Author: Anthony Vaver

1781 May 19 (Saturday).  Commotions among Some, about the late Choice of Representative.  Lamson on front Fence: East Side of the Gate New Posts.  My Son Samuel and his Wife came from Boston and tarry here.

1781 May 20 (Sunday).  Read Deut. 32 to v. 28 a.m. and the rest p.m.  Preached on v. 46, 47.  Appointed a Catechizing next Thursday.  At Eve Mr. Brigham read Mr. Flavel on Prov. 8.30 in the Fountain of Life.  N.B. Squire Singleterry, of Sutton calls here to tell me Mr. Stone is sick, and that I am desired to visit him.

1781 May 21 (Monday).  My Son Samuel and his Wife leave us to go to Norwich.  Wrote to Mr. Wight.  I visited my Brother Stone and found him very ill of a Fever.  His Mind much exercised.  Prayed with him, dined there.  P.M. I returned — calling at old Lt. Brighams and got Ointment of Mrs. Brigham for Mrs. P____’s Leg: which is now a days very bad.  I went to Capt. Edmund Brighams and discoursed with him and his Wife of their Guilt etc.  Alas!  with too little success!

1781 May 22 (Tuesday).  I have received a Sixth Volume of Biographical Dictionary from Mr. Cranch, by Deacon Hawes — read Life of the Great H. Grotius.

1781 May 23 (Wednesday).  I again visited Mr. Stone.  Find him low: but his Doctor (Parker) thinks the Symptoms are not worse.  His Mind much the same, very humble before the Great God, and apprehensive of the Vastness of the Work of Dying!  A variety of Visitants — sister Cushing and I went and dined at her sister Brighams — Returned to Mr. Stones — prayed with him, and took (most affectionately) Leave of him, and the Family.  I came home by Mr. Snow’s, where I called a while; but having taken Cold, was not well when I got home.  Mr. Thomas Stone came up and got some Lemons etc.

1781 May 24 (Thursday).  I did what I could to attend a Catechizing.  There were but 24 Boys — and p.m. 31 Girls — But I was much pierced with the Wind in coming home — Shook much with Strong Ague — and had an ill night, attended with Feverishness.

1781 May 25 (Friday).  God has graciously Sustained me — Glory to His Great Name!  But Kept my Chamber all Day.  Rainy Weather.  Mr. Simon Forbes has been here with his own and his Wife’s Relations.  A Letter was writ by my Son Breck, to inform Mr. Fitch — But

1781 May 26 (Saturday).  Brecks Letter not having been Sent, I wrote my Self, and Sent Elias on purpose.  Am better (through divine Goodness) and went down to Dinner, but weak and feeble.  Mr. Nathan Kenney brought his Relation, which I corrected and he signed.  There is still great Noise about the Squire’s going to Court.  A Notification for Town Meeting.  Am informed also that a Number of young Persons of Northborough who went out on a privateering Voiage are taken, and some of them are carryed into New York.

1781 May 27 (Sunday).  I was much oppressed with my Cold and Cough.  But I went to Meeting.  A.M. I read Ps. 90th and preached on v. 16.  P.M. on the Same.  Mrs. Maynard dined here.  At Evening Mr. Brigham read Sermon 3 of Flavells Fountain of Life.

1781 May 28 (Monday).  Breck and Suse break up their living here, and remove home.  Miss Anna Brigham with them.  There was to day an Uncommon Town Meeting — It respected the Representative they had chosen, or rather the Manner of Choosing.  And they agreed to send None.

1781 May 29 (Tuesday).  Mr. Brigham goes to Hardwick — Elias to Mendon.  I sent by Squire Singleterry to Mr. Quincy.  Henry Biddle an officer of the Army, with him.  P.M. Mr. Samuel Breck of Northampton in his Way to Boston, came to see us.  Deacon Chamberlain of Worcester, going to See his Uncle Ebenezer Chamberlain here.  Mr. Sumner came from Mr. Stones and tells me he is yet alive, but exceeding low.

1781 May 30 (Wednesday).  Pamela, on my Horse, goes her Journey to Visit her Parents and Friends.  Dr. Hawes waited upon me with his Chaise to visit Mr. Stone once more.  He was lower than ever: his Reason however, is Sound.  Gives more hopeful Answer — Consents to the Truth of the Gospel and recommends to us the holy Christian Religion — Mr. Fitch of Hopkinton and much Company there.  N.B. he was at prayer when I went in.  I took solemn Leave.  Doctor brought me back to his House, but in our returning we stopped a while and drank Tea at Haskells.

