February 2, 1749

1749 February 2 (Thursday).  My Wife grows better, one Day after another.  Reflected on the Sorrows of my Family when my former wife was bury’d, this Day 13 Years agoe.  Old Mr. Maynard here just after we had weigh’d the Infant, weight 10 1/2.  At Eve Mr. John Chamberlin here.  Also Mr. Eliezer Rice and wife — these last supp’d with me.

February 7, 1749

1749 February 7 (Tuesday).  I rode to Southborough and din’d at Mrs. [sic] Stone’s.[1]  His Wife had the Mid-wife with her, but the Women had dispers’d to their Several Homes.  I proceeded in my Journey to Sudbury — to Deacon Mores to get him to die a larger Deer skin for me.  I went at Eve to Mr. Lorings,[2] his son Nathan’s Wife ill.  The old Gentleman in Trouble about some New Dissentions in his Parish (Several members of Mr. Bliss’s Church at Concord desir’d to partake at their Communion but were deny’d).  I lodg’d there.

[1]The Reverend Nathan Stone.

[2]The Reverend Israel Loring of Sudbury.

February 8, 1749

1749 February 8 (Wednesday).  I found the way to Mr. Jotham Browns — but he was not at home — din’d with his Wife and talk’d about my son Thomas’s living there.  P.M. I went to Mr. Abijah Haynes’s — and the Storm increasing very tediously I consented to their repeated Invitation to tarry there — lodg’d with one Puffer in that House on a Visit but belonging to Castle William.  N.B. read the new Act about Silver Money — account of Lord Lovat.[1]

[1]Simon Fraser, twelfth Lord Lovat (1667?-1747), was a notorious Jacobite schemer and the author of numerous works published in England.

February 9, 1749

1749 February 9 (Thursday).  A rugged morning — went to Mr. Browns again.  He agreed to take Thomas.  I had Mr. William Rice’s Company from Mr. Lorings.  Din’d at Deacon More’s.  When I got up to Dr. Gotts heard that Mr. Stones[1] Spouse is given over.  Call’d at Mr. Smiths.[2]  When I got home found there had been Three sorrowful messages.  A man from Mr. Stones to desire me to visit him in his Affliction.  One or Two from Mr. Tomlin, his Child being Dead, and a Letter from Holden concerning an appointed Fast there on occasion of the Throat Distemper at which they desire my assistance.

[1]The Reverend Nathan Stone of Southborough.

[2]The Reverend Aaron Smith of Marlborough.

February 10, 1749

1749 February 10 (Friday).  In the morning visit Brother Stone — his wife departed yesterday p.m.  A very sore Breach upon him — May God Support him and afford all needed Mercy to him and his dear Children!  Mr. Noah Brooks[1] here going to Mr. Martyn to desire him to administer the Lord’s Supper to the Church of Grafton.  Our Infant Child has a somewhat bad Sore Mouth.  Attended the Funeral of Mr. Tomlins Child.  Mrs. Thankful Maynard watch’d.

[1]The son of Ebenezer Brooks of Grafton.

February 11, 1749

1749 February 11 (Saturday).  Disappointed of Changing tomorrow with Mr. Martyn.  I did what I could to prepare my Self.  But at about 11 at night came Mr. Ebenezer Johnson from Southborough requesting me to change tomorrow with Mr. Minot[1] of Concord, who would preach at Acton and Mr. Swift[2] for Mr. Smith.  Mr. Smith would come to supply my place whilst I should go to Southborough.  Accordingly

[1]Timothy Minot (Harvard 1718), a Concord schoolmaster who preached occasionally.  Sibley, VI, 257-258.  See Shattuck, Concord, p. 164.

[2]The Reverend John Swift, Jr., of Acton.

February 12, 1749

1749 February 12 (Sunday).  I rode to Southborough and met Mr. Smith coming here.  I preach’d for Mr. Stone (who was present) on occasion of his dear Spouse’s Decease.  Text a.m. Ez. 24.16.[1]  P.M. on Mat. 24.44.[2]  Mr. Nicols of Boston among us.  I return’d at Eve.

[1][Additional note: Ezekiel 24:16, “Son of man, behold, I take away from thee the desire of thine eyes with a stroke: yet neither shalt thou mourn nor weep, neither shall thy tears run down.”]

[2][Additional note: Matthew 24:44, “Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh.”]

February 13, 1749

1749 February 13 (Monday).  This was the Sorrowful Day of the Funeral of Mrs. Judith Stone, the amiable and lovely Spouse of my Brother Stone of Southborough.  Mr. Cushing and Mr. Martyn came and though a Snowy Time I went with them to the House of Mourning.  The Reverend Mr. Loring pray’d.  The Pall Bearers were plac’d thus Mr. Loring and Mr. Cushing, Mr. Barrett[1] and I, Mr. Martyn and Mr. Smith.  The carrying Bearers were Justice Liscomb[2] and Deacon Amsden,[3] Deacon Woods[4] and Captain Brigham.[5]  There were several other ministers besides the foremention’d.  Mr. Perkins[6] of Bridgewater, Mr. Cotton[7] of Woburn, Mr. Swift of Acton, Mr. Reed of Framingham, besides Mr. Weld[8] of Attlebury who was the deceaseds Brother in Law.  May God take up his Dwelling with and Comfort the Mournfull Husband, take up the Motherless Children and remember them in his gracious Covenant and awaken all survivers to a diligent preparation for our own Decease!  Mr. Cushing return’d home with me.  Found my son Ebenezer from Harvard, there.

