Category: Diary

1765 April 11 (Thursday).  This morning we perceived Mr. Haskills (Black smith) Shop was burnt down.  It broke out about an Hour before Day.  The Lord Sanctify it to them.  I visited poor Mr. Kendal who wastes more and more; as does Brother Forbes.  Prayed with them.  P.M. Catechized young women and delivered an Exercise on the 2d Commandment repeating for the most part from Hints which I had prepared and delivered in public, some years ago.  N.B. 28 Young Women.  We began at Question 51.  And must begin next time at Question 55. After Catechizing I rode down to Mr. Haskills to Sympathize.  Deacon Tainter was with me.  But Mr. Haskill was not at home.  He was in the woods and People were generously getting Timber for him.  Which I greatly rejoice in.  Billy returns from Boston, and perhaps from some other where.  John and Levi Rice bring Slit work and Boards from Forbe’s [sic] Mill.

1765 April 12 (Friday).  Mr. Caleb Hitchcock of the Union, here, and o’ foot.  Wants a Cast upon my Horse part of his Way.  I complyed and let him have my mare as far as William Wards.  John went afterwards o’ foot to bring her back — but goes to Marlborough and brings home some Leggs of Bacon from Deacon Woods.  Billy and Breck begin to Frame a Corn Barn for me.  Dr. Bondels’ here.  I get him to trim my Grape Vine.  He dines here.  Little B. Gott Maynard came at Eve and stays over Night.  Sorrowful Account of the drowning of 4 men in Sudbury River.

1765 April 13 (Saturday).  Billy and Breck get ready for their Journey.  John Maynard with a Waggon etc.

1765 April 14 (Sunday).  Read a.m. Eccl. 8.  Preached a.m. on Eccl. 8.12.13.  Mrs. Maynard dined here.  Read Mark 10 to v. 27.  Preached on Mat. 18.7.  At Eve read 2 Chapters more of Mr. Bolton.  Mr. Kendal grows worse.

1765 April 15 (Monday).  Billy and Breck leave us to go to Townshend.  They Expect John Maynard setts out from his Fathers with a Waggon to Carry (what was moved from here last Saturday) Beef, Pork and many other stores — and Joseph Warrin (son of Mr. Timothy) hired by Billy goes with them.  I visit at Neighbour Locks and behold he is gone away for Penobscot.  Visit old Mrs. Woods and at Neighbour John Woods, whose Child is ill.  N.B. Mr. Gale informs me of Suspicions etc.  Messrs. Barns and Batherick with his son Solomon Digg Stones towards Nurse’s.  P.M. Mr. Fisk to ask me to preach his Lecture next Week, to which I Consent.  Mr. Gale at Evening Pays me £18.10 in Cash and £8.10 in Two Notes from Messrs. John Woods and Eli Whitney.  In all 27£ old Tenor.

1765 April 16 (Tuesday).  We are very Mournful and thoughtful.  May we turn in upon our own Hearts and ways, and Return to the Lord who sorely corrects us.  May the Lord Extend Mercy to us and ours!  Mr. Asaph Rice from Mr. Morse’s; and dines with us.  At Eve Mr. John Forbes here, and was examined.

1765 April 17 (Wednesday).  We do a little at Gardening.  Mrs. P________ to Capt. Maynards.  Send a Dollar by Deacon Tainter, in Billys Name, to Mr. Haskill.

1765 April 18 (Thursday).  Publick Fast.  Preached a. and p.m. on Ps. 65.5.11.  Had a Contribution for Deacon Charles Woods of [blank] whose House was burnt on [blank].  At my Wife’s motion we omitted having a Sett Meal immediately after the last Meeting but had our Supper as usual Except that lesser Children had something given them.  I would avoid Superstition but Should be glad to reform what ever has been amiss.  The Lord accept our Offerings!

1765 April 19 (Friday).  At Mr. Nurse’s in the Morning to get him to plow for me:  and he consents.  Sends Nathan with steer and Horse.  Deacon Tainter comes and we count the money of the Contribution — £30.2.0 old Tenor.  P.M. I visit — at Mr. Moses Brigham, Phinehas Hardys, Moses Warrins, Elijah Rice’s, Constantine Hardys, Ensign Millers, Mr. Kendals.

1765 April 20 (Saturday).  Mr. Beeton and his Wife came here to Sign a Deed to me of the Acre of Land by me.  We measure it and for the Sake of Witnesses we go over to Mr. Nurse’s and they Sign there.  Nathan Kenny and Abigail Williams are the Witnesses.  P.M. Mr. Nurse plows at my Cook Island.  I rode to Shrewsbury.  Called to See Mr. Joseph Miles and Deacon Miles’s Wife.  Pray with this last.  Lodged at Mr. Sumners.

