Category: Diary

1772 March 20 (Friday).  Mr. Phinehas Maynard, nigh 43 year old, was buryed though it was a very great Storm of Snow.  Lt. Baker came and carryed me in his Sleigh.  The Assembly was great at the House of Mourning.  I had some Freedom in Speaking and in Prayer.  May God accept my feeble Attempts!  Breck has finished his school and is returned home.  The Season is uncommonly tedious, tempestuous and Snowing hard upon the great Body of Snow which is already on the Earth.  The Lord prepare us for His Will, and extend Compassion to the Poor!

1772 March 21 (Saturday).  Many people from the Several Quarters are assembled with Oxen to break through the Snow and make the Roads plain to the Meeting House.

1772 March 22 (Sunday).  Read 2 Kings, Ch. 2, and preached a. and p.m. on v. 12[1] on Occasion of the Death of venerable F. Loring — of whom I endeavoured to give some Account — but I have not the Art of Embalming.  Repeated at Eve.  May God graciously quicken us by His Holy Spirit!

[1]2 Kings 2.12: “And Elisha saw it, and he cried, My father, my father, the chariot of Israel, and the horsemen thereof. And he saw him no more: and he took hold of his own clothes, and rent them in two pieces.”

 

1772 March 23 (Monday).  P.M. Mr. Gale and his Wife make us a Visit.  I was Sent for urgently by Mrs. Spring who is very ill again.  Mr. Gale is so good as to wait upon me there in his Sleigh.  Found her not only low in Body, but distressed in mind — using great earnestness in her Expressions.  Conversed and prayed with her.

1772 March 24 (Tuesday).  My Kinsman Bradshaw came to sojourn with us for a while.  He came from Brookfield yesterday and from Wor’ster to  Day.  Dines with us.  I visited and prayed with Mrs. Spring.

1772 March 25 (Wednesday).  Visit Mrs. Hardy whose Face is now chiefly eaten away  and both her Eyes are so gone that She is wholly blind.  Prayed with her.  She Speaks but little, but thinks her Faith and Hope in Christ are well grounded.  Mr. Bradshaw rides over to Mr. Daniel Adams, who consents to keep his Horse.  Receive from Mr. Thomas Adams of Medfield via Boston three Books, viz. Origines Sacrae, Mr. Thomas Gouge, and Dr. Youngs Night Thoughts.  I am reading Dr. Chauncys complete View of Episcopacy; and have an high Esteem of it.

1772 March 26 (Thursday).  Mr. Edwards Whipple has Sent his Horse, as well as repeated Invitations to us to make them a Visit.  We rode over in my sleigh.  Mr. Bradshaw drove: and we dined there — drank Tea — and by Day light favoring us, arrived home Safe.  But in the Evening Mr. Bradshaw had Pain in his Stomach; and grows very poorly.

1772 March 27 (Friday).  Mr. B. still indisposed.  My Grandson also not well.

1772 March 28 (Saturday).  Mr. B. is better; but I think it best to make some preparation.

1772 March 29 (Sunday).  So difficult Roads and Weather that  though I suppose the Deacons bring the Elements, yet there are so few Members, it appears most advisable still to defer the Administration of the Sacrament.  Mr. B. so much better that he preaches — a.m. on Joh. 3.16 and p.m. on Joh. 13.15.  I omitted Reading a.m.  Read p.m. Tit. 3.  At Evening read in Mr. Mitchels Letter to his Brother.

1772 March 30 (Monday).  Have finished Dr. Chauncy’s View of Episcopacy.  Am chiefly employed in Sermonizing.

1772 March 31 (Tuesday).  Wrote to Mr. Thomas Adams of Medfield.  Mr. Bradshaw reads Bishop Pearson on the Creed.  I am in my preparations.

1772 April 1 (Wednesday).  Visit Mrs. Spring who mends apace, through the great Goodness of God.  Mr. Hezekiah Maynard of Marlborough returns the Vol. of Mr. Baxters works which he borrowed of me some time Since.  P.M. Deacon Wood and his Wife, Children and Maid, having been to See the Indians at the Wigwam, come here.  I love to see my Friends and Neighbours but the Interruption it gives me in my Studys is a great Trouble and Disappointment.

1772 April 2 (Thursday).  Publick Fast.  I preached a.m. on Deut. 31.17.  P.M. gathered an Exercise out of my Sermons on Isa. 42.23.24.25 but with variations and additions that might suit the present Occasion.  May the Lord pardon and graciously accept us and His People in these Humiliations!  The Roads very difficult.

