Category: Diary

October 10, 1768

1768 October 10 (Monday).  Took Mr. Forbes’ Mare and a Chaise which he provided, leaving my Mare for him — and his Wife rode with me to Westborough.  Called at Mr. Eaton’s.  Dined at Mr. Sergeants (Gratis) — at Mr. Maccartys — he perswades me to call and see the poor Condemned Criminal, Arthur, of but 18 years.  Conversed and prayed with him.  Stopped and refreshed at Mr. Sumners — who tells me that Mr. Whitney preached for me yesterday.  Arrived here before Dark in safety.  D.G.

October 13, 1768

1768 October 13 (Thursday).  Mr. Moore came a.m., informs of the Death of Mr. Ward at College: newly chose Librarian in his stead.  Called at Mr. Sherman Bellows to see his Wife.  I rode down to Mr. Chamberlins, and marryed David Brigham to his Daughter Martha; but did not stay to dine, for I had promised to return home to my own Company which by this Time were come.  My Sons William and Breck, with Williams Wife came last night.  Mr. Forbes, Mr. Cushing this morning.  Mr. Collins Moore, Messrs. Ballard and Barton and their Wives, Miss Sarah Moore, my son Alexander, came, a.m.  I dined with them though late — nigh 3 o’Clock.  Capt. Maynard and his Wife came.  Mr. Whitney and his Wife, and Sister Martyn likewise.  Towards Eve My Daughter Susanna was marryed to Mr. Moore.  Mr. Whitney prayed first — I delivered the Covenant.  This done, Mr. Forbes prayed.  [Then?] we Sang Dr. Watts’s Imitation of Ps. 45.  After which was a Repast of Cake, Wine etc. but Mr. Whitney, his Wife, and Mrs. Martyn hastened away that they might not be in the night — and Capt. Maynard etc. took 7 of my Company with them to lodge and keep their Horses.  Alexander also went with them and lodged there.  May God accept us in Jesus Christ!  May the New Marryed be Espoused to Him!  And be made rich and lasting Blessings!

October 14, 1768

1768 October 14 (Friday).  Mr. Forbes and his Wife, Billy, his Wife, and Breck, left us a.m.  The Oxford Company returned from Capt. Maynards and dined here; as did Mr. Cushing and his Sister.  But p.m. they all left us.  N.B. Miss Bridget has been with us for some Time.  But now (after Tea) returns home with her Brother.  N.B. Breck has made a Garden Gate and hung it with Hinges which Mr. Nurse has brought me gratis.

October 16, 1768

1768 October 16 (Sunday).  Read Jer. 37.  Preached on 1 Tim. 3.16, “believed on in the world.”  P.M. read Rom. 10.  Mr. Moore preached on Rev. 5.12.  Read to the Church a Letter from the Church of Ashburnham, which is complyed with, and Squire Whipple and Mr. Tainter were Delegates.  I gave the Church Some Account of what the Council did at Charlton.  I also mentioned to them the great Slackness of the Brethren of the Church in their watch over those who neglect to bring their Children to Baptism (having especially in my Mind, but I did not express any name, Jonas Bradish) and complained to them of many others who lived in this Neglect — neither did they watch over those who had owned the Covenant and yet did not walk orderly, as I had reason to fear.

October 17, 1768

1768 October 17 (Monday).  Mr. Moore is desirous to go to Oxford and Brookfield, but is not accommodated with an Horse that will go in a Carriage.  P.M. I rode up to Capt. Jonathan Fays and to Mr. Thomas Whitneys about Cyder.  Mr. Cushing who preached yesterday at Marlborough returns this way and lodges here.  Master Jamison sends me 4 Magazines from Mr. Mein.

October 19, 1768

1768 October 19 (Wednesday).  Mr. Moore and Suse having the Doctors Chaise and my Mare, set out p.m. for Oxford.  I rode Mr. Moore’s Horse to visit in the South Part of the Town.  Went to Mr. Whitneys, forwarding Chairs for Suse.  Called at a Number of Houses; but especially (as my chief Design was) at Mr. Joseph Morse’s, and Mr. John Balls.  When I returned, met at the stables Mr. Tainter and his Wife, who had been here.  Fast at Stow, which I could not attend.

October 25, 1768

1768 October 25 (Tuesday).  Attended the funeral of a young Child of Phinehas Gleason.  At Noon, having received Invitation by Dr. Hawes, from the Medical society now a second Time, I rode to Col. Williams’s and dined with them.  Mr. Smith was Sent for and dined with them also.  I returned at Eve.  A Number of Neighbours came in the Afternoon, and cut up the Corn of the West field, and part of the North, and this Evening husked.  There were about 20.  They were chiefly Mr. David Maynard, Zebulun Rice, Edwards Whipple, Tainter, Lieut. Baker, McCullock, Neighbour Newton, Joseph Bond and James Bellows, Isaac Miller etc. etc., but it rained and beat them off, when they had husked about half of what they had gathered.  Mr. Moore and Suse came from Brookfield this Eve.  It rained hard before they arrived.

October 27, 1768

1768 October 27 (Thursday).  The weather so cold and the Corn so wet, John can accomplish but little in the harvesting.  He carrys Apples and Barrell to Mr. Bakers Cyder Mill.  He trys for help in Husking, but no body encourages him.  Mr. Joseph Green junior brings a Message from Mr. Gleason to desire me to Visit his Wife.  I Catechized a. and p.m.  42 Boys and 28 Girls.  After Catechizing Visit Mrs. Gleason and prayed with her.

October 28, 1768

1768 October 28 (Friday).  In many perplexitys about getting in the rest of the Corn — It being too much for John.  A great part of that which was husked lying abroad and a great Body of husks, which had been wet with the storm — several Load yet in the Field — and not easy to get any Hand to help.  Friday with me and can’t go my self — and am to be gone (with leave of Providence) next week — but p.m. Nathan Maynard junior and his Brother Nehemiah came and cut up and carted the Corn from the Field, and about 20 at Evening husked it out, and got in great part of the Husks.

October 31, 1768

1768 October 31 (Monday).  Visit Mrs. Gleason and pray with her.  Dined with the Artillery Company at Dr. Crosbys.  Mr. Sumner dines with one of the Shrewsbury Companys; there being two of them and all three met in a Pasture North of widow Hastings — to exercise.  Neighbour Morse was the chief leader: Ensign Asa Brigham and Mr. John Drury, Captains of the Other.  I returned to visit Mrs. Gleason, who was very bad: and then went up to Mr. Sumners, at his Special Request,  and lodged there

November 2, 1768

1768 November 2 (Wednesday).  All that were sent to for this Ordination came.  There was neither Pastor nor Delegates (I suppose) absent.  I was chose Moderator and prayed at the Opening of the Council.  The Church of Ashburnham were very unanimous and fervent for Mr. Cushing.  One Mr. Foster had a Difficulty with the Church; but he was by no means willing to clogg the Ordination.  He was not a member of that, but of Lunenburg Church, but we put him and the Church into a way of Peace.  Mr. Cushing gave a Confession of his Faith, which was read before the Council and Church; and it was accepted.  In public Mr. Farrar prayed, Mr. Jacob Cushing preached on Gal. 1.11.12.  I gave the Charge, Mr. Asaph Rice prayed after the Charge, and Mr. Morse the Right Hand.  May God accept us, and command His Blessing!  The Evening afforded good Singing, but when it grew late, Some young Men who could be accommodated with lodgings, were too musical and airy, to our Disturbance.  For which

November 3, 1768

1768 November 3 (Thursday).  In the Morning I gave them admonition, which was Strengthened by my Brother Morse: and it had, I hope, some good Effect.  We returned by Westminster, and dined at Mr. Rice’s.  Deacon Wood and Brother Tainter dined at Mr. [blank] Harringtons.  Got to Mr. Morse’s at Evening and were refreshed there.  Called at Lt. Martyns and went in to see his Mother.  Arrived [here?] in safety before it was late.  Thanks to God our gracious Preserver.  Mrs. P________ informs me that Miss Bulah Bent and with her the Widow Ball, has been here to see us, on the 1st instant, as was Mr. Barrett.

November 6, 1768

1768 November 6 (Sunday).  Mr. Sumner to Westborough and returned home at Eve.  He preached a. and p.m. on Luk. 15.15.16.17 and baptized a Child of Mr. Edmund Rice.  I preached at Shrewsbury a. and p.m. on 2 Cor. 4.16, occasioned partly by the late Death of Mr. Abraham Knowlton, a serious, godly man, who was buryed (in Shrewsbury) last Friday.  I returned home at Eve.

November 8, 1768

1768 November 8 (Tuesday).  Mr. Nurse has brought Suses goods, from Watertown and Boston.  Mrs. P________ and I rode to Mr. Williams’s to attend the Marriages of two of his grand-Daughters, Abigail and Ruth, the former to Nathan Kenny, the other to Reuben Pratt.  Sung part of Ps. 45.  They made a decent Entertainment.  May God grant His Blessing!