Category: Diary

1755 January 3 (Friday).  The Aged Judge Ward here and din’d with us.

1755 January 4 (Saturday).  [No entry.]

1755 January 5 (Sunday).  Read 1 Samuel 22.  Preach’d a. and p.m.  on Ps. 39.6.  Read p.m. Rev. 16.  On this Day my little son Samuel was observ’d to look Yellow.

1755 January 6 (Monday).  More Notice taken of Samme’s Yellowness, yet plays about and is brisk.  At Eve Mr. David Maynard junior here and gives me account of the unhappy Condition of his Brother Mason, who has lain for some time in Worcester Jayl.

1755 January 7 (Tuesday).  Traded away sled sides to Lieutenant Stephen Maynard and brought [sic] 1000 shingles of him.

1755 January 8 (Wednesday).  Samme, though he sits at Table with us and plays about, grows very Yellow from Day to Day — to our Surprize he does indeed in some Measure fail in his Appetite.

1755 January 9 (Thursday).  At Captain Forbush’s, heard that Mr. Daniel Hastings dy’d on the 7th having had the Mumps and took Cold.  It was very Surprizing — may God sanctify it to us, as well as to his own Relations!  He dys in the midst of his Glory and gaiety — was just going to be married — but that very Day his Thoughts perish.

1755 January 10 (Friday).  Mr. Solomon Stow brought me 5 sheets of Tin (price 5/ a piece Old Tenor) for my Chamber Floor, next my Hearth.

1755 January 11 (Saturday).  Exceeding High Gusts in the Night — my old Barn is in great Danger, but God is our preserver; to Him I committ myself and my substance.

1755 January 12 (Sunday).  [No entry.]

[The remainder of the diary for January, 1755, and the entire month of February, 1755, have been lost.]

1755 March 1 (Saturday).  Lieutenant Maynard with two Stout Teams, brought 6 Load of Wood.  P.M. I attended the Funeral of Mr. Joseph Farr of Southborough, Mr. Stone being gone to Boston.  I proceeded to Mr. Stones having agreed to change with him.  He came home before Night — but so tir’d he tarried at Home.

1755 March 2 (Sunday).  In the Morning he rode up to Westborough and preach’d here.  I preach’d at Southborough on Zech. 1.5 and John 12.35, occasion’d by the late Death of the Venerable Mr. Stone[1] of Harwich Aet. 88.  At Eve I return’d home — call’d to see Mr. Ephraim Bruce’s Child which he told me Yesterday had a Pin Stuck across the Throat — but now they can’t tell what is come of it — they suppose it Swallow’d.

[1]The Reverend Nathaniel Stone (Harvard 1690) had served Brewster (Harwich), 1700-1755.

1755 March 3 (Monday).  Although it was Town Meeting Day, yet I went away Somewhat Early to Visit Mr. Zebulun Rice — call’d at Mr. Grouts and Mr. Phinehas Hardy’s.  Mr. Zebulun Rice gone to Town Meeting at Upton — his Wife also from Home.  Visit Mr. Ebenezer Miller and Mr. Moses Warrin din’d at the House of the Latter.  N.B. My Wife indispos’d.

1755 March 4 (Tuesday).  A great Storm of Snow.  I would have gone over to the Funeral of Captain James Eagers Wife, if it had not been so exceeding stormy: and it is doubtful whether they will be able themselves to attend it.  N.B. This Day 38 Year ago, old Stile, The Great Snow Storm.

1755 March 5 (Wednesday).  I preach’d the Lecture from 1 Cor. 11.20.  At Eve my Wife and I went up to Captain Bakers[1] to the Marriage of Mrs. Betty to Mr. Jonas Wilder of Bolton.  Stay’d to supper and made it late Home.  Very Cold.

[1]Edward Baker of Westborough.

1755 March 6 (Thursday).  N.B. My Wife much indispos’d from Day to Day.

1755 March 7 (Friday).  Captain Benjamin Wood of Hopkinton dines here.  He gives me further Account of the perplext state of their Church.  Snows again.

1755 March 8 (Saturday).  Lieutenant Tainter comes up from Boston but leaves his Whirrey at Waltham by reason of the deep Snows.  My Watch useless.

