Category: Diary

1758 February 10 (Friday).  My Wife very Comfortable; Thanks be to God and the Child flourishing.  Master Billy Buckminster, his Sister Fanny and Miss Patty Rice of Framingham here.  Deacon Tainter goes to Boston and carrys the Genealogical Account of our Family (contains the Account of my fifteenth child, Hannah) to my eldest Brother.  At Eve Capt. Wood here.

1758 February 11 (Saturday).  Ebenezer and his Wife ride to Watertown.  My wife more Comfortable and has the Blessing of her Milk come to suckle the Child.  A fresh divine Favor.  D.G.

1758 February 12 (Sunday).  Omitted public Reading both a. and p.m., it being Still a rigorous Season though the Afternoon was pleasanter than of late has been usual.  Preached a.m. on Rom. 8.28.  P.M. on Ps. 62.5.  Read v. 8 also, and the intermediate verses.  This Sermon was much too hastily thrown together.  May God most Compassionate overlook my Defects!  P.M. I dedicated to God in the Ordinance of Baptism, my dear Daughter Hannah.  I desire humbly to wait on God respecting her that She may be truely Gracious!  My wife was got up.  Brother Forb. and Granny Maynard dined with us.

1758 February 13 (Monday).  My Wife has Sore Nipples to her great Distress.  Pleasant Weather.  Am grieved at my own Dullness and Deadness.  Deacon Tainter, Capt. Fay, Mr. Biglow here.  The two last pay me their Rates, with what I owed ‘em.

1758 February 14 (Tuesday).  My Sons Horse, which he rode down being here in keeping, I rode up to Mr. Zebulon Rice’s and Capt. Woods.  At Evening Ebenezer and his Wife return from Watertown, having been at Boston.  My Brother Parkman living, and is better.  Brother Samuel gone to Nottingham.  His Daughter Bradford offended that I had not called my Infant Elizabeth Bradford — whereas She never had given Leave nor any way hinted it.

1758 February 15 (Wednesday).  Ensign Charles Brigham here with his Mare again.  I had wrote a Line to him by my son Thomas who met him on the Road hither.  He dined with me as did old Mr. Hezekiah How, and Amon Blanc (besides Ebenezer and his Wife).  After Dinner the Squire consented to bring me his Mare tomorrow for 60£ old Tenor to be paid without Interest by the first Day of next September.  At Eve Esq. Brigham and Mr. Hale of Sutton here.  Esq. Says he’ll bring the mare tomorrow.  Deacon Tainter, his Son and Daughter in law here.

1758 February 16 (Thursday).  My Son and Daughter designed to have gone home to Brookfield but it prov’d very Stormy.  It prevails to be a great Storm of Snow: yet by the former snows remaining on the Earth, there is a great Body in the whole.  My Wife has Several very faint turns — and She is kept back, though the Child grows apace.  No Squire to Day.

1758 February 17 (Friday).  Dull, Cloudy Weather; Sometimes Snowing a little.

1758 February 18 (Saturday).  Though it be a very fine, bright pleasant Day, yet is the Snow So deep that it is very difficult stirring.  My Son and his Wife Still with us.

1758 February 19 (Sunday).  Another very fine Day — and many more came to Meeting than I expected.  Read 1 Chron. 28.  Preached a. and p.m. on Rom. 8.28.  Read p.m. Luk. 16.  Lt. Perez Rice of Sutton and his Wife dined here.

1758 February 20 (Monday).  Rain last Night and this Morning, afterwards very pleasant.  Mr. Mason tells me the Ways are so filled with Snow that there has not gone so much as one Horse in the Road to Shrewsbury near him; and there are but steppings over to Mr. Martyns.  N.B. Esq. Brigham brings the Mare, which I have bargained for; and I gave him a Note for Eight pounds L.M., payable the first of next September, and She is put up into the Barn as Mine.

1758 February 21 (Tuesday).  Deacon Tainter came (and was the means of Abner Newtons coming also) and killed a Barrow for me of 273 lb.  N.B. Ebenezer has changed his mare with Abner Newton for his and gives him 20£ old Tenor more.  At Eve Capt. Wood and a Number more here.

