Category: Diary

1755 October 23 (Thursday).  Cold, Bleak Season.  Messrs. Phinehas Hardy, Zebulun Rice and Edwards Whipple here Shingling my Kitchin Roof.  Am straitned for Wood, being near out this Cold Weather.

1755 October 24 (Friday).  A Number of Soldiers from Lake George — whom I interrogate of their state and understand there is a great Force of Canadians at the Narrows.

1755 October 25 (Saturday).  Storm of Rain and Snow — and We without Wood except Some Timber of Ebenezer Rice which he had condemn’d and given me.

1755 October 26 (Sunday).  Read 2 Sam. 23.  Preach’d on Hagg. 2.7, a. and p.m.  Sister Forbush din’d here.  O that God would bless the Exercises to my own Saving Advantage!  and to the Eternal Good of all the hearers!

1755 October 27 (Monday).  Deacon Forbush again at the stoning my Cellar way.  Mr. Thomas Twitchell tends him.  Receiv’d Letters of the 13 and 16 from Mr. Jeduthun Baldwin at Lake George.  Other Letters are come also; all Signifying that the Army is not like to proceed against Crown Point this Winter.

1755 October 28 (Tuesday).  Mr. Grow finishes the Covering of my Roof.  Mr. Nurse puts on the Iron of the Wheel-barrow made by Mr. Edwards Whipple for me.  Mr. Martyn and his Wife here and dine with us.  They carry home my little John.  Cornelius Biglow junior (who was here upon some Cooper Business) din’d here.

1755 October 29 (Wednesday).  The Cold Air we have had produces Snow.  A Considerable storm.  My Daughter Susanna goes over to Mr. Martyns.  In the Night I had a Turn of distressing Pain.  God be thank’d I am out of Hell!  May these Trials be Sanctify’d to me for my thorough awakening that I may flee from the dreadfull Wrath which is to come!

1755 October 30 (Thursday).  The storm of Snow continues and increases.  It prevents Deacon Forbush coming to finish my Cellar Way: It prevents also the Young Women coming to the Catechetical Exercise appointed to be to Day.  Receiv’d a Letter from Mr. John Parker of Southborough, now at Lake George.

1755 October 31 (Friday).  Mr. Hall[1] and his Delegate here, in their return from a Council on Mr. Reeds[2] affair at Framingham.  Mr. Putnam,[3] Candidate, here, on his Journey to Pomfret.  The Weather Fair, but every Thing wears a Winter Hue.  I hear Mr. Eliezer Rice is return’d home from Lake George.

[1]The Reverend David Hall of Sutton.

[2]The Reverend Solomon Reed of the Second Church of Framingham, a fervent New- Light preacher, had salary problems, and the next year departed for other pulpits.  Sibley, X, 398-400.

[3]Aaron Putnam (Harvard 1752) served the First Church of Pomfret, Conn., 1755-1802.

1755 November 1 (Saturday).  Storms again.  A Sorrowfull Time.  Many have not gather’d Corn, nor made their Cyder.

1755 November 2 (Sunday).  Read 2 Sam. 24.  Preach’d on Isa. 9.12 latter part and number 13, a. and p.m.  Mr. Eliezer Rice, Mr. Ithamar Bellows and William Dunlop, return’d Thanks for their safe Return home from the Service.

1755 November 3 (Monday).  Mr. Stone and Colonel Timothy Brigham here in their Journey to Woodstock Council.  Mrs. Judith Bellows din’d here.  She Spends a great Part of the p.m. here — but is not convinc’d she has been in an Error.  Mr. Daniel Warrin Collector here and reckons – pays £14.10.1 old Tenor, but has after this about 120£ to pay.  Thawy Weather.

1755 November 4 (Tuesday).  Dull Heavy Air.  Visit Jonathan Bond who is Sick of Pleuretick Fever.  Receiv’d Lieutenant Maynards account which I have sought for these Ten Months.

