Category: Diary

1756 April 15 (Thursday).  Mr. Daniel Forb.’s Son Daniel with 4 Oxen and Asher Newton with 4 Oxen likewise come to cross my field behind the Meeting House.  Through a Mistake another set of Oxen did not come.  We got Mr. Zebulun Rice’s.  His son Adam came and drove: and put in my own steers.  My son Thomas assisted — and with these was accomplished a good piece of work.  Mr. Willard and young Jones at work in the Kitchin.  At Eve Willard left us: Elisha lodges here.  N.B. It was an Hot Day, and sometimes Windy.  Sarah goes to live at t’other House.

1756 April 16 (Friday).  It has been a dry hot season of late, but to Day Cloudy and p.m. rain.  Mr. Jonah Warrin came with 4 Oxen, Ensign Harrington with 4 and Mr. Benjamin Tainter with 6, cross-ploughed the rest of my Field behind the Meeting House; and finished by 5 p.m. though it rained hard.  Elisha Jones at work at the Kitchin.  At Eve came the late Treasurer Phinehas Hardy, and Collector Daniel Warrin; but they don’t make up.  The storm prevails, and one of my young Cattle missing — the Evening Dark, it can’t be found.

1756 April 17 (Saturday).  This morning my sons found the young Steer dead in Mr. D. Hardys Meadow; both mired and drown’d.  The storm very vehement.  Elisha Jones at work about the West Door of the Kitchin.

1756 April 18 (Sunday).  Read 1 K. 13.  Preached on Luk. 9.23.  P.M. read Mat. 16.  Elisha Jones with us over the Sabbath.

1756 April 19 (Monday).  Elisha Jones at work here still.  He is casing and facing the West Door and about the Door it self.

1756 April 20 (Tuesday).  I left Elisha Jones at work and went to the Association at Marlborough.  I called at Mr. Barns’s and endeavoured to put some stop to the Troubles which he was involved in by an Execution in behalf of Mr. Green at Worcester, and would have traded with him for a little piece of Land joining to my Farm where my son lives, and chiefly for the Sake of the Damm there; but in vain.  My sons affair with him I could not meddle with.  At Mr. Smiths were nine or ten of us together.  Mr. Martyn gave us a laboured Concio on Isa. 2.5, first v.  At Eve Dr. Morse was called away.  Messrs. Seccomb, Goss, Davis and I lodged at my Kinswomans Mrs. Anna Brighams.  N.B. had Capt. Maynards Horse.

1756 April 21 (Wednesday).  At the Public Lecture I prayed and Mr. Barret preached on Ps. 139.2, last v.  P.M. Mr. Martyn prepared a Letter to be sent (in his own Name) to Deacon Mellens of Hopkinton in Answer to His to the Association.  I rode to Mr. Jonathan Lorings and returned his Chandler’s History of Persecution which I have had, now a very long time; but he Said I was most welcome; and his Conduct was very friendly.  In my returning Home I called at Mr. Richard Barns’s to See what could still be done for his Relief but he was not at Home.

1756 April 22 (Thursday).  This Day was a general Training every where — but the Companys apart.  The Design was to try for enlisting Soldiers for the Expedition against Crown Point: this tryal to be till 4 o’Clock p.m. and if Men did not offer willingly, then to press.  I had appointed my Lecture at 2 p.m. before I knew of the Training.  Therefore I did not put it by, but attended it, and preached from Ps. 68.24.  The whole Exercise but little more than an Hour.  After Meeting Mr. Ebenezer Rice, sheriff, came into my House with Mr. Richard Barns again — but our Efforts to help him were in Vain.  N.B. Barns and Silas Frost had listed [blot] press[blot]men etc.

1756 April 23 (Friday).  The Chief Noise is about the pressed mens paying their Fines.  They were these following Messrs.: Timothy Warrin, Jonathan Fay, Samuel Forb. junior, Solomon Maynard and Amasa Maynard.

1756 April 24 (Saturday).  Could prepare but one Sermon for tomorrow, but it was long.

1756 April 25 (Sunday).  I administered the Lords supper.  Read 1 King. 14.  Preached on Rev. 5.6.  P.M. repeated Expository Exercise on Mat. 15.29.  N.B. My Kinsman Daniel Needham from Norwich came this morning from t’other House, but he did not Partake with us.

1756 April 26 (Monday).  Brother Hicks came from Sutton for Boston.  Cousen Needham (with him) left us.  Mr. Dodge of Abington and his spouse dined here.  P.M. I rode to the Funeral of a Child of Mr. Jabez Snow’s which dyed by means of being burnt by a Warming Pan.

 

In returning from Mr. Snows I stopped at Lt. Bruce’s, where was Capt. Taplin and his Company: by his Request I prayed and gave them a word of Exhortation and Caution.

