Category: Diary

August 13, 1755

1755 August 13 (Wednesday).  Barachias and Seth Morse work for me — they get home 3 Load, 2 Load by half after 12.  P.M. they rake and bring home another Load at Eve.  Those were brought by our own Team: Ebenezers Oxen and my Mare.  Having heard that my Young Cattle in the woods, had stray’d from their Keeper, I wrote several Letters and Advertisements about them.

August 14, 1755

1755 August 14 (Thursday).  Old Mr. Maynard makes another Will.  Lieutenant Maynard brought me present of Fish from Mr. John Breck of Boston — and himself presents me a Load of Hay out of the Meadow on Rutters Brook.  ‘Kias and Seth mow at the ministerial Meadow again and this is the last, which they accomplish a.m. but because it was cloudy and they could not rake up what they had mow’d; they return’d home and p.m. reap’d my Wheat by the Barn, and got it in.  N.B. Mr. John Chamberlin of Stockbridge here, and wants to hire part of my t’other House for his Wife, that She may ly in there: but I am not free for lest it Should hinder the Sale of the House.  Am oblig’d to ride about to get a Team to Cart home my Hay.  Receive a kind Letter from Mr. William Winter of Boston giving me a Clear Account of the Death of General Bradock and the Defeat of the Forces with him on the fatal July 9th past, in their Expedition to Ohio.

August 15, 1755

1755 August 15 (Friday).  ‘Kias reaps for Ebenezer a.m. and for me in carting home Hay p.m.  Seth work’d for me all Day.  Had Mr. Pratts Team to bring home one Load, and with Mr. Samuel Fay juniors Oxen they brought home another.  And this finish’d my Haying for this Year.  Those Young Men agree to have 17/ per Day — I am indebted to them for 9 Days £7.13.0 Old Tenor.  N.B. Mr. Ebenezer Chamberlin here again about Mrs. Bellows, urging for Church-Meeting.

August 17, 1755

1755 August 17 (Sunday).  Read 2 Sam. 15.  Preach’d on Isa. 42.23.24.25 on account of the Defeat etc.  Sir Gardner din’d here.  P.M. read latter part of Deut. 27.26.  I acquainted the Church (in hearing of the Congregation) that I had receiv’d a Complaint against Judith, wife of Jonathan Bellows — and appointed a Church Meeting to hear it, tomorrow come Sennight, at 2 p.m., and all concern’d must look upon themselves bound to attend.

August 19, 1755

1755 August 19 (Tuesday).  I rode to Marlborough.  Din’d at Mr. Smiths.[1]  Hear that Dr. Breck[2] was in Marlborough over the Sabbath, and went out of Town but this Morning to return home, and has not come to See his Sister.  At Deacon Tainters and at Mr. Henry Barns’s — Improve him to help me to a Chap for my old Place.  Return home in the Eve.

[1]The Reverend Aaron Smith.

[2]Samuel Breck, the physician of Springfield, was the son of the late Reverend Robert Breck of Marlborough.

August 25, 1755

1755 August 25 (Monday).  The Church met today on account of Mrs. Judith Bellows (wife of Jonathan Bellows) being Complain’d of by Mr. Ebenezer Chamberlin and Mrs. Mary Bellows[1] (wife of Ithamar Bellows).  Before Meeting, Mr. Batheric gave me fresh Trouble about Singing (in the assembly) triple Time tunes; and would have Me lay this before the Church, but I told him we had so much Business today, it was not likely there would be Time for it.  Lieutenant Tainter Carry’d to Boston 2 hind Quarters of Veal for me to some Friends there — Mr. Solomon Woods kill’d it — and took a Quarter for him and Lieutenant Tainter in token of Gratitude to them both.

