March 1, 1755

1755 March 1 (Saturday).  Lieutenant Maynard with two Stout Teams, brought 6 Load of Wood.  P.M. I attended the Funeral of Mr. Joseph Farr of Southborough, Mr. Stone being gone to Boston.  I proceeded to Mr. Stones having agreed to change with him.  He came home before Night — but so tir’d he tarried at Home.

March 2, 1755

1755 March 2 (Sunday).  In the Morning he rode up to Westborough and preach’d here.  I preach’d at Southborough on Zech. 1.5 and John 12.35, occasion’d by the late Death of the Venerable Mr. Stone[1] of Harwich Aet. 88.  At Eve I return’d home — call’d to see Mr. Ephraim Bruce’s Child which he told me Yesterday had a Pin Stuck across the Throat — but now they can’t tell what is come of it — they suppose it Swallow’d.

[1]The Reverend Nathaniel Stone (Harvard 1690) had served Brewster (Harwich), 1700-1755.

March 3, 1755

1755 March 3 (Monday).  Although it was Town Meeting Day, yet I went away Somewhat Early to Visit Mr. Zebulun Rice — call’d at Mr. Grouts and Mr. Phinehas Hardy’s.  Mr. Zebulun Rice gone to Town Meeting at Upton — his Wife also from Home.  Visit Mr. Ebenezer Miller and Mr. Moses Warrin din’d at the House of the Latter.  N.B. My Wife indispos’d.

March 9, 1755

1755 March 9 (Sunday).  Read 1 Sam. 28.  Preach’d a.m. Isa. 9.6.  The mighty God.  Administer’d the Lords Supper.  P.M. Read Rev. 22, and preach’d on number 22.  Had an Exceeding great Weight upon my Spirits last night especially concerning my own state and Frame.  Had a great Relief in my Mind as to my sermons (their being prepar’d Seasonably) having Spent the week very much in Work — and got them done before the Sabbath.  D.G.

March 12, 1755

1755 March 12 (Wednesday).  I rode to Mr. William Nurse’s expecting to hear Mr. Cushing there but the Meeting which was appointed to be there to Day was put by; the Snow being So deep and very uncomfortable Travelling.  Mr. Ebenezer Nurse went with me.  Visited the Widow Whitney, and at Mr. Eleazer Pratts.  The Field Officers return from Mendon at Eve.

March 13, 1755

1755 March 12 (Wednesday).  I rode to Mr. William Nurse’s expecting to hear Mr. Cushing there but the Meeting which was appointed to be there to Day was put by; the Snow being So deep and very uncomfortable Travelling.  Mr. Ebenezer Nurse went with me.  Visited the Widow Whitney, and at Mr. Eleazer Pratts.  The Field Officers return from Mendon at Eve.

March 14, 1755

1755 March 14 (Friday).  Mr. George Bruce Sheriff call’d here.  He had been with an Execution against Jonas Bradish, who is Bondsman for Mr. Ebenezer Rice.  It gives me much Grief, as Mr. Rice has behav’d himself So ingenuously among us.  Mr. Bruce acquaints me that Mr. Dorrs[1] Family at Mendon is in great Affliction by the illness of Mrs. Katy, at her sister Tafts[2] in Braintree.  It is far from a New Observation that this World is full of Changes, nor is it Strange that we are So unaffected with them.

[1]The Reverend Mr. Joseph Dorr.

[2]Katherine was the daughter of the Reverend Mr. Dorr.  Her sister, Mary, married Moses Taft (Harvard 1751), the minister of Randolph, 1752-1791.

March 16, 1755

1755 March 16 (Sunday).  Exceeding Cold Morning.  Read a.m. 1 Sam. 28.  Preach’d on Rev. 22.17, a. and p.m.  Several persons more than our own Family   at Dinner.  P.M. appointed a Church-Meeting for the Choice of a Deacon or Deacons to be next Thursday come sennight at 1 o’Clock p.m.  In the Evening began my Preparations for the Fast.

