Month: December 1781

1781 December 1 (Saturday).  Mr. Jonathan Frost brought wood.  Two Load.  Mr. Crosby here — dined with us.  P.M. He went to Shrewsbury.

1781 December 2 (Sunday).  Preached a.m. On Prov. 28.13 — p.m. on Rom. 13.13.  Mrs. Maynard dined here.  At Eve Breck read Flavels Sermon.

1781 December 3 (Monday).  Town Meeting.  Lt. Jonathan Grout at Eve, about his Jonathan.

1781 December 5 (Wednesday).  Am reading the imports of History of the War Vol. 2.  Breck at Evening wants some Land to build on.  He Spends a good part of the Evening here.

1781 December 6 (Thursday).  Mr. Brigham goes to Wor’ster.  N.B. It is the Time of the Session of the inferior Court.  Benjamin Bowman says he would live here on the following Terms, He will take Care of my Cattle and cutt my Wood etc. if he may board here, and learn to write and cypher.

1781 December 7 (Friday).  Breck goes to Bellingham; his Business with Seth Arnold.  Mr. Daniel Chamberlain here and requests (as Mr. Gale lately did) Some Account of the different Denominations and Sects among Christians: He informs me of a Society which is Lately set up, in this Town, for Conference, etc.  Mr. John Fay here and is sorry his Brother Ben. and T. Whitney are Still at Such Variance.

1781 December 8 (Saturday).  Received Proclamation and Brief for Contribution for the Southern states.

1781 December 9 (Sunday).  I preached a. and p.m. on Heb. 6.18, latter part.  Administered the Lords Supper.  Mrs. Maynard dined here.  P.M. read proclamation and Brief.  At Eve Mr. Brigham read Flavels Fountain of Life.

1781 December 10 (Monday).  John Baker came to See whether he might come here to learn Latin of Mr. Brigham?  I consented.  Jonathan Grout junior came to board with and learn of Mr. Brigham.

1781 December 11 (Tuesday).  Mr. Josiah waited on his Sisters and their Children in a Sleigh to Col. Brighams.

1781 December 12 (Wednesday).  Mr. Samuel Forbush and the other three Wood-men came with Wood.

1781 December 13 (Thursday).  General Thanksgiving on account of the Favours of the Year: but especially the Victory over Earl Cornwallis in Virginia.  And a Contribution followed for the poor sufferers at South Carolina and Georgia.  I preached on Isa. 25.1.9, improving in part No. CCXCVIII with proper alterations and large additions.  At the Entertainment My Son Breck and Family, also Three from Col. Brighams Family also here.  At Eve I repeated, and we sung part of Ps. 145.

1781 December 14 (Friday).  Mr. Brigham, Sophy and the Child, go in a Sleigh to Shrewsbury.  I wrote to Mr. Sumner about Mr. Sanford and had an Answer at Eve.  [Neighbours?] Forbush and Batheric Each a Load when dark.  One John Dougharty, a poor Traveller lodged here.

1781 December 15 (Saturday).  The Deacons have not informed me what the late Contribution was.

1781 December 16 (Sunday).  I preached a. and p.m. on Isa. 25.1 and 9.  Cousin Maynard dined here.

1781 December 17 (Monday).  John Baker boards with Mr. Brigham: as does Jonathan Grout, and Abijah Warrin.

1781 December 18 (Tuesday).  Young Grout was very sick in the night past and this morning returns home, to his Fathers.  P.M. I visited Mr. Phinehas Hardys Wife who remains Weak etc.  Was at Deacon Wood’s.

1781 December 19 (Wednesday).  Breck to Boston in the sleigh.  Batheric finishes his part of getting Wood.  I kept retired.  At Eve came Mr. Ebenezer Chamberlain junior.  The Talk which we had, was of the Conference Society — and of Mr. Daniel Adams — who, it is said, has changed his place, and is going to live at Hopkinton.

1781 December 20 (Thursday).  Am reading Dr. Owens Meditations and Discourse of the Glory of Christ.  At Eve came Fortunatus Miller and Elizabeth Forb. (Daughter of Mr. Ebenezer) with a considerable Company, and were marryed.

1781 December 21 (Friday).  Benjamin Bowman returned from Boston.  At Eve Breck returned also.  Mr. P. Whitney and Mr. Dav. Monro of Northborough visit us.  Am informed that Rev. Joseph Willard late of Beverly, was on the 19 install’d President of Harvard College Cambridge.  Breck returned at Night, but left his Sleigh.

1781 December 22 (Saturday).  [No entry.]

1781 December 23 (Sunday).  By reason of the Cold — the Snow and Ice, Difficulty in getting to Meeting, I preached a.m. on Ps. 74.17 to page 6.  P.M. preached on Rom. 4, v. 16 especially.  At Eve Mr. Brigham read Mr. Flavell 21st on Fountian opened.

1781 December 24 (Monday).  Mr. Elisha Fish junior here p.m. — says he will come next Saturday and preach for me the next Sabbath.  He informs me that Cousin Bekky Warrin is marryed to and is gone home with Capt. Jonathan Wood, Aged about 80.

1781 December 25 (Tuesday).  I desire to hold Communion with all those who sincerely celebrate the Nativity of our most Blessed Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.  Finished Dr. Owen’s Meditations and Discourse on Glory of Christ.

1781 December 26 (Wednesday).  Mr. Brigham, Sophy and the Child ride with Mr. Hazzletine and Mrs. Baker in a Sleigh to Northborough.

1781 December 27, 28 (Thursday, Friday).  Am much concerned about the Cloud before my right Eye.

1781 December 29 (Saturday).  Mr. Moore and his son Jonathan came from Oxford.  He tells me his Father Moore is dead Some Weeks agoe.  Young Mr. Elisha Fish came to preach for me.  They all lodge here.

1781 December 30 (Sunday).  Mr. Fish preached a.m. on Prov. 4.18.  P.M. Mr. Moore preached on Joh. 13.34.  Cousin Maynard dined here.  At Eve Mr. Fish repeated.  N.B. A Sermon is appointed to be on next Tuesday, at 2 p.m.

1781 December 31 (Monday).  It was so wet and uncomfortable Weather that neither of the Gentlemen leave us.  Mr. Fish hath my Study to prepare for tomorrow.  Town Meeting again about Treasurer Newton.  Lt. Isaac Parker here, and wants to buy my Horse but he bids too little — but little more than half of what he cost me.  I arrive at the Close of Another Year, through the infinite Goodness and Patience of G[blot] to whose worthy Name be all Glory, Honour and Praise!  Yet I find a great Difference in my Self between Now and twelve Months past.  I can’t write as heretofore: and a very great Cause of it (besides the Tremulousness of my Nerves) is, the Impair of my Sight.  My Left Eye, ever Since my Remembrance, has been weaker than my Right: and at Times there Seems to be Some Cloud before it.  But before my Right, there has been a black Cloud upon the very Sight, at but a few Inches Distance, about 3 or 4 inches Diameter, but more further off.  The Obscurity upon whatever Object is so great that I can’t See a Mans Face, nor read very largest printed Capitals; neither am I helped by any Spectacles.  Yet round about the Object Things appear as they used to, and as they do to the other Eye when seen in general. May God graciously be pleased to Sanctifie to me this ominous Dispensation!  Prevent the Increase of the Evil, Support what is felt, and quicken me to the due improvement of the Faculty remaining: and (Oh if it might please the Great Supreme!) remove so grievous a Calamity, when His holy End is Answered!