[1]The following appears in the Westborough Church Records, Aug. 25, 1755- “The Church met (having been timely warn’d) to hear a Complaint Sign’d by Ebenezer Chamberlin and Mary (Wife of Ithamar) Bellows, and bearing Date July 18 last, against Judith (Wife of Jonathan) Bellows, all of them Members of this Church, setting forth in substance, that the Said Judith hath walk’d very Disorderly and Contrary to the Rules of the Gospel—In particular respecting her Daughter Comfort, who has confess’d her taking away certain Things from a Neighbour feloniously and that her Mother would not let her return said Things when She would have done it: and that said Comfort also declar’d her Mother had burnt them.  The Complaint exhibited further that said Judith was guilty of False speaking about those Things etc.  After prayer the Complaint was read, and the Partys respectively, and the Witnesses, were fully heard—the Church voted, I. Respecting the first part of the Complaint that altho we cannot say She is guilty of Burning the Things referred to in the Complaint, yet we find upon all that has been Said, that She has Conducted in a very Evil Manner respecting her Daughter under her Guilt; and in that whole Affair respecting Said Things, and 2. Voted, as to the Second part of the Complaint, namely, her False speaking, that it is Supported.  This was voted universally.  The Pastor read those votes to said sister Judith, and solemnly laid the Evil before her, and Call’d her to Repentence . . .”

August 28, 1755

1755 August 28 (Thursday).  Public Fast on Account of Gods Frown upon us in the Expedition to Ohio, and Still to Supplicate divine Favour in the Other Expeditions — viz. to Niagara and Crown Point.  And O that we had a Spirit of Prayer that we might Cry aloud to God for His infinite Mercy — as our Necessity is!  For in Him may we Confide, and in His Name go forth against our Enemies.

August 31, 1755

1755 August 31 (Sunday).  Read 2 Sam. 17.  Preach’d on Luke 2.25.  The Consolation of Israel.  Administered the Lord’s Supper.  Deacon Burnap and his Brother Daniel at Communion with us, Mr. Barrett being at Boston.  Deacon and his Wife and Daughter Hitty were at Dinner here, also Mrs. Chamberlin of Stockbridge, who is Come to board at my sons.  P.M. I repeated Sermon on Eph. 1.3, to page 12.  Took in also the 7th and 8th articles — and the Reflections in the Close of all.

September 3, 1755

1755 September 3 (Wednesday).  The ministers (most of us) went to Mount Wachusett.  Mrs. Mellen and her Sister Robbins with us and Mrs. Mellen had a Fall from her Horse but recover’d.  We refresh’d ourselves on the Top of the Mount, Having carry’d up Bacon, Bread and Cheese, Rum.  In Descending from the Summitt we stop’d a little and Sang a Stanza to the Praise of the Great Creator.  N.B. A great multitude of persons happen’d to go up to the Mount to Day.  We saw many Horses at the Bottom, and at Mr. Keys’s.  N.B. I went to Mr. Jonathan Wilders enquiring after my Young Cattle which have stray’d but Mr. Wilder was not at home.  When I return’d to Mr. Mellens he came to me, and told me my Cattle he believ’d were at his Neighbours and promis’d he would take Care of them.  N.B. my Mare was very lame by reason of her loosing one of her fore shooes, which exceedingly incommoded me, and retarded the whole Company.  This Man had such Benevolence, Compassion and Generosity that he took off one of his own Horse’s shooes, and sav’d and Straiten’d the Nails to put them into mine, which he so fasten’d on that it held me till I got to Westborough: a nobleness that was notic’d by all, and may he be suitably rewarded for it!  A Number of us in returning homeward visited the Mine[1] — digging by Mr. Christian Angel — a German from Ypres a Town on the River Rhine.  Messrs. Cushing, Martyn, Stone and I lodg’d at Mr. Morse’s:[2] but I was greatly fatigu’d and had but little Sleep.

[1]It was at about this time that various shafts were sunk into a hill in Sterling in anticipation of finding some mineral of value.  A Brief History of Sterling (n.p., 1931), pp. 60-61, comments: “. . . Christian Angel a miner from Sweden was the principal workman.”  Specimens of ore were found to be without value and the mine was abandoned.  Fragments found in the twentieth century include plumbago, nickel, sulphates of copper and iron, garnets and carbonite of iron.

[2]The Reverend Ebenezer Morse of Boyslton.

