Category: Diary

1778 February 17 (Tuesday).  I was obliged to go to Squire Bakers to borrow two Sides of Soal Leather, and succeeded.  I visited at Mr. Pipers, O Donalds, and at Mr. Lambsons.  At Eve came Reuben Lambson who was in an unfit Frame.  To prevent further Trouble with him, though he has not worked out his time; four Days being wanting Still; (and they were divers of them in the Summer Months) I took but 15/ old tenor per Day; and though I would have accepted winter Days for them, yet he would not work for me — (Labor being now a Dollar per Day).  I payed him the remainder, and dismissed him.  N.B. Divers times Reuben sadly disappointed me by his Absence from my Bus’ness; and my work has sadly fallen short; yet I gave him the highest wages, notwithstanding he was a Stranger, and I did all I could to encourage and oblige him.

1778 February 18 (Wednesday).  Breck went to Boston in the sleigh, which he has got new Runners to.  Masters Elijah Brigham and Abraham Holland came with double Sleigh and take Sophy with them to go by Northborough to Concord.  Capt. Elijah Bellows of Southborough and his Wife going to Oxford called here.  At Eve Masters Fish and Bradshaw here an sup with us.

1778 February 19 (Thursday).  Was called early to go to Mr. Abraham Bonds young Child, which is extremely low, if not dying.  Went and prayed.  Mrs. Crosby (Doctors Wife) made us a Visit — dined and toward Eve at Coffee, and the Doctor also came.  At Eve they leave us.

1778 February 20 (Friday).  Miss Patty Fish came to See us and to tarry a few Days with us.  Breck returned from Boston by Concord, Sophy and her Company also are come from thence also — but disappointed in design of visiting their Brothers — both were gone with their Wives — one to Medfield, the other to Newbury.  Receive an Answer by Letter from Cousen Bryant about his Timothy; and from Cousen Corsser; who lives still at Mr. Jos. Bradfords.

1778 February 21 (Saturday).  Miss Patty with us.  Hear that Mr. Abraham Bonds Child dyed last night.  I Send Verbally to Mr. Forbes by one Humphry Bray of Cape Ann Harbour.

1778 February 22 (Sunday).  Delivered another sermon from Col. 3.16, former part.  Masters Fish and Bradshaw dine here (as well as Miss Patty).  P.M. Preached on Ps. 7.11, former part.  Which Exercises, may a gracious God succeed!

1778 February 23 (Monday).  Write to My son William to supply Elias with a Load of Wood.  Was at Squire Bakers about my lost Heiffer.  Mr. Ezra Riply dines with us in his way to Framingham.  Attend the Funeral of Mr. Abraham Bonds young Child.  Miss Patty rode with me in the Sleigh.  I prayed there: then I proceeded to Mr. Belknaps to visit and pray with their sick Child.  Miss Patty to her Cousen Fishers.  Mr. Paul Lambson here, and I acquaint him with Reuben’s late Conduct.  Singers have their Meetings still at Deacon Woods.

1778 February 24 (Tuesday).  Mr. [blank] Laws of Enfield at Brecks about Tobacco which Breck has bought.  Lend Breck 77 Dollars.  Mr. John Belknap of N. Braintree calls to see how we do that he may acquaint my son Ebenezer etc.  Messrs. William and Samuel Watkins here at Dinner and I pay them for 88 lb. of Flax — for which I give them 44 lb. of Soal Leather (which I borrow at Squire Bakers) — and for 8 pounds (which the Flax exceeds the weight of the Leather, for we have 96 bl. of Flax) I pay them six Dollars.  The several School-Masters were here, viz. Master [Eli?] Brigham, Moses Brigham, Elisha Fish, and P. Bradshaw.  The two last Supped and lodged here.