1758 February 22 (Wednesday).  Ebenezer and I settled divers Accounts before his going home.  He [and] his Wife Sett out in a Slay for Brookfield.  They carry Breck with them.  Thomas also hires a Horse and goes with them.  They are obliged to go out to the Country Road by Mr. Martyns.

1758 February 23 (Thursday).  I visited old Mrs. Gaschet who is in a low Condition, being very Aged and dropsical.  Dined at her sons.  The Snow so deep, and the Paths so bad I rode in Danger.  I visited also Mr. Chaddock and his Wife.  In returning I was extremely Cold, and did much fear some of my Hands would freeze.

1758 February 24 (Friday).  At Eve Mr. Asaph Rice who is our School-Master, and keeps at Capt. Fays, came to See me.  It much perplexes me to have such visits.

1758 February 25 (Saturday).  Mr. Israel Walker here for money in behalf of George Crossman.

1758 February 26 (Sunday).  Read 1 Chron. 29 and Luk. 17.  Preached a. and p.m. on Rom. 8.27.  A pleasant Day and many were out at Meeting.  May God of his infinite Goodness and Mercy grant success unto the Word of his Grace!

1758 February 27 (Monday).  A very pleasant Day; I rode out to various Neighbours.  At Eve Mr. Batherick and Mr. Ebenezer Forbush here.  Leaves me only 2 Dollars.

1758 February 28 (Tuesday).  Deacon Tainter putts my Mare into his Team to teach her to draw.  Our Nurse goes away.  The Occasion was her sister Elizabeths marriage.  Jane Kelley comes in her stead.  At Eve Deacon Bond, [Mr.?] Hammond.  The former gives me a Dollar towards paying for my Mare; the Latter brings a present of Beef, and Seems to be reconciled.

1758 March 1 (Wednesday).  Deacon Tainter having kept my Mare comes with her and Another in a Sleigh or Whirrey, to accompany me to Southborough.  We called at Dr. Chase’s but he was not at home.  And to See the French people at Southborough, Mrs. Goredow, and her Children.  Went to See Mr. Stone; but he was gone to Shrewsbury to visit Mr. Morse, who has lately lost a Son of 7, or 8 Years old.  After Dinner there we returned home.  I can’t but take Special Notice of the Deacons readiness to serve and wait upon me, in a very respectfull Manner.  And in the Mean Time is doing me the great Kindness to Subdue my new mare to drawing.  I hope he does all sincerely, and as to the Lord, for I am utterly unworthy: but this Conduct must quicken me to endeavour to deserve it.  May God reward him with abundant Spiritual Blessings!

1758 March 2 (Thursday).  A rainy, uncomfortable Day.  But Neighbour Prat Sledded over a Small Jagg of English Hay from t’other Barn.  And p.m. Deacon Tainter comes again with my mare in his Whirrey and we go to the Private Meeting at Mr. Bradish’s.  I preached on Act. 26.22, former part.  At Eve Deacon Takes my Mare home Still, to keep and tutor.  My Son Baldwin, having been to Boston came and lodged here.

1758 March 3 (Friday).  Very tedious Day by reason of the high Sharp Winds.

1758 March 4 (Saturday).  Mr. Baldwin leaves us in the Morning for Brookfield.  N.B. before he went I payed him 7£ old Tenor and took up my Note which I had given him for work in building my House.

1758 March 5 (Sunday).  Read 2 Chron.1 and Luk. 18.  Preached a.m. on Rom. 8.28, my last Sermon on those words.  May God Himself be pleased to follow it with His Blessing!  P.M. on Rom. 13.1, There is no power but of God.  Used chiefly preparations on 2 Sam.23.3 but with additions.  N.B. I had a View to the Elections of Town Officers tomorrow.

1758 March 6 (Monday).  Visited Ensign Miller, Deacon Forbush and his sister Steward, Blanc etc.  N.B. my wife comes out of her Room.

1758 March 7 (Tuesday).  Mr. Daniel Adams works here — cutts out a passage from my Chamber into the Kitchin Chamber, and putts up a Door.  Brother Hicks came to see us; and lodges here.

1758 March 8 (Wednesday).  The Foot Company meet (agreeable to Act of Court) to See who are to be Bayonet men.  N.B. Mr. Adams works here a.m., is nailing Kitchin Chamber Floor etc.  At Eve Capt. Wood and Master Rice.

