July 1, 1779

1779 July 1 (Thursday).  Read part of Dr. Cotton Mather’s Agathangelus and Celestinus.  Thus far it appears to be a very useful quickening Book.  I have reason to bless God and would heartily do so, for the eminent Writings of that pious and learned man.  Dr. Hawes, who has returned from Court, was here and communicated to me some of the Transactions of the Assembly, and what the Town of Boston have, by their Committee of Correspondence, sent to the Committee of Westborough relative to some fresh Efforts for the Appreciation of the public Currency.  N.B. Thomas’s Spy comes again to the Shop for a Numbers of the Neighbors.

July 5, 1779

1779 July 5 (Monday).  Visited Mr. Belknap and dined there.  He has a Widow Sister that lives there.  Her name is Flagg.  I called at Mrs. Seth Wood’s, and obtained of her to weave for us.  I also made a Business of visiting and prayed with old Mrs. Chamberlain.  She was very ill and under hysteric Affections.  I called at Mr. William Johnson’s.  Young Mrs. Belknap went with me to her Father’s, Ensign Snow’s, who put a Cheese into my Saddle Baggs.  I called at Mr. Beeman’s and at Mr. Thos. Andrew’s.  On my way home I went into the Workhouse to see a Stranger who was taken sick on the Road from Fishkill and going to his Family at Casco Bay.

July 12, 1779

1779 July 12 (Monday).  Went to Mr. Barretts, where I was very affectionately received.  He lent me the third volume of Mr. Henry, viz. on Job, Psalms etc.: he lent me also the third volume of the History of England in Folio and Howel’s Familiar Letters.  4 vols. bound in one Oct. Book, but in his Generosity he gave me the Folio which contains Dr. Stillingfleet’s Sermons, twelve, and his Discourse on the True Reason of the Sufferings of Jesus Christ.  This Cargo of Books I brought Home.  Having understood that Mr. James Webber was still sick at the Work house, I went there p.m. to see him and prayed with him.  Mr. Thomas Adams of Medfield came at Evening with a number of Books and lodged here.  We have a Sad Report that New Haven is taken by the Enemy.

July 13, 1779

1779 July 13 (Tuesday).  Mr. Adams has brought home to me at length Sir William Temple.  He has led me also into an Exchange of a number of Books, viz. For Voetius 3 vols. I have Dr. Stanhope’s Thomas a Kempis, Dr. Calamy, of Vows: Horneck’s crucified Jesus, and Dr. Goodman’s Old Religion.  For Monsr. Boileau’s 2d vol. and Mat Prior’s Works 2 vols. I have Dr. Hammond’s Annotations in large Folio.  For the Lay Monastery, I have Herman Prudence, and Three Select Pieces of Mr. Thos. Shepherd.  For Comin’s Real Christian, unbound, I gave him at his proposal a Pound of Sugar.  He presented me a Pamphlet, Dr. Gibson on the Sinfulness of Neglecting and profaning the Lord’s Day.  N.B. I returned him his Drexilius on Eternity.  He showed me a Manuscript of his Daughter’s forming in 4to Alphabetical, and contains an account of all manner of Errors, Sects, etc. in every age of Christianity.  He sold Breck a number of unbound Books, Firmin, Shaw, Shepherd, Doelittle etc.  After dinner he left us to go to Sherburn.

July 21, 1779

1779 July 21 (Wednesday).  Breck goes to Boston.  Mr. Elisha Forbes with his Team goes down to load up for him.  Miss Polly Howard here making Lace for my Daughter Cushing.  Mr. John Pidgeon came in his way to Brookfield, and lodges here.  He brings fresh news of our Success against the Enemy in recovering the Fort on Hudson’s River, which they had lately taken from the States, and fortified more Strongly, which is called Stoney Point, near King’s Ferry: May God grant to His people a suitable Frame of Mind upon Such Occasions!  Elias came from Cambridge.

July 25, 1779

1779 July 25 (Sunday).  Preached a.m. on Zech. v. 3.4.  Mrs. Maynard dined here.  P.M. for the sake of some Disconsolate persons, and a View to the Communion next Sabbath, I repeated with some Additions sermon on Ps. 69.32, which may God graciously succeed!  At eve read a Kempis Book IV, Chap. 1, the Communion being appointed.

July 30, 1779

1779 July 30 (Friday).  Drury Fairbank, who sometime ago was Sick and languishing, under a dangerous consumptive Cough, is strangely raised to Health, and is going into the Service.  P.M. came from Worcester, my Daughter Baldwin, with her son Isaac waiting upon her.  She has been of late much borne down with her Disorders, but is (just now) somewhat brighter.  They lodge here, as does Mrs. Ellwell, who in coming to help Mrs. Lamson, had a Fall from her Horse, and is rendered incapable to help her.