Category: Diary

1761 March 8 (Sunday).  Have been exercised with Tooth ach — besides divers Other Interventions So that I could prepare but one Sermon.  Very much desired that Mr. Fessenden would preach, but could not convey my mind to him.  Read Ps. 5.  Preached a.m. on Gal. 5.6.  P.M. read 2 Cor. 12.  Repeated with a few Omissions and Alterations Sermon on Joh. 1.16.

1761 March 9 (Monday).  Precinct Meeting.  A Petition is brought me signed by Ten Members of the Church, viz. Messrs. Daniel Forb., David Maynard etc. desiring a Church Meeting on the Affair of Mr. S. Fay.  Prayed at the precinct meeting.  P.M. Mr. Fessenden and Mrs. Maynard.  Mr. Hills here about his Wife, who is in Spiritual Concern.

1761 March 10 (Tuesday).  Walked to Lieut. Forb.  Dined at Mr. Hills.  Spent some considerable Time in conversing with and examining her.  Visit Mrs. Wood after the Death of her Brother Eager.

1761 March 11 (Wednesday).  Capt. Wood brought his Horse that I might ride to Mr. Morse’s of North Shrewsbury.  Took Mr. Fessenden with me.  Dined at Mr. Morse’s.  My Business was to get a good Horse.  At Mr. Morse’s Request we rode to Capt. Curtis’s at Wor’ster upon the Same Design but without success.  N.B. Mr. Morse informed me that Rev. David Stearns of Lunenbourg dyed the night before last, of a Fever.  A great Loss!  The Lord Sanctify it to me, and to those more immediately under the Bereavement especially.  We called at Capt. Allens in our returning but diverted to Mr. Martyns and lodged there.

1761 March 12 (Thursday).  About 1/4 after 2 this morning we were awaked by an Earthquake but blessed be God for his preserving Goodness and Mercy!  Came home a.m. and found my Tabernacle in Peace and safety.  Mr. John Hicks of Cambridge here and dined, in his return home.  Mr. Hills here again at night about his Wife, who is in much Trouble.

1761 March 13 (Friday).  Visit Mrs. Hill and further examine her.  Want to send word to Mr. Samuel Fay concerning the Petition of 10 Brethren for a Church-Meeting, but his Critical Situation makes me Cautious of writing to him, or visiting him just now.  Mr. Zebulun Rice tells me he will make him a Visit; and will inform him.  This relieves me.  Mr. Hills lends me 50£ old Tenor with which I pay Mr. Thomas Frost and take up my Note with him.  Mr. Parker here at night.  Wants some of my Hay.  Has difficulty about the Expression in the Sermon on the 22d p.m. concerning the Being of God but I gave him some Ease.  Was up till after midnight.

1761 March 14 (Saturday).  In the morning Brother Zebulun Rice to acquaint me with Mr. Fays Frame yesterday when visited by the Said Rice and is disquieted with it.  Deacon Tainter here about Fays Case.  He dines with us.  I Sent for Mr. Fessenden and he came to preach for me.  Coll. Williams and Capt. Ephraim Brigham from Marlborough here.

1761 March 15 (Sunday).  Read Ps. 6.and 2 Cor. 13.  Mr. Fessenden a.m. on Col. 3.2 and p.m. on 1 Joh. 4.19.  Cousen Maynard dined here.  The Kitchen (as Usual) very much filled.  After the Exercises Stopped the Church and acquainted them with the Petition for a Church Meeting; read it, with the Names to it.  Asked the Church for their Thoughts — And told ‘em that I was So desirous of preserving Peace and good Harmony in the Church, that I was a mind to acquaint ‘em with that so whatever was done about it, might be with their Concurrence.  Nobody Answered though I gave space.  And therefore taking it to be their mind to have a Meeting, I appointed it — to be on Tuesday next, at 2 p.m.

1761 March 16 (Monday).  Reckoned and settled with Mr. Joseph Baker, and paid him all, by a Note to Mr. Bellows of 6£ 5.4 L.M.  Visited Mr. William Nurse who is sick.  Praid with him.  Dined there.  P.M. Visit at Mr. Joseph Grouts, Mr. Jonathan Fays, Old Mrs. Grouts, and Moses Brighams.  At Eve Mr. Benjamin Willard here, troubled with Mr. Hutchinson but I do not meddle with the Affair.  Mr. Hills and his Wife here.  I further examin [sic] her.

