Category: Diary

1779 December 13 (Monday).  Deacon Wood came with his chaise to go to Mrs. Cutter’s Funeral, but it was too stormy for me to venture.  Elias rode with him.

1779 December 14 (Tuesday).  I sent by Dr. Hawes, Mr. Cranch’s 2d Vol. of Biogr.  Also my Watch for a new Crystal.  Mr. Elisha Parker brought me several worthy presents, Beef and Tea, 10 lb. of one, 1/2 lb. t’other.

1779 December 15 (Wednesday).  Read part of Biographical Dictionary.  The Lives of Confuius etc.  Messrs. Sam. Forbush and Sol. Batheric sledding wood from the Minister’s Lot.  Newspapers from Boston and Worcester.  Received a Letter from Bethiah Parmenter, alias Wheaton, dated Hopkinton Oct. 19, 1779, open and dirty, desiring a Contribution.

1779 December 16 (Thursday).  Went to Deacon Wood to inquire about the Letter received last evening.  Wrote to Mr. Fitch about it and enclosed it.  Sent it to Deacon Wood by young Asa Brigham for conveyance.  Messrs. Forbush and Batheric more wood.  Gave the former a Receipt for ten cord.  He tells me the Town voted to give 7£ per cord to Four of them 70£ apiece for 10 cord each, viz. Samuel Forbush, Solomon Batheric, Nathan Maynard Junior and Jonathan Maynard, who have undertaken to bring 40 cords.

1779 December 17 (Friday).  Breck to Sutton in the Sleigh to get Paper.  Succeeds but in part.  Elias has borrowed a mathematical manuscript which he is transcribing.

1779 December 18 (Saturday).  It is exceeding Stormy, snowing, blowing and very cold, but through God’s great Goodness, we have Shelter, Wood, Bread, Meat, Drink, Cloths but especially Health, Reason, above all the Day of means of Grace!  To His Name be praise and glory!  May God commeserate the exposed, and the Necessitous!

1779 December 19 (Sunday).  Difficult getting to Meeting, but few there.  I was first.  Preached a.m. on Zech. VI.8th and from v. 9-11.  P.M. Went on with and concluded Sermon on Hab. 5.9, which may the Lord bless to us!  At eve read part of Fleming’s Confirming Work of Religion.

1779 December 20 (Monday).  A very cold season, and continues so.  I am engaged in Biographical Dictionary.  C. Confucius, Cato, Casaubon, Mons. Le Clerk etc.

1779 December 21 (Tuesday).  Mr. William Chandler of Pomfret in straight for a sled to go to Framingham.  I have let him have mine, and he leaves his Waggon here.

1779 December 22 (Wednesday).  I am taken up very much with Biography.  The Life of Lucius Cary who is Lord Falkland, Dr. Sam’l Clark, old Mr. Calamy, Des Cartes etc.

1779 December 23 (Thursday).  Young Chandler returns and solicits my sled to go to Pomfret.  I yielded to his Importunity and for Mr. Lamson’s putting two Guards in front, and for his Journey to Framingham he pays me 10 Dollars and for the Sled 50 Dollars.  P.M. came Mr. Nathan Goddard to desire me to change with him, who is to be in Mr. Sumner’s stead, while he is to go to Hubbard’s Town to preach for Mr. Parker.  Mr. Peter Whitney here and relates the Proceedings of his Parish in granting him 3000£.  At Eve, Mr. Reuben Puffer and his Brother with a Letter from Fisk concerning the said Puffer’s Examination.  I referred him to the three Ministers which are near to him: viz. Messrs. Bridge, Biglow, and Newell.

1779 December 24 (Friday).  Breck and Suse, Mr. Brigham and Sophy rode in the Slay to Mr. Whitney’s.

1779 December 25 (Saturday).  I rode up to Shrewsbury — to Mr. Nathan Goddard’s who has persuaded me to take this cold ride.  Went to Mr. Sumner’s who was gone with design to preach tomorrow at Hubbard’s Town.  I lodged at Mr. Sumner’s.

1779 December 26 (Sunday).  Preached at Shrewsbury.  A.M. on Ps. 74.17.  P.M. on Ps. 90.10, which may God graciously own and bless!  Lodged there again.

1779 December 27 (Monday).  Breakfast at Sister Cushing’s.  Visit Mr. Farrar’s Wife who is sick, dined at Mr. John Maynard’s, called at Mr. Gershom Brigham’s and begin to take Thomas’s Spy of him — went in to Mr. Samuel Fay’s, but neither he nor his Wife at home — arrived safe at home.  D.G.  Mr. Goddard preached for me yesterday.  His text a. and p.m. 1 Cor. 23.24.  Dr. Hawes brought me my Watch from Mr. Cranch — the new Chrystal cost 12 Dollars.  This evening came William Winchester to live here.

