Month: March 1769

1769 March 1 (Wednesday).  Jonas brings home the broken Remains of my Sleigh, but I refused to accept of it as mine.  Went to Mr. Arnolds and acquainted him and his Wife, and their young man Chamberlin, that I did not receive these broken pieces, as my Sleigh.

1769 March 2 (Thursday).  Though it was a Storm, and the Snow and Rain beating fiercely, yet Mr. Batherick acquainting me with the low state of Rebecca Hardy, and with her Desire to see me, I rode to Mrs. Adams’s, where she lies sick; conversed with, examined, instructed and Cautioned, I also charged her and Prayed with her.  Then returned to my Study.

1769 March 3 (Friday).  Ben. Gott Maynard here several Days.

1769 March 4 (Saturday).  [No entry.]

1769 March 5 (Sunday).  A Storm of Rain.  Preached a. and p.m. on Prov. 4.18.  Mrs. Maynard dined here.  Old Mr. John McAllister dyed this Morning at Northborough.  Above 90.  David (son of Gershom) Fay came over with the Information.  He came here, went to Meeting a.m., dined here; and p.m. went to Northborough again.  Rebecca Hardy in a very low state.  Receive a Packet of Letters from Rochester.

1769 March 6 (Monday).  Town Meeting.  Lt. Harrington and Mr. Daniel Forbes came in the Town’s Name, to desire me to go and pray with them.  This I did.  There is an Article in the Warrant concerning helping me, especially as to Wood — but they adjourn.  I am reading the Lives of two remarkable publick Friends, viz. Samuel Bownas, and John Richardson.  Sent me by the Potters at Leicester.

1769 March 7 (Tuesday).  I visit Rebekah Hardy again.  Rode with the Doctor in his Sleigh.  At first sight of me She said, She was just gone.  I talked closely with her, having desired the people all to go out.  Had some Discourse with Mr. Gale about her.  Prayed with her.  P.M. Preached at Deacon Woods on Eccl. 12.7, which may God bless!

1769 March 8 (Wednesday).  Numbers of Persons, both on the 6th and to day come for Notes to the Constable.  Adjournment of the Town Meeting.  N.B. They do not grant my Petition.  Messrs. Chamberlin and Belknap here at Eve to inform me of it, and Shew me their Regret that it was not obtained.  Ensign Snow was here also.  I am sorry on the Account of the People as well as my own.  They will not consider what a Loss it is to themselves.  I desire to committ my Self and Family, and chiefly my work to the Great and good God — who will care for me; and in His Name I would go on Chearfully notwithstanding.  Hear that Rev. Rice of Westminster is like to loose his Hand.  Tis said it is to be cutt off to Day.  May he obtain Almighty Grace and Support!

1769 March 9 (Thursday).  Though it was a raw cold season I made another Visit to Rebecca Hardy, and had as much Conversation with her as her very difficult, distressed Case would admitt of.  Was close with her.  Would fain do her some Good.  Would (by the Grace of God) save my own soul and them that hear me.  Prayed with her, and with Fervency.  She seems sensible her Time is very short.  May the Lord prepare her!

1769 March 10 (Friday).  My having been taken off so much obliges Me to give my self to Diligent Study in Sermonizing.

1769 March 11 (Saturday).  Rebecca is yet alive.  Wants to see me again.  I went to her, though through much Difficulty.  The Weather very Tedious, Cold, windy.  Dr. Hawes there.  Conversed with her again upon the like subject as before.  Some Confession of peculiar sin.  Mr. Gale and his Wife there.  Praid with her, and that she might be forgiven.

1769 March 12 (Sunday).  Read Jer. 41.  Preached on Prov. 4.18.  P.M. Read Rom. 14.  Delivered an Exercise from Luke 12.5, gathered from Preparations on that Text, but omitted and altered as the different Occasions required.  May God accept and bless etc.!  Read Mr. James Mellens Paper signed by Messrs. Barrett and Prentice.  Ruth Bellows at Eve.

