Author: Anthony Vaver

November 27, 1746

1746 November 27 (Thursday).  Public Thanksgiving. I preach’d on Ps. 48.1.3.7.9.11.  Disappointed of those whom we had design’d to dine with us — and had no Body but our own Folks.  I would fain remember those who are in Affliction or are slenderly provided. For what we have receiv’d the Lord make us truely Thankfull, and of the Number of those Children of Judah who Spiritually rejoice in Gods Judgments!  At Eve came Sir Williams from Marlborough and lodg’d here. N.B. He brought up Dr. Watts Sermon for me.

November 28, 1746

1746 November 28 (Friday).  Sir Williams bought my Volume of the works of the author of the whole Duty of Man for 8£, and he had my Dr. Clark’s Letters to Mr. Dodwell[1] for Dr. Watts Sermon.  He return’d to Sudbury.  Mr. Jenison came over from the Northside to keep School in the middle of the Town.

[1]Samuel Clarke, D.D., A Defense of an Argument made use of in a Letter [by Dr. Clarke] to Mr. Dodwel, to Prove the Immateriality and Natural Immortality of the Soul (London, 1707).  There followed an exchange of views in a series of pamphlets by Clarke and Henry Dodwell (1641-1711).

November 30, 1746

1746 November 30 (Sunday).  Sacrament.  Preach’d on 1 Pet. 1.18.19.  N.B. Mr. Jension at Sermon but not at Communion.  Deacon Fay and Mr. Kendall[1] of Suffield din’d here.  P.M. repeat’d Sermon on Ps. 119.106.  O may the Blood of the Son of God be precious to me and Since we have again Sworn it, may God afford us Grace to Perform etc!

[1]Joshua Kendall, an early settler.

December 2, 1746

1746 December 2 (Tuesday).  Mr. David Maynard and his Brother Ebenezer came and kill’d Two Hoggs for me.  One weigh’d 232. The other 202. Mr. Harrington also brought a Hogg which I bought of him lately — which weigh’d 335.  In all 769 pounds of Pork cutt and Salted up this Evening. N.B. Mr. Whitney here with Mr. Harrington. N.B. Mr. Cushing absent last Sabbath from his people by reason of the sickness of his son Jacob at College.

December 3, 1746

1746 December 3 (Wednesday).  Very Cold.  I rode by Mr. Thomas Goodenows (where I call’d) to Mr. Jesse Rice’s of Marlborough.  Return’d to his mother[1] Mr. Fenner on Conscience.[2]  Din’d at Mr. Smiths — he not at home.  At Dr. Gotts reckon’d with him and paid all.  N.B. Captain Brintnall[3] and Lieutenant Cleveland[4] at the Doctors.  As I return’d home visited Mr. Jacob Amsden who has been very ill, and still confin’d.  When I came home found Mr. Maccarty here from Worcester.  N.B. A post went to the Governour to Day with Letters from Albany of Several of the Mohawks going to Quebec with Pretences of Friendship to the French but return’d with Scalps to Albany etc.

[1]The widow of Joseph Rice of Marlborough.

[2]William Fenner, The Soul’s Looking-Glasse . . . With a Treatise of Conscience (Cam- bridge, 1640).  Another edition appeared in 1643.

[3]William Brintnall of Sudbury.

[4]Josiah Cleveland of Watertown.

December 8, 1746

1746 December 8 (Monday).  Deacon Forbush here to ask me to go over to his son Solomon Woods there have been an odd Occurrence there, for when Mrs. Woods had lain in and got Joanna Fay from Southborough to Nurse her, on the Fourth Day the Nurse (an unmarried, Young Woman) falls into Travail and was deliver’d of a Child.  Yesterday morning it dy’d — and they who were nearly Concern’d would now have me Visit her and be at the Funeral. I went accordingly — talk’d with the Girl who seem’d penitent but would not tell who was the Father of her Child. After Prayer I return’d to Lieutenant Tainters and thence to Captain Bakers.  N.B. My wife rode with me as far as Captain Bakers and waited there till I came. We Supped there. N.B. Young Men’s Society met this Evening at old Mr. Maynards to settle their accounts etc.

December 10, 1746

1746 December 10 (Wednesday).  Lieutenant Tainter had encourag’d me that he would take the Care of marketting the Pork (kill’d yesterday) if I send it to Boston by my son Thomme; we accordingly got ready.  Ebenezer got the Mare shod at Mr. Cooks and went over to Lieutenants — acquainted him we had kill’d, and to know his Purpose; but it prov’d dull misty and Rainy Day, and it being a very heavy and difficult Load and Lieutenant not to go till late, together with diverse other Things which perplexed us, therefore we deferr’d it till another Day.  N.B. Mr. Ebenezer Baker of Marlborough here and din’d with us. At Eve my Son was at old Mr. Maynards and Ebenezer Maynard offer’d to go to Boston with our Pork, though his Design was to trade with Nathan if he had been at home.

