January 1, 1767

1767 January 1 (Thursday).  I took some gratulatory Notice of the revolving Mercy, giving myself some Time to think of the Loving Kindness of the Lord towards Me and Mine.  But alas!  How Soon the Scenes Shift!  A Letter from Mr. Forbes of Brookfield informs that Jeduthun, youngest Son of Ebenezer was at the Point of Death.  This was writ 4 p.m. last Lords Day.  At Eve came another Letter from the Same, acquainting Me that the Child dyed half after 6 in the morning of that Day, viz. Dec. 29.  The Lord Sanctify it to all of us!  To the more immediate Parents especially!  The Child was born Apr. 2, 1765.  At Eve came Mr. Moore and lodged here.  N.B. Mr. Zechariah Hicks of Sutton was come from Cambridge and dined (though late) here:  Speaks the Extremity of the Cold yesterday — that Mr. Winthrop said, “by the Weather Glass, it was as Cold as any had been these fifteen Years.”  But last Night and this Morning, I think were colder than yesterday.

January 2, 1767

1767 January 2 (Friday).  Mr. Moore goes to Master Cushing and brings him.  They dine here.  P.M. they get Mr. Andrews’s sleigh, and take Sarah and Suse with them, though it is exceeding Cold, and design to go to Mr. Morse’s at Shrewsbury — and tomorrow (if they can stand it) to Westminster.  A Letter from Mr. Stone, inclosing the late Rev. Mr. Prince’s (of Boston) Journal through England.  A Letter from my Son Baldwin of Dec. 29 informing me of Jeduthun Parkman’s Death and apprizing us of his Design to send a sleigh for Mrs. P______.

January 5, 1767

1767 January 5 (Monday).  Thomas Bond helps Mr. Tainter Sled wood hither from Mr. Bradish’s.  At Eve Mr. Chaplin of Sutton in his Way home from Holliston.  He says he was forced to come round by Framingham by reason of the ways from Holliston to Hopkinton being so filled with Snow.  He informs that Several Persons dyed by the Cold last week.

January 6, 1767

1767 January 6 (Tuesday).  A very rainy Time.  Capt. Wood, who has not been here for some Time, makes me a neighbourly visit.  He Seems to be pritty well satisfyed about the Andrews and Cleaveland Affair, and says he will get his Dismission from Hopkinton Church to ours.  For he had chose to defer that while he saw us in Such Controversie.

January 7, 1767

1767 January 7 (Wednesday).  Am reading Crysal volume 2.  This work is writ with great Spirit and is a severe Satyr against Debauchery, if it be read with due Discretion; but I fear many read it merely as Entertainment, and forget the true Design of it; and then it may rather teach and promote vice, than restrain it.  The Political Remarks in this volume appear to be just; and opens the diabolical Projections of the Jesuits, if this Account may be rely’d on.

January 8, 1767

1767 January 8 (Thursday).  Deacon Tainter and Capt. Wood killed for me the Hog which I bought last year of Mr. Kinsman.  It weighed 282.  Am informed that Old Judge Ward is dead.  May it be useful to Me; and Every Instance of Mortality serve to quicken me to prepare for my own Departure!  At Mr. Stone’s Request in behalf of Dr. Stiles of Newport, I am preparing Some Account of Westborough.  At Eve Messrs. Moore and Cushing with my Daughters, return from Westminster, and notwithstanding our Fears, are Well, having had a good Journey — for which Thanks and Praise to God!  They bring us the bad news that Mr. Harrington of Lancaster has had a bad Fall on the Ice and broke one of his Leggs which prevented his going to Walpole Ordination — and that Mr. Bridge of Sudbury hast lost his New-born son; which probably has prevented his Grand father Smith’s going to that ordination also.  Mr. Moore lodges here.  Mr. Cushing after Supper went to his own Quarters.

January 14, 1767

1767 January 14 (Wednesday).  Great Complaint has been made of my staying at Home so very much; I therefore undertook to visit my Brethren in the Ministry.  Rode to Southborough and dined at Mr. Stones and communicate to him what I have writ about Westborough at his Request for Dr. Stiles.  And he Communicates to me a MS Sent him to judge of, containing animadversions on Mr. Mellens 15 Discourses.  Rode to Mr. Smith to see him under the various Providences he has lately been exercised by, viz. Marriage of Miss Suse Low; and Death of Mrs. Bridge’s Child.  I find him very lonely — no Housekeeper, none but his servants.  Mrs. Martyn (Suse) is gone to Mrs. Bridge’s.  I lodged there.

