Category: Diary

1770 March 22 (Thursday).  Sir Coffin (Peter of Cape Ann) here, going to Brookfield.  I rode to the Fast at Marlborough, on account of Mr. Smiths illness.  Mr. Josiah Bridge opened the Solemnity with Pertinent and fervent prayer.  Mr. Stone preached a very excellent Sermon Suitable for the Solemn Occasion, on Isa. 33.24.  P.M. Mr. Goss prayed: I preached on Phil. 2.27.  Which may God accept and Succeed!  Mr. Smith notwithstanding his Grievous Distresses was at Meeting with us a. and p.m.  At Eve I returned home, though it snowed all the Way.  Squire Whipple accompanyed me.  We called in an Neighbour Andrews to warm us: and they treated us with great Civility.

1770 March 23 (Friday).  Confirmed my Bargain with Jonas Kenny for a Cow.  Am to give him 25£ old Tenor for her.  Sermonizing.

1770 March 24 (Saturday).  A large plow-share made by William Townsend for my Son William.  Expected Mr. Forbes, whom I depend upon to preach tomorrow; but he did not come.  However I have prepared one sermon — neither could I any more, by Reason of my being called so much otherwhere this Week.

1770 March 25 (Sunday).  Another Child of Mr. Edmund Rice is dead; and another still at the point of Death.  I Read publickly Ezek. XI.  Preached on Ps. 90.5.7 on Consideration of the Mortality among Children and upon hearing so sorrowful Accounts of the Sickness aforesaid.  I laid aside my new preparations for the p.m. and repeated the Rest of the Discourse on Ps. 90.5.7.  Read 2 Cor. 10.  Mr. Parker dined with us.  At Eve read part of Mr. Henrys Discourse on Closing the Day with God.

1770 March 26 (Monday).  A Dog came into my Beeton Field, which appears to be mad — is Strangely affected — acts very oddly — froths much at the mouth etc. etc.  Several Neighbours came.  Tis concluded to be Duty to Kill him.  Joseph McCulloch Shot him — then dragged him off from the Road.  P.M. Attended the Funeral of Sarah Rice, a little infirm Daughter of Mr. Edmund Rice, which dyed of the Throat Distemper: and Several more of the Children are ill.  Prayed there; and in returning by Mr. James Maynard went in to his Daughter Locks Children, one of which is very bad.  Prayed with them.  Deacon Wood accompanying me back, we called in to see Mr. Williams and prayed with him.

1770 March 27 (Tuesday).  My reading various.  Partly view the World in Miniature — partly some M.S. Sermons of another.  P.M. Mr. Daniel McAllister here to shew his Desire to Join with the Church — was examined and approbated.  He having manifested a good Measure of Understanding and Experience.

1770 March 28 (Wednesday).  Am much taken up in reviewing a MS Discourse of my son Forbes on 1 Thess. 5.21.  “Prove all Things” etc.  Dr. Hawes here with his Account which I pay by a Note to the Constable.

1770 March 29 (Thursday).  Catechized at the Meeting House a. and p.m.  46 Boys and 14 girls.  The Roads very muddy.  Mr. Forbes from Boston dines here.  Lend him the 4th Vol. of Casuistical Morning Exercises.  He goes to his Sister Joanna’s — returns here and then hastens to Worcester in his way home.  Ruth Bellows rides my young Horse to Capt. Wards and pays him for me 5£ old Tenor.  I let Neighbour Nurse have two or more hundred of Hay.

1770 March 30 (Friday).  Went over to Mrs. Kendals to hire her son Phinehas Forbes for the ensuing Six Months, but he will not consent to work for me under 77£ 10/, even although he would for another who will work with him for 75£.  I offered him 76£ but he is inflexible.  I dined there.  Returned disappointed.

1770 March 31 (Saturday).  Having agreed with Mr. John Wood to give him my French Dictionary, with Some Consideration, for his which is a later Edition, I Sent mine to him, with Pantons Speculum Juventutis, neatly bound, gilt and lettered; which I conclude satisfies him.  I have not received the Proclamation for the Fast till to day.  Squire Whipple brought it from Col. Chandlers at Worcester.

1770 April 1 (Sunday).  Read Ezek. XII.  Preached a. and p.m. on Cant. 5.10.16.  Read p.m. 2 Cor. XI.  Capt. Maynard and his Wife, and Ruth Bellows who now lives with them, dined here.  At Eve, in the Family, read the latter part of Mr. Henrys Discourse on Closing the Day with God.

