Category: Diary

1780 September 16 (Saturday).  This Day I begin my 78th year.  Thanks be to God, who hath sustained me!  I still continue a Monument of his sparing Mercy and Goodness.  To His Name be all Praise and Glory!  See Natilitia.  Mrs. P. being very much out of Health rode to Dr. Crosby’s.  At eve came my Daughter Cushing from Ashburnham.  Mr. Fitch, wife and Daughter from Connecticut, and p.m. Mrs. Dolly Rice.

1780 September 17 (Sunday).  Read Ps. 23 and 24, and on Consideration of my beginning a new year of my Life, I preached on Ps. 23.6,[1] and p.m. on Isa. 55.12[2] and may the great End and Design hereof be answered.  At eve read again in Mr. Flavell.  Neither my Wife nor Daughter Cushing were well enough to go to Meeting, either part of the Day.

[1]Psalm 23.6: “Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.”

[2]Isaiah 55.12: “For ye shall go out with joy, and be led forth with peace: the mountains and the hills shall break forth before you into singing, and all the trees of the field shall clap their hands.”

1780 September 18 (Monday).  Wrote to Dr. Crosby, by his son John.  My Wife being no better.  At eve came my son Forbes, but from Dedham, where he had preached yesterday.  Brought with one of his Sons-in-law, Joseph Saunders, about 8 years old.  They lodge.

1780 September 19 (Tuesday).  Mr. Forbes and little Boy left us to go to Brookfield.  Dr. Crosby here to see Mrs. P________  p.m.  She grows very sick, but it may be owing to some Pills which the Doctor gave her.  At even, she continues ill and goes to bed.  Mr. Cushing comes from the Cape, having been to see his Sister Stone at Yarmouth, and came back through Rochester, Wrentham, and Sherbourn.

1780 September 20 (Wednesday).  Mr. Cushing last evening brought me from Mr. Moore, Shuckford’s Condition vol. 1.  He also, having been with various Gentlemen in his Journey, discovers to me some of the probable Reasons of the Dismission of Pres. Langdon.  Mrs. P. somewhat better — Thanks to God for the Favour of Heaven to us!  P.M. Mrs. Fisk of Brookfield and her son (who belongs to College) dined here.  My son William, his Wife and Child John, came up from Concord unexpectedly.  Afterwards my Son Samuel and his Wife with their Baby, Sukey, came from Boston.  They all lodged here.  N.B. Mr. Brigham asked me whether it would suit me to have the Marriage of my Daughter to him to be tomorrow?  I asked him, where he intended to live?  he replyed “Here, if I should like it.”  I answered that I was willing to do what was in my Power for him.  Sent my Complements to his Father and Mother, and Request they would come — likewise his Brothers and Sisters.  He acquainted me with his Desire to wait on Squire Baker and his Lady with his Invitations to the Wedding, also the two eldest Daughters.  To which I consented.  My Daughter Cushing rode to Capt. Maynard’s to invite him and his Wife.  The Return was that Mrs. Maynard was confined with illness.

1780 September 21 (Thursday).  Mrs. P. I hope is better.  Sophy has unhappily a good deal of a cough.  I had a most agreeable sight of my children and their Consorts at Dinner, viz.: William and Lydia, Mr. Cushing and Sarah, Breck and Suse, Samuel and Sally, and Mr. Brigham with Sophy.  To God be Praise and Glory!  Towards evening according to Invitation, Joseph Baker Esq. and Lady, Mr. Winslow Brigham and Miss Alice Cushing of Shrewsbury, Mr. Hazzletine and Miss Mindwell Brigham, Master Fisk and Miss Anna Brigham, and Mr. Josiah Brigham came to wait on the Solemnity of the Marriage of Mr. Elijah Brigham to my Daughter Anna Sophia, which was performed, and after the Covenant, Mr. Cushing prayed.  Mrs. P. was not able to attend with us.  N.B. I began to write Mr. Quincy.