1761 March 17 (Tuesday).  Church Meeting about Mr. Samuel Fay, but though I Sent an Express and distinct Message to him by Mr. Silas Brigham, on the Lords Day before I left the meeting House, yet he did not come.  The Church voted to reconsider it.  18 out of 21.  The Three on t’other side were Mr. N. Whitney, Capt. Fay and Neighbour Daniel Hardy.  After this it was observed that ever since last July this affair has belonged to the Church, and was no longer of a private Nature: as it was taken in Hand by the Church at that Time: and they have not acted upon the Report of their Committee which brought Mr. Fays Reasons.  The Church then proceeded to hear and Act upon what was then Presented by the Committee.  And it was put to Vote, whether Mr. Fs Reasons then given were satisfactory?  It was passed in the Negative.  Several members at my House at Evening.  Capt. Fay, Messrs. Fr. Whipple, Chamberlin, Belknap, D. Forb., Baverick, here.

1761 March 18 (Wednesday).  I was at t’other House and sold Mr. Parker some Meadow Hay.  Dined at Capt. Maynards.  Returned home p.m.  N.B. Wrote a Confession for Mrs. Hills, with a Letter to Mr. Joshua Prentice, and gave them to her Husband to be carryed by him to Holliston.  N.B. Mr. Phinehas Gleason here.

1761 March 19 (Thursday).  Perceive by the News Paper that our valuable Kinsman Mr. John Breck of Boston is dead.  May God graciously Sanctifie it to us!  N.B. Capt. Fay was here and at his Desire I gave him Extract from the minutes of the Church meeting.  Also he desired me to write a few words of Acknowledgement which might be supposed reasonable for Mr. Samuel Fay to speak to our Church.  Capt. Fay and Mr. N.Whitney being about to make Mr. Fay a Visit to Day.  Mr. William Pierce’s Wife here about the Affair of her son Jonathan who exhibits a to me very fresh and unheard of Account against my late son Thomas.  N.B. Moses Sever also here.  Wants to have his Child (as he calls it) Christened.  Alexander on Mr. Fessendens Horse, fetches Sperma Ceti Oyl from Mr. Asa Brigham, Shrewsbury.  I visit Mr. Aaron Nurse, who droops and has had Dr. Ball with him.

1761 March 20 (Friday).  Lt. Stone of Shrewsbury comes to desire me to change with Mr. Fessenden, who he has obtained to preach to them next Sabbath; for this End, that Children might be baptized, but I cannot go by Reason of the Special work of the Next Sabbath among us.

1761 March 21 (Saturday).  Mr. Hills brings me a Letter concerning his Wife from Mr. Joshua Prentice, in answer to mine of the 18.  Mr. Hills also brings his Relation.  I was obliged to Send to Mr. Elijah Rice to come with his.  And he accordingly came with it.  It being Mr. Thomas Goodenows writing, I Strictly interrogated him about it.  Was obliged to alter it; at his Desire did it — and likewise he requesting it, made the addition of Some of those Things which I had heretofore received from his Mouth — which were preferable in a Relation to any Thing that any body else could write for him.

1761 March 22 (Sunday).  Read Ps. 7 and Gal. 1.  Preached a.m. on Gal. 5.6.  P.M. on Gal. 1.3.  Stopped the Church (after Appointing the Communion and the Lecture) and gave leave to as many of the Congregation as Should please to tarry; and admitted into the Church Messrs. Elijah Rice and Benjamin Hills.  Cousen Maynard dined here.  Says Mr. Fessenden is gone to Shrewsbury to preach there.

1761 March 23 (Monday).  Dr. Crosby here.  Informs me that Mr. Samuel Fay is become milder, and more Sensible he has erred in being So dissatisfyed with me.  N.B. At night old Mr. Seth Morse here Seemingly in Some Penitence; and says he’ll come again.

1761 March 24 (Tuesday).  Mrs. Hills here in the Morning and drinks Tea with us.  P.M. Mr. Fessenden, Michael Martyn and his Cousen Marit here and drink Tea.  At Eve I visited the Widows Woods and Newton.  When I returned home found Brother Champney from Cambridge here.  Afterwards came Mr. Joshua Pain and they both lodged here.

