Author: Anthony Vaver

1781 November 10 (Saturday).  So cold and Searching that I can’t comfortably go out yet have neither Man or Boy, but by Courtesy.  Mr. Brigham (and his Brother Josiah) do me Kindness to look after the Creatures and chop Wood which he has caused to be brought here.

1781 November 11 (Sunday).  I thought it best to preach on Ps. 124, esp. v. l, 6, 8, on account of the Surrender of Earl Cornwallis and the British Army etc. to General Washington Oct. 18.  Notice also was taken of the divine Goodness to the Church and to me, these 57 years.  At Eve Mr. B. read in Flavels Fountain of Life — and prayed.  Mrs. P______ read to Me Mr. Job Ortons sermon to the Old.

1781 November 12 (Monday).  The Town Meeting to consider my Sallery and Wood.  I committ the Matter to God and desire to resign to His sovereign Will!  Breck came from the Meeting and informs me that Capt. Fisher was inveighing against me in a long and bitter Invective charging me with Tyranny in that I would not suffer the people to hear Mr. Sanford — whereas I had only Answered that I hoped they would not impose on me the Hardship of asking a man to preach for me that I had never seen, and heard was Erroneous.  I went to the Meeting House, and endeavoured to reply.  The moderator was Ensign Aaron Warrin who related what the Town had voted, viz. 35 Cord of Wood, but as to Addition to my yearly Sallery (which was another Article in their Warrant) The Town did not grant it.  To which I replyed that I had not asked any addition, but I depended upon their making the 55£ good, as is promised in the Call.  Altercations arose again about Mr. Sanfords preaching but Capt. Maynard asked the Moderator whether that was in the Warrant?  which was a Check, and I took leave.

1781 November 13 (Tuesday).  I preached at the private Meeting at Deacon Hawes on Philip. 1.21, which may God please to prosper!  Next Meeting to be at Mr. Gales.  At home I found Capt. Solomon Allen of Northampton, and his wife, who lodge here.  He brings a letter from my son Elias, dated the 10th.  Capt. Morse here, at Eve and appears very friendly.

1781 November 14 (Wednesday).  Capt. Allen and his wife proceed on their Journey to Boston.  Town Meeting again; but adjourn still.  Miss Eunice Fish here, brings a Letter from her Brother Elijah Warrin in reply to mine by Col. Ezra Wood.  She lodges here.  Her Horse kept here.

1781 November 15 (Thursday).  I wrote a Memorandum to Mr. Warrin on his own Letter and Sent it back to him, by her.  Mr. Thomas Kendal came and lodges here.

1781 November 16 (Friday).  Mr. Kendal — Mr. Foster of New-Braintree dine here.  They Spend part of the Afternoon here, and towards Eve Mr. Brigham went with Mr. Foster to Capt. Jonas Brighams.  Mr. Kendall here.  At Eve Mr. Abijah Gale came in and said he had a Message from the Town to me, viz. Their Burdens being so very heavy, they would be glad to know whether if the Town shall pay me this years Sallery at the Time, and according to its value when it was granted, I shall be willing to accept of half the last years Sallery (none of it being yet paid) now, and take Security for the other half with Interest from the time it was due, until paid?  My Answer to Mr. Gale (my son Breck and Pamela Coollege were present) was this — “With proper Respects to the Town, let them know, That Since the Glorious God has wrought Such wonderfull Things for us, and granted us thus to triumph over our Enemies, We ought to manifest our hearty Gratitude to Him, by all ways possible; and particularly by Works of Righteousness, Mercy and Compassion to one another.  And as to the proposal and Request of the Town, abovesaid, I consent to Shew the Town all the Compassion I can under my present Circumstances, having been obliged to plunge deeply into Debt for a great while; But this is upon Condition that if I am, upon my trying, unable to undergo it, then the Town on their part, shall shew Compassion to me, and shall afford me Relief.”

1781 November 17 (Saturday).  Mr. Kendal tarrys and I ask him to preach.

1781 November 18 (Sunday).  Mr. Kendall preached a. and p.m. on Joh. 10.8.  Mrs. Maynard dined here.  At Eve K. repeated the Heads of his Sermon.  N.B. finished Mr. Job Ortons Sermons to the Aged.

1781 November 19 (Monday).  Mr. K. toward Eve goes up to Deacon Woods (where I sent his Horse last Saturday) and he tarried there over the night.  Judge Baker at his Brothers when I was there.

