Colonial North America: Houghton Library

17) December 12・1749

I set out for Boston in company with {Reverend} Mr. [Hall?] My horse fail'd me, and I had a fall from him b[ut] {through} Divine goodness received no hurt - I went [as] far as {Reverend} Mr. Chandlers and dined there and [re-] turned home at night - and was much indisposed in the evening & night

13. Attended the funeral of {John} Warren's child -

14. Received a short visit from {Colonel} Blanchard & exceedingly hurried in making provision for myself & family -

15. Visited {John} Warren his child sick throat & distemper - & pray'd with {them} -

16. Exceedingly hurried in {Churchly} Affairs - & my horse to day - I was put out in making any new {sermon}.

X 17. Lords day. I preach'd all day from {Psalm} 81.11. Old sermons - with part new Improvement. [Wa?] a {Church} meeting Tomorrow 2 O Clock PM in {order} to Choose a Deacon - and to Consult All upon some other matters wherein the Interest of the {church} is Concern'd -

18. The {Church} mett. and after prayer proceeded to the [choi-] ce of a Deacon - There were 38 voters, and John Warren was Chosen, having 31 votes. 3 for {Benjamin} Parker - 3 for {William} Prockter, & 1 for Adams - Mr Warren desired time to [con-] sidr. of the matter - and he was desired to give ansr. next {lecture} day After Service - The {Deacon} {Ephraim} Spaulding made report to the Church that by reason of the fall of the Price of wine and the contributions holding out well he had got [?] of 20£ before hand in his hands, & Church [was] Informed that there [?] cloth & napkin [?] [Th?] [?]

[18] Also the Church chose {Deacon} {Ephraim} Spaulding to be a Trustee in the Affair relating to Mr. Baxters works given to the Church & {Congregation} by {Honorable} Mr. Holden of London &c and voted that those Books should be read in the intermission season if any were read in the meeting house according to the Intent of the Donor &c and desired that our Brethren {Benjamin} Haywood, {Jonathan} Minot, Daniel Brockton, {Ebenezer} Harris and John Adams, would in their turns read in those books -- Also Voted Thanks to {Benjamin} Haywood for his present of two Ca[sks ?] to transport the wine in - And Chose Deacons Spaulding and {John} Warren the Deacon Elect to be a Committee to manage the Affair relating to a sum of money viz £13 old tender in the hands of Captain {Ebenezer} Parker & to make report of their Doings thereon.

[19?] Visited Josiah Fletcher, as I did last night, His son {Benjamin} sick & pray'd &c. Last night Mr. Swan Lodged with us. {Reverend} Mr Carpenter dined with us - Could not go to Billerica {lecture}

[20.] Visited {John} Warren his family sick, particularly Jonas Warren his apprentice & pray'd &c.

[21.] Considerably hurrid about my horse yet sick

[22.] Visited John Parker with my wife in the evening.

[23.] Wrote sermon

[24.] Lords day. I preach'd all day from {Psalm} 68.20

[25.] Visited {Colonel} Stoddard

[26.] Rode to Dracut in Company with {Colonel} Stoddard. Dined at {Reverend} Mr Parker's - PM attended the funeral of {Colonel} Varnum, who died last fryday night.

[27.] {Reverend} Mr. Parker, [Reverend?] Gardener preach't {Colonel} [page torn] Peggy - Dined with

[?]

19) To Dracut & dined with {Reverend} Mr. Parker, [by his?] invitation - Visited {Colonel} Clark in the evening

29 {december} 1749. Wrote sermon. Visited {Joseph} Warren his wife exceeding weak & low & pray'd &c. Visited {Captain} Parker in the Evening.

30. Wrote sermon. I received a Visit from {Reverend} Mr. Carpenter & heard by him about my books. {John} was ill of a pleuritic fever

31. Lords day. I preach'd all day from {Psalm} 90.9. last clause - we spend our [days?] as a Tale [about?] John Baptized Joseph the son of {Nathaniel} & Martha Barrat - Notified sacrament & {lecture}

1. {January} 1749/50 - Received a Visit from {Reverend} Mr. Parker on his way to Boston

2. I visited {Jonas} Bates his wife not well - Deb Bates Josiah Fletcher & his son Josiah & {Colonel} Stoddard

3. I married {Benjamin} Parker {Junior} and {Elizabeth} Blodget fee 24 / [?] Mr. Gardner came to my house and lodged

X 4. Sunday. Mr. {Nathaniel} Gardner preach'd for me from Hosea 6.3 first clause. After {lecture} the Church stopp'd and {John} Warren who was Chosen a deacon the 18th of last month declared his acceptance of the church's Choice - {Reverend} Mr. Hall & {Colonel} Tyng & other Company Visited me, & {Reverend} Mr. Parker and daughter [Elizabeth] Visited & lodged with us on their way from Boston.

