Author: Anthony Vaver

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!

1782 January 1 (Tuesday).  Blessed be the Lord who is our Great Almighty Preserver and daily, yearly Benefactor!

 

We assembled into the House of the Lord to pay our Homage and implore divine Benediction, Preservation and Direction.  Mr. Moore began with Adoration, Praise and Prayer.  We Sung Ps. [24?], former part.  Mr. Fish (the Younger) preached on Ps. 126.3.  I prayed after Sermon: and we Sung Ps. 145, the whole of the first part.  After the Blessing the Singers and a Number of the Congregation Stayed — a Number of agreeable Tunes were sung.  May God graciously accept our devout Gratulations!

 

When I came home I found Dr. Gordon here, being returned thus far from Virginia, having been with the Generals etc.  Doctor lodges here.  Mr. Fish lodges at the Squires, and his Horse is kept there.  Mr. Killbourn (who preachs at Southborough) was with us, but returns to Mrs. Stones.  It was with us, a Time of much Company: some of our young Scholars [here?], favoured us by going home, and took Horses with them to keep.

1782 January 2 (Wednesday).  Dr. Gordon left us Early.  Mr. Moore and his son undertook their Journey via Cambridge and Boston.  P.M. Mr. Holland here.  He is discouraged from Preaching through bodily Infirmity and Studies Physick.  At Eve our Young folks go to Col. Brighams.

1782 January 3 (Thursday).  I am more and more affected by the Sorrowful Dispensation of Providence in the Impairs of my Sight.

1782 January 4 (Friday).  My Grandson Baldwin from College din’d here, but p.m. went on his Journey to Brookfield.

1782 January 5 (Saturday).  This Morning Breck went to Concord to See Lydia, if alive.  He returned at night.  She is very low, but there are some hopeful Tokens, and the Child like to live.  Their Daughter Lydia is in Languishment and pain.  She is supposed to be Rheumatic and consumptive.

1782 January 6 (Sunday).  A.M. I named Ps. 39 [to?] latter part for a Text, but delivered a Number of Serious Reflections, Contemplations, quickening Motives, and Seasonable Advices, proper for the first sabbath of the year.  P.M. preached on Rom. 8.1.  May God succeed!  At Eve Mr. Brigham read Mr. Flavels Fountain of Life, Sermon 22, which is upon Luk. 22.41 to 44.

1782 January 7 (Monday).  I am employed upon Biographical Dictionary, Vol. 7.  A Letter from Elias at Hampt. (North) of Dec. 31.  Mr. Daniel Goddard of Shrewsbury here and desires me to lend him Dr. Mathers Magnalia.  He also requests some Other Things (Preaching etc.) which I can’t encourage.

1782 January 8 (Tuesday).  Mr. Treasurer Newtons affairs are much perplexed: a Committee again sitts at his House, to Examine Accounts.  Mr. Gale here: brings Beef.  Ephraim Parker came to see us.  Honorable judge Dorr visits me.  He is looking for a Farm having sold his own in Mendon.

1782 January 9 (Wednesday).  Mr. Brigham and others are upon Neighbour Newtons Accounts still.  Reading Mr. Grovers Sermons, Vol. 5, but marked Vol. 1.  An unhappy Accident at Eve by the Candle.

1782 January 10, 11 (Thursday, Friday).  So fowl weather that I can’t visit Mr. Jonathan Child who is ill.  I am confined, and read Biographical Dictionary.

1782 January 12 (Saturday).  Bowman is so indisposed that he goes home to his Fathers; and the Brighams take Care of the Cattle and Wood.

1782 January 13 (Sunday).  I preached a.m. on Rom. 8.1.  P.M. on Phil. 4.7.  Mrs. Maynard dined here.  At Eve Mr. Brigham read Flavels fountain of Life, and prayed.

1782 January 14 (Monday).  Mr. Moses Brigham and his Wife were here.  Mr. Crosby (the young preacher) was here also.

1782 January 15 (Tuesday).  Mr. Brigham (though very Cold) went to Boston.  He carrys from me Mr. Cranch’s Vol. 7 of Biographical Dictionary.  My Wife much distresst by grievous pain in her Back and Hip.

1782 January 16 (Wednesday).  I rode in a sleigh to Mr. William Johnsons, to the Funeral of his little son Taylor of 13 months; and prayed and discoursed with them.  N.B. I dined at Mr. Ebenezer Chamberlains junior.  Called at Mr. Samuel Hardy’s.  When I came home found Mr. Sumner and his Wife.  I discoursed with him about Mr. Sanford and of his Doctrines.  My son Baldwin and my Daughter from Brookfield and one Mr. Weare with them in a sleigh.  They lodged here.

1782 January 17 (Thursday).  Mr. P. Whitney and Mr. David Monro — also Dr. Crosby.  Col. and Mr. Weare go to Boston.  My Daughter remains here.  N.B. Mr. Whitney relates that there has lately been a Conference at Westford: a Number of Ministers, with their Delegates, upon the Hopkinsian Doctrines, and a Lecture by Mr. Zabdiel Adams.  At Eve Messrs. Hazzletine and Elisha Parker.  Mr. Brigham returned from Boston.  He brought a Letter from Mr. Quincy which was very acceptable to me.  Mrs. P________ very much exercised with pain in her Back and Hip; especially in the Nights.

1782 January 18 (Friday).  She takes Physick, by advice of Dr. Crosby.  I visited at Neighbour Harringtons.  P.M. Col. Brigham and his Wife made us a Visit, which was very agreeable.

1782 January 19 (Saturday).  Rev. Mr. David Goodall of Hallifax in the State of [blank] came to see me and dined with us.  I gave him synopsis purioris Theologia a Profess. Leidensibus: and I lent him a Vol. of the Morning Exercise, the [IVth?], to be returned again in [blank] Months.  I asked him to preach tomorrow.

1782 January 20 (Sunday).  Mr. Goodall preached for me a. and p.m. on 1 Joh. 3.9.10.  He and his Mother Maynard dined here.  Mr. Brigham at Eve read in Flavels Fountain of Life, Sermon 24, and prayed.