USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > History of Middlesex County, Massachusetts : with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Vol. I > Part 181
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83 | Part 84 | Part 85 | Part 86 | Part 87 | Part 88 | Part 89 | Part 90 | Part 91 | Part 92 | Part 93 | Part 94 | Part 95 | Part 96 | Part 97 | Part 98 | Part 99 | Part 100 | Part 101 | Part 102 | Part 103 | Part 104 | Part 105 | Part 106 | Part 107 | Part 108 | Part 109 | Part 110 | Part 111 | Part 112 | Part 113 | Part 114 | Part 115 | Part 116 | Part 117 | Part 118 | Part 119 | Part 120 | Part 121 | Part 122 | Part 123 | Part 124 | Part 125 | Part 126 | Part 127 | Part 128 | Part 129 | Part 130 | Part 131 | Part 132 | Part 133 | Part 134 | Part 135 | Part 136 | Part 137 | Part 138 | Part 139 | Part 140 | Part 141 | Part 142 | Part 143 | Part 144 | Part 145 | Part 146 | Part 147 | Part 148 | Part 149 | Part 150 | Part 151 | Part 152 | Part 153 | Part 154 | Part 155 | Part 156 | Part 157 | Part 158 | Part 159 | Part 160 | Part 161 | Part 162 | Part 163 | Part 164 | Part 165 | Part 166 | Part 167 | Part 168 | Part 169 | Part 170 | Part 171 | Part 172 | Part 173 | Part 174 | Part 175 | Part 176 | Part 177 | Part 178 | Part 179 | Part 180 | Part 181 | Part 182 | Part 183 | Part 184 | Part 185 | Part 186 | Part 187 | Part 188 | Part 189 | Part 190 | Part 191 | Part 192 | Part 193 | Part 194 | Part 195 | Part 196 | Part 197 | Part 198 | Part 199 | Part 200 | Part 201 | Part 202
25. Rode to Cambridge. Our forces very numer- ous there. Lodged at Richard Clark's, Watertown.
26. Returned home, ria Lexington. Many houses on the road pillaged by the Regulars between Lexing- ton and Charlestown.
27. Josiah Quincy arrived this week from England and died at l'ape Ann.
29. Rode to Bedford. Sunday. Preached at Bed- ford on exchange.
I For entry regarding the events of the 10th of April, see Sewall's Wfo- burn, 363.
May 2, 1775. Rode to ministers' meeting at Mr. Stone's. Lodged at Mr. Smith's. 3. Rode to Tops- field and to Boxford. Lodged at Mr. Holyoke's.
7. P.M. Preached at Old Parish in exchange with Mr. Coggin.
8. Rode to Billerica and returned. 9. To Lexing- ton.
11. Fast Day. Preached at Reading in exchange for Mr. Haven. Rode to Medford.
12. Lodged last night at Capt. Brooks, Medford. Rode through Cambridge to Dorchester. Surveyed the situation of our forces.
13. Lodged last night at Mr. Wiswell's, at Dor- chester, and returned home through Cambridge.
17. Saw about 9 o'clock P.M., a great fire towards Boston. Went up a hill and saw the blaze. Just before the fire heard a great noise.
18. The fire last night was in Boston. Burnt a number of stores. It began in one of the barracks.
21. Sunday. Married Josiah Wilkins, of Marl- boro', to Judith Fox, of Woburn Old Parish. They came to my lodgings.
23. Last Sabbath our people destroyed a quantity of hay at Weymouth, which the Regulars attempted to get to Boston. Some firing on both sides, but have not heard that any were killed.
26. Mr. Prentiss, of Reading, dined with me.
[27.] Sunday. Last night exceeding warm. Lay most naked. All day and in the night heard the cannon at Boston. A skirmish, I suppose, between the troops under General Gage and our forces. Heard the cannon in time of service, A.M., and hear our forces have burnt a tender to a man-of-war, this morning, at the mouth of the Mistick River, and that they from yesterday, P.M., to to-day, were firing at each other.