1758 March 9 (Thursday).  Mr. Adams a while here finishing his work of Mending a Table etc.  Mr. Stone and his Daughter Miss Judith dine with us.  He preached my Lecture on Ps. 63.5.  N.B. He gives me Account of what was done at Leominster on Jan. 28 last in dismissing Mr. Rogers.  N.B. Mr. Francis Whipple brings me a written Complaint against Mr. Benjamin Tainter and desiring me to forbid him coming to the Sacrament.  At Eve I rode with Mr. Stone as far as Lt. Forb. and received of Ebenezer the last that he is to pay me upon the Rates though not the last that is due to me.  Viz. the Equivalent money which he would have had to gather, Scil. of Deacon Forbush’s year — but which the Committee to sell the Meeting House stuff have received into their Hands to pay me.  N.B. In deep and distressing Trouble about my son Thomas, especially on Account of his Spiritual and eternal State and Condition.

1758 March 10 (Friday).  Mr. Solomon Woods here and tells me he is going over to Mr. Whipples with Benjamin Tainter, and tis designed to try for Capt. Wood to go with them to endeavour a reconcilement.  P.M. the Widow Ruhamah Newton was carryed by, having fallen from her Horse and broke her Legg.  I went up to See her — prayed with her and her Friends who where gathered on that sorrowful Occasion.  I waited also upon the Setting of it but Mrs. Parker came so late and took up so much Time in her Apparatus and Operations that it was night before I could return.  Another Thing that occurred there to detain me was, the Contending partys above mentioned with the men that had been with them to assist them came to me at Mrs. Newtons; and they having succeeded in Endeavours to compose the Difference insisted upon my writing Mr. Tainters Acknowledgement which therefore I did; and through Grace, they were happily agreed.  To God the Glory!

1758 March 11 (Saturday).  [No entry.]

1758 March 12 (Sunday).  Read 2 Chron. 2 and Luk. 19.  Preached a.m. on Joh. 15.1 and administered the Lord’s Supper.  N.B. previous to it read Benjamin Tainters acknowledgement which was accepted and he was thereby restored.  N.B. a Considerable Number of Communicants of other Churches with us, viz. Capt. Jacob Foster and wife, Ensign Asa Brigham and his Wife and Wife’s sister Warrin, Mr. Asaph Rice, Mrs. Abigail Whitney.  P.M. preached on Occasion of the annual Election to be on the morrow, from Tit. 3.1 and used mainly some sermon heretofore preached on that Text.

1758 March 13 (Monday).  Alexander goes over to t’other House to Secure the Corn there, the House being beset by Squirrils.  I went over — got Mr. Moses Nurse to go with a Sled and Tumbrill and brought 36 Bushels over here, of Sound good Corn.  It was precinct Meeting to choose Officers, and I expected they would Send for me to pray with them, but they did not.  Reckoned with a Number of persons — particularly had a large Reckoning with Deacon Bond; his wife also was here; but N.B. that which was the means of the great Increase of my Debt with them was her Spinning and Whitening linnen Cloth for Setting off my Daughter Lucy.

1758 March 14 (Tuesday).  Alexander brought over the Hog Corn from t’other House.  Rain p.m.  Mr. Ebenezer Cutler dined here and left 32/ for Mr. Stone; [Defi?]ciency in a piece of Gold paid to him in time past.  Am Oppressed with a great Cold, and which prevails among most people at this time of great Alteration of Weather.  Visit Widow Newton.

1758 March 15 (Wednesday).  Mr. Asaph Rice is going to Boston to buy Druggs in order to set up the practice of Physick here among us; and I Send by him the Money which Mr. Cutler left for Mr. Stone: for I concluded that Since I have heard nothing from him about his Lecture, it will not be this Week.  But about 10 o’Clock I received a Letter from him that his Lecture was to be this Day, and this Hour.  I was very sorry — and wrote him an Answer.  Indeed it was a very Cold Day and I was much indisposed; yet I had so strong Inclination to go that if I had any Such seasonable Notice as that I could have got there I don’t know but that I Should have attempted it.  Jonathan Cook here and wants my Other place this Year.

1758 March 16 (Thursday).  Very Cold Weather Still.  Jonathan Ruggs Son, who marryed Hannah Pratt, on the same Errand.  At Eve Capt. Wood and his wife here and Supp with us.