1750 May 21 (Monday). Mr. Hutchinson to Grafton. My Wife and I to Mr. Beemans raising his Barn. Ebenezer and Joseph there. After Dinner we went to Lieutenant Bruce’s to move his Barn. Whilst I was there came Lieutenant Tainter, and told me we had Some other Duty to attend, for that poor Jonas Child had hang’d himself and was Dead: and it was desir’d that I would go to his House forthwith. I did So, Mrs. Parkman with me. I went up to the Scaffold and Saw him (miserable Creature!) a ghastly, lifeless Corps. How awful the Dispensation! One of the Members of the Church! God’s Judgments are a great Deep! unsearchable! and his Ways past finding out! A multitude were gather’d, and the Coroner came, Lieutenant Hezekiah Ward, the distress’d widow and Relatives desiring it, I pray’d with them and took Leave. May the Lord (of his infinite Mercy) Sanctifie this terrible Stroke to us all! Tis very worthy of my Notice that I have never had opportunity to Speak with this poor Man in all this Time of his perplexity and Temptation though I have been to his House to see him one Time after another. It fills me with Grief and Trouble. O that we might all be quicken’d — to a consciencious Discharge of every Duty; careful improvement of the Day and Means of Grace; watchfulness against the Snares and Temptations of the Devil; against quenching the holy Spirit of Grace, or so much as grieving the Spirit or provoking Him to withdraw from us. Jury Satt up all night.