1772 April 3 (Friday).  One of the most Violent and impetuous Storms of Snow!  Blessed be God for the Protection and the Comforts which I and mine are favored with!  May it please God who is a present Help in the Time of Trouble, to extend Compassion to all Such as are at this uncommon season, in Distress and Extremity, if Such there be, and mercifully relieve them!  O may I fear the Great God!  And may I be delivered from the Storms and Tempests of Eternal Wrath!

1772 April 4 (Saturday).  It is a Time of extraordinary Difficulty in travelling: but the Weather being fair, many Neighbours from North and South are trying to break ways through the Snow, not with yoked Oxen and sleds, as before; but they are driven single by reason of the heigth [sic]  of the Drifts, which are Some of them above the Tops of Fences.  I am deeply engaged in my preparations.  May the Lord assist, Strengthen and Succeed me!

1772 April 5 (Sunday).  The Day being bright we went on with Communion Exercises: not thinking it best to put off the Sacrament any longer.  Read Isa. 53.  Preached a. and p.m. on 1 Cor. 6.20, first part of the v.  Administered the Sacrament.  N.B. Mr. Silas Warrin of Grafton desired leave to partake.  I told him I consented if he was in Charity, especially if he was with his Minister.  He bowed as if consenting, and I proposed it to the Church, and none objected.  But after prayer he spoke out, and Said he did not know whether he understood me.  I replyed, that we must all be in Charity.  We could not now debate.  If he was in Charity he might — but he thought best to withdraw.  Deacon Bond dined here.  P.M. I read the Epistle to Philemon.

1772 April 6 (Monday).  In the Morning the Snow froze so as to bear, I accompanyed my Wife and Kinsman Bradshaw, to Ashbo’s wigwam.

1772 April 7 (Tuesday).  Ebenezer Claffin of Hopkinton calls to tell me that Capt. Joseph Mellen dyed last night.  Though the riding is very bad, yet I went to private Meeting at Lieutenant Bruce’s, where I preached on Ps. 139.23.24.

1772 April 8 (Wednesday).  Visit Mrs. Grout and pray with her.  N.B. Mr. Silas Warrin met me.  He was going to my House on purpose, he said, to ask my forgiveness of his Conduct on Sabbath Day, which I was freely willing to do, he being to all Appearance very penitant.  Lieut. Baker and I p.m. rode over to Lieut. Martyn, he being brought very low; consuming away.  Dr. Wilson, Ball, Joslyn etc. there in Consultation.  Sister Martyn at Brookfield, but Mr. Richard is gone for her.  I went to Mr. Whitneys, where was the Widow Eager, who came to me and delivered me 25/ old Tenor to get a Cover for the great Bible which her Father Wheeler gave to our Church.  I returned to Lieut. Martyn, and though I was not without some thoughts and Purpose to have tarryed all night, yet I perceived there might be little Opportunity to be Serviceable, and the great likelihood of a Storm; Mr. David Maynard happening to be coming over, I Sorrowfully took, as I suppose final, Leave and came home.  N.B. The Deliverances of this Day and Evening were noticeable.  When I was going to mount Mr. Bradshaws Horse, he was So merry and nestling that he pushed me down backward over an Hog-Trough and Stood over me, helpless, and it was wonderfull that being so over me and full of Motions he did not trample me to Death.  May God be magnifyed and may I have a proper Sense of His Sparing Mercy!  In going over to, and returning from Northborough when the ways were So very bad, by the Depth of the Snow and Hollowness of the Earth, So that I was in Difficulty Several Times; yet there was no Such Evil Occurrent as to grieve me.  D.G.

1772 April 9 (Thursday).  This, though it proves So very Stormy Day and most difficult Travelling, is the Time appointed for the Burial of Capt. Joseph Mellen at Hopkinton and when probably Mrs. Martyn is on the Road from Brookfield to See her son John before he dyes.  The Lord be with all the Distressed!  Mr. Bradshaw is much indisposed.

1772 April 10 (Friday).  He continues not well.  I am Sermonizing.  Mr. B. is desired to preach for Mr. Whitney; but I fear lest he Should not be able to go to Northborough and then I must go there and change with Mr. Whitney.  At Eve Mr. Daniel Forbes and talks over Mr. Silas Warrins late Conduct, but goes away Satisfyed.  Mr. Taylor came, informs of the remarkable Occurrence at Squire Whipples of a Ewe’s yeaning two Lambs which dyed soon, and then in three weeks wanting 3 Dayes bringing three more, two of which live.  Mr. T________ lodges here.

