Category: Diary

1769 December 8 (Friday).  Deacon Bradish of Upton brings me, from Mrs. Holbrook of Boston, 3 Volumes of the Morning Exercises, viz. The Morning Exercises Methodized.  The Continuation of Morning Exercises, Questions and Cases of Conscience.  And the Casuistical Morning Exercises the Fourth Volume.

1769 December 9 (Saturday).  Mr. Edmund Chamberlain watched with Betty Stevens, and tells me she is better.  Ruth Bellows came to tarry with us, over the Sabbath, and be nigh to Meeting.  At Eve came my Son Samuel from Boston.  Ensign Aaron Warrin of Upton here.

1769 December 10 (Sunday).  Preached a.m. on 2 Cor. 7.10 and on Consideration of the many and frequent avocations through the last week I was obliged p.m. to deliver a Discourse which I delivered before.  This was on Deut. 5.29, and I connected it with the forenoon Sermon.  N.B. Ruth Bellows at Meeting to Day.  At Eve Visit at Neighbour Arnolds, a Sick House!  Mr. Arnold himself and wife as well as their Maid, Sick of Fevers and John Arnold not well.  Mr. Stevens, Bettys Father, and her sister Mercy there.  I prayed with them.  Mr. Stevens lodged here.

1769 December 11 (Monday).  Mr. Stevens goes to his Daughter.  A Number of Cutters go down to Capt. Ephraim Brigham’s Land, and a Number of Teams came to Cart it.  Some brought also from their own Land.  Mr. Barnabus Newton, Deacon Wood, Capt. Benjamin Fay, Lt. Baker, Mr. Daniel Warrin, his Brother Timothy, Mr. Andrews, Capt. Maynard (from his own), Mr. Seth Morse, Mr. Tainter, Mr. Phinehas Maynard, Mr. Fessenden, Mr. Benjamin Warrin — some from their own, some from the Ministerial Lot, in all 28 Load to Day.  Several brought Meat, others Rum.  They all Sup’d here.  I visited Neighbour Arnold and his Family.  Samuel to Marlborough and returned.

1769 December 12 (Tuesday).  Ruth goes to her Mothers.  I visited at Mr. James Maynards, Mr. Edmund Rice’s, and Mr. Thomas Temples.  In the Eve Magnalia — Life of the eminent Mr. Thomas Hooker of Hartford.

1769 December 13 (Wednesday).  Mr. David Maynard came and killed a Swine for me.  John is greatly indisposed, but lends an Hand; Samuel is also assisting.  Was at Mr. Arnolds.  ‘Tis hop’d they are somewhat better.  At Lt. Bakers.  Received of him 23£ 11/ old Tenor.  My son Ebenezer came from Brookfield and brought 3 Heifers to be kept at my Barn.

1769 December 14 (Thursday).  Ebenezer went to Cambridge.  Samuel carryed 20£ old Tenor to Mr. Malachi Maynard to be delivered to my son Forbes to be delivered to Mr. Samuel Haskill at Brookfield.  Received a Letter from Sir Bradshaw.  John so well as to go to Mill with the Team.

1769 December 15 (Friday).  Sent John with a Yoke of Oxen to assist Mr. Fessenden in getting a Log to Mill.  (It is instead of a Log which he cut upon the Ministerial Lot and improved for Plank which he sold to Lt. Baker.)  This succeeded no further than that John cutt down a great black Oake, and Mr. Fessenden sends word, that he will come when there shall be Snow.  I visited at Neighbour Arnolds, all of them somewhat better.  D.G.

1769 December 16 (Saturday).  Samuel to Brookfield.  Dr. John Hill and Mr. Joshua Smith dined here, and prov’d a very great Interruption to me in my Preparations which I could not forward in the former part of the Week.  Yet I must needs confess bewail all my Negligence.  May God be gracious to me through Jesus Christ!

1769 December 17 (Sunday).  A.M. Preached again on 2 Cor. 7.10.  I prepared also Several parts of another Exercise, on Repentence which I could not use, finding it necessary and unavoidable to treat of another part of the subject, and to do it from former preparations, viz. an Exposition of Mat. 3.8 (but read Luk. 3.8) and it being so Short a Day, and many Grafton people at Meeting, I was therefore obliged to omitt what I had prepared and designed to deliver.  May God forgive my great Defects, Weaknesses and Miscarriages, for the Sake of Jesus Christ!  Mrs. Mary Amsden, widow, dined with us.  At Eve Visited and prayed at Neighbour Arnolds.  Mrs. P______ was with me.  ‘Tis hoped they are growing better.