1778 February 25 (Wednesday).  Am reading Willins Calcotts Disquisition on Free-Masons.  Masters Fish and Bradshaw go to their Schools.  I went up to Mr. Piper to give him an Account of the Reasons of my Sending for a third Side of Leather.  I also called at Col. Wheelocks; who had received a Letter from Mr. Henry Marble Since his and the other Westborough Soldiers in the Army received the Benefactions from this Town.  I went in also to See Mr. Barker, where I found Fox’s Acts and Monuments; and several other valuable Books.  Cousen Maynard made us a Visit and dined here.  Miss Patty is yet with us, but in the Evening came her Brother and carryed her away from us to their Kinsmans, Mr. Noah Hardy’s.

1778 February 26 (Thursday).  Though this was the Day which Squire Baker appointed for Elias to go with him to Holden after my stray Heiffer, but the Squire was not come home; Roads exceeding bad; therefore that Design is given up for the Present.

1778 February 27 (Friday).  My Sons are both of them much engaged in making Singing Books and pricking out Tunes.  Elias borrows of Mr. Barker The Bishop of Meaux Universal History Vol. 1, which I take some View of.

1778 February 28 (Saturday).  [No entry.]

1778 March 1 (Sunday).  A.M. on Ps. 7.11.  P.M. Repeated on Jer. 6.16.  At Eve Breck and Suse, attend our Exercise.

1778 March 2 (Monday).  March Meeting.  Messrs. Tainter and Joseph Harrington came from the Town to desire me to go to pray with them.  Went and prayed accordingly.  After which I stayed so long as to speak briefly to the Assembly.  At Eve Mr. Isaac Davis here, and reckoned with him.  Give him a Note to the Constable Parker of £3.18.4.  N.B. I am to pay Squire Baker for 3 sides of Soal Leather which I have given for 88 lb. of Flax, which I had of Messrs. Watkins — see on Feb. 24.

1778 March 3 (Tuesday).  Preached at Squire Bakers on Mat. 22.37, which may God prosper.  N.B. Mr. David Martyn, of Philadelphia, there.

1778 March 4 (Wednesday).  This was the Day for Elias to return to Cambridge, the Vacancy being up: but the Weather prevented.  It was a violent Storm of snow and cold wind.  Fay (Jonathan) was here p.m. when the storm was over.  He relates a fresh Story of a horrible Murder.  One Mr. Spooner was murdered by two soldiers lately, at Brookfield.  He was knocked down and thrown into a Well.  Tis said they were hired by his Wife, who is a Daughter of Brigadier Ruggles.

1778 March 5 (Thursday).  Elias accompanyed by Jonathan and David Fay, returned to Cambridge.  Mr. Samuel Forbush brings wood.

1778 March 6 (Friday).  Read Calcott on Free-Masons.  Wood brought by Do.  Master Joseph Hall.  More Wood.

1778 March 7 (Saturday).  Alexander Came at Midnight from Marlborough in New Hampshire, where his Family now is, and has also driven home my Oxen.  After dining with us, he returns by way of Leicester.  I write by him, to Mr. [Haswell?] Printer at Worcester that I cease taking his News Paper, having sent my Pay for it by Capt. [Fisher?].

1778 March 8 (Sunday).  Go on in preaching on Ps. 7.11.  N.B. Disorder in singing.  The Choristers did not sit with the Singers.  P.M. [repeat?] again sermon on Jer. 6.16.  May God add His Blessing to both Exercises!  The Singing was more regular, for Mr. Whitney was with the Singers; but Mr. Ebenezer Chamberlain sat otherwhere and did not stand as the rest.  I fear he is disgusted.  At Eve Elijah Brigham here and lodges.

1778 March 9 (Monday).  Brigham goes to his school, at hither part of Northborough.  Breck and I rode to Mr. Grosvenors, where we dined.  Mr. Willard of Mendon there also.  We proceeded to Sutton, to the Paper-Mill.  He returned and we drank Coffee there.  Mr. Thayer of Paxton there before we came away.  In returning at Even we called to see Capt. Jonathan Fay, who though he is yet ill, yet is better than he was.  N.B. wrote to Elias at Cambridge, and having heard nothing from my Kinsman Bryant, I wrote to him again.