1769 March 13 (Monday).  Visit Rebecca Hardy once more.  Dr. Hawes and his Wife there.  Rebecca not Capable of saying much.  What she says is very broken, much of it unintelligible: most of her Time either sleeps, or crys out.  Her Legs dressed, her feet appear partly dead alread[y], some part of her Toes are mortifyed, as the Doctor judges, and the Ends are already black.  Her right Hand, he says, he could not perceive any Pulse in for many Dayes, though there is in her left.  I committ her to [sic] hardly thinking I shall see her alive any more.  I returned home.  Met Mr. Gale who had dined at our House.  At Eve hear Rebecca is Dead.  Capt. Baker of Bolton here, Mr. Edwards Whipple also.  Capt. Benjamin Fay offers to pay me some money.  He delivers me twelve Dollars and I gave him a Note to Constable Newton.

1769 March 14 (Tuesday).  Mr. James Cook visits me p.m.  Much Discourse of Newtown etc.

1769 March 15 (Wednesday).  Rebecca Hardy was buryed a.m.  I attended and prayed.  Mr. Tainter, Mrs. Maynard, Miss Sarah Adams and Miss Patty Warrin dined here.  I had sent to Mr. Whitney to come and preach my Lecture, but he did not.  I hear he has a Lecture to Day himself.  I preached on Joh. 14.21.  O that I might feel the divine Energy of the Word of God and that all my hearers might!  It was a considerable full Congregation.  I read to the People the Paper of the prizers of the late Capt. Ellis’s Estate, and what Mr. James Mellen was to have out of it for keeping the old Folks.  This was read in order to remove the Prejudices in the Minds of Persons which might prevent Contributing to his Relief.  Capt. Maynard and his Wife here after Meeting.  They sent us 25 1/4 pounds of Pork to Day, which I not knowing any thing about, till they were gone, did not so much as thank them for.

1769 March 16 (Thursday).  Mrs. Dolly Rice visits us.  At Night, in the Rain, my son Baldwin.  John sleds a Maple Log to Mill which Mr. Barns has given me, having been brought here from his Swamp as Fire Wood by the Baker-Team.

1769 March 17 (Friday).  He returns home to Brookfield having been gone a great while, ever since last Monday was sennight; with Cattle, and Pork, to Boston.

1769 March 18 (Saturday).  [No entry.]

1769 March 19 (Sunday).  Read Jer. 42.  Preached on Luk. 14.17.  Administered the Lords Supper.  P.M. Read Rom. 15.  Preached on Rom. 15.13.  Read the Proclamation for a Fast.  In addition thereto I recommended that we be humble under the divine Frowns, and that we supplicate Deliverance out of the present Grievances.

1769 March 20 (Monday).  [No entry.]

1769 March 21 (Tuesday).  Finish Reading Volume 1 of World Displayed, Discovery of America by Columbus.

1769 March 22 (Wednesday).  Read Vol. 2 of the world Displayed being the Conquest of Mexico by Cortes, and end this Vol.  Letter from Mr. Moore of March 11.  Mr. Zebulon Rice has inadvertently cutt down my mark’d Trees at the N.W. Corner of my Swamp (of 5 acres etc.).  It is the greater Trouble as it is the only mark I can easily know and go to.  P.M. Visit old Mrs. Grout, at Mr. Phinehas Hardy’s, Widow Persis Warrin, Mr. Elijah Rice, Mr. Twitchels, Elijah Hardy; and in returning Capt. Benjamin Fay.

1769 March 23 (Thursday).  Rode to Hopkinton by Mr. Bradish’s to See his Aged mother — at Mr. Belknaps.  Went to Dr. Wilsons to pay him.  I owed him according to his account 20£.  He took 15£ and gave me Receipt in full.  Dined at Capt. Clarks.  Returned Vol. 1 and 2 of the world Displayed, and Miss Patty lent me Vol. 3 and 4.  Visit Mr. Barrett.  We converse on Mr. James Mellens Case — and We go to Lt. Abby’s, to talk with him, he having been one of the Apprizers of Capt. Ellis’s Estate.  At Eve returned home in Safety.  Lt. Baker here to reckon, but though he tarrys late We effect Nothing, but adjourn.

