Month: November 1747

1747 November 1 (Sunday).  I deliver’d the whole of my Preparation in the forenoon that the Congregation might have at one View what I could think further proper from Mat. 24.46 and on occasion of beginning a New Year of Sabbaths and Gospel Privileges.  May the Lord impress especially my own Heart herewith and not only make me a faithful and wise servant but enable me to continue and persevere to the Coming of the Lord that I may be among those Servants who shall be truely Blessed!  P.M. I repeated Some parts of sermons on Jam. 1.21.  N.B. Mr. Jenison^[1] come into Town again and at Meeting here.

^[1]William Jenison.

1747 November 2 (Monday).  P.M. at Merchant Rice’s, dining there with the Officers, Captain Baker etc.  At Eve pray’d with the Company before they were dismiss’d.  N.B. Brother Hicks among us.  Mr. Hall^[1] of Sutton on his journey to Concord, spake with him on the Road.  He informs me that the people of his Parish lately voted him 400£ (Old Tenor) for this Year.  N.B. Mr. Loring preach’d at Grafton yesterday but he was not here either going or returning.  N.B. Reverend Mr. Reed call’d here with his wife’s Mother from New Haven (whilst I was from home) and brought me a Letter from Mrs. Pierpoint.

^[1]The Reverend David Hall.

1747 November 3 (Tuesday).  Brother Hicks and I reckon’d, about my Cattle which he had kept in the Summer and I pay’d him 33 shillings old Tenor for keeping Six: and we reckon’d also on account of the Cow that calv’d at his House, whose Calf he kill’d and whose milk he had till Ebenezer fetch’d the Cow home and he allow’d me but 3£ for both the Calf and the milk, but I yielded to anything he would propose least we should by Some Means or other get angry, which would be worse than all the Controversy was worth.  I dreaded the dangerous Minute!  Thomme return’d to Marlborough.  N.B. by him I sent to Deacon Rice^[1] 10£ Old Tenor being the full of 50£ borrow’d of him last March.

^[1]Caleb Rice.

1747 November 4 (Wednesday).  Ebenezer plough’d a little part of the Day.  My Wife and I rode over to make Mr. Martyn a visit and din’d there.  We after Dinner walk’d to their Meeting House, the workmen being then about the Pulpit and Mr. Martyns Pew.  At Eve we return’d in Safety and Peace. Blessed be God! O the Sweets and Charms of Mutual Love and Friendship!  May nothing ever invade or disturb this Sacred Calm! I afterwards went to Mr. Hezekiah Hows and bought a Couple of Geese for Store.  Gave 18 shillings for the Couple.

1747 November 5 (Thursday).  Rainy yet I rode to the Private Meeting which was appointed to be at old Mr. Bradish’s but we met at his Daughter Mary’s.  N.B. She had newly got into her House. I preach’d on Mat. 6.33. Not many attended, but of elderly persons there were besides Mr. Bradish and his wife Justice Baker, Deacon Forbush and Deacon Newton, Captain Warrin, Lieutenant Tainter — Several women, and young people of both sexes.

1747 November 6 (Friday).  I preach’d my Lecture from Neh. 10.29.

1747 November 7 (Saturday).  Mr. John Chamberlain here.

1747 November 8 (Sunday).  Sacrament. Before I went to Meeting came the Reverend Mr. Caleb Rice of Sturbridge.  I preach’d a.m. on Song 2.4. Mr. Rice p.m. on Col. 3.3. Mr. Rice lodg’d here.

1747 November 9 (Monday).  Mr. Rice left us to go to Marlborough.  My wife and I accompany’d with old Mr. Whipple and his wife rode up to see old Mr. Thomas Knowlton and his wife.  In my way I went to Mr. Eleazer Bellows to admonish his Daughter Charity for her Repeated Fornication, which Duty I (as I was able) discharg’d and she thank’d me for it.  We call’d also at Mr. Joseph Knowltons. We din’d at Mr. Abraham Knowltons, they having provided purposely very plentifully. As we return’d we call’d at Mr. Joseph Miles’s and at Mr. Gershom Brighams and at Mr. Francis Whipples.  At Eve we return’d in Peace. D.G.

