Month: August 1755

1755 August 1 (Friday).  Only Breck and I to rake Barley.  Thomas and Billy yet ill.

1755 August 2 (Saturday).  Solomon Baker came in the Morning and with Mr. Nurse’s Team got in my Barley: being but half a Load of it.

1755 August 3 (Sunday).  Read 2 Sam. 13, from number 19, and preach’d on the Same.  P.M. read Ps. 20 and preach’d from number 7.  May this be a most Seasonable Word!  Both Thomas and Billy at Meeting a.m. but Billy had a fit p.m.

1755 August 4 (Monday).  Mr. Richard Kelly and Mr. John Freeland came to reap for me: but it rain’d so hard they were prevented.  They din’d with us.  P.M. 3 hours they went to it and reap’d till night.  I gave ‘em 14/ old Tenor.  Mr. Zebulun Rice work’d p.m. in taking out a Summer at my Stable which was broke, and put in One or Two others instead of it to bear up the Scaffold.  N.B. Deacon Bond and Alpheus Newton help’d in Pitching off the Barley and Hay — and Mr. Ebenezer Chamberlin in Pitching it on again, to its place.

1755 August 5 (Tuesday).  Mr. Moses Twitchell Mows for me at the Ministerial Meadow, and Mr. Daniel Warrin a.m.  I visit old Captain Forbush: and Mrs. Bruce who is still sick.  Was at Mr. Jonas Twitchells.  He had given me Encouragement that he would work for me and he had told me he Should very gladly pay his Rates this Way — but when it came to, disappointed me.  He allow’d he had said to me that he thought I might depend upon him.  This was the Reason of my saying any thing to him.  The Collector also having told me that this man would help me, I ask’d him now to help me but so much only of tomorrow as to bind and shock up my Rye (being but an acre and quarter of it) but he answered me indecently — So that I left him; and was much offended with him.  Went to Mr. Rody Smiths, who was also to have work’d for me; but neither could I get him.  N.B. I din’d at Mr. John Rogers.  Mr. Batheric and Ebenezer Forbush reap’d the piece which the Reapers Yesterday had left.  I call’d to see my Children at t’other House.  Neither Ebenezer nor his Wife, nor youngest Child, have been well of late.  At Evening Messrs. John Rogers and Rody Smith assisted by John and Silas Frost, gather’d up and bound my Rye, and Neighbour Rogers came with his Team and brought it home.  This was done gratis.  Mr. Moses Twitchell lodg’d here.

1755 August 6 (Wednesday).  Rode to Deacon Bonds, Mr. Jonah Warrins and to Mr. Barachias Morse’s.  P.M. Mr. Moses Twitchell, Jonathan Bond junior and Levi Warrin rake in the Ministerial Meadow.  Billy and Lucy rode over to Mr. Martyns[1] and return’d at Eve.  Billy no [sic] fit to Day.

[1]The Reverend John Martyn of Northborough.

1755 August 7 (Thursday).  Can’t get any Body to Cart my Hay from the Ministerial Meadow, though I have taken a great deal of Pains.  P.M. preach’d at Lieutenant Tainters on Mat. 13.39.  My wife, Thomas and Billy there.  N.B. Mr. Francis Gardner[1] keeps school at the School House.

[1](Harvard 1755).  He became the minister of Leominster, 1762-1814.

1755 August 8 (Friday).  My Son Ebenezer went with his Team, and Moses Nurse with  his, to the Ministerial Meadow, and brought thence a Load apiece of my Hay.  But did not get home with it till nigh 10 o’Clock.  At Eve Rain.  Mr. Ebenezer Millers Wife was here and Examin’d.

1755 August 9 (Saturday).  Thomas and William are Somewhat better and Stronger.  Blessed be God for it!

1755 August 10 (Sunday).  Read 2 Sam. 14.  Preach’d on Ps. 20.7.  P.M. read Ps. 119, parts 7.8.9.  Repeated Sermon on Ps. 119, number 54.

1755 August 11 (Monday).  Deacon Bond tells me the News is confirm’d of General Bradock’s Defeat and Death.  A most Sorrowfull Stroke!  may God of his infinite Mercy Sanctifie it to this Sinfull Provoking People!  and be mercifull to His Servant Shirley[1] and the Forces with him; that they may not be dismay’d when they Shall hear of it!  Barachias and Seth Morse came and mow’d in the ministerial Meadow.

