Month: October 1782

1782 October 1 (Tuesday).  God is pleas’d to grant me the Favour to begin Another Month.  To His Name be praise and Glory!  Mr. Cushing reads to me Dr. Huntington’s Letters, Observations etc. in Defence of Mrs. Fish [blot] against Mr. West and the Church with him, of Stockbridge.  And we read Mr. Alexanders large Letter from Norwich to me on the same Subject.  P.M. Mr. Brigham goes on his Journey to Boston.

1782 October 2 (Wednesday).  Mr. Cushing and his Children, George and Sally, leave us to go to Shrewsbury, where he is to preach tomorrow.

1782 October 3 (Thursday).  Had a Catechising a. and p.m.  Had about fifty Children.  May the divine Blessing accompany my weak Endeavours.  At Eve Mr. Forbes and Wife from Brookfield and lodged here.  Pasturing Horses is the Most difficult of any with us.

1782 October 4 (Friday).  Mr. Forbes preached an excellent Sermon at his Cousen Elisha’s on Luk. 10.20, latter part — “but rather rejoice, because your names are written in Heaven.”  It was very Seasonable and well accepted by a considerable Auditory.  I pray God to add His Special Blessing thereon!  N.B. Mr. Elisha gave an handsome Entertainment and gave generous Invitation to his Relations and Friends, and with his Chaise kindly waited upon Mrs. P________ and me to the Dinner, and came home with us in the Same manner at Even.

1782 October 5 (Saturday).  Mr. Forbes and his Consort having lodged here, Sat out for Cambridge.  N.B. Mr. Brigham returned home last night, informs me of the Death of the Aged and venerable Mr. Daniel Perkins of Bridgewater. “Help Lord!  when the godly man perisheth, and when the righteous fail among the Children of Men!”  He tells me also that the good and worthy Mr. Woodward of Weston is very ill, and his Life despaired of.  Mr. Brigham, further, has brought a Letter from Dr. Holyoke of Salem, to Elias to Signifie to him the Terms on which he would take a Tyro: and my Son returns an Answer by Forbes: and which I perceive is, that his Demands are too high.

1782 October 6 (Sunday).  I did not begin with Singing — I broke off with Design; but neither was there so much as one Singer in the Place when I went.  I preached a. and p.m. on Ps. 42.  Am informed that dear Mr. Woodward expired yesterday!  Help, Lord!  The Godly Man ceaseth!  Will the Lord graciously pity the Widow and the Fatherless Children, and Supply the awful Vacancy, that they mayn’t be as Sheep without a Shepherd!  O that I might my Self be ready!  I repeated at Eve.  N.B. Several of our Church Committee went to Captain Morses after Evening Meeting, to Speak with one Mrs. Esther Cook, a Witness in the Case of Mr. Adams and his Wife.

1782 October 7 (Monday).  The Church’s Committee met. Adjourned to next Thursday.  N.B. Old Mr. Daniel Hardy who now lives in Hopkinton came to see me.

1782 October 8 (Tuesday).  The great Blessing of Rain through the Day; To God be Glory!  Deacon Hawes having brought me Mr. Zabdiel Adams’s Election Sermon, I read part of it, and my Son Ebenezer read the rest of it to me.  Brecks Mason lays the Foundation of his Chimneys.

1782 October 9 (Wednesday).  Ebenezer puts a Guard about the Top of the back Stairs.  Elias to Upton with Miss Mindwell Brigham and her Sister Anne.

1782 October 10 (Thursday).  Mr. Abraham Holland came to See Elias who does not come home till nigh Evening but then returns with his Company from Col. Jones of Hopkinton.  Mr. Peter Whitney here — hear that Mr. Treasurer Henry Gardner is dead — of a Fever.

[1782 October 11 (Friday).]  The Committee on Adams’s Affair came here at Evening.  Dr. John Gott on his Journey back from Connecticut was here: relates the Strange Conduct of the Shakers at Windham.  Mr. Hazzletine and Young Wilder of Cohoss here.  N.B. Hear that Madam Prentice of Grafton has been with the Shakers.  N.B. I have received by Mr. Eliot of Watertown from Rev. Johnson of Lime Catalogue and Commencement Papers.  Mrs. P________ grows more pained and Confined with her sore.  At Eve Ebenezer read to me Mr. Grove’s sermon on 2 Tim. 1.10, Death abolished by Christ.  N.B. Sad News of House-breaking; and Sundry Thieves imprisoned.

1782 October 12 (Saturday).  My Son Breck having taken down the Chimney of his common Room, his Family moves into our House.  At Eve came Mr. William Plum from Southborough and offers his Assistance.  Mr. [illegible] of Yarmouth is willing to preach for him.

[1782 October 13 (Sunday).]  Mr. Plum a.m. on Isa. 49.6, p.m. on Zech. 13.1.  May God bless his Labors, and reward him for his Kindness!  He returned to Southborough at Eve.  N.B. I appointed the Communion and Lecture.

[1782 October 14 (Monday).]  Mr. P________ is very unwell — is Sick at her stomach, is faint, no appetite.  Dr. Hawes visits and administers.

[1782 October 15 (Tuesday).]  Mr. Samuel Brigham from Wilton here — his mother p.m.

[1782 October 16 (Wednesday).]  Training — The adjournment of Committee on Adams’s Affair, was to this day.  They Meet, and adjourn again.  Breck builds a Chimney in his Shop.  They diet here.

