Category: Diary

1777 January 9 (Thursday).  None of my Children from New Braintry, etc. are come though Sent to.  Messrs. Hall, Stone, and Crosby come a.m.  They, with my Daughters accompany Breck (who is better) to Col. Brighams.  I went with them.  Mr. Whitney of Northborough there ready.  We dined sumptuously.  P.M. Mr. Whitney prayed and administered the marriage Covenant to Breck and Suse.  I prayed after.  My son Alexander Came from Leicester and attended the Solemnity.  In closing the solemnity the Bridegroom, Bride, Mr. Whitney, the young Gentlemen, Winslow Brigham, Edward (son of Captain Jonas), two or three young women came to my House, where we supped.  Mr. Whitney returned home.  And part of the Company did so.  Alexander, Messrs. Hall and Stone tarried.  May God grant His special Blessing!  Pardoning all amiss and grant the Joy may never Cease!  O that we may all be espoused to Jesus Christ!

1777 January 10 (Friday).  Alexander tarrys to dine, leaves us p.m.  Sent by him a Letter to Mr. Quincy and to Mr. Maccarty for a Receipt [illegible] Money sent by young Master John Barrett last Sept. 2[8?], being the Contribution for pr[torn]g the Gospel in Africa .  Young [torn] and Henry Marble dine with us.

1777 January 11 (Saturday).  The [torn] making Alterations in the East room; viz. removing out C[torn] etc. and [sealing?] up Suse’s.  The same thrashers here, and dine with us.  Miss Elizabeth Harrington with her Relation.  Breck purchased a large fresh Cod-fish of 3 lb. weight, and cost £3.2.6 old tenor on which we sup with much Satisfaction.

1777 January 12 (Sunday).  Preached again on 1 Joh. 3.21, which I pray may be profitable to us!  Messrs. Hall, Stone and Crosby, also Miss Molly Pratt and [blank] Brigham (from Coll. Brighams) dined here.  P.M. with Some regard to my son Breck’s new Circumstances I preached on Prov. 2.1 to 5.  Admitted Elizabeth Harrington and baptized two Children.  May God graciously accept and bless what has been done!

1777 January 13 (Monday).  Billy Spring comes to live with Breck at his store.  I read Mr. Howe’s Excellent Book of the Blessings of the Righteous.  Jonas Sartle of Groton, an Invalid from the Army, came in, and lodges here.  N.B. I had been at Deacon Woods — his grand-Daughter Polly is Sick — at her Desire, prayed with her.

1777 January 14 (Tuesday).  I went over to see old Mrs. Kelly.  In my way called in to Mr. Hannaniah Parker.  When I returned expected to see Deacon Wood and Mr. Nathan Maynard junior who had been killing two large swine for me, but the Deacon was gone home, and Joseph Culloch, who came with him, and assisted — but Maynard stays and dines here.  P.M. Mr. Stone of Southborough Visits me.  And at Eve came Mr. Thomas Kendal from Ticonderoga, and lodges here.  At Eve also Joseph Culloch and his Brother James came and weighed, cut out and salted up my Pork.  One weighed 274, the other 259.  N.B. Breck keeps House.

1777 January 15 (Wednesday).  Messrs. Nathan Maynard junior and Nathaniel Chamberlin went to the ministerial Lot and cutt wood for me.  Elias went with 3 Cattle (as men speak) and sledded home two load.  Mr. Kendal has given me Account of his Endeavours to obtain Ordination but was frustrated in his whole Attempt.  I dealt plainly with him, and I hope he received it well.  May God Sett it home on his Heart!  N.B. I payd him 7 Dollars for a Gun, Cartooch Box and Ammunition.  He dined and p.m. left us to go to Framingham.  Mrs. Hawes and her sister Hill made us a Visit, and drank Tea here.

1777 January 16 (Thursday).  We have the News of another Victory which General Washington has obtained over the Regulars 3 miles from Prince Town, in the Jersys; 500 killed and taken prisoners; January 10.  At Eve came Masters Hall and Stone.  Supped and lodged here.

1777 January 17 (Friday).  Mr. Isaac Miller came to excuse his not coming to thrash.

1777 January 18 (Saturday).  [No entry.]

1777 January 19 (Sunday).  Preached on the same Subject of Self Judging, The 4th Article, of Love of the World.  Used for the Text Ps. [27.6?] last Clauses of it.  P.M. delivered the latter Sermon on Prov. 2.1-5 [torn] [reading?] verses to the 9th.  May the divine Energy accompany it [torn].  N.B. At dinner, besides our own Family, and [torn] Suse and Billy Spring, had Winslow and Mindwell Brigham, Miss [May? illegible]; also Master Hall and Dr. Crosbys Wife.  Sixteen in all.

