Month: March 1756

1756 March 1 (Monday).  It was Town Meeting Day.  One of the Select Men, Mr. David Maynard junior was with me to obtain my Consent to laying out a Road through my Land North of the Meeting House which I gave freely.  And since he, and another desired I would not go from home till noon or would return home by that time, inasmuch as the Town might want my Help (however, the meeting was warned as I was informed, to be at 9 or 10 a.m.), I therefore tarryed at home, though otherwise I should have Visited Mr. Joseph Woods, and others in that Corner of the Town who are sick; dined at Home, and Stayed till nigh half after one, p.m. but there not coming any Message from the Town to me, I had reason to conclude they had no Service for me.  And therefore I rode to the Old Widow Rogers to See her, She still remaining sick and by reason of my Journey last week I had not visited her.  Thus there was no prayer at the Town Meeting; which I think is matter of Serious Reflection.

1756 March 2 (Tuesday).  Great storm, Snowed hard and covered the Ground some Inches.  Such a sight as we have not had for Several Months.  Robert Cook here with a Petition for a Contribution.  Mr. Jonas Bond and his wife (of Sutton) dined here.  P.M. the storm clearing away I attended the Funeral of an infant Child of Mr. Thomas Goodenow.  And thence I went to see Mr. Martyn who is confined by Indisposition.  Mr. Stone was there also.  And we both lodged there.

1756 March 3 (Wednesday).  Mr. Stone and I rode together to the Bounds of Southborough from whence I proceeded to visit the Sick Families in our South East Corner: viz. Mr. Joseph Woods: Mr. Belknaps Son, Mr. Chamberlins and Mr. Ithamar Bellows’s.  N.B. dined at Mr. Snow’s.  N.B. The very Obstinate Frame of Mrs. Judith Bellows, whom I visited once more — but with out any good Effect.  Yet both her Husband and her Daughter Comfort as much as testify She is in the wrong.

1756 March 4 (Thursday).  Mary Latimer here on the Affair of her Relation.  My Wife rides over to t’other House.  Mr. Daniel Warrin brings various Notes, but no Money; and cant make up yet by above 22£ old Tenor.  P.M. Mrs. Elizabeth Harrington (wife of Ensign) here, in Spiritual Trouble.  N.B. She tells me Deacon Newtons Widow told her yesterday that I was not to be at her House to Day, at the Private Meeting — (Yet thus I had layed the Matter when I discoursed with her, and induced her to continue it there in its turn, viz. that since her Husband was Dead, I would attend there in his stead.)

1756 March 5 (Friday).  [No entry.]

1756 March 6 (Saturday).  Mr. Daniel Warrin informs that our Kinswoman, Dr. Brighams Widow, is So very ill that it is doubted whether She will live.  P.M. I rode to Marlborough; and, Mr. Smith having Several times expressed his readiness to change, I now desired to, and he complyed.  Whilst he rode to Westborough I visited Mrs. Brigham — found her bad, but her Case not desperate.  She talked freely and with strength.  I lodged at Mr. Smiths.  N.B. Mrs. Dean, Sister to Mr. Smith there.  The sorrowful story of Mr. Cutler minister of part of Exeter confirmed; and is to be deeply lamented.

1756 March 7 (Sunday).  Preached at Marlborough a. and p.m. on Jer. 6.16.  Visited Mrs. Brigham both at noon and at Eve.  I returned home, at Night.  Mr. Smith preached at Westborough on 2 Cor. 5.11.  May God Himself Succeed and confirm the Word of His Grace!  N.B. Old Mrs. Bruce is very ill again.

1756 March 8 (Monday).  Precinct Election of Their Officers.  N.B. No Message to pray with them though I went not from home — till Eve, when I visited Alpheus Newton whose Child is sick — but Commissioners are there, on the Affair of Dividing their Estate, so that I made not a long Stay.