1765 April 21 (Sunday).  Mr. Sumner goes to Mr. Martyns — Mr. Martyn to preach for me.  I preached for Mr. Sumner on Acts 16.29.30.  And O that God would grant Success, both to my own Soul and the People who hear me!  At Eve Mr. Sumner returns.  Sir Goddard (Mr. Edwards son Edward) acquaints Mr. Sumner of his Exercise of Mind, and particularly by to Days Sermons — but says nothing to me; though he came to me for that purpose; and walked with us to visit Mrs. Cushing.  I lodged at Mr. Sumners again.

1765 April 22 (Monday).  Sir Goddard again with me.  Opens his Mind to Me in Some Measure.  I called at Capt. Allens.  Receive of him divers small Trees and Bushes.  Visit old Mrs. Garfield, who languishes.  Mr. Joshua Townshend and his Wife there to See their Aunt.  Prayed there.  Visit Mr. Samuel Fay who is greatly reduced.  Find my Family in Peace.  James (son of Mr. Richard) Kelly is come to work for me.  My wife visits Mrs. Haws.  My Son Baldwin and Rev. Fish from Brookfield here: and lodge with us.

1765 April 23 (Tuesday).  Our Company leave us for Boston.  Mrs. Maynard comes here to go with me to Marlborough.  It was our Ministers Meeting.  N.B. Mr. Frink was there, and an uncomfortable Clash between him and Mr. Goss on occasion of Mr. Carpenter of Keen.  At Widow Hows paid Interest in full of my old Note and gave a New one.  Returned home.  Mrs. Maynard with me most of the way.  Miss Sally Putnam works here.

1765 April 24 (Wednesday).  I rode to Upton Lecture.  As I went I visited the Widow Grow and the Widow Thurston.  Dined at Mr. Fish’s.  He has Three Children Sick of a Fever.  I preached on Heb. 10.38.  Deacon Tainter accompanyed me back, at Eve as far as Mr. Kendalls.

1765 April 25 (Thursday).  Mr. Fish came to preach my Lecture.  Dined here.  His Text was Luk. 3.16, latter part.  May God Succeed our united Labors to promote the Everlasting Salvation of Men!  Mr. Fish Soon returned after Meeting because of the Family.  Thomas Arnold here: I agree with him to live with me for Six Months, every other Week and to give him 5£ lawful.  Mr. John Forbes’s Wife here to be examined and keeps me engaged, to my great sorrow, till night.  And then comes Mr. John Wood with News Papers etc.

1765 April 26 (Friday).  [No entry.]

1765 April 27 (Saturday).  Mr. John Forbes came from Brookfield and informs that Lucy is very ill; vomits Blood and fears the Event.  James Kelly returns home, having behaved well.

1765 April 28 (Sunday).  Read Eccl. 9 and preached upon v. 7.  Administered the Lords supper.  Mr. Noah Rice’s Widow, Mrs. Maynard dined here.  P.M. read Mark 10 from v. 28.  Preached on Mat. 18.7.

1765 April 29 (Monday).  Thomas Arnold came to work for me half his Time.  We have Mr. Nurse’s Horse and steers to draw stones for the Orchard Wall next the Road.  I visited [blank] Haven, who is exercised with epileptic Fitts.  P.M. Jacob Rice[1] of H. College here, and invites to his Commencement.  Old Mrs. Baker and her Daughter in law, make us a Visit.  Thomas Bond at Eve delivers me 17/6 from the Society of young Men, who meet at the Sabbath House; For the Trouble we have been at, this last Quarter of a Year.

[1]Jacob Rice (1740-1824; Harvard 1765), SHG 16:208-10.

1765 April 30 (Tuesday).  Mr. Nurse’s Team again.  Thomas and John plow in the Orchard and Mr. Samuel Fay being here, he sows a Bushel of Barley for me, there.  He is in great Trouble and Perplexity.  Dines with us.  Dismiss Mr. Nurse’s Oxen and use his Horse only.  Thomas plows in Barley and Oates in the Orchard.  P.M. my Wife to Mr. Phinehas Maynards.  When she returns came Mrs. Rice of Sutton who dined here the Day before yesterday, visits us.  N.B. John Foster comes to work on the Lock place.

1765 May 1 (Wednesday).  Thomas and John Draw Stones to make a Wall at the End of the Orchard.

1765 May 2 (Thursday).  Thomas Sows Some Flax.  Mends the Fences etc.  P.M. Mr. Haskill makes me a Visit.  I endeavoured to remove his Prejudices by Shewing him some of the Steps I took to oblige Mrs. Andrews etc.  He goes away (he says) a good deal more Satisfyed.