1770 April 2 (Monday).  Begin to prepare for the Fast.  At Eve Capt. Joseph Wood of Hopkinton — tells me his son Joseph would go out to work for six months but he can’t begin till the first of May.  He asks 80£.  I refuse.  I tell him if his son is a good Hand and faithful I will give 75£.  He agrees that if I hear nothing from his son before the Fast, I May depend upon his Coming to me for that, and begin the first of May, to continue out October.

1770 April 3 (Tuesday).  Receive a Letter from Rochester.  Am much engaged.

1770 April 4 (Wednesday).  Strictly applyed and engaged in my preparations.

1770 April 5 (Thursday).  Public Fast.  Preach a. and p.m. on Prov. 18.13, latter part.  “He that confesseth” etc.  May God graciously hear and accept through Jesus Christ!

1770 April 6 (Friday).  Visit Mr. Phinehas Gleasons Wife who is very low, and pray with her.  Mrs. McAllister here and is Examined.  P.M. Read in Burnetts History of the Reformation.

1770 April 7 (Saturday).  Solomon Batherick came and offered to help me this a.m. gratis.  I set him to cut up wood at the Door.  Jonas Kenny helps my grandson Elias in going to Mill with my Team.  They carry 11 Bush. Rye, and 9 of Indian, having about 3 of Indian in the House.  He succeeds.  Mr. Edwards Whipple here and informs me that another of Mr. Edmund Rice’s Children is dead.  Desires me to spare him five pair of Gloves, which I consent to.  Mr. Whipple takes them at 15/ per pair.

1770 April 8 (Sunday).  Preached at Northborough on Rom. 13.12 a. and p.m.  Mr. Whitney preached here a. and p.m. on Rom. 8.16.  “The Spirit itself beareth Witness” etc.  I tarried there.  N.B. Mr. Aaron Whitney junior and his sister Alice there also.  N.B. Lt. Martyn waits on his Mother at Eve to Mr. Whitneys.  I Supped and lodged there.

1770 April 9 (Monday).  Am furnished by Mr. Whitney with a Variety of Garden Seeds.  Attend the Funeral of Mr. Edmund Rice’s Child, Susanna, who has dyed of the Throat Distemper.  About 7 Years of Age.  The 3d that has dyed in this Family of late by that terrible Visitation.  As I return called to See Mr. Amasa Maynards Children and Mrs. Locks.

1770 April 10 (Tuesday).  Visit Mr. Eli Whitneys Wife, who having lain in lately, is very ill.  Pray with her.  Visit at Mr. Jonathan Grouts — his young Child languishes.  Prayed there.  Call to See the Widow Hitty Brigham.  A Letter from Daughter Sarah to her Mother — that she is well etc.

1770 April 11 (Wednesday).  Send a Letter to Mr. Moore (who I hope is at Boston) by Deacon Bond to the Care of Mr. Procter.  Mr. Bowman of Oxford here.  His Wife has another son which they have called Oliver.

1770 April 12 (Thursday).  Visit Mrs. Gleason who is extremely low; So that She can’t converse, but by Signs.  I Spoke to her of the most important Things, and prayed with her.  I could not discharge my Self to her as I fain would, by reason of her Weakness.  May God be pleased to extend Mercy to her.

1770 April 13 (Friday).  Elias (my Grandson) with my Team, and Mr. Nurse’s Oxen added, went to the Mainard Saw-Mill, and brought me the Rafters, or large Joists, which I have provided for the Support of the Floors of my Barn scaffolds.

1770 April 14 (Saturday).  Sent what I lately Wrote to Breck, by Mr. Daniel Forbes junior.  N.B. what I wrote is Capt. Ezra Wood of Uptons Message concerning his Help in building their Meeting House.  Mr. Daniel Forbes Paid me £75 old Tenor.  Mr. Benjamin Brigham came to see me etc. and lodged here.

1770 April 15 (Sunday).  Read Ezek. 13.  Mr. Brigham prayed and preached a. and p.m.  His Text Gal. 6.15 both Exercises.  May God graciously add His Blessing!  Read p.m. 2 Cor. 12.  I propounded Daniel McAllister and his wife.  Ruth Bellows dined here.  Mr. Brigham returned to Marlborough at Even.  Mr. Stratton, Sadler, visited — probably to See Mr. Brigham.  My Young Horse went out to the Horses to Day and did not return till after We had got to bed.  We had Sought for him but could not find him.

