Category: Diary

1757 August 18 (Thursday).  I went to See Old Mr. Maynard who is very low.  Mr. Martyn came to me there, and informed me that his Daughter Minot was delivered of a son.  He also tells me that a post is gone along who informs that Fort Edward is besieged.  May God most Gracious and mercifull appear for our Succour!  May our Refuge be ever more in God!  I walked to Mrs. Rice’s (Eliezers Wife) to talk with her about her Williams going for Thomas and to know whether she did indeed Consent to it, Since he is gone; though I had Charged him not to go without her Allowance.  She was not at home.  Hephzy told me She did not Consent — but She see he would go: and She did not appear displeased with me or my son for if he did not go for Thomas he would for some body else.  I replyed that I was not willing to be the instrument of his Rebellion against his Mother — and therefore bid him be sure, See to this, if he went, that he had his Mothers good will in it.  Hephzy Said her Father (his Guardian) consented to it.

1757 August 19, 20 (Friday, Saturday).  There Seems to be no certain News of any thing but the dismissing the lower Companys that have marched up the Road; the Roads being full of Confusions.  General Winslow is gone up, and has given Orders for the soldiers Return who belong this way and Eastward.  I visited old Mr. Maynard again, who grows weaker and weaker: and gives this Character of himself that he is worn out. 

1757 August 21 (Sunday).  My Mare being gone into the service I rode one of Mr. Nurse’s to the North End, and Mr. Martyn came there.  I preach’d there a. and p.m. on Dan. 4.27.  He preached here on 1 Cor. 3.18.  We, each of us, returned home at Eve.  N.B. I visited Old Mr. Maynard both in the Morning and Evening.  O that God would accompany his Ordinances with His special Blessing!  And Whilst I am concerned for the public Weal, may I especially take the Divine Counsel my self, that it may be a lengthening out of my own Tranquility!

1757 August 22 (Monday).  Rainy.  Amon Blanc did not come to work.  I read the Remarks on Mr. President Claps History and Defence of the Doctrines of the New England Churches.  Hear that William Stone is come back to his Master Rolf’s — and my Mare is brought home to me.

1757 August 23 (Tuesday).  Rain a.m.  No Amon to day.  Adam Rice setts his Nett in my Field, and catches Pidgeons, about 4 Dozen this forenoon.  William Stone comes here and gives Some Account of his Journey — that he went as far as Westfield — that the Men are not finally dismissed, but must be ready to go again when called.  At night came my Son and Daughter Baldwin from Brookfield.  He gives me account of the late Fight and surrender of the Fort William Henry from his Brother Nahum who was there.

1757 August 24 (Wednesday).  My son Baldwin and his Wife left us to go to Sudbury.  I rode to Southborough to the Fast there on Account of the Great Troubles of the present Times.  Mr. Stone prayed and Mr. Smith preached on 1 K. 8.44 to 49 a.m.  Mr. Barrett prayed and I preached p.m. on Ps. 119.126.  Returned home at Eve.  May God be graciously pleased to accept our Offerings, and Succeed His Messages!  Mr. Batherick brought Two Barrells of New Cyder.  Mr. Nurse had one of them.

1757 August 25 (Thursday).  I had no help in my Lecture.  Preached my Self on Isa. 31.6.  Used sermon on Act. 3.19 from page 19 to 24.

1757 August 26 (Friday).  [No entry.]

1757 August 27 (Saturday).  Rainy Seasons — Still Sat out Cabbage Plants.  Joseph Bowman.

1757 August 28 (Sunday).  In the Morning two Soldiers were here who came [from] fort William Henry, and were there both when it was takin and six Days after.  Their Names Samuel Howard and Thomas Lee.  Read 2 K. 25 and preached on 1 Cor. 10.4 — This Rock was Christ.  Administered the Lord’s Supper.  Widow Woods (who has lately lost her son, Mr. Joseph Woods) and Mrs. Dunlop, dined here.  P.M. read Luk. 1 from 39 v.  Preached on Prov. 18.10.  Baptized Joseph Bowman and admitted him into the Church.  N.B. It was about 5 o’Clock when our Exercises were over.

1757 August 29 (Monday).  Amon Blanc comes no more to work for me, having Leave from me to work where he can Employ, and for any better wages than I can afford, my haying being over.

