1749 March 19 (Sunday). After a very cold Night a very bright morning. I preach’d a. and p.m. on Eph. 3.8. N.B. Mr. Putnam,[1] a Lawyer, diets at Mr. Maccartys. N.B. The Church Stop’d at Noon an[d] send me a prayer desiring me to give public Notice of their agreement to have a Contribution on the approaching Fast, for a person that had in years past dwelt in Worcester, but whose dwelling was lately consum’d. This I comply’d with — as well as their Custom of Reading publickly the holy Scriptures. I had purpos’d to tarry over the Sabbath and till Monday at Worcester, but because of the Fast approaching and the great likelihood of another storm, I set out at Eve and rode to Shrewsbury. Met Mr. Maccarty (who preach’d for me on 2 Cor. 6.2, and 2 Epistle of John 10.4). I lodg’d at Mr. Cushings, because of the Snow Storm which now came on. N.B. Master Job[2] went off Friday night was sennight. Mr. Maccarty read Chapter 26 of Genesis and Matthew at Westborough. N.B. My wife went to meeting today; first after her Lying in. God’s Name be prais’d!
[1]James Putnam (Harvard 1746), a native of Danvers, was just beginning his practice in Worcester. He became attorney general of Massachusetts, but fled from the province in 1776 because of his Loyalist sympathies. Lincoln, Worcester, pp. 192-193.
[2]The son of the Reverend Job Cushing of Shrewsbury. See Ward, Shrewsbury, p. 253.