1761 March 25 (Wednesday).  Mr. Pains Horse loose in the Barn, and my youngest Heiffer which stood next to him, dead.  Brother Champney goes to Brookfield.  Mr. Samuel Fisk of Sudbury here to buy my old place.  He dines here; as does Mr. Pain.  Mrs. Judith Bellows here with an Acknowledgment.  Mr. Samuel Fay also delivered me an Acknowledgment before I went into Meeting.  Mr. Pain Preached my Lecture, on Jam. 2.17.  Stopped the Church and Mrs. Bellows and Mr. Fay were restored.  Mr. Fessenden and Mr. Pain go over to Mr. Martyns.

1761 March 26 (Thursday).  Send to Boston by Deacon Tainter.  P.M. Mr. Daniel Adams makes a partition in my Barn to keep strangers Horses from my Cattle.  At Eve Capt. Rolf here.  I walked with him to Mr. Hills and Rice’s.

1761 March 27 (Friday).  The Boys work in the Garden.  Sow Parseley, Parsnip etc. etc.

1761 March 28 (Saturday).  Mr. Simon Tainter of Sutton here.

1761 March 29 (Sunday).  Mr. Monis waited on by Mr. Richard Martyn, rode over here in the Morning to be at the Communion with us: but returned at Eve.  Read Ps. 6.  Preached a.m. on Gal. 1.3.  Administered the Sacrament of the Lords Supper.  N.B. a great Number of occasional Communicants chiefly from Shrewsbury — Mr. Pain having left ‘em, and denyed ‘em, to their great Disappointment.  N.B. There was Danger of falling Short in the Element of Wine for the Flaggons as well as Tankards were soon emptyed.  So that I Spoke, and desired that inasmuch as the Deacons had prepared only for our Ordinary State, whereas there was an extraordinary Number present, they would please to consider it.  There was therefore a Sufficiency.  P.M. not having writ the Close of my designed afternoon sermon, and my Thoughts broken by so much Company at my House (for Mr. Fessenden and Mrs. Maynard besides Mr. Monis etc. dined here), I took a sermon Suitable to the Occasion on Rom. 6.3.4 and with Some Additions presented it.  N.B. Read Gal. 2.  Also baptized 3 Children, viz. of Messrs. Timothy Warrin, Thomas Frost and Joseph Grout.  O that God of his infinite Mercy and Goodness would Please to accept of us and Commend his Blessing!  Appointed a Catechizing to Children next Thursday.

1761 March 30 (Monday).  Alexander and Breck with Mr. Zebulun Rice’s Team went to Mr. Johnsons Mill with 12 1/2 Bush. of Indian and 7 1/2 Rye.  Mr. Wheelock moves out of my Shop, into his own.  P.M. Mr. Fessenden and Mrs. Maynard here — also young Mrs. Baker and Miss Lavinia.  These Latter inform of a Court held at Squire Bakers, by Reason of Mr. Ithamar Bellows having lost out of his House, which was yesterday opened and rifled, about 2£ Lawfull money.  And James Bellows is from many Circumstances Suspected.  At Eve Brother Hicks and his Daughter Lydia came and lodged here.

1761 March 31 (Tuesday).  Brother and his Daughter, and Mr. Willis Hall added, pursue their Journey.  Mr. Fessenden comes with a Chair and waits upon my wife over to Capt. Maynards.  James Bellows again before the Squire.  P.M. Miss Molly Baldwin return from Hopkinton and bring me from [Villiers?] (at Sir Harrys) vines, and seeds.  My wife does not return home.

1761 April 1 (Wednesday).  Mrs. Rugg, formerly Hannah Pratt, here.  P.M. Dr. Asaph Rice from Brookfield going to Portsmouth.  At Eve Mr. Fessenden brings Mrs. P________ and the Child home, having lodged at Capt. Maynards, and brings a Letter from Brother Breck relating their state last winter by the Small Pox.

1761 April 2 (Thursday).  Catechized at the Meeting House a. and p.m.  I think 29 Boys and 38 or 9 Girls.  May the divine Blessing be all of them and render my fervent Exhortations and Warnings Effectual!  After Catechizing my wife and I were at the raising of Mr. Zebulun Rice’s New House.  No very bad Accident.  D.G.

1761 April 3 (Friday).  Broke fast at Capt. Woods.  Bought a large Deer Skin for 8£ of Mr. Abner Newton, and Sent 5£ 12/6 to Deacon Kimbal by Mrs. Crosman.  Visited Lt. Thomas Forbush’s wife.  Brother Hicks and Daughter Lydia here as they return home.  At Eve Brother Champney from Brookfield and has bought a place there.  He lodged here.