1755 November 5 (Wednesday).  A Fine Morning — warm and bright — p.m. Cloudy.  Jonathan Bond worse.

1755 November 6 (Thursday).  Am Sent for to Visit him — accordingly I went — he is Still delirious and his Fever changes to be Nervous.  N.B. Mr. Eliezer Rice came to see me and gave Some Account of Affairs at the Camp at Lake George.

1755 November 7 (Friday).  Deacon Forbush and Mr. Thomas Twitchell are Stoning my Cellar Wall, but do not finish it.  Mr. Zebulun Rice p.m. hews Sleepers — and Mr. Eleazer Pratt Sets em into the Gains.

1755 November 8 (Saturday).  I wake with Some Serious Impressions of the Sparing Mercy and Long suffering of God towards Me and the Church I am related to: and desire to be deeply humbled on consideration of my Ingratitude, unprofitableness, and unfaithfulness.  Would Spend what time can be spar’d from my preparations and unavoidable Cares of my Family etc., in Serious Reflections and Humilliations.  And O that I had a Spirit of Grace and Supplications — and that God would have Mercy on me and grant Forgiveness through the Blood of Jesus Christ of my numberless and great Offences — and quicken and assist me in my whole future conduct!  N.B. This is 31 Years since my Ordination.  Mr. Thomas Twitchel here again and finishes the Stoning of my Cellar Way.

1755 November 9 (Sunday).  Read 1 K. 1.  Preach’d on Rev. 3.2, and in the Close p.m. I warmly represented to the people the Pressures I was under and Obstructions in the Work of the Ministry.  See the Notes.  May God grant Me relief and may we all do our utmost to strengthen the Things etc.

1755 November 10 (Monday).  A very Rainy time.  My Son Ebenezer has neither gather’d his Corn nor made his Cyder: and its So with divers others.

1755 November 11 (Tuesday).  Rain a.m.  P.M. Billy works at Mr. Nurse’s in cutting Turnips.  At Eve Nathan Kenny, and Solomon and David Maynard husk’d out the rest of our Corn.  At Eve also Mr. Whitney and his Wife with their Brother Child return from the Funeral of his Sister Liscomb, who has dy’d Somewhat Suddenly.  A valuable and gracious woman, one that when she was among us, conducted with much decency and Discretion and a good Friend to the ministerial Interest here.  May God teach us all rightly to improve this and every Such sorrowfull Providence!

1755 November 12 (Wednesday).  I went over to t’other House in my way to the North End.  Ebenezer was cutting up his Corn: his Brother Thomas and Mr. John Frost help him.  He informs me that my Mare was in an ill Situation on Lords Day Morning, being Cast in her Fetters and a great Rail in between them, and She had lain till She was almost Spent, when he discover’d her.  I rode upon her to visit Mrs. Beeman who is Sick at her son Bruce’s.  I went also to Mr. Martyns, where is my little son John Still.  Call’d to See Ensign Josiah Rice who is still lame in his Foot.  Billy work’d a.m. for Mr. Nurse.  Bright and Pleasant Weather.

1755 November 13 (Thursday).  Fair again.  Billy with Mare and Steers work’d for Mr. Nurse all Day.  Thomas for Ebenezer, who finishes getting in his Corn.  Catechetical Exercise to Young Women, about 26 Present.  N.B. What they Said the Proofs of were the Answers to the 22, 23, and 24 Questions.  And they must begin next time both Young Women and Young Men at the 25th Question.

1755 November 14 (Friday).  Rose Early and visited Jonathan Bond.  Brought home Mrs. Bonds Oxen and Billy and Nathan (Kenny) plough with them and my Steers at the Cook Field.  Mr. Nathaniel Whitney brought a Barrell of Cyder, and he the brought one from Mr. Grout.  These were gratis.  At Eve came Isaac Miller with Two Barells of Cyder more which were also gratis.  One from  Deacon Jonathan Forbush and the other from Ensign Miller, who also Sent me a large Piece of Beef and a parcel of Apples.  May God reward His Servants and grant me Grace to make a proper Improvement of the Benefits I receive!

