Category: Diary

March 7, 1773

1773 March 7 (Sunday).  Preached at Southborough a. and p.m. on Zech. 2.5.  “For I saith the Lord will be a Wall of Fire” etc.  Will the Lord please to add His Blessing!  There were indeed but few, being rainy and stormy — till late p.m.  It cleared off and the Evening pleasant, but having much desire to confer with Mr. Stone on various subjects, had agreed to stay there, did so.

March 8, 1773

1773 March 8 (Monday).  Brought home from Mr. Stones, Clarks Lives of 10 English Divines, and a Number of other eminent persons.  4to.  Arrived in safety and my Tabernacle in peace.  D.G.  N.B. In returning, I visited the widow Gale and son Amsden.  Also called at the workhouse to See Garfield, but he went off.  I nevertheless went in to see his Wife and Children.  My son John came home from Shrewsbury; his time with Mr. Stone being expired.  Read Mr. Jeremiah Dummers Defence of the New England Charters.[1]

[1]Jeremiah Dummer (1681-1739), A Defence of the New-England Charters (Boston, 1745).  Evans 5576.  Another edition appeared in 1765 (Evans 9960).

March 13, 1773

1773 March 13 (Saturday).  Hancock the Taylor is here at work for Breck from Day to Day.  I am endeavouring to prepare for the Sabbath, but meet with many avocations and interruptions.  Have received last Evening a Letter from Mr. Thomas Adams of Medfield, with Several Books I had lent him, and Dr. Evans of the Christian Temper which he had bargained to me and was long looked for.  Mr. Isaac Biglow going to Grafton, and Mr. Nathaniel Whitney junior dine here.  Towards Eve came Mr. Henry Quincy from Rutland, and lodges here.

March 16, 1773

1773 March 16 (Tuesday).  Went to See and talk with Solomon Batheric and his Wife, they having had a Child too soon.  The man not at home.  Admonished the woman, calling her to Repentence.  P.M. Visit Mrs. Fisher who also has lately brought forth a Child prematurely.  Admonished and exhorted her — her Husband not there.  So that I determined to take another time.  N.B. Capt. Thomas Mellen and his Wife, with Deacon Wood and his wife, made us a Visit.  N.B. Solomon Prentice of Grafton we hear was seized lately for putting off Counterfeit Dollars: and two more [blank] for making them.  The former is bailed, the two latter are committed.  My Son Breck is gone to Worcester to secure his own Interest with one of them.

March 17, 1773

1773 March 17 (Wednesday).  Breck returned from Worcester.  Mr. Isaac Biglow preached my Lecture from Joh. 3.5.  Tarrys and lodges here.  N.B. Susanna Brigham brought her Relation.  My Son William came this Way from Medfield and Medway and lodges here.  His Wife, he tells me is, and has been for some time, much out of Health.  Mr. Biglow tarries with us.

March 18, 1773

1773 March 18 (Thursday).  Mr. Biglow goes to Holden.  Billy pays me £14 old Tenor for the Steer he bought of me.  He pays me also 31£ for the fat Heiffer which he had with the Steer.  P.M. he leaves us to go home.  At Eve came my Son Alexander and laments it that he hath missed again of Seeing his Brother William, this being, he says, the 3d or 4th time when it has been so; and he has not seen him for [blank] Years.  Elias also came with Alexander in his returning from Brookfield.  Tells me John is in Mr. Hitchcocks Business for a while — and then is to go to Oxford.  By a Letter from my Son Ebenezer am informed that one of his little Boys (Neddy) with a sharp Ax, cut two of Lewis’s fingers almost off.  Viz. the fore and middle Fingers of his right Hand.

March 21, 1773

1773 March 21 (Sunday).  Preached a.m. on Ps. 41.4, a Discourse prepared at first for Mrs. Sarah Smith, but now first (with many Additions) delivered in public and accommodated to the Communion.  It is No. MDCCXXVIII.  Admitted Mrs. Elizabeth Fay (Capt. Benjamin’s Wife) and Susanna Brigham junior into Church Fellowship.  Mrs. Maynard and Phinehas Forbes dined here.  P.M. preached on Deut. 32.46.47.  At Eve read in the Family part of Dr. Calamy on vows, ch. 10.  Of the dreadful Case of those who keep vows etc. without any Serious Sense etc.