5. {Reverend} Mr. Parker & [daughter] [Elizabeth] and Mr. Gardner went home

6. Wrote sermon.

x7. Lords day & {Communion} day. I preach'd all day from {Psalm} 130.3.4. Administ'd sacrament. Supp't -

8. Very much Engaged in business with workmen at my meadow

9. A great snow Storm. PM Visited {Colonel} Stoddard

10. Went from [Home] in order to go to Boston - dined at {Reverend} Mr. Chandler's. Visited {Reverend} Mr. Cotton lodged at Charlestown at Mr [B?]

20) 11 {January} 1749/50. Went into Boston and Visited friends

12. Engaged in business toward Settleing my late {Honored} father's Estate & Visited Friends

13. Ditto -

X14. Lords day. I preach'd AM for the {Reverend} Mr. Gray from {Matthew} 5.44.45 - PM I attended at {Reverend} Mr. Cooper's and heard him preach from Ps. 36.2.

15. Engaged in business & Visited Friends -

16. Ditto { NB: Mr. Bean preach'd for me last Lords

17. Ditto { day - which I forgot to Enter it in its place

18. Ditto

19. I returned from Boston & found my family well - but was very much fatigued by my Journey Dined at {Reverend} Mr. Cotton's in my way -

20. Speedily tired with my Journey.

X21. Lords day. I preach'd all day from {Matthew} 4.1-11 Old sermons - Baptized Obadiah the son of Stephen and Susanna Fletcher

22. Visited {Colonel} Stoddard

23. Visited {Ephraim} Warren - & PM {Colonel} {Stoddard} with my wife and her sister

24. Married David Welch and Mary Byham fee 9/8

25. Rode with my wife - Mrs Stoddard & Peggy to {Colonel} Clarks & dined, & spent PM there

26. Wrote sermon. Visited {Nathaniel} Foster sick

27. Wrote sermon. This night died a Child of {Nathaniel} Barrat's

X28. Lords day. I preach'd all day from {Psalm} 10.4. and Baptized {Thomas} the Son of John & Sarah Adams

29 Visited {John} Chamberlain his wife yet disordered in Mind {Benjamin} ditto & Dined there. Abraham Isaac & Jacob Byham & PM atended the funeral of the Child of {Nathaniel} Barrat & in the evening William Foster & Deacon Warren

30. Visited {Samuel} Peckham with my wife PM & I visited Josiah Fletcher, {Ephraim} Blood & {Jonathan} Bates in the evening

31. Visited {Reverend} Mr. Parker with my wife and dined [page torn] upon our return [?]

21) having lately heard of his son {Timothy} his death at Halifax in Nova Scotia - but Mr. Howard was not at home

1. {February} 1749/50 {Reverend} Mr. Parker & {Colonel} Stoddard dined with us - I bot me a horse of a 100£ price -- Received the news of the Death of the {Reverend} & Worthy Mr. Taylor of Milton who died last Thursday {Ætas} 46 & in the 22 year of his Ministry - A great loss - may it be sanctified to all ministers as well as relatives & to me especially -

2. Received a Visit from {Colonel} Wilder & toward evening I Visited {Deacon} {Ephraim} Spaulding - In studdy some -

3. Wrote sermon -

X4. Lords day. Preach'd all day from {Hebrews} 11.25

5. Visited Joseph Warren his wife very weak & low

6. Visited {Benjamin} Prockter & his Mother sick & prayed with her &c AM - and {Benjamin} Howard & {Jonathan} Bowey PM.

7. {Reverend} Messrs. Parker & Hall dined & supp'd with us -

8. Visited {Ephraim} Warren.

9. Received a Visit from {Colonel} Tyng. In the evening I visited {James} Dutton sick & pray'd with him.

10. Wrote sermon. Attended the funeral of a Child of Stephen Fletcher who died suddenly, night before last

X11. Lords day. I preach'd all day from {Hebrews} 12.1.

12. Visited {Deacon} Colburn -

13. Visited {Colonel} Stoddard

14. Visited & prayed with {Lieutenant} Spaulding his mother ill by reason of a fall upon ice - Visited O. Fletcher in the Evening -

15. Wrote sermon

16. Wrote sermon. In the evening was at {John}Parker's with the select men of the Town - upon business -

17. Wrote sermon

X18. Lords day. I preach'd all day from {Matthew} 28.19.20 Baptized {Jonathan} son of {Jonathan} & Abigail Bates - & propounded the desires of {Samuel} Pecham to own the {Covenant}

22) 19. {February} 1749/50. Visited {William} Foster his child sick of the throat distemper & pray'd &c.