1756 March 9 (Tuesday).  Billy waits on his Mother in the Chair to Marlborough to see her Neece, the widow of Dr. Brigham: and return safely at Eve.  N.B. Dr. Crosby here to confer about the late Dr. Smiths Account.  N.B. Mr. Eliphalet Adams dined here.  P.M. Sent by Deacon Bond £5.12/ to Mr. James Allen, Taylor at Boston, being the Ballance of Ebenezers Account with him.

1756 March 10 (Wednesday).  Mr. Moses Twitchell works for me.  Spreads Muck; Clears north of the Burying place.  Lecture preparitory to the Sacrament.  Mr. Stone preached — his Text Eph. 5.18, latter part.  May God add his Blessing.

1756 March 11 (Thursday).  Colder than it has been a great while.  I preached a Lecture at Southborough.  Text, Judg. 14.14.  At Eve was at Lt. Nathan Brighams.  And visited Mrs. Bruce who is Sick again, and confined to her Chamber.  Returned home at Night.

1756 March 12 (Friday).  Cold Day, to Day also.  Brother Hicks here in his Return from Boston, where he has been this Month, waiting upon his Case with Elijah Collins, which after all he has lost — except what the Judges in Chancery do for him.  Mr. John Green of Brookfield here.  Also Mrs. Whipple (wife of Thomas) in Some spiritual Difficultys.

1756 March 13 (Saturday).  Storm of Snow.  Ebenezer brought over Samuel from t’other House and John remains there.

1756 March 14 (Sunday).  Omitted the Public Reading a.m.  Preached on Rev. 5.5.  Administered the Lords supper.  P.M. read 1 King 8 from v. 22, and gave an Expository Exercise upon it.  Betty Bellows bad again; and I would gladly go to See her, but that I have not an Horse, neither am I firm enough after the Exercises of Such a Day to bear the Evening Air.  May God grant my Heart may be ever right with Him; and ever stedfast in His Covenant!

1756 March 15 (Monday).  Rode a.m. to Mr. Ithamar Bellows to See his Daughter Betty, who is very ill, and hardly in her Senses — fear She will Soon depart.  I dined there.  P.M. having ministred to the poor Young Woman as She was able to receive it, I visited Mr. Belknaps Children,  Mr. Joseph Woods and Mr. Chamberlins Family and returned at Eve by Mr. Eliphalet Adams’s, who is sick also.  [Marginal notation: Billy went on the 15th to work for Mr. Moses Twitchell.]

1756 March 16 (Tuesday).  Visited Old Mr. Fay and his Wife.  Would fain have talked with his son Jeduthun but he was not at home.  Was Strenuous with his Wife to have her consider her own great Duty and attest to it.  They have now Eight Children and all unbaptized.

1756 March 17 (Wednesday).  Rode to Marlborough.  Visit Mrs. Brigham who is recovering.  Was at Mr. Henry Barns’s — N.B. her Harpsichord.  At Madam Woods’s (or rather Brighams).  Dined at Mr. Smiths.  Preached his Lecture on Joh. 1.11.  At Coll. Williams at Eve; Capt. Fay accompanyed me home.  N.B. Mr. Jacob Amsden taken sick of a Fever.  I called to see him.  N.B. Betty Bellows dyed about 10 a.m., Aetatis 18.  Extremely Sorrowful in that House and Neighborhood, there being no other Daughter in that Family; and but one or two more Young Women in that Corner of the Town.  It is a Time of Sickness and mortality in the Other part of the Town likewise.  May God fit us for His divine Will!

1756 March 18 (Thursday).  Mr. [blank] Winchester of Brookline, and Mr. Samuel Sparhawk of Cambridge dined here.  The former wants to buy a place.  P.M. I attended the Funeral of Mrs. Betty Bellows.  At Eve Mr. Samuel Fay junior here; and disturbed that I did not Visit his Children when He was under Trouble in the Months Past; and especially when he went to Albany — whereas I dont remember that I was Seasonably informed of it: and was, I think, at Sutton when he went: Was confined by Lameness and Sickness some part of the Winter: but, in brief, he being so often from home, I did not think of Visiting the Family, till I might enjoy the Company of the head of it.

