1755 July 24 (Thursday). In the Morning came Mr. Moses Twitchell to mow again — he undertakes to mow what remains to be mow’d (and which is the Chief of it) of my Newton Meadow, for two Days Work, to which I readily Consent. A.M. I visited Mrs. Judith Bellows. A most amazing scene open’d, when I enter’d into Examination of her and her Daughter Comfort. Mrs. Bellows constantly and very Solemnly Denys that she herself knows what became of the Things which Comfort stole from Belknaps: or that Comfort came by them in a dishonest way. Affirms that what she says is as true as that the Heavens are over her Head and the Earth under her Feet. Comfort with great sorrow and shame confesses She did take the Things in the Way complain’d of: and hopes and prays She shall never be left to such sin and folly again. She says that her Mother did know of it — know as much as She did of it: and knows what became of them. She can’t Say her Mother did burn them but very seriously and solemnly declares that her Mother told her She had burnt them, and can tell what her Mother said at the same time; and that was this, “But I will never be such a fool as to acknowledge it as You have done.” Upon which the Mother added many bitter Reproaches; — persisting in denying what Comfort had affirm’d. I interrogated Mr. Bellows Strictly, whether from all that he had seen and heard about it, he did believe his wife had burnt the Things? He answered that he did. There arose very terrible Contradictions, and exceeding bitter Charges against him — so that I was oblig’d to turn to the Children and enquire of them — as, whether (since Mrs. Bellows complain’d bitterly of her Husbands beating her etc., whether) they had either of them seen their Father Strike their Mother? unless as He had Said he had been forc’d to do. This was prefac’d with Something very Solemn to them and expressing the great unhappiness of Such a Case etc. — They answer’d that they never had. The Woman oft times rose to Such transports of Rage, and behav’d so furiously that I was necessitated to rebuke her Sharply — (having us’d all manner of gentle Methods with her before), and was not able to do anything to any good purpose with her. To my great sorrow and grief left her: with serious Advice and Charge to the poor Man and his unhappy Children. May God of his infinite mercy and Goodness restrain, convince and recover her! P.M. held a Catechetical Exercise to Young Women. 30 Present. Joseph Chaddock kindly help’d me p.m. in Hilling and securing the upland Hay. Mr. Moses Twitchell lodges here.