20. Went to Billerica {lecture} with my wife - I preach'd from {Psalm} 10.4. {Present} Messrs. Cotton & Bowes - Toward evening my wife & I Visited Joseph Ruggles newly married - This morning died the child of {William} Foster -

21. Attended funeral of {William} Foster's child

22. Visited {Jeremiah} Bowers & dined there - his son {Jeremiah} - {Joseph} Moors & {Oliver} Peirce, his mother Varnum (widow of {Colonel} Varnum) ill there, & prayed with her -

23. Visited {Joseph} Warren wife very weak & low & pray'd with her AM - Ditto in the Evening - and wrote sermon -

24. Wrote sermon & received a Visit PM from {William} Gardner

X25. Lords day. I preach'd all day from {Matthew} 28.19.20 Propounded the {Covenant} to {Samuel} Pecham - and Notified {sacrament} & {lecture}

26. Visited {Joseph} Warren his wife (as to appearance) near Dying & pray'd &c - Visited {Captain} Parker -

27. Visited {Colonel} Stoddard, and discoursed with his mulatto {servant} Hagar, who seems to feign herself ill.

28. Last night died Tabatha, wife of Joseph Warren after a lingering, tedious, illness. Wrote Sermon

1. March 1749/50. {Lecture} day. {Reverend} Mr. Hall preached from those words, The heaven of heavens Cannot contain thee. {Colonel} Tyng Col. Stoddard & Mr. Hall dined with me and they & {Colonel} Stoddard supped with me - {Colonel} Clark & {Daughter} {Elizabeth} Visited us - After {lecture} [all?] stopp'd the church - and the Deacons {Ephraim} Spaulding & [John] Warren made report to the church of their doings in the affair relating to the Money which was in {Captain} Par- kers hands, as mention'd 18 {December} past - They reported that {Captain} Parker had paid {them} the sum of ₤17.10.0 - for the sum of 13 ₤ lent to him

23) viz. the principal - and the rest as interest & some small matter in Consideration of the depreciation of money the Church Voted they were satisfied therewith & that the Committee {aforesaid} {should} give him a discharge in full

Then {Deacon} {Ephraim} Spaulding reported that he had provided sutable clothing for the {Communion} Table Agreeable to Vote of the Church {December} 18 past - that they amounted to the sum of £ 11.10.0 - and that he had in his hands, that £ ______ {which} was not appropriated - upon which the Church Voted that {Deacon} {Ephraim} Spaulding & {Deacon} Warren, should be a {Committee} to let out that Sum of £17.10.0 together with the other sum of £ ________ at interest - It was also proposed to the Church that in as much as the paper Currency would be at an end before another {sacrament} according to Act of General Court - that the Contribution which according to Custom {would} be next {sacrament} {should} be dropp'd, and that some convenient time before another {sacrament} {should} be pitched upon in order to the Church contributing, to Enable the deacons to provide - and the Church signified their approbation - by Silence -

Then After meeting I attended the funeral of the wife of Joseph Warren.

2. March 1749/50. Wrote sermon in my study all day.

3. Wrote sermon

X4. Lords day and {Communion} day. I preach'd AM from {Matthew} 28.6 Come see the place where the Lord lay. PM from {Matthew} 28.19.20 - Administered {sacrament}, supp'd, and [Baptism] to {Benjamin}, the son of Samuel & Sarah Peckham. [Wrote?] proclamation for {General} Fast 15th this instant -

This day I entered upon the 34th {year} [of] my age this Divine goodness I am Continued hitherto. O that the goodness of {God} might lead me to repentance - O my barrenness! As I have this day resolved & engaged anew (and at his table to be the Lords - so may I obtain grace from above to fulfil my Resolutions & Engagements - and [with?] {God} bestow{Covenant} good things & blessings upon me & mine - May I be guided by Counsel and afterward received with mine, & with my {people} to Glory and Eternal life. Amen

24) 5. {March} 1749/50. Supp'd in the Evening at Parkers with the selectmen - having pray'd in the Town Meeting in the Morning - and after {supper} was called to see {William} the Child of {Colonel} Stoddard having had fitts - and prayed with {them} -

6. Visited {Widow} Spaulding in a very poor Condition both with respect to body & mind, & prayed &c. Afterward Dined at {Colonel} Clarks - visited {William} Langley & James Parkhurst -

7. Visited {Colonel} Stoddard his children sick. {Reverend} Mr. Hall was there

8. Visited {Oliver} Fletcher. Married {Thomas} Parker and Jane Parrot - fee 20/6 - wrote sermon.

9. Wrote {sermon}. Visited {Jonathan} Barron with my wife in evening.

10. Wrote sermon

Z11. Lords day. I preach'd all day from {James} 3.10 and fter service read Act against cursing & Swearing