29. Catechising the children,-thirty in number.
30. Rode to Cambridge. Lodged at Dr. Appleton's.
31. Rode to Watertown. Dr. Langdon preached to the Congress from Is. i: 28. Lodged at Waltham.
June I, 1775. Rode to Watertown. Heard Mr. Stevens preach Convention sermon. Rode to Cam- bridge and home.
4. Sunday. Mr. Wyeth came up between meetings and preached P.M.
6. P.M. Married Joshua Reed.
9. Went fishing at Billerica with Messrs. Blanchard and Andrews. 4
10. Mr. Marston and wife and children moved from Boston here.
16. Mr. Marston, of Boston, arrived here. He escaped in a fishing boat.2
19. Rode to Menotomy and lodged at Mr. Welling- ton's.
20. Rode to Watertown and Cambridge, and viewed the intrenchments of our army between Cambridge and Charlestown and returned home.
2 For entry regarding the events of the 17th of June, see Woburn Journal, May 22, 1875.
676
HISTORY OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.
21. Mr. Wigglesworth came here and lodged.1
24. Began to rain about noon. We have had an early and long and severe drought. P.M. Just heard that our army had entrenched last night near- er the enemy on Bunker's Hill, and that the enemy this morning appeared with their horse in battle array and in readiness at the bottom of the Hill by Charlestown Neck to drive our forces away ; but after a while they withdrew. The heavy cannon are now playing, the firing is smart and very plainly heard.
29. In evening, married Ruth Wyman to Josiah Kendall.
July 1, 1775. Heard the firing of some cannon which were at Roxbury Neck.
[2] Sunday. A great deal of firing below. It began about daybreak and continued till 7 o'clock. Heard it was at Roxbury Neck. Mr. Prentiss, of Charles- town, preached for me, A.M. P.M. Preached myself. and attended a funeral of Jesse Russell's [wife] in the other parish,
3. Rode to Lexington and returned, and attended a funeral in the other Parish of a young man, who received his death wound by a horse's throwing him.
4. Attended Ministers' meeting at Billerica. I was admitted into the association.
9. Sunday. Mr. Prentiss, of Charlestown, preached for me, P.M.
10. Thermometer 92° in a shade abroad.
11. Thermometer 95° in the shade abroad.
12. Rode to Lexington. P.M. Great shower of rain, which extended far and wide. Rained about an hour as fast as ever I saw. I believed the water ran in brooks and stood in ponds. After shower rode to Watertown.
13. Last night lodged at Watertown, and rode to Roxbury, Cambridge, and to Prospect and Winter Hills, and viewed the forts and ent nchments, well executed and strong. Prayed in evening with Col- onel Gerrish's regiment and returned home. 16. Sun- day. Mr. Prentiss, of Charlestown, preached for me. 17. Great shower of hail, etc.
20. A General fast appointed throughout British America by the Continental Congress at Philadel- phia. Preached at home.
21. Rode to Cambridge. Lodged at Mr. Watson's. 22. At Cambridge. At evening prayed in the army. [23.] Sunday. Last night lodged at Mr. Tap- pan's. A.M. Preached in the army. P.M. Some rain which prevented preaching. 24. At Cambridge.
25. Return home.
26. Very unwell. 27. Extreme sultry : hot. Rain, P.M., etc. It has been a very dry time, the hay cut greatly short-English hay here 22s. per hundred. Indian corn looks promising. The rye very short and flax. 28. Dine at Mr. Reuben Kimball's.
30. Sunday. Attend the funeral of old Mr. Si- monds ; a very large funeral.
1 For ontry on the 22d, sce Sewall's Woburn, 578 ; the 26th, sce Sew- «11, 573.
August 2, 1775. My lecture; Mr. Morrill preached from Psalm 56: 3. After lecture had church meet- ing. Chose Mr. David Blanchard and Mr. Joseph Johnson (3d), deacons. There were 17 members present. Mr. B. had 10 votes; the rest scattering votes. Mr. Joseph Johnson, the Third, had 11 votes. 3. Evening. Married a couple.
