Month: June 1770

1770 June 1 (Friday).  Rose early but my Brother, who is much better, detained me with our Family Affairs.  I left the Town after 11.  Rode to Dr. Davis’s, but he was not at home.  Called at Mr. Adams’s.  First saw his New Wife.  Kept on my Journey to Waltham to Mr. Cushings.  Neither of them at home.  Called at Mr. William Browns — at Mr. Stones.  Safely arrived at home.  D.G.  My son and Daughter Cushing here.

1770 June 2 (Saturday).  Mr. Cushing and his Wife having dined with us left us to go to Shrewsbury in their Way home.

1770 June 3 (Sunday).  Mr. Stone had desired I would endeavour to help him in his feeble State; and Since Mr. Cushing was to preach for Mr. Sumner, he desired Mr. Sumner would come hither, and that I would go to Southborough.  This was complyed with.  Mr. Sumner came and I went to Southborough accordingly.  I preached a.m. on Ps. 44.18, p.m. on [Jer.?] 6.8.  Mr. Stone went to meeting in the afternoon [illegible] I was exceeding hoarse by a Cold.  Returned at Eve.  Mr. [Sumner?] preached on Rom. [8.31?] a. and p.m.  May God graciously accept our Offerings and our Labors!

1770 June 4 (Monday).  Visited Mr. Daniel Hardys Wife whose Cancer grows much worse.  His Daughter Adams also [weak and?] wasting State.  Prayed with them.  When I have read Mr. Appletons late Fast Discourses, I can’t find any fit Reason for the late House of Representatives to make a Difficulty, as I hear they did, about Printing it.[1]

[1]Nathaniel Appleton (1693-1784), The Right Method….  Discourses on April 5, 1770.  Being the Day of General Fasting and Prayer…and in the Time of the Session of the General Court at Cambridge (Boston 1770; Evans 11,554).

 

1770 June 5 (Tuesday).  P.M. Instead of the Public Lecture I held an Exercise at old Mr. Williams’s, he having been long confined from the Public Worship.  I went on with [the?] Discourse on Prov. 16.31.  “The hoary Head” etc.  A considerable Assembly, which I wish may be profited hereby!

1770 June 6 (Wednesday).  [No entry.]

1770 June 7 (Thursday).  Messrs. Stone and Smith (I hear by Sophy, who rode to Mr. Stones to get a Callico Gown made) Sat out on their Journey towards the Cape.  Riding is thought beneficial for them under their [illegible].  Attended at the Entertainment made by Mr. Ebenezer Forbes, who this Day raised a long Barn.  Capt. Jonathan Fay raised a new House, but I could not be there, though invited, being pre-requested.  My Son Baldwin and his Daughter Betty came from Brookfield and lodged here.

1770 June 8 (Friday).  By Reason of the Rain my son Baldwin and his Daughter are detained here.  He directs Joseph in placing the Rafters for the flooring my Scaffolds [in?] the Barn.  Joseph cutts the Gains etc.  Thomas Temple here, with great complaint against divers members of the Church.  Mrs. Martha Warrin in particular.  But I would not hear.

1770 June 9 (Saturday).  Mr. Baldwin and Daughter leave us, though it sometimes wetts, and is threatening.

1770 June 10 (Sunday).  Read Ezek. 19.  Gave a Somewhat large and mostly written Exposition [illegible] collected from Various Authors.  Preached on Cant. 5.10.  Under the Head of R [illegible] made use of Some part of sermon on Isa. 9.6 [illegible] the Death of Christ, with proper [illegible].  Miss Mary Steward, Mrs. Fessenden, Mrs. Maynard, Ruth Bellows, a young man Samuel Haven, and Joseph’s Sister Hannah, dined here.  We have very Sorrowfull News, of the grievous Fall and Elopement of Mrs. Eunice Rice (Wife of Joseph Rice): and we have an Account of the much to be lamented Death of Mrs. Martha Green (heretofore our dear Patty Clark), the wife of Dr. Peter Green, of Harvard, in Child bearing.  P.M. read Gal. 6.  Preached on [Cant.?] 5.10 and 16, finishing that delightful Subject.  May Gods word quicken and [enflame?] us!  Appointed a Catechetical Exercise again.  Mr. Adonijah Rices Wife at our House indisposed.  Joseph [Ward?] with my Horse waits on her home.

1770 June 11 (Monday).  P.M. Squire Whipple here.  By him I committ Mrs. Eunice Cooks petition for a Contribution, to the Selectmen for their Advice, Deacon Bond being one of them.  He returns it to me with their Advice that it be read to the Congregation and left to their Consideration for a Fortnight; that if any Objection arises against it, it may be made in that Time.  Hear that the Rev. Mr. Ezekiel Dodge of Abington dyed last Tuesday Night.  The Lord Sanctifie this sorrowfull Dispensation!

1770 June 12 (Tuesday).  Went up to Mr. John Wood (now Esq.) and his Wife before they leave us.  Charles Paxton Esq. and Mr. [Christopher?] Minot there.  My Son Baldwin returns from Boston, and with him William Bowes Bradford, and his Sister.  They dine and leave us for Brookfield.