 

Mr. Nehemiah Maynard came with him.  N.B. His father Mr. Nathan Maynard sat by and heard.  I told Mr. Maynard that I would do what I could conveniently and reasonably in teaching and influencing him in Reading, Writing and Cypering, according as his Business in taking Care of the Cattle, Cutting the Wood etc. would give opportunity and as his Capacity should admit it.  This was in answer to what Mr. Maynard delivered me as Mrs. Winchester’s Errand to me by him.

1779 December 28 (Tuesday).  Read Biogr.  A close time for study, but a great Storm abroad.  God be merciful to the poor and to all the Exposed!

1779 December 29 (Wednesday).  A very dismal morning.  Storm continues till about noon.  Snow-Banks very high nigh my saddle-house 6 feet high.  Roads blocked up.  What can have become of poor Mr. Goddard, who proposed to set out with Wife and children etc. on his great Journey to Walpole, has sold at Shrewsbury and would now move.  My son Breck had also designed to go in a double Sleigh to Ashburnham, but no Team nor Sleigh can Stir.  How wonderful the Works of the Great God!

1779 December 30 (Thursday).  I keep close to my Study, though Mr. Antipas Brigham had requested me to go to Capt. Edmund’s to marry him.  But nobody disturbs me.  Enough to do to keep warm.

1779 December 31 (Friday).  Jejun.[?] and Prec.  Reflections on the Year past, with praise for Preservation and numberless Benefits.  Humiliation and Penitence for Ingrat. Deficiencies and Miscarriages.  May a gracious and merciful God remitt through Jesus Christ — So teach me to number my Days that I may apply my Heart to true Wisdom!  Lt. John Forbes from Otter Creek here and gives me account of the State of Vermont.

1780 January 1 (Saturday).  If I have heretofore had great Cause to bless and praise the Name of God for his Wonderful Mercy and Goodness in my and my Families’ Preservation, What have I now!  to be permitted to begin a New Year.  I would celebrate His Praises, with all Hearty Gratitude.  And in Special in so difficult a Season, of so Much cold and Snow and tedious stirring, I am favoured in divine Providence, with the Necessarys and so many of the Comforts of Life.  But in peculiar for the protracting the Day and Means of Grace, and the blessed Influences of the Holy Spirit.  I would magnifie the Lord and hope in His Salvation.

 

People are chiefly employed in making Roads, providing for the Fires, taking Care of Cattle, etc.  But the Lord pitty the poor and exposed!

1780 January 2 (Sunday).  Exceeding Difficult getting to Meeting.  A.M. I went  on with the discourse on the Everlastingness of God, begun on the last Year first Sabbath, from Ps. XC.2.  Master Hazzletine dined here.  P.M. I repeated part of Disc. on Ps. 39.4.  O that God would awaken us, and teach us to profit hereby!  At night, another Snow storm.

1780 January 3 (Monday).  The Storm is very severe, much more snow has fallen.  It was higher than the Red Fence before my House by the Storm last week: it is now higher, and the Front Gate is not to be seen.

1780 January 4 (Tuesday).  God has his Treasures of Snow and Hail and Wind.  POWER belongeth unto GOD!  How distressing to the Poor!  Read Biographical Dictionary, Cicero, etc.

1780 January 5 (Wednesday).  Through Divine Favour this was a bright, pleasant Day.  Both my Sons and my Steers join with a number of the Street Neighbors with Cattle and Shovels to break the Roads.  Tis difficult to compute the Heighth or Depth of it.  I am almost ready to conclude that there has not been so much Snow upon the Ground at a Time ever since the GREAT STORM in year 1717.

1780 January 6 (Thursday).  The great God has his Treasurers of Snow and has supreme Command of all the Meteors.  It is very stormy again, and the Snow deeper, and though the Sun was visible a little while in the p.m., yet it was soon clouded, and the Storm rages at night.

1780 January 7 (Friday).  An astonishing morning — for the dreadful Storm rather increases.  Besides the snowing and blowing with violence the cold is very intense.  This is thought to be the most tedious of any that has come hitherto.  May God most compassionate pity and relieve me, and also support and provide for the poor!  Who can stand before Thy Cold!  N.B. All the Pains taken about breaking Roads, in great Measure frustrated.  Very few persons can stir abroad at all.

1780 January 8 (Saturday).  Hardly ever was the Sun more welcome — but yet the cold is so Sharp and the Wind so high, it is very difficult to undergo the Hardships we are called to.  But what becomes of the poor who have not the Favors which through the great goodness of God I enjoy!

