Category: Diary

1765 December 12 (Thursday).  N.B. I delivered the Stamp Act to Mr. Nathan Maynard, for Squire [Whipple?].

1765 December 13 (Friday).  John returned from Townshend.  He came away yesterday; and lodged last Night at Mr. Jotham Maynards.  I am grievously exercised with Pain in my left Hip.

1765 December 14 (Saturday).  My Pain continuing was obliged to Send to Mr. Fessenden to preach for me tomorrow.  P.M. Mr. Fessenden, Mrs. Maynard and two Martyns, Michael and Richard, here and drink Tea with us.  Mr. Fessenden tarrys and lodges.

1765 December 15 (Sunday).  Mr. F. preached for me on Act. 24.16.  May the Lord teach us to profit.  I omitted Reading but went to Meeting.

1765 December 16 (Monday).  Mr. F. returned.  I visited old Mr. Grout, who is sick.  Dined there.  Visit at Ensign Jeduthun Fays — because of the Indisposition of his Daughter Sarah.

1765 December 17 (Tuesday).  Am taken up a great deal with famous Mr. Rutherfords Letters.  Mr. Kendal here.  I agree with him for a side of Pork.

1765 December 18 (Wednesday).  Mr. Kendal brings 122 lbs. of Pork.  It is to be 2/ per lb. unless it is less at Boston — for I offer him market Price at Boston, deducting 2d per lb. for Transport.  Mr. Nurse makes a little Door for me at the Barn, out of the Barnside into the Hovell.  He and Mr. Kendal dine here.  The storm is so vehement at Night I can’t but Pity poor exposed Creatures, especially Sailors; as Nine and a Boy perished in the late Storm on the 3d and 4th.

1765 December 19 (Thursday).  Am exercised Still with Pain in my left Hip.  At Eve the young men after their Exercises at their Meeting, come to me and request I would preach to them.

1765 December 20 (Friday).  Mrs. Harrington and her son Josephs Wife made us a visit, with a Cheese, each of them.  Suse returned from Mr. Morse’s.

1765 December 21 (Saturday).  It being a very fine Day I rode up to Mr. Wheelocks to enure my Self to the Air — that I may be fit to go out tomorrow, my preparations being already done and my mind much at rest.

1765 December 22 (Sunday).  I went to meeting: through divine Favour was able to Stand the Exercises but omitted the Readings, especially as the latter Discourse obliged me to read so great a part of the Chapter.  Preached a. and p.m. on Isa. V, viz. a.m. on v. 21, p.m. on v. 22 to the End.  Mr. Cushing dined here.

1765 December 23 (Monday).  Mr. Ephraim Richardson of Lancaster here — and dined.  Mr. Cushing at Eve as usual to instruct Sarah in singing.  I am reading Swifts Examiner and Mr. N. Byfields Treatise against the Fear of Death.  Consult also various Expositions on Isa. VI.

1765 December 24 (Tuesday).  Mr. Stone here and dines with us.  Mr. Joseph Grout comes with a Quarter of Beef for me.  Weight 132.  Another for Billy.  Weight 140.  At 16d old Tenor.

1765 December 25 (Wednesday).  I preached a Lecture to Young Men from 1 King 13.12, latter part.  N.B. It was from p. 14 of the sermon on that Text, to the End, though with many omissions, because of the Pain with which I was exercised in time of delivering.  N.B. The Young Man that Sat the Tune sat New Colchester.  At Eve Master Cushing goes to Capt. Maynards to attend upon another Singing School there, besides what he has on Monday Evening at Mrs. Johnsons.  Dr. Throop came here — lodges with us.

1765 December 26 (Thursday).  This Day is appointed for the Marriage of Rev. Mr. Asaph Rice, to Miss Polly Morse.  I am invited and my wife also (as well as my Daughters) but I dare not venture, under so much indisposition and Pain.  Dr. Throop and Master Cushing wait on Sarah and Suse in a Sleigh, to Mr. Morse’s.  May God grant the Bridegroom and Bride to be espoused to Jesus Christ!  And the whole Company to have true, and increasing Joy!

1765 December 27 (Friday).  At Eve my Daughters are brought home.  Dr. Throop and Master Cushing dine here.

1765 December 28 (Saturday).  Those young Gentlemen leave us.

1765 December 29 (Sunday).  I read Isa. 6 and preached on the first 5 v.  P.M. preached on the rest of the Chapter.  Was not much Obstructed by Pain.  Thanks to God for His Goodness!  May a Blessing attend my poor Essays!

1765 December 30 (Monday).  Visit old Mrs. Grout.  Dine there.  Visit Widow Persis Warrin.  Was at Mr. Elijah Rice’s.  Twitchels.  Elijah Hardys and McCollisters who is come to live there.  Drank Tea among them.  Visit old Ensign Miller and the rest of his House.  When I returned found Deacon Tainter here, who with Lt. Baker, has killed the Cow which Lieutenant has had in keeping till now.  Deacon rode my Horse home.  Am much beholden to him for so much Goodness as well as to Lt. Baker who has pastured and fatted the Cow and charges me only two Dollars.

1765 December 31 (Tuesday).  Deacon came and cut out and salted my Beef — that is 3 Quarters.  He carrys home one Quarter which I borrowed, through his Instigation, of his son.  She weighed 20 score and 13 lb.  Deacon dined here — then carryed the skin (which weighed 58 lbs.) to Silas Hill to be tanned.  Tallow but 33 lb.  The Lord reward these generous Men!  Prayed with Mr. Fessenden and Miss Bridget Cushing.  Send for Master Cushing.  He came.  They all Sup, and lodge here.  Mr. Zech. Hick and his Brother Samuel here.  They carry to market for my son John six Fowls.  N.B. Mr. Jonathan Grout came with Thomas Arnold to reckon and settle.   Thus Ends the Year.  Our Days are as a Shadow.  We Spend our Years as a Tale that is told.

