Author: Anthony Vaver

1782 September 23 (Monday).  Capt. Morse came and brought a noble Cheese of 20 weight. Daughter Baldwin returned to Brookfield.  Elias with her.  P.M. Church Meeting on Adams’s Affair.  Both the Contending partys came.  After Prayer and a Pathetic Address to each of them perswading to mutual Condescension and forgivness, it was recommended to them to choose a Number of Persons Mutually to assist them to hear both sides and advise etc.  But the urging this was in Vain.  The Church must do it, for Mr. Adams would consent to no other.  We therefore heard his Papers of Evidences — and two living Witnesses, viz. Deacon Phips and Timothy Twitchell were called and heard.  We also heard the Womans Petition to the Governor and Council (which complains of her Husbands committing Adultery).  But the Church inclined to improve the Help of a Committee — therefore Voted to have one: the Number to be Five: the Persons, Elijah Brigham, Deacon Hawes, Joseph Harrington, Isaac Davis, and Eli Whitney.  To These therefore the Case was committed — and they are to meet at this place, this day fortnight, at 9 a.m. with Power to call for Persons, Papers etc., as Shall be Needed.  The Meeting concluded with Prayer and Blessing.

1782 September 24 (Tuesday).  Mr. Hazzletine here.  Mr. Simon How of Marlborough makes me a Visit about their Affairs as now situated.  I went down to my Island to view what work had been done to clear the Brook, and what Dammage the Fires have done in the Meadows.

1782 September 25 (Wednesday).  The Widow Snow here, dined with us etc.  Rev. Mr. Langton of York, and his Daughter, Miss Hannah, going to Farmington, Stopped and lodged here.  N.B. They inform of anointing with Clay to cure bad Sores — Cancer, etc.  N.B. No Sand may be among the Clay.

1782 September 26 (Thursday).  Mr. Langton and Daughter leave us.  Isaac Baldwin returns from Cambridge to Brookfield.  Their great Horse is Sick (of [Potts?] etc.) and like to die.  A Fast at Marlborough to Seek a Minister of God and on account of the Great Drought.  Mr. Puffer began with prayer; and Mr. Whitney of Northborough preached on 1 Cor. 1.10.11.12.13.  P.M. Mr. Newall (who was sent to), not coming, Mr. Plumb prayed.  I preached on Amos 4.11, latter part.  May God accept the Offerings and grant our Requests!  My son Ebenezer waited upon me.  I met with a bad Fall in getting out of a Chaise, and hurt my right Legg.  We returned home at Eve.

1782 September 27 (Friday).  My Steers came home last night from Templeton: and Squire Baker wants to have them of me.  He has them accordingly.  Mr. Forbes and his Lady from Cape Anne; Mr. Cushing and his Children, George and Sally with him, and lodge here.  We have Such a Number of Horses that we send, One to Mr. Elisha Forbes, and one to Deacon Woods.  Mr. Cushing reads Dr. Huntingtons plea for Mrs. Fisk at Stockbridge, before an Ecclesiastical Council Oct. 6 and 7, 1779.[1]

[1]Joseph Huntington (1735-1794), A plea before the venerable ecclesiastical council at Stockbridge, in the cause of Mrs. Fiske. Delivered the sixth and seventh of October, one thousand seven hundred and seventy nine. By a gentleman from Connecticut (Norwich [Conn.]: Printed by John Trumbull, near the Meeting-House,, M,DCC,LXXX. [1780]; Evans 16806).

1782 September 28 (Saturday).  Mr. Forbes (accompanyed by Ebenezer) goes to West Sudbury.  Mr. Cushing and his son George to Shrewsbury.  Mrs. Forbes and Sally Cushing remain with us.  Elias returns from Brookfield, and he has been to Springfield and Northampton.  A Letter from Mr. Quincy.  Mr. Cushing returns from Shrewsbury and goes to Southborough to preach there.  His Son George goes with him.

1782 September 29 (Sunday).  My Leg had been painful in the Night, and I had but broken sleep.  However, I went to Meeting.  Attempted to preach a.m. on Heb. 4.9, but I could not use my Notes much.  My Sight was not clear.  On Occasion of the long continued Drought, from Ps. 42.1.  N.B. Mrs. Maynard and a Kinswoman of hers, Mrs. [blank] dined here.  At Eve Mr. Forbes and Ebenezer returned from Sudbury and Mr. Cushing and his Son from Southborough.

1782 September 30 (Monday).  Mr. Forbes and his Wife sat out for Brookfield.  I visited Mrs. White, at Mr. Greaves’s.  Went also to Deacon Woods, who is generous [to] me as to Horse-keeping (Mr. Langtons and his Daughters, gratis).  N.B. My Nights are Painfull.  I am kept very much awake.  Many Things concur to employ my anxious Mind, by Day and Night.

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!