Category: Diary

1766 February 20 (Thursday).  Mr. Moore and Master John Stone, each provided with a Carriage, carry off Sarah and Suse, to Marlborough to wait on Mr. Bridge and his new Spouse, to Sudbury — and they are like to make an Extr. Time of it.  Capt. Wood and Mr. Tainter here and want me to meet with them and others about fixing a place for a School House in the South Easterly Squadron, as they call it; I being outside man, as they will have it, to the North — and am outside of all the Rest of the Divisions.  But I refuse utterly to meddle with it.  N.B. Mrs. Lucy Sever wife of Mr. Moses Sever here and examined.  Billy returns from Townshend.

1766 February 21 (Friday).  Mr. Moore and Stone, return with the Girls, at Eve, from Sudbury.  Dr. Throop also here from Boston.  They all lodge here.

1766 February 22 (Saturday).  Dr. Throop to Oxford, Master John Stone to Southborough.  Mr. Moore dines.  P.M. he goes to Marlborough to preach for Mr. Smith tomorrow.  Billy yesterday and to Day at work upon his Cart-Wheels at Mr. Warrins.  At Eve brings his Relation.  May God give him a perfect Heart!

1766 February 23 (Sunday).  Read Isa. 11.  Preached on Isa. 10.3.  P.M. read Luk. 12 from v. 31.  Preached on v. 19.20.  My Son William was admitted into the Church.  May God accept of him and enable him to walk accordingly!  N.B. Mrs. Sever brought a Letter from Mr. Barrett, which was a Certificat concerning her; but it was so phrased that I prayed her to let me wave propounding till another Day.  Which she consented to.  Master Cushing and Mr. Isaac Adams’s wife dined here.  I perceive we have a New Pulpit Cusheon.  At Eve read Mr. Bolton on Gen. 6.8.9.

1766 February 24 (Monday).  Read London Magazine for July etc.  Mr. Joseph Green at Evening.

1766 February 25 (Tuesday).  Rode in a snow-storm to Mr. Tainter’s for money for Mr. Green etc.  Read Mr. Bolton on Conjugal Dutys in the abovementioned Treatise; my wife with me to hear it.

1766 February 26 (Wednesday).  P.M. I rode to Mr. Amsden, and found him in a Wasting state.  I conducted my Discourse with as much plainness, faithfulness and pungency as I could.  May the divine Blessing attend it!  Proceeded to Marlborough and in my Way visited old Coll. Ward who is Superannuated to a very great Degree.  May the Lord look upon him in inf. Goodness!  May I learn Instruction!  Found Mr. Moore at Mr. Smiths, in his Return from Boston.  He Stood forward to my House; I lodged at Mr. Smiths.

1766 February 27 (Thursday).  Having Spent the last Evening and this Morning with much amicableness with Mr. Smith, I left him to return Home; but when I had left Cousen Larkin Williams I was Sadly led out of the Way by a great Road made this Winter Time by a Number of Teams that have been into the Swamps and Meadows — but at length was directed right and arrived late.  D. Grates Per plurimas.  Mr. Moore was gone for Oxford.  In the Evening Thomas Arnold brings John Foster to me for my Approbation of his Joining with the Young Mens Society: which I (having cautioned and charged him etc.) gave.  Mr. Seth Morse’s wife here to reckon; and I gave her a Note for all I owed to her and her Husband to this Day.

1766 February 28 (Friday).  Monsieur LeBlanc Came up the Day before yesterday for his money — but not Succeeding, he returns to Salem.  I wrote to Mr. Barrett about Mrs. Sever, and Sent by Thomas Arnold.  I went also to Capt. Wood to talk with him about her — to know whether there was any danger of Objection if I Should propound her.  He answered that he did not know what there might be, but he believed there would be none.  Ensign Benjamin Willard here and dines.  Pay him all.  Letter from Brother Samuel Parkman earnest for me to go to Boston — but I dont know for what.

