Category: Diary

1779 November 9 (Tuesday).  Mr. Levi Warren here to kill a Cow for me, and informs me that the Said Brethren were together and that Mr. Adams was with them.  That they were together till midnight, and then adjourned to next Sennight.  The Cow turns out well.  Mr. Warrin dines here, and gives his work.  P.M. Mrs. Bowker and her sister Bowman of Oxford make us a visit.

1779 November 10 (Wednesday).  [No entry.]

1779 November 11 (Thursday).  Elias goes to Worcester to the Execution of Robert Young, who was condemned and hanged for a Rape on Jane Green of Brookfield.  At Eve, I went to Capt. Fisher’s, who reads part of the Report of the Committee for forming a plan of Government.  I borrow of him the new Military Dictionary, vol. 2, by T. Simes Esq.

1779 November 12 (Friday).  Have news of the poor Criminal’s Behavior yesterday.  Mr. Maccarty preached.

1779 November 13 (Saturday).  Mr. Isaac Parker was here and brought his own and his Wife’s Relations.  He excused the incorrectness of his for want of Time, and took it again.

1779 November 14 (Sunday).  Through the great Goodness of God I am allowed to begin another year of Sabbaths, and would gratefully praise His Glorious Name!  I preached a.m. on Deut. 32.46-47, which may God graciously impress us with!  Mr. S. Barrett and his Daughter Nancy with us and dined here.  P.M. delivered the Remainder of sermon on Prov. 1.28 as being seasonable Warning after the late Execution.[1]  O that my own Soul might be deeply impressed!  Propounded Isaac and Margery Parker to join with the Church.

[1]Prov. 1.28: “Then shall they call upon me, but I will not answer; they shall seek me early, but they shall not find me.”

1779 November 15 (Monday).  Ephraim having rid home on Saturday eve, returned this morning.  I visited Capt. Wood’s Wife and prayed with her, she being very low.  P.M. By Mr. Hezekiah Maynard of Marlborough, I sent Mr. Simon How’s Book of the Indian Wars.

1779 November 16 (Tuesday).  Visit Mrs. Woods again.  Having read I returned to Capt. Fisher his Draught of the Plan of Government!  Dined at Squire Baker’s.  Consult him about paying my Young Man (Parker) and I went to Lt. Joseph Bond’s on the same Affair.  Miss Rebecca Nurse here to be examined.  Widow Rhoda Maynard here with her.

1779 November 17 (Wednesday).  Messrs. Brigham and May lodged here last night.  Elias goes to Cambridge and Boston.  Mr. Kendal of Southborough here to look of [sic] my Sheep.  Mr. Isaac Parker with his Relation.

1779 November 18 (Thursday).  Read several Lives in Vol. II (B) of Biographical Dictionary.  Mrs. Parker (Isaac’s Wife) and Miss Anna Parker (Ephraim’s Sister) made us a Visit.  Deacon Doliber sends me a Present of Fish.

1779 November 19 (Friday).  Deacon Doliber calls here in his way home — gives me account of the Grants of their Society at Marblehead to their Minister for the year.  P.M. Elias returns home from Cambridge, but has not seen the President, though I wrote him by Elias.

Letters from Ashburnham informing that Mrs. Cushing was delivered of a Son on Wednesday Oct. 27, and it is called Doddridge.

1779 November 20 (Saturday).  Have been and am now much engaged in the Prophetic Visions of Zechary.  May God greatly illuminate my Soul with Truth!

1779 November 21 (Sunday).  On Zech. v. 9-11.  And finished my exercises on that chapter.  P.M. preached my sermon on Isa. 63.9-15.  I propounded Rebecca Nurse to join in full Communion with the Church.  Sometimes we have no Singing in the Family on so much as Sabbath Evenings.  But we had this evening.  Josiah Brigham is wont to lodge here and assisted in the Singing.

1779 November 22 (Monday).  Master Elijah goes to Ashburnham, expecting Sophy to return.  I wrote by him.  I visited Mr. Jonathan Tainter’s sick Child and prayed therewith.  I rode up then to Mr. Eli  Whitney’s and dined there, and visited Mr. Benj. Wood and his Family (no Kindred between Deacon and him).  Some words pass about his son Reuben’s living with me.  Went in also to Mr. Ebenezer Miller’s.  N.B. At Squire Baker’s was assured that Mr. D. Adams did verily sign what was last published in the Spy: retracting what was published before.  Ephraim Parker comes up this evening to reckon with me for his nine months Work for me: first for six months, and for them asks my biggest Oxen, for which I am told I may have £500, and for the other three months as the price is stated.  But he would have me ask Advice of my Neighbors.