1769 December 18 (Monday).  Went over to the Ministerial Lot; a great White Oake Tree marked M has been cut down.  Mr. Beeton, who was with me, says it was by Mr. Fessenden.  Went to Mr. Benjamin Hows and to Mr. Fessendens.  Visit Mrs. Maynard who is in a low Condition by excessive Hemorrages.  Dined with her.  Capt. was out on Jonathan Hows Land, measuring and about to buy it.  P.M. I visited at Mr. Jonathan Grouts, his young Child languishing.  Prayed there.  At Eve my son Ebenezer returns hither from Cambridge.

1769 December 19 (Tuesday).  Ebenezer is putting the Floor etc. of my New stable, into Order, and John assists him.  I read divers Lives of eminent Men in Dr. Mathers Magnalia.

1769 December 20 (Wednesday).  My Son tarrys another Day to assist me in my new Stable, making a Patition [sic], a Manger etc.  My reading various.

1769 December 21 (Thursday).  Sophy has watched at Mr. Arnolds, those sick growing better.  Ebenezer leaves us to go to Brookfield.  My Wife goes to see her Cousen Maynard.  While She is gone there Mr. Smith of Marlborough visits and dines with me.  Sophy goes to wait upon her Mother home.

1769 December 22 (Friday).  One Mr. Tarbell and Mr. Shomway of Sturbridge call here, but though they seem only to light, tarry a while; say they have not been at Breakfast yet refuse to Eat.  They take a Dram and go off.  Samuel returns from Brookfield (from Worcester to Day) and dines here, brings me a Letter from Mr. Forbes concerning the Effects of the Canine Fury among them of late.

1769 December 23 (Saturday).  [Engaged in my?] writing I was called away to Visit old Mrs. Bradish, who was Supposed to be drawing near her End.  I went, conversed and prayed with her: but this interruption was very detrimental to my Preparations and I don’t find that I can prepare in the begining of the Week.

1769 December 24 (Sunday).  I preached a. and p.m. on Act. 11.18, but in the afternoon was assisted by what I delivered on the same subject from Joh. 16.8, from p. 3 to p. 7.  Ruth Stays over the sabbath with us.

1769 December 25 (Monday).  Visit Mrs. Green, wife of Mr. Joseph Green junr.  She is much lower; but appears to have admirable Tokens — behaves very agreeably.  I dine at Mr. Greens.  Prayed there.  The poor, languishing Woman behaved with great Propriety.  Rode down to Mr. Bradishes, but his Mother expired some while before I got there.  She was 81 last May.  Received a Line by a Messenger from Father Loring that his Consort is dead, and that he would have me attend her Funeral, which is appointed to be next Thursday.  Gave Temple a promisory Note for 56£ old Tenor to be Paid Apr. 15 next.

1769 December 26 (Tuesday).  Reading on my subject, especially Mr. Shepherds Sound Believer and particularly on Conviction.  Visit at Mr. Arnolds.

1769 December 27 (Wednesday).  At Lt. Bakers and receive of him Mr. William Grays Receipt in Full for Feathers.  P.M. Attend Mrs. Bradish’s Funeral.

1769 December 28 (Thursday).  Go to Sudbury, to Mr. Lorings.  My Son Samuel in his way to Boston, accompanys me as far as the Mills.  I dined at Mr. Lorings, with Rev. Messrs. Stone and Smith.  P.M. We attend the Solemnitys of Mrs. Lorings Funeral.  The Corps was carried into the Meeting House.  I prayed.  Mr. Gardner was so ill as not to come.  Mr. Barrett was absent also.  The Bearers were Rev. Messrs. Stone, Smith, Matt.  Bridge, Woodward, and Josiah Bridge, with P______.  The interrment was in Coll. Browns Tomb.  Mr. Stone and I tarried and lodged there.

1769 December 29 (Friday).  Mr. Stone and I drew up some Account of Mrs. Loring, to be sent to Mr. Draper.  Took leave of our Mournful Venerable Father, and rode together to Mr. Stones and dined there.  Came home safe, through divine Goodness and found my Tabernacle in Peace.  And O that I might have proper Reflections, and that I might make a right Improvement of Gods holy Dispensations!  May God be gracious to His Aged Servant that I have left, and afford Him all supplys and Consolations as he now needs!  And remember his Family, his distant Progeny — to the fifth Generation.  He baptized one last Lords Day; Mary, after the Name of her great great grandmother, whose Corps lay there by the Walls.

