Category: Diary

1744 January 9 (Monday).  Another fruitless Town Meeting, concerning My Support and Dividing the Town.  This Meeting was oversatt by the plan that several Men were not Warned.  Brother Hicks here and lodged.  I had Some perplexity by Means of Neighbour John Rogers his having promis’d me money and continually Disappointed me.

1744 January 10 (Tuesday).  Dr. Smith here and din’d with us.  P.M. I visited the Wife of Mr. Samuel Fay junior who has been long confin’d.

1744 January 11 (Wednesday).  Pleasant Day again.

1744 January 12 (Thursday).  A Lecture to young People on Prov. 7.7, and by my Closeness upon them with respect to Unclean Practices, and the [illegible] of Behaviour among Youth which lead thereto.

1744 January 13 (Friday).  We kill’d a second Hogg, Weight 265, by Neighbour Ebenezer Maynard and Thomas Winchester.

1744 January 14 (Saturday).  Thomas Winchester cutts Wood for me in Neighbour Chamberlains Name Gratis.

1744 January 15 (Sunday).  On Coloss. 1.21, a.m.  On Prov. 7.7, p.m.  Mr. Coollidge here.

1744 January 16 (Monday).  Cold, Windy.  Neighbour Wheeler here, he brought 2 Bushels of Rie at 16 shillings per Bushel.  John Roberts[1] of Grafton was also here, to ask my Advice concerning his applying to Books and Learning in order to his Education for the Ministry.

[1]Roberts did not pursue his interest.  Later in 1746 he married Elizabeth Fay of Westborough.  Pierce, Grafton, 559.

1744 January 17 (Tuesday).  Thomas Winchester Came and Elijah Rice to dress Flax, but it was So very Cold that they could not Stand it, they broke off and got Wood for me a spurt and went off.

1744 January 18 (Wednesday).  [No entry.]

1744 January 19 (Thursday).  Mr. Cushing here.  Troubles in Shrewsbury increase.  Zebediah Johnson,[1] Lieutenant Stone,[2] etc. very uneasy as if they had not Spiritual Diet.  Mr. Cushing and I din’d at Ensign Maynards[3] with Colonel Nahum Ward, Colonel Williams and others at the giving out a Number more of Commissions — and particularly Ensign Maynard is now Constituted a Captain.  N.B. Lieutenant Lee of Worcester his unguarded Talk, both at Captain Maynards and at my House.

[1]Ward, Shrewsbury, 334.

[2]Isaac Stone, one of the first selectmen of Shrewsbury.

[3]Stephen Maynard of Westborough.

1744 January 20 (Friday).  Nine Men came and got Wood.  Neighbour Hezekiah Pratt, James Bradish, Eleazer Williams, Noah How, Paul Newton,[1] Elijah Rice, Thomas Winchester, Solomon Baker[2] and James Maynard.  12 Large Load.  N.B. Trouble in the Young Mens Society on account of Richard Roberts a young Man of Grafton who is hir’d to keep School on the South west Corner of the town, and who being a serious and Religious person many are desirous should meet with them but Nathan Maynard chiefly opposes it (he being a New Light) and they bring the Difficulty to me.  I sent for Nathan and he Came and gave his Reasons.  But I advis’d that Roberts defer his meeting till the society can be a little more Compos’d.

[1]Son of Deacon Josiah Newton.

[2]Son of Edward Baker.

1744 January 21 (Saturday).  Thomas and Elijah at the Flax — but I was not well myself one Day after another.

1744 January 22 (Sunday).  Coloss. 1.21, a.m.  2 Pet. 3.9.  Mr. Coollidge constantly dines with me on Lords Day, but it is grievous to me either to ask him to say Grace, or cast the Shame upon him at refusing him.  My Heart akes exceedingly for him.

1744 January 23 (Monday).  Reverend Mr. Smith of Marlborough made a Visit.  We don’t meet without some Contests about the Times.  He Thinks that there are as many and as deeply heart searching sermons among those term’d opposers as any others whosoever etc.  He din’d with me but it was at a Time when a Number of my Neighbours were here getting Wood.  Viz. Mr. Grout,[1] Thomas Whitney, Harrington, Bowman,[2] Daniel Forbush, Jonathan, Phinehas and Eli Forbush, Daniel Stone, Eliezer and Jeb Rice, Benjamin and Daniel Fay, each of which with a Team.  Dan Warrin, James and Ebenezer Miller, Eleazer and Oliver Whitney, Samuel Baker.  N.B. What wood was at the Door before and what there is now brought amounts to at least 50 Load now in the Piles, D. Gr.

