Category: Diary

1776 April 4 (Thursday).  My Son Alexander goes home.  N.B. I have prepared the [Way?] with him for pasturing Some Young Cattle, if I shall Stand in need.  Sent a letter to Mr. Forbes, by Mr. Levi Warrin, to be committed to the Care of Gloucester Representative at Waterton.  Read the New Edition of Common Sense, which has Additions.

1776 April 5 (Friday).  [No entry.]

1776 April 6 (Saturday).  Mr. William Blair Townshend and his Son Thomas, dine here.

1776 April 7 (Sunday).  A.M. Repeated (with proper Variations according to the Present times) the latter part of Sermons on Ps. 145.8, but this Exercise was introduced by reading Nahum 1.3.  O that God would please to grant His Grace to us all, that His Goodness might so affect as to lead us to Repentance and that His Longsuffering might prove salvation to us!  P.M. preached on Justification by Faith alone, and not by Works, carrying on the Subject began from Rom. 3.28, but the Text of the Exercise was Eph. 2.8, former part.  Our Cousen Maynard dined with us.

1776 April 8 (Monday).  An extraordinary Military Meeting of the people to choose Militia-Officers for this Town.  Mr. David Maynard and Mr. Seth Morse came in and gave me Account.  N.B. Neighbour Wheelock (I’m informed) is Major; and Cornet Brigham is made a Lieut. Coll. and these Preside at the Meeting.  Capt. Golding of Grafton is made Chief Col. and Capt. Job Cushing another Major.

1776 April 9 (Tuesday).  Nathaniel Chamberlain is so indisposed that he does not come to work.  I went over to see him.  Visit also the widow Williams.  At Eve Received a large and very affectionate Letter from my Son Forbes of Gloucester, dated 14 Mar.  He informs me that the Church has given him a Call to settle with them.

1776 April 10 (Wednesday).  Visit Mr. Abijah Gales Sick Child, Elisha, which languishes.  Prayed with them and dined there.  Visit the widow Gale, and her son Amsden Gale.  Visit Abel Woods, who remains confined by his Wound yet.  I went in likewise to see aged Lt. [blot] and his Wife who are confined by their Infirmities.  N.B. [blot] Hammett of Boston, dined here, in his way to Connecticutt.

1776 April 11 (Thursday).  Abigail Woods came to make me a black Serge Jacket, but works only part of the Day (came late and broke off early — her Brother Abel is gone in a Waggon this afternoon part of the way to Brookfield).  Mr. Cordwell of Sutton here, returning home.  I trade with Capt. Maynard for a 3 year old Steer to match One of Mine; Elijah being fond of obtaining it.  Lt. Uriah Brigham brings me a Letter from Squire [Jos.?] Dorr of Mendon informing me of his Mothers Death and desiring Me to attend the Funeral tomorrow.

1776 April 12 (Friday).  I had designed to go to Mendon to the Funeral of old Madam Dorr and my son Samuel had purposed to go to Boston, with his Wife and Babe; but the Morning prov’d very Stormy — snowed very hard — till it lay thick.  Rained afterwards — which prevents our journeying our several Ways.  But I am especially Sollicitous, how poor Abel Woods fares, who was carryed in a Waggon yesterday, as far as Capt. Job Cushing’s — being in his Way to Brookfield to be under the Care of Dr. Kitteridge.

1776 April 13 (Saturday).  Breck has a bad Cough, and is much indisposed.

1776 April 14 (Sunday).  Preached a.m. on Rom. 3.28.  Our Cousen Davis is got out to meeting after long confinement.  P.M. delivered in one Exercise (omitting the 2 first Pages) Sermon on Luk. 12.19.20.  N.B. Mr. Grosvenor not well, Some of his people were at Meeting here.  Breck took a vomit, and is better.

1776 April 15 (Monday).  Samuel and his wife and Child Set out for Boston.  Dr. Elliot, who came out of Boston this Morn came here at Even and lodged [here?] with us.

1776 April 16 (Tuesday).  Dr. Elliot prosecutes his Journey.  He is going to Fairfield to his Wife and Children.  I rode with him in my Way to Northborough, Ministers Meeting to Day at Mr. Whitneys.  There were present, of the Association, only Mr. Goss and Mr. Newell; but Mr. Morse of Shrewsbury was with us.  I think he said Nothing of his own Affairs.  I was chose Moderator and prayed.  We heard somewhat of Mr. Goss’s present Circumstances.  He intimates that Mr. Walleys Party grow cool, and that some of them attend his Meeting.  In returning home I called at Capt. Maynards to see Mrs. Amsden, but She was so weak She could say nothing to me.  I prayed with her.  I wrote to Mr. Stone to come and preach my Lecture.  Mr. Bradshaw here.  He is come, from Boston, and from his Father’s at Stoughtonham; and lodges with us.