1780 January 9 (Sunday).  Though I had prepared an exercise, and it was a long one, yet it not being calculated for the Season, I did not use it.  I was in Doubt whether there would a Meeting.  But a few came upon Racketts: and I repeated what remained from last Sabbath’s Entertainment upon Ps. 39.4 a. and p.m. for I was obliged for my own Sake and for the Sake of the People to be exceeding brief.  A number of men came to my kitchen at noon, and I shortened the Intermission.  Mr. D. Forbes is extremely bad, and desires Continuance of Prayers.  At eve I read to the Family part of Mr. Shepherd’s Doubting Christian drawn to Christ, in my study the Life of Susanna, Countess of Suffolk.

1780 January 9 (Sunday).  Though I had prepared an exercise, and it was a long one, yet it not being calculated for the Season, I did not use it.  I was in Doubt whether there would a Meeting.  But a few came upon Racketts: and I repeated what remained from last Sabbath’s Entertainment upon Ps. 39.4 a. and p.m. for I was obliged for my own Sake and for the Sake of the People to be exceeding brief.  A number of men came to my kitchen at noon, and I shortened the Intermission.  Mr. D. Forbes is extremely bad, and desires Continuance of Prayers.  At eve I read to the Family part of Mr. Shepherd’s Doubting Christian drawn to Christ, in my study the Life of Susanna, Countess of Suffolk.

1780 January 10 (Monday).  The Life of Mr. Daniel Forbes is much doubted of, but I cant get to him by reason of the deep snow, and difficult stirring.  I am chiefly reading lives of eminent Persons.

1780 January 11 (Tuesday).  Mr. Forbes still alive, but no Horse can go in the deep snow, but I have no Racketts nor Strength to go far, as to visit him.  Send my Love and Sympathy by those who (eight of them) draw on an Hand Sled his two Daughters Forbush and Bond to see him before he dies.  My Heart is much with him, and to God for him.  Mr. Hannaniah Parker returning from him comes in at eve to let me know he is yet alive, though with signs as they think of Death upon him.  May it please God to be almightily present with him!  His Brother Fisk has been on Racketts there.

1780 January 12 (Wednesday).  Fair, but too rough and severe for me to go abroad, and therefore cant visit Mr. Forbes, who I hear is yet alive.  Read the lives of several remarkable persons, particularly in Biogr. the Life of Oliver Cromwell, and in Clark’s Lives, the Life of Rev. Mr. Vine.  Elias reads Earl of Chesterfield.

1780 January 13 (Thursday).  A very cold day — we think the severest of any that has come.  May God almighty support us through these Extremities!  but especially the poor and destitute!  P.M. Mr. Elisha Forbes came and informed that his Father was dead!  that he expired last evening about 8 o’clock.  He was 69 years old last October.  It was conceived that his Distemper was bilious: had his senses to the last, and was calmly resigned to the Sovereign Will of God.  The Funeral proposed to be tomorrow, and he, Elisha, will take effectual Care of my comfortable Transportation.

1780 January 14 (Friday).  Squire Baker and two or three hands with him, which soon increased to half a dozen, drew me on a sled to the House of Mourning.  It was sharp cold, the Wind piercing, the sled goes over the Tops of Walls and Fences.  Though it was very difficult to get there, yet there were many People — as it is said by them that were with him most he dyed happily; so he was buried honourably, and great Respect shown to his Remains.  May God graciously Support the Widow, who solidly mourns the Loss; may the Fatherless find Mercy with Him that was their Father’s God.  Mr. Forbes has left, of Children, Grandchildren, and one Great grandchild, about 60.  His Brother, his Sister, his oldest Son were not could none of them be notified and therefore were absent.  There were so many Persons with Snow Shoes that there was a good Path and the Corps was carried on a Bier, on Men’s Shoulders.  I was drawn by a number of Rackettmen, in a very handsome Sleigh, with the Widow, Mrs. Abigail Forbush, and his sister, Mrs. Daniel Bond.  It was too tedious for me to stay at the Grave.  I came away before the Coffin was let down — by that time I got to Breck’s Store, I was nigh overcome, by one means and another.  The Mourners, Bearers etc. came to my House, to hear the Will.  Dr. Hawes read it.  At request, I in the Evening wrote a Letter to Mr. Forbes of Gloucester.  I wish ardently that I may truly profit by the Providence!  Elias finishes the first Vol. of Earl of Chesterfield’s Letters.

1780 January 15 (Saturday).  It holds an uncommon cold, difficult season.