1766 March 1 (Saturday).  Second Letter from Mr. Barrett concerning Mrs. Sever in which he approves etc.

1766 March 2 (Sunday).  Read Isa. XII and preached on v. 1.  Messrs. Fessenden and Cushing dine here.  P.M. Read Luk. XIII.  On Consideration of the March Meeting tomorrow, I repeated sermon on Ps. 77 ult. accommodating it (by the Introduction and divers Passages in several parts of the Discourse) to the present occasion and Circumstances.  I also delivered the whole at once.  May God give His Blessing!  I propounded Mrs. Sever.  N.B. Mr. [blank] Haskill from Newbury comes in after Meeting.  He gives high Character of Mr. Cleaveland.

1766 March 3 (Monday).  Town Meeting.  The first Since the Act of Court which erected the District which is called Northborough.  Mr. B. Tainter and Jonathan Grout came with the Towns Request to me to pray with — which I did, and they are in great Peace.  D.G.  I gave Notes to Sundry Persons — as to Mr. Beeton — to Messrs. Joseph and Jonathan Grout.  At Evening Messrs. Cushing and Hemingway here and sing.  I invite them to come a few Tuesday Evenings to Sing here at my House — which they consent to.  Billy fetches my Oxen from Mr. Grouts.

1766 March 4 (Tuesday).  My Wife and I go to the private Meeting at Mr. Daniel Forbes’s.  I preached on Rom. 13.13.  At Mr. Forbes’s Request I carryed Tate and Brady’s Version of the Psalms, and he handed it to me in the presence of the people, desiring we might sing that Meeter.  Which therefore I mentioned — and I asked Master Cushing to Set the Tune.  He sat New Colchester and there were many there, to carry the Several Parts.  They also Stayed after the Exercise and Sang.

1766 March 5 (Wednesday).  Billy works from Day to Day, last week and this at Mr. Daniel Warrins, in making a Pair of Cart Wheels, and Breck is here making the Body of the Cart.  The snow storm prevents my going to See Rev. Mr. Morse of Shrewsbury, who we hear is sick of a Fever.

1766 March 6 (Thursday).  The Storm is turned to Rain and Still confines me from Visiting Mr. Morse — but hear he is Somewhat better.  Am Reading Jenks Meditations, Magazines etc.  Billy (or Mr. Warrin) has finished his Cart Wheels.

1766 March 7 (Friday).  Town Meeting by adjournment at Mr. Andrews’s, to consider of the Road to Ensign Snow’s.  A Letter from Brother Samuel gives me Ease about his Importunity.

1766 March 8 (Saturday).  Billy comes home from Mr. Warrins with his Wheels tarred; but he is not Well.

1766 March 9 (Sunday).  Read Isa. 13.  Was unusually long in Exposition.  Preached on Tit. 3.4 and delivered all I had prepared, for I chose to go out with the Application (neither curtailing nor leaving to another Time, lest it would by so doing be far less profitable).  Old Mrs. Dunlop and Cousen Betty Gott dine here.  (Neither Mr. Fessenden nor Master Cushing at meeting.)  Read p.m. Luk. 14 and for Sermon (besides some what of Exposition) delivered [illegible] what I had preached heretofore on Mark 8.34 from p. 37, to 46.  May God grant His efficacious Blessing!  N.B. Mr. Whipple p.m. sat Bangor tune.  N.B. Mr. Biglow delivered me a Packet containing a large Letter and two Pamphlets from Mr. Holbrook.  At Evening read in Mr. Bolton, et supr. from p. 29 to 41.

1766 March 10 (Monday).  Billy having got mine and his own Oxen shod, and loaded his Cart with a great Variety — his Chest — Barrell of Meat — Cyder etc. setts out, and Breck with him, for Townshend.  Mr. Silas Hill has my Mare to go in a Chair to Wrentham.  Dr. Haws and wife go like wise.  The Select men of Westborough and those of the District meet at Capt. Woods to settle Accounts between them.  By Mr. Daniel Forbes’s advice I Sent a paper to them by him, desiring they would settle with me.  Read the Pamphlets that Mr. Holbrook lately sent me, viz. the Necessity of repealing the Stamp Act, printed in London, reprinted Boston.  And the Other, Considerations on the Propriety of imposing Taxes on the British Colonies.

