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.

41) 28 {September} 1750. detained from coming home by reason of rain. dined at Stephen Whitings -

29. Came home, & found all well

x30 Lords day I preached all day from {Jeremiah} 13.23 Old sermon. Read Ezra 6. {Matthew} 23. Baptized Thomas the son of {Benjamin} & Esther Chamberlain

1. {October} 1750. Hurried in outward affairs

2. Attended a raising of a sawmill of {John} Mowers

3. Visited {Reverend} Mr. Parker, {Colonel} Clark & {James} Dutton, whose {daughter} Ester is with child, as she lays by Mr. Herric a Married Man - and discoursed both with the Parents & Daughter

4. My wife & I, Visited {Deacon} Spaulding {Junior}

5. Excessively hurried

6. prepared Sermons

x7. Lords day I preach'd all day from {Proverbs} 15.19 Sermons [180?].575.76. Read Ezra 7. {Matthew} 24 Baptized Sarah the {daughter} of {Daniel} & Sarah Foster proposed a Catechising N E at {James} Parker [next?] Wednesday 2 o Clock PM

8. Wrote letter to my Mother & Brother

9. Visited {Jonathan} Swallow upon business - Josiah

42) 13. {October} 1750 prepared sermons -

x14 Lords day I preach'd all day from {Zachariah} 2.4 Run, speak to this young man sermon 542.2 read Ezra 8. {Matthew} 25. Administred Baptism to Sarah the {daughter} of {Jonathan} & Bridget Parkhurst -

15. Attended the raising of an End of house, of {Ephraim} Bloods -

16. Much hurried in business abroad

17. Trooping & Training in Town - I prayed with the Companies AM - Dined with {Captain} Chamberlain's troops - {Reverend} Messrs Parker, Hall & Rogers with Other Gentlemen were in Town & gave me the Vissit - Dr. Brocas & {Captain} Parish {Colonel} Stoddard company, lodged with us

18. I dined with the {Company} at {Colonel} Stoddards -

19. Visited {Daniel} Blodget - & {Deacon} {Ephraim} Spaulding, wrote Sermon - Visited {Ebenezer} Foster {Junior} discoursed with his wife about Joining in full {Communion} &c.

20. Wrote Sermon

x21. Lords day I preach'd all day from {Matthew} 26.11. and thereby recommended To our {people} to have a Contribution on the Thanksgiving days for the poor Read AM {Matthew 26. PM Ezra 9 - Propounded the {Covenant} To {Jonathan} Barron & Rachel his wife - propounded the desires Of Sarah the wife of {Ebenezer} Foster to Join in full {Communion} &c. Proposed Catechism, at the Meeting house next Wednesday 2 O Clock PM - & Read Proclamation for {public} Thanksgiving -

22. An uncomfortable windy day - at home, & reading &c.

23. Visited {Deacon} Colburn, & {James} Dutton

24. Received a Visit from {Reverend} Mr. Chandler who dined with us; PM I catechised children at the meeting house, but a very few, about [?]

43) 25 {October} 1750 - Wrote sermon, Visited Master Fletcher in the Evening, Dr. King Rode to Boston with my Chair & horse in order to bring up my sister {Elizabeth} i.e. it suited him in his business so to do, since I found horse &c

26. Dr. King brot. my sister {Elizabeth} from Boston

27. wrote sermon. {Reverend} Mr. Parker dined with us, in his way from Boston

x28. Lords day I preach'd all day from Acts 20.42. Read Ezra 10. {Matthew} 27. Baptized Jesie the son of Jacob & Sarah Byham. proposed a Charitable contribution for Henry Richardson of Pelham whose [?] & substance were lately confirmed with [?] - with the nine malancholey circumstances attending the sume viz the son of said Henry's, & Burnt so that he died in a few hours, & John Wright of Dracut consumed in the flames - notified the sacrament {supposed} to be next lords day

