Month: August 1780

1780 August 1 (Tuesday).  A Message by Mr. Elijah Brigham from Mr. Summer, to preach his Lecture — borrowed Mr. Ware’s Mare to ride there — made several short Visits in the Street — dined at Squire Baker’s, but he came not home as was expected.  N.B. The Private Meeting was, according to Custom, to have been at his House today, but it was put off because of the Busyness of the Season, and few Hands to do it.

1780 August 2 (Wednesday).  Rode to Shrewsbury.  Mr. Fairbank came here and was my Company to Mr. Sumner’s: where I dined.  Preached his Lecture to an extremely thin Auditory.  Text Rev. 14.6-7.  After Lecture came Mr. Whitney to Mr. Sumner’s House.  N.B. Col. Symmes’ Widow there also.  At eve arose a Thunder Storm.  I lodged at Dr. Crosby’s.

1780 August 3 (Thursday).  In returning called to see Mr. Joseph Knowlton’s Wife, who relapses somewhat to her old state; visit Mr. Gershom Brigham’s Wife, who languishes.  I went in to Mr. Samuel Fay’s, his wife having been lately much indisposed — but he treated me with roughness.  At Deacon Wood’s I saw one Mrs. Abigail Giles, Daughter of Mr. William Jenison, that was of Salem, and widow of Mr. Samuel Giles, greatly reduced and lame.  P.M. Mrs. Hawes, Squire’s Daughter, Polly Wood at Tea.  N.B. In Biog’r. Dic. Variety in Human Life — Eginhard’s Wife (Daughter of Charles the Great) carry’d him on her Back from her Apartment through the Snow, that the prents [sic] of his Feet might not be discovered; yet her Father saw them from his Window.  Queen Elizabeth’s Life notable for her Wit and Learning, affected Grandeur and power, Magnificent Dress, Entertainment, Amours — but secret reason is given by Mezeray when she would not Marry.  Equatius (John-Baptist).  This great Man had almost a divine Memory: whatever he had read or heard, he could relate by Heart, and in a very agreeable manner.  He was born at Venice 1473.

1780 August 4 (Friday).  Have writ to Mr. Quincy and to Mr. Moore, and committ the Letters to Mr. Elijah Brigham, who is going to Boston.

1780 August 5 (Saturday).  I was much interrupted by being obliged to go to the Island to mend Fence, that the Cows might not break in upon Mr. Andrews.  Mr. Abraham Bond was here with his Petition for a Contribution.  Mrs. Fay (Mr. John Fay’s Wife) came to be examined, but I could spend but a little Time with her.

1780 August 6 (Sunday).  I had partly prepared on Malachi First, but was obliged to lay it aside, and went on considering the Harvest Season, with my Repetitions, with additions and alterations of Sermon on Gal. 6.7-8 a. and p.m. and finished the Subject.  May God be pleased to add his special Blessing!  I read Bond’s Petition for Contribution.  Mrs. Maynard dined here.  At eve read in Mr. Flavell on Rev. 3.20.

1780 August 7 (Monday).  Was anxious about Breck’s Horse, which Elias rode to Springfield, and is not come back: but before noon came young Joshua Johnson of Bolton, who returning from his 3 years Warfare rode Horse from Springfield hither, thereby saving Charge, and brought a Letter from Elias, who has taken the School there, for a year upon settled pay to his Satisfaction.  Thanks be to God for the Favour.

1780 August 8 (Tuesday).  Mr. Samuel Crosby (young preacher) dined here.  P.M. Mrs. Giles spent the p.m. here and drank Tea with us.  At eve, Ebenezer Chamberlain junior full of earnest Conversation about Sallery.

1780 August 9 (Wednesday).  Extracts from Biog’r. Dictionary.

1780 August 10 (Thursday).  Messrs. Motlay, Ezek Savage, preachers, and one Mr. Pearson of Newbury, made me a Visit, dined etc.

1780 August 11 (Friday).  Mrs. Mehitable Fay (wife of John) here with her Relation, which I corrected and copy’d.  Josiah Brigham came to Breck again to live with him.  They clear the lower Well.

1780 August 12 (Saturday).  Mr. John Fay was examined — left a Relation to be corrected and transcribed.  He dines here.

1780 August 13 (Sunday).  Preached on Malachi Ch. I, v. 6-9.  P.M. previous to a Contribution for Mr. Abraham Bond, I preached again on John 4.10.  At eve read Flavell on Rev. 3.20,  Sermon 6.

1780 August 14 (Monday).  Rode over to Mr. Beeton’s to visit old Mrs. Kelly and prayed with her, of which she said she missed but little.  Her Conversation generally spiritual and savoury.  John Beeton’s Wife is greatly recovered from her Lameness.

1780 August 15 (Tuesday).  Though it was a very hot Day, I rode to Southborough, hoping to meet the other Brethren who would associate there — but no other Members came.  We nevertheless improved the Opportunity in Prayer and attendance on a Discourse Mr. Stone read on Gal, and I read an Extract from Cicero on Old Age, Ch. XIX.  Mr. Stone has lately been exercised with the Gravel, and particularly last Lord’s Day.  P.M. did not go to Meeting, but is somewhat better.  I returned at eve.  Mr. Elijah here de die in diem.  His Brother Josiah is gone to Medway in order to Miss Eliz. Beal’s Return to Westborough again.