1781 November 20 (Tuesday).  Deacon Wood sends to me to know whether Mr. Kendal may not preach at his House to day?  I consent.  P.M. he preached on 2 Pet. 1.19 to a crowd’d Throng.  At Night I rode to Lt. Levi Warrins and marryed Robert Whiteman to Susanna Devine.

1781 November 21 (Wednesday).  Mr. Kendal — and lodges here.  Deacon Fisher of Franklin makes me a visit at Evening.

1781 November 22 (Thursday).  Though Cold I rode to Mr. Daniel Nurse’s and marryed Moses Warrin to Priscilla Nurse.  Mr. Kendall still among us (and writes on Account of 2 women disordered by Strange Preaching) and at Deacon Woods, where they are turning his Coat for him.

1781 November 23 (Friday).  Mr. K. left us at Eve to go to Mr. Mathis’s at Southborough, and designs to be in the way to preach at Hopkinton.

1781 November 24 (Saturday).  [No entry.]

1781 November 25 (Sunday).  Though I had prepared a Sermon for p.m., Yet my a.m. (which was on Rom. 13.13) was so closely connected with the next pages, that I was obliged to go on in the afternoon upon the same subject.  And may a gracious God pardon and succeed!  Mrs. Maynard dined here.  After Meeting Mr. Richard Martyn of Canada in Connecticut, was with us and drank Tea here.  In the Eve Mr. Brigham read in Mr. Flavels Fountain of Life.  Mrs. P_____ read Mr. Grove’s Sermon.  N.B. I did not stop the Church to day because there were few members at Meeting, it was a dark, Cold Day, neither was Mr. Adams (as I was told) there.

1781 November 26 (Monday).  Mr. Brigham is desired by Several to take their Sons to instruct them.  He has already his Brother Josiah.  Ensign Aaron Warrin wants his son Abijah should come (and he is come to day); Lieut. Jonathan Grout is earnest to have his son come; Benjamin Bowman is expected to come to live with me this Winter to look after my Cattle and chop Wood, hoping to get Learning withal: and Mr. Thaddeus Warrin is here and requests that his John may come to Mr. Brigham to School — all which coming upon me with without our being prepared for it, is too difficult.  Mr. D. Adams’s Witnesses are examined by Col. Jonathan Ward, at Mr. Gales.  Mr. Brigham is gone to Concord to assist my son Samuel in selling his Conant Farm there.

1781 November 27 (Tuesday).  I Suppose my son Samuel this Day sets up his House and Farm at Concord at Vendue.  I am destitute of Help abroad, but Breck goes to the Barn and Josiah and Abijah cut wood for us: but the Wood is Mr. Brighams — for none has been yet brought me, though mine has been gone this great while.  N.B. Breck changes an Hogshead in my Cellar and puts in an Iron-bound one, instead of mine.

1781 November 28 (Wednesday).  Rode to Mr. Solomon Bathericks, to enquire after Wood.  I went to Lieut. Parkers, who is returned home from the Camp.  I proceeded to Capt. Maynards and dined there.  P.M. to the Widow Dolly Maynards, where I spoke to Mrs. Adams, to give her suitable Caution and Charge.  I visited at Mr. Benjamin Hows and especially at Mr. Ben Warrins whose Wife has been a long time confined — only Whispers — I prayed there.  Was at Mr. Fessendens and at Capt. Godfry’s.

1781 November 29 (Thursday).  Mr. Thomas Whitney came to acquaint me that Mr. Reuben Maynards wife is delivered of Twins, that one is dead, and desire my Assistance in burying it tomorrow.  Mr. Whitney answers an Enquiry I made (by Occasion) namely, How far he would go in reconciliation with Neighbour B. Fay?  He answered and I wrote it — read it to him and he acknowledged it.

1781 November 30 (Friday).  Rode to see Mr. Phinehas Hardys Wife: thence to Mr. Joseph Hardys, and to Mr. John Fays, where I dined.  P.M. to Mr. R. Maynards and stood between the Living and the dead, to pray with the few that were there.  I went also to Mr. Childs, who has two Children Sick — I prayed by them — and went to Mr. Gershom Brighams.  N.B. A German there, of Brunswick.  Master S. Crosby lodged here.  Six Load of Wood came.

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.