29. Visited Josiah Fletcher.

30. Wrote sermon

31. Wrote sermon

1. {November} 1750 Thanksgiving day {through} Province: I preach'd from 1 {Peter} 5.7. After service there was a Charitable {Contribution}: for Henry Richardson Of Pelham, as proposed last {sabbath} and was collected {in case} as follows, below

2. {Reverend} Mr. Chandler & wife, & her brother Timothy White of Boston, dined with us, PM we Visited {Colonel} Stoddard, with {them}. & {Deacons} came to my house & counted the contributions yesterday - & found in Cash £19.3.3 - in grain 28.15.0 - including 1 bulle Indian 1 [?] 28.15 & several notes, not specifying [?] 47.18.3

44) so that I judge the whole amount to {about} 50£ old {Tender} -

3 {November} 1750. discoursed with the wife of {Ebenezer} Foster {Junior} {about} coming into full {Communion} -

x4 Lords day & {Communion} day. I preach'd all day from 1 {John} 4.9. Old sermons. administred Sarah [supp't?] - after admitting Sarah the wife of {Ebenezer} Foster into the {Church} - administred Baptism to Simeon the son of {John} & Martha Barrat

5. considerable busy abroad

6. In the Evening Visited {Colonel} Stoddard

7. Went To Notingham minsters meeting there. {Present} besides {Reverend} Messrs Parker and Spaulding

8. {Reverend} Mr. Hall dined with me

9. Wrote sermon. Visited {Widow} Spaulding at her son, Simeon's - Visited {Deacon} {Ephraim} Spaulding

10. wrote sermon

x11 Lords day I preach'd all day from {Matthew} 12 31.32. Read {Nehemiah} 1. {Matthew} 28. Baptized {Jonathan} son of {Jonathan} & Rachel Barron, & Iri the son of Charles & {Susanna} McLain - propounded {Oliver} Cory to own {Covenant} - Mr. Wiswall schoolmaster of Billerica came to keep {sabbath} with us & dined with me - in the Evening {Colonel} Blanchard Visited me -

12. discoursed with Lois Herrick {about} owning {Covenant} &c

13. Visited Master Fletcher in the Evening

14. This day ({through} the great goodness of God) my ) dear wife was safely delivered of a Daughter she sent for her women about 7 or 8 o clock Mary in the morning, & was delivered a little before [?] lately a bed, by one o clock PM.

45) 15 {November} 1750 dined at {Colonel} Stoddard with Dr. [Brocar?], {Captain} Farrish, & some yound ladies

16. last night my wife was very ill, but better to day - I very much hurried

17. Very busy in family affairs & very ill myself

x18 Lords day. I preach'd all day from {Proverbs} 23.26 Old sermons Read {Nehemiah} 2. {Mark} 1. Propounded {covenant} To {Oliver} Cory. Baptized my Daughter by the name of Mary - also Joseph the Son of {Andrew} & Mary Betty, & Ephraim the son of {Oliver} & Hannah Cory propounded the desires of Lois Herrick to Ond {Covenant} & to have her Children baptized

19. Very much hurried in {Church} business &c

20. Master Minot & {Captain} Cummings dined with me Dr. Mr. Tyng & {daughter} Sarah & Mr. {Stoddard} visited my wife,

21. Visited {Widow} Stevens -

22. Received Visit from the wife of Dr. Abbot

23. Received [ditto?] from Dr. himself who had been to Groton -

24. prepared sermons

x25 Lords day preach'd all day from {Colossians} 3.12 Put on - Meekness. Sermons from {Matthew} 5.5 Read {Nehemiah} 3. {Mark} 2. Propounded {Covenant} to Lois Herrick - Baptized {Thomas} son of Henry & Marah Spaulding - & Joanna {daughter} of {Samuel} & Sarah Barron -

26. Visited {Ebenezer} Foster

27. Town Mett {about} my sallery, but did nothing which I am Informed of as, yet, --

28. {Reverend} D. Emmerson dined with me - I Visited {Colonel} {Stoddard}, {Colonel} Blanchard being there -