[1]Governor William Shirley of Massachusetts was a lieutenant-general and commander-in-chief of British forces in America at this time.

1755 August 12 (Tuesday).  Seth Morse (having lodg’d here) works again for me, and Neighbour Moses Nurse fetch’d home one Load from the Ministerial Meadow.  P.M. Mr. Francis Gardner made us a Visit.

1755 August 13 (Wednesday).  Barachias and Seth Morse work for me — they get home 3 Load, 2 Load by half after 12.  P.M. they rake and bring home another Load at Eve.  Those were brought by our own Team: Ebenezers Oxen and my Mare.  Having heard that my Young Cattle in the woods, had stray’d from their Keeper, I wrote several Letters and Advertisements about them.

1755 August 14 (Thursday).  Old Mr. Maynard makes another Will.  Lieutenant Maynard brought me present of Fish from Mr. John Breck of Boston — and himself presents me a Load of Hay out of the Meadow on Rutters Brook.  ‘Kias and Seth mow at the ministerial Meadow again and this is the last, which they accomplish a.m. but because it was cloudy and they could not rake up what they had mow’d; they return’d home and p.m. reap’d my Wheat by the Barn, and got it in.  N.B. Mr. John Chamberlin of Stockbridge here, and wants to hire part of my t’other House for his Wife, that She may ly in there: but I am not free for lest it Should hinder the Sale of the House.  Am oblig’d to ride about to get a Team to Cart home my Hay.  Receive a kind Letter from Mr. William Winter of Boston giving me a Clear Account of the Death of General Bradock and the Defeat of the Forces with him on the fatal July 9th past, in their Expedition to Ohio.

1755 August 15 (Friday).  ‘Kias reaps for Ebenezer a.m. and for me in carting home Hay p.m.  Seth work’d for me all Day.  Had Mr. Pratts Team to bring home one Load, and with Mr. Samuel Fay juniors Oxen they brought home another.  And this finish’d my Haying for this Year.  Those Young Men agree to have 17/ per Day — I am indebted to them for 9 Days £7.13.0 Old Tenor.  N.B. Mr. Ebenezer Chamberlin here again about Mrs. Bellows, urging for Church-Meeting.

1755 August 16 (Saturday).  Billy reaps a few Oates.  Rain p.m.

1755 August 17 (Sunday).  Read 2 Sam. 15.  Preach’d on Isa. 42.23.24.25 on account of the Defeat etc.  Sir Gardner din’d here.  P.M. read latter part of Deut. 27.26.  I acquainted the Church (in hearing of the Congregation) that I had receiv’d a Complaint against Judith, wife of Jonathan Bellows — and appointed a Church Meeting to hear it, tomorrow come Sennight, at 2 p.m., and all concern’d must look upon themselves bound to attend.

1755 August 18 (Monday).  Mr. Dunlop came to thrash my Wheat — finds it too damp.  Thrashes only the out Sides of the Sheaves and leaves them to be dry’d.  He with Billy reaps Oates.  Ensign Harrington here a.m. Mr. James Flagg of Upton p.m.  At Eve sent a Letter to Mrs. Bellows.

1755 August 19 (Tuesday).  I rode to Marlborough.  Din’d at Mr. Smiths.[1]  Hear that Dr. Breck[2] was in Marlborough over the Sabbath, and went out of Town but this Morning to return home, and has not come to See his Sister.  At Deacon Tainters and at Mr. Henry Barns’s — Improve him to help me to a Chap for my old Place.  Return home in the Eve.

[1]The Reverend Aaron Smith.

[2]Samuel Breck, the physician of Springfield, was the son of the late Reverend Robert Breck of Marlborough.

1755 August 20 (Wednesday).  Mr. John Freeland Taylor comes to work here to make me a Jacket and pair of Breeches.  Mr. Dunlop also comes to take Care of my Wheat, drie and thrash some of it.  Hear that Some of my young Cattle that had Stray’d away, are come to my Sons.