 

“So teach us, Lord, th’uncertain sum

Of our short Days to mind,

That to true Wisdom all our Hearts

May ever be inclined!

1766 January 1 (Wednesday).  Verily I may say God is kind and gracious to me!  I would give Praise and Glory to His Name, for His most unmerited Goodness and Favour to me, a most unworthy Creature.  O how His Patience and Long suffering are extended to Me, though so unprofitable and Provoking to Him!  Our Company (See the Close of the last Year) left us after Breakfast; and my Daughters, Sarah and Suse, went in the Sleigh with them.  But I relucted, because it began to Snow and I feared the storm that would ensue.  They proposed indeed to go no farther than Capt. Maynards where they were all to dine.  P.M. I had good Opportunity for Reflections etc. etc. etc.  At about 3 o’Clock came Breck through the Storm from Townshend, having Sat out at about 3 in the Morning.  But the Journey was almost too hard for him, the storm having increased and the Cold very Sharp; on Foot and with a Pack.  At Eve came Billy also: but much worried also.  God be praised who Sustained them!  The storm grows very Severe.  The Girls tarry at Capt. Maynards till better Weather.  May God pity all that are exposed!

1766 January 2 (Thursday).  The Lord’s name be praised who protects and has Supplyed us!  For the storm lasts and is very tedious.  It continues through the Day.  We have both Billy and Breck to help John, both as to the Creatures and Wood; which we have enough of at the Door.  At Eve it clears, but the wind is sharp.  At my preparations.  Mr. John Forbes from Brookfield brings a Letter from my Son Forbes, about Kendal Land upon our plain etc. and delivers me his Burnetts Theory of the Earth.

1766 January 3 (Friday).  Billy and Breck with us.  Except that Billy went to Capt. Maynards to assist his Sisters in returning home.  Deacon Tainter going to Boston, dines with us.  Am closely engaged in preparations.

1766 January 4 (Saturday).  [No entry.]

1766 January 5  (Sunday).  Exceeding Cold.  Omitted public Reading by reason of the extremity of the Weather.  Preached a. and p.m. on that Solemn subject contained in Isa. 6.9.10, which may God be pleased to bless to me and all that heard!  Messrs. Fessenden and Cushing and Mrs. Maynard dined here.  Old Ensign Miller dyed this Morning.  At Eve my Wife reading in Mr. Webb on the 4 last Things, particularly [punishments?] in Hell.  It was very affecting and I added a warm Exhortation to divers of my Children who were by.  O that God would please to impress us [deeply?] and effectually!

1766 January 6 (Monday).  Rev. Mr. Pain of Sturbridge came from Sutton this extreme Cold Morning, and was at Breakfast with us.  Wrote by Mr. John Forbes to his Uncle Eli.  Sent by him Brightlands Grammar to John Potter: And an Ax to Mr. Wymans to be new laid, again.

1766 January 7 (Tuesday).  My wife and I attended the Funeral of Ensign Miller so far as to go to the House and pray there, and then returned to Mr. Tainters (who waited on us there with his sleigh) where we dined.  Then Mr. Tainter transported us in like manner to old Mrs. Grouts where I preached on Rom. 13.11, which may God graciously Succeed!  Then we visited at Mr. Whitneys.  And Mr. Tainter was So good after all, as (he and his Wife) to conduct us home.

1766 January 8 (Wednesday).  Mr. Tainter, with his Father and his wife, came with their Sleigh again; and waited on us to the Funeral of Mr. Seth Rice junior his Wife, who dyed in Childbed.  Mr. Martyn prayed.  At Eve came Master John Morse and brought with him Dr. Thomas Stearns of Worcester and they lodged here.

1766 January 9 (Thursday).  Billy and Breck make an Ox sled.  P.M. Mr. Fessenden.

1766 January 10 (Friday).  Cousin Trask of Sutton, and others with him, here.  Breck laying that part of the Garrett Floor which is behind the Chimney.  In the Evenings he trims out a great Number of Ax Halves.  Finish the Reading Mr. Pool’s Annotations Vol. l.

1766 January 11 (Saturday).  Mr. Roger Bruce of Brookfield here — dines — opens to me Spiritual Troubles which he labours under.  Breck on Garrett Floor.

1766 January 12 (Sunday).  Very rugged Cold Day.  Omit publick Reading.  Preached a.m. on Isa. 6.9.10.  P.M. Repeated with Additions and New Application sermon on Jer. 13.23.  Messrs. Fessenden and Cushing dined here.

1766 January 13 (Monday).  Mr. Abraham Beemans youngest Child being very bad, I visited there: and prayed with them.  Visit also widow Judith Bellows; Kezia Snow; also prayed there.  At Mr. Joseph Gambells.  Ezra Baker being ill and in great pain, visit and pray with him.

1766 January 14 (Tuesday).  In Billys sleigh and one of Mr. Nurse’s Horses with my Mare, my Wife, Billy, and I rode over to Mr. Martyns — dine — return.  May God prosper Such Visits: and pardon our Defects!

1766 January 15 (Wednesday).  Billy and Master Cushing wait on Sarah and Suse to Marlborough.  Memorandum.  I Sent Dr. Swifts Vol. 1 and 2 to Mr. Henry Barns, of whom I had borrowed them.  Visited Mr. Ezra Baker who grows very ill.  Prayed with him.  N.B. Talk with Messrs. Warrins at Mr. Timothy’s chiefly concerning joining with the Church and attending the Communion.  My Children return at Eve in the Rain.  Deacon Tainter here.  Master Cushing lodges here.