1747 November 10 (Tuesday).  This Day met here the Committee of Ministers appointed by the late Association to look over the Answers which had been given to the Question: What had best to be done to prevent the Threatening Defection in Religion and gather out what may be reduc’d to practice.  They were Mr. Loring, Mr. Cushing and Mr. Stone.  They din’d here.  Mr. Loring pray’d before we began the work.  But we could go no further than to mark and minute the principal Heads without drawing up any Report.  Mr. Loring stay’d all night.  At Evening came one Mr. Rosebrook^[1] from Grafton with a Letter from Mr. Prentice desiring Copys of all the Papers of his Case.  But I wrote to him to come here.

^[1]James Rosborough of Grafton.

1747 November 11 (Wednesday).  A Remarkable Morning, for the Conversation with Mr. Loring upon Christian Experiences — in which he was pleas’d to Relate much of his own.  Mr. Loring din’d with me; as did also Mr. Prentice. N.B. They Two were together whilst I went to the Meeting House and Catechiz’d the Boys. P.M. Catechiz’d the Girls — the few that came.  Ebenezer sows Rye about this Time.

1747 November 12 (Thursday).  I visited Martha Ward^[1] who is in a weak state.  I was also at Mr. Abner Newtons, and at Evening at Deacon Newtons.  Whilst I was gone from home Samuel Hicks^[2] was here as he return’d from Cambridge.  N.B. On Monday morning last I Sold a Young Cow to Mr. John Chamberlin for 15£ old Tenor and last night a Spring Calf for 4£ of like money.

^[1]Daughter of Increase Ward.

^[2]The son of John Hicks of Sutton.

1747 November 13 (Friday).  I rode up to Mr. Bezeleel Eagers to send a Letter to Deacon Whittemore^[1] about his looking out for a Chair for me: and sent it to Captain Saltmarsh’s^[2] by one Randal.  At Eve Mr. Benjamin Goddard here.  N.B. His Discourse that Man by Adam Lost all — Natural Powers and all.

^[1]Samuel Whittemore of Cambridge.

^[2]Thomas Saltmarsh, an innkeeper of Watertown.

1747 November 14 (Saturday).  As it rain’d hard last night, so to Day.  Yet at Evening I rode to Southborough and Mr. Stone hither.

1747 November 15 (Sunday).  I preach’d at Southborough on 2 Cor. 3.15, p.m. on 10.14.17.  Return’d home at Eve. Mr. Stone preach’d on Mat. 16.24 and he also return’d home at Eve.

1747 November 16 (Monday).  Neighbour Ebenezer Maynard kill’d a Pigg for me which at home Weigh’d 64.  His Brother Nathan at Eve went with it to Boston.  My wife and I at Mr. Whipples, his Daughter Lucy^[1] being married this Evening there.  We had an agreeable Supper and Company.  O may we remember the Midnight Cry!^[2]

^[1]Lucy Whipple married Moses Pratt of Hardwick.

^[2][Additional note: Matthew 25:6, “And at midnight there was a cry made.  Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him.”]

1747 November 17 (Tuesday).  I read Mr. Hurrion’s sermons on particular Redemption.^[1]  After Dinner I sat down and wrote some Sketches on the second Commandment which I deliver’d at a Catechetical Exercise to young women this afternoon.  After the Said Exercise I visited Martha Ward who is in a languishing Condition.

^[1]John Hurrion (1675?-1731), an English Congregational minister, wrote The Scripture Doctrine of Particular Redemption Stated and Vindicated in Four Sermons.  When this first appeared is uncertain but it may have been in his Discourses, 3 vols. (London, 1727).

1747 November 18 (Wednesday).  Nathan Maynard who carry’d a Pig to Boston for me, return’d last night and tells me that there was a great uproar and Mobb in Boston by Reason of a certain Man of War coming in there and pressing a great Number of Men the night before.  A very rainy Time till p.m. towards Night. N.B. Mr. James Bowman was going down with an Horse for Forbush at Cambridge and a Letter to Molly — but he was prevented by the Rain. I went down myself as far as to Mr. Bavericks. N.B. My Cambridge Cow which we are fatting, Sick and lame.  Captain Maynard here and at Eve Mr. Daniel Forbush informs that his Brother Jonathan as well as Bowman is going to Boston so that he can lead Molly an Horse down if I desire it.

1747 November 19 (Thursday).  I rode down to Neighbour Bavericks and Captain Warrins.  Sent my mare and Sidesaddle by Mr. Bowman to Molly at Cambridge.  Lieutenant Tainter here to see what is the matter with my Fat Cow.