1770 June 13 (Wednesday).  John Wood Esq. and his Family, accompanyed with several Neighbours, leave us to go to Colraine.

1770 June 14 (Thursday).  Mr. Nurse drives 5 of my young Creatures, 3 Heiffers and two Steers with [blank] of his own, to Ashby.  Held a Catechetical Exercise at the Meeting House.  Chiefly insisted on and opened part of Question 97.  27 Young Women attend it.  May God bless what has been delivered to them!  And I Should be greatly rejoiced to have my young people Shew a good Disposition to the ways of Piety.

1770 June 15 (Friday).  [No entry.]

1770 June 16 (Saturday).  [No entry.]

1770 June 17 (Sunday).  Read Ezek. 20.  My Exercise a.m. was on that Chapter.  P.M. was especially on the [illegible] verse.  Had read Eph. 1.  Read Mrs. Eunice Cooks Petition for a Contribution and a Letter signed Caleb Hill to recommend her.  Gave the Congregation an Account of the Meeting of the Association at my House on Friday next, God willing; [illegible] Lecture on Wednesday.

1770 June 18 (Monday).  Visit at Mr. Jonathan Grouts where I dined.  At Capt. B. Fays, on Occasion of the Death of her sister How at Shrewsbury.  At Capt. Jonathan Fays and the Hardys — Widow Persis Warrin etc.

1770 June 19 (Tuesday).  This was the Time for the Association to meet at my House.  Mr. Loring came early and dined with us.  We looked in vain for any body else.  P.M. We retired to my study — Mrs. P________ with us.  Mr. Loring prayed and I read my Discourse on Cant. 5.10,16.  After which I prayed.  Spent our Time in various Conversations.

1770 June 20 (Wednesday).  Mr. Loring preached the Lecture on Gen. 8.21, those words, “the Imagination of the Heart of Man is evil from his Youth.”  Still no other Ministers came.  P.M. when Mr. Loring would return home, I waited on him a few miles, and then turned to Mr. Benjamin Brighams to get help in Preaching whilst I Should go to preach at Ashby but Mr. Brigham was gone up to a new Town to preach a Number of Sabbaths.  Returned home at Eve.  Dr. Joslin calls, and lodges here.

1770 June 21 (Thursday).  Visit old Mrs. Dunlop.  Prayed and dined there.  Visit old Mrs. Woods.  Joseph Wood requests to go home a few Days on account of Some Work to be done at his saw-mill.  And at Eve he went.

1770 June 22 (Friday).  [No entry.]

1770 June 23 (Saturday).  [No entry.]

1770 June 24 (Sunday).  A rainy Time.  Read the latter part of Ezek. 20 and preached again on the former part but the Chief of the Exercise was on v. 25 and beginning of v. 26.  Widow Judith Bellows dined here.  P.M. Read Eph. [8?] and Endeavoured to entertain my people with an Expository Exercise on Mat. 11.20 to 24, being No. 176 of Expositions delivered in the Year 42.

1770 June 25 (Monday).  Joseph Returned.  Mr. Snow came to work in flooring my Barn scaffolds; Joseph assists, as he needs.

1770 June 26 (Tuesday).  Catechized the Children at the Meeting House.  52 Boys a.m.  25 Girls p.m.  My Son Ebenezer from Brookfield, going to Watertown, lodges here.  As does Mr. George Gilmore, a Preacher, belonging to [V?] alentown.

1770 June 27 (Wednesday).  Ebenezer to Cambridge.  Carrys Letters from me to Mr. John Marrett, and Mr. Antipas Steward, requesting Assistance in Preaching next Sabbath.  Mr. Gilmore setts out for Cumberland.  Mr. Edwards Whipple calls me to Visit a Child of Mr. Amasa Maynard who is bad with the Throat Distemper.  As soon as I had dined I went — but the Child was dead.  She expired a little after 10 a.m. (while Mr. Whipple was with me).  It was their Eldest, Loretta, nigh 8 Years old.

1770 June 28 (Thursday).  Mr. Benjamin How and Mr. Batherick mending Headings, Clabboarding etc. of the Meeting House.  P.M. attended the burying of Loretta Maynard.  Breck came at Night and lodged here.  Ruth Bellows came again to work here.

1770 June 29 (Friday).  My Son Ebenezer returns from Watertown and Boston.  He gives Account of some extraordinary Treatment which Mr. Cutler, Trader at Oxford, met with at Boston last Eve and this Morning, for attempting to bring out Tea and other Obnoxious Goods, by two Teams; which were stopped and turned back, as he himself also was, into the Town.

1770 June 30 (Saturday).  I wanted to have gone to Ashby this morning but have not any body to preach for me.  I have writ by my son to Mr. Steward and Mr. Marrett at Cambridge but in Vain — they are gone to the Eastward.  But my son tells me he has engaged Mr. Morton, lately of Blanford, to Come.  So that I am made to expect him.  However I expect in Vain still for he came [sic].  Which I am very sorry for and it is a great Disappointment, as I have not been there so long, and have writ to them of my endeavouring to go, as I hoped, at this time.  But I yield to the Providence of God.  My Son sat out for home, and having promised to pay Money when he returns, but he being disappointed of what he hoped for at Watertown I let him have a Guinea.