1781 May 31 (Thursday).  Mr. Isaac Johnson came with the heavy Tidings, that Mr. Stone expired about 7 o’Clock a.m.  Alas! my Brother!  Help, Lord!  The Godly cease the Righteous fail [illegible] do not Thou forsake us!  Mr. Johnson dines here and goes to Dr. Hall.  Deacon Chamberlain here in his Returning home.  He tells me Mr. Mellen is Mr. Mccarty’s Second for the Convention sermon of day.  It is now 20 Years since I preached it.  Brother Stone I hope is gone to the Grand Convention above.  Mr. Cushing came — but at Eve went to Shrewsbury.

1781 June 1 (Friday).  I rode up to Reuben Maynards to See his Wife who is very low — trouble in her Mind about her Guilt (which She confesses) impresses her Body, most probably.  Prayed with her.  I bore the Ride with Difficulty.  Called to See the Widow Smith, who is still very low.  Her Brother, Deacon Samuel Miles lies dead.  Mr. Brigham from Hardwick.  Mr. Cushing from Shrewsbury.  At Eve came Old Mr. Batheric and Mr. Samuel Forbush.  Mr. Daniel Adams also came.  They want the Church Should meet to Consider of Adams’s Difficultys, but have prepared nothing, upon which I may proceed.  I was very feeble and they kept me too late.

1781 June 2 (Saturday).  Had but a poor night, and am not able to discharge the Dutys called for.  Elias goes over to Hopkinton, to wait on Mrs. Cotton here.  Mr. Cushing waited on me to the Funeral of Mr. Stone.  I had Such a Cough I could not Speak in the Assembly.  Dr. Hall prayed there, made a brief funeral Address and Exhortation to the people which was followed with a Short Prayer by Mr. Bridge.  (The Corps having been plac’d before the Deacons Seat in the Meeting House, was then solemnly born to the Grave.)  I assisted only as a Bearer, and with a few words at Interring.  The other Bearers were, Dr. Hall, Mr. Bridge, Mr. Sumner, Mr. Whitney and Mr. Biglow.  Under-Bearers were 4 Brethren of the Church; and the Rest of the Church walked before the Corps.

1781 June 3 (Sunday).  Mr. Cushing preaches a.m. on Tit. 3.8, p.m. on Luk. 14.17.  N.B.  On consideration of Mr. Stones Death I read a.m. Ps. 39.  Mrs. Maynard and Mrs. Cotton dined here.  At Eve Mr. Cushing repeated the Heads of his afternoon Sermon.  N.B. Nathan Kenny, Simon Forbes and Susanna Forbes, were admitted into the Church.  I got through as well as I could expect.  Thanks to God for His great Goodness!

1781 June 4 (Monday).  Mr. Cushing and Mrs. Cotton leave us for Ashburnham.  I rode to Mr. Peter Thatchers at his request and dined there with his Father, who p.m. preached a Lecture there on Ps. 119.63.  Exceeding long, but very acceptable — may the Lord graciously add His Blessing!  I grew faint, but got home, though poorly.  Here I found Sister Champney and Mr. Zechariah Hicks from Sutton.  They lodge here.

1781 June 5 (Tuesday).  They Set out for Cambridge.  I preached at Lieutenant Jonathan Grouts on Hos. 6.1 and O that we might be perswaded to resolve accordingly to return to the Lord!  I was somewhat better.  D.Gr.

1781 June 6 (Wednesday).  I sent by Col. Wheelock Some Account of Mr. Stone, to the Care of Mr. Summer.  John Moulton was so ill yesterday that he is again gone to his Fathers.  P.M. Mr. Hicks returns from Cambridge having left his Aunt Champney at Mr. Thomas Barretts.  Hear that Miss Mindwell Brigham is sick.  Memorandum.  Matthew Beld[ing?] of Fairfield distressed and poor was here with an humble Petition, for Relief Signed by four Select Men and Two Justices of the Peace.  Says he has a Brother John Belding Captain of a Company from Boston, now at Rhode Island.

1781 June 7 (Thursday).  I was under So much Indisposition that I could not ride abroad, either to visit the mournful Family at Southborough or Mr. Reuben Maynards Wife.

1781 June 8 (Friday).  Mr. Bowman of Oxford with a Kinswoman of his, Stop here.  Read my own former preparations on the Death of Ministers etc. etc.  Elias much exercised with a lame Arm.

