Bridge, Ebenezer, 1716-1792. Ebenezer Bridge papers, 1740-1792. Diary, pages 1-48 : autograph manuscript (unsigned), 1749-1750. MS Am 1186 (27). Houghton Library, Harvard University, Cambridge, Mass.

46) 29 {November} 1750 Studdied some, -

30. Wrote sermon

1. {December} 1750 wrote Sermon

X 2 Lords day I preach'd all day from Acts 10.2 Baptized Robert the Son of David & Phebe Spaulding - Reuben the Son of {Benjamin} & {Elizabeth} Parker - Jonathan the Son -- & Bethyah & Molley & Lois the Daughters of -- & Lois Herrick -- The Woman has lately own'd {Covenant} - & the Children are baptized on her {account} The Father being a poor Shackling man, and now Obliged to Abscond, on {account} Of Debt, as also on {account} of a Charge of adultery - Ester the {daughter} of Jannes Dutton laying a Child (of {which} is now big) to him

3. Dined at {Colonel} Stoddards with {Reverend} Mr Hall & wife

4. Visited Israel Prockter sick - & a young girl at Asa Martins sick, prayed with both - Dined at Gershom Prockter's

5. A young child of Henry Spaulding, died I visited {Oliver} {Fletcher} in the Evening -

6. Attended the {funeral} of Henry Spauldings child

7. Studdied some

8. prepared {sermon}. Visited {Jonathan} Barron, he & his child sick & prayed with {them}

x 9 Lords day I preached all day from {Psalm} 24.3.4 Sermons from {Matthew} 5.8 -

10. Visited {Colonel} {Stoddard} in the {Evening} In also this PM {Jonathan} Barron he & Child yet sick & prayed &c.

47) {December} 11. 1750. Rode to Dunstable in {Company} with {Colonel} Minot & {Colonel} Stoddard &c and attended the funerall of {Colonel} Josiah Willard of Fort Dummer - This {Gentleman} came to {Colonel} Blandards about buisness - was taken ill of a Fever the {Sabbath} before last & died last Saturday night - A man of a good Character - & a man who has bin Useful in his day - I was Informed that he was calm & Composed, within the nearest views & prospects of Death, & they that knew him think That {they} have Reason To hope {that} he died in {Christ} - may {the Lord} sanctify Such a providence to me, & as no one knows where he is to End his days, so I {would} {that} it was my care & concern to be found ready whensoever & wheresoever {the Lord} shall call for me - {Reverend} Mr. Hale prayed at the {funeral} - Supp'd at {Colonel} Tyngs & came home in the {Evening}.

12. Received a visit from {Colonel} Minot

13. Very much hurried in {Churchly} buisness

14. This Evening {Ephraim} Blood, {Jonathan} Harwood & {Jonathan} Parker visited me, as a {Committee} {from} & of {the} Town - and told me {they} were Impowered (only) to Agree {with} me & settle the Standard whereon to Compute my Sallary yearly - Upon the Article - viz. {Indian} {Rice}, Pork & beef -

I {answered} {them} if it was {proper} {that} this {should} be done, there was a {Committee} already chosen and In being for {that} purpose - but Inasmuch as the Town had voted to Adjust my sallery by the 1st {November} past & had not done it - Of course then [?] & my Engagements were null, and of no force - [for they?]

48) paid no regard to their own votes {themselves} And This is all the {answer} I made {them}, as a {Committee} - expect to Rehearse the {Agreement} between the Town & myself above a year ago -

Then, The Town would have had me pitched up on a certain Sum for my years Sallery - I told {them} I had done it 2 years past & I {thought} it ought to be fixed - They urged there was a likelihood Of the Medium its being changed, & Therefore In the course of {another} year they & I {should} be {better} able to judge of Things - I told {them}, then I {thought} they {should} pitch upon a sum, {they} did, & voted £550 - I did not declare my Acceptance of this, till the Town explained {themselves} - That if they could come to an {agreement} with me upon a new footing well, if not, That the Standard {should} be fixed upon the 4 articles {aforesaid} by the 1st of {November] 1750 - and the computation to be in the {month} of {January} following, because then we {should} know the market prices of those particular commodities - And a Note Including these {particulars} was Passed - I then declared {that} I accepted of the sum voted for my years {salary} & {that} I {would} give receipts in full accordingly {from} time to time till I had received the whole - I have done so, as I have received, and stand ready to do so when I have received my due to 1st {November} [foresaid?] And now the Town has paid no regard to the {agreement} upon their part, & I took upon myself not to be bound by the {agreement} upon my part -

They {said} {they} remembered well all this, passed between the Town & me - & so did 4 of the selectmen some time since - viz. {Deacon} {Ephraim} Spaulding, {Thomas} Spaulding, {Daniel} Prockter & {Robert} Fletcher.

15 {December} 1750 Wrote Sermons &c. &c.