[1]The Reverend Samuel Barrett of Hopkinton.

[2]Samuel Lyscom or Lyscomb, a justice of the peace.

[3]John Amsden.

[4]David Woods.

[5]Timothy Brigham.

[6]The Reverend Daniel Perkins (Harvard 1717), the minister of Bridgewater, 1721-1782.  Sibley, VI, 208-211.

[7]The Reverend Josiah Cotton (Harvard 1722), the minister of Woburn, 1747-1756.  Sibley, VII, 50-56.

[8]The Reverend Habijah Savage Weld (Harvard 1723), the minister of Attleborough, 1727-1782.  Sibley, VII, 268-272.

February 14, 1749

1749 February 14 (Tuesday).  I rode up to Mr. Cushings, who was sent to also by the Reverend Mr. Davis and the Church and people under his Care, to assist in the Services of the intended Fast at Holden, on account of the Throat Distemper lately among them.  We had a Cold Ride — called at Mr. Phinehas Haywoods — found ‘em all well at Mr. Davis’s, though their Neighbours were very distress’d.  An exceeding Cold Night.

February 15, 1749

1749 February 15 (Wednesday).  In the Morning came Mr. Buckminster[1] and Mr. Maccarty.  The Public Exercises of the Fast were carry’d on thus, Mr. Davis began with prayer.  I preach’d on Rev. 6.8.  Mr. Buckminster pray’d after sermon.  P.M. Mr. Maccarty pray’d, Mr. Cushing preach’d on [blank] and I concluded.  Mr. Cushing and I lodg’d at Mr. Davis’s.

[1]The Reverend Joseph Buckminster of Rutland.

February 16, 1749

1749 February 16 (Thursday).  The Weather somewhat Moderator.  Mr. Cushing was my Company to Shrewsbury.  We went in to see Mrs. Crosby (Mr. David Crosbys Wife) and in talking of the Marriage of her Daughter Sarah to Robert Cook, I told her that his Brother Jonathan Certify’d me in the presence of the Company at the wedding that she (Mrs. Crosby) did give her Consent to it: but Mrs. Crosby said she did not, but that Robert had obtained her leave to court her Daughter, and nothing else but that he had come and ask’d her Pardon, as to anything he had offended her in.  Din’d at Mr. Cushings — preach’d the Lecture for him on Rom. 8.7.  Cold and Stormy p.m. and at Eve.  I rode home in a snow storm.  Mrs. Molly Martyn here.  She came yesterday — she was brought by Ebenezer and Forbush — and there had been considerable Company besides here.

February 17, 1749

1749 February 17 (Friday).  Cold and blustering.  P.M. Mr. Martyn sent his Lad for Mrs. Molly, who therefore accordingly left us.  N.B. I brought home from Holden the bloody Assizes in the West,[1] and an Epitome of Ecclesiastical History.[2]

[1]James Bent, The Bloody Assizes: or, a Compleat History of the Life of George Lord Jeffries (London, 1689).  There were several later editions.

[2][John Shirley], An Epitome of Ecclesiastical History (London, 1692).  Shirley had previously published Ecclesiastical History Epitomized . . . Part the First (London, 1682).

February 21, 1749

1749 February 21 (Tuesday).  Visit Mr. Benjamin Hows Family, 2 or 3 of his Children being under the Throat Distemper, especially Betty.  At Eve Mr. [blank] Stone of Lexington (about to marry Hannah Holloway) here, with Gideon Hayward, to invite Ebenezer and Molly to Wedding tomorrow, but Ebenezer was gone (this Day) to Harvard again.  My Mare Lame which proves no small Trouble.

February 24, 1749

1749 February 24 (Friday).  I rode over to Deacon Forbush’s — din’d at his son Jonathan’s — proceeded as far as to Mr. Thomas Chaddocks (at Hopkinton) — agreed with him about his Son Thomas’s living with me.  This was an Affair of great Necessity because my son Thomas has tarried so long at home that there are severall Dangers by means of it; and I foresee that I can’t go in the beginning of the week — but then indeed my son must (if possible) go away.  Yet it was not without some regret that I left my study having been almost throughout the week hitherto, so hinder’d.  At Lieutenant Tainters at Evening.

February 26, 1749

1749 February 26 (Sunday).  Oblig’d to take some old preparations for both a. and p.m.  What I had endeavour’s to prepare not being ripened.  I therefore repeated sermon from Ps. 78.11 on Occasion of the Throat Distemper being among us again at Mr. Hows — Betty How dead and 2 more Children sick there.  Mr. Upham, Mr. Lawrence and Mr. Chaddock din’d here.  Mr. Chaddock brought his son Thomas to live here with me.

February 27, 1749

1749 February 27 (Monday).  It being proprietors meeting at Marlborough to Day, I thought it best (as Solomon directs Prov. 25.9) to go over to Mr. Charles Rice’s to talk with him about the Land which Lieutenant Hezekiah Ward had taken up for me on the plain.  He shewed me his Deeds, but had not the Plott which was needed.  Sent by Mr. Ebenezer Rice for some Number of Things to Boston.  Call’d to visit Mr. Williams.[1]  My Mare Lame yet.  Stopp’d the Church to offer Mr. Lawrence[2] and Mrs. Oak’s[3] Desire to be dismiss’d to Bolton, and to quicken the Church again in contributing at Communion.

[1]Eleazer Williams.

[2]Both Mr. and Mrs. Benjamin Lawrence were dismissed to the Bolton church.

[3]Mrs. Nathaniel Oake.