Month: August 1754

1754 August 1 (Thursday).  Joseph Bowman and Richard Kelly reap’d, bound up and with Mr. Timothy Warrins Team Carted in my Rye — Thomas and Billy helping them.  My Wife rode to Deacon Forbush etc.

1754 August 2 (Friday).  Thomas can make but very Slow Work at the Meadow it being bad to Mow — Billy helps him.  At Night Mr. Solomon Stow brought me from Mr. Kneeland 6 of Clark on Infant Baptism.[1]

[1]Peter Clark, A Defence of the Divine Right of Infant Baptism (Boston, 1752).  Earlier, Clark had published The Scripture-Grounds of the Baptism of Christian Infants (Boston, I735).

1754 August 3 (Saturday).  Thomas and Billy work at the Meadow.

1754 August 4 (Sunday).  Read 1 Sam. 5.  Preach’d on 1 Sam. 4.22.  P.M. read 1 John 5.  Preach’d on Isa. 9.6.  Mr. Foster din’d here.

1754 August 5 (Monday).  Thomas and William at the Meadow Still.  At Eve came one Mr. Jonathan Fuller of Oxford, and brought in a Chair my Neece Mrs. Tabitha Hearsey, who is in great Affliction by reason of her Husband — she is returning to him at Boston at least to See what his Pleasure is about her Goods which were allow’d her at their Parting.  She has also her Daughter Hannah.

1754 August 6 (Tuesday).  My Kinswoman etc. pursue their Journey.  The Lord conduct and defend her!  Being nigh out of Cyder I rode to Mr. Harringtons for supply.  Thomas and Billy mow and rake a little at the Newton Meadow:  and Neighbour Moses Nurse brings up a Load of Hay from thence.  Mrs. Prentice,[1] I hear, at Grafton, and that her Exhortings have Success.

[1]Mrs. Solomon Prentice was one of that fanatic band of “immortals” in the vicinity.  [Additional note: See Ross W. Beales, Jr, “The Ecstasy of Sarah Prentice: Death, Re-Birth, and the Great Awakening in Grafton, Massachusetts” Historical Journal of Massachusetts 26:2 (1997): 101-23.]

1754 August 7 (Wednesday).  Thomas and Billy still at the Meadow.

1754 August 8 (Thursday).  Thomas and Billy at the Meadow this Day also.  Neighbour Moses Nurse Carts a large Load of Hay from thence.  Mr. Thomas Twitchell Examin’d.

1754 August 9 (Friday).  Thomas and Billy went to the Ministerial Meadow and Mow’d the North Side of the Brook, and rak’d up about 9 Cocks, and left about as much more.

1754 August 10 (Saturday).  Thomas and Billy were going to the Meadow to rake the rest which they left Yesterday, and to bring it home but it prov’d a rainy Day.  Mr. Bond brought a Load of Boards from Mr. Jonathan Forbush’s Mill; the Boards of those Loggs which I had last Winter of Mr. John Kelley of Hopkinton.

1754 August 11 (Sunday).  Read 1 Sam. 6.  Preach’d on Chapter 4.22.  Mr. Foster din’d here.  P.M. read 2 John.  Preach’d on Rev. 1.18.  May God add his Special Blessing!

1754 August 12 (Monday).  Thomas and Billy went in the morning to the Ministerial Meadow to look after the Hay which they lately Cut there — but they were drench’d by that time they rak’d up the Rest of the Hay — a very Heavy Rain.

1754 August 13 (Tuesday).  I rode to Mr. Thomas Chaddocks, who being ill had desir’d Prayers.  N.B. Mr. Samuel Wood late Miller of Upton there.  Visit at Gashitts also.  When I return’d at Eve Mrs. Hephzibah Maynard here.  Desires me to try what I can do to reconcile Abijah Gale and Isaac Amsden.

1754 August 14 (Wednesday).  N.B. Thomas with Ebenezer’s Team and Help brings home the last Load of Hay from the Ministerial Meadow.  Thomas goes p.m. to help Ebenezer but is not well.  I visited Ensign Mathis of Southborough and came home by Isaac Amsdens, Esquire Liscombs, and Mr. Abijah Gales, calling at those places; and endeavouring what I could a Reconcilement.

1754 August 15 (Thursday).  Lieutenant Tainter plaistering at the Sides of the Pulpit, din’d here.  Mr. Thaddeus Gale here about his Brothers Affair.  Mr. Jonathan Bond comes from Boston with a Letter from Mr. Joshua Winter informing me that my Neece Mrs. Lydia Davis at Halifax dyed of a Dropsie July 3 last.  Mr. Jonas Twitchell here to be Examin’d.

1754 August 16 (Friday).  Sent Billy over to help his Brother Ebenezer in his Harvest and haying.

1754 August 17 (Saturday).  Very Rainy Day.  Concern’d about Billy who went from his Brother’s to Mr. Hows — and thence he went out upon the Great Pond a fishing, and did not return to them till Even, till Dark — and not to us till

1754 August 18 (Sunday).  Next Morning — when he came Safely.  Read 1 Sam. 7.  Preach’d on Rev. 1.18 a. and p.m.  Read third John.  Mr. Foster etc. din’d here.

1754 August 19 (Monday).  Sent to Mr. Barret by Mr. Daniel Hardy to desire his Company to Ministers Meeting to morrow morning at Mr. Martyns.  At Eve Suse to t’other House.  Read Universal Magazine.[1]  Let Mr. Thaddeus Gale my Chair to go to Worcester.

[1]The Universal Magazine, begun in London in 1747, continued to be published for the rest of the century.