6. Sunday. Mr. Prentiss, of Charlestown, preached all day. Sacrament.
8. Visited a sick person in the Old Parish at Capt. Brooks's. P.M. Visited James Johnson's son.
10. Visited Capt. Walker's son, sick.
11. Rode to Bedford and returned. On return called and prayed with Bacon's family, very sick, and also visited and prayed with Capt. Walker's son.
13. Sunday. Preached at Bedford ou exchange. Returned very unwell. 14. Very unwell. 15. Do.
16. Better, but very feeble ; a cold in the limbs, at- tended with some fever; little or no appetite. 17, 18, 19, Sunday. Unwell, at home. Mr. Wyeth preached all day for me. I am very unwell-not able to preach-the rheumatic disorder.
21. Visited Jonas Walker, very sick.
23. Rode to Deacon Reed's and returned at night. Unwell. 24. Not well. 25, 26. Ditto. 27. Sunday. No preaching nor meeting. Not well.
28. Master Hutchinson, of Boston, lodged here. To-day I rode to Lexington, dined at Brother's and returned.
29. Rainy day, at home. Took a vomit. 30. At home, unwell. 31. Better of my sickness.
September 1, 1775. Confined to house. 2. Rode, but in the P.M., unwell. [3.] Sunday. Exceeding rainy, a northeast storm ; abundance of rain. Mr. Brooks, of Medford, preached for me. At home ; did not attend meeting ; very unwell. 4. At home, confined to house. 5. Rode out in Parish. 6. Rode to Wilmington. Feel better in health. 7. P.M. Rode to Billerica and back. 8. Rode out in the afternoon. 9. Rode to Lexington with Capt. Marston. A short shower at Lexington and some rain at Woburn. Very warm after the rain.
11. Visited three sick persons, viz. : Old Mrs. Proctor, John Gleason's wife and Stratton's wife.
12. Rode to Cambridge, and viewed the camps and forts, and returned at night. Boston is hedged in on every side but the water.
13, P.M. Attend a funeral of Mr. Switcher's [Sweetser] child, of Charlestown, now living in the other Parish, and prayed with a sick woman at Dr. Hay's.
14. Attend a funeral of Bartholomew Richardson's child in Old Parish.
16. Visited Mrs. Kendall, a dying person, and who died while I was there.
17. Sunday. After meeting P.M., attend a funeral of a child of Jonathan Carter's, Old Parish.
18. Visited four sick persons and attended the funeral of Mrs. Kendall. A sickly time.
677
BURLINGTON.
19. Visited three sick persons.
20. P.M. Attended the funeral of Mr. Isaac1 Snow, Old Parish, and on return prayed with the sick at Capt. Walker's.
21. Attended and preached Mr. Clark's Lecture. My birthday.
22. Visited Elizabeth Reed's daughter, sick.
23. Attended the funeral of Capt. Walker's child.
24. Sunday. Put on coarse, linen shirt.
25. Visited six houses where there were sick, and prayed, and two houses of well.
27. Lecture. Mr. Cumings preached. Mr. Whit- ney, of Attleboro', here with Mr. Cumings.
29. Visited sick at John Caldwell's and Center's, Old Parish.
30. Attended the funeral of Abraham Alexander's child.
October 2, 1775. Visited the sick and catechised the children present, 24.
3. Prayed with Center's Son and Mrs. Kendall, Old Parish. Rode to Reading, attend Ministers' meeting at Mr. Prentiss's, and P.M., returned and at- tended the funeral of John Caldwell's child.
5. P.M. Attended two funerals in Old Parish and prayed with a sick person. Evening, married Jonas Evans, of Reading, to Rachel Eames, of Woburn.
6. Deacon Johnson moving my goods, I purposing to board at his house.
9. Moved myself from Mrs. Jones's to Deacon Johnson's to live.
10. Visited George Reed's and Elizabeth Reed's families, very sick.
. 11. Attend the funeral of Center's son, aged 8 years and 7 months. Evening, came on thunder and light- ning and rain. Rained most of the night. The lightning exceeding sharp and very frequent,-more lightning than at any one time this year. A building on fire at the westward, not far distant. Set on fire, I imagine, by the lightning. Isaac Stearns's barn, of Billerica, was consumed, being struck with lightning. Barn was 85 feet long.