March 22, 1755

1755 March 22 (Saturday).  Mr. Martyn Sent his Son Richard with a Letter (in Soft Stile) complaining of my not visiting them — to which I return’d a like answer: but as he also acquainted me therein that he could not change with me next Sabbath (being previously engag’d to Mr. Cushing) I was oblig’d to prepare as well as I could to preach at home.

March 25, 1755

1755 March 25 (Tuesday).  My Wife and I rode over in my Chair to Mr. Martyns.  Carry’d the Preceptor[1] Volume 1, and din’d there, it raining hard p.m. and at Eve we tarry’d and lodg’d there.  N.B. No word with him of the angry Letters of Last Year to this Day.

[1]Robert Dodsley, The Preceptor: Containing A general Course of Education, 2 vols. (London 1748).  A preface to this work was written by Dr. Samuel Johnson.

March 27, 1755

1755 March 27 (Thursday).  This Day the Church Met to choose Deacons.  I prepar’d somewhat to deliver on that Occasion, but it was brief and broken.  N.B. Mr. Whitney and Deacon Forbush are concern’d, and talk with me before the Meeting about Lieutenant Tainter, who they Say, would be like to be voted for, for one were it not for Something which divers Brethren have heard from him about his paying me (one way or another) a matter of 16 or 17£ upon the Score of the North sides Rates which Should have been paid me in the Year 1744: but which is not so accepted by me.  I open’d the Meeting with Prayer.  Read Acts 6 to 7, and 1 Tim. 3.8 to 14 and deliver’d what I had prepared.  Brother Whitney chose by 19 out of 25 — then try’d for another, but the Votes were scattering, viz. 6 for Lieutenant Tainter, 6 for Mr. Francis Whipple, 6 for Mr. Jonathan Bond, the rest were for Esquire Baker, Jonathan Forbush junior, Daniel Forbush and David Maynard junior.  We try’d again — but still no Choice: they were 12 for Lieutenant Tainter, 10 for Mr. Bond, 4 for Mr. Whipple.  Try’d again also in Vain; there being now 12 for Mr. Bond, 11 for Lieutenant Tainter — 2 for Mr. Whipple and one for Jonathan Forbush junior.  We try’d once more and Mr. Bond was chose by 16 votes — only 6 for Lieutenant, the rest for Whipple and Jonathan Forbush junior.  Both Mr. Whitney and Mr. Bond modestly refus’d, but their answer was desir’d to be deferr’d to this Day fortnight to which Time the Meeting was adjourn’d.  The Disposal of the Lot is of the Lord.  At Eve Mr. Jacob Sweetzer of Rutland here, and lodg’d — his Horse at Mr. Nurse’s.  Billy brings home sad News of Betty Bimelock (Indian) Murdering her Child about six weeks old.

March 30, 1755

1755 March 30 (Sunday).  Read 1 Sam. 31.  Text Isa. 9.6.  The Everlasting Father.  P.M. no reading.  The Exercise was from Rev. 1.3 in which I deliver’d an Extract from Mr. Lowman on the whole Book of Revelation.[1]  N.B. Mr. Jonah Warrin in Distress about his Daughter Sarah again, came to me at noon and desir’d public prayers.  N.B. One Mr. Sheldon of Litchfield in Connecticut at Meeting p.m.  At Eve I visited Sarah Warrin and pray’d with her.

[1]Moses Lowman (1680-1752) was an English non-conformist divine who published A Paraphrase and Notes on the Revelation of St. John (London, 1737).

March 31, 1755

1755 March 31 (Monday).  I visited Sarah Warrin again.  The Difficultys in my own Family very great on account of our being kept out of Money and Wanting many necessarys — but Desire to keep up my Spirits, hoping in an infinitely Mercifull and gracious God.  My Wife lame by the Humors falling into a Blister on one of her Legs, on which she was endeavouring to make an issue.  N.B. at Eve a great Light as of Some Burning.  It appear’d in the North East.