[1]Joseph Grout.

[2]James Bowman.

1744 January 24 (Tuesday).  At Dinner at Captain Maynards, both my wife and I with Captain Tyler who with a Considerable Number and Mr. Frost[1] their minister is conducting his New spouse[2] Home to Mendon.

[1]Rev. Amariah Frost (HC 1740), minister of Milford, Mass., 1742-1792.  SHG, 10:494-96.

[2]Mary, daughter of John Cloyes of Framingham.

1744 January 25 (Wednesday).  I went out with Design to go to see Lieutenant Tainter who continues sick, but the Rain prevented my going any further than Captain Bakers.  N.B. There was Mr. Marshal Baker and his wife.

1744 January 26 (Thursday).  Went to Lieutenant Tainters who is weak and feeble yet.  Was also at Stephen Fays.  His Brother James there.  He acquaints me with Mr. Halls going to Framingham shortly to preach there.  Desir’d me to let him preach at his House.  I chose he should at the Meeting House and wrote a Letter to Mr. Hall for that End, which he took the Care to Convey.

1744 January 27 (Friday).  Letter from Brother Samuel Parkman.  N.B. his wife destracted about the Comet.  Moderate weather.

1744 January 28 (Saturday).  Cold.  Storm of Snow.

1744 January 29 (Sunday).  On 2 Cor. 5.20.  Mr. Coollidge, Mrs. Chamberlain.  At Eve Deacon Miles[1] of Concord and his wife at my House.  Concord, by their Telling in much Disquietment Yet.  At this Time I remembered the wormwood and the Gall.

[1]Samuel Miles.

1744 January 30 (Monday).  Another Town Meeting upon my support etc.  They voted but £200 — Old Tenor.  The North Side very Resolute.  They urg’d that the Town gave me last year more than I needed or desir’d, that provisions were cheaper, etc., whereas I never gave so much as for both my Beef and my Rie — and also for Labour.  The Moderator Mr. Livermore[1] would not as much as Send me any Committee or Message of what they had done — said it was not in the Warrant.  The Year has been of far greater Labours than Ever with me for them and of far greater charge on the Account of the Company etc., by means of the multiply’d Exercises, Lectures, etc.  But God grant me an Even mind and resignation to His will!  O that I may also have Grace to Examine my Ends, aims and Views.  Mr. Whitneys Daughter Mary here — also Brother Hicks.  At Evening Captain Warrin and Lieutenant Forbush[2] here.

[1]Jonathan Livermore.

[2]Samuel Forbush of Westborough.

1744 January 31 (Tuesday).  Not willing to perplex myself any longer about Mr. Rogers’s Small Debt, at his Request, made known to me by Mr. Chamberlain,[1] I transferred the Business, to Mr. Chamberlain — not willing to use the Law if by any means, though to my Hurt, I could issue this troublesome Affair.

[1]Ebenezer Chamberlain of Westborough.

1744 February 1 (Wednesday).  Mr. Hall came and preach’d my Lecture on Luke 21.36, which Lecture I was the more willing to appoint both because of our Standing so much in need of Quickening and Awakening — and because it happen’d to be the first Wednesday of the Month, according to the manner of our beginning the Lectures last Year.  Reverend Mr. Cushing here.  Mr. Coollidge also din’d with us.  N.B. After Lecture Captain Hazeltine[1] came with a message from Upton Church to Mr. Hall and me, acquainting us with their increasing Divisions and praying that Five Ministers would go over on the 14 Day of the Month and endeavour their Help.  The other Ministers Mr. Peabody,[2] Mr. Bliss, and Mr. Prentice of Grafton.  But he brought no Letters for the Church did not go into the form of voting as a Church nor would Mr. Weld lead them into any, nor make any Records thereof — but they had mutually agreed to choose by Partys each side Two, and then to pitch upon one in which both could agree — and to these Things Mr. Weld[3] Consented — and he the said Messenger was come in the Name of the Church accordingly.  We Consented to go and I wrote to Mr. Peabody, committing it to Mr. Hall who was going to Framingham to forward it.  N.B. Mr. Jonathan Burnap[4] in the Evening here.  Disturbances in Hopkinton are risen to great Heights and Richard and Nathaniel Smith[5] are sent to Jayl for breaking up the Worship last Sabbath.  Great Troubles also in Leicester.  Reverend Mr. Goddard,[6] in such Darkness about his own State that the last Sabbath, though Communion Day, he went not out to preach, but Captain Denny[7] going to him he sent a Letter to the People.