1780 September 22 (Friday).  My son William and his Wife sat out early for Concord.  Mr. Cushing and his Wife when the Day got up, for Shrewsbury.  Dr. Crosby to see Mrs. P.  P.M. Sam and Breck with their Wives wait on the Bridegroom and Bride, to Coll. Brighams.  Mrs. P. has had a poor Day.  At eve came Mr. Forbes and his little Boy, Jo Saunders.  Mr. F. delivers me a letter from Col. Baldwin to his wife, containing an account of General Gates’s Defeat.  An extract from it I send to Mr. Quincy.  Mr. Forbes goes to see his Sister, the Widow of his Brother Daniel.  N.B. My Flax is spread — a large piece.

1780 September 23 (Saturday).  My son Samuel and his Wife and Child left us.  Sent my Letter by him to Mr. Quincy.  Mr. Forbes came and I delivered him his first volume of Robinson’s Hist. of Scotland.  He and his Joseph Saunders left us to go to Concord.  At eve came Mr. Grosvenor, requesting and expecting I would preach for him tomorrow, But I had engaged to preach at Northborough.  He lodged here.  N.B. Mrs. Persis Adams was here to acquaint me that she could not be ready for the Church Meeting next Tuesday and prays it may be further adjourned to the 2d Thursday in November.

1780 September 24 (Sunday).  Mr. Grosvenor to Northborough.  I rode to Grafton and preached on 1 Chron. 29.15 a. and p.m.  Returned home at eve.  Mr. Whitney preached here on Roms. 3.7.8 a. and p.m.  At Dinner were Doct. Crosby, and Mrs. Maynard.  N.B. Mr. Whitney read to the Church a paper from me acquainting the Brethern with Mrs. Adams’ Request: and there was no Objection, so that the Meeting of the Church was adjourned to the time she desired.

1780 September 25 (Monday).  Breck is roused by an Information that one Williams who is Debtor to him in a considerable sum is seized and put into Jail.  My son is gone to his House in N. Shrewsbury.  I read Shuckford’s Connection Vol. 1.  But I am sorry to see my Husbandry fast asleep, no body at work for me, though my apples are rotting and wasting, and Flax seed on stry, (?  ) unwinnowed on the Barn Floor. Mr. Daniel Adams, Ben. Tainter, Levi Warrin complain of the adjournment: came here, but nothing could be done.  Mrs. P. something more comfortable.  D. Gratis!

1780 September 26 (Tuesday).  Am obliged to go frequently to Mr. Thad. Warrin’s for Help, and today in particular, he left his own Business and came to mine.

1780 September 27 (Wednesday).  I obtained of My Neighbor Newton to send his Boys, John and Stephen to pick Apples and carry a Load, with Barrells to make Cyder at Mr. Frost’s Mill. P.M. Mr. Zebulon Rice and his Wife of Brookfield came to see us: and drank Tea here.

1780 September 28 (Thursday).  Dr. Crosby came to desire me to befriend Mr. David Brigham of Shrewsbury, and attend the Funeral of his little son David who dyed suddenly of Worms AEs. 3.  I went with the Doctor and dined at his House.  P.M. to Mr. Brigham’s and prayed and discoursed with the Assembly: but I went not up to the Interment.  In returning I went into Mr. Coas’s and Sibley’s — at Mr. Noah Hardy’s (where I was regaled with Tea etc.).  Went to Mr. Isaac Parkers etc.  Mrs. P________ somewhat better.  Breck to Boston.  N.B. The Doctor brought me No’s 1 to 4 of the Rise and Progress of the American War.

1780 September 29 (Friday).  Wrote to My Daughter Baldwin with my returning her Husband’s Letter concerning Gen’l Gates’ Defeat and Flight.  Sent them by Lt. Joseph Bond.  Mr. Daniel Adams jr. here with his Wife’s Relation: but carryed it back again.