1754 August 20 (Tuesday).  Association at Mr. Martyns.  No Mr. Barrett: but he sent me a Letter that he would endeavour to come at Eve or tomorrow Morning.  Those who attended were Messrs. Cushing,[1] Stone, Smith[2] and Davis.[3]  The Conversation was chiefly with Mr. Davis about his Contract with his People and his Satisfaction with it.  We all lodg’d at Mr. Martyns.  N.B. Mr. Martyn much out of Health.

[1]Job Cushing of Shrewsbury.

[2]Aaron Smith of Marlborough.

[3]Joseph Davis of Holden.

1754 August 21 (Wednesday).  Mr. Barrett came not — I was oblig’d to preach the Public Lecture.  Text was Heb. 11.6.  Major Keys and Sir Foster[1] with us.  May God grant to all of us a Right and part in that better Country!  and may we seek it in a proper Manner!  N.B. Conversation after Dinner about Mr. Morse’s Letter to me about Mr. Silas Brigham — it was advis’d that I let the Matter run and not meddle with it, till more be done by Mr. Morse[2] at Shrewsbury Church.  When I return’d with Mr. Foster Stop’d at t’other House where was my Wife and we drank Tea there.

[1]Abiel Foster (Harvard 1756), later became the minister of Canterbury, N.H.

[2]The Reverend Ebenezer Morse of Boylston.

1754 August 22 (Thursday).  I sent Billy to work with his Brother, but being not well he return’d home.  Early in the Morning I rode to Lieutenant Fays on my son Thomas’s Affair.  The Painter at the Meeting House having Colour’d the Pulpit 3 Times over return’d to Billerica from whence he came to us last Monday Eve.  Dull Cloudy Weather.  Prevents Ebenezers Busness in his Hay.  P.M. made a Visit to Mr. Williams on the account of the great Changes and Sudden, in his Circumstances for though he lost his Wife so lately, he is out-publish’d to another.  At Eve Mr. Phinehas Hardy Treasurer for the Precinct, came to reckon, and he receiv’d a Receipt from me in full of what the Precinct had voted Except the Deficiency in Mr. Bigelows Rates but including the Deficiency in Bruces.  Mr. Baldwin finishes his work at the Meeting House.  The Pulpit and the fronts of the Gallerys, Ministerial Pew and Deacon’s seat.  Likewise Three Pews for particular persons, viz. Deacon Newtons, Mr. Bonds, and Esquire Bakers.  Mr. Adams is building Three more.

1754 August 23 (Friday).  Mr. Baldwin and his ‘prentice comes to work for me — to plain and Joint Boards for Chamber floor — and a number of Small Jobbs.  Sent Billy to Ebenezer.

1754 August 24 (Saturday).  Mr. Baldwin and his ‘prentice are here at work.  Mr. Thaddeus Gale return’d my Chair (See on the 19th).  His Father and Captain Elisha Jones Din’d here.  P.M. Great storm of Rain.  I rode to Southborough at Eve and Mr. Stone came here.

1754 August 25 (Sunday).  Mr. Stone and I ‘chang’d.  I preach’d at Southborough on Heb. 11.16, baptiz’d Edmund the Son of [blank] Moors — and Mr. Stone preach’d on Rev. 3.18, and baptiz’d Mr. William Pierce’s Daughter Mary.  We each of us return’d home at Eve.

1754 August 26 (Monday).  Mr. Baldwin and Elisha Jones went off.  Trooping at the North End.

1754 August 27 (Tuesday).  My Wife and I rode to the South part of the Town to visit Mr. Grow and his Wife who were Sick and Mrs. Mary Stewart — likewise Mr. Bowman and Mr. Thomas Twitchell.  Return’d home at Eve.  While we were gone Mr. Martyn here.  N.B. Mr. Baldwin went to Brookfield.  Billy helps Ebenezer.

1754 August 28 (Wednesday).  Mr. Martyn and his Wife came and din’d with us, and he came to preach my Lecture which he did though my asking him was but implicit and not direct — but he seems to be reconcil’d — but we act an odd part towards one another — afraid of lisping the least word of our uneasiness.  He preach’d on Gal. 2.20, a very good sermon — May God give his Blessing!  I am much oblig’d to his Wife for her pains to have us reconcil’d.  But my thoughts were much engag’d upon the Situation of the Affair.  Our Conduct is as if nothing had happen’d.  I am concern’d at the Frame we must needs be both of us in, especially as the Communion in their Church as well as ours hastens.  But I have very much discharg’d my Duty, I think, in my last Letter to him: and I am taught by the Word and by the Example of Christ to be free to forgive even innumerable Trespasses: I learn that ‘tis the Glory of a Man to overlook a transgression, and that Charity Covers a Multitude of sins.  As to his making me Satisfaction for such undeserv’d Insults, though I ought to claim it, yet I conceive I had better forego my own personal Right than endanger the Public Peace and the Success of our Ministry — on these Considerations and dreading the grim Mischiefs of our being at Variance, I deny myself and yield the matter of making Demands of him, or shewing any Resentments, Earnestly begging of God Grace, Direction and forgiveness to Each of us.  And O that we might have Fellowship one with another and that the Blood of Christ would Cleanse us from all sin!

1754 August 29 (Thursday).  Billy is Still helping his Brother Ebenezer who is about his Hay yet.

1754 August 30 (Friday).  Mr. Baldwin return’d from Brookfield and lodges here.  Retir’d and Somewhat devoted — but alas!  how Imperfectly!

1754 August 31 (Saturday).  Billy help’d his Brother Yesterday and to Day, and he is now almost done Haying.