1756 March 19 (Friday).  Rain.  Engaged in my preparations.

1756 March 20 (Saturday).  When my Thoughts were deeply engaged in my preparations and I depended much on to Day for writing, I was called away to the North End of the Town, to a Funeral, viz. of Charles M’Allister — in his 32d Year and was the first Child that I ever Baptized: old Mr. Increase Ward being the first Person.  I dined at Mr. Martyns, who is still drooping and most of his Family indisposed.  In returning I called at Mr. Masons, at his Desire, and gave a Testimony concerning Mr. David Maynard junior to be carryed to Rev. Henchman of Lyn, carefully inserted that it Should not be understood as Passing my Word for him etc.

1756 March 21 (Sunday).  Read 1 K. 9.  Repeated Expositions on Mat. 13.45.46 a. and p.m. and p.m. read the latter part of that Chapter from v. 31.  N.B. I introduced the forenoon exercise with informing the Audience “That the Providences and Services of the Last Week had prevented my preparing, as I had designed, upon a subject that I had already made Some Progress in etc.”  I appointed divers Catechizings, and an Exercise at Lt. Bruce’s, in the ensuing Week.  After Exercises Stopped the Church on the Affair of Mrs. Judith Bellows, and the Church passed a vote to Suspend her from the Communion and from all special Privileges in this Church.  N.B. read the Petitions of James Allen of Hopkinton for a Contribution among us.  He had been burnt out, and lost his Goods, though the House was not his.  I read two Certificats concerning him; one from Simpson Jones Esq., the Other from Rev. Mr. Barrett.  I read also the Petition of Robert Cook, for a Contribution for him to assist him in building an House.  Having read these Petitions I desired the Deacons of the Church and the Committee of the Precinct would meet and advise what is best to be done.

1756 March 22 (Monday).  There being divers Carpenters at work in the Meeting House (they were building Pews for Mr. Ebenezer Rice, Capt. Fay and Mr. David Maynard), I was obliged to take the Children to my own House to Catechizing.  N.B. 28 Boys a.m. and 28 Girls p.m.

1756 March 23 (Tuesday).  My Wife and I rode to Ensign Millers, being formally invited to the Raising a New Barn there.

1756 March 24 (Wednesday).  A.M. I rode to Mr. Ithamar Bellows’s, their son Simeon being sick.  Visited also Mr. Belknap, who with four of his Children are Sick.  Visited Jabez Snow, sick — and Mr. Amsden, still Sick.  There I dined.  P.M. I preached at Lt. Bruce’s, by Reason of his Wife’s long Confinement.  Text Isa. 55.6.  Rain p.m.

1756 March 25 (Thursday).  Held a Catechetical Exercise to Young Men (about 20) On the Power, Holiness and Justice of God.  Used chiefly sermon on Exod. 33.18: page 7 and from p. 11 to 15.  At Eve the Deacons of the Church and the Committee of the Precinct Met at my Chamber to consult about the Petitions for Contributions.  They were unanimously against any for Mr. Cook, and for one in behalf of Mr. Allen.

1756 March 26 (Friday).  Mr. Francis Gardner comes again into our Parish to keep school; and both lodges and keeps School at my Son’s.

1756 March 27 (Saturday).  Mr. Daniel Forb. dined here.  N.B. He and Mr. Edwards Whipple are preparing a Second (Stone) step for the front Door of the Meeting House.  P.M. Mr. Forb. underpins my Kitchin, north side.

1756 March 28 (Sunday).  Read 1 King 10.  Preached a. and p.m. on Mark 8.34.  Read p.m. Mat. 14.

1756 March 29 (Monday).  Rain.  One John Connor dined here.

1756 March 30 (Tuesday).  I went over to my Son, who is very backward about the Business of the Season.  He is perplexed by Richard Barns.

1756 March 31 (Wednesday).  An unusually Cold Season for a Considerable While.  Mr. Joseph Manning from Brookfield, here.