Month: January 1782

1782 January 1 (Tuesday).  Blessed be the Lord who is our Great Almighty Preserver and daily, yearly Benefactor!

 

We assembled into the House of the Lord to pay our Homage and implore divine Benediction, Preservation and Direction.  Mr. Moore began with Adoration, Praise and Prayer.  We Sung Ps. [24?], former part.  Mr. Fish (the Younger) preached on Ps. 126.3.  I prayed after Sermon: and we Sung Ps. 145, the whole of the first part.  After the Blessing the Singers and a Number of the Congregation Stayed — a Number of agreeable Tunes were sung.  May God graciously accept our devout Gratulations!

 

When I came home I found Dr. Gordon here, being returned thus far from Virginia, having been with the Generals etc.  Doctor lodges here.  Mr. Fish lodges at the Squires, and his Horse is kept there.  Mr. Killbourn (who preachs at Southborough) was with us, but returns to Mrs. Stones.  It was with us, a Time of much Company: some of our young Scholars [here?], favoured us by going home, and took Horses with them to keep.

1782 January 2 (Wednesday).  Dr. Gordon left us Early.  Mr. Moore and his son undertook their Journey via Cambridge and Boston.  P.M. Mr. Holland here.  He is discouraged from Preaching through bodily Infirmity and Studies Physick.  At Eve our Young folks go to Col. Brighams.

1782 January 3 (Thursday).  I am more and more affected by the Sorrowful Dispensation of Providence in the Impairs of my Sight.

1782 January 4 (Friday).  My Grandson Baldwin from College din’d here, but p.m. went on his Journey to Brookfield.

1782 January 5 (Saturday).  This Morning Breck went to Concord to See Lydia, if alive.  He returned at night.  She is very low, but there are some hopeful Tokens, and the Child like to live.  Their Daughter Lydia is in Languishment and pain.  She is supposed to be Rheumatic and consumptive.

1782 January 6 (Sunday).  A.M. I named Ps. 39 [to?] latter part for a Text, but delivered a Number of Serious Reflections, Contemplations, quickening Motives, and Seasonable Advices, proper for the first sabbath of the year.  P.M. preached on Rom. 8.1.  May God succeed!  At Eve Mr. Brigham read Mr. Flavels Fountain of Life, Sermon 22, which is upon Luk. 22.41 to 44.

1782 January 7 (Monday).  I am employed upon Biographical Dictionary, Vol. 7.  A Letter from Elias at Hampt. (North) of Dec. 31.  Mr. Daniel Goddard of Shrewsbury here and desires me to lend him Dr. Mathers Magnalia.  He also requests some Other Things (Preaching etc.) which I can’t encourage.

1782 January 8 (Tuesday).  Mr. Treasurer Newtons affairs are much perplexed: a Committee again sitts at his House, to Examine Accounts.  Mr. Gale here: brings Beef.  Ephraim Parker came to see us.  Honorable judge Dorr visits me.  He is looking for a Farm having sold his own in Mendon.

1782 January 9 (Wednesday).  Mr. Brigham and others are upon Neighbour Newtons Accounts still.  Reading Mr. Grovers Sermons, Vol. 5, but marked Vol. 1.  An unhappy Accident at Eve by the Candle.

1782 January 10, 11 (Thursday, Friday).  So fowl weather that I can’t visit Mr. Jonathan Child who is ill.  I am confined, and read Biographical Dictionary.

1782 January 12 (Saturday).  Bowman is so indisposed that he goes home to his Fathers; and the Brighams take Care of the Cattle and Wood.

1782 January 13 (Sunday).  I preached a.m. on Rom. 8.1.  P.M. on Phil. 4.7.  Mrs. Maynard dined here.  At Eve Mr. Brigham read Flavels fountain of Life, and prayed.

1782 January 14 (Monday).  Mr. Moses Brigham and his Wife were here.  Mr. Crosby (the young preacher) was here also.

1782 January 15 (Tuesday).  Mr. Brigham (though very Cold) went to Boston.  He carrys from me Mr. Cranch’s Vol. 7 of Biographical Dictionary.  My Wife much distresst by grievous pain in her Back and Hip.

1782 January 16 (Wednesday).  I rode in a sleigh to Mr. William Johnsons, to the Funeral of his little son Taylor of 13 months; and prayed and discoursed with them.  N.B. I dined at Mr. Ebenezer Chamberlains junior.  Called at Mr. Samuel Hardy’s.  When I came home found Mr. Sumner and his Wife.  I discoursed with him about Mr. Sanford and of his Doctrines.  My son Baldwin and my Daughter from Brookfield and one Mr. Weare with them in a sleigh.  They lodged here.