1780 August 16 (Wednesday).  Benj. Wood and his Brother John came here to be set to work.  I employed Benj. in mowing in my Newton Meadow.  John hoed a little with Billy Spring in Beeton Field — It was but of trifling Value.  P.M. Ben mowed a while, and the lesser Boy reaped and cocked — but they were all beat off by Rain, Thunder and Lightening.

1780 August 17 (Thursday).  Sent by Breck to Mr. Stone’s for Notes that I inadvertently left there.  Breck goes before Day, designing for Boston.

1780 August 18 (Friday).  Mrs. P. out of Health.  Dr. Hawes to see her.

1780 August 19 (Saturday).  Breck returned from Boston — he brought me a large letter from Mr. Quincy, who since the Death of his Son Henry is moved to Boston, and for the present lives with his Daughter-in-law, who (with her children) dwells in William’s Court.  This Week was filled with Encumbrance.

1780 August 20 (Sunday).  Read a.m. the Latter part of Joh. 4, and repeated the latter part of Discourse on v. 16.  At noon, Breck and his Family, Mr. Brigham and his Sister Anna, Mrs. Maynard, Isaac and Luke Baldwin (who came from Shrewsbury this morn) dined with us.  P.M. did not read before it but preached on Isa. 55.10-11, p. 191 to the bottom of p. 202.  N.B. baptized Six Children of Mr. Sam’l Thurston.  At eve read in my Family part of Mr. Flavell’s sixth Sermon on Rev. 3.20.  Rec’d a Letter from Mr. Forbes of Gloucester.  Mrs. P. is so indisposed that she has been but little at Meeting for a great while: could not go today: is sick, faint, and weak.  The Child also has been not well, for some days.

1780 August 21 (Monday).  My young Baldwins take leave for Cambridge and Byfield.

1780 August 22 (Tuesday).  A very dry hot Season.  After a great deal of Pains and Trouble, Benj. Woods, who though but a Youth, works well and with the Help of Josiah Brigham, a few Hours, they get in the last of my Newton Meadow Hay.  I have been employed in making Extracts from the Biog’r. Dict.

1780 August 23 (Wednesday).  I am too much taken up with my Farm Affairs, particularly to have my Fences repaired, that my Cattle may have Feed, and cant attend much to my Studys.  Mr. John Fay and Mr. Thad Warrin are employed.

1780 August 24 (Thursday).  Mrs. Nabby Martyn is at work here for Suse.  I attended the Burial of Mr. Abijah Gale’s Child, Sarah, of more than four months, it dyed somewhat suddenly.  I called to see Mr. Ebenezer Forbes, who (and his Wife) had been sick.  Visit also the old Folks.  Mr. John Fay, with his Relation here, and signs it.

1780 August 25 (Friday).  Mrs. Persis Adams here and prays the Church Meeting (to be otherwise next Monday) may be adjourned to some future time, inasmuch as she cannot get ready.  N.B. Breck and Suse with little Hannah go to Col. Brigham’s, at eve, to lodge there, in their way to Ashburnham and Marlborough.

1780 August 26 (Saturday).  Breck and Suse, leaving their little Girl, at Northborough proceed on their Journey.  Mr. Daniel Adams came here to enquire whether any Complaint against him, was lodged here.  There was none.

1780 August 27 (Sunday).  Read Ps. 104.  Preached on Mal. 1.9.10.11 and p.m. on Isa. 55, v. 11 “So shall my Word be” etc.  Three persons taken into the Church.  The Church Meeting was adjourned.  At eve, I read further in Mr. Flavells, England’s Duty on Rev. 3.20.

1780 August 28 (Monday).  On Deacon Wood’s Horse I rode to Mr. Gershom Brigham’s to see his Wife, who is dangerously ill.  The State of her Soul deplorable as well as her Body.  She was very sorry that she had neglected the Lord’s Supper.  She was in much Confusion.  I prayed with her and the Family.  I dined there.  Thence went to visit the North West Corner of the Town, Messrs. Gleason’s, Johnathan Maynard’s, and Samuel Riders, Mr. Thomas Lamson’s (on Edmund Rice’s place), old Mr. James Maynard, and his son Amasa’s.

1780 August 29 (Tuesday).  An uncommonly burning Season, hot Sun and drying Winds — so that the Droughth is much increased.

1780 August 30 (Wednesday).  Exceedingly taken up with the Creatures breaches for want of Feed — especially my Oxen.  Mr. Belknap and his wife here.  P.M. Mr. David Andrews of Northborough here to request me to visit his little son extremely bad (Mr. Whitney being gone to Northborough).  I went, prayed etc.

1780 August 31 (Thursday).  Mr. Gershom Brigham brings his Wife’s Earnest Desire that I would visit her again and preach a Sermon there today.  I complyed — delivered a short Discourse (as I could) from several passages in Isa. 55, “hear and your Soul shall live.”  May God bless what was delivered!  Mrs. Br. is brought very low.  At eve found Sophy ill.  She has taken physick: Mr. Elijah Brigham with her.