1755 November 15 (Saturday).  With many avocations am able to prepare but one sermon, Since this one obliges me to much Reading.

1755 November 16 (Sunday).  Read 1 Kings 2.  Preach’d a.m. on Mat. 16.24.  Mrs. Joanna Forbush[1] (wife of young Deacon) din’d here.  P.M. read Mat. 6.  Repeated the Exposition on number 23.  N.B. an unusual multitude of Notes put up, desiring Prayers and Offering Thanks etc.

[1]Mrs. Jonathan Forbush, Jr.

1755 November 17 (Monday).  Mrs. Hannah Ward (Daughter of Lieutenant Hezekiah) din’d here.

1755 November 18 (Tuesday).  This Morning about a Quarter past 4 We were all wak’d up by a very Terrible Earthquake.[1]  The shock Seems to me to be as great and to last about as long as the great Earthquake, October 29, 1727, but the manner of Shaking I think is different — That more horizontal, this partly Vertical.  My Children rose and gather’d into my Chamber, where we gave Thanks to God for our Preservation, and begg’d His Mercy towards us.  We heard another shock at 28 Minutes after 5.  The Air was Clear, the moon bright, and a great Frost.  God grant us grace rightly to improve His holy Dispensation!  and prepare us for what is yet before us!

[1]This earthquake was felt on both sides of the Atlantic.  The effects in Boston were described at length in The Boston Weekly News-Letter, Nov. 20, 1755, and The Boston Gazette, or Country Journal, Nov. 24, 1755.  For the controversy over the causes see Eleanor M. Tilton, “Lightning-Rods and the Earthquake of 1755,” New England Quarterly, XIII (March, 1940), 85-97.

1755 November 19 (Wednesday).  I rose early — rode to Southborough and preach’d Mr. Stone’s Lecture at 10 a.m. on Isa. 9.12.13.  Din’d there (N.B. his Mother Thatcher[1] there) and he rode with me and preach’d my Lecture at 2 p.m. on Eccl. 8.11.  May God bless these Exercises to our, and to his people’s Saving Good!

[1]The Reverend Mr. Stone’s mother-in-law, the widow of the Reverend Peter Thatcher of Middleborough.

1755 November 20 (Thursday).  Mr. Wellman[1] and his Wife came — they din’d here.  Ebenezer has Billy part of to Day to help him.

[1]The Reverend James Wellman of Millbury.

1755 November 21 (Friday).  Billy to Ebenezer.

1755 November 22 (Saturday).  At Eve about half after Eight was another Earthquake and which very much Surpriz’d me.  Yet it was not above a third so long or strong as that last Tuesday morning.  May God grant the impressions may be increas’d and abiding!

1755 November 23 (Sunday).  Read publickly Hab. 3.  Preach’d a. and p.m. on Ps. 18.7.  Administered the Lords Supper.  Both the Deacons din’d here — also Mrs. Chaddock and Mrs. Mercy Chamberlin.  P.M. My Wife went to Meeting.  D.G. Rain a.m.

1755 November 24 (Monday).  Catechiz’d at the Meeting House a. and p.m.  At Eve Mr. Joseph Stratton of Waltham and his Daughter Harrington, and give me Account of the Surprizing Effects of the Earthquake.  Lieutenant Forbush desires me to go to Upton Fast on the 27th.

1755 November 25 (Tuesday).  At Captain Forbushes — ride his Horse to Lieutenant Brighams, whom I visit, he being still confin’d by illness — din’d there.  P.M. visit Eliz Biglow — who is sick of a Fever.  N.B. Thomas and Billy at their Brother Ebenezers who has a Husking to Day.

1755 November 26 (Wednesday).  Samuel Forbush carts out muck for me.  Mrs. Molly Martyn dines here: She returns home at Evening.