1755 August 21 (Thursday).  Mr. Freeland at work here.  My oldest Steers come home.  Very Cloudy Weather, unfit for the In-gatherings.  Mrs. Judith Bellows here — also Mr. Joseph Rice’s Wife.  Thomas and William Somewhat worse again.

1755 August 22 (Friday).  Mr. Freeland still here.  My son grow [sic] somewhat better.

1755 August 23 (Saturday).  Mr. Freeland finish’d his work for me; and Something for Thomas.  He ask’d me but 26/ old Tenor for all he had done, this Turn, for me — and having din’d he left us.

1755 August 24 (Sunday).  Read 2 Sam. 16.  Preach’d on Isa. 42.23.24.25, both a. and p.m.  May God grant us Grace to attend to both his Word and Providence!

1755 August 25 (Monday).  The Church met today on account of Mrs. Judith Bellows (wife of Jonathan Bellows) being Complain’d of by Mr. Ebenezer Chamberlin and Mrs. Mary Bellows[1] (wife of Ithamar Bellows).  Before Meeting, Mr. Batheric gave me fresh Trouble about Singing (in the assembly) triple Time tunes; and would have Me lay this before the Church, but I told him we had so much Business today, it was not likely there would be Time for it.  Lieutenant Tainter Carry’d to Boston 2 hind Quarters of Veal for me to some Friends there — Mr. Solomon Woods kill’d it — and took a Quarter for him and Lieutenant Tainter in token of Gratitude to them both.

[1]The following appears in the Westborough Church Records, Aug. 25, 1755- “The Church met (having been timely warn’d) to hear a Complaint Sign’d by Ebenezer Chamberlin and Mary (Wife of Ithamar) Bellows, and bearing Date July 18 last, against Judith (Wife of Jonathan) Bellows, all of them Members of this Church, setting forth in substance, that the Said Judith hath walk’d very Disorderly and Contrary to the Rules of the Gospel—In particular respecting her Daughter Comfort, who has confess’d her taking away certain Things from a Neighbour feloniously and that her Mother would not let her return said Things when She would have done it: and that said Comfort also declar’d her Mother had burnt them.  The Complaint exhibited further that said Judith was guilty of False speaking about those Things etc.  After prayer the Complaint was read, and the Partys respectively, and the Witnesses, were fully heard—the Church voted, I. Respecting the first part of the Complaint that altho we cannot say She is guilty of Burning the Things referred to in the Complaint, yet we find upon all that has been Said, that She has Conducted in a very Evil Manner respecting her Daughter under her Guilt; and in that whole Affair respecting Said Things, and 2. Voted, as to the Second part of the Complaint, namely, her False speaking, that it is Supported.  This was voted universally.  The Pastor read those votes to said sister Judith, and solemnly laid the Evil before her, and Call’d her to Repentence . . .”

1755 August 26 (Tuesday).  [No entry.]

1755 August 27 (Wednesday).  Remarkable Plenty Pidgeons — the Neighbours take them in their Netts in great Numbers.

1755 August 28 (Thursday).  Public Fast on Account of Gods Frown upon us in the Expedition to Ohio, and Still to Supplicate divine Favour in the Other Expeditions — viz. to Niagara and Crown Point.  And O that we had a Spirit of Prayer that we might Cry aloud to God for His infinite Mercy — as our Necessity is!  For in Him may we Confide, and in His Name go forth against our Enemies.

1755 August 29 (Friday).  Mr. Martyn and his Wife to my great Pleasure at all other Times, but now to my great Interruption, made us a visit.  Deacon Bond ‘Listing orders.

1755 August 30 (Saturday).  I had not time to prepare any more than one Sermon for besides the Interruptions of Company I was much disquieted with toothach.

1755 August 31 (Sunday).  Read 2 Sam. 17.  Preach’d on Luke 2.25.  The Consolation of Israel.  Administered the Lord’s Supper.  Deacon Burnap and his Brother Daniel at Communion with us, Mr. Barrett being at Boston.  Deacon and his Wife and Daughter Hitty were at Dinner here, also Mrs. Chamberlin of Stockbridge, who is Come to board at my sons.  P.M. I repeated Sermon on Eph. 1.3, to page 12.  Took in also the 7th and 8th articles — and the Reflections in the Close of all.