1754 January 23 (Wednesday). Mr. Joseph Bruce here on occasion of his son in Law Child his Thigh broke. I sent a Line by him to Mr. Francis Whipple containing my Desire to have a Clause inserted in the Warrant for the next Town Meeting relating to their Arrears. I went to the Funeral of the Reverend Dr. David Goddard of Leicester; who was bury’d from his Wife’s House in Framingham. The Reverend Mr. Read[1] pray’d. He and the Reverend Messrs. Stone, Bliss[2] and Bridge,[3] with Dr. Ebenezer Hemingway[4] were the other Bearers. Mr. Ebenezer Goddard lies very bad of the same Fever. News also came that Mr. Benjamin Goddard, who was with me yesterday, was taken sick as soon as he got home; and for the Time is very ill. May a gracious God fit us for His holy will! In the Eve the Mare I rode, Stray’d away from Colonel Buckminsters[5] where we turn’d in to warm us, and drew up some account of Mr. Goddards Death; which was committed to Mr. Bliss to carry Mr. Kneeland at Boston to publish.[6] I lodg’d at the Colonel’s.
[1]Solomon Reed of Framingham.
[2]Daniel Bliss of Concord.
[3]Matthew Bridge of Framingham.
[4]Ebenezer Hemenway was a physician of Framingham. Clair A. H. Newton, Ralph Hemmenway . . . and his Descendants (Naperville, Ill., 1932), I, 16.
[5]Colonel Joseph Buckminster, a leading citizen of Framingham.
[6]This news item appears not to have been published.