1739 December 13 (Thursday). Cold — windy. Old Mr. Green here. P.M. Major Keys[1] — Mr. Jonathan Hemingway.[2] Jeduthan Fay brought up his wife. David Baverick had my Mare to Meet the Company at Marlborough. I began to sermonize again.
[1]John Keyes of Shrewsbury.
[2]Son of Deacon Joshua Hemenway of Framingham.
1739 December 14 (Friday). Cold.
1739 December 15 (Saturday). Cold decreas’d Somewhat. Mr. Timothy Harrington came.
1739 December 16 (Sunday). Mr. Harrington[1] preach’d in Mr. Jenisons Stead, who preach’d at Marlborough. Mr. Harringtons Text Isa. 52.7, p.m. 1 Tim. 4.8, latter part. Fine Moderate Day, but the Earth too Damp and the Meeting House to[o] chilling for me to Venture out yet.
[1]Timothy Harrington (HC 1737), later first minister at Swanzy, N.H., 1741-1748. SHG, 10:188-205.
1739 December 17 (Monday). Rainy Morn — Cloudy, Damp. Lieutenant Tainter came and waited upon his Kinsman to his House. N.B. Mr. David Baverick and Samuel Bumpso bargained with me to Clear my Swamp for 40 shillings per Acre and their Dinners while they work’d. I was not altogether So well as heretofore. Pains, Dullness, etc.
1739 December 18 (Tuesday). Bright and Warm in the Middle of the Day. Dr. Gott here and din’d with us. P.M. I was invited out by the fitness of the Day and I rode to the Barn and round the Field.
1739 December 19 (Wednesday). P.M. Dr. Deming[1] of Lime, heretofore Minister of Medway, came with Mr. Stone from Southborough to See me, and Mr. Deming tarry’d all night. Memorandum. Old Mr. Increase Ward[2] dy’d last Night. N.B. He was the first person I ever baptiz’d. He dy’d (according to the Testimony of him) very resign’d to the will of God. Dr. Matthews[3] of Southborough, who had been a very usefull Man among the sick for some years, deceas’d, being upward of Eighty years old.
[1]Daniel Deming (1681-1746), Harvard 1700 (SHG, 4:518-19), served as minister of Medway, 1715-1722.
[2]An original settler of Westborough.
[3]John Matthews, physician of Southborough.
1739 December 20 (Thursday). Mr. Deming, having din’d, return’d to Marlborough. Lieutenant Tainter here. N.B. free, friendly mutual admonitions. Funeral of Mr. Ward. Mr. Cushing here at Evening.
1739 December 22 (Saturday). Mr. Jenison came at Evening, I being at my Study.
1739 December 23 (Sunday). Being a Fine pleasant Day I ventur’d to Meeting. I pray’d a.m. and Mr. Jenison preach’d on Numb. 23.10. Mr. Jenison pray’d p.m. and I preach’d on Ps. 68.20, and baptiz’d Two Children, But was so tir’d I was oblig’d to lye down immediately after the Exercises. Mr. Jenison also not well.
1739 December 24 (Monday). Mr. Jenison went away. N.B. Mr. Tainter with his Team p.m. and got us wood.
1739 December 25 (Tuesday). My Wife had been not well in the Night — continued ill at Times with Travail pains most of the Day, yet kept up, and din’d with us. I sent for Mrs. Clark of Shrewsbury but she was not at Home. I sent for Mrs. Forbush[1] and she came. Sister Hicks also was sent for and her Husband with her again about 10 o’Clock at Night to get us more help. About 12 (although she had gone but about 5 Months) She was deliver’d of a tender, lifeless, Male Child, The Measure of which was 13 1/2 Inches long. Immature for Birth, Yet with all its parts perfect. See Ps. 139 (Tate and Bradys Version) 10.13.15.16. But my wife through the great Goodness and Mercy of God in an hopefull State. N.B. Captain Goddard[2] here.
[1]Mrs. Thomas Forbush.
[2]Edward Goddard of Shrewsbury.