13. Rode to Lexington. Attended the funeral of one of Brother's children, viz., Ruth, aged seven years, and returned.
18. Messrs. Wigglesworth and Gannett dined here.
22. Sunday. Attend the funeral of Capt. Marston's child.
23. Rode to Watertown, ria Lexington. Very sickly at my brother's. Lodged at Watertown.
24. Rode from Watertown to Cambridge, viewed the camps and returned home.
25. Mr. Burbeen dined with me. P.M., visited old Mrs. Reed, being sick.
30. Visited Mr. Welch's daughter, she being sick.
Vorember 1, 1775. Rode to Concord. AAttended the Dudleian Lecture. Dr. Langdon preached from Micah 4: 5. Subject : Natural religion. Returned home.
2. Deacon Marrett, of Cape Ann, here. 3. He lodged here, weather bound. P.M. Attended funeral of the Widow Mary Reed. 4. Deacon Marrett went, morning. 6. Visited at Mr. Symmes's.
7. Rode to Wilmington to Ministers' meeting and returned.
9. Cannon fired much from 12 to 3 o'clock ; about 400 or 500 Regulars landed on Lechmere's Point and carried off 1 cow. They were soon drove off by a party of our soldiers. We lost 1 man killed, and 1 mortally wounded. What they lost, cannot tell.
13. P.M. Attended funeral of one Mrs. Perry in the Old Parish, and visited Solomon Wood's wife, being sick.
21. President Langdon came here.
22. Visited Mrs. Temple's daughter, dangerously ill .
23. Thanksgiving Day.
25. P.M. Attended the funeral of Mrs. Temple's daughter.
28. Visited Mr. Peters's child at Jonathan John- son's.
30. Attended three funerals in my Parish, viz., Widow Speer ; a child of Abraham Alexander's ; and a child of Mr. Peters's, of Wilmington, which died here ; and married a conple.
December 2, 1775. P.M. Attended the funeral of Samuel Converse, of Old Parish, aged 40 years.
5. Rode to Cambridge and back. Hear Quebec is taken by the Provincials.
9. Attended the funeral of Mr. Sweetcher's wife,
17. Sunday. Heard several cannon fired. Our people are raising a covert way from Prospect to Cob- ble Hill, and the enemy endeavoring to prevent them.
18. The firing yesterday was at Lechmere's Point, our people intrenching there. A ship that had lain up the River all summer moved off this morning.
20. Fair, and the coldest day this season. At home. Heard several cannon fired.
23. P.M. Attended the funeral of Mr. Gardner, leather dresser, formerly of Charlestown; he died in the other parish.
25. Christmas.
27. Attended the funeral of Madam Temple, late of Charlestown, who died at Captain Johnson's; and married Josiah Locke to Elizabeth Richardson, both of Woburn Old Parish.
29. Rode to Cambridge and returned, and lodged at Jonathan Carter's. Last night onr forces arranged to attack Bunker Hill over the ice on the mill pond, but the ice was not strong enough, and therefore they desisted.
30. P.M. Many cannon fired. Returned home, A.M.
January 1, 1776. Dined at Mrs. Temple's, and visited John Dix's sick child.
2. Spent evening at Shubael Johnson's.
3. Visited with Captain Marston at Deacon Reed's, and in evening married a couple.
1 Should be Timothy, not Isaac Suow .- ED.
678
HISTORY OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.
10. Called up about break of day to visit Capt. Wood's wife, being sick.
15. Ditto.
18. Cannon fired much. Heard our army is de- feated at Quebec.
21. Sunday. Preached at Old Parish on exchange with Mr. Burbeen.
22. Eveniug, singing meeting here.
23. Rode to Cambridge and viewed the lines, and returned home ; Deacon Johnson and wife went with me.
24. Got my hay home from Caldwell's.
31. Eight men enlisted out of this parish for two months.
February 2, 1776. Heard several cannon.