1772 April 11 (Saturday).  Rev. Mr. Eden Burroughs came in the morning, prays and breakfasts with us and then goes on his Journey to New Hopkinton.  Mr. Bradshaw takes physic, So that I must go to Northborough.  P.M. Rode to Lieut. Martyns to See him and lodged there.

1772 April 12 (Sunday).  Went early to Mr. Whitneys.  Preached at Northborough a. and p.m. on Act. 16.29.30.  Mr. Whitney on Mat. 16.26, what is a man profited etc. and he returned early.  I tarried there.  N.B. Mr. Briggs at Eve.

1772 April 13 (Monday).  Visit Lieut. Martyn in my returning home.  Mr. Bradshaw still drooping.  Read Toogood on Infant Baptism.

1772 April 14 (Tuesday).  A Letter from Mr. Cushing — all Well.  Breck finishes a Desk for himself.  Send Samuel 40£ old Tenor by Mr. Hannaniah Parker.  Messrs. Hicks of Cambridge here at Dinner.

1772 April 15 (Wednesday).  Breck in Some perplexity about Mr. David Hills, his Coming to Sett up Trading in this Neighbourhood.  Mr. Benjamin How removes the Partition in the middle of the front Gallery of the Meeting-House, to the End.  Mr. How at Eve takes the Great Bible to cover it.  Read Dr. Gill against Mr. Toogood.

1772 April 16 (Thursday).  Sermonizing.

1772 April 17 (Friday).  Breck’s perplexitys increase.  He hears of one Mr. Gillam Bass of Boston, his being at Deacon Woods, who having hired part of the Deacons House (where Mr. Spring lives) designs to open a Shop of Goods there.  Breck goes up to Speak with him, but he is gone to Hopkinton.  My Son is So uneasy about it that he borrows Mr. Bradshaws Horse and rides to Hopkinton.  Mr. Spring and Wife with Billy here.

1772 April 18 (Saturday).  Breck returns without much Satisfaction concerning Mr. Bass, for he persists in his Resolution to come.  Mr. Bradshaw rode over to Northborough to preach for Mr. W.  Messrs. Hickss return from Sutton, but dont light.  N.B. Mr. Hicks has informed me that Cousen Thomas Barrett being married, Brother Champney and Sister Lydia have Set up Housekeeping together in the House where Mr. William Fessenden dwelt.  Mr. Benjamin How brings the great Bible handsomely covered.

1772 April 19 (Sunday).  Read Dan. 8.  Preached on 1 Cor. 6.20.  P.M. read Heb. 1.  Repeated the last Sermon on Ps. 119.57.  N.B. My Exposition in the morning required reading and Pains.  N.B. Cousen Betty Gott dined here.  I appointed a Catechizing to be next Thursday.

1772 April 20 (Monday).  A Strange Sight this Morning.  Winter is returned with  Violence.  The Earth is covered with Snow, and the storm fierce.  Phinehas Forbes came, but by reason of the Storm returned home.  P.M. cleared off.  My Son William at Eve from Concord.

1772 April 21 (Tuesday).  Phinehas came to work.  Breck takes down the Chimney of the Shop.  Sold Billy a two year old steer for 14£ old Tenor because he was urgent to have him to mate another.  Billy returned.  I went to Marlborough to Ministers Meeting.  Was moderator and prayed.  Mr. Smith poorly again.  He has fears of a Cancer in his Lip.  William Henderson rectifies the movement of the Day of the month in my Watch, and pay him.  I return home at Eve and Mr. Bradshaw with me.  N.B. Mrs. Vashti Hardy dyed last night about 11 o’Clock, aged 73 last Month, having gone through a long Tryal by her Cancer.

1772 April 22 (Wednesday).  Mr. Sumner has writ to me to preach his Lecture to Day.  Dr. Hawes was So good as to find me an Horse: and as he was going to Worcester I had his Company to Mr. Sumners — where we dined; and Mr. Bradshaw went with me also.  There I met besides, my Son Cushing, who preached the Lecture at my Desire; I prayed before Sermon.  N.B. Mr. Whitney of Northborough, his Wife and Miss Peggy Lambert were there with us likewise.  Returned at Evening.

1772 April 23 (Thursday).  A.M. Catechized at the Meeting House.  Had only 23 Boys.  Had no Exercise for the Girls p.m. by reason of the Funeral, viz. of Mrs. Vashti Hardy, which I attended upon and prayed at.  Mr. Cushing here, dines and lodges.  I am Somewhat concerned for my Son Breck, undertaking to prepare for Shopkeeping when Such a Number besides are purposing and preparing for the Same.  N.B. Mr. Luke Brown of Worcester lately dyed there of the Small Pox.