Category: Diary

1780 January 16 (Sunday).  Preached a.m. on Zech. 6.13.  P.M. on Ps. 92.12 and mentioned the Death of Mr. Daniel Forbes, with some short character of him.  N.B. The Widow Forbes, Mr. John Forbes of Otter Creek and Master Hazzletine, dined here; as did Breck and his family: also Mr. Winslow Brigham.  May God graciously add his Blessing!  Breck etc. attended here in the Evening.

1780 January 17 (Monday).  I am reading the Life and Letters of Philip Dormer Stanhope, Earl of Chesterfield.  The Letters to his son Philip Stanhope Esq.  Deacon Wood here with a Spare Rib.

1780 January 18 (Tuesday).  As no Team of Oxen or Horses can pass, people are obliged to go to Mill with Hand Sleds.  Elias went today with a Bushel of Indian.

1780 January 19 (Wednesday).  Mr. Timothy Parker, his Wife and Child came a while ago in a Sleigh from Templeton, to visit their Friends here, but are not able to go back, except himself, who returns on Racketts.  His wife and her sisters Newton and Wheelock visit at Breck’s and I was desired to drink Tea with them.

1780 January 20 (Thursday).  Elias goes again to Mill and Breck with him and carry of Rye Indian and Oats, Six Bushel.  Mr. Eli Harrington of [Alstad?] makes me a long Visit.  He dines here.  Discourse of Church Covenant and Church Government etc.

1780 January 21 (Friday).  Mr. Solomon Batherick and his Brother came and killed my principal Hog, which weighed 190.  I read in Capt. Bell’s and Mr. De Lange’s Travels to Ispahan, Peking, [Derbeni?] and Constantinople and finished the second Vol. of that work.

1780 January 22 (Saturday).  Elias goes on Racketts to Mr. Gershom Brigham’s.  A newspaper of Dec. 30 is the Last.

1780 January 23 (Sunday).  Preached a.m. on Zech. 6.13.  P.M. on Ps. 92.13.14.15.  Ephraim Parker dined here.  A considerable Congregation, though very cold.

1780 January 24 (Monday).  An urgent message from Mr. Antipas Brigham to go to Capt. Edmund Brigham’s, with request to marry him.  I went, but with great Difficulty, by reason of the deep snow.  My sons Breck and Elias drew me on a light sled as far as Mr. Haskill’s, nigh which a number of young men, Brighams accompanied me on foot to the House, where I performed the Solemnity.  After the Supper they brought me to Mr. Gale’s, who kindly obliged me to lodge there.  Mr. G. Andrews there and invites me to dine tomorrow.

1780 January 24 (Monday).  [There are two entries for January 24.]  Mr. Gale and his wife, also Capt. Edmund accompanying me to Mr. Andrews, where I was kindly rec’d and entertained.  Capt. Brigham and Mr. Gale went to Deacon Woods, on an Arbitration.  The Subject was a Difference between Mr. Pierce and Mr. Joseph Smith, both Blacksmiths, where many are assembled to hear William Stearns of Worcester, Esq. advocate for Smith.  N.B. Mr. Andrews waited upon me home.  By the way visit old Lieut. Forbush.

1780 January 25 (Tuesday).  Elias leaves his Studys and helps those who are breaking the Roads with a yoke of Cattle.  I read Lord Chesterfield’s Letters.

1780 January 26 (Wednesday).  Squire Baker is so engaged in breaking Roads that he has got Elias and a yoke of my Cattle, on the Road again.  Ephraim Parker being at work for me in dressing Flax for me, brings in a quantity of it on a Pole and  hangs it before the Fire to drie it.  I had a good deal of Reluctance at it, remembering that Capt. Gouge’s House at Hopkinton was, some years ago, burn’t down by Flax taking Fire.

1780 January 27 (Thursday).  As the Flax aforesaid hung before the Fire, notwithstanding the Distance it was placed at, a Coal was snapped out from the Fire, and began immediately to burn in it, which had it occurred last night, while we Slept, what would have been the Event!  All hearty Thanks to our great Preserver!  Elias is gone again with the Cattle today to break and shovel the Road.  Mr. Andrews and Mr. Gale, generous to them, have got to the crotch of the Road, below Mr. William Wood’s.  The northern Neighbors have tryed to plough their Road today.  I read Lord Chesterfield’s Letters.

1780 January 28 (Friday).  The latter part of this was the most remarkable Cold Day that we have had (as every body is free to allow) and Elias goes again with Squire Baker, and drives two pair of my Steers, to breaking the Road down to Taplin’s in Southborough; The evening and night were so extremely severe that I was much concerned for him till he returned; and did survive though he had been in Danger of being overcome with Cold and Fatigue.  N.B. Miss Mary Bradish came p.m. and lodged here.