1756 April 27 (Tuesday).  Billy carts Muck from the Barn.  Nathan Kenny helps him.  It is to my great Comfort that Billy is able to do So well for me as he does, since it is so exceeding Difficult for me to get Help.  I sent a Letter of Solemn Warning to Mr. Richard Barns who is gone into the service.

1756 April 28 (Wednesday).  Billy at Neighbour Nurse’s part of the Day.  I desire to be humble that I am so poorly capable of the Great Work I am called to: and would lament my Dullness, and ill Frame in general.  O that the Lord would revive and quicken me!

1756 April 29 (Thursday).  Public Fast.  A.M. on Mat. 6.16.17.18.  P.M. Ps. 46.1.

1756 April 30 (Friday).  Visited Mr. Bowman who is Sick.  Dined at Deacon Forbush’s.  P.M. was a Vendue of Mr. Richard Barns’s Substance, So much as to satisfie for his Debts to Mr. Coroner Green of Wor’ster, and my son Ebenezer.  It was at his Father Bruce’s, and was managed by Mr. Ebenezer Rice, Deputy-Sheriff.  It was an Affair that affected me much, but the foolish man was obstinately neglectfull and insulting (as I understood) — and it was the more grievous as the man himself was gone (having marched last Tuesday) yet he was Sufficiently warned and Cautioned.

 

At Eve a number of Young Men met here in order to form into a society.  I instructed, directed, cautioned and prayed with them; and they Signed the Articles which the former young-Mens Society did; and that Copy drawn by my son Ebenezer which bears Date of 174[blank].  Their Names were Thomas Parkman, Jonathan Grout, Samuel, Thomas and Noah Hardy, Barnabas Newton, Joseph Baker, Daniel Forb. junior, Abner Warrin, Abner Whipple, and Joseph Harrington.  And they are, by divine Leave, to meet next Lords Day Evening at the widow Newtons.  May God be gracious to them and meet with them!

1756 May 1 (Saturday).  At Evening I received a Letter from Capt. Jeduthun Baldwin at Fort William Henry of April 12 containing a sorrowful Account of the Loss of Six Men belonging to them by the Enemy and of the Sickness, Lameness etc. of many others, whilst the Enemy are busy round about them.

1756 May 2 (Sunday).  A great Storm of Rain and Wind.  A.M. I preached on Job 37.6, latter part and v. 11.  P.M. on Ps. 46.10.  Read a.m. 1 King. XV.  P.M. Mat. 17.  Mr. Gardner (Schoolmaster) dined here.

1756 May 3 (Monday).  Mr. Hall of Sutton here.  Mrs. Mercy Chamberlin here and greatly distressed by Reason of her Remove back to Sheffield, and her Husband going into the Warr.  N.B. Billy ploughing at the Island, Joseph Rice helps him.  Wrote a Letter to Capt. Jeduthun Baldwin.  N.B. Joseph Rice lodges here.  Joseph Chaddock brought a Load of Rails from Mr. M. Twitchels.

1756 May 4 (Tuesday).  Joseph Rice a.m. helps Billy in Ploughing at the Island and in my young Orchard near the Barn.  P.M. I Catechized at the School-House.  19 Males, 21 Girls.  Visited Mr. Joseph Bruce and Family — and at Mr. Daniel Hardys, Biglows, Cornelius Junior his Wife; he being gone into the Service — Kellys etc.  N.B. brought home Dr. Sibbs’s Folio.  N.B. left my Mare at Mr. Biglows for to Night.

1756 May 5 (Wednesday).  Very Cold Winds.  Brother Hicks was here Yesterday, while I was absent, and left me a Message from Brother Champney of Cambridge, which because of my inability to fulfill putts me to much Trouble of mind.  P.M. Charles Rice junior works for me.  He and Billy (with my own Team) ploughs the rest of the Field by the Barn.

1756 May 6 (Thursday).  Lt. Jonas Brigham undertook the Moving of his biggest Barn, of 50 feet.  At his Desire I was there and Supped with them but the Barn was moved but part of the Way.  Very Cold Winds; my Health was much exposed; but I chiefly regretted the Loss of my Time, a great deal of which might have been improved much better otherwhere.

1756 May 7 (Friday).  Mr. Ebenezer Rice is about Selling Mr. Beeton his Pasture of 28 Acres Southerly and Easterly of Barny Newtons.  Lt. Ward Set me off, in my Plan, the Acre South of the meeting House, and informs me of a little Bit at the t’other End of that Land, which he would Sell me; and leaves me the Refusal of it.

