Month: June 1773

1773 June 1 (Tuesday).  Am informed that Mr. Fish with Delegates and others, are gone over to Bolton; but did not favor me with their Company.  Breck to Boston.

1773 June 2 (Wednesday).  Was very hoarse with a Cold, yet attempted to go to the Family Meeting at Mr. Daniel Forbes’s, and preached, though with Difficulty, on Mat. 21.10 from p. 61 to the End of p. 68.  Old Mrs. Woods and Mrs. Grow present.  May the Lord accept us, and bless His people and the means of Grace among us.

1773 June 3 (Thursday).  Am deeply concerned about Bolton: And the rather because those who are Most Set and determined are gone before hand, that they may be Sure to accomplish the work.  The Lord grant Light and Truth, Righteousness and Peace!  Read variously.  N.B. Dr. Dunsmoor of Lunenburg and one Mr. David Spaffard of Townshend here in the morning With Design to buy my Lots of an hundred Acres in Townshend.  They came up to my Terms of £500 old Tenor and I gave a Deed to Mr. Spaffard, of it; and for it he paid me [torn] down, and two Notes of Hand, one for 125£ to be [torn] at or before the 3d of October next, the other of 250£ [torn] be paid on or before this time 12 months, with Interest [torn] paid.  The Doctor assures me repeatedly that Spaffard [torn] a responsible Man, and to be depended upon.  Read Calcotts Disquisition of the Principles and Pro[torn] of Free Masons.[1]

[1]Willens Calcott, A Candid Disquisition of the Principles and Practices of the Most Antient and Honourable Society of Free and Accepted Masons, Together with Some Strictures on the Origin, Nature, and Design of That Institution (Boston, 1772).  Evans 12,345.

1773 June 4 (Friday).  The workmen at the Meeting House, as they did at moving [torn] compass of the front Door, So now taking down Wind[torn] disturb a very great multitude of Batts.

1773 June 5 (Saturday).  Breck and his Company (who had been out a fishing) returned.  Mr. Fish and his Delegates, together with the Mill-river D[torn] (without their Pastor: he went not) returning from Bolton, call here: Shew me their Result, and [torn] I am informed that they did not install Mr. Wall [torn] but that the Council is adjourned to August next.  N.B. Mr. Jewet of Rowley was Moderator but he and [Mr.?] Chandler (of Rowley also) left them before the fini[torn].

 

[Note: Here there is a gap in the manuscript from June 5 through June 14.]

1773 June 15 (Tuesday).  I rode to Ministers Meeting at Bolton by the Way of Marlborough.  Had Mr. Smith’s and Mr. Morse’s Company.  There were present Messrs. Stone of Southborough, Harrington, Mellen, Maccarty, Bridge of Sudbury, and Whitney of Northborough.  Nine of us besides Mr. Goss.  Being Moderator I prayed and Mr. Goss being Still under So great Difficultys, we advise him and his Brethren to call a Council to meet at the Same time that the aggrieved Council are to meet.  I was writ down for one to be Sent to, but I struck out my name.  In returning through Northborough had Mr. Whitneys Company, but did not tarry at his House.  At Home found that Capt. Maynard had brought a great Bundle of Court’s Journals, Laws, Sermon at Election, Governors Speeches and the Answers etc.

1773 June 16 (Wednesday).  Read Mr. Lorings Diary.

1773 June 17 (Thursday).  Catechized (after dining at home) at the South school-House.  Above forty Boys and Girls.  Afterward Visit at old Mr. Warrins.  In the Evening Thunder, Lightning and Rain.  After we were got to Sleep were alarmed by a Beggar who was of ill behavior and my Wife and Sophy requested I would not let him come in to the House, but I bid him go to the Barn, but he was high and Malpert — he went off.  I regretted it.  I wanted to take him in, but I had not convenience to lodge him and it would have disordered my House, by reason of the Fright that several were put into by him.  N.B. John waited on his Sister Hannah to Marlborough to get two Gowns made, viz. Taffety and Bengall.

1773 June 18 (Friday).  [No entry.]

1773 June 19 (Saturday).  Rode to Grafton.  Lodged at Mr. Andrew Adams’s.

1773 June 20 (Sunday).  Preached at Grafton a. and p.m. on Rev. 16.15.  “Behold I come as a Thief!  Blessed is he that watcheth” etc.  Mr. Taylor preached for me, a.m. on Mat. 11.28, p.m. on 1 Joh. 3.9.  After Meeting, by Desire visited Deacon Batchellors wife who was extreme low.  Prayed with her.  Returned home at night.

1773 June 21 (Monday).  Rode to Mr. Stone.  We rode to Marlborough — to Mr. Jonathan Lorings — principally to Father Gardners at Stow — found him low and weak, yet reviving a little [and?] he had rid out to Day.  His Wife was also poorly.  [illegible] there from thence we went to my Son Williams at Concord, and lodged there.