1769 March 24 (Friday).  John and Jonas Kenny with my Team and Mr. Nurse’s fetch [blank] Posts from the ministerial Lot.  They were got out by Solomon Batherick.

1769 March 25 (Saturday).  Capt. King of Sutton here in his Return from Boston, and dines.  John lays out Flax to rot; it not being Sufficiently rotted last Fall.

1769 March 26 (Sunday).  Read Jer. 43.  Preached a.m. on Prov. 4.18.  Mr. Jamison, (who now keeps school in Shrewsbury) and Mr. Caleb Rice of Marlborough (our present school master) dine here.  P.M. read Rom. 16.  Preached on Rom. 15.13.  Appointed a Catechizing of Children.  N.B. We began again to Sing twice p.m.  Began Ps. 119, long Meeter.

1769 March 27 (Monday).  Catechized a.m.  Had 46 Boys.  P.M. Had but 7 Girls, two of which were my own.  The weather was Somewhat foul.  Mr. Tainter came whilst I was at Catechizing, and his wife being not well, carryed away Mrs. P_____ who tarrys there all night; I suppose by Reason of the storm, though it was not severe.

1769 March 28 (Tuesday).  Mr. Tainter brings home Mrs. P_____ in the Snow.  This Day was appointed for the Proprietors of a Cedar Swamp by Mr. Bradish’s termed Birch Swamp, to meet at Mr. Bradish’s, and to look for the Bounds or settle the Matter concerning the Bounds as Shall appear wisest and best.  But it is a storm, the Earth is covered with snow, and I hear that the meeting is for Some other Reason also, put by.  John gets a couple of Bags of Hay Seed from Mr. Batherick’s to sow part of my West field, which I would lay down.  Wrote his Honour Governour Hutchinson an Account of the Rice’s Captivity; designing to send it the first good Opportunity.

1769 March 29 (Wednesday).  I rode to North Shrewsbury to See Rev. Asaph Rice under his great Affliction.  I first rode to Capt. Maynards and took with me Master Caleb Rice, who has put by his school for to Day.  At Lt. Martyns Mr. Whitney offers to be our Company.  I went to Mr. Jacob Rice’s, and eat and refreshed there.  They call me, and we stand along to Mr. Morse’s, where Mr. Rice keeps.  Mr. Morse and his wife are gone from home: he returns, and we dine together.  They relate the History of the Amputation, and of the strange Sympathy with the Hand, after it was Separated; against all my Infidelity.  Mr. Rice is in a hopeful way; and he is also learning to write with his left Hand.  We return home at Eve.  N.B. Mrs. Martyn joins her son in requesting me to write some Epitaph for the Tomb-stone which is to be prepared for Mr. Martyn.  Lt. Baker here at night; we reckon.  Wood# [At botton of page: #He throws in a Dollar.] 47£ 15/.  Book account £18.10.0 old Tenor.  Gave him a Note to Newton of £66.5.0 old Tenor.  My Son Alexander from Sturbridge.  He stops and lodges here.

1769 March 30 (Thursday).  Visit at Mr. Artemas Bruce’s, his Wife being weak and low, but especially the little Twins are in a dangerous state, and not like to live.  Prayed with them.  Called to see Mrs. Smith who remains in a gloomy State yet.

1769 March 31 (Friday).  Mr. Wheelock having carryed to Medfield Mr. Thomas Adams’ Book, viz. Kennicot’s two Discourses, to return it to Mr. Adams, makes Return to me that That was done, and he had brought two more from him, viz. Mrs. Wentworths Court Miscellany Vol. 1 and A. Ricker’s Great Events from little Causes.  Mr. Hall of Sutton, calls here as he journeys home from Boston.  Brings Mr. Stone’s Desire to Change with me after the Fast.