1756 May 8 (Saturday).  Billy plants Indian Corn at the Island, the weather p.m. being warmer.

1756 May 9 (Sunday).  Read 1 Kings XVI.  Preached on the Subject I have been So long upon, of Self-Denyal; now delivering the Concluding part.  It was from that Text Mat. 13.51.  P.M. read Mat. 18 and repeated with innumerable Alterations my Exposition of Mat. 13.51.

1756 May 10 (Monday).  Writings prepared for Mr. Rice and his Neighbour Beeton’s Bargain of the Pasture etc.  Visit Mr. Samuel Fay junior but especially his Son Samuel in his languishing Condition.  N.B. a.m. finished planting the Island, the Weather now being very good.  Mr. William Pierce worked for me, making Stone Wall back of the meeting House.  My Son Ebenezer came over with his Steers and Mare, which joined to my own steers and Mare, he used to Harrow my Meeting House Field.

1756 May 11 (Tuesday).  My Children at t’other House being in Trouble by reason of the illness of both their son and Daughter, I walked over there to see ‘em.  Mr. Gardner with me.  N.B. Mr. Charles Rice Splicing Rails and putting up fence p.m.  Weather very Agreeable through God’s Goodness!

1756 May 12 (Wednesday).  Warm Air; fine Weather for Planting — D.G.  Billy, with Neighbour Barney Newtons Oxen, and Abners Cart goes with our steers to attempt a Load of Rails from Mr. Moses Twitchels.  P.M. Mrs. Baker, Mrs. Rachel and Mrs. Abigail Rice visited my Wife.

1756 May 13 (Thursday).  Had a Catechetical Exercise to Young Women.  Delivered to them the Same as last Exercise to Young Men.  It was So rainy after dinner that but 22 attended.  Billy planted part of the Field by the Barn.

1756 May 14 (Friday).  Finished planting by the Barn.  Billy worked for Ebenezer with the steers etc.  P.M. Messrs. Samuel and Phinehas Hardy Sett up Fence behind the meeting House.

1756 May 15 (Saturday).  I borrowed Mr. Pratts Horse and rode to Hopkinton but Mr. Barrett was gone to Boston.  I was about to ride to Southborough and went as far as Dr. Wilsons: There I found Mr. Barrett; with whom he returned to his House, But I could not perswade him, though the Sun was Some heighth, to ride to Westborough this Eve.  N.B. my finding Mr. Barrett at Dr. Wilsons was the more to be remarked because if I had not I should not only have had the Difficult Journey, through unknown Roads to me, to Southborough, but when I Should have got there Should have been disappointed, Mr. Stone being gone to Harwich.  Mr. Barret gave me the first Intimations of the Sudden Death of my Eldest Brothers Wife, yesterday Morning.  He also acquainted me with the Death of Mrs. Prentice, wife of Thomas Esq. at Newtown.  I lodged at Mr. Barretts.

1756 May 16 (Sunday).  Mr. B. rode to Westborough and preached here, on Mat. 16.26 and returned at Evening.  I preached at Hopkinton a.m. on Isa. 26.20.21, p.m. on Heb. 11.16, and in the Evening came home; where I received a Letter from Brother Samuel certifying of the Death of Sister Parkman Friday Morning of an Asthma.  May God teach my Dear Brother Resignation and Obedience by the things which he suffers!  And may we all Learn to die!  To be ever ready!  For her Departure was Somewhat Sudden, and about 2 o’Clock, to their great Surprize, though she had had a fit or two the Evening before; for they both went to Bed and to sleep comfortable.

1756 May 17 (Monday).  Mr. Thomas Twitchel puts up Stone Wall behind the Meeting House for me.  My Wife p.m. rides to Deacon Forbush’s.  Am my self in much indisposition by Head-Ach.

1756 May 18 (Tuesday).  Messrs. Samuel Hardy, Zebulun Rice and his Brother Charles worked here in fencing the Field behind the Meeting House and p.m. planted the Chief of it.  Mr. Charles Rice Came and dropped Corn part of the afternoon.  N.B. Mr. Martyn and his Wife Visit us.  My Wife goes over to my Daughter in Law, in the Morning.  About a quarter after 11 a.m. my son had a second Daughter born — the Glory to God alone!

1756 May 19 (Wednesday).  Mr. Charles Rice came in the Morning and finished the dropping my Corn, and a.m. Billy finished the covering.  I visited my son and Daughter and the New born Infant.  May God be gracious to them and quicken them to all the Duty incumbent on them!  But it is matter of great Grief that way is not, to this Day, made for the Dedicating these Children to God in His holy Ordinance.  I visited Old Mrs. Hannah Rice, and dined there (at Mr. Seth Rice’s).  Visited Eight Familys that way; and returned at Evening.  Billy p.m. helps his Brother get ready for Planting.  N.B. We had a swarm of Bees thus early.