1776 April 17 (Wednesday).  Mr. Bradshaw leaves us to go home to New Braintry.  Mr. Stone did not come to preach.  I preached myself to a few that came.  I preached on Ps. 2.11, having regard to Gods Goodness in the precipitant Removal of the Kings Forces from Boston and Castle William by which means the Capital is opened for the Inhabitants to re-enter the Town with Freeness.

1776 April 18 (Thursday).  Mr. Caleb Harrington a.m. assists me in setting out Trees etc.  Mrs. Stone of Framingham dines with us — her Daughter Goddard of Shrewsbury also; and Mr. Thomas Townsend (Son of Mr. William Blair Townsend) all dined with us.  At Evening came a soldier, Says his Name is James Formoyle of Bedford, Pensylvania belonging to Capt. Cluggedge’s Company, in Col. Thompson’s Regiment of Riflers — has been Sick, but is now hastening to New York.  Prays he may lodge by our Fire.  I pityed and suffered him.

1776 April 19 (Friday).  We have Cause to remember this Day twelve months past.  This was the Commencement of Hostilities between the Kings Troops and the Provincials, at Lexington.  What a Year!  How unparallelled!  We have had of it!  O might it please God, the God of all Grace and Goodness to Sanctifie His holy and righteous but heavy and distressing Judgment of unnatural, intestine War, upon us, a poor Sinful degenerate, Heaven-provoking People!  And in the midst of Wrath remember Mercy!  And as He has begun to shew Compassion to us, in the withdraw of the Oppressing Army and Naval Forces, So would perfect the begun Salvation!

1776 April 20 (Saturday).  Mr. Caleb Harrington a.m. setts out a Number of Different sorts of Trees for me, and carrys home a Number for himself.  Hear there was a Lecture at Northborough yesterday in Remembrance of the Battle at Lexington.  But Mr. Whitney gave me no intimation of it, nor any of the Ministers besides (that I know of) last Tuesday when I was at his House.

1776 April 21 (Sunday).  I preached a.m. on 1 Cor. 5.8.  Administered the Lords Supper.  May it please God to Pardon the Sins of our holy Things, and accept our Offerings for Christs sake!  May we also be enabled to keep the sacred Bonds which we have been renewing!  P.M. Text Gal. 1.15.  Used, with various Alterations sermon on Isa. 55.5 from p. 135 to p. 143.  N.B. Mrs. Maynard, her Daughter Davis and Suse Brigham dined here.  William Fleet, Flax-Comber, came here before Noon; dines and lodges and (without any Desire of mine) Stays with us.

1776 April 22 (Monday).  William Fleet works here in hatchelling Flax.  P.M. Visited Mr. Simeon Bellows’s son Daniel sick of a Fever; and prayed there.  Heard that Mr. Edmund Chamberlains Wife is very ill of a Fever (soon after Childbearing).  I went to see her — and prayed with her.  A worthy, pious woman.  I returned by Ens. Snows.  At home I found my Kinsman Loyd who has been to Boston and is returning to Granville: he lodges here, as does Elijah Brigham, being lately come from Dartmouth College.

1776 April 23 (Tuesday).  Fleet at work on Flax.  (N.B. Mrs. P. lately bought of Breck an hundred Weight.)  We do something of Gardening.  Plow etc.  P.M. Visit old Mrs. Smith who is ill and for some time confined.  Conversed and prayed with them.  Called also at Mr. Nurses, Pratts and T. Whitneys.  Conversed with them and their Children.  Return at Eve.  Fleet talkative etc. etc.

1776 April 24 (Wednesday).  Would Send Mr. Newells Vol. of Guthries Cicero by Elisha Forbes to Treasurer Gardner at Watertown for Conveyance; but am disappointed.  Fleet proves troublesome in the Family.  Spent a great part of my time in directing the gardening: could do but little my Self.  At Eve received a large Letter from my Friend Edmund Quincy Esq. Still at Lancaster; to my great Refreshing.