1782 January 17 (Thursday).  Mr. P. Whitney and Mr. David Monro — also Dr. Crosby.  Col. and Mr. Weare go to Boston.  My Daughter remains here.  N.B. Mr. Whitney relates that there has lately been a Conference at Westford: a Number of Ministers, with their Delegates, upon the Hopkinsian Doctrines, and a Lecture by Mr. Zabdiel Adams.  At Eve Messrs. Hazzletine and Elisha Parker.  Mr. Brigham returned from Boston.  He brought a Letter from Mr. Quincy which was very acceptable to me.  Mrs. P________ very much exercised with pain in her Back and Hip; especially in the Nights.

1782 January 18 (Friday).  She takes Physick, by advice of Dr. Crosby.  I visited at Neighbour Harringtons.  P.M. Col. Brigham and his Wife made us a Visit, which was very agreeable.

1782 January 19 (Saturday).  Rev. Mr. David Goodall of Hallifax in the State of [blank] came to see me and dined with us.  I gave him synopsis purioris Theologia a Profess. Leidensibus: and I lent him a Vol. of the Morning Exercise, the [IVth?], to be returned again in [blank] Months.  I asked him to preach tomorrow.

1782 January 20 (Sunday).  Mr. Goodall preached for me a. and p.m. on 1 Joh. 3.9.10.  He and his Mother Maynard dined here.  Mr. Brigham at Eve read in Flavels Fountain of Life, Sermon 24, and prayed.

1782 January 21 (Monday).  The Town Meet again, about Treasurer Newtons Accounts.  The Committee which the Town improved upon it, find the Affair exceeding difficult, can’t agree [illegible] as to Sign a Report.  Suse and Sophy wait on Mrs. Baldwin in the Sleigh to Capt. Maynards.  Mrs. P________ better.

1782 January 22 (Tuesday).  Am employed in Mr. Wests Disquisitions on the Prophets.  N.B. I took his Hint to compare Dan. 8.14 according to the Septuagint, which reads [GREEK], four hundred, whereas all other Translations read three hundred; and the Hebrew is [HEBREW] Three.

1782 January 23 (Wednesday).  The storm is so great that my Daughter Baldwin must needs be in some Concern for her Husband, who is not returned from Boston yet.

1782 January 24 (Thursday).  A very Stormy time, till the latter part of the Day.  I am much confined at home, that I cannot Visit.

1782 January 25 (Friday).  Mr. William Spring and his Wife with two Children from Sturbridge, came to see us.  N.B. I delivered to Mr. Spring Ostervald of the Causes of the Corruption among Christians, for which I have some numbers of the Royal Magazine, Vol. I and II bound up (with many Omissions) in one Volume.  P.M. my Son Baldwin and Mr. Weare came from Boston.  N.B. A new Chrystal for my watch, from Mr. Peck – price 3/.  They Set out though late, for home; my Daughter with them.

1782 January 26 (Saturday).  Mr. Spring and his Wife and 2 Children set out for Sutton.  N.B. I presented Mr. Spring Dr. Gordons anniver[sions?] on Independency.

1782 January 27 (Sunday).  I preached a.m. on Rom. 8.1.  P.M. on Phil. 4.7, which may God graciously bless!  At Eve Mr. Brigham read Flavel Sermon 25.  Sung.  Sorrowful News of the Death of the Widow Rhoda Maynard.

1782 January 28 (Monday).  Mr. Goodall, his wife and Child here.  Also their mother Maynard and Brother and Sister Wheelock from Otter Creek.  I lent Mr. Goodall Mr. Cottons Way of Life for 3 or 4 Months; but he returns the Volume of Morning Exercise which he had taken before.  Memorandum.  Deacon Hawes has been here to inform that Mr. Samuel Hardys wife is delivered of a Dead Child and would have me attend the Funeral tomorrow at one O’Clock.  After which Mr. Andrews was here upon the sorrowful Errand that his Daughter Bettys Infant is dead, and ask me to the Burial.

1782 January 29 (Tuesday).  A very cold season, but I am obliged to exert my self.  I rode in my sleigh to Mr. Samuel Hardys, an House of Mourning, and prayed with them before their interring their Infant.  Thence, at 3 o’Clock, I rode to Mr. Andrews’s, and apply’d myself to the unhappy Girl.  She Seemed somewhat penitent: a good many Neighbours attended.  I prayed with them — and Said what pungent Things I could.  I did not go to the Grave.  I turned in to See old Lt. Forbush and his Wife, who has lately lost her only surviving Brother Mr. Moses Bellows of Southborough.

1782 January 30 (Wednesday).  Extream Cold.  I could not ride abroad to visit as designed. Was mercifully preserved from Fire in my study at Evening.  Thanks be to God therefor!

1782 January 31 (Thursday).  My Ears and Heart wounded at hearing of another base begotten Child; viz. Abigail Fays, Daughter of Ensign Jeduthun.