12. Visited {Samuel Adams} & {Benjamin} Haywood his wife sick, and pray'd &c.

13. Visited {Colonel} Stoddard in the evening.

14. Wrote sermon -

15. Fast day {through} province (annual) I preach'd all day from {Psalm} 123.1.2.

16. Visited [John] Parker his wife ill - Evening {Oliver} Fletcher

17. Reminded {Robert} Bates of his Duty to own the {Covenant} &c.

X18. Lords day Preach'd all day from 1 {Thessalonians} 5.19 old Sermon -

19. Visited {Edward} Jewet his child sick - & {Thomas} Parker

20. Was prevented going to the South End Town to marry a Couple - by reason of a storm -

21. Discoursed with {Robert} Bates {about} owning {Covenant}. In the evening Visited {Colonel} Stoddard.

22. Visited {Nathaniel} Harwood sick & son {Jonathan} & dined there {Ebenezer} Harris - Dr Foster, Zach Emery - Henry Spaulding 2 children ill - {Jonathan} Parker - and Joseph Warren

1) June 1. 1749

{Reverend} Mr. Barnard of Andover preached the Convention sermon from 2 {Corinthians} 4.1. - I dined at Dr. Chaunceys - PM Visited friends - Supp'd at the {Reverend] Mr. Grays.

2. I returned home from Boston & found all well.

3. I discoursed with Jonas Robbins again about old Mr. Byham his denying the divinity of our Saviour [as?] {Said} Jonas Charges him - and can't as yet find reason to call a Church meeting

x 4. Lords day. I preach'd all day from {Matthew} 11. 29.30 Old sermon - Read 1 {Thessalonionas} 10 - {Revelations} 2 -

5. Visited Widow Meriam Prockter apprehended nigh her End - discoursed & prayed with her -

6. Visited {Colonel} Clark & {Reverend} Mr. Parker with my wife. Received a visit from {Reverend] Mr. Wilkins -

7. Visited Widow Mary Blodget sick and apprehended nigh her End - discoursed & pray'd with her. Visited {Jonathan} Butterfield & {deacon} {Ephraim} Spaulding

8. This morning died the widow Mary Blodget {Ætas} 87. PM Visited some {Company} at the {Majors} -

9. Received a Visit from Mrs. Kimbal of Wenham and her {daughter} in the way to Littleton. They dined with us - I and my wife attended the funeral of dame Blodget.

10. Wrote Sermon. Dined at Major Stoddards with company.

x11. Lords day I preach'd all day from 1. {Chronicles}: 29. v 7 first part - Read 1 {Thessalonians} 11. {Revelations} 3. Baptized Joseph the Son of Joseph & Sarah Heywood, & Hannah the {daughter} of John & Hannah Parker - Read Proclamation for }public} Fast on [audit?] Drought -

12. Visited {Ebenezer} Foster in the evening.

13. Received a Visit PM from {Reverend} Mr. Chandler & his sister Mrs Sarah White - Wrote sermon for Fast

14. Wrote sermon for ditto.

2) 15 June 1749 Fast day {through} the province on {account} of the grievous drought - I preach'd all day from {Habakkuk}. 3.17.18.

16. Visited James Dutton sick & pray'd with him - also PM Widow Miriam Prockter yet sick & prayd with her - Visited Joanna Byam at {Daniel} Procter's sick Peter Prockter, Mr. Harwood and son -

17. [Visited?] Kenelm Winslow & {Samuel} Gowen with my sister Experience & cousin {Abigail}. Bridge came from Boston -

x18. Lords day. I preach'd all day from {Hebrews} 11:7, old sermons. Read 1 {Kings} 12, {Revelations} 4 - Baptized John the son of {Zebediah} & Mary Keyes - & William the son of Andrew and Mary Betty - A most excessive hot day. {Colonel} Brattle invited me PM & Evening -

19. Visited {Colonel} Tyng with my {Company} PM

20. Attended the Raising of a barn of {Jonathan} Barron's Supp'd at his Mothers

21. Major Stoddard & lady - Mr. Alford of Boston & Mr. [Jarat?] dined at my house with me & my {company} -

22. Visitied & supp'd with the major with {Company} -

23. My {company} went home

24. Wrote sermon

x25. Lords day. I preach'd all day from Psalm 15 - Read 1 {Kings}. 13, {Revelations} 5. Notified Sacrament. & led Thursday 2 o'clock PM.

26. Visited & dined with {Reverend} Mr. Parker with my sister Abigail - Visited also {Colonel} Clark & {Benjamin} Howard.

27. Visited {Zachariah} Emmery & John Spaulding & discoursed with {Jonathan} Stedman & wife there

28. Attended the Raising of a barn of {William} Porter's and expressed my disatisfaction with the Conduct of some at such times, occasion'd by the drunkenness of {Nathaniel} Langley there -

29. A Child of Joseph Heywood was buried before lecture - I pray'd at the grave - {Reverend} Mr. Parker preach'd my {lecture} - from {Zechariah} 10:12. later part - {Reverend} Mr. Hall present

30. Wrote sermon. Visited John Parker -