Month: February 1760

1760 February 1 (Friday).  [No entry.]

1760 February 2 (Saturday).  Deacon Tainter brings me from Boston, framed, the City Hambourgh, and the River Elbe.  Also a Letter from my eldest Brother inviting me and my wife to the Marriage of his Daughter Langdon to Mr. Joshua Winter.  The Deacons Neece, Miss Molly Whitney came up with him.

1760 February 3 (Sunday).  Read Job 7, Rom. [blot].  Preached on Song 6.4 a. and p.m.  Dr. Crosby dined here.  Admitted Joseph and Martha Baker into the Church.  Read a paper of gratefull Return from Mr. Jonathan Morse for our Contribution, which he had received.

1760 February 4 (Monday).  My Wife probably hurts her Health by her rising so much before Day.  Yet I highly commend and am used to early rising.  Dr. Moses Baker here p.m.  Also 3 Young French Men.  One of them Edward Robishow of Cambridge.  At Eve young Mr. Tainter, his Wife and Miss Mary Whitney made us a visit, and Supped here.  As did also the Widow How.

1760 February 5 (Tuesday).  My Wife and I rode to Mr. Daniel Hardys to the Private Meeting.  I preached on Mat. 24.12 to page 11, and though it was a rainy dark Day, yet there was a good Number attended.  At Night Mr. Forb. of Brookfield comes from Boston.  He had kept sabbath there.  He preached for Mr. Eliot a.m., for Dr. Sewall p.m.  For the latter he received 10£ old Tenor.

1760 February 6 (Wednesday).  Mr. Forb. went to see his Father.  P.M. he rode to his Aunt Holloways.  Mr. Batherick and Mr. Daniel Adams came to work to make me a Sleigh.  I rode to Mr. Whitneys to get some turned work and dined there.  Visit LeBlanc.  N.B. Delivered Mr. Forb. 2 Dollars on the 29th last, for my Son Ebenezer on Account of an Hat which Mr. Forb. bought for him.

1760 February 7 (Thursday).  Mr. Batheric and Adams on the Sleigh.  Sarah and Suse ride to Capt. Maynards.  Mr. Fessenden having come to visit me last Evening, it was too dark and muddy for him to return to his Lodging.  Therefore he tarried and lodged here.  This morning goes to his School, but he Seems not to be well.  Mr. Ebenezer Wheeler with his Wife’s Verses on the Death of his son.

1760 February 8 (Friday).  Mr. Batherick and Adams on the Sleigh.  My Boys who were sent to School, return home again and say their Master is Sick.  My Workmen by 4 p.m. finish what they are to do in building the Sleigh — and ask 38/ apiece for their work.

1760 February 9 (Saturday).  Master Fessenden sick o’Bed — therefore the Boys return again.  P.M. Mr. Ebenezer Wheeler brings the Thursdays Paper Extraordinary by which it appears that there are Insurrections in Old France, urging Peace with England — and remarkable Speech from the British Throne, expressing the Goodness of God to the Nation in the Remarkable successes of the Last Year.  D.G.

1760 February 10 (Sunday).  Mr. Joseph Baker calls up my Wife at 3 o’Clock in the Morning to assist his Wife in her Labour.  Read Job 8, Rom. 10.  Preached a.m. on Song 6.10, carrying on the Subject of Last Lords Day.  P.M. was not prepared with a New sermon by Means of the Interruptions and Avocations of the Last Week — (but may God forgive my Negligence through Jesus Christ!) On Consideration of the News from Europe preached on Deut. 32.15 with some Alterations.  At Eve Merchant Rice sent for me to Visit him being Sick of a Fever.  And I accordingly went.  My Wife did not return till nigh midnight from Mrs. Baker.

1760 February 11 (Monday).  Visit Mr. Solomon Baker and Wife.  Meet Mrs. Abigail Whipple going to her Daughter Warrin (though not sent for), her Daughter having Sent for Women last night.  And was delivered about Midnight, though her Mother had not heard of it.  An Heart-breaking Thing to the Poor Parents!  I visited Master Fessenden in his sickness, at Mr. Whipples — while I sat there Alex came for me, Mr. Stone being at our House.  I therefore returned — he lodges here.  Is in great Trouble by Reason of the Contentions in Southborough.  Is so worn out that he read a paper to the Church there last Lords Day in which he proposed to ‘em to give up the principal Vote against the Young People who had not Submitted them Selves — And left it to Consideration and was come to advise with me about it.  I could not but be surprized at Such a Proposal, especially so Suddenly.

1760 February 12 (Tuesday).  Mr. Stone and I (at his Request), ride over to Mr. Martyns, and we dined there.  Mr. Martyn as much surprized with and as much against the abovesaid Proposal as I.  We advise him ra[ther?] to withdraw it — and to have a Church Meeting, or a Council than go into this Measure, as their Circumstances are.  I visit Mr. Ebenezer Rice.  Was with Silas Frost at Eve.  Agree with him to get Posts, trim apple Trees.  N.B. Mr. Solomon Baker p.m. trims in my old Orchard.