1776 April 25 (Thursday).  My dear son Forbes came this Forenoon.  He is Journeying in a Surkey from Gloucester to Brookfield.  He lodged last night at the widow Brighams at Southborough.  Dines with us and goes on his Journey.  N.B. He leaves a Letter to our Church requesting Assistance in his Installment.  And asks me to preach on that Solemnity.  P.M. Visit old Mrs. Kelly, and called to see Mr. Ebenezer Maynard and his New Wife, whose Maiden name was Sarah Winchester.  Cousen Mainard and her sister Nichols rode to our House and took up Mrs. P________ with them into their Carriage and carryed her to squire Baker’s.  Fleet is here yet — very talkative and troublesome.  Received Mr. Bowen’s request to change with him, who preaches at Watertown; next Sabbath.  But I was obliged to write a Denyal; having so many pre-engagements to fulfill.

1776 April 26 (Friday).  Sent Mr. Newells Book to Squire Gardner (See above 24) and an Answer to Mr. Bowen, by Mr. Daniel Grout.  Deacon Wood here in the Morn to request me to go to his Brother Joseph’s Child’s Burial — but I am bespoke already — for p.m. I attended the Funeral of Mr. Ab. Gale’s Child, Elisha of nigh 11 Months, which dyed yesterday of a Consumption.  I prayed there.  Also I (by desire) called at Mr. Timothy Warrins, Two of his Daughters, Eunice and Ruth, and a grand daughter (of Six years) being Sick of a Fever.  Prayed with them.  N.B. The troublesome William Fleet, having finished his combing 104 lb. of Flax in the forenoon, 1 d. lawful per lb., left us.

1776 April 27 (Saturday).  For a while we have been destitute of a News Paper; but now do receive again.

1776 April 28 (Sunday).  Preached a.m. on my Subject which I have been treating of for Some time, viz. Faith and Justification from Rom. 3.8.  To Day the 6th, 7th and 8th of the Fruits and Effects of it, but read Rom. 5.1 for the present Text.  P.M. delivered again (with peculiar Introduction, connecting it with the forenoon Discourse) Sermon on Isa. 55.5, those words “and Nations etc. shall Run unto thee.”  May God add his Blessing!  Mrs. Rumley dined with us.  After Meeting Deacon Miles here.

1776 April 29 (Monday).  Mr. Whitney of Northborough here.  Asks me to his Lecture on Wednesday.  I attended at the House of Mourning and Prayed before the Interrment of Daniel son of Simeon Bellows, about 7 years old — and their youngest is also Sick: both the Father and mother so indisposed as that neither of them could go to the Grave.  I visited also at Mr. Seth Woods, where two Children are sick: and the Man Pleuretic.  Prayed with them.  Mr. Edmund Chamberlin requested me to visit his Wife again.  I complyed, went, discoursed with her and pray’d etc.  When I returned home, found my Son Alexander, his Wife and Ch[blot] a here.  They lodge with us.

1776 April 30 (Tuesday).  The heavy [r]ain a.m. hinders Alexander journeying till after dinner.  Then he and His Set out for Framingham.  I rode p.m. to Worcester.  On my way called to talk with Mr. Daniel Forbes (at old serjeant Maynards) concerning the Gloucester Letter.  Called also at Mr. Sumners, but did not go in — his Wife extremely low.  Hastened to Mr. Maccartys — who presented me with one of his Thanksgiving Sermons, on Ps. 34.1.[1]  In returning called at Mr. Samuel Bridge’s etc.  At Capt. Curtis’s.  At Mr. Sumners.  Arrived safely at home between 9 and 10.  Thanks to God!

[1]Thaddeus Maccarty, Praise to God, a Duty of Continual Obligation. A sermon, Preached at Worcester, Thursday, November 23d, 1775. Being a Day of Public Thanksgiving, by the Appointment of the General Assembly (Worcester: Isaiah Thomas, 1776.  Evans 14830).

1776 May 1 (Wednesday).  Mrs. Cullock (her husband gone to New York) Sends for me to see her little son, Elijah, who is extremely ill by a Swelling in his vitals (as apprehended) and I prayed there.  Went to Northborough.  Dined at Mr. Whitneys.  Preached his Lecture on Mat. 26.35, former part.  After Exercises was at Mr. Bass’s.  Returned him his Magazine which I had borrowed.  I called at Capt. Maynards to see Mrs. Amsden — but though I Spoke to her, She could not one word to me, nor could I turn her face to see me.  When I came home, was informed that Mr. Coffin and his Wife came here, but pursued their Journey to Brookfield.  Elijah Culluck dyed about 4 o’Clock p.m.  Mr. Eli Whitney came at night to inform me that his Brother Nathaniel was dead, and to desire me to attend his Funeral on Friday.

