1736 May 4 (Tuesday). David finished our ploughing over for planting. Ebenezer drove the Oxen at ploughing. P.M. I rode to Beriah Rice’s to have my Horse shod. N.B. at nigh one o’Clock I was called out of my Bed by Lieut. Baker, who was accompanyed by Capt. Forbush, Neighbour Bradish, Josiah Newton, Abijah Bruce, John Hicks and Samuel Hardy, to deliver me a Confession to be read to the Church Signed by the last of these persons, on account of his writing and uttering certain defaming verses of which Mary Bradish was the Authoress — See [blank].[1]
[1]On May 4, 1736, “Brother Samuel Hardy offered a Confession for his writing and so being instrumental in uttering forth, divers verses to the Defamation and Reproach of the Committee which the Town had improved to search out who Cut the Pulpit Cusheon, and to the Reproach of divers other persons…. This Confession was read, and he was restored” WCR,41).