1779 November 23 (Tuesday).  I walked to Mr. Ebenezer Forbush, to talk with him, and he not being at home spent some time with his Father and Mother.  In returning I made an Opportunity with Mr. Elijah Hardy, who tells me that he gave his Young Man for six months, not £250, and Mr. Benj. Fay not more.  I next talked with Mr. Barnabas Newton, who will take it into Thought.  At eve, speak with Caleb Harrington.  But Parker is gone over to his Brother Elisha’s.

1779 November 24 (Wednesday).  Mr. Brigham returned from Ashburnham and Sophy with him.  Left all well there, and Mrs. Winchester is willing to send me her William.

1779 November 25 (Thursday).  Mr. Elisha Parker came, and Ephraim and I came to some agreement, viz. to give him my Principal Oxen for seven months of his work: and to pay him in Money or Indian Corn for the two Months of October and November, according to common custom, in the old way or in proportion as men’s wages are for youths’.

1779 November 26 (Friday).  I had too many anxious Thoughts about the high Demands of Ephraim.

1779 November 27 (Saturday).  Elisha Parker came when I was about paying Ephraim, but a Controversie arose concerning What was the Usual Custom at this time of the great Alteration of Money within these few weeks.  Ephraim would take no less than £60 for the Two Months.  I was not willing to give any more than 55.  But I was obliged to borrow the money of my son Breck, and they all went to the Shop, where Breck gave Ephraim the whole Sum he required, viz. £60, and so he went to his brother Elisha’s with the Cattle on the Cart to carry his Chest and things there, promising to come and make up the Time, viz. 5 Days that yet remains next week and onward.

1779 November 28 (Sunday).  Preached a. and p.m. with new Introduction, Sermons on Heb. 5.9 to p. 12.  Mrs. Maynard dined here, as did Ephraim Parker.  P.M. read proclamation for Thanksgiving.

1779 November 29 (Monday).  Mr. Dan. Matthis of New Braintry was here to consult me about their Troubles with Mr. Foster’s Doctrines, but I could not tarry long with him, because I was preparing a line to send to the Town (of Westborough) who this Day have a Meeting to Consider my Sallery.  They met.  Mr. Gale was Moderator.  I humbly waited upon God most high in the first place and then sent my Paper, entertaining myself with Judge Hale’s Meditation on Contentation.[1]  My mind was wrought into a placid Frame; in some Measure resigned to the Disposals of Providence.  At Eve, by Lieut. Grout I understood that the Town has voted to make up my Sallery £1300, and 40 Cord of Wood.  For which G.D.

[1]See “Of Contentation: And the Motives to It, both Moral and Divine,” in Contemplations, Moral and Divine.  In Two Volumes.  To Which Is Prefixed, an Account of His Life and Death.  By the Right Reerend Dr. Gilbert Burnet, Lord Bishop of Sarum (Glasgow, 1763), 1:323-40.

1779 November 30 (Tuesday).  Read Judge Hale of a good Method to entertain unstable and troublesome Times — and of Redeeming Time.[1]  In the Evening unbent a while with reading Mr. de Lange’s Journal at Peking.

 

[1]See “A Good Method to Entertain Unstable and Troublesome Times” and “Of the Redemption of Time. How, and Why It Is to Be Redeemed,” in Contemplations, Moral and Divine.  In Two Volumes.  To Which Is Prefixed, an Account of His Life and Death.  By the Right Reerend Dr. Gilbert Burnet, Lord Bishop of Sarum (Glasgow, 1763), 1:3366-71, 373-84.

1779 November 30 (Tuesday).  [Note: The published version of the diary has two entries for November 30.]  Miss Rebecca Nurse here and gave me her Relation.  By reason of a debate about those votes aforesaid by a Friend that came in, Sent to Col. Wheelock, the Town Clerk, for the Transactions of the Town yesterday, relative to me: who wrote that They voted and granted to make up the Rev. Mr. Parkman’s Stated yearly Sallery for the year ensuing £1300.  Voted to get the Rev. Mr. Parkman 40 Cord of Wood the year ensuing.  Signed Moses Wheelock, Town Clerk.  My Kinsman Parkman Bradshaw came from Cambridge by the way of his Father’s, and lodges here.  I wrote to my old and esteemed Friend, Mr. Quincy, having much Solace in this Correspondence.

 

Thus ends the short month of November — An Emblem of this short Life!  On Retrospect, how very little has been done of the Grand Business, with all the Advantages in my Hands!  but how many my Deficiencies, how many and grievous my Miscarriages!  May the blood of Jesus Christ cleanse from all my Guilt and Errors!

 

1779 December 1 (Wednesday).  It is of God’s great Goodness I am thus indulged to begin another Month.  Breck to Boston and Dr. Hawes and his Wife make us a visit and drink Tea.