1776 May 2 (Thursday).  Went in the Morning to Mrs. Cullocks and prayed there.  She desires me to attend the Funeral of her Child next Friday at 9 a.m.  I Catechized at the Meeting House.  36 Boys.  32 Girls.  P.M. My Son Alexander returned from Boston — the News that 30000 Troops are coming — 3 Destinations, viz. New York, Virginia and Quebec — and small Pox at Brookline etc.  He leaves us to go to Leicester.  Nigh sun setting came my Son Samuel, his Wife and Child.

1776 May 3 (Friday).  A.M. At the Funeral of little Elijah McCullock 3 1/2 years old: and prayed.  N.B. Deacon Wood was Seized Suddenly with very violent Pain, in his Brea[st?] Side; but it went over.  P.M. I rode to Grafton to the Funeral of the late Mr. Nathaniel Whitney (Son of our late Mr. Nathaniel Whitney).  He was taken ill last Saturday afternoon with Aguishness, upon which followed a Fever, and expired on Wednesday p.m.  AEtatis [blank].  Mr. Grosvenor was there but could not speak louder than Whisper, so that I prayed.  I called to See young Joseph Grout, who is better: as I did likewise to discourse with, Capt. Benjamin Fay, upon the Gloucester Affair.  At Evening found my Daughter in Law Lydia, who has brought me from her Husband £7.9.6 Lawful Money or £41.1.3 old Tenor upon one of the Notes which he gave me.  Also here is come James Hicks and his Brother William and lodge here.  Jeremy with a View to living with me.

1776 May 4 (Saturday).  I wrote to his mother at Cambridge about it.  They leave us.  Mr. Ebenezer Chamberlain comes to inform me that both Mr. Simeon Bellows’s Children are dead.  N.B. Something he said of Mr. Ezra Bakers not coming to Meeting, unless so often as the Law requires.

1776 May 5 (Sunday).  A.M. on the Fruits and Effects of Faith (the Subject which I have been upon from Rom. 3.28), but this particular Exercise from Gal. 2.20.  Suse Brigham dines.  P.M. on Consideration of the Deaths in the last Week  I preached (in one Exercise) Discourse on Ps. 103.14.  Gave a public Notice of the Funeral of Mr. Bellows’s two sons, to be tomorrow morning, 8 o’Clock.  Stopped the Church and read the Letter from the first Church in Gloucester requesting Assistance in the Installment of Mr. Forbes.  It laboured — divers made objections, viz. Mr. Thomas Bond, Mr. Batherick, Mr. Joseph Harrington.  When the Vote was put, the Opposers went into the womens Seats: they were, Mr. Daniel Hardy, Mr. Ithamar Bellows, Mr. David Batherick, Mr. B. Tainter, Mr. Samuel Forbush, Capt. Morse, Lt. Bond, Mr. Joseph Harrington, Levi Warrin, Eli Whitney.  On the other side there were 22.

1776 May 6 (Monday).  We are informed that a Number of great Ships are come near to Boston, and many thousand Troops on board of them.  I attended the Funeral of Mr. Bellows’s two little Boys, Asahel, of nigh 5 Years; and Eli about 7 or 8 Months.  Prayed there — and visited Mr. Seth Woods’s two Sick Children: and prayed with them.  Returned to Bellows’s and dined there.  P.M. went in to Mr. Ebenezer Chamberlain junior to See a sick young woman, viz. Miss Lucretia Bellows of Southborough and prayed with her.  Confirmation of the News so far as induces my son Samuel to hasten to Boston this afternoon.  Capt. Morse here in the Evening to Speak of the public Distress, and of the Churches proceedings Yesterday.  Mr. Caleb Wilder lodges here.

1776 May 7 (Tuesday).  The News that a great Fleet of Men of War and Transports, are come nigh to Boston, abates and revives –but in this fluctuation the Hearts of many are aking, and cry to God.  I read Additions to Common Sense in 5 Articles.

1776 May 8 (Wednesday).  Mr. [Caleb?] Harrington goes to Dr. Balls for Hay.  My Team goes, and Chamberlain goes also.  They bring 400 lb., 2 for each of us.  Mr. [Peter?] Coffin, with his Wife (my grand daughter) came lodging last night at Worcester in their [illegible], from Brookfield and in their Way to Cape Ann.  They dined here.  Their Father Forbes came afterwards and Alexanders Wife and Child.  They all lodged here.