1777 January 20 (Monday).  Read Antoninus Philosophus — that is, the Preliminary Discourse by Gataker; and part of the Life by D’Acier.  P.M. Mr. Lambson is at work repairing the sled with a New Tongue.  Towards Evening Mrs. P________ and I (by Invitation) drank Tea at the Store.

1777 January 21 (Tuesday).  Read Mr. Isaac Ambrose on Redeeming Time — and on Evidences — very useful by the Blessing of God.  In the Eve read Bishop Butlers Sermon I on Human Nature and on the Government of the Tongue, neither of which (as I conceive) breathe much of Christianity.  But he is a celebrated Writer.

1777 January 22 (Wednesday).  Isaac Miller was expected to thrash for me; but did not come.  Sermonize.  Read variously.  At eve Breck, his Wife and Boy sup with us.  Henry Marble, after thrashing in the Day, Shelled out Corn in the Evening.

1777 January 23 (Thursday).  Are in some Perplexity; being not able to get Supply of Wood or Meal.  It is a dry, cold, freezing season; the Roads Icy, Slippery, yet much bare ground; and poor sledding: In the woods the snow is too deep for a Cart.  And as to Grinding, the mills of this and the next neighboring Towns fail very much.  Some go to Sawyer Mill at Lancaster.  At Eve came Son Ebenezer from New Braintree, and lodges here.  N.B. Capt. (I hear he is now Major) Silas Bailey, came in to bring me a proclamation for a Fast.  In his talk inveighs against the Ministers of the Association who Aug. 20, 1771, declared against the Bolton people’s irregular proceedings with Mr. Goss.  N.B. Deacon Wood was present and heard him.

1777 January 24 (Friday).  A.M. Snow — p.m. the Storm turns to Rain.  Ebenezer tarrys with us.  The Wind rises, the Snow, all that has lately fallen and more, is carryed off — the waters flow, the fields are swept and drenched, the mills are going again, though for a long time they have been quiescent.

1777 January 25 (Saturday).  Ebenezer leaves us to go to Watertown.  Henry Marble comes and they winnows [sic] up Rye.

1777 January 26 (Sunday).  I carry on the Subject of Self-tryal from 1 Joh. 3.14 a.m. with Additions.  P.M. Still go on from 1 Joh. 3.21.  Used some parts of my Discourse on 1 Joh. 3.14.  Mrs. P________ went to meeting, after being kept at home for two months.  Thanks to God for His Goodness.  Mr. David Maynard junior dines with us.

1777 January 27 (Monday).  Master Hall and his Brother Jonathan here going to Hollis.  Marble and Ph. Brigham thrash — and Shock.  P.M. Col. Brighams wife and her sister Hitty here, drink Tea etc.

1777 January 28 (Tuesday).  Marble and Ph. Brigham thrash — by 1/2 after 10 a.m. make an End of thrashing.  Brigham goes away — Marble helps Elias load some wood at the Island, dines with us and leaves us.  They have been here Eleven Days besides this part of a Day.  They have thrashed nigh 50 shock.  They ask 2/ per Day.

1777 January 29 (Wednesday).  Fast [torn]out New-England, on account of the War.  I preached [torn] this Occasion from Zeph. 1.12. but p.m. was obliged to deliver [with some alterations?] sermon on Ps. 81.11 to 15.  May God accept our supplications, forgive our Sins and bless the word to us all!  Breck and Suse with us at Supper.  At Eve Ebenezer came from Watertown, having been to Boston.  He lodges here.

1777 January 30 (Thursday).  My son sets out for home though it is in a great storm of Snow.  We are unhappily very Short of Wood — but I would listen to the divine word: “I would have you to be without Carefulness.”[1]

[1]1 Corinthians 7:32: “But I would have you without carefulness.”

1777 January 31 (Friday). This day was pitched upon by some Number of Neighbours to cutt and cart Wood. But squire Baker could not come, and therefore it fell through so far as to appoint Monday — yet 3 Cutters went to the Lot, and worked — Elias Sledded 2 Load. Dr. Hawes Sent one Load of his own.

1777 February 1 (Saturday).  Mr. Quincys Letter of the 17th ult. came to hand.  Mrs. Spring is with us — came yesterday  p.m. and lodges here.  My Son Baldwin having collected a sufficient Number of Artificers, Tools and Materials for the Service of the Army in the Northern Department is now by Letter from General Schyler [sic] at Albany hastening back — was here p.m. but, after refreshing, leaves us.  N.B. Mr. Stones Letter to change tomorrow came too late.