1757 August 30 (Tuesday).  Mr. Campbell of Oxford, on his Journey to Boston, calls here and dines with us.

1757 August 31 (Wednesday).  I Sat out with my Wife to go to Mr. Martyns and thence designing to go with Mr. Martyn to Mr. Morse’s Lecture — but on the way we heard that Mrs. Martyn was not come from Concord yet.  Left my Wife at Mr. Noah Hows (who is lately married) and to visit that Neighbourhood; and I rode over to young Mr. Martyns, who informed me his Father was gone to Concord.  This I wondered at, because Mr. Morse, I supposed had engaged him to preach his Lecture.  I proceeded to Mr. Morse’s: And though Mr. Smith was there, and Mr. Davis, and afterward came Mr. Cushing, yet I was obliged to preach.  It was on Ps. 46.1.10.  N.B. Some persons who have come from the Forts, have the Small Pox: In Shrewsbury one has lately dyed of it, and another is Sick of it.  Mr. William Crawford at Worcester, is Sick of it.  I returned home at Evening.  My son and Daughter Baldwin came and lodged here.  They have been at Boston and kept sabbath there.

1757 September 1 (Thursday).  My Baldwins left us for Brookfield.  N.B. Delivered the Paper to Lt. Rolf which Contains the agreement between my Son Thomas and William Stone.  N.B. as it was agreed that Lt. Rolf Should keep it, so I had sent to him to come and take it, but he neglected it.  N.B. He owned before several Witnesses that he had Received the word which I sent him, to take it.  P.M. Catechized at Mr. Joslins: had 42 Children.  Mrs. Mary Bradish’s Scholars all attended.  She her self went to the House; and was at the Entertainment with me after the Exercise, as were also my little sons Samuel and John.  Visited the Widow Woods (Mr. Joseph Woods’s) and her Children.

1757 September 2 (Friday).  Have been Somewhat engaged in transcribing my sermon on Ezek. 22.30, hoping to change with Mr. Hutchinson next Sabbath (to whom I had writ) but have heard it is to be their Communion.  Mr. Campbell of Oxford, in his return home calls here, with one Mr. Wesson.  Mr. Ebenezer Forb. paid me £20.15.6 Old Tenor.

1757 September 3 (Saturday).  Obliged to prepare a sermon for the sabbath.  Mr. Martyn Sends Nathaniel with a fretfull Letter about the Shrewsbury Lecture.  To which I wrote him an Answer which manifested my hearty Grief.

1757 September 4 (Sunday).  I read 1 Chron. 1 to 23 and gave some account of the Design of this Book and Contents of the first Eight Chapters.  Preached on Prov. 18.10.  Old Mrs. Rogers, widow, dined with us.  P.M. read Luk. 2.  Preached an old sermon on Joel [3?].13 Concerning Gods Judgments.

1757 September 5 (Monday).  Amon and Magdalene Blanc here early, going to Cambridge etc.  Could not get a piece of Gold changed — therefore paid them only 5£ and Sixpence old Tenor.  Viz. to Amon £[5]3/, to Magdalene 47/6.  Settled all accounts with Mr. Beeton and paid him all to this Day.  N.B. Near Esquire Bakers had some Discourse with him about visiting — for I went for that End.  When he spoke of my going in to See ‘em (which was upon my saying that I had been thinking to make a Time on purpose to make ‘em a visit) I told him he did not give me leave, by coming to See me.  He answered that they were very busy, and were hard driven.  And When he asked me to walk on, he soon told me that he must come out again to his work.  I remarked to him how odd a Thing it was that such a Person as he would not afford so much as One half an Hour in a Twelve Month to spend with his Minister — for he had not bin once to see me this twelve month.

1757 September 6 (Tuesday).  Visited Mr. David Maynard another who has an intermitting Fever and divers of his Children, the Fever and Ague.  Prayed there.  Visited the old Gentleman also and prayed with him.  Transcribing but with much interruption.  At Eve Mr. Biglow — tells me they have probably a Penobscot Indian in Concord Jayl.

1757 September 7 (Wednesday).  I rode to Shrewsbury Lecture and preach it: on Ps. 78, v. 34-37.  Dined at Mr. Cushings — my Daughter Sarah with me.  N.B. Mr. Morse and his Wife, and Mr. Davis there.  The last prayed before sermon.  N.B. Capt. Nat. Allen of Boston has bought the House and Place that was Gershom Keyes’s; and is making great Alterations there.  Returned at Eve.  Poor Dolly Fay is a Bed — was delivered last Lord’s Day.