1739 December 26 (Wednesday). It has been a very open, warm Season for Some Time, Insomuch that within these few Dayes Some People have plough’d and Sow’d. But this Morning was Snowy — a Snowy Day. I improv’d Ebenezer Maynard to Digg a Grave for the Stillborn, little Babe and Brother Hicks made a Coffin, but did not Colour it. Mrs. Forbush tarried with us. Neighbor John Rogers kill’d a Shoat for me. Weigh’d 47 pounds. I Sent over to Mrs. Rice[1] (widow) to come and Nurse my Wife, but she sent back word that she could not come. Granny Forbush therefore tarrys. The Deacon came in the Evening, and we improv’d him to bury the Infant.
[1]Mrs. Edmund Rice of Westborough.
1739 December 28 (Friday). Justice Lee here again in the Morning. David Baverick here also. My Cold continues and renders me uncomfortable on various accounts. N.B. Mrs. Forbush called up out of her Bed and carry’d off by Neighbour Thurston,[1] But my Wife in a fine way — had got up to Day.
[1]Joseph, son of Joseph and Dority Thurston, b. Dec. 29, 1739; Westborough VR, 97.
1739 December 29 (Saturday). Sent Ebenezer to Cousin Winchesters for Nurse Sherman who came. Pleasant Weather though Somewhat Cold. My Hoarseness remains.
1739 December 30 (Sunday). I was under great Indisposition both by Pain and by Hoarseness and went out with much Difficulty and doubting of the Event, carrying with me a Book that if I should be oblig’d to return home they might Still keep up the Exercises. But through Divine Assistance I preach’d all Day. Text Ps. 68.20, and administer’d the Order of Baptism. At Evening I was heavy and worried. But heartily willing to Committ my Self and my whole Cause unto God. Mr. Stone of Southborough Sick of the Meazles.
1739 December 31 (Monday). My Arms and Knees have frequent Darts of Pain. A.M. pleasant and warm; p.m. Cloudy. Mr. Prentice of Grafton and his Wife made us a Visit. Came while we were at Dinner and tarried till Evening. How wondrous Swift my Time flys and my Life Wasted with Alas how Slender Improvement! God be pleas’d to humble me for my Negligence and unprofitableness and quicken me to New Fidelity!
1740 January 1 (Tuesday). Through the tender Mercy and Long suffering of God I am again permitted to begin another New Year. Blessed be His glorious Name for it! But I am under Infirmity and Pain in my Limbs and under Confinement So that although I can follow my studys yet, cannot go from Home, nor Venture to my Barn when it is very Cold or Damp weather. This Morning was rainy, but clear’d up and was moderate and pleasant a.m. P.M. was very rugged.
1740 January 2 (Wednesday). Very high winds and extreme Cold. Mr. Caleb Rice[1] of Stourbridge here and din’d with us. We were very Short of Wood and were oblig’d to Cut up an Old Hoggs Stye to burn. Jotham Maynard getting out Flax for us.
[1](HC 1730). The first minister at Sturbridge, 1736- 1759. SHG, 8:774-775.
1740 January 3 (Thursday). Very cold. Captain Warrin[1] and Jotham Maynard p.m. got wood. In the Evening Deacon Newton,[2] Lieutenant Baker and Lieutenant Tainter[3] here to Enquire how I was [illegible] for wood. Mr. Joseph Crosby here with Leather and I bought a Skin for Breeches of him.
[1]Daniel Warrin of Westborough.
[2]Josiah Newton.
[3]Simon Tainter, Jr.
1740 January 4 (Friday). Mr. Crosby again. I dispos’d of 4 Sheep Skins to him. I sent Ebenezer to Southborough for Salt it being most Scarce round about us. Mr. Jonathan Whipple here with Check’d Linnen Cloth which he had wove for us. David Baverick clearing in my swamp, and Lodg’d here.
1740 January 5 (Saturday). David Baverick, Ezekiel Pratt, and Jonathan Rogers clearing in the Swamp and din’d here. P.M. Two more, viz. Sam Bumpso and John Rogers at the same work.
1740 January 7 (Monday). Mr. Ebenezer Nurse’s eldest son, Ebenezer, a Youth of about 19, died last Friday of the Iliack passion, and this Day I was at his Funeral. Mr. Jedidiah How help’d by Noah kill’d Two Hogs for me. Weight of my Two Hoggs was 19 Score. A.M. the 3 young men Clearing. Mr. Peter Butler of Rutland sadler was here, and lodg’d.
1740 January 8 (Tuesday). Mr. Butler having rectify’d my Cloth Housing, new stuff’d my wife’s side saddle, etc., and settled accounts with me. Went off. Some Number of Hands came to get wood. Lieutenant Baker with a Yoke of oxen, and Neighbor Benjamin Fay[1] with 2 Yoke and Cart, Lieutenant Tainter For Mr. Beriah Rice, Neighbor Grow[2] For Deacon Newton,[3] Harrington,[4] Seth Rice[5] with his Team p.m., Eliezer Rice,[6] James Maynard, Sam Bumpso, David Baverick,[7] Ezekiel Pratt, Hezekiah Pratt, John Rogers for Mr. Abner Newton,[8] Josiah Green junior, Eliezer Williams, Samuel Rogers from Mr. William Nurse, Phinehas Forbush,[9] and Thomas Whitney. The first Cart went with onely one Yoke of Oxen and therefore could not load up. The other Cart had one Yoke and an Horse, and loaded decently, the other Two Yoke of Oxen drew a sled which for want of Snow could not be loaded up. The Wood was cut on the East Side of the Hill, and was a great deal of it very Small, but they clear’d the Small Tract as they went, of such Turns as aforesaid they made (as they gave account) 39 by Duskish. Lieutenant Tainter tarried in the Evening and Cut up and Salted my Two Hoggs which were kill’d Yesterday. They weighed both of them about 19 Score.
[1]The son of Captain John Fay. Benjamin became a frequent officeholder of Westborough. Johnson, Fay Family Tree, 27-30.
[2]Samuel Grow.
[3]Josiah Newton.
[4]Samuel Harrington.
[5]Son of Edmund Rice.
[6]From Marlborough, near the Westborough line.
[7]David Batherick of Westborough.
[8]Son of Thomas Newton.
[9]Son of Deacon Jonathan Forbush.
1740 January 9 (Wednesday). Snow’d last Night. The 3 Young Men, Scil. David Baverick, Ezekiel Pratt and Sam Bumpso, came to clearing but the Rain beat them off. Nurse Sherman was carried Home by Ebenezer, not to Marlborough the Meazles being thick there and about there but to Grafton. Mr. Bowman and Mr. Daniel Hardy here at Eve.
1740 January 10 (Thursday). Snow’d last Night but turns to rain this morning. Snow returns and the Storm of Snow and Rain continues all Day. My Wife greatly afflicted with the Tooth ach. Meazles at Ensign Maynards.
1740 January 12 (Saturday). Pleasant Day. My Wife (Except her Toothach) so far recover’d through Gods Mercy, that today She went into the Kitchen. Samuel Bumpso thrash’d Barley.
1740 January 13 (Sunday). I preach’d a. and p.m. on Rev. 2.21. Mr. Cornelius Biglo din’d here. After Meeting Mr. Biglo came in and my wife improv’d him to put out her Tooth.
1740 January 14 (Monday). Samuel Bumpso finish’d Thrashing Barley a.m. Mr. Daniel Warrin (who bought my Oxen) drove them down to Boston. Mr. Moses Pierce junior of Boston, on his Journey to Connecticut, by whom I wrote to Mr. Pierpont, my Acknowledgments for his Bounty in presenting Me Dr. Fuller’s Church History of Britain and History of Cambridge[1] which I receiv’d last Saturday night. Mr. Beman[2] came to call me to visit Matthias Rice[3] who was sick of the Meazles, and I ventur’d to go. Mr. Abraham How of Marlborough came home with me. Mr. Bowman here in the Evening.
[1]Thomas Fuller (1608-1661) wrote The Church-History of Britain; from the Birth of Jesus Christ, until the Year 1648 (London, 1655). There were later English editions. This work included ‘“The History of the University of Cambridge since the Conquest.’“
[2]Eleazer Beemon or Beamon.
[3]Son of Benjamin Rice of Marlborough. Hudson, Marlborough, 433.
1740 January 15 (Tuesday). Great Storm of Snow. High winds and very Cold. Very difficult for my Boys to tend the Cattle and get Wood.
1740 January 16 (Wednesday). Bright, Windy and Cold.