4. Sunday. Fair and exceeding cold. Last night, between 11 o'clock and 12 o'clock, there was either a small shock of an earthquake or else the ground cracked, it being frozen very hard. It gave the house a sudden and smart shock and was felt in like manner at Wilmington at the same time. It proceeded from north to sonth.
12. Heard many cannon, supposed to be below Boston, at sea.
14. Last night the enemy burned some houses and barns on Dorchester Neck.
19. Rode, P.M., to Esquire Reed's, of Lexington, and back again. Mr. Trask, of my parish, dined with me.
20. Brother Marrett and wife visited here. Vespere, at Deacon Reed's.
22. Visited old Mrs. Wyman, being sick.
23. Visited, at Thos. Skilton's, the widow Simonds.
28. Mr. Stone, of Reading, and Mr. Jacob Gould, of Weymouth, dined with me. Sent my watch by Mr. Gould to Braintree, to Mr. Cranch's, to he mended.
March 3, 1776. Sunday. P.M. Master Coggin preached from 2 Cor. 5 : 10. People in great anxiety about some important transactions speedily to take place between our army and the enemy's forces. 4. Last night, from eight in the evening till the morning, the cannon and mortars between our army and the enemy fired more or less; and to-day were firing more or less, till between 12 o'clock and one, a general battle or a very smart skirmish, ensued, as I judge, from the report of small arms and cannon. The regulars had a mock fight in Boston. Visited Lient. Tidd's sick child. My people collecting rags, etc., for the use of the army.
5. Last night, the mortars and cannon played very fast most all night from both sides, and our army en- trenched on Dorchester Hill without auy molestation. Rode to Cambridge.
6. Lodged at Cambridge. Returned home.
7. Fast day. Preached at home, P.M. Mr. Coggin made the first prayer.
8. Evening. Captain Marston visited here. Visited Lieut. Tidd's children, being sick.
10. Sunday. Last night our forces entrenched on another hill on Dorchester Point, nearer to Boston. A smart firing ensned on both sides. We lost about 12 men. [At first we were drove off, but by a reinforce- ment carried on and completed the work. Not true.]
11. Visited Mr. Spear, being sick, and prayed at parish meeting. Hear the small-pox is at Welch's.
12. Attend a funeral of Lieut. Tidd's grandchild.
13. Attend the funeral of Mr. Robert Spear.
18. Yesterday morning, about break of day, the British troops evacuated Bunker Hill and Boston, and all the shipping moved off and lay wind bound below the castle,-whither bound, know not,-but it is con- jectured to Halifax to wait on orders from Great Brit- ain. Our forces have taken possession of all the places they have left. The Lord be praised! Last night we intrenched on Dorchester Point.
19. Dined at Timothy Winn's. P.M. Rode to Old Parish and attended Mr. Pool's funeral. Mr. Morrill and I prayed with the sick woman, Mrs. Pool. Hear that below the Castle the ships are arrived to the fleet of the enemy, which lies below.
20. Rode to Charlestown Ferry and viewed Bunker Hill, the works of the enemy, and the ruins of the town. The fleet lays below the Castle. Returned home via Cambridge. 21. A great fire last evening at the Castle, the enemy demolishing it. Rode to Old Parish to see Mrs. Pool, sick.
22. Attend a funeral of Abijah Thompson's child, Old Parish.
23. Visit James Twist's wife, being sick.
25. P.M. Visit James Twist's wife and Dodge's child, being sick. 28. Attend the funeral of James Twist's wife.
April 2, 1776. Attend funeral of Nathaniel Wyman. 5. Attend the funeral of Daniel Simonds and his wife, two aged persons in Lexington.