1766 March 11 (Tuesday).  Have been much concerned about Billy, on his Journey by reason of the Lameness of my Oxen, which he has with him; and the Depth of the Snow clogging his Wheels.  Send by Miss Nabby Rice a Pair of shooes for Jeduthan Parkman at Brookfield.  P.M. Mrs. Sever here about her Relation, and signs it.

1766 March 12 (Wednesday).  Mrs. Mary Bradish here and gives me 20/ more, in acknowledgement for my Pains in transcribing for her my sermon on the Death of her Father.  She Says, this, with what She gave before (25/) is to make up a Dollar to me for that service.  I demanded nothing.  I give way, at [sic] let her do as She pleases.  I am disappointed of Mr. Martyns help in my Lecture and therefore am looking over my old Sermons and Expositions for something to preach to Day; but I have sent a Line also to Mr. Sumner, who comes, dines, preaches — on Luk. 22.19.  After Lecture Mr. Cushing, Mrs. Maynard and Cousen Betsy at Tea.  My Wife is but poorly.  Mr. Morse of Shrewsbury has a very sore Finger; and is to Day very bad with it.

1766 March 13 (Thursday).  Send by Mr. Daniel Forbes to my Brother Samuel a Letter, and two pair of Shooes for two of Cousen Olivers Daughters.  The young mens Meeting which should have been this Evening falls through by reason of the storm of Snow.

1766 March 14 (Friday).  A very remarkably tempestuous Time.  May the God of infinite Mercy, pity all who are poor and distressed by sea or Land.  And, all praise and Glory be to His Name for His infinite Goodness to Me and mine, who have, though undeserving, Shelter, Cloths, Food, and Fuel, and many other Comforts of Life.  Might we have Grace rightly to improve them!

1766 March 15 (Saturday).  Squire Caldwell of Rutland District brings me a Letter signed by himself and 12 more entreating a Council.  P.M. Deacon Bond here, and prays that considering the great Difficulty of the travelling, and uncertainty whether Wine will be brought, the Sacrament may not be deferred till another sabbath.  So tedious stirring I am forced to Send for Thomas Arnold from Mrs. Johnsons, to help John in watering the Cattle and getting Wood for Tomorrow.

1766 March 16 (Sunday).  Deacon Tainter and Deacon Bond came and acquaint me with the Expediency, and they think Necessity of deferring the administration of the Lord’s supper until next Lords Day.  Deacon Tainter says Mr. Daniel Forbes came from Boston not till about an hour or two before Day (as he conceived) and left the Wine at his House; but that the Snow was so drifted he could not ride, and therefore could not bring it: neither do they think that many Communicants can come to Meeting.  I read Isa. 14.  Instead of the Sermon I had designed to be before the Sacrament, I preached on Tit. 3.5 which I had designed for p.m. and acquainting the Church that we were not furnished with wine etc. the Communion must be unavoidably deferred till next sabbath, got Mr. Fessenden to preach p.m. which he did on Luk. 16 ult.  N.B. Read p.m. Luk. 15.  Messrs. Fessenden and Cushing and Mrs. Sever dined with us.  After admitting Mrs. Sever into the Church I read the Letter from Rutland-District — but desired they would take it into Consideration against next Lords Day.  At Eve read Mr. Bolton from page 41 to 57.  But may the Lord grant us to take a due notice of His Frown upon us in the Disappointment to Day; and quicken us to labour after better preparation for so holy and Solemn undertaking!

1766 March 17 (Monday).  Though it is very Stormy abroad, the Confinement within promotes Studying.  Might it be profitable to the Souls Interests!

1766 March 18 (Tuesday).  Visit at Capt. Fay’s (now for the first Time) and dined there.  P.M. at Mr. Green’s in order to buy a Cow of him.  At Eve Master Cushing, Hemingway, Thayer, and [F?] Arnold here to Sing.  Capt. Fay, John Maynard and Solomon Maynard here likewise.

1766 March 19 (Wednesday).  Mr. Fessenden.  N.B. His Hypothesis of Souls pre-existent to the Mosaic Creation.

1766 March 20 (Thursday).  My Mare being still at Medway, I borrowed Dr. Hawes’s and rode to Mr. Jonas Bradish to talk with him, and do so.  At Eve received two volumes of Select sermons, viz. Vol. 3 and 4 from Mr. Condy for Mr. Moore.

1766 March 21 (Friday).  One Brother of the Church after another has been hereto talk about the Rutland District Letter.  Brother Whitney to Day, Shews his Opposition.  One Sarah Scot Rowliss, a stranger, comes in; is Sick here.  Says She was born in Cheapside, London.  Lodges.  Mr. Benjamin Tainter pays me 17£ Cash — this with Sundry parcells of money paid and laid out for me amounting to 16£ 3/9 and Notes 71£ 16/4 — in all this Evening £105.  N.B. Mr. Silas Hill brings home my Mare.

1766 March 22 (Saturday).  Mrs. Rowliss is so well as to leave us.

1766 March 23 (Sunday).  Read Isa. 15.  Preached on Gal. 6.4.  Administered the Lords supper.  Master Cushing and Mrs. Maynard dined here.  P.M. Read Luk. 16 and Preached on Tit. 3.5.  Baptized Mr. Samuel Forb.’s Child Sarah.  Read to the Church (by Request) a second Time, the Letter from Rutland-District.  No one lifted up an Hand, except Capt. Jonas Brigham.  Read at Eve another Portion of Mr. Bolton.  When I was come up to go to Bed, Mr. Thomas Frost came hastily and requests me to go and see Ruth Bellows (of about 15 years) of Southborough, who lies Sick at Mr. Hannaniah Parkers.  I went — found her incapable of Conversing.  Prayed by her — returned before Midnight.

1766 March 24 (Monday).  Jonas and John cart Gravel from the Back of the House to the Hollow in the Way of the Barn.  Mr. Batheric here — took him alone and talked with him about his holding down his Head at singing Triple time Tunes.  Miss Huldah and Miss Mary Stone came, and dined with us.  They went and Sarah with them p.m. to Deacon Tainters.  Lt. Josh. Locks Wife here.

1766 March 25 (Tuesday).  Visit Ruth Bellows and pray with her.  Went to Capt. Maynards, but he was gone to Salem and Mr. Fessenden to Cambridge — told Mrs. Maynard that I was willing to take 50£ old Tenor upon me, which my son Ebenezer owes Mr. Fessenden, and Mr. Fessenden owes Capt. Maynard.  N.B. I bought an extraordinary Quarter of Veal of Deacon Batchellor — weighted 25 1/2 lb. @ 20d per pound.  The young Ladys (the Stones) are here, dine, and tarry over night.  I went p.m. to Mr. Joseph Greens and bought a Cow of him — 6 years old for 27£ if I take her away now — 28 if he keeps her till She Calves and if She does well.  I take him at this last, and he is to hazzard her, and help drive her and the Calf home to me.  At Eve came the Singers, viz. Master Cushing, Hemingway, Thayer, Wheelock, Seth Morse, Benjamin Fay, Foster.  Master Supps and lodges here.

1766 March 26 (Wednesday).  Miss Huldah Stone having made a Gown for Sarah, She and her Sister Mary return home.  I was with them to take Care of them and assist them, the Banks of Snow being in some places very difficulty passed.  Dined at Mr. Stones; as did Mr. Mat. Bridge and Maj. Farrar.  I preached the Lecture there on Gen. 3.15.  After Lecture Mr. Chamberlin accompanys me in a visit to old Mrs. Parmentor.  I prayed there.  In returning home, Called at Mr. Thomas Temples it being stormy.