1769 December 30 (Saturday).  Have set my Self to prepare a Sermon on the Conclusion of the Year.  The Text Lam. 1.9.  My Son William brought a pair of Three year old steers for me to keep this Winter.

1769 December 31 (Sunday).  Preached Act. 11.18, using 4 pages of Sermon on Joh. 16.8, of Conviction of Sin.  P.M. On Lam. 1.9, and in the Close was very fervent from some View and Sense of Eternal Things.  The Lord grant that from the Consideration of the Last Day of the Year we may be brought to serious Thoughts of the Last Day of our Life, and the Last of the World.  O that Awful Day When Eternity Shall Commence, and that Great Day when the states of all Men shall be determined for Endless Ages!  The Lord grant that it may Suitably impress my own Soul, and influence my whole, brief, uncertain, remaining Life!

1770 January 1 (Monday).  Such is the Long suffering of God we begin another Year.  I desire to take a grateful Notice of it.  I desire to be Grateful for the Favours granted me hit[h]erto: to be deeply humble for past Offences: to enter into fresh resolutions to Serve and glorifie God my Almighty Author, Preserver and Benefactor: And to Committ and Resign to Him the whole of my Life that remains; all the Events of the Ensuing Year, as it shall Please God to continue me, whether a longer or shorter part of it.  My Son William with us.  Mr. Nurse has brought me from Mrs. Holbrook Four Vols. more of the Morning Exercises.  I have now 7 Vols. but I find that there is One which is a Duplicate, viz. The Cases of Conscience.  Elias begins to learn the Accidence.

1770 January 2 (Tuesday).  My Son William leaves us to go home to Ashby.  I make my self more acquainted with the Morning Exercises.  Delivered one Vol. (a Duplicate) to Billy for his and the people of Ashby’s use.

1770 January 3 (Wednesday).  Read in Morning Exercises — vol. 2 and against Popery.  Mr. Ebenezer Maynard came and killed an Hog for me, and dined here.  Elias went to Master Taylors school and got him a better Accidence, and Seems chearful in Learning.  But

1770 January 4 (Thursday).  Mr. James Parker is come to keep at the Whipple School; and this being much nearer, both John and Elias go there.  I hear also that Bowman is come from College to keep at the Warrin School House (besides Mr. Taylors at the Grout School-House).  To these we may add Mrs. Eunice Rice’s School for little Children, little Girls especially, so that we are just now peculiarly alive on School Accounts.  I went over to visit Mrs. Green again; and as I went, dined with Mr. Parker at Mr. Whipples.  I found Mrs. Green Still loosing Ground and growing Worse in Body, but in a good Frame of Mind.  She seems willing to die, and resigns to the Will of God.  Prayed with her, which she is very thankfull for, and for my visit and Assistance.

1770 January 5 (Friday).  Mr. Elijah Rice by whom I sent my Watch to Mr. John Rogers at Newtown, returns without it.  I now receive the Boston Gazette of Messrs. Edes and Gill, having drop’d the Chronicle.

1770 January 6 (Saturday).  [No entry.]

1770 January 7 (Sunday).  It was very Stormy — Wind and Rain — The Earth So opened and filled with Water, that it is extreamly muddy and difficult getting to Meeting.  Lt. Baker comes With his Chaise, for Mrs. Parkman and Sophy and carrys them to Meeting — returns them home also both a. and p.m.  Very few women came.  All the Womens long Seats below were empty.  So were their Gallerys above.  There was no Woman in either.  I preached a. and p.m. on Lam. 1.9.  Neighbour Daniel How dined with us.  May God be pleased to awaken us to a due Remembrance of Death and Eternity So as to be fitted and prepared therefor!  In the Evening read Bishop Stillingf. Origines Sacrae.

1770 January 8 (Monday).  Read Orig. Sacra. at Eve.  In the supplement to the Morning Exercise, to my Wife, on Mutual Conjugal Dutys, by Mr. Steel from Eph. 5.33.

1770 January 9 (Tuesday).  John and Elias goe to school.  Richard Temple Swingles Flax.  I preached at Mr. Daniel Hardys on Heb. 2.1.  Mrs. Hardys Cancer grows worse.  Blind Mrs. Deland there; as was blind Molly Warrin.  May God bless His Word to us, and help us to guard against letting it slip!  It was too tedious weather and difficult going for my wife to venture.  My Girls were neither of them well.

1770 January 10 (Wednesday).  My Grandson Elias Parkman came from Brookfield yesterday, arrived here this morning with a Letter from his Father that John is to go to Mr. Hitchcocks, Sadler in Brookfield.