March 23, 1773

1773 March 23 (Tuesday).  A.M. Visit Mr. Barnabas Newtons Family.  His wife lay in when She had the Meazles: and 4 Children visited also.  Went to See Mr. Fisher and his wife.  Reckoned and settled with Mr. Townsend.  Mr. Stone here to trade with Breck.  Dined with us.  He goes to Northborough.  I Spend some time with the Diary.  N.B. Mr. James Pierce a Cripple.

March 24, 1773

1773 March 24 (Wednesday).  I had Brecks Mare to ride to Bolton Lecture.  Called at Mrs. Martyns.  A Vendue of part of her Goods last night.  Took Mr. Whitney with me to Bolton, but Mr. Stone (who lodged at Northborough last night) goes to Marlborough to a Singing Lecture there.  Dined at Mr. Goss’s.  Rev. Messrs. Morse and Johnson there.  Mr. Morse prayed before sermon.  Mr. Johnson preached: his Text Eph. 4.1 — “walk worthy the Vocation” etc.  The Church with Mr. Goss asked our Advice, but I little to say.  Returning with Mr. Whitney called at Mr. Nat. Longleys and read to him the Letter which I composed some time ago to be sent to Capt. Bailey and him, but was not Sent.  Lodged at Mr. Whitneys.

March 28, 1773

1773 March 28 (Sunday).  Read Hosea VI.  Preached on the 3 first v.  P.M. read 1 Joh. 2 and went on with the Discourse begun awhile ago from Mat. 16.26.  Proceeded to the End, though with Some considerable omissions.  O that God would be graciously pleased to bless these Exercises, to my own and the people’s greatest Good and Benefit!  In the Evening read in the Family an excellent portion of Mr. Mitchel on the Glorys of Heaven, Sermon 8.

March 29, 1773

1773 March 29 (Monday).  Mr. Jonathan Batherick came, at Brecks procuring, to work upon the Frame of an Hog’s Sty.  I wrote to Mr. Bradshaw.  Visited Mrs. Lucy Maynard again, and prayed with her.  P.M. Visited old Mrs. Woods, She being in distressing pain, prayed with her.  Visited at Mr. Cooks and his sons.  Viewed his many Contrivances at his Damms; Gutters; Mills etc.

March 30, 1773

1773 March 30 (Tuesday).  Mr. Batheric and John are framing.  Jonathan Maynard here, confirms the agreement to work for me for 8 months etc.  He dines here, as does Mr. Batheric, and Mr. Collins Moore, who calls here in his way to Boston.  Afterwards came my Kinsman Bradshaw, and though late dined here.  Then came Master Taylor and one Mr. Emmerson, an Housewright.  Neither had they dined till now, but Dinner was got for them.  At Eve came Master Waters from Sutton and lodges here.  Also my Kinsman John Bradshaw came from Stoughtonham, hoping there might be room for him to live with me and labour for me, but he is too late.

March 31, 1773

1773 March 31 (Wednesday).  My Kinsman tarrys with us.  I rode to Shrewsbury: dined at Mr. Sumners.  Rev. Messrs. Morse, Goss, and Davis dined there also.  I preached the Lecture — on 2 Cor. 4.1-4.  Mr. Sumner Stayed the Church by reason of a Letter from Bolton disaffected Members — but post-poned the affair for two months.  N.B. had but a little Discourse with poor Mr. Davis.  Mr. Goss and two of his Brethren, viz. Benjamin Bailey and Joshua Johnson go to Worcester.  I returned home.  Found my Son Cushing here who had waited on his Mother from Ashburnham.  N.B. Old Mrs. Kelly much indisposed.

April 1, 1773

1773 April 1 (Thursday).  I catechized at the meeting House.  Upward of 40 Boys.  It rained p.m.  Only 4 Girls.  N.B. my Kinsman Bradshaw left us in the morning to return to Stoughtonham: and my son Cushing (taking with him his 2 first vols. of the Dictionary of Arts and Sciences) went to Shrewsbury (in his way home) carrying with him Several Volumes of Spectator also.

April 4, 1773

1773 April 4 (Sunday).  I rode over to Northborough and preached there on Heb. 12.15, former part, a. and p.m.  Mr. Whitney here.  His text a. and p.m. 1 Joh. 3.21.22.  May a gracious God add his Blessing, and teach us who dispense the word, and those who have heard it to profit by it!  We returned home respectively.  Squire Wood of Colrain and his Kinsman Joseph Wood of Hopkinton visit here.

April 5, 1773

1773 April 5 (Monday).  Jonathan Maynard came to live with me and work for me, the Terms, Eight Months for 12£ 13.4 Lawful Money.  Miss Hannah Fish here, dined with us.  I understood by her that her Father designed to go to Bolton tomorrow.  I therefore wrote to him a Letter earnestly advising and cautioning him against the threatening Evils etc.  P.M. Visited at Mr. Amasa Maynards, his Daughter Annis being very ill: Lethargic.  Was at old Mr. James Maynards.

April 6, 1773

1773 April 6 (Tuesday).  Capt. Silas Bailey and Mr. James Goddard here, and desire Copys of what our Association wrote upon the Bolton Affairs.  N.B. I read the Letter which I had prepared Some Months past, to Capt. Bailey and Mr. Nathaniel Longley.  But Capt. Bailey Said he did not desire it.  Mr. Mellen of Chauxit came while I was reading it.  Mr. Fish also came, and we had a good deal of fervent Debate.  What I chiefly insisted for, was, that they would proceed according to the Constitution — that they would call a mutual Council, and prevent a Rupture.  Mr. Mellen dined here.  The rest left us to go to Capt. Maynards.  P.M. Mr. Mellen to Hopkinton.  My wife and I to private Meeting at Mr. Whitneys, where I preached on Ps. 34.8.  Which O that God would Succeed to His Glory and our highest Advantage!

April 7, 1773

1773 April 7 (Wednesday).  Very much taken up with our gardening.  Breck has Sent to Boston for an Assortment of Seeds for his Shop – supplys me with several Sorts, and assists in the work we are engaged in.  John Fay’s Time was out last night, but he works for me to Day, and spends his Time and Pains in the Garden.  At Night I paid him as he expects from my promise £25 old Tenor.

April 8, 1773

1773 April 8 (Thursday).  Mr. Mellen, returning home, calls here — acquaints me further with his own Troubles; that his people are about to call a Council; that he believes that the major part of the Church are against him, though the major part of the people, he thinks, are for him.  He goes to Mr. Whitneys to dine.  I visited Neighbour Nurse, She being very low and weak.  When I returned found that Mr. Fish had been here: he tells Mrs. Parkman, that the best way to put an End to the Contention in Bolton, is to Settle a Minister there as fast as they can.  As if the true method of quenching a Flame was to throw Oyl upon it.  Unhappy People to be guided in this manner!  So out of all Rule or Reason.  At Eve came Messrs. Eli Whitney and Joseph Harrington.  The former brought a present of a Number of Trees of some bigness, that had been graffed at the Ground.  Four of them with which he much gratifyed me.  But the Latter has the Affair of Bolton, and the new-published Narrative,[1] in his mind, and therefore he wants to discourse of that.  I gave but few, and cautious Replys.  Chiefly,  That Mr. Goss was not (as I apprehended) orderly dismissed, because  1.) If he were guilty, yet it has not been made to appear by a fair Trial.  The Council (large and mutual) had not found him guilty: and there had been no Trial Since.  2.) There had been no Church meeting called according to the Constitution to dismiss him — no Meeting So much as asked for according to the Platform.  And 3.) The members were but few who met and did this important work, compared with the whole Church.  And 27 out of 52 or 3, had, Since that Vote, received the Communion of Mr. Goss: That if they were more now who were against him, and if he were bad, and ought to be dismissed, yet there ought to be regular Steps taken in order to accomplish it.  And Further, the Narrative is very defective in divers parts of it.

[1]Not clear what the “new-published Narrative” was.  In 1773 there appeared The Result of an Ecclesiastical Council, Convened at Bolton, August 3, 1773, at the Desire of the Pastor and Church of Christ in that Town (Boston, 1773).  Evans 12,686.  See entry for August 17.