December 11, 1746

1746 December 11 (Thursday).  Rainy yet. Neighbour Ebenezer came; we tackl’d and loaded, and he went off — but before noon he return’d — the Rain and bad road discourag’d him.  He din’d with us but would take nothing for his Pains about the Pork. At Eve we Salted it up. N.B. Our Two first Hoggs weighed 232 and 202. Mr. Harringtons 335.  This Sow weigh’d 261. In all that we Salted up 1030.

December 17, 1746

1746 December 17 (Wednesday).  Ten Young Men Cutt wood. James Bradish (by his Proxy Mr. Daniel Hardy), Jonas Bradish, Noah and Daniel How, Benjamin Whipple, Meradach Devereux, Elijah Warrin (by his proxy his Brother Aaron), Nathan Maynard, Jonathan Bruce, and Silas Newton.  P.M. I went over to Mr. Whipples to meet with the precinct Committee who were there except Mr. Abner Newton. There was also present Neighbour Benjamin How. I discours’d with them of my late Memorial which was Sent to the precinct last Monday. I ask’d Deacon Newton, and Mr. Whipple whether the Representation which I therein made of what they said to me when they came to my House the Evening after that Precinct Meeting (there referr’d to) was a just and true Representation?  And they reply’d in Terms of Consent, that it was. I ask’d Captain Warrin and Mr. Williams also, who Said that they remember’d that being at the Said precinct Meeting they did perceive that That was the precinct Meeting, viz. that my Sallery Should be that Money which pass’d before the Soldier Money (in 1744) was made, which was according to Gold at 4.18 shillings per ounce — but I could not prevail with any of them to Sign any Line of Memorandum of it. When I got home young men all gone home.

December 18, 1746

1746 December 18 (Thursday).  The last Night and this Day were More than ordinary Cold.  Should have expected Mr. Maccarty from Worcester to preach my Lecture to Young Men, had it not been so extreme Cold.  I preach’d myself on Rom. 8.6 former part to a few that Ventur’d out. Mr. Jenison spent the Evening with me and Supp’d here.  N.B. I ask’d him why he was not at Communion last Opportunity? He said he did not know that it was to be Communion Day, till the Day before.

December 21, 1746

1746 December 21 (Sunday).  All Day upon Micah 6.8 going on Still with the Subject from Tit. 2.12.  Mr. Jenison, Mrs. Mary Steward,[1] Widow Thurston, and Mr. Zebulon Rice’s Wife[2] din’d here.  My God grant us these dire principles to Love one another, and to delight in shewing Mercy!

[1]Daughter of Daniel Steward of Marlborough.

[2]Zebulon Rice married Abigail, daughter of Daniel Forbush of Westborough.

December 22, 1746

1746 December 22 (Monday).  A.M. I rode over to the Southside of the Town.  Was at Mr. Beriah Rice’s, Deacon Forbush’s[1] where was Mr. Child of Roxbury, Glazier.  Visited Mr. Dunlop who is Sick; This and to Speak with the Glazier were my Chief Errands: was also at Mr. Martin Pratts — din’d (as I return’d home) at Lieutenant Tainters.  Very Raw Cold towards Night — but Lieutenant Hezekiah Ward came with a Plott of Land he had laid out for me of 7 1/2 Acres by the Burying place, and would have me go and See it.  I went just before sunsett.  At Mr. Nurses at Eve and as I return’d home I visited Jonathan Maynard who is ill of a Dropsie.

[1]Jonathan Forbush.

December 30, 1746

1746 December 30 (Tuesday).  Dr. Breck here and din’d as he did Yesterday also whilst I was gone from home.  Deacon Forbush, Mr. Moses Pratt of Shrewsbury and Mr. Samuel Warrin of Grafton here, and wants a petition to be drawn to be presented to the General Court for their Compassion towards their Captive children and Friends.  At Eve (though it snow’d) I was at Captain Maynards. N.B. His Wife putts me in mind of my not having visited Mr. Abner Newton since the death of his Father, Mother and little Child: which I was a little surpriz’d at, but told Mrs. Maynard ‘twas Neglected with no Particular Design, but I would endeavour soon to make them a Visit.