September 4, 1755

1755 September 4 (Thursday).  Mr. Stone and I din’d with Mr. Martyn at his House.  When I return’d found that Mrs. Chamberlin (at my Sons) was deliver’d of a son on the 2nd, and yesterday, Mr. Willard Wheeler carry’d a Letter from me, to Captain Stevens of Groton, Signifying my acquiescence in his dropping the Arbitration between Lull and me: and Lieutenant Taylors Plan of 3rd Division in Townshend.

September 7, 1755

1755 September 7 (Sunday).  I rode to Mr. Martyns, leaving Mr. Stone to preach for me.  Mr. Martyn was gone to Mr. Morse’s, Mr. Morse to Mr. Davis, and Mr. Davis to Rutland for Mr. Buckminster.  I preach’d on Isa. 42.23.24.25, and on Gal. 1.19.16 former part.  Return’d soon after Exercise because Mrs. Chamberlin was in a very low and dangerous Condition.

September 10, 1755

1755 September 10 (Wednesday).  Harrow my new Ground; with 8 Oxen, viz. my sons, and Lieutenant Forbush, Samuel Forbush, and Mr. Rogers’s.  Mr. Rogers and John Frost were the Men that manag’d it.  Mr. Benjamin Nichols work’d for me in Clearing at the Newton Meadow.  Mrs. Lock here with her Confession.  Mrs. Whipple and her sister and Mrs. Pratt made a Visit; Each with a Cheese.  Nichols lodges here.  Lieutenant Tainter kill’d a large Calf for me and carry’d part to Boston.

September 11, 1755

1755 September 11 (Thursday).  Many of the Soldiers of Captain Woods Company march being on their Journey to Crown Point.  I held a Catechetical Exercise design’d to Young Men — but there were only 3 Youths came besides my sons Thomas and William.  Nichols at work for me in Clearing etc.  Captain Wood and Lieutenant Bond here as they went off.  I deliver’d Lieutenant Bond Mr. Meads Almost Christian[1] for the use of those who go with him and into the Expedition from this Place.  Esquire Charles Brigham here at Eve — I assist him in Making Return to Colonel Pollard of the Committment of poor Silas Rice.

[1]Matthew Mead, The Almost Christian Discovered: or, the False Professor Tryed and Cast (Boston, 1730).  Another edition was published in Boston in 1742.

September 15, 1755

1755 September 15 (Monday).  Training Day — to See who would List, or if not Sufficient offers, then to press for Crown Point.  I din’d with the Officers at Mr. Ebenezer Rice’s.  N.B. Another Post from Albany who informs there was a Smart Engagement last Monday but that our people drove off the Enemy, took their General, and slew (as I think) 1000 of them besides, to the Loss of 130 (as judg’d) of our own; and Colonel Ephraim Williams,[1] Colonel Titcomb[2] of Newbury, among the last.  About 60 of ours wounded — and General Johnson[3] himself has a Ball lodg’d in his Thigh.  May God be glorify’d for what has been thus far done, and prepare us for further Favours!

[The following is from the Natalitia, dated Sept. 5, 1755.]

Scarce any one has ever had greater Cause to bless and praise God and yet what Heart so Stupidly Sensless and ungratefull!  and who that have Such Reason to grieve and mourn for Sin and wickedness, among all that profess to have any apprehensions of their Conditions, is So remote from this Duty!  (My Flight is only to Jesus who gives both Repentance to Israel and Remission of Sins!  O for the Spirit of Christ to qualifie me; and the Merits of Christ, His Righteousness, and his Sacrifice; for acceptance with God!  My infinite unworthiness does not drive me to Despair, while the Sacred Scriptures assure me that the Blood of Christ cleanseth from all sin; and He ever lives to make Intercession for His People — and among them are Some of the Chief of Sinners.)

[1]Of Stockbridge.

[2]Moses Titcomb had played an important role in the capture of Louisburg in 1745.  John J. Currier, “Ould Newbury” (Boston, 1896), pp. 464-473.

[3]Sir William Johnson, the superintendent of Indian affairs.  Johnson’s account of the campaign in New York appeared in The Boston Weekly News-Letter, Sept. 18, 1755.