Category: Diary

1769 January 22 (Sunday).  Preached a. and p.m. on Eph. 4.30, latter part.  Mr. Jameson and Mrs. Ruhamah Pratt dined here.  O that God would please to own and bless my poor labours that I may savingly benefit my own soul and them that hear me!

1769 January 23 (Monday).  [No entry.]

1769 January 24 (Tuesday).  Mr. Ballard of Oxford here on his Journey to Boston.

1769 January 25 (Wednesday).  Am reading Several Authors on Assurance or the Sealing of the Spirit.

1769 January 26 (Thursday).  Went to Visit Lt. Bruce, who has lately lost his Brother Elisha, but he was not at home.  Visit Stockwell, Samuel Hardys and Garfields Familys.  N.B. When I began some serious Discourse with Garfield, he answered me with Baseness.  Visit Lt. Forbush again.  Call at Dr. Haws’s.  She is poorly and on the bed.  At Eve my son William returned from Rochester, with Letters etc.  He came by the way of Roxbury.  He brings me from Mr. West of Dartmouth, Sale’s 2d Volume of the Koran, and from Mr. Thomas Adams of Medfield, Kennicotts two Dissertations, viz. on the Tree of Life; and on the Offerings of Cain and Abel.

1769 January 27 (Friday).  Billy with us.  A young man from Hopkinton, one Joseph Gay, bears a Message to me from Mr. Barrett, that there has occurred among them a sorrowful Burning last Tuesday Night when the House of Mr. James Mellen was Consumed, but the Letter is lost.  He is going also to Chauxit, with the like.  P.M. Miss Elizabeth Arnold Visits here.

1769 January 28 (Saturday).  Billy (having left with me a Pair of Silver rim’d Buckles, at 6£ old Tenor, as part of what I have lent him) goes upon his Journey home.  Mr. Ballard of Oxford and his Brother of Charlton here and breakfast.  They bring me a Pair of Moscovy Ducks from Mr. Surcomb.  And they inform me that Mr. Holbrooks Leg was cut off, and it is doubtful whether he will out live it.  We send to Sarah, packet from Rochester Shrewsbury etc.  P.M. Mr. Steward came, and lodges here.

1769 January 29 (Sunday).  Mr. Steward preached for me a. and p.m. on Mal. 3.16.  May God bless the word to us, and bless His Servant, the dispenser of it!  Old Mrs. Wood prayed for; She having lately had a bad Fall down Cellar, whereby her Arm is broke and her Head and Neck much bruised.  This morning we finished the 2d Volume of Pool’s, that is, the [Continuation of?] Annotations.

1769 January 30 (Monday).  So Cold weather that Mr. Steward tarrys with us.  P.M. nigh Evening I visit and pray with old Mrs. Woods, at Deacon Wood’s.  I sup there.  Began Dr. Guise’s Paraphrase on the New Testament.

1769 January 31 (Tuesday).  Mr. Steward left us.  N.B. He has read out Kennicott’s two Dissertations, viz. on the Tree of Life; and on the Offerings of Cain and Abel.  I visited Mr. Artemas Bruce’s Wife and Twins and prayed with them.  Din’d there.  Visit the Widow Smith and prayed with her.  Then passed over to Mr. Gershom Brighams — to Mr. Gleasons — Mr. Samuel Fay’s — Edwards Whipples, where I drank Tea — and Mr. Solomon Bakers, with whom I reckoned, and paid for 41 pounds Cheese.  28 pounds at 2/ and 13 at 1/6.  In the Eve, marryed Elisha Forbes to Hannah Flag.