[1]John Hazeltine, a prominent resident of Upton.

[2]Rev. Oliver Peabody of Natick.

[3]Rev. Thomas Weld of Upton.

[4]Of Hopkinton.

[5]See SHG, 6:430, and Manual of the First Congregational Church in Hopkinton, Mass. (Boston, 1881), 27-28.

[6]David Goddard, a New-Light minister at Leicester.

[7]Daniel Denny of Leicester.  Emory Washburn, Historical Sketches of the Town of Leicester (Boston, 1860), 354-55.

1744 February 2 (Thursday).  I gave Mr. Coollidge what Serious and affectionate Admonitions I could.  The Lord add his Blessing!  My wife and I rode over to Mrs. McAllisters to visit her in great Trouble and near her time.  N.B. Mrs. Thankful Rice[1] met me with a Confession written with her own Hand of her Drunkenness — but could not give her Encouragement that I would read it, except she would reform, at least give better Tokens of it than she had ever yet done.  The Comet appears larger, the Stream from it much greater than a Month agoe.

[1]Wife of Josiah Rice.

1744 February 3 (Friday).  David Crossby[1] who lately made me a pair of Boots price 3.12.0 which I paid him for.  N.B. I had some free Converse with him concerning the Excesses of some in these Times.  He din’d with us.  Sent by him to Reverend Mr. Townsend[2] of Needham.

[1]Shoemaker of Shrewsbury.

[2]Rev. Jonathan Townsend (HC 1716), minister at Needham, 1720-1762.  SHG 6:150-53.

1744 February 4 (Saturday).  Somewhat Rainy.  Expected Mr. Brown,[1] preacher, here that we might Change, but did not come from one Saturday to another.

[1]Probably Josiah Brown, sometime preacher and schoolmaster at Sterling.

1744 February 5 (Sunday).  On Ps. 110.3 former part.  Mr. Coollidge here.  O might it please God to make it the Day of his power with our Souls!  At Eve Mr. Pierce[1] took a Letter from me for Mr. Burnap to carry to Mr. Hobby[2] of Reading.

[1]William Pierce of Westborough.

[2]Rev. William Hobby.

1744 February 6 (Monday).  Mr. Cunnable of Boston, and his son, in their Return from Deerfield, here and din’d with me.  Sent by him Monsieur Missons[1] vol. 1 to my Kinsman Parkman.

[1]Francois M. Misson, A New Voyage to Italy (2 vols.; London, 1695).

1744 February 7 (Tuesday).  At Mr. Rogers[1] to see his wife who is sick.  A Town Meeting respecting the Dividing the Town — but nothing Done.

[1]John Rogers of Westborough.

1744 February 8 (Wednesday).  Moderate Weather.  The Comet large yet.

1744 February 9 (Thursday).  Old Mrs. Wheeler, aged 95, dy’d.[1]  Snow.  Engag’d to go to her Funeral if good Weather.

[1]“On the ninth Instant died at Westborough, Mrs. — Wheeler, a Woman of singular Piety and Charity, aged 95 Years.”  Boston Gazette, Mar. 20, 1744. p. 2.

1744 February 10 (Friday).  [No entry.]

1744 February 11 (Saturday).  A Smart Snow Storm, but clear’d off p.m.  The Time appointed for Mrs. Wheelers buryal is the forenoon, so that I could not attend it.  But in the afternoon I borrow’d an Horse and went to meet them at the Grave; but meeting the young man (who return’d the buryal Cloth) a little beyond Captain Maynards, I return’d.  Have the trouble of daily dressing my Mares Legg ever since my ride to Mr. McAllisters.[1]

[1]John McAllister of the north part of Westborough.

1744 February 12 (Sunday).  On Ps. 110.3, former part.  Mr. Coollidge.  Mrs. Grow.