1760 February 13 (Wednesday).  Alex and Breck thrash Rye one Day after another.  Capt. Jonas Brigham here and acquaints me with Sorrowful Accident of his Brother Levi’s.  About 9 this Morning his son Joseph fell from an Hay-Mow in the Barn; by which he dyed presently.  The Lad was in his 13th year.  May God sanctify it to those that are most nearly concerned and to all round about, but especially to poor thoughtless Youth!  Mr. Francis Robishow and his sister Anne, Modesty Landre and one Dowsett, waited upon by Peter and Ammon Blanc, here.  Mr. John Maynard brings me the Copy of his Wife’s Oath against him, taken before Judge Ward; but he (as he says) not notifyed.

1760 February 14 (Thursday).  Read Dr. John Brown’s Estimate of the Manners and Principles of the Times.  A piece, for Sentiment and Dichon, Seasonableness and Impartiality, highly deserving.  Deacon Tainter fitting Thills to my sleigh.  Mr. Joseph Briant junior from Stoneham.  Mr. Robert Cook from Wrentham here, and renews his Desire that he may be recommended in Order to his Children being baptized — or if that may not be done, that his Wife may be, or that the Children may be baptized here, upon her Account.

1760 February 15 (Friday).  Attended the Funeral of Joseph Brigham.  Viewed the Place where the Lad had his Death’s Wound.  He jumped from a Parcel of Hay on the South Scaffold of the Barn, upon the Mow in the Bay, which being hollow underneath by the pulling away Hay for the Cattle; and Hay having been taken away from the Top of the mow, it was become thin, he fell through, and his Head, most probably, Struck against the Ground cil before where the Cattle stood; his Head when his Father came to him being under the Cill, and Blood came out of his Right Ear.  I gave Some Exhortation and Warning there, to Children and Youth.  At night came my son Baldwin from Boston.  He informs me that My Kinsman Winter was marryed last night to My Cousen Mary Langdon, Widow.

1760 February 16 (Saturday).  Mr. Cook (Robert) was here again to Day, but he went off without Consenting to do any more than he had done heretofore to satisfie us concerning his Repentance for his Past Misconduct.  My Son Baldwin sets out for Brookfield.

1760 February 17 (Sunday).  Read Job 9, Rom. 11.  Preached a. and p.m. on Prov. 4.10 on Occasion of the Late Sudden Death of Joseph Brigham.  Master Fessenden and Mrs. Harrington dined here.

1760 February 18 (Monday).  Visit Mr. Ebenezer Rice who remains Sick of a Fever, and in a Weak and low State, though it is thought there has been a Crisis and he is Somewhat better.  As to his Spiritual State he is full of Resolutions; and hopes he Shall lead a very different Life from what he used to.  His Son Joseph is much better.

1760 February 19 (Tuesday).  I visited Mr. Joseph Greens Daughter Sarah who is in a languishing Condition.  Prayed there.  Mr. Abraham Knowlton there, With whom I have some Conversation concerning the Troubles in the Church of Shrewsbury to which he belongs, respecting Some additional Expressions to their Church’s Covenant.  Wrote to Mr. Winter by Deacon Tainter.  Visited old Mr. Fay and his Wife; and their son and his Wife being ill (as I heard), I the rather made a Visit to them, but Ensign Fay, though he was at the Barn, he did not come in.  Was also to see Mrs. Baker in her New Circumstances.

1760 February 20 (Wednesday).  All my Four Boys go to School, but it is so far (to Mr. Francis Whipples) that it is a great Trouble and Charge.  My Leg remains sore and gives me trouble, though I go about currently with it.

1760 February 21 (Thursday).  Mr. Simon Tainter and Mr. Benjamin Carter, of Sutton here, and acquaint me with their Present state.  Their Parish having of late had a Meeting in which they dismissed (as they who did it supposed) Mr. Welman.  My Wife p.m. visits young Mrs. Baker.  Deacon Tainter returns from Boston with a Team.  His Horses took a start in Framingham and he is wounded sorely in both his Leggs, by the Horses kicking him with their Corks.

1760 February 22 (Friday).  [No entry.]

1760 February 23 (Saturday). [No entry.]

1760 February 24 (Sunday).  Read Job 10, Rom. 12.  Preached a. and p.m. on Isa. 55.1, former part.  Mr. Fessenden dined here.  Stopped the Brethren of the Church to read a Letter from the Church in Cold Spring Signed by Rev. Justus Forward.  No Vote to Comply.  Nor Reason given though the Church were repeatedly desired.  Layed before them the Request of Robert Cook that his Wife might be recommended.  This last was voted.

1760 February 25 (Monday).  Visited Deacon Tainter and Saw his wounds dressed by Dr. Crosby.  Dined there.  P.M. Visited LeBlanc.  Joseph LeBlanc and one Birmingham a Taylor who had been a soldier at Annapolis there.  Mr. Thomas Frost here.  Mr. Wellman dined here, but was gone when I returned home.  School begins at Mr. Hezekiah How’s.

1760 February 26 (Tuesday).  [No entry.]

1760 February 27 (Wednesday).  [No entry.]

1760 February 28 (Thursday).  Hananiah Parker here to talk with me about hiring my old Place.

1760 February 29 (Friday).  Edward Robishow and Joseph Pillarine, two young French Men, dined here.  P.M. Deacon Jason Biglow of Brookfield — the above mentioned Birmingham here.