuesday).  I rode to Concord alone.  N.B. Mr. Stephen Prentice[1] of Grafton on the Road with me as far as Bruce’s Tavern, very Troublesome.  Captain Baker who was the appointed Delegate having Sent me word he could not go.  At Mr. Taylor were the Reverend Messrs. Dunbar,[2] Martyn and Smith, each having a Delegate, viz. Deacon Putnam, and Messrs. Josiah Fosset and [blank] Kidder, who were present at the Hearing of Mr. Taylors Cause.  There came also from Bedford, Deacon Lane and Mr. Abbot, who were of Singular Service in informing and letting us into the Controversie.  We found Mr. Taylor very desirous to have us hear not only the Difficultys which repeatedly withstood it, that being of Civil Nature and had been fully heard, and Settled in a Course of Law, which had run through the Courts.  We conceiv’d it would be best to have something drawn up for Mr. Taylor to offer the Church of Bedford, which if it express’d a sutable [sic] Christian Frame in him, would be most of all likely to induce them to grant him a Dismission to Concord first Church, and put an End to the Contention; at least what subsisted between Mr. Taylor and the Church of Bedford.  This was therefore what we bent our Minds to.  One and another try’d to draught Something — and we discours’d with Mr. Taylor to perswade him to it, but it seem’d in Vain — it Grew late and we retir’d to rest — the Bedford Committee returning home.  Mr. Whitefield preaches at Upton.  I sent him a Letter on three Heads — the last of them requesting he would go to poor Smithfield.

[1]The brother of the Reverend Solomon Prentice, who had been dismissed by the Grafton church. Pierce, Grafton, p. 551.

[2]Samuel Dunbar of Canton.