1777 February 2 (Sunday).  Being next to treat of the Seventh Article as a sign of Sincerity, viz. Growth in Grace, and being able to compose but a little upon it, I improved my former Preparations on 3 Pet. 3.18 and continued them p.m.  Mrs. Beeton dined with us.  Breck and Suse with us at Eve, attend at our Repetition.  N.B. Mrs. Spring went from us in the Morn.

1777 February 3 (Monday).  The Weather has been such as greatly to spoil the sledding.  Therefore no body came to get Wood for me as proposed; except Mr. Andrews who brought one Load from the Lott.  Henry Marble works for me and lodges here.

1777 February 4 (Tuesday).  Marble — Elias sleds.  I went to Dr. Hawes to reckon etc. but he was not at home.  Mr. Emmerson Foster, preacher from Marlborough, came with a Letter from the Church of Marlborough signed by Mr. Smith, to desire me to assist in a Fast there next week.  He dines here.  P.M. he goes to Northborough.  My son Samuel and his Wife came to see us.

1777 February 5 (Wednesday).  Our Expectations of Mr. Cushing’s coming utterly fail.  It is Rainy, and the Snow is washed away.  Sam and Sally disappointed of their intended Ride to Ashburnham — p.m. cleared so that I visited Nehemiah Maynards Wife’s Child which is very bad.  Prayed there.  Visit Squire Whipple also, he being very ill — prayed with him.  In returning I called at squire Bakers.  N.B. Monsieur Pierre Robishow there.

1777 February 6 (Thursday).  Marble finishes winnowing my Rye.  Of Marbles and Phinehas Brighams Thrashing there was about 48 Bush.  My Son Samuel and his Wife are confined here by the roughness of the bare Roads – and the Indisposition of the latter.  The Child which I visited yesterday, died this morning.

1777 February 7 (Friday).  Samuel has Mr. Paul Lambson to put a Shooe upon his Sleigh: and I improve him to put another New Side to my Sled.  Mr. Lambson dines here.  I attended the Funeral of the Child aforesaid.  At Eve Dr. Hawes came and reckoned with me.  In his account he generously gave in his Visits.  He paid me the Remainder of the Rate of my Sallery for the last year issuing on June 5 old style.  It was £12.10.5.2, including my Debt to Mr. Edwards Whipple of 2 Dollars and 1/2 and l/ – 1d 1/.  The rest of Mr. Whipples Rate was further subtracted Out of the above sum I paid the Doctors Bill, which was (in L.M.) £2.15.7.1.  The Cash I received was the sum of L.M. £8.18.9.1.  And I gave him a Receipt in full.

1777 February 8 (Saturday).  My son Samuel and his Wife, though it was cloudy and began to rain, yet having waited long for fit weather, Sat out for Concord.  Breck waits upon Sally with Mr. Newtons Chaise, Sam puts his Mare into his Sleigh-Thills, and drives her before him, he running on foot, hoping that from the 26th Milestone in Marlborough they Shall have snow.  Marble goes home.

1777 February 9 (Sunday).  I had prepared a paper, being an Exemplification of a Souls self-Examination of Growth in Grace, and though there is enough of it for a Sermon, and I designed to deliver it after a third Exercise on 2 Pet. 3.18 (two had been delivered last Lord’s Day).  But I found it best to go on with what I composed some time agoe upon that Subject, though it took up both a. and p.m.  And deferred the Soliloquy.  Marble dined here.  At Eve Breck and Suse came to our Family Exercise.  Breck again with me about joining to the Church.

1777 February 10 (Monday).  A.M. was at the Funeral of Mr. Jonathan Grouts young infant.  Visit Capt. Jonathan Fay who has the Asthma and bad Cough.  I visited also Mr. Daniel Nurse, who has the Rheumatism.  Prayed there, his aged Father and his sister attending.  I dined with the younger Family.  P.M. delivered Mr. Benjamin How my Gun to mend the stock.

 

It is a remarkable Day.  The Town Meet to consider the Courts Act for Regulating the Prices of Things and The Companys Meet to enlist soldiers.  The Committees from 5 Neighbouring Parishes meet to Consult and Advise together upon those difficult matters — But I know not to what purpose as to either of those Affairs.

1777 February 11 (Tuesday).  Was a storm of Snow increasing to great violence.  But We have usual Health and Help and some Wood.  Thanks to God therefor.

1777 February 12 (Wednesday).  Though it was fair Weather, yet too Cold and rough, for me to venture to go to Marlborough Fast; nor could I have an Horse: The mare (Brecks) of Necessity goes in the Team to sled Wood.  Miss Nabby Woods has worked here; this is now the 3d Day in altering and preparing Elias’s Cloths — goes home this Evening.  Mr. B. Bradshaw and his Brother Parkman came and lodge here.  Capt. Maynard and his wife make us a Visit.