1747 November 20 (Friday).  Grows Cold, yet it is a pleasant bright Day.  Mr. Jonathan Rogers thrash’d out some of my Rye for himself to Sow.  He din’d with us.

1747 November 21 (Saturday).  Bright and pleasant but Cold and blustering.  Expect Molly from Cambridge and she came at Evening with Forbush from Mr. Strattons at Waltham where they lodg’d having come from Cambridge the Evening before.  They brought me Turretine’s Theol. Elenct.^[1]  3 volumes quarto which Mr. Eliot bought for me of Captain Wadsworth for 5£ old Tenor.

^[1]Franciscus Turretinus, Compendium Theologiae Didactico-Elencticae (Amsterdam, 1695).

1747 November 22 (Sunday).  A. and p.m. on Jer. 8.4.5. O that God would give us a true sense of our Backslidings and recover us that there mayn’t be a perpetual Backsliding!

1747 November 23 (Monday).  [No entry.]

1747 November 24 (Tuesday).  My wife and I visited Martha Ward — and from thence (Lieutenant Tainter there for us) we went over to the marriage of Samuel Baker and Susanna Tainter, at her Fathers.

1747 November 25 (Wednesday).  At Evening came Two Gentlemen with a Letter from Mr. Edwards of Northampton.  By the Letter I found ‘em to be Messrs. Spencer and Strong, who were on their Journey to Boston, being Sent for by the Commissioners of the Corporation for Propagating Christian Knowledge in order to their going upon the mission to the Mohawks.  They lodg’d here but I sent their Horses to Captain Maynards. By my Interruptions

1747 November 26 (Thursday).  was not able to finish my intended Discourse for the General Thanksgiving, which was on this Day, but was oblig’d to take a sermon I preach’d heretofore.  It was on Lev. 3.1 but made several alterations and large Additions.  O that God would be pleas’d to accept the Sacrifice of Praise presented throughout this province to Day! and grant us Grace to improve Divine Benefits and Mercys to the Glory of the Great Bestower.  In the Evening I had Opportunity to converse with our Two Strangers.  Shew’d ‘em Dr. Cotton Mather’s Joyful Sound reaching to both the Indies; containing also an account of the Mission to Malabar, and Dr. Mathers Literary Correspondence with the Missionarys.^[1]  This Book I presented to the Mission to the Mohawks.

^[1]India Christiana. A Discourse, Delivered unto the Commissioners, for the Propagation of the Gospel among the American Indians (Boston, 1721).

1747 November 27 (Friday).  Messrs. Spencer and Strong pursued their Journey to Boston.  I visited Martha Ward again, who continues very weak and low in mind and Body.  She can’t bear anything about her being in Danger of Death, but fills herself with Hopes that She shall recover to Health.  Forbush was here at Evening and brought a Letter from Mr. Martyn desiring we might Change next Lords Day.

1747 November 28 (Saturday).  Went down to Captain Maynards to Satisfie him for keeping the Horses I lately Sent there (viz. Messrs. Spencers and Strongs) but I could not see him, being gone out from home, but I offer’d his son and his wife pay, though they would not take it.  I Sent Martha Ward a Fowl by Daniel Cook, Mr. Nurse’s Boy.

1747 November 29 (Sunday).  I rode over to Mr. Martyn’s and preach’d to his people.  A. and p.m. on 2 Cor. 3.17.18 and finish’d that Subject, which I began among them on March [22] last.  He preach’d to my people on Ezek. 18.32 carrying on the Same Subject as he also began when we chang’d before.  N.B. In the Northside meeting house a pulpit to preach in. Comfortable Day though somewhat Cold. We both of us return’d home at Evening.  May God be pleased to own and Bless our Endeavours! N.B. at Eve I understood that Eliezer Rice went away from Mr. Martyns Exercises again. Neither was his wife at meeting in the afternoon.

1747 November 30 (Monday).  A Cold, windy, but bright Day.  I am not a little concern’d about my keeping such a large Stock of Cattle for though I have sold a Cow and one of the last Spring Calves yet have we 18 Horn Cattle besides our Horses and Sheep, and I fear my Hay will be short for them all.  I therefore walk’d out toward Evening to see if I could either buy Hay or promote the Sale of Some of them or get some kept through the Winter. I went to Mr. Elijah Rice’s and to Mr. Tennys. Call’d at the Shoomaker Garfields and at Neighbour John Chamberlins.  We finish this month with a great deal of Comfort and Health both in person and in Family. Blessed be God!