Category: Diary

1771 December 6 (Friday).  The Snow-Storm has been very Vehement.  The Snow is so difficultly passed through, by reason of the Drifts that neither can my biggest Boy get to Mill though he tryed with my Horse; nor could the Cattle get to any Water to drink.

1771 December 7 (Saturday).  A Number of Teams, from the East and from the South are driven to the Meeting House to make Paths.

1771 December 8 (Sunday).  Preached on Rom. 15.29.  My whole time of preparation was Spent on this; and I chose to preach p.m. on Ps. 57.7, delivering the whole in one Exercise.  Miss Nanny Brigham dined here.  Propounded Mr. John Harringtons wife.

1771 December 9 (Monday).  By eating a pleasant Apple which came from Leicester, I was much wrot on.  It proved very Cathartick.  A.M. I went to Mr. Nurse to see if there was any hope of my Money — but I went very much in vain.  P.M. I was confined.  Eat no mouthful of dinner: lay down: it did not go over.

1771 December 10 (Tuesday).  Somewhat better, but not well.  Attend Somewhat to Sermonizing.

1771 December 11 (Wednesday).  Breck goes on my Horse to Upton.  Miss Susanna Gleason came to Work here.  Is making my Wife a Gown.  I am Still reading the General Table of Europe, in which are the Accounts of the three prophets Kotterus, Christina and Drabricius, which Accounts are chiefly Strengthened by what is taken from Comenius.  Wrote to Mr. Moore but can’t send it.

1771 December 12 (Thursday).  Breck at work for himself in the Shop.  Miss Susan makes riding Hoods for Sophy and Hannah.  Read Mr. Willards Body, on the Office of Mediator, and especially of the Priesthood of Christ.  Mr. Spring calls me to his Wife, who is very ill.  Went — though the weather was bad.  Conversed and prayed with her.  She complains much of a grievous Pain in her stomach: has been ill Several Days, and is much distressed both inwardly and outwardly.

1771 December 12 (Thursday).  Breck at work for himself in the Shop.  Miss Susan makes riding Hoods for Sophy and Hannah.  Read Mr. Willards Body, on the Office of Mediator, and especially of the Priesthood of Christ.  Mr. Spring calls me to his Wife, who is very ill.  Went — though the weather was bad.  Conversed and prayed with her.  She complains much of a grievous Pain in her stomach: has been ill Several Days, and is much distressed both inwardly and outwardly.

1771 December 13 (Friday).  Lt. Martyn waited on his Mother in a Sleigh, to visit us.  They dined here.  Mrs. Spring I understand grows better.  Elijah Brigham has brought from Dr. Green of Lancaster, Volumes 17, 18, 19, 20th of the World displayed.

1771 December 14 (Saturday).  Mr. Hancock the Taylor comes to work here to make Breck a Coat.  I Spent my time upon the divine Subject of the Priesthood of Christ So that I undertook no other.

1771 December 15 (Sunday).  I Preached on Heb. 16.20, those words, “even Jesus made an high-Priest.”  P.M. I delivered an Exercise on Joh. 3.3 of the Necessity of Regeneration using what I formerly offered on that Text from p. 37 to 42 nigh the bottom.  To which I added a Number of Uses, anew, on a loose paper.  May God succeed my sincere Endeavours and forgive my Deficiencies!  Miss Sus. Gleason is with us over the sabbath.  Joseph Chamberlin dined here.  In the Evening I read to the Family in Fords Autokatakritos, page 89 to 112.

1771 December 16 (Monday).  Mr. Hancock at work here, as also Miss Susan.  Ruth Bellows finishes her work here and goes to Capt. Maynards.  I Visited and prayed with Mrs. Hardy.  Her Cancer has eat up the greatest part of her Face.  By reason of Mr. Nurse’s delay to pay me, I am forced to borrow of One after another.  Borrowed 4 Dollars of Mr. Levi Warrin.  Visit Mrs. Spring.  Supped at Deacon Woods.  Squire Whipple and his Wife there also.

1771 December 17 (Tuesday).  This morning Breck sets out for Boston.  Miss Sus. is making me a blue Serge Jacket.  I am engaged in my Preparations.

1771 December 18 (Wednesday).  Mrs. Susan still.  Visit Mrs. Spring who is very ill.

1771 December 19 (Thursday).  World displayed Vol. XVII.  Isaac Lamb waits on Miss Suse home in my Sleigh, and Sophy goes with them.  P.M. I wait on Mr. Phinehas Gleason who carryed his wife home.  I Supped there.

1771 December 20 (Friday).  Mr. John Harringtons Wife here about her Relation.  Mrs. Spring Sends for me.  Went up to her in great Distress.  Prayed with her.

1771 December 21 (Saturday).  Mr. Ware brought up Mrs. Whitmore from Boston, to See her Daughter Spring.  Breck returned from Boston by the way of Concord.  He is in great perplexity having lost a valuable Hand saw which cost him 2 Dollars and has lost which is much worse, his Purse of Money.

1771 December 22 (Sunday).  I could not divide my discourse which I had prepared and therefore delivered the whole a.m.  It was on Heb. 6.20.  Ruth Bellows though she lives at Capt. Maynards dines here usually.  P.M. Preached on Joh. 3.7, going on with the Repetition of Sermon on Joh. 3.3 from p. 42 to 48 with Addition of 4 Heads of Improvement at this time.  Admitted Mrs. Harrington.  In the Eve read in the Family part of Fords Autocatacritos.