1769 February 1 (Wednesday).  Squire Campbel from Oxford calls at the Door, and informs me that my Daughter Sarah is Sick there, of the Throat-Distemper.  Was taken last Friday, but is not now very bad.  P.M. Mr. Ebenezer Lilly of Dudley brings me two Letters from Mr. Bowman — one writ yesterday, the other to day, concerning Sarah and that ‘tis hoped she is better.  Thanks be to God for His great Goodness!  By this Mr. Lilly I send a Bundle, of shirts etc., to Samuel and a Letter to Mr. Holbrook, being very desirous to know how he does, and where he is.  But My News Papers are brought, and inform me that he dyed last Friday; and he was, I suppose, buryed yesterday.  May I make a good use of this providence and prepare to follow!  The Lord pity His bereaved Handmaid, Support, and carry her through these very sore Tryals.  When John returns at Eve, from School, he relates Some Sad Occurrences which may prevent his going to Mr. Jameson again.  Lt. Baker has Sent us poor Wood — Birch, pine, old rotten Maple and Ash; and now have but little of that, when a great Storm of Snow comes, and proves some what deep and difficult.

1769 February 2 (Thursday).  Very difficult stirring, yet the Baker Team brings one (the 18th) Load.  Alexander comes from Sturbridge.

1769 February 3 (Friday).  Alexander goes to Framingham, and designs from thence to Boston.  Miss Patty Clark of Hopkinton came, dines and tarrys with us: but is disappointed in that Sarah, whom She came more especially to See, is at Oxford.  More Wood brought: two Load.

1769 February 4 (Saturday).  More Wood.

1769 February 5 (Sunday).  Preached a. and p.m. on the Same Subject which I was last upon, viz. the Sealing of the Spirit but from another Text, Scil: 2 Cor. 1.22.  O that God would Please to accept and succeed my weak Endeavours especially to my own Soul!

1769 February 6 (Monday).  Mrs. Garfield (without her Husband) desired prayers yesterday, and I would have visited to Day, but that it was too Cold for my tender state of Health.

1769 February 7 (Tuesday).  Mr. Cushing came; dined here.  I preached at Deacon Bonds, where, though it was cold, there was a considerable Assembly; on 1 Joh. 1.3 from p. 25th to the End.  Lt. Baker provided a Young man to ride my Horse, and took me, for the better Security against the extreme Cold, into his Sleigh.  Mr. Cushing lodges with us.  Letter from Sarah at Oxford that She is Still better.

1769 February 8 (Wednesday).  Mr. Cushing takes my Mare and Sleigh (newly painted by Mr. Gale, and to day brought home by John) and goes to Oxford for Sarah, if She be well enough, and the Weather fit for her, to come.  I visited Mrs. Garfield and prayed with her.  At Eve Breck came from Ashby.  Am reading Kennicott’s two Dissertations on the Tree of Life and the Offerings of Cain and Abel; and soon dispatch it.

1769 February 9 (Thursday).  Alexander returns from Boston and Framingham.  Breck and John are applyed to their Writing, what time can be afforded from the unavoidable Business of the Barn, Wood, going to Mill etc.  My Mind is a good deal attentive to Sarahs Case; fearing it is too Cold for her to break forth at once from such sickness, and come so far.  But I committ the matter to God!  At Eve She comes, and I hope safely.  Praise to God her Healer and Helper!  Mr. Cushing lodges here.  We (with Gott Maynard) make 12 to night.

1769 February 10 (Friday).  Mr. Cushing after Dinner, leaves us.  P.M. Mr. Andrews and his Wife make us a visit — and into Evening — are very Sociable, civil and agreeable.  They have their Child also.  They invite us repeatedly to return the Visit.  I am glad of this Visit, except the ill-timing it, so interrupting to my studys.

1769 February 11 (Saturday).  Alexander returns to Sturbridge.  John carrys £6.15.5 old Tenor to Mr. John Kelly of Northborough being in full for Beef and Tallow of him.

1769 February 12 (Sunday).  Preached a.m. on Eph. 4.31.  Have been prevented preparing for p.m.  Repeated Sermon on Ps. 62.5 with Alterations etc.

1769 February 13 (Monday).  Breck undertakes (his Brother John assisting) to lay the new Stable Floor.  Mr. Lock of Sherbourn and his Wife, call and dine here; in their way to Rutland.

1769 February 14 (Tuesday).  Mr. Stone and Wife and Miss Judith, also Coll. Brighams Wife and her son Joshua, all came in a sleigh –Perswade Me to go with them.  I dine with them at Capt. Maynards.  Thence to Shrewsbury and to Capt. Curtiss’s at Worcester.  Mr. Maccarty there.  We return to Shrewsbury.  Mr. Stone, his wife and I lodge at Mr. Sumners.  The rest of the Company, I Suppose, at Mrs. Cushings.