1770 April 16 (Monday).  In my way to Mr. N. Whitneys, called at Mr. Joseph Harringtons and dined there.  Visit Mr. Eli Whitneys Wife p.m.  Prayed there.  Called at Mr. Tainters — his Mother much more bewildered than I have seen her.  Young Mrs. Tainters Father Wood there.

1770 April 17 (Tuesday).  Lt. Baker, with a Yoke of Oxen, Neighbour Barnabas Newton with Do. and Plough, came, and with my own Oxen and Boys, and Neighbour Jo. Bonds Oxen, they plowed up that Piece of Grass Ground which was between the Meeting House and my Garden.  Rode to Bolton, to Ministers Meeting.  Dined there with Messrs. Goss, Loring, Stone and Bridge (Josiah), and Mr. Abraham Wood Candidate there, and was examined.  His Approbation was not now signed because we found he was not as yet a member in full Communion.

1770 April 18 (Wednesday).  It was Mr. Lorings Turn to preach the Lecture and he had been appointed to it, but the next Meeting must be at my House, and it would most likely be my Place to preach my Self.  It was therefore proposed that we change.  And I therefore preached in his stead to Day and he is to preach at Westborough.  My Text was Ps. 139.23.24.  N.B. Mr. Bridge Supported by Mr. Smith (or Mr. Smith Seconded by Mr. Bridge) makes a new Motion, to alter the Time of our Meetings, and that it be tryed this Year; namely to meet but one Day, and meet early: at 9 a.m.  This was voted by all but me.  Mr. Peter Whitney my Company to his House.  In coming from thence I met Mr. Thomas Temple, who urged me to go with him to his House, two of his Children being very bad of the Throat Distemper.  I went — prayed there.  When I returned home was informed that Joseph Wood of Hopkinton had been here to desire longer time before he should come to work for me etc.

1770 April 19 (Thursday).  Went a.m. to See Mrs. Gleason who is extremely low.  She has been delivered and the Child is dead.  Could converse very little with her.  Prayed with her.  She looks almost like a Corps already.  I dined there.  P.M. returned, but called to See Mr. Green, who is very ill with Rheumatism.

1770 April 20 (Friday).  Mr. Brewer came to inform me of the extreme illness of Mr. Temple’s Children and to request me immediately to visit them.  I went with Mr. Brewer.  Hear that Mrs. Gleason dyed last night, whereas I was otherwise to have attended the Funerall of her infant Child.  Dined at Mr. Temples.  Prayed with them.  Mr. Seth Morse having bought and given me 4 pound of Clover Seed, I employed Mr. Aaron Nurse to come and Sow it, and [that?] Seed my own Barn afforded me.  At Eve came Capt. Joseph Wood of Hopkinton.  Came again on his sons Account to desire he might delay coming, which I consent to if he will send a good Hand in his Stead; also he wants to tarry with me but 4 Months, which I could not condescend to; unless he provides an Equivalent person in his room for the other two months.

1770 April 21 (Saturday).  Capt. Benjamin Fay brings from Rev. Adams’s at Roxbury 11 Planes for my Son Breck, for which the Captain has paid £13.0.1.  P.M. I attended the Funeral of Mrs. Azuba, the Wife of Mr. Phinehas Gleason.  Her infant Child was also buryed with her.

1770 April 22 (Sunday).  Read [Ezek.?] 14.  Preached on Prov. 18.13.  P.M. Read 2 Cor. 13.  Was prevented preparing further on my Subject for the afternoon.  Acquainted the people with it, and (with Some Alterations and Additions) delivered Sermon on Isa. 58.1.  Appointed Lecture and Communion.

1770 April 23 (Monday).  Wrote to Breck and Sent his Planes by Mr. B. Newton.  Attended the Funeral of Anna Temple, Daughter of Mr. Thomas Temple, who dyed in her 10th Year, of the Throat Distemper.  Much afflicted by the breaking in of Cattle through the stables into my Rye Field.

1770 April 24 (Tuesday).  P.M. at Lieut. Bakers.  He accepts a Note upon Him which I have given to Richard Temple for 27£ Old Tenor.

1770 April 25 (Wednesday).  Mr. Stone came, dined here, and preached my Lecture from those Words, Luk. 14.17, “Come, for all Things are now ready.”  An Excellent Discourse.  May God bless it for our greatest good!  Mr. Whitney waited upon Mrs. Martyn hither and they dined with us.  Mr. McAllister here with his Relation.  Shews me what was writ for his Wife’s, but I chose to see her, herself.  Much perplexed about Cattle and sheep breaking in upon my Rye Fields.  Am obliged to confine my sheep in the Barn and give ‘em Hay, great part of the Time.