1780 January 29 (Saturday).  The morning was the most severe and sharp.  Elias thinks some of his Limbs are froze, but (God be thanked) he is about with usual Currency.

1780 January 30 (Sunday).  Preached a.m. on Zech. VI.14.15.  P.M. on Joh. 18.18 with some Alterations and Additions.  May God bless His Word to us!  At Eve, read Fleming’s Confirming Work of Religion.

1780 January 31 (Monday).  Read in Fleming and Chesterfield’s Letters.  Mr. Nathan Maynard borrows several of Mr. Prince’s Sermons.  Hear that Sue Bimeleck was lately frozen to Death.  This whole month has been Cold to admiration.  We have scarce ever known its Equal.  The Cold of this Day is to high Degree of Extremity.  May God Almighty sustain and support us, protect and supply us, and extend Compassion to all the Indigent, the aged and the Exposed!

1780 February 1 (Tuesday).  I am reading Lord Chesterfield’s Letters.  I highly prize some of them.  They shew him to be a man of very extensive Learning and Sagacity.  Read Mr. Isaac Foster’s sermon on Luke 2.14 delivered at New Salem June 9 last at the Ordination of Mr. Joel Foster.  P.M. I went to Mr. B. Newton’s — reckoned and paid all by a note to Constable John Harrington.  Was at Capt. Fisher’s, at Mr. Graves and Nichols.  Mrs. P. was at Deacon Wood’s, where I drank Tea.  We walked on the Top of the Snow, which was many times as high as the Top of the Fence.

1780 February 3 (Thursday).  I walked over to see old Mrs. Kelly and prayed with her — dined there (at Mr. Beeton’s).  Called at Mr. Ebenezer Maynard’s and at old Mr. Pratt’s.  At my return here was Lieut. Marble.  Mrs. Lambson etc. who drank Tea here.  N.B. Breck to Boston — gave him 126 Dollars towards an Hatt for Elias.  Sent by him a letter to Mr. Quincy to be left at Mr. Pattins for Conveyance.

1780 February 4 (Friday).  Not very well after my yesterday’s Walk.  The Calves of my Leggs were sore, and was indisposed in Body.

1780 February 5 (Saturday).  My Indisposition increases.  Hear that Mr. David Goodall and his Wife were come from Athol, and passed by to Capt. Maynard’s yesterday.  He has been to Otter Creek, and relates that Enemies have come upon a Town there (Soby) and destroyed it.  He is going to Marlborough, his Father being dyed lately.

1780 February 6 (Sunday).  I was much indisposed still both last night and today.  N.B. I was in my preaching a.m.  I was very unable to see what I had written in my Notes, by reason of the Lines appearing in Rinkles.  I carryed no Spectacles — borrowed Deacon Wood’s, but to no purpose.  I was able to give some account of what I had prepared, though not Verbatim.  After a while could see more distinctly, preached on Zech. VI.15.  Breck and his Family dined with us.  So did Mrs. Maynard and her son Brigham.  Have head the sorrowful news of the Death of our Brother of the Association — the Rev. Thomas Goss of Bolton by a Fever.  The Lord sanctifie this Providence to me, to the mournful Widow, the bereaved Children, to the Association of which he was a Member, but especially the Church of which he was Pastor, and to the whole people of Bolton!  That now they may be directed into methods of Peace, and the new Church especially may be wholly settled and edified.  P.M. I preached on Ps. 55.22, former part (which I delivered in Oct. 1773), now to the end of page 8.  Which may God graciously succeed!  In the evening Exercise, Breck read Fleming’s Confirming Work.

1780 February 7 (Monday).  Several young Women, viz. Lucy Maynard and Anna Fay, hired by Mrs. P. to spin, came here for this week, came duly.  P.M. Mr. Jonathan Forbes brought a Cheese etc. and made me a Visit.  At evening Ephraim Parker borrows the History of human Nature etc.  Advises concerning the sowing my Island with Clover etc.

1780 February 8 (Tuesday).  Providence further frowns upon us in sending another snowstorm, which covers the Rackett Tracks and fills the Roads again.  Mr. Elisha Forbes dines here, and spends most of the Afternoon – will endeavor to provide me some Quantity of Hay seed.  I read Chesterfield’s Letters.