1769 February 15 (Wednesday).  I was at Mr. Sumners at Breakfast, but we all dined at Mrs. Cushings.  We then rode to Northborough, and another Sleigh full of them (Mr. Sumner and Wife, Mrs. Cushing and Daughter and Grand Daughter) accompanyed us to Mrs. Martyns.  Mrs. Parkman was come over in my Sleigh to Meet me, and was gone over to Mr. Whitneys.  I went there also and drank Tea there.  N.B. Mr. Sumner and wife and Mrs. Cushing had designed this Day to have made me a Visit upon an Errand to Me from Mr. John Cushing, which now they delivered, both to me and my wife, as far as was needfull; relative to my Daughter Sarah.  We returned home at Eve, safely.  D.G.  N.B. Am informed that Mr. Green and Mrs. Cotton from Hopkinton came to our House yesterday, lodged here, and to Day carryed Miss Patty Clark home, and Breck and Sarah are gone to Hopkinton with them.

1769 February 16 (Thursday).  John Rogers (assisted a little by Neighbour Arnold) killed two Pigs for me.  One weighs 174 1/2, the other 161 pounds.  Breck and Sarah return at Eve.  They bring me, from Miss Patty Clark, two of the 20 Volumes of the world displayed.  Mr. Fish here p.m.

1769 February 17 (Friday).  Sarah has brought from Oxford the Vicar of Wakefield, in 2 Volumes, which are read here, and Noah Volume 2.  Breck goes to Dr. Crosby for Some Remedy against a breaking out that he is troubled with.  At Eve Mr. John Wood here, with his own and his Fathers Accounts.  His Kinsman Mr. James Mellen of Hopkinton came with a Petition for a Contribution, as a Sufferer by the late Burning of his House, Signed by Rev. Messrs. Barrett and Prentiss.

1769 February 18 (Saturday).  Mr. James Mellen here again, to mend the writing in the Petition, by inserting an omitted particle or two, and endorses it as his Desire.

1769 February 19 (Sunday).  Preached a.m. on Eph. 4.30, first Clause.  P.M. delivered an Exercise on Rom. 2.5 to p. 10.  At Eve after family Repetition etc. read Dr. Fordice, volume 2.  N.B. delivered Mr. Mellens Desire of Contribution to the Deacons to be Communicated to the select men for their Advice.

1769 February 20 (Monday).  Wrote and Sent to the Selectmen a Request that they would insert a Clause respecting my wood, in their next Warrant for Town Meeting.  Sent it by my son John to Deacon Wood.  Read Vicar of Wakefield, 2 Volumes.

1769 February 21 (Tuesday).  Mr. Samuel Hicks here, going to Cambridge.  Breck rode to Capt. Wards at Southborough and returns.  Begin Volume 1 of the World Displayed.

1769 February 22 (Wednesday).  Send my last Years Boston Chronicle to Mein and Fleeming, by Mr. Thomas Whitney: and Mrs. P________ Sends back a Muff to Mrs. Winter.  Breck works at my Barn: makes a Rack for the new stable, puts up a Door, nails the loose Boards etc.  I am reading Noah Vol. 2.

1769 February 23 (Thursday).  Finish Noah Vol. 2.  Breck and John Cyphering.  Mrs. P. to Capt. Maynards.  Capt. Maynard, I hear, has sold his three Negros

1769 February 24 (Friday).  Breck leaves us to go to Ashby, and I write by him to Billy.  At Eve came Mr. Samuel Hicks from Cambridge and lodges here.

1769 February 25 (Saturday).  Mr. Hicks goes home to Sutton.  At Eve Deacon Woods brings me Mr. James Mellens Paper requesting a Contribution, the Deacons and Select Men having considered it, and advise that it be read.  There came in also a stranger who says his name is Richard Dunham, that he has been in Captivity ten Years etc.  Deacon Wood took him home with him.