Author: Anthony Vaver

1745 November 8 (Friday).  Was oblig’d to preach my Lecture myself.  Repeated from 2 Cor. 5.1.  N.B. did not know that I had repeated this Sermon before.  N.B. Ebenezer plough’d in Rye.

1745 November 9 (Saturday).  [No entry.]

1745 November 10 (Sunday).  Sacrament.  Preach’d on 2 Cor. 3.18.  N.B. Mr. Joseph Batchellor from Grafton at Communion.  Though I was not without fears that he would be objected against.  Deacon Fay,[1] Mrs. Billings,[2] and Mrs. Caruth at Dinner here.  Too few of the North side at Meeting.  N.B. I publickly warn’d people who were wont to go away home on sacrament noons without returning again, that they beware of so ill a practice.  P.M. I repeated Exposition on Mat. 13.14, from Luke 13.24.

[1]Capt. John Fay.

[2]Mrs. Thomas Billings of the north precinct.

1745 November 11 (Monday).  Catechiz’d at Lieutenant Holloways.  In the Exercise time came Mr. Goss and Mr. Martyn.  I visited Captain Eager who is still confin’d by sickness.

1745 November 12 (Tuesday).  The First (and which was a very Considerable) Snow Storm.

1745 November 13 (Wednesday).  Notwithstanding the weather was rugged yet I ventur’d up to Sutton to the Fast on account of the Sickness there.  It was almost noon when I got there.  Exercise was begun.  I turn’d into the nearest Pew to the Door, after Mr. Hall had pray’d, and preach’d from 1 Thess. 5.19.  At Eve Mr. James Fay[1] at Mr. Halls.  Mr. Prentice not very well, return’d with Mr. Fay: but I tarry’d at Mr. Halls.

[1]Son of Capt. John Fay.

1745 November 14 (Thursday).  Through Gods Mercy, was very Comfortable though I had ben not without Fears of Rheumatic Turns!  I rode to Sister Hicks’s[1] (Brother being at Cambridge), thence to Grafton, Deacon Whipples[2] and Mr. Prentices.  Found Mr. Prentice very ill of his Disorders (the Piles) his wife also much indispos’d.  N.B. Dissentions among the Brethren in Grafton that used to adhere to Mr. Prentice, a Number (Ebenezer Wadsworth at their Head) take in with the Canterbury Men lately among them.  N.B. Ebenezer hous’d the Cattle last night in the Barn.

[1]Mrs. John Hicks of Sutton.

[2]James Whipple of Grafton.

1745 November 15 (Friday).  My great Sow strangely disordered.  Sent for Captain Forbush who help’d her.  Dr. Gott here.  N.B. Abraham Batchellor lyes Sick Still at Captain Maynards.

1745 November 16 (Saturday).  [No entry.]

1745 November 17 (Sunday).  All Day on John 6.12, on gathering up the very Fragments of Time.  May [God] give those (though weak) Endeavours his Effectual Blessing!  Mr. Rand preach’d to the North side, and came here at Evening.  Lodg’d here.  A worthy man!  Could earnestly wish he might be resettled and in these parts as it might please God.

1745 November 18 (Monday).  Mr. Rand was so good as to Stay and dine with me, but then left us.  Town Meeting to grant money for the School though we have been for a long time without any.  At Eve Nathans Father came and told me they were now somewhat put to it for Boys Help and desir’d me if I could Spare him to release his son, which I did, and he went home with his Father.  And may God be gracious to him!

1745 November 19 (Tuesday).  I visited Mr. Bowman who is sick: and went to see Ebenezer Miller[1] who has return’d from Fort Shirley Feeble and Weakly.  Was at Lieutenant Tainters at Eve.  N.B. Dr. Gott had din’d with me to Day — he bountifully added £30 (Old Tenor) to what he had before given to my Daughter Sarah.

[1]Son of James Miller of Westborough.

1745 November 20 (Wednesday).  Lieutenant Tainter and Mr. Harrington kill’d a Cow for me which weigh’d nigh 360.  Brother Hicks and his Two sons John and Joshua here in their return from Cambridge.  Brother lodg’d here.  I was much indispos’d in the Evening and Night.

1745 November 21 (Thursday).  Mr. Bowker bury’d a Third Child[1] with the Same Distemper.  I attended on the Funeral and visited Captain Eager at Eve.  His pains are abated but his Fever weakens him much.  Colonel Williams and Dr. Gott etc. there.  I also visited Abraham Batchellor who still continues sick.

[1]Dority Bouker d. Nov. 19, 1745.