1780 February 9 (Wednesday).  Elias goes with Breck and others to break the Roads to Southborough.  Mr. Daniel Forbes from Brookfield, Mr. Isaac Pratt of Hardwick.  N.B. I am troubled that Elias should so readily leave his Books to join with them whose Gain and Interest prompted to clear the roads for their Teams to be going again, seeing that he could have no great Inducement, but Benevolence, public Spirit etc. which had been sufficiently served by five times before now, exposing himself in Cold and Dangers by Night and by Day in this work and all of it Gratis.  This Sixth Time, when his own Time is so extremely precious in which he has so much to read and write before he can be fit to return to his College Exercises again.  And yet this is not the most trying.  He is planning an unseasonable journey to Cambridge to fetch a Table from thence; now at the very Day when the Vacancy is finished, and he should go to stay there, the rather because he has been absent from the Recitations so long, that he ought to be one of the first that returns at this Term.  He proposes also to go and return incog. presuming that the Vacancy is prolonged by reason of the difficult stirring and enormous price of wood.

1780 February 10 (Thursday).  The plan for going to Cambridge is so ripened that I can’t defeat it.  The affair is chiefly Breck’s, who loads a sleigh with Grain etc. and loads up with Rum — has provided two Horses as well as the Sleigh.  And his Brother Josiah Brigham was to go down to Watertown therewith, but Elias is so urgent to undertake it, and has already agreed to go with David Fay, who is going likewise, that this morning to my no small Disquietment, sat out.  Master Hazletine dined with us.  P.M. Elias returns, not being able to proceed on his Journey.

1780 February 11 (Friday).  [No entry.]

1780 February 12 (Saturday).  P.M. Am called from my study to visit old Mrs. Baker.  (Mr. Andrews takes me into a double Sleigh with his wife and with Capt. Jonas Brigham’s Wife, who are going also to see their Mother.)  She was very dangerously ill of an Asthma.  Discoursed and prayed with her.

1780 February 13 (Sunday).  A.M. on Ps. 92.15.  P.M. used notes on Ps. 55.22 from page 9 to bottom of page 13.  After meeting at eve, Squire Baker sent his Sleigh for me.  Mrs. P. and I went up to his Mother.  Examined and prayed with her.  We returned in the Sleigh safely.

1780 February 14 (Monday).  Elias rides in a Sleigh to Cambridge.  P.M. Mr. Hazeltine makes me a visit and returns Edward’s on Original Sin, the three pamphlets he borrowed.  He now borrows Bishop Cambray on the Divine Existence.  Breck invites us to Coffee at the Shop and we complyed.  Read Lord Chesterfield.

1780 February 15 (Tuesday).  Walked to Mr. Nurse’s on various small Affairs.  The air is exceeding thick.  P.M. it rains, the snow wastes.  I finish Lord Chesterfield’s first volume.  Many admirable Excellencys in these Letters, and they evidence him a Man of great Understanding, extensive Reading and accurate Taste, and yet too extremely indulgent to his Son’s Pleasures — throws him into dangers that it must be a Miracle if he escapes.  And what affectionate wise, pious Parent could find in his Heart to take such pains to breed him to be a Man of this World, to the so shameful neglect and Inattention to another!  notwithstanding all the Care of his Religion devolved upon his Preceptor; who he ought at least to have seconded.  At eve a Storm of Wind and Rain which beat vehemently, yet unexpectedly Elias came home from Cambridge, brought Rum for Breck and a valuable, though old fashioned chamber Table, with large slate in the Middle, for himselfe.  He got through the Storm with great Difficulty.

1780 February 16 (Wednesday).  A fine day after such a violent Storm.  The Snow is much sunk, but it is so pervaded by the Rain that the Creatures slump very deep, and no Horse can pass the Road.  I begin to read Lord Chesterfield’s 2nd Vol.  I am called away to visit old Mrs. Baker.  Two young men Enoch Greenwood and John Baker draw me on a Sled to the House.  She is very low and in great Distress for want of Breath.  She is able to say but very little.  I at her request prayed with her.  The same young men brought me home.  May God prepare me for my own Turn!

1780 February 17 (Thursday).  Mrs. Baker expired last eve a little after I left her.  May God grant His Omnipotent Grace to Survivors!  Mr. Sam’l Harrington of New Braintree here.  Mrs. P. and I dined at Breck’s.  Our lowest and best well has been, ever since the great Storm, froze up and filled with Snow that we have not been able to use it, till today, when we got it open.

1780 February 18 (Friday).  Closely engaged in preparing a Discourse on 1 Thes. 4.13.  At eve Squire Baker here and desires me to attend the Funeral tomorrow.

1780 February 19 (Saturday).  Squire sent a Sleigh for me to go to his House.  Mrs. P., Sophy, Suse with her child, and little Suse of Concord rode with me, to the House of Mourning.  I prayed at the Solemnity.  N.B. Breck, Elias, Josiah Brigham, the two Williams (Winchester and Spring) there.  Rev. Bowman and his Wife came after prayer.  I did not go in to the Burying place.  I could not comfortably, especially stand on the snow.  I came home.  Breck and his Family dined with us.  P.M. Pursued my preparations.