1780 September 30 (Saturday).  Mrs. Adams herself with her Relation tran- and subscribed.  Mrs. P________  is exercised still with her distressed stomach, but not in so terrible a Degree.  Mr. Thad Warrin very kind in coming to take Care about getting home my Cyder from Mr. Thos. Frost’s.  When his son John brought it, Josiah Brigham unloaded, and got it down to place in the Cellar.

1780 October 1 (Sunday).  Did not read publickly.  Preached on Mal. 1.11.  P.M. repeat Sermon on Isaiah 55.13.  Admitted Mrs. El. Adams.  At eve read Mr. Flavell’s Sermon 7 on Rev. 3.20.  N.B. To my sorrow, my Oxen have been breachy at Mr. Isaac Parker’s and let in Cattle with them, into his Cornfield.

1780 October 2 (Monday).  I rode to a number of Familys in the South, viz. Capt. Morse’s: Lieut. and Ensign Warrin’s: Mr. Elisha Forbes, where I dined, and he was very generous in a number of presents.  I went also to the Widow Forbes’s, where I had opportunity to see old Miss Stone, was also at Mr. Phin. Hardy’s, but could find no Body there.  N.B. Lt. Warrin kindly sent his young Man at eve, for two of my Calves to pasture them till weaned.

1780 October 3 (Tuesday).  I preached at Squire Bakers’s on Ezek. 20.11.  May it please God to accompany it with His Special Blessing!  May we have Grace to keep God’s Statutes and Judgments, which we ought to be thankful God has given us.  Since if a man do them he shall even live in them.  Squire got home from Boston at about 3, yet sat out at Charlestown 25 minutes after 9 a.m.

1780 October 4 (Wednesday).  Mr. Nathan Maynard came with a yoke of Oxen, Dr. Hawes’ Oxen and my own, having Squire’s Plough, and Mr. Joseph Harrington’s Lad, namely Aaron Miller and Capt. Wood’s son Benj. to drive and they plowed part of my West Field and left it in a broken condition.

1780 October 5 (Thursday).  A Storm of Rain.  Read Rise and Progress of War.

1780 October 6 (Friday).  Daughter Baldwin sends me a packet of Letters — one from Col. to her: 3 of Ebenezer to her, which show him to have been in a distressed, disconsolate and now in a sick and weak Condition.  I wrote a Letter to him, though I am not sure how I shall send it.  I am much perplexed and disappointed about getting my West Field (the rest of what I proposed) plowed.

1780 October 7 (Saturday).  Intended to have gone to Shrewsbury, but rec’d a Line from Mr. Sumner neg. and recommending tomorrow come sennight.  I took great pains to get another Day’s plowing done, but it was all in vain, neither could I find time to prepare any New Discourse for tomorrow.

1780 October 8 (Sunday).  Went on with reading in the Psalms — read Ps. 106 to 24.  And I proceeded in Repetition of Sermon on Isa. 55.13 a. and p.m. to page 251, which may God bless to our Highest Good!  Rec’d a Letter from Master Nathan Fisk junior of H. C. and another from Mr. Quincy.  At eve Breck etc. came, and he read another part of Mr. Flavell on Rev. 3.20.

1780 October 9 (Monday).  Jonathan Frost with my Oxen, Oliver Death with two yoke of Oxen from Squire Baker’s, and Joel Kenney to help to driving, plowed in the West Field.

1780 October 10 (Tuesday).  Hear much of Bears.  One is killed by Capt. Jonas Brigham, and others.  Weighed 300.  I dined at Capt. Brigham’s, I visit at Col. Brigham’s.  P.M. Mr. Ebenezer Forbush conducted me to the thick Swamp, where is the hideous Dwelling of Jacob Garfield, and I went in, though with Difficulty, to see it.  Garfield himself led my Horse out, and I visited at Mr. Tim. Warrin’s — but my principal visit was to Mr. Daniel Stockwell’s young Child, which was sick — I prayed with it — and then went to the poor at the Work House.  At my return home was informed that Mr. Fitch of Hopkinton had been here, and brought home Dr. Stillingfleet’s Orig. Sacrae.