1745 November 22 (Friday).  Sent for early in the Morning to go to Mr. Grouts Three of his Children being bad with the Throat Distemper, viz. Mehitable, Jonathan and Sarah.  Sarah was in an exceeding Dangerous State.  Receiv’d a Letter from Mr. Pierpoint[1] of New Haven and at Eve a sorrowfull one from Brother Samuel Parkman, dated Yesterday, to inform me of the Dying Circumstances (as they conceiv’d) of our Dear sister Esther; and that Brother Alexander desir’d him to write to me.  I was therefore Expected to go down as soon as possible. But I determin’d to tarry over the Sabbath apprehending that I should then be seasonable for her funeral.

[1]James Pierpont, Jr.

1745 November 23 (Saturday).  Sent Ebenezer to Mr. Grouts to See how they did; who return’d me word that Sarah dy’d last night about 9 o’Clock.  Thomme to Mr. Cooks[1] to get the Mare Shod — and we prepar’d for my Journey to Boston.

[1]Cornelius Cook, the Westborough blacksmith.

1745 November 24 (Sunday).  A.M. on John 6.12.  P.M. on Mic. 6.9.  At Eve my wife and I rode to Mr. Grouts distract’d Family, Sarah Dead and Two more ill.  Concerning Sarah there was Testimony of her dying very hopefully.  The Glory to God who has shown his Great Grace to Children!

1745 November 25 (Monday).  I rose at 4 o’Clock.  Mr. Abraham Batchelors Brother, Amos, and his sister Porter were my Company an Hour before sunrise upon my Journey.  Cold and Rough riding.  Did not stop at Cambridge but proceeded to Boston — to Brother Alexanders and found his wife Alive notwithstanding all my bad news and sorrowfull Expressions.  Put out my Horse at Cousen Proctors, and Lodg’d at Brother Alexanders.

1745 November 26 (Tuesday).  Wrote to my wife by Deacon Amos Rice of Brookfield, that I was well etc. except somewhat of a sore throat.  Din’d with my aged mother.  But at Night I grew so bad of it that I was in great Trouble.  Something of a Fever accompany’d it — and I had an ill night.  N.B. Lay at Brother Alexanders — but it was a sick House without me, for besides Sisters low Condition, Mr. Walker continues in his Confinement by the Gout there, and Alexander Kelland lyes very low there, in a Consumption.

1745 November 27 (Wednesday).  My Throat bad, but the Weather so moderate that I accepted Brother Samuels Invitation to go to his House and reside there.  Was out no further than to Mr. Stoddards and Mr. Thayers, lodg’d at Brother Samuels my sore Throat increasing — but no Canker that I perceive.

1745 November 28 (Thursday).  Having heard that Mr. Gee[1] has been trouble with a sore Throat, I sent for him, who accordingly came and gave me his advice to use a Tea of Mullen, Cullenbine and Sage which I did at Night, and hope that this and other means, accompany’d with divine Blessing, had a good Effect.  Brother Sam p.m. to Cambridge on my Mare.  At Eve Brother William, Brother Alexander and our Kinsman Hearsy and wife to see me.  Lodg’d at Brother Samuels.

[1]Rev. Joshua Gee of Boston.

1745 November 29 (Friday).  Stormy.  Mr. Parker of Grafton was so good as to carry up my Horse to Westborough.  Mr. Ebenezer Maynard at Brother Samuels — where I still lodg’d.

1745 November 30 (Saturday).  Bright Day.  Got abroad.  Din’d at Mr. John Salters — lodg’d at sister Bettys.  N.B. She is not only under much feebleness of Body, but under great Distress of mind; complaining much of an Hard Heart etc.

1745 December 1 (Sunday).  Mr. Vinal[1] was engag’d to preach to Day for Mr. Gee, So that though I had been oblig’d to preach for him the first Time I should be in Town, yet now I was at Liberty and chose to go to Mr. Checkleys,[2] where I had the Benefit of being at Communion (after his sermon on Isa. 50.10).  Din’d with him and preach’d p.m. on John 1.11.  At Eve deliver’d a sermon to my mother and Brethran and divers other Relations on Gal. 2.20.  O that God would accompany with his Blessing.  Lodg’d at sister.

[1]William Vinal (HC 1739), later minister of the First Congregational Church at Newport, R.I., 1746-1768. SHG 10:412-415.

[2]Rev. Samuel Checkley.

1745 December 2 (Monday).  A.M. Visited Mr. Gee — din’d at Mr. Webbs.[1]  N.B. he made a present on one of Mr. Dickinsons Familiar Letters.[2]  P.M. at Mr. John Brecks.  At Eve at Mr. Foxcrofts[3] — first saw one of the Philadelphian Fire-places.  Was with my Honour’d Mother also.  Lodg’d at sister Bettys with Parkman.

[1]Rev. John Webb.

[2]Jonathan Dickinson, Familiar Letters to a Gentleman upon a Variety of Seasonable and Important Subjects in Religion (Boston, 1745).

[3]Rev. Thomas Foxcroft.