8. P.M. Visit old Mrs. Ditson, being sick.
14. Sunday. After meeting, P.M., attend the fun- eral of an infant of Mr. Ranger, and visited Mrs. Dit- son, being sick.
19. Rode to Lexington ; dined at Brother's. P.M. Attended a lecture in commemoration of Lexington Battle. Mr. Clark performed the whole exercise ; preached from Joel, 3d chapter, the last verses ; a very crowded audience; the militia companies in Lex- ington mustered. Returned home.
23. Rode to Boston and returned home. First time I have been to Boston since the enemy evacuated it.
24. P.M. Spent at Reuben Kimball's. 26. Mrs. Marston visited here.
28. Sunday. Mr. Gannett preached for me all day, from Psalm 110:1, 2.
May 3, 1776. Mr. Thurston, a preacher in the other Parish, visited me. 5 (Sunday). Rode to Concord and preached on an exchange with Mr. Emerson. 6. Lodged last night at Doctor Minot's. Returned home. 7. P.M. Attend Ministers' meeting at Mr. Stone's ; admitted Mr. French. Returned.
679
BURLINGTON.
16. Attended the funeral of George Reed's negro woman.
17. A Continental Fast ; preached at home, a full meeting.
18. Visited Amos Wyman and wife, being sick.
19. Sunday. Exchanged with Mr. Haven, of Read- ing, and returned.
20. Hear a large brig loaded with warlike stores was taken by us from the enemy, as she was coming into Boston Harbor.
23. Dined at Joshua Jones's.
27. Catechise the children.
29. Rode to Watertown; attend Election ; Mr. West, of Dartmouth, preached. 30. Lodged last night at Mr. Meriam's, of Newton. Attend Conven- tion ; Mr. Cooke preached from 1 Thess. 2:4. Re- turned home in the afternoon.
June 1, 1776. Hear our forces at Quebec have been driven from their entrenchments, and renewed the attack afterwards, being reinforced, and recovered their lost ground.
3. Went to the Castle with Woburn militia to in- trench.
4. Lodged last night at Roxbury. This morning sailed from Boston to the Castle; intrenched all day. P. M. Returned home with the militia.
5. Visited Jotham Johnson's child, sick.
6. Dined at Mrs. Wood's.
8. Rode to Needham. 9. (Sunday.) Preached on exchange with Mr. Coggin, at New Parish, in Need- ham.
13. Rode to Reading ; Attend Mr. Haven's wife's funeral ; Mr. Morrill prayed. Returned.
14. Capt. Marrett dined here.
15. Night before last, 5000 of our people went down and intrenched on an island and another place in Boston Harbor, and yesterday morning drove all the enemy's ships down below the lighthouse. A 50- gun ship was obliged to cut her cable and be towed down by boats, etc. At home. Mr. Clark was here.
16. Sunday. Preached at Lexington and returned.
17. Visit Amos Wyman, being sick.
18. Attend Training.
19. P.M. Set out for Boston. Lodged at Carter's.
20. Rode to Boston and returned home.
24. Visited James Thompson's wife and Reuben Kimball's wife, being sick.
25. Exceeding hot ; the hottest-very dry and mel- ancholy time. At home.
27. Wind northeast, cooler than for many days.
29. Exceeding hot and scorching, and burning sun. The land mourning by reason of the dearth.
30. Sunday. P.M., 6 o'clock, came up a cloud at- tended with some thunder and sharp lightning, and rained for above an hour ;- great part of the time exceeding fast ;- abundance of rain for the time. The water stood in ponds and ran like brooks; and after- wards [it was] misty and moist. Not so much rain have we had for a month past. The Lord is gracious
and full of compassion, slow to anger, and of great mercy !
July 2, 1776. Independency. 3. Lecture on account of the drought and war; Mr. Penniman preached from Psalm 39 :9. 4. Attend lecture at Bedford ; Mr. Emerson prayed and preached ; I made last prayer. Returned home.
6. Small-pox in Boston, inoculating there. Ten men, of the fifteen, enlisted out of this parish for the expedition to Canada-5000 to be raised from this province for New York and Canada.