1757 September 8 (Thursday).  Stalks Secured.  Am diligently transcribing.

1757 September 9 (Friday).  Alexander and Breck Thrash Oates which were on the Floor — and then Rye.

1757 September 10 (Saturday).  Mr. Batherick brings me 3 Barrells of Cyder — one of which Thomas boils p.m.  Mr. Batherick dined with me and carrys over more Barrells.  Rain after much dry weather.

1757 September 11 (Sunday).  Read 1 Chron. 9 and preached on Isa. 31.6.  N.B. Besides the 4 pages I had writ, used three pages and ½ of Sermon on Acts 3.19, viz. from page 24 to 27.  P.M. read Luk. 3.  Preached on Jer. 13.23.  Rainy Day.  N.B. Mr. Ben Tainters Wife dined with us.

1757 September 12 (Monday).  Rain.

1757 September 13 (Tuesday).  Am Still at Times transcribing for the press.

1757 September 14 (Wednesday).  My son Baldwin came here in the morning.  He had lodged at Mr. Martyns — tells me his wife is out of Health and depressed.  He left us to go to Brookfield.  Mr. Forb. and his Wife came the Same forenoon.  Took Mr. Forb. with me to Hopkinton Lecture (on Account of the public Distresses).  We dined at Mr. Barretts.  Mr. Prentice of Holliston and his Wife there.  Mr. Stone preached on Deut. 29.24.  I prayed before sermon.  Mr. Stone tells me he designs to go next Sabbath to preach at Cumberland.  In returning at Eve Mr. Forb. and I called at old Mr. Kelleys to see him in a very low Condition and (as seems) nigh to Death.  Old Mrs. Lovell also lying in a very dangerous state at her son Pierce’s they besought me to go in.  Those Visits made us late by that we got home.

1757 September 15 (Thursday).  Mr. Forbush and his wife to Boston.  At Parting he gave me a Letter from Ebenezer.  He tells me he has sent for sundry Goods by a Team.  Mr. Batheric comes and informs me that the Team will call about noon for them.  Thomas goes over to see to the putting ‘em up.  P.M. Lecture to Young people on Eccl. 1.2.  N.B. Master Nathan Stone (who keeps our school) here after meeting.  Send to Boston by Capt. Fay.

1757 September 16 (Friday).  It being 5th Day old Style, See Natal.  At Eve Mr. John Harwood took Charge of a Letter from me to Mrs. Abigail Stoddard at the Cornfields Boston.

1757 September 17 (Saturday).  I could not have rest in my own Mind without going to See Old Mr. Kelly again and Old Mrs. Lovell.  I accordingly walked as far as Mr. Jonah Warrins (calling at Mr. Hammonds and Saw his Wife ill, with Something.  She went out and vomited.  It filled me with Trouble!).  Mr. Warrin furnished me with an Horse and I endeavored to discharge my Duty to the sick old people above mentioned.  P.M. I rode up to Mr. Ebenezer Cutler’s in Grafton, he lying Sick of a Fever.  Proceeded — and arrived at Mr. Hutchinsons; but he was gone to Westborough.  Went in to the School House to see the French Family there, Claude du Gas.  They are not so Sociable, as our Neutrals.

1757 September 18 (Sunday).  Preached at Grafton a. and p.m. on Heb. 10.31 and baptized the Child of Mr. Hezekiah Taylor, the Name Simeon.  N.B. Mr. Prentice not in Town.  Mrs. Prentice at Meeting a.m., not p.m.  Returned Home at Evening.  Mr. Hutchinson on Mat. 19.16-22.  P.M. on Gen.4.7 at Westborough.

1757 September 19 (Monday).  We are in the Family Much put by, for want of Water in our Well.  There not being enough for the Kitchin use.  Washing deferred on that Account.

1757 September 20 (Tuesday).  Mr. Forbush and his Wife come from Mr. Martyns; for whom he preached last Lords Day.  Molly got no further on Saturday Night than Mr. Smiths at Marlborough.  They lodged at their Uncle Holloways last Night.  They Dined with us and then took leave to go to their Father Forbush’s and then design home by the way of Brother Hicks’s at Sutton.

1757 September 21 (Wednesday).  Mr. Barrett came and preached my Lecture on Rev. 3.4.  Mr. Cushing also came — and both dined here.

1757 September 22 (Thursday).  At Such times as I can make from Family Cares, am transcribing etc.