1779 December 2 (Thursday).  Deacon Wood brings Mr. William Campbell, heretofore of Oxford to see me.  He offers to buy my Sheep, but I dont incline to sell part without he takes the whole.  I read Lives of Squire Boyle, Charles Boyle and others.

1779 December 3 (Friday).  The Doctor brings me a Third Vol. of Biographical Dictionary from Mr. Cranch.  Mr. Joseph Grout brought me a Letter from Mrs. Abigail Davis (heretofore Nichols), who had lived ten years at Mr. Moses Warrin’s, bearing testimony concerning the Harmony between him and his Wife Persis, the present Mrs. Adams.  Mr. Ebenezer Maynard came and acquainted me that his mother Winchester Expired last night, at 10 o’clock in her 79th year.  The Lord prepare me for my own Decease!

1779 December 4 (Saturday).  Breck returns from Boston, my Relations well there.  He brings me a present from my son Samuel, a valuable Silk Handkerchief of Fifty Dollars price, much wanted: my son William, his Wife and Young Child John, rode here in their Chaise, arrived in the Evening.

1779 December 5 (Sunday).  Preached a.m. on Zech. VI.1-7.  P.M. went on with discourse on Heb. 5.9.  Admitted Isaac Parker and Wife, also Rebecca Nurse into Communion.  May God accept them and make them Ornaments to Christianity.

1779 December 6 (Monday).  Was called away to see a young Son of Capt. Jonas Brigham, viz. his son William in his 12th year, who was thought to be under extremely dangerous Symptoms.  I went, prayed, breakfasted there.  P.M. Town Meeting by Adjournment.  Capt. Morse was here, full of earnest advice and Entreaty that I would send something to the Town of my Thanks for what they had done lately for me, and my  satisfaction in it.  I accordingly wrote a paper and sent it by Mr. Joseph Harrington, and he was here at eve to acquaint me how it was accepted, and he believed it was well.

1779 December 7 (Tuesday).  Mr. Edward Brigham came to acquaint me that his Brother dyed this morning and to desire me to attend the Funeral on Thursday, at nine a.m.  I remonstrated, but it was settled, I suppose.

1779 December 8 (Wednesday).  Mr. Samuel Forbush, Mr. Solomon Batheric, and Mr. Nathan Maynard junior came with their Teams and brought Wood.  The two former two Load, the latter one.

1779 December 9 (Thursday).  General Thanksgiving through out the States. I did not go to Capt. Brigham’s, as I was at first desired.  Mr. Edward had come yesterday and told me that his Father would conform to the proposal to bring the Corps to the Meeting-House.  They did so, and I prayed there.  After this they proceeded to the Interment and I went to the Grave with them.

 

We re-entered the Meeting-House and having prayed already began with singing.  Preached on Ps. 68.26-28.  I took to my House a Stranger, one Mr. Joseph Thompson, by Birth, a Philadelphian.  At eve we had singing at my House, a number of young Gentlemen came, besides Mr. Elijah Brigham, and Joseph Brigham, Mr. Moses and Mr. Saml Brigham, Mr. May (the two last lodged among us) and Master Hazzletine.  This evening also Eleazer Wheelock and Thankful Maynard (Captain’s Daughter) were married — such a Variety of Exercises had I in one Day!  May God forgive what was amiss, and accept what was (through Grace) sincere!

1779 December 10 (Friday).  Breck, Suse and Sophy (by invitation) ride in the Sleigh to Col. Brigham’s.  Mr. May goes to Boston.  At Mr. Stone’s Request I headed a number of Papers of Subscriptions for printing a spirited Letter against Mr. Isaac Foster, Sent one to Mr. Stone, gave to Mr. Simon How, to Mr. Moses Brigham, Mr. Isaac Parker, to Master Sam Brigham, each of them a Paper in Trust to promote Subscribing.  The account from Northborough is confirmed that they have there voted Mr. Whitney for this year 3000£.  Messrs. Forbush and Batheric bring old Wood, 2 Load apiece.  The weather prevented my visiting Mr. Jonathan Childs’ sick Daughter.  I wrote to Mrs. Winchester of Ashburnham concerning her son Billy to come and live here.

1779 December 11 (Saturday).  Sent to Ashburnham by Harvey Maynard.  I cant change with any minister.  I there review and make large additions to former preparations, which I humbly hope God will graciously accept through Jesus Christ.

1779 December 12 (Sunday).  Mr. Benj. Wilson junior came from the Widow Eager of Northborough to desire me to attend the Funeral of her daughter Cutter tomorrow (the wife of Ebenezer who is among the British troops).  I preached a. and p.m. on 1 Pet. 1.8.  Administered the Lord’s Supper.  Master Hazzleton and Mrs. Maynard dined here.  May God graciously accept our offerings!  N.B. Cold, stormy, few at Communion.