1755 March 9 (Sunday).  Read 1 Sam. 28.  Preach’d a.m. Isa. 9.6.  The mighty God.  Administer’d the Lords Supper.  P.M. Read Rev. 22, and preach’d on number 22.  Had an Exceeding great Weight upon my Spirits last night especially concerning my own state and Frame.  Had a great Relief in my Mind as to my sermons (their being prepar’d Seasonably) having Spent the week very much in Work — and got them done before the Sabbath.  D.G.

1755 March 10 (Monday).  Colonel Williams, Colonel Brigham and Major Ward met here — they are going to Mendon to give out Commissions there.

1755 March 11 (Tuesday).  My Wife and I rode p.m. to See Lieutenant Bruce, who was lately very ill.  Sent my Watch by Mr. Moses Brigham to Mr. Moses Peck at Boston.

1755 March 12 (Wednesday).  I rode to Mr. William Nurse’s expecting to hear Mr. Cushing there but the Meeting which was appointed to be there to Day was put by; the Snow being So deep and very uncomfortable Travelling.  Mr. Ebenezer Nurse went with me.  Visited the Widow Whitney, and at Mr. Eleazer Pratts.  The Field Officers return from Mendon at Eve.

1755 March 12 (Wednesday).  I rode to Mr. William Nurse’s expecting to hear Mr. Cushing there but the Meeting which was appointed to be there to Day was put by; the Snow being So deep and very uncomfortable Travelling.  Mr. Ebenezer Nurse went with me.  Visited the Widow Whitney, and at Mr. Eleazer Pratts.  The Field Officers return from Mendon at Eve.

1755 March 14 (Friday).  Mr. George Bruce Sheriff call’d here.  He had been with an Execution against Jonas Bradish, who is Bondsman for Mr. Ebenezer Rice.  It gives me much Grief, as Mr. Rice has behav’d himself So ingenuously among us.  Mr. Bruce acquaints me that Mr. Dorrs[1] Family at Mendon is in great Affliction by the illness of Mrs. Katy, at her sister Tafts[2] in Braintree.  It is far from a New Observation that this World is full of Changes, nor is it Strange that we are So unaffected with them.

[1]The Reverend Mr. Joseph Dorr.

[2]Katherine was the daughter of the Reverend Mr. Dorr.  Her sister, Mary, married Moses Taft (Harvard 1751), the minister of Randolph, 1752-1791.

1755 March 15 (Saturday).  [No entry.]

1755 March 16 (Sunday).  Exceeding Cold Morning.  Read a.m. 1 Sam. 28.  Preach’d on Rev. 22.17, a. and p.m.  Several persons more than our own Family   at Dinner.  P.M. appointed a Church-Meeting for the Choice of a Deacon or Deacons to be next Thursday come sennight at 1 o’Clock p.m.  In the Evening began my Preparations for the Fast.

1755 March 17 (Monday).  Settl’d my Accounts with Mr. Ebenezer Rice.

1755 March 18 (Tuesday).  [No entry.]

1755 March 19 (Wednesday).  Mr. James Bowman again asks my advice about a School Master.

1755 March 20 (Thursday).  Public Fast.  Preach’d on Mat. 24.12.  After the Exercises Captain Fay warn’d his Company to meet tomorrow to beat for Voluntiers.

1755 March 21 (Friday).  Messrs. Samuel Hardy and Simon Tainter here on the Affair of Mr. Tainters Debt to me for the sheep he bought of me.  P.M. the Company Met.

1755 March 22 (Saturday).  Mr. Martyn Sent his Son Richard with a Letter (in Soft Stile) complaining of my not visiting them — to which I return’d a like answer: but as he also acquainted me therein that he could not change with me next Sabbath (being previously engag’d to Mr. Cushing) I was oblig’d to prepare as well as I could to preach at home.

1755 March 23 (Sunday).  Read (and Expounded as usual) 1 Sam. 30.  Preach’d on Mat. 24.12 but p.m. was oblig’d to repeat an old Sermon.  It was on Heb. 3.13.

1755 March 24 (Monday).  Lucy ill with Swelling in her Mouth, Face.

1755 March 25 (Tuesday).  My Wife and I rode over in my Chair to Mr. Martyns.  Carry’d the Preceptor[1] Volume 1, and din’d there, it raining hard p.m. and at Eve we tarry’d and lodg’d there.  N.B. No word with him of the angry Letters of Last Year to this Day.

[1]Robert Dodsley, The Preceptor: Containing A general Course of Education, 2 vols. (London 1748).  A preface to this work was written by Dr. Samuel Johnson.