[1782 October 17 (Thursday).]  I attended the burying of Mr. Jonathan Batherick’s Infant: still-born.  [Mr.] Grosvenor sends yesterday to me a Letter by Mr. Langton that he can’t preach my Lecture.  I wrote to Mr. Fitch, and no Opportunity offering I Wrote again to Mr. Plum, who I hoped would.  [I] was obliged to prepare for my Lecture my Self, and p.m. preached on 1 Joh. 1.7, which was indeed to but a few.  A Letter from Mr. Plumb.  May God grant a Blessing to my poor Endeavours to the few that came!

[1782 October 18 (Friday).]  Various Company to day.  Squire Whipple of New Braintree came.  Mrs. P________ no better.  Reports of Several Sad Occurrences.  Mrs. White returned to us and lodges.  Mrs. P________ is much laid by.  May God prepare us for His Will!  The House is much filled, yesterday and to day.  The Workmen from Brecks, rebuild the Oven, and put in a New Crane in the East Room.  Mrs. Hicks and her Daughter in her Return dined here.

[1782 October 19 (Saturday).]  Elias goes to Ashburnham.  Mrs. White goes from us at Eve to Mr. Graves.  Mr. Hastings plasters and finishes the Oven, etc.

[1782 October 20 (Sunday).]  I endeavored to Preach a.m. on Gal. 6.4, but I could not read the old Notes which I made many years agoe.  Mrs. Maynard dined with us.  P.M. preached on Exod. 14.13.  May God graciously accept!  Mrs. P________ has been very bad with her Cough for Several Nights and is very ill otherwise.  The Lord prepare us for His holy Will!  [In margin: A Letter from Mr. Quincy, of October 5 and 8th.]  Ebenezer at Eve, read Mr. Grove’s Sermon on Heb. 11.13, first Clause.

1782 October 21 (Monday).  Visit John Mears, a Lad at Deacon Woods, under broken bones, a Cart wheel having gone over his Leggs and broke one of them.  Young Mr. Fish here and dines with us.  Mr. Brigham to Boston.

1782 October 22 (Tuesday).  Mrs. P________ very bad with her Cough.  Dr. Hawes here frequently.  A Court held at Deacon Woods on James McCulloch for his bad Conduct towards Capt. Fisher on Training Day.

1782 October 23 (Wednesday).  Mrs. P________ takes a Puke.  Rev. Mr. Joseph Thatcher of Gorham at Eve.  He goes on to Mr. Isaac Johnsons in Southborough.  Mrs. P________ lies below.  Capt. William Brigham comes from Marlborough with the Sorrowlful Tidings of the Death of our Kinsman Uriah Brigham last Evening, of an Apoplectic Disorder.  The Lord grant us who Survive, to be always ready, and Pity the Widow and Fatherless!  Major Ezra Beeman and Cousen Maynard dined here.

1782 October 24 (Thursday).  Cousen Maynard came to See her aunt and asks us (who can) to ride with her in her Carriage to the Funeral tomorrow.

1782 October 25 (Friday).  Mrs. P________ is under grievous Exercise by her Cough Still, though Dr. Haws is using his best Endeavors to help her.  A.M. Cousen Maynard with their Carriage, driven by Mr. Stephen, her Son, took up Several of us, and we rode to the House of Mourning in Marlborough, the late Dwelling of Lt. Uriah Brigham, and dined there.  P.M. Rev. Mr. Fitch of Hopkinton came and prayed.  I rode to and from the Grave in the same Manner.  The whole has been a very Solemn season.  May the Impression be abiding!  We waited for Moon-Lig[ht] and then in a Cold Evening arrived here.  Thanks to God!

1782 October 26 (Saturday).  Mrs. P________ no better.  She inclines to having Dr. Stimson of Hopkinton.  Elias goes — he comes with him — they are both very wet with the plentiful Rain.  The Doctor tarries over Night.  Rev. Fitch dines here.

1782 October 27 (Sunday).  Doctor attends our Meeting a.m.: but then rid to Hopkinton p.m. to Sutt[on].  I preached a.m. on Ps. 42.10.11.  P.M. on Heb. 4.9.  At Eve My Son Ebenezer read a Sermon of Mr. Groves.  N.B. It was somewhat difficult for me to go through the Services of the Day, but God was Pleased to sustain me.  To His Name be Honor!

1782 October 28 (Monday).  Mrs. P________ has lain some time in the lower Room.  Sits up a While in the Day, but She is Still exercised with Such Fitts of Coughing as waste her exceedingly.  P.M. came Mr. Fitch.  He agrees to Send me Montanus’s Hebrew Bible to use as long as I want it.  He carrys away four Pamphlets.  Dr. Solomon Williams Ordination of Mr. Jacob Eliot: Dr. St[iles?] Installment of Mr. Hopkins: Tachygraphy; and a Poem delivered at Commencement.  At Eve came Mr. Jon. Forbes.  He brought a very handsome good Cheese of 14 1/2 weight.  Mrs. P________ at Eve and night very bad Turns of coughing.

1782 October 30 (Wednesday).  Mrs. P________ no better.  Dr. Stimpson and Mrs. Cotton with him.  They dine here.  He brings the works of Dr. David McBride.

1782 October 31 (Thursday).  These were Days of much Sickness and Trouble.  And yet I have more grievous to add — viz. that [blank]