1761 April 4 (Saturday).  Brother Champney Sets out for Cambridge in his Chair.  Lent my Chair to Mr. Hills for him and his wife to go to Holliston.  After long dry Weather Rain.

1761 April 5 (Sunday).  Mr. Monis last Lords Day, in Mr. Martyns Name, engaged me to change with the Latter to Day, and I accordingly promised it.  But it proved very rainy, so that neither did I go there, nor did he come here, as it was not my Place to go there without he came here.  I was obliged to do as well as I could, for I was not prepared to preach at Home.  I had indeed one Sermon made, and that I delivered, viz. on Gal. 1.3 and finished that Subject.  P.M. on Consideration of James Bellows’s Stealing I repeated some of my Expositions on Exod. 20.15.  Read a.m. Ps. 9.  P.M. Gal. 3.  Appointed Catechetical Exercise next Thursday.

1761 April 6 (Monday).  Merod. Smith worked for me in mending my Fences.  On Mr. Ebenezer Forb.’s Horse I rode to Southborough.  Hired 50£ old Tenor of Capt. Nathan Brigham, and gave him my Note.  Visit Mr. Stone and Coll. Brigham.  N.B. old Madam Thatcher at Mr. Stones.  Returned at Eve in Safety.  D.G.!

1761 April 7 (Tuesday).  Went to See Mr. Parker before he moves.  P.M. Attended the Private Meeting at Deacon Forb., where Mr. Fish preached on Luk. 17.5.  My Wife and young Child with me.  After meeting we visited Mr. Blanc and at Eve at Deacon Tainters.

1761 April 8 (Wednesday).  Deacon Tainter killed a Calf for me and carryed 3 Quarters of it to Boston.  Alex and Breck, With Nathan Kenny, plow stubble at the Island p.m.  N.B. one Yoke of Oxen of Mr. Nurse’s, another of Mr. Williams.  N.B. Mr. Parker, I hear, moves to Day to the widow (of Eliphalet) Adams’s place.

1761 April 9 (Thursday).  Miss Patty Smith and Miss Suse Low rode up to See us.  Dined here, and towards Eve, they rode to Capt. Maynards.  P.M. I attended a Catechetical Exercise to young Women.  Began at How did Christ the son of God become Man?  28 (with my Daughter Suse) attended.  N.B. Sarah was unable to go.  Lieut. Uriah Brigham here.  Rides an Horse that he asks 60£ Lawfull Money for.  N.B. He informs that Mr. Job Whitney, late preacher, is dead at Marlborough.  N.B. but was not true.

1761 April 10 (Friday).  Having much Trouble with my Sheep getting in upon my Neighbour Beetons Rye, I had yoked 5 of them.  But finding by Alex that the Defect is chiefly in Capt. Woods, Beetons and Barny Newtons Fences, I go to Mr. Beetons and to Capt. Wood’s, as Soon as I had dined, to confer with them about it.  N.B. At Capt. Woods were Deacon Wheelock of Medfield, Mr. Cullock and Pond.  At my Return Miss Patty and Suse that went from us Yesterday, came back here, and my Suse who went with them last Eve to Capt. Maynards.  When they had drank Tea, they Sat out for Marlborough.  Deacon Tainter returned from Boston.  Another Letter from Mr. Hutchinson concerning Providence and to desire Mr. Martyn and Mr. Stone (as well as me) to preach there.

1761 April 11 (Saturday).  Neighbour Barny is building (with a Number of Hands and a Team to assist) a stone Wall on the South Side of the Road before my Door, to fence his Rye Field: And setts it, as it is apprehended, a Rod into the high way.  P.M. Nigh Eve I rode over to Mr. Martyns, conceiving that he would expect me to Change with him tomorrow: but when I came there he said he could not change with me (or to that amount) for he had got help, Sir Livermore (who was there).  His Horse was Lame and all his Children were to be with him that Evening.  So I soon returned home (though it rained) and arrived here after 8 o’Clock; and Mr. Pratt (whose young Horse I had) kindly sent his Lad to ride home the Beast I rode on.  It was the more sorrowful to me as I depended upon this changing, and had not prepared to preach both parts of the Day at Home.  I could not but take Notice of this Second Disappointment and the Hand of divine Providence in it.