14. Sunday. Preached at Bedford. Mr. Sprague preached for me, and Mr. Penniman for him, at Car- lisle (Concord). Five o'clock P.M. Preached at lecture, at home, to a party of soldiers going on the Canada expedition.
15. Visited Amos Wyman, sick in a deep consump- tion. [The diarist had visited him times before.]
18. P.M. Rode to Lexington and back ; my broth- er and two of his sons and eighteen others inoculated last week in his own house for the small-pox.
23. Mr. Wyeth came here and tarried all night.
24. Hear the enemy's ships are destroyed by a tempest at South Carolina; two 40-gun ships, one 50-gun ship and a tender and a transport lost, and all the men perished.
25. Woburn Company of soldiers for the Canada expedition marched for Crown Point. Prayed with them at Deacon Blanchard's.
29. Visit young Mr. Nevers and Mr. Amos Wyman, being sick.
30. The moon eclipsed.
August 1, 1776. Provincial Fast. Exchanged with Mr. Morrill.
2. Evening, saw either uncommon frequent flashes of lightning in the northeast. towards Cape Ann, or else flashes of cannon.
9. Prayed with Deacon Blanchard, being sick.
12. Visit Mrs. Nevers, sick. Extreme hot.
14. Attend the funeral of Zebadiah Wyman's wife, 2 o'clock P.M.
17. Visit Mrs. Nevers, a dying.
18. (Sunday.) Attend funeral of Samuel Nevers's wife.
23. The enemy landed on Long Island, New York. 24 and 25. Fight at New York, Long Island.
26. Visit Ditson's child, sick.
September 1, 1776. Sunday. Attend funeral of Sam- uel Ditson's child.
7. Hear our forces are beat off from Long Island, at New York, and that four boats full of men in coming away were taken prisoners.
12. Visited Elijah Wyman, sick.
15. (Sunday.) Read the Declaration for Independ- ency.
20. Visit Joshua Jones's wife, sick.
25. Attend Dudleian Lecture at Cambridge. Mr. Morrill, of Wilmington, preached. Subject : Revealed religion from 1 Peter 3 : 15.
680
HISTORY OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.
26. Attend the funeral of Luther Simonds's child.
October 2, 1776. Mr. Jones, candidate preaching in other parish, preached from 1 Peter 1: 12 :- " Which things the angels desire to look into."
4. Attend funeral of Mrs. Nevers's youngest child.
6. Sunday. Uncle Dunster and his wife kept Sab- bath here.
9. Rode to Mistick and back.
10. Visit Mrs. Burton on account of her child's death.
13. Sunday. Preached at Old Parish on exchange with Mr. Jones. Mr. Emerson, of Concord, died at Otter Creek.
17. Attended Lecture in Lexington ; Mr. Cooke preached.
26. Rode to Stow.
[27.] Sunday. Preached at Stow on an exchange.
28. Rode to Lancaster and returned to Stow ; lodged at Deacon Gates's.
29. Returned home. Heard [that] Mr. Emerson,
of Concord, died at Otter Creek, [the] 13th inst.
November 7, 1776. Jacob Bacon, who was put into Concord Jail, for abusing his wife, this day made way with himself by cutting his throat, in jail.
15. Visit Sylvanus Woods, being sick.
16. Fort Washington taken.
19. Rode to Newton.
20. Lodged last night at Mr. Pigeon's, Visit some in Newton and rode to Cambridge.
21. Lodged last night at College. Rode to Boston and returned home.
24. Sunday. Rode to Medford and preached on ex- change.
25. Lodged last night at Edward Brooks's, dined at Menotomy, and returned home.
December 9, 1776. Visited Elizabeth Reed, sick. Hear a fleet of the enemy's ships are seen off Rhode Island.
12. Thanksgiving. First snow, 2 inches.
13. Dined at Samuel Reed's, Jr.'s; General Lee taken prisoner by treachery.
14. Attend funeral of Thomas Skilton's child.
16. Visit James Thompson's wife and John Gleason, being sick. Spent evening at Mr. Grimes's.
18. General Howe marching towards Philadel- phia, General Washington before, and General Lