Category: Diary

1775 November 16 (Thursday).  My Son left us, to go home.  Old Mr. Nathaniel Whitney came [in?] to warm himself and after some friendly Communication and Serious Refections on the Times and the Causes of our Calamities, he said the Affairs of the Church were as bad as those of the State upon which [there?] followed many uncomfortable and grievous [Contradictions?], in which he manifested strong Prejudices, groundless Jealousies, and a very bitter spirit.

1775 November 17 (Friday).  [No entry.]

1775 November 18 (Saturday).  [No entry.]

1775 November 19 (Sunday).  Preached a.m. on Ps. 130.1.2.  P.M. on Isa. 55.5 to the end of p. 124.  The widow Judith Bellows dined here.  Mr. May here after Meeting — and tarried over night.  May God grant us the Grace to cry to Him out of the Deeps of our Present both private and public Distresses!  and may we be excited to prize and improve the outward Advantages we enjoy by means of Grace; — the Calls of God by His Word and Providences to His Glory and to our own eternal Benefit!  Received from my son Cushing Mr. Ortons sermons to the Aged.[1]  Began to read it.  They are very Natural and profitable.  May the Blessing of God accompany my use of them!

[1]Job Orton (1717-1783), Discourses to the Aged (Boston, 1774; Evans 13,510).

1775 November 20 (Monday).  Visit again George Andrews junior and prayed with him.  Visit also Mr. Abraham Bond under his broken Bones.  Prayed with him also.  To this day was the Adjournment of Town Meeting about the Town-Debts, and to provide for the Poor.

1775 November 21 (Tuesday).  Deacon Wood and Neighbour B. Newton came and killed my old Cow for me.  A Cow that had been more mischievous that ordinary.  Weighed 320.  Mr. Moses Brigham here, lately come from Dartmouth College.  Borrows Monis’s Grammar[1] and Leusdens Hebrew Psalter.  P.M. Miss Eunice Fish here — at the Shop and at Coffee.  Master Peter Stone was here also.

[1]Judah Monis (1683-1764), Dickdook Leshon Gnebreet.  A Grammar of the Hebrew Tongue (Boston, 1735; Evans 3931).

1775 November 22 (Wednesday).  Isaac Forbush has worked for me 5 Days at 1/4 Dollar per day and came early this morning and killed a shoat for me.  [asks reasonably and behaves?].  A soldier, one of the Riflemen, a German, who says his Name is John Parkman, came in to see me.  At Eve Mr. Bowen called and refreshed.  He had been trying to [blot] [this?] Town; but can’t succeed.  He took leave to go home, but thought fit to stay, and lodged here.

1775 November 23 (Thursday).  Publick Thanksgiving.  Preached on Ps. 101.1, mainly a new [blot] by reason of many Interruptions, too imperfect and broken a Compos[torn].  May God graciously accept our Offerings, and forgive the Iniquitys of our [blot]ing!  Master [May?], and [Mrs. Spring?] and her Children here at the late[blot] others were [blot] did not come.  [blot] above [blot] all, lodged here.

1775 November 24 (Friday).  Mrs. Spring and her Children tarry till towards Evening.  I visited again poor George Andrews — his Nerves are very much affected.  Conversed and prayed with him.  His Case is very dangerous.  May God prepare him for the Event!

1775 November 25 (Saturday).  P.M. Capt. B. Fay came, earnestly requesting me to go immediately to old Mr. Nathaniel Whitney, who has Convulsion Fits.  I was closely engaged in preparing a sermon for tomorrow, but was obliged to leave it.  I went — found him so convulsed as to be incapable of Speaking plainly.  He had his senses and could walk about.  I prayed with him.  Returned at Eve.  Mr. John Overlock from Ashburnham came with a Cow and two young Creatures to be kept here this Winter.

1775 November 26 (Sunday).  Mr. Overlock leaves us to go, being Sent for, to the Army, he being a soldier and obliged hastily to repair there.  I had prepared in part to preach on another Text, but by the providence of God was prevented.  Therefore preached a. and P.M. on Isa. 55.5 from p. 125 to p. 134, with what is in some loose papers, as Continuation of p. 130.  Which may God bless to us!  Mrs. Ruth Godfry dined with us.  At Night Breck went to Mr. Andrews’s and watched with George.

1775 November 27 (Monday).  Am Reading Mr. Job Ortons Discourses to the Aged.  May God grant me to profit by this useful Book!  P.M. as I was going out of the House to visit Mr. George Andrews, came a young man, a Messenger from thence, praying earnestly that I would hasten to him, as they thought he was dying.  I went — he was revived — Talked with him, instructed, cautioned, and prayed with him.  Hannah droops again.

1775 November 28 (Tuesday).  Read Mr. Ortons Sermons.  P.M. visit old Mr. Whitney who is Paralytic.  I saw one of the Fits come on, by the turning and twitching of his Mouth and his Eyes, rolling up, to one side (his right), but his whole Body was affected — and he was incapable of any thing, for a Short Space — But then came to; and Seemed rational again.  As I went in, Deacon Warrin of Upton was at Prayer.  After some time of conversing with the Sick, and on the Providences of God, to the Company, they requested me to pray.  I complyed — and endeavoured to improve the Opportunity for Spiritual profit.  Received a Letter from Mr. Bowen, that he has removed to [Mr.?] Taylors (or rather Coll. Taylors) and settles there.  Wrote an Answer the Same Eve.

1775 November 29 (Wednesday).  Rev. Mr. Hall of Sutton, calls herein his way to [blot].  Samuel Williams here to agree about Cutting Wood for me [blot] to cutt for Six shillings per Cord; and one shilling per Cord [blot], and I have told him to go to work at that Rate.

1775 November 30 (Thursday).  [blot] Though Samuel Williams had so fairly agreed to go to cutting to day, yet he went not.  But Nat. Chamberlain went, and cut there, and Nathan Maynard junior went with my Cart and Oxen, and a small pair of Cattle of his own, to the Lot, and brought two load home, but not quite a Cord.  N.B. I bought 50 weight of Tallow of Lt. Joseph Baker, rough, at 2/6 old tenor and Breck buys 30 lbs.  Do.  It is tryed up in the Kitchin.  Suse Brigham visits here.  Another Month has rolled off, and my Life so much the Shorter!

1775 December 1 (Friday).  Breck buys for himself and me, a Quantity of rough Tallow of Lt. (or Capt.) Joseph Baker; and with my Team carts it home, and my people in the Kitchin go to trying it up.  I am indeed my self otherwise employed.  May God graciously assist me in my Great Work!  At Night came Mr. Benjamin Hicks of Sutton, who tells me that a great many of the soldiers are returning home, their time being out to day.

1775 December 2 (Saturday).  Mr. Hicks goes on his Journey.  In the Kitchin Trying Tallow.  P.M. in going to Southborough visit George Andrews.  Mr. Stone came here.  At Mr. Stones was Mr. Moses Gill.  Quilla, the Negro Woman, very bad and consuming.  I lodged at Southborough.

1775 December 3 (Sunday).  Preached at Southborough on Isa. 63.8 a. and P.M.  May God be graciously pleased to forgive the Iniquitys of my holy Services and add His Special Blessing!  Mr. Gill, Mr. Bowen and wife dined there.  I returned home at Eve: but visited and prayed with George Andrews.

1775 December 4 (Monday).  Breck goes, and [three?] Teams are to go also to Providence.  Seventeen men enlist to go to the Army.  Capt. Maynard here about a place to erect a new stable behind the Meeting House, on my Land.  On certain Conditio[ns I cons?]ent.

1775 December 5 (Tuesday).  Capt. Maynard raises a Stable at the Corner in my Land on the back side of the Meeting House.  At Eve my Son Samuel and his Wife, with little son and Daughter came in their Chaise.  They came from Mr. Forbes’ House in Brookfield; but only from Alexanders in Leicester to day.  Mr. Daniel Forbes junior brought their Goods; He brought also for me, Mr. Eli Forbes’ Chambers Cyclopedia in 2 Vols., and Scots Supplement 2 vols.  N.B. Mr. Peter Whitney and Mrs. Rebecca Warrin had been here and din’d with us.  Dr. Hawes and Wife and Mr. Waters also here at Coffee P.M.  The latter consents to preach for me.

1775 December 6 (Wednesday).  Besides reading the excellent L[torn]gned [Omiiron?] I am taking a Taste of the Cyclop [torn].  It is a Library.  Mr. John Fessenden came at last and brought me part of my last years Sallery — viz. £15.12.9 Lawful Money.  At Eve I visited at Mr. Thad. Warrins.

1775 December 7 (Thursday).  Breck returned from Providence, and his Teams [torn].

1775 December 8 (Friday).  Jejun.

1775 December 9 (Saturday).  In the Kitchin they are still [torn] rough Tallow.  The Recruits from this T[torn].  They go off to day.

1775 December 10 (Sunday).  Mr. Cornelius Waters p[torn] for me on Joh. 8.36 and P.M. on Luk. 13.3.  I [baptized?] my Son Samuels Daughter Sarah.  Mr. Waters lodged here.  N.B. shews me his Call which the People of Ashby have given him; and he consults me upon it.

1775 December 11 (Monday).  Mr. Waters leaves us.  Mr. Bowen comes from Northborough, and brings a Letter from Mr. Moore, dated the 9th from Roxbury.  He dines with us.  Dr. William Jones from Grafton here.

1775 December 12 (Tuesday).  A very cold Season.  Nat. Chamberlain goes to the Ministerial Lot with Mr. Joseph Bonds Oxen added to mine and brings one Load of Wood, but it is so rough going that he goes not in the afternoon; but Joseph Cullock thrashes Rye P.M.  At Eve came Mr. May and lodged here.  I am reading Dr. I. Mathers History of Wars with Indians.[1]

[1]Increase Mather, A Relation of the Troubles Which Have Hapned in New-England, by Reason of the Indians There (Boston, 1677; Evans 238).  Did Mather publish a history in England in 1676?

1775 December 13 (Wednesday).  Went to Widow Williams’s.  John Warrin, her Grandson, is Sick.  P.M. Ripley from the College at Concord.  He went to Mr. Haskill (one of the school-Committee) to enquire concerning the School keeping.  He returned here and lodged with us.  Breck goes with a Waggon to Waltham.

1775 December 14 (Thursday).  I wrote by Ripley to my son William.  Samuel first takes to days Paper.  I read Dr. Increase Mathers History of Indian Wars, published 1676.

1775 December 15 (Friday).  Great Numbers of Oxen and Hogs are killed from time to time at Capt. Bakers — many also at Deacon <Capt.> Woods.  Breck at night returns from Waltham, with slender, next to no Load of Earthen Ware.

1775 December 16 (Saturday).  Many [torn] Successes of the provincial Forces by Sea in taking [torn] to Boston with stores and Provisions for the Kings Troops — and of taking Montreal etc.

1775 December 17 (Sunday).  Preached a. and P.M. on Rom. 3.24.  May God prosper the word delivered!  Mr. May dines here: he is here after meeting at Eve.  Tarrys over night.  N.B. Capt. Baker had been here in the Morning to inform me of his being obliged to have Hands at work to day in cutting out and Salting and barrelling up Pork, which must otherwise spoil.  At which I expressed my Sorrow, and told him I must leave it to him to judge of the Necessity of his doing this Thing.  N.B. Receive a [large?] Letter from Mr. Forbes of Gloucester, dated Nov. [23?].

1775 December 18 (Monday).  A Cold season for [torn] poor Soldiers.  Breck weighs the Tallow which we had of [Capt. Joseph?] Baker; the rough was 3100 lb.  Now the tryed Tall[torn]mounts to [blank].

1775 December 19 (Tuesday).  Mr. Thomas K[torn] al, who has preached of late at [Jersey?], was here and dined with us.  He designs to go to the Camp: I therefore P.M. rode with him as far as to Mr. Dan. Warrins, whose Wife’s Brother Daniel is in a Languishing state.  I instructed and prayed with him.  Mr. Warrin tells me that Daniel wants to have a sermon preached there; his Mother has been long confined.  N.B. Sad News from [torn]ster of 3 Youths, two of them Chandlers who came from Boston [viz.?]Franklin and one W [torn] Scating upon a pond the Ice broke and they w[torn] drowned.  May God please to Sanctifie this awful Dispensation!  Of these See more hereafter.  My Son Samuel Sat out in his Chaise to go to Woodstock.

1775 December 20 (Wednesday).  Dr. Crosby here and dines with us.  He bears a message from Mr. Sumner and his Wife, requesting me to make them a visit, She being in a wasting and dangerous Condition.  He informs me also of the State of Mr. Morse’s Parish, and the Sad Contests which Subsist between him and them.