1765 May 3 (Friday).  Thomas on the Fences.  Wrote to Master Steward to preach for me the Lords Day before the Election.  Mrs. Hannah Rice (wife of Adonijah) here p.m. but my Wife was from home.  My Sheep So unruly, and So troublesome to Lt. Baker, that he comes at Eve (bringing his F. Wood with him) and fetter them.  Mr. Newton here and desires me to preach at his House next Tuesday.

1765 May 4 (Saturday).  Thomas Still repairing the Fences at the Island.  To do which he has my Oxen from Mr. Rice’s and carrys down Posts from here.  Part of p.m. he (and John) dig Stones for the Wall.  Then he leaves us to go to Mr. Grouts.  N.B. Mr. Antipas Steward came at Eve very unexpectedly.  For I Sent a Letter (as above) by Mr. Edward Barns of Marlborough last Evening to Mr. Steward to request his help the Lords Day before the Election — but now by his Coming it looked doubtfull whether I Should have that Favour then, or no: but he was so good as to engage it.  He lodged here.

1765 May 5 (Sunday).  I read Eccl. 10.  Mr. Steward preached on Luk. 13.6.7.8.9 a. and p.m.  May the Lord accompany with His Blessing and reward the Messenger!  Read Mark 11.  N.B. old Mrs. Parmentor So recovered as to come to meeting again; and She dined here.  Besides Repetition read some of Mr. Bolton.

1765 May 6 (Monday).  Mr. Steward having lodged here, accompanys me in Visiting first his Uncle Forbes and Aunt Steward and Mr. Kendal, where we dined and prayed (Mr. Steward performed).  I visited Solomon Miller.  We both proceed to See Mrs. Grow — Mr. Daniel Miller — Mr. Thomas Twitchell — but especially Daniel Rice who is Sick.  I prayed there.  We call to see Mrs. Byles.  N.B. We went up to Fay’s Mountain.  Mr. Steward returns to Marlborough.

1765 May 7 (Tuesday).  Mr. Henry Barns of Marlborough brought me yesterday 2 Volumes of Dean Swifts Works; with his Life etc.  P.M. preach at Mrs. Newtons on 2 Cor. 13.14.  May God grant His Blessing!  N.B. Sarah to Southborough.  Brings 4 of Mr. Stones Ordination Sermons, with Mr. Greens Charge, and my right Hand.

1765 May 8 (Wednesday).  Miss Hephzibah Maynard came and tarrys with us.  One Mr. Jeremiah Battle of Mendon (Trask Corner) dined here.  Read Dr. Swifts Life etc.

1765 May 9 (Thursday).  Mr. Zebulun Rice has kept my Cattle in his Work till his Hay is done; having denyed Mr. Nurse the Use of them though he had exerted himself So much for me and now resigns them when they go to Grass: But I must hear his Reasons, admit what is ingenuous and over look what is otherwise.

1765 May 10 (Friday).  Mrs. Maynard p.m.  John Forbes here — requests me to draw up a Suitable Confession.  I did for his Wife; which he carrys home to her.

1765 May 11 (Saturday).  P.M. John Forbes here again about his and his Wife’s Confession.  I draw one which he signed.

1765 May 12 (Sunday).  Read Eccl. 12.  Preached on Mat. 18.8.9.  I asked Mr. Zerubl Snow of Woburn (Brother of our Ensign Snow) who came, and dined with me.  P.M. read Mark 12.  Preached on Luk. 17.32.  May we have the Grace to take the Solemn Warnings of the divine Word!

1765 May 13 (Monday).  Thomas Arnold came again.  He plows with my Oxen in the Cook Field.  P.M. Mr. Michael Martyn here.  Lt. Baker my Mare to Cambridge.

1765 May 14 (Tuesday).  Thomas and John plowing again.  I walk to Mr. Kendals.  Dine at Mr. Jonah Warrins.  My Wife to Capt. Maynards.  Lt. Baker returned.

1765 May 15 (Wednesday).  Jacob Rice of College, here.  He rides with me to Southborough.  I had Mr. Wheelocks costly Horse.  We dined at Mr. Stones.  I preached The Lecture from Mat. 26.48.  Returned at Eve.  N.B. Rev. Mr. William Goodard from Westmoreland, accompanyed.  At Eve Capt. Maynard here and pays Me only £13.6.8 Lawful Money.  Says much of Disappointment.  Thomas and John plow.