1773 June 22 (Tuesday).  We rode together to Sudbury.  Called at Deacon Plymptons.  I wanted of him the Paper which the Deacon read to me in March last, was twelve month, as being Sealed up with the last Will and Testament of the Late Venerable Mr. Loring and in which he was pleased to Committ his Private Papers to us.  But the Deacon was gone to Court, he being one of the Representatives.  We then went to Mr. Nathan Lorings, where we were courteously received, and conducted up into the deceased’s Closet.  From thence I received of Mr. Loring one Folio (parchment covered) containing many Extracts from various Authors, also folio Leaves of Extracts on many Books of the Bible.  I have also a Small bound Book dated 1715 containing Rules for Prayer.  Also Ten Paper Books of Adversaria (marked Capitally), also a Bundle of various Copys of Covenants; Letters etc.  N.B. The Paper of the Contents mentions a Number of Abstracts, which are not there.  Furthermore, here is a Bundle of paper Books, which contains Prayers on various Occasions, in Number, 6 Books — Together with 8 Books of the following Titles, viz., Days of Prayer and Thanksgiving, Self-Examination etc. to my Spiritual State, Self-Examination by Marks of Growth etc., Covenants, Promises of the Covenant, Rules for the Sanctification of the Lords Day, Examples of Heavenly Meditation, The Order of Celebrating of the Sacrament of the Body and Blood of Christ — and — of Baptism.  Besides these a Book entitled “Places where I have preached.”  I received also 12 Bundles of Letters, to and from different persons.  One of which contains Letters from a religious society of women in Boston.  O that I might be faithful in improving this Treasure.  N.B. Mr. Stone took Several others which I have not an Account of.  I borrowed of Mr. Loring Glanville’s Sadducismus triumphatus[1] and Dr. Increase Mather Mystery of Christ.[2]  We dined at Rev. Mr. Biglows.[3]  In my way home was requested to go in and See Mr. Thomas Biglows Daughter, Mrs. How in Consumption — and prayed with her.  Arrived safely.  Deo Laus!

[1]Joseph Glanvill, Saducismus Triumphatus: or, Full and Plain Evidence Concerning Witches and Apparitions.  In Two Parts.  The First Treating of Their Possibility, The Second of Their Real Existence (London, 1681).

[2]Increase Mather, The Mystery of Christ Opened and Applyed.  In Several Sermons, Concerning the Person, Office, and Glory of Jesus Christ (Boston, 1686).  Evans 416.

[3]Jacob Biglow (1743-1816), Harvard 1766; see SHG 16:324-25.

1773 June 23 (Wednesday).  Rode over to Northborough Lecture.  Dined at Mr. Whitneys.  Mr. Sumner preached on [blank].  May God forgive my Dulness and [unprofitableness?]!  Was detained there by heavy Showers till Evening when I returned.  At Evening came Mr. Seth Morse Treasurer who pays me, in Notes which I drew to Mr. Beeton, Constable, old Tenor £55.14.2, in Cash £164.5.0, in all £219.19.2 old Tenor.  May God grant me Grace to improve it in a right manner!

1773 June 24 (Thursday).  Reckoned with my Son Breck and paid him his Book Debt.  Having received from Mr. Woodward of Weston a Letter by Desire of Dr. Eliot of Boston, to inform me of the Meeting of the Committee of the Convention the first Wednesday of July at Dr. Chauncy’s at Boston, wrote part of an Answer to Dr. Eliot.  Catechized at the Grout School House.  49 Children of both Sexes.  After the Exercise was entertained at Mr. Jonathan Grouts.  May the Lord be graciously pleased to Succeed these Endeavours!  Conversed with aged Mrs. Grout.  N.B. Deacon Batchellor’s Wife, late of Grafton, dyed last Monday, O that I might prepare!

1773 June 25 (Friday).  Have a peculiar Favor in divine providence by a good Crop of Clover between the Garden and meeting House-Road.  Three of our common Loads between 60 and 70 Cocks.  D.G.  Engaged in my preparations.

1773 June 26 (Saturday).  An hot Season for Several Days.  To Day especially.  Cousen Needham returned from Boston.

1773 June 27 (Sunday).  Read Joel 1.  Could not get my new preparations ready — wanted to preach a preparatory sermon to Contribution and also to young people and especially against Fornication.  Took therefore Discourses on Prov. 10.10 with various Additions.  P.M. read Rev. 3.  Cornet Brigham acquaints me that he was yesterday at my Son Cushings at Ashburnham, and tells me my Daughter was o’ Bed.  Was delivered on the 24th of another Son.  Mother and Child in an hopeful State.  Blessed be God for His great Goodness!  May it be perfected!  Received a Letter from Dr. Eliot, of my Kinsman Needhams Case: also of the Committee of the Convention’s Meeting.

1773 June 28 (Monday).  The Town Met partly to See whether they would build a Steeple (a number of persons having Subscribed to give a Bell and Clock if the Town would prepare for them) but it passed in the Negative.  Visit Mr. Jonas Kennys Wife, ill of bilious Cholic.  Prayed with her.  Cousen Needham left us.

1773 June 29 (Tuesday).  Rode to Hopkinton through our East Corner.  Called at a Number of the Houses.  Bellows (new marryed), Baker, Belknap.  Thence to Dr. Wilsons — but my principal Design (as to visiting) was to Capt. Clarks, who had lately lost his Wife.  Dined there.  Went to Mr. Fitchs — has lately erected an House.  Hopkinton Meeting House is repairing.  Visit Mr. Barrett — Generous in Cherrys to bring home, with me.  Borrow Magnalia again.  Take it at Capt. Burnaps.  Arrive safely.  God be praised for it!

1773 June 30 (Wednesday).  Miss Joanna Stone here, and dines with us.  Read Magnalia and other Books, on the Order and Discipline of the Churches.  Visit and pray with Mrs. Kenny.  At Night three Lads (I know not who they were) probably from Mr. Amasa Maynards, brought me a present of a large Turtle.