January 17, 1767

1767 January 17 (Saturday).  I met with a violent Blow at the wood Pile.  A stick of wood I was cutting off flew with great Force into my Face; Struck my Mouth most directly; beat a large fore tooth into my Mouth, and filled my Mouth with Blood, Pain, Swelling; and is a great Trouble through the Day.  May it prove a Benefit by making me sensible how exposed I am every minute, how dependent upon the glorious God and what Obligations I am under to glorifie Him!

January 18, 1767

1767 January 18 (Sunday).  The Weather still too cold as well as too Short to have long Exercises; and therefore Still omitt the Publick Reading.  Preached again upon the S.S.  [same subject?  Sacred Scripture?] from 2 Pet. 1.19.  P.M. carryed on the Same subject from Ps. 19.7 and used part of my Exposition of the Catechism p. 17 to 22.  Master Cushing and Miss Betty Gott dined with us.  At Evening read in Mr. Bolton (in his general Directions for Comfortable Walking with God) from page 207 to 225.

January 22, 1767

1767 January 22 (Thursday).  My Wife and I went (according to Desire) to Mr. Pratts, and assisted in Solemnizing the Marriage of Mr. Edmund Chamberlin and Miss Ruth Pratt.  Capt. Wood came to wait upon us, as he also returned here with us.  A plentiful Entertainment and a large Company; Many of which waited upon the new Marryed home to Mr. Chamberlins.  The Joy indeed was under some Abatement by Mr. Pratts great Indisposition And I can’t but lament the Death of that eminently learned Man, the Rev. Mr. President Clap at New-Haven, the 7th instant, the News of which I received to Day.  May the Lord Sanctifie this Loss!  Loss, I say, for though he had resigned his Office of President yet might he have proved very useful and Serviceable otherwise.  May it especially quicken me to Prepare for my own Departure!

January 25, 1767

1767 January 25 (Sunday).  Omitt Public Reading, it being still difficult, cold, cloudy Weather.  Preached a. and p.m. on the S.S. — a.m. on Ps. 19.7 first Clause, and used some part of my Catechetical Exercise, viz. from p. 22 to p. 27.  That this is the only Rule etc.  P.M. preached on 2 Tim 1.13.  Mr. Cushing dined here.  At Eve read Mr. Bolton from p. 225 to 239.  Mr. Daniel Cook came up from Marlborough at nigh 9 at Night, to desire me to go down to their House tomorrow to the Funeral of Mr. Israel Joslin (his Wife’s Son), Mr. Smith designing to go a Journey tomorrow Morning.  To which I consent; and he goes away.

January 26, 1767

1767 January 26 (Monday).  A Snow storm.  I despatch Breck to Lt. Forbush to See if Mr. Cook lodged there last night, and tell him that I could not go in such a storm.  Or if he be not there to enquire whether Mr. Ebenezer would go to the Burial?  Or whether he would go with me, if I should go?  He returns that Cook had not been there — that he Should not go — and that he did not believe that they would expect me:  that it was Slippery by reason of the Ice in the Road:  and the Snow had covered up the Path– So that, the Storm also prevailing, I did not venture.  Nor do I think Mr. Smith would stir to go his Journey.  Am sorry I said nothing to Mr. Cook about the Weather — but it was implyed in what he said about the Road, viz. that in the Light I might see where it was trod; for otherwise it was too Icy to be safe.  Read in Dr. Watts of the World to come; and can’t but esteem that work so far as I have gone in it.

January 28, 1767

1767 January 28 (Wednesday).  Breck having got Mr. Seth Morse’s Whirry, goes with his sister Sarah to Framingham, to see Alexander.  P.M. I visit Mrs. Hill.  Have been reading Mr. Prince’s (of Boston) Journey through England — a MS from Mr. Stone.  Mr. Tainter sledding wood from Mr. Bradish’s dines here.  At Eve Mr. Kendal, and Daughter Bowker, Mr. John Forb. and his wife from Brookfield and one Mr. Palmer with them.