1778 March 10 (Tuesday).  Breck makes a Business of Book-binding; but especially by Singing Books.  The singing school is still kept at Mr. [Samuel?] Warrins, under the Instructions of Mr. Jonathan Batherick.

1778 March 11 (Wednesday).  Col. Baldwin comes here to Breakfast in his way from Boston to Brookfield.

1778 March 12 (Thursday).  Mr. Nathan Maynard junior goes to Mr. Haswell, the Printer for the News Papers, and in my Name, with my Money pays him and settles with him to this Day; I now ceasing to receive the Massachusetts Spy.

1778 March 13 (Friday).  An uncommon Week of dull and fowl Weather.

1778 March 14 (Saturday).  Stephen Maynard chops Wood for me at the Door through the Day, and I agree to pay him by pricking Tunes for him.

1778 March 15 (Sunday).  A.M. on Ps. 7.11.  Which may it please God to bless!  P.M. on Jer. 6.16, very exciting, and urgent.  May it prove a favour of Life, and not of Death!  Sung twice.

 

N.B. Mr. George Smith dined here.  After Meeting read Mr. President Willard’s Barren Figg-Tree’s Doom.

1778 March 16 (Monday).  Continue to read that useful Piece the Palladium of Conscience.  Wrote to my Son Moore.

1778 March 17 (Tuesday).  Send my Letter to Mr. Moore by Mr. Elisha Parker — going to Boston.  Send also by him to Elias at Cambridge.

1778 March 18 (Wednesday).  Rode to Northborough Lecture — dined at Mr. Whitney’s; where were Messrs. Smith, Sumner and Newell.  I preached on Mat. 17.4 to page 17, beginning.  Returned at Eve, though Cold and very bad Roads.  N.B. Deacon Livermore [appeared?] to be in much Tribulation with his Wife.

1778 March 19 (Thursday).  I went to Mr. Parker, Soap-Boiler for Squire Baker and borrow of him Fox’s Acts and Monuments of the Church.  Mr. Whitney came, dined and preached for me, the Lecture on 1 Cor. 11.28.  Mr. Badcock and a considerable Number stayed at the Meeting House to sing.  Several Young Women, viz. Miss Hephzibah Parker and Miss Lydia Batherick, came after Lecture and begin their Boarding and Lodging here, that they may go to School to Mr. Badcock.  N.B. Capt. Fisher here at Eve to talk with me of the Difficultys which his Brother Mr. John Forbes, and his Family, who were driven off from their Dwelling at Otter Creek, are reduced to, and need a Contribution.

1778 March 20 (Friday).  I was forc’d to go up to Squire Baker and get him to go to Holden after my Stray Heiffer.  N.B. I carryed Bishop Babbingtons Works to Mr. Barker instead of his Fox’s Acts etc.

1778 March 21 (Saturday).  A Singularly rough and rugged Season.  Field Officers, Col. Wheelock and Maj. [Bee?] at Brecks, having received Orders to raise men for Boston, and [Dorchester?].  Our Quota is Nine out of both Companys.  Lt. Townsend here.

1778 March 22 (Sunday).  A.M. on Mat. 17.4, but used for the Text to day, Ps. 73.28.  Administered the Ordinance of the Lords Supper.  N.B. Lt. Townsend, now of Fitz William with us and dined here; Cousen Maynard, her son Samuel and Daughter Betty Brigham, Master Samuel Crosby and two sisters, and Molly Pratt, dined here also.  P.M. preached again the rest of my Sermon on Jer. 6.16.  At Eve Mr. Badcock (who [boards?] at my Sons).  Breck and his wife were at our Evening Exercise.  May God be pleased to accept us, and add His Blessing!

1778 March 23 (Monday).  Miss Sally Wiman came to board here, and Miss Hephzibah Parker and Miss Lydia Batherick return again to board as before.  Town Met to read and consider of, the Plan of Government.  Mr. Daniel Forbes and Capt. John. Wood here.