1780 October 11 (Wednesday).  I am obliged to take unspeakable Pains to get a very little work done — have obtained Mr. Thad. Warrin to thrash a little Rye to Sowe, and he winnows it — 2 bushels.  And Mr. Langton called here.

1780 October 12 (Thursday).  In the Morning, Mr. Brigham and Sophy sat out for Rochester.  I have writ by them to Mr. Moore, to Mr. Fitch and to Mr. Thos. Adams.  Catechized at the Meeting House., had but 28 Boys.  P.M. had 34 Girls.  And many God graciously accompany the Influence and Warning with His special Blessing!  Mr. Thos. Lamson here, to thrash today, but cannot obtain any more.

1780 October 13 (Friday).  I attended the Funeral of Mr. Stockwell’s Infant and prayed.  The Town met to choose a Representative for the first Assembly of the New Government.  Mr. John Harrington at eve, and pays all he was to collect.

1780 October 14 (Saturday).  Mr. Ebenezer Maynard very kind in sowing and harrowing, both yesterday till afternoon and today a.m. with his son and yoke of Oxen.  He did it gratis.  Deacon Wood is in a sad Contest with one Chafey, who with his Wife and Child, boarded several months there, but refuses to pay him for it.  I rode to Mr. Sumner’s and lodged.

1780 October 15 (Sunday).  I preached at Shrewsbury.  A.M. on Jer. 8.20.  P.M. on Job. 31.24.  Young Mr. Crosby prayed publickly.  P.M. I appointed the Communion and Lecture there, and returned home at evening.  Mr. Sumner rode to Westborough in the Morning.  Preached for me a. and p.m. on 1 Pet. 3.21, last clause — “left us an example etc.”  He baptized two Children, viz: Polly and Samuel Hall of Daniel Jr. and Elizabeth Adams.  Mr. Sumner returned eve.  Col. Wheelock is come home.

1780 October 16 (Monday).  Mr. Kenney refuses to husk my Corn, though I conceived he took my Field to the halves as Dr. Hawes did, who took the whole care of husking the Corn, and carrying it into the Corn Barn.  However, we came to an agreement.  I told him he should ask the Neighbors to assist, in an afternoon, and though I would not make an Entertainment, yet I would give them some Drink.

1780 October 17 (Tuesday).  I rode to East Sudbury to Minister’s Meeting, at Mr. Smiths.  (So it is called, though at Mr. Bridge’s House.)  Only Mr. Whitney absent.  Mr. Smith very full of pain etc. and P________ was Moderator and prayed.  A Committee from Marlborough, about a Fast there, Another Committee from Bolton, with new Difficulties there.  Before we broke up, Mr. Newell prayed.  Next Meeting to be next April at the same place.  I went to my son William’s where all was well, and I lodged there in comfort and Health.  D.G.

1780 October 18 (Wednesday).  I payed William an hundred Dollars for so much sent to Elias, last Winter, and he paid me Six Silver Dollars which I lent him some time ago.  I returned to Westborough.  On my way, dined at Col. Weeks’ in Marlborough.  Proceeded to Mr. Elizur Holyoke’s, a joiner at Col. Williams — Col. Brigham’s, and at Mr. Francis Barns’s.

1780 October 19 (Thursday).  Mr. Kenney brought from the North Field my part of the Corn, and a number of Neighbors husked it out.  Breck was very generous in treating the Huskers with Liquor.  Mr. Stephen Johnson and his Wife, from Lyne and their son Eliot of Watertown, with his new Wife, Mr. Johnson’s Daughter, all lodged here.

1780 October 20 (Friday).  The Company leave us expecting to meet a number of Watertown people at Westown to dine there.  Mr. Samuel Crosby preached my Lecture on Luke 2.11.12.  After Lecture, Messrs. Hazletine and Fisk here at Tea etc.