Category: Diary

1768 November 13 (Sunday).  Read Jer. 40.  Preached on 1 Tim. 3.16.  P.M. read Rom. 13 and delivered the rest of the Discourse on Prov. 18.10 for my preparing the forenoon sermon had taken up so much of my Time that I could not get any Thing Special for the Day ready; this being the first Lords Day of the New Year with me and this Church.  I edeavoured to take due Notice of it in the first Prayer; and the Sermon was Suited to the sorrowfull Times in this Province, and at Boston in peculiar.  N.B. Richard Temple having worked here 3 Days, tarrys over sabbath.  At Eve read in Mr. Hemingway on Joh. 6.27.

1768 November 14 (Monday).  Mr. Batherick informs me between one and two o’Clock of a Town Meeting to Day, partly on Account of my support.  I was sorry I had no warning, Since [I am so unprepared?].  P.M. Squire Barnard and Mr. [Marsh?] of Sutton here and acquaint me with what Mr. Chaplains Church have done relating to Church Government and what a late Council have advised the agrieved to do.  Lt. Baker informs that this Town have done no otherwise than last Year, viz. have granted 500£ old Tenor, and nother [sic] further for Wood.  I hereupon sent in a Line to Shew that I could not discharge my Ministerial Duty without they also provide my Wood.  But I understand it was without avail.  At Eve came my son Ebenezer and his Daughter Elizabeth.  Also at Night came Alexander from Framingham.

1768 November 15 (Tuesday).  P.M. Mr. Sears came with a Team from Rochester, and dined here.  Afterwards Mr. Moore, accompanyed with Deacon Foster, Capt. White, Mr. Zeph. Bri[ges?] and Lt. Winslow from Rochester dined here — And at Eve, Mr. Collins Moore from Oxford.  No Success to even our best Endeavours to get an Horse for my Daughter Sarah.  John also would fain go with his sister, but in [Vain?].  Neighbours keep aloof from us (except Mrs. Maynard who came here Yesterday).  Send six Horses to so many Neighbours.

1768 November 16 (Wednesday).  The Company leave us.  The Team with Goods — Mr. Moore in a Chaise with span of Horses.  My Suse leaves me!  May God go with her!  Sarah also, upon my Mare: and I have obtained Dr. Hawes’ Horse for John who joins them.  Temple (who thrashes) takes Care of the Creatures.  P.M. Ruth Bellows, who has lived with us Some time, now goes away also.

1768 November 17 (Thursday).  Mr. Stone came and dined here.  He preached my Lecture on Ps. 25.10.  A useful Savoury Sermon.  The Lord Succeed it to us all!

1768 November 18 (Friday).  Mr. Morse came to offer me Beef — I buy a Quarter @ 1/3.  Mr. Phinehas Maynard came upon the Same Errand: but am supplyed.

1768 November 19 (Saturday).  Mr. Morse brings home the Beef — weighs 108 lbs.  He brings 1/2 bushel of Salt (which is 14/) and he cutts out the Meat.  Temple, by means of the Storm, can’t winnow the Rye.  He gets John Rogers, from Arnolds, to help him Pitch up the Straw etc.

1768 November 20 (Sunday).  It being a Severe storm Deacon Wood came before Meeting to know my Mind about putting by the Sacrament, but when we went to Meeting there came so many that I thought it Duty to proceed.  Omitted Reading.  Preached on Mark 14.14.15 and was brief in the Administration.  Mr. Jameson dined here, as did Mrs. Bowker from Simsbury, accompanyed by her sisters Warrin and Kendall.  P.M. Omitted Reading — few were present.  Repeated on Isa. 55.6 to the End of page 6.  At Eve Mrs. P________ gave me a Letter from Alexander which he wrote in the House, before he left us last Wednesday, of his Case at Framingham.

1768 November 21 (Monday).  Went up to Lt. Bakers and agree with him to get my Wood again, the ensuing Year.  Temple goes to work otherwhere.  P.M. I walked out to Mr. Pratts, Maynards and Beetons to get an Horse to go to Framingham.  Obtain Mr. Beetons — but it rained and Snowed So that I could not go to Day.  Yet my Heart is full.  The Lord look upon our Distresses, and forgive our Offences!

1768 November 22 (Tuesday).  I rose early — and though it snowed I delayed not.  Rode to Framingham.  Went to Mr. Browns; just Saw Kezia and She retired, so that I saw her no more.  Dined there.  Mixed our mournings.  He agrees to go this Afternoon to the Town Clerk, Mr. Lawson Buckminster and I wrote to him my Sons Desire to be published.  In returning home called at Mr. Bridge’s, at Capt. Wards, and Mr. Stones.