1781 June 9 (Saturday).  Would have gone to Southborough but was prevented.  Old Mr. Joseph Green here to acquaint me with the Death of another of his Sons Children.  P.M. Pamela came home from Ashburnham.

1781 June 10 (Sunday).  I preached on Mat. 13.43 with many Additions on occasion of the Death of Rev. Mr. Nathan Stone of Southborough.  Mrs. Maynard dined here.  Dr. Crosby came in after public Exercises and attended another private: but he returned to Deacon Woods.

1781 June 11 (Monday).  I rode to Southborough and Visited the mournful Widow Stone and Family.  I dined there and discoursed of the Custom and Manner of Life etc.  Read the Will etc.  I returned before Night.  Mr. Woodward of Weston had been here while I was absent.

1781 June 12 (Tuesday).  Mr. Brigham goes to Boston.  I wrote by him to Mr. Moore.  P.M. Squire Bakers Lady and her Daughter Parker from Templeton were here.  Mrs. Grosvenor, and her Sister Cloe here etc.

1781 June 13 (Wednesday).  I expected Mr. Grosvenor to preach my Lecture but he came not.  I preached my self, on Joh. 15.9, finishing the Discourse on Jude v. 21.  N.B. When I was about to go to Meeting at 2 o’Clock, my Wife handed me a Letter — but the Messenger did not appear.  I could not have Time to see who it came from, nor one word of what it was about.  So that I only told the Church that such an one was brought, but that Every body must know that it is out of season: and no more must be hereafter offered in Such disorderly Manner.  After Meeting Squire Crosby, Deacon Wood and old Mr. Batheric were here.  A Letter from Northampton, to Elias, Signed by Messrs. Joseph Hawley, and [blank] Strong, inviting him to go and keep a Grammar School there.

1781 June 14 (Thursday).  A Notable Raising of Squire Bakers great Barn of 110 feet long.  I was invited and as our Lord and Saviour did not refuse when asked to an Entertainment so I complyed — went, dined and supp’d there.  No Evil Occurrence, nor signs of Intemperance among them.  Mr. Brigham returned last Night from Boston — tells me that my son Samuel has carried to Dr. Mather his 4th Volume of Cotton of the Keys etc.

1781 June 15 (Friday).  Though it was rainy yet at Squire Bakers they go on to raise the Roof of his great Barn.  It was finished without any bad Accident.  To God the Glory!

1781 June 16 (Saturday).  John Moulton so well as to come to work again; but not till (Saturday) afternoon.

1781 June 17 (Sunday).  There being so many Exercises before me to day, I did not read publicly.  I preached on 1 Cor. 11.27.29.  Administered the Lords Supper.  Mrs. Maynard and Mrs. Nanny Thacher (wife of Mr. Peter Thacher junior) dined here.  P.M. Eph. 4.1.  At Eve came Mr. Sumner from Southborough (having preached there on 2 K. 2.14) and was in his way home.

1781 June 18 (Monday).  Visited at Mr. Lamson’s, he being Sick, and at Mr. Jonathan Forbes their youngest Child very ill.  Prayed; and dined there.  Mr. John Forbes of Otter Creek dined there also.  Deacon Wood in Mourning for the Loss of his eldest Brother John, I went into See him but he was gone to Hopkinton to See his Brother Joseph who is Still in an ill state.

1781 June 19 (Tuesday).  Attend the Association at Northborough.  We were all present, namely, 5 only, and Mr. Reuben Puffer (who last Lords day gave his determinate Answer to South-Bolton to Accept) was among us also.  N.B. Now first met in Mr. Whitneys New House.  In returning home, I called at Capt. Maynards.  Mrs. P_____ tells me that Mr. Ebenezer Grosvenor and his Lady — a son also, dined here, in their way to Pomfret.

1781 June 20 (Wednesday).  Mr. Nathan Biglow of Ashburnhan came for Mr. Cushing to get Grain.  I sent a Bushel and half.  Mr. Cushing to be respond.  Mr. Brigham, Hazletine and Elias went to Northborough Lecture to hear Mr. Puffer: but were very late.  I read Biographical Dictionary — Life of Dr. Harvey etc.

1781 June 21 (Thursday).  Several old Friends visited here, viz. Squire Whipple and his Wife from New Braintry, and their Sister Knowlton of Shrewsbury.  They proceed to visit Lamson who is sick.

1781 June 22 (Friday).  [No entry.]