1745 December 3 (Tuesday).  Neighbour David Maynard junior brought my mare to me at Brother Samuels with an Affectionate Letter from my Wife.  Din’d at Brother Alexanders.  P.M. I rode to Cambridge, was at Mr. Rands[1] — lodg’d at Mother Champneys, and thank God I am so Comfortable after my late Illness!

[1]John Rand (HC 1748), later minister at Lyndeborough, N.H., 1757-1762. See D[ennis] Donovan and Jacob A. Woodward, The History of the Town of Lyndeborough (n.p., 1906), 614-615.

1745 December 4 (Wednesday).  Rode Home.  Mr. McAllister and Mr. Priest my Company some part of the way.  Would Bless God that I find my Tabernacle in Peace, Especially in such a Time of Calamity as this, especially among some of my Neighbours.  N.B. More of Mr. Grouts Family taken ill of the Throat Distemper, and Two of Mr. Winchesters.

1745 December 5 (Thursday).  Public Thanksgiving.  On Rom. 12.1.  O may we be truly sensible of the Divine Benefits and of our Obligations to Him therefore!  that we might present ourselves a living Sacrifice etc. which is our Reasonable Service!

1745 December 6 (Friday).  Visited at both Winchesters and Grouts.  Having receiv’d a Petition from Mr. David Crosby in Worcester Gaol that there might be a Contribution here for him, I Yesterday desir’d the Deacons of the Church and the selectmen of the Town to meet at my House this Day.  And they accordingly came; but they all declin’d our complying with Said Petition.  N.B. Mr. Wheeler and James Ball here, and were full of Grievance and perplexity about the proceedings of the North Precinct.  N.B. Had the sorrowful News of the Sudden Death of Mr. Joseph Rice of Marlborough, who was going last Tuesday to [illegible] but dy’d before he got home.

1745 December 7 (Saturday).  Sarah Henry came last night, and works here this Day, making a pair of Leather Breeches for William.

1745 December 8 (Sunday).  Repeated the Remainder of Sermon on Rom. 12.1.  Mrs. Kelly and her sister Dunlop and Mr. Jonathan Bellows wife din’d here.  At Eve visited Mr. Seth Rice’s little Daughter lying at the Point of Death.

1745 December 9 (Monday).  Great Concern upon my Heart respecting our Northern Brethren who this Day meet to Elect a Minister.  The Lord grant them Grace and direction and overrule their spirits to do what may be for the Divine Glory and for their own truest peace and Welfare!  Old Mr. Maynard here to have some alterations made in his will.  N.B. Mr. Seth Rice’s little Daughter Hannah (of 2 and 1/2) dy’d last night.

1745 December 10 (Tuesday).  At the Funeral of Mr. Seth Rice’s Daughter.  At Eve visited Abraham Batchellor who is on the Recovery.  At Eve also Mr. Wheeler and Mr. Jedidiah How were at my Home.  Mr. Wheeler very full in informing me what their North Precinct had done Yesterday.  That about 30 Voters were present — that 20 chose Mr. Martyn and 10 were against him; and he said a number more, though not Voters yet of interested persons joined in the opposition.  Mr. Wheeler would fain have me, write a Letter to Mr. Martyn to inform him how the Case is Circumstanc’d that he may not be abus’d with a false Representation.  But I utterly declin’d it — especially could not from hearing only one Side.  He ask’d me what I had against his doing it (or to that purpose).  I told him no one could hinder writing to him, if he Should do it in a suitable Manner.  He pull’d out a paper in which he said a number of them had drawn up something of that kind, and would fain have me look of it to See whether I could approve of it; but I utterly declin’d it and refus’d so much as to look of it.  But he seem’d much taken with my yielding that he himself and those who join’d with him against the Vote might write to Mr. Martyn to inform him of it.[1]  Open, but dull, cloudy Raw Weather.  Heard that Boston was rejoic’d with the Return of the Governour from Louisburgh, and thence the Joy Spreads over all the Province.

[1]See Kent, Northborough History, 23-24.

1745 December 11 (Wednesday).  I Visited at Moses Winchesters where Betty Chamberlin was ill of Sore Throat — at James Fays, where Silas Pratt was ill of a Fever; and Mr. Grouts whose Children were much better: at Mr. Williams’s also whose Wife continues ill.  N.B. In my going today had some Earnest Talk with Justice Baker on the Affair (which our committee are now gone to Boston upon) respecting the Petition of the North side to the General Court last year, to be freed from paying my Salery from June 5 to October 20.

1745 December 12 (Thursday).  North side Committee for waiting on Mr. Martyn with their Call, not going over to Bolton yesterday when the appointment was (for they refus’d to go over because Mr. Wheeler, Mr. Ball and other opposers would go over with them) went over to him to Day.  Very Moderate, pleasant Weather.