1768 November 23 (Wednesday).  Am now concerned to get a Letter to Alexander to inform him of what I had done, and what was expected from him.  Wrote but know no way to Send.  O that God would Support and direct us!  Mr. Joseph Willard from Mendon here, having received a Call from the people there.  He goes over to Northborough.  The select Men having a Meeting at the Meeting House Capt. Jonas Brigham came in, Smoked and was sociable, and invited us to his House, as if nothing had been amiss.

1768 November 24 (Thursday).  Though it was a foul Day, Mr. Smith kindly visited and dined here.  At Eve came Ebenezer, John and Sarah, having Sat out from Rochester yesterday, and lodged at Wrentham last night; they broke fast at Mr. Bucknams, and dined at Mr. Barretts.  Thomas Arnold was married to Margaret Pratt.

1768 November 25 (Friday).  Ebenezer tarrys with us.  Richard Temple, who lodged here, takes Charge of a Letter to Alexander to leave it, at Dr. Bartons at Oxford, in his way to Killingley.  Ebenezer has made and now hangs and fitts a stable Door, for my new Stable.  John goes with the Team to Lt. Bakers for 4 Sleepers for Stable Floor — brings but three, and those but small ones.

1768 November 26 (Saturday).  Ebenezer though it is foul Weather, Setts out for Brookfield.  N.B. I gave him two Dollars for what he had expended for his sister Sarah etc., in the Journey to and from Rochester.  John went to Mr. Tainters with the Team and brought a Barrell of Cyder, and apples for Apple-sauce.

1768 November 27 (Sunday).  A Snow storm.  Omitt Reading a. and p.m.  Preached this once more on 1 Tim. 3.16.  Mr. Jamison, Mr. Tainter (Simon) and Mr. George Smith, dined here.  P.M. went on with Sermon on Isa. 55.6.  O that God would give success, to our Eternal Benefit!  I could not but be fervent but am afraid of being over Earnest, lest I fall into Some Indecencys.  The Lord forgive what was amiss!

1768 November 28 (Monday).  Gave my Self to my Preparations for Thanksgiving.

1768 November 29 (Tuesday).  Closely engaged.  Mrs. P________ undergoes the Labour of preparing her Years Apple-sauce.  Apples and Cyder she has of Mr. Tainter.  Master Jamison makes me a Visit and invites me to his Fast tomorrow, it being St. Andrews Day: but I must be quite otherwise employ’d.  He speaks to me also about joining to our Church that he may partake of the Sacrament.  At Eve Mr. Daniel Hardy here: desires me to preach at his House next Tuesday.

1768 November 30 (Wednesday).  Mr. Zebulun Rice here, at my request, to view some Plank, which I have from Jonathan Forbes for a stable Floor; but which he thinks will not answer my End, and therefore I send them back to the saw-Mill by Jonas Kenny.  Richard Temple comes in the Night from Connecticut and lodges here.

1768 December 1 (Thursday).  Thanksgiving.  I preached on Rev. 19.6.7.  Many Strangers, I understand, were at Meeting.  May it please God to accept our Sacrifices!  Master Jamison dines with us.  At Eve I married Thomas Hale junior of Brookfield and Ruth Hardy, Daughter of Mr. Phinehas Hardy.

1768 December 2 (Friday).  Read chiefly in Vol. 1 of Admirable and memorable Historys of our Times (but writ above an hundred years since).  Was at Mr. Nurse’s and Settle Accounts with him: and paid all as we supposed.

1768 December 3 (Saturday).  Rode to Southborough.  Bought 1 3/4 Broadcloth of Capt. Ward, who gave in 1/2 Quarter of Cloth besides (it being a Remnant) and 1/4 of Tea.  Mr. Stone to Westborough.  I lodged there.

1768 December 4 (Sunday).  I preached at Southborough on Phil. 1.21 a. and p.m.  Returned home at Evening.  Mr. Stone preached here on Ezra 9.8, his late Thanksgiving Sermon.  P.M. he preached on 1 Chron. 17.13.  I met him in the Rain going home.  Mrs. P________ was gone over to Capt. Maynards, their young Child being extreme bad.

1768 December 5 (Monday).  Before sunrise Solomon Maynard came for me to go to Capt. Maynards.  I went presently — but the Child expired just before I got there.  I prayed with them.  Captain had met with a bad Fall and hurt him much especially in his Back.  My Wife had been up with them in their Distresses almost all night.  I now brought her home.  Temple (who worked for me last Saturday in building me an Hovel at the East End of the Barn and had lodged here till this morning) goes to work at Lt. Bakers.  P.M. Dr. Hawes and his wife make us a Visit.

1768 December 6 (Tuesday).  Preached at Mr. Daniel Hardys on Joh. 13.17 to p. 6.  May God add His Blessing!  N.B. Mr. Jonah Warrin and Mr. Hardy accost me about the 99 just persons in Mat. 18.12, which they say I preached upon some years ago; and gave a sense they did not like, whereas I gave them the Sense of learned Expositors upon it.  Sarah to Capt. Maynards.

1768 December 7 (Wednesday).  Mrs. P________ and I ride to Capt. Maynards at their Request by Sarah, to dine there.  P.M. attend the Burying of their Child, Elizabeth.

1768 December 8 (Thursday).  Full of Concern that Alexander does not come from Sturbridge in order to his going to Framingham.  Persis Newton here to work.  She is making a Coat for Elias, of Cloth I have bought at Capt. Wards of Southborough.  Mr. Batheric at Eve.

1768 December 9 (Friday).  The Twins, Joseph and Benjamin Rice, lately come from Annapolis, came to See me.  N.B. Persis had finished Elias’s Coat before noon, and went home, though she began it but little before noon yesterday.

1768 December 10 (Saturday).  Wrote again to Alexander and Send it to Deacon Wood for Conveyance.  Mr. John Mead here, and wish earnestly I could make any good Impression upon him.  May God pity him!  We are much grieved on the Account of Alexander.

1768 December 11 (Sunday).  Omitt Reading still it being Stormy.  Preached on 2 Cor. 5.5.  The former part of the v. a.m., the latter p.m., but therefrom carryed on the Discourse begun from Heb. 2.15, which a Variety of Providences had caused me to discontinue.  Was my self so affected therewith that I can’t but wish that others also might be so.  Mrs. Maynard dined with us.  At Night I gave solemn Warning to my Children etc.

1768 December 12 (Monday).  Am exceeding uneasy at Alexanders Delay.  Deacon Wood and Mr. Tainter killed a Cow for me — weighed, the Quarters 332.  And an Hog.  Miss Pamela Mellen came, and lodges here.  Mr. Gleason new setts and corks my mares Shooes: for I know not what is before me.  Desire to committ all my Case to God!

1768 December 13 (Tuesday).  Ride over to Capt. Maynard as the Principal Friend I can trust with my distressing Trouble.  He can’t go to Day, would go tomorrow early; but will Send his son John forthwith, and he goes accordingly to Sturbridge to see why my son does not come down.  I rode to Mr. Whitney’s at Northborough to see his Wife, who was delivered of a Child last Saturday Evening.  They having called him Thomas Lambert.  I dined there (having called to see Mrs. Martyn).  Returned at Evening.  Found my son Alexander here.  He tells me he went to Framingham last Saturday Night — was marryed last Evening to Mr. Browns Daughter Kezia.  Deacon Wood, Mr. Tainter and Mr. Zebulun Rice here to cutt out and salt up my Beef and Pork, which was killed yesterday.  The Cow’s Quarters weighed [blank].  The Hog weighed 253.

1768 December 14 (Wednesday).  Alexander setts out early for Sturbridge.  Hear the sorrowfull News of the Death of Mr. John Curtis (son of Capt. Curtis) of Worcester by a Cart, on Waltham plain last might.  Mr. John Wood comes at Eve and confirms it, having come from thence and seen the Corps.  O what a Warning to be always ready!  The Lord grant me His Grace!

1768 December 15 (Thursday).  Ruth Bellows comes again to spin here.  N.B. Mr. [blank] Child here last Evening to desire me to preach at their House: as Mr. Jonah Warrin had been here to request me to Preach at his when the next private Meeting shall return.

1768 December 16 (Friday).  Mr. Elisha Corben of Dudley, here, to desire me to go to a Council which he is calling, assisted by thirteen others of the Church being under Grievance by Some late transactions of the Church there but I utterly refuse to go: direct him to Mr. Maccarty.

1768 December 17 (Saturday).  Very Short of Wood.  The Door wholly empty.  The Baker Team brings Some at Eve: but I don’t love to be thus reduced.