1771 December 23 (Monday).  Go on with World displayed.  P.M. Visit Mrs. Spring who is a good deal better.  Her Mother desires that we give Thanks to God and pray for perfecting the Recovery.  We did so.  Breck begins to keep school at the Warren school-House.

1771 December 24 (Tuesday).  Begin Vol. XVIII of world displayed.  I was perplexed for want of Money to pay where I had borrowed, viz. of Mr. Levi Warren but Obtained it and Sent it at Eve by Breck, to Satisfaction.  Mr. Spring (according to my Offer) brought his little Billy to be with us for a while.  Mr. Taylor here at Eve and Supps with us.

1771 December 25 (Wednesday).  Sorrowful Message by Mr. Thaddeus Warren from Mr. Joseph Bond that their Child, of 5 Months, dyed Suddenly about one this morning by the Mothers Side.  It was in usual Health this last night.  I went there, and prayed with them.

1771 December 26 (Thursday).  Sermonizing.  World Displayed.

1771 December 27 (Friday).  Sermonizing.  We hear that Brecks Purse is found at his Brother Williams.  Attend the Burial of Mr. Joseph Bonds Child.  Mr. Arnold confined by terrible Pains.

1771 December 28 (Saturday).  Breck by invitation dined at Capt. Brighams, as Yesterday at Mr. Haskill’s.

1771 December 29 (Sunday).  Preached a. and p.m. on Ps. 103.14.  On Occasion of the late sudden Death, and its being the last sabbath of the Year.

1771 December 30 (Monday).  Mrs. Springs Mother, Mrs. Whitmore returns to Boston.  Mr. Spring, Dr. Hawes and Mr. Hananiah Parker go in the Same sleigh.

1771 December 31 (Tuesday).  Busy my self in Collecting Money for tomorrow.  Borrow 20£ and l0/ of Mr. Thomas Bond, because Mr. Wheelock fails me, though the time with him is out, and out again some time agoe.  He however sends his man Mr. Ware to Marlborough after it; but returns without it.  Yet he delivers me 8 Dollars for Mr. Wheelock, who has borrowed it for me.  Capt. Maynard came and lends me 50£ Old Tenor.  My Boys have not only gone to school in the Day; they go to Brecks Evening School also. Thus Ends another Year!  Having greatest Cause to magnifie and praise His Glorious Name who has sustained and preserved me and mine through the various Passages of it: But O how many are my Transgressions and my Offences against Him!  How justly an End might be put to my unprofitable Life, So full of Miscarriages and Deficiencies!  May God forgive me through the Abundant Mercy offered in Jesus Christ.  And O that I might be ever ready for the Will of the Sovereign God!

1772 January 1 (Wednesday).  I have Still more and more cause to bless God for His Long suffering towards me.  I am astonished at this unmerited Goodness!  May I have Grace to glorifie God as He justly expects from me!  Having obtained help from Him I continue to this Day.  It is matter of Grief and sorrow that I have done so little for the Honour of God and the Benefit of His People!  Master Taylor takes my Horse and rides to Rev. Mr. Morse of Shrewsbury to deliver him for Mr. Glazier, of whom I bought my Horse, 95£ old Tenor.  At night he returns and tells me he has done so.  Dr. Crosby made me a Visit.  At Eve I married Nathan Fay to Persis Harrington.  Two foolish, unhappy young Creatures who have fallen into Transgression.  She is in but her 15th year.  I could not go through the Service without Pain and Distress.  The Lord grant them true Repentance and the Restraints of His Grace to the rest of our young people!  And O that my own sins might be blotted out!

1772 January 2 (Thursday).  Several Indians are the worse for Drink.  Betty Ashbo comes here at Eve, and is so bad She can’t be trusted to go home.  Stays here all night.  A young man, Robert Osmer, lodges here.

1772 January 3 (Friday).  He sets out for Concord — and carrys Letters to my Son William.

1772 January 4 (Saturday).  Mr. Barnabas Newton and Mr. Nathan Townsend kill a large Swine for me: and do it gratis.

1772 January 5 (Sunday).  Preached a.m. on Act. 26.22.  Deacon Burnet dined here and gave me a Letter from Hopkinton Church, but by reason of very few Members of the Church being at Meeting I did not read it.  Mrs. Hannah Rice dined here also.  P.M. preached again on Joh. 3.7, repeating on the Same subject as last sabbath, from p. 48 to 53, and broke off because of the Cold.

1772 January 6 (Monday).  Rev. Fessenden of Walpole New Hampshire and his Wife here and dine with us.  Leaves a Petition for Contribution (having been burnt out in Nov. last).  I went to Mrs. Kendals and preached on Prov. 4.18.  Had Special regard to Aged Mrs. Woods.  N.B. Mr. Spring carryed home his little Billy.

1772 January 7 (Tuesday).  [No entry.]

1772 January 8 (Wednesday).  Mr. Stone made us a visit and dined here.  Mr. Taylor came and first tryed my young Horse in my sleigh and has no Trouble.

1772 January 9 (Thursday).  Dr. Joslyn dined here and Spends part of the afternoon here.  By reason of Difficulty and Disappointment in getting Shooes made and mended, employ Neighbour Newton, and Send my Leather to him.  Breck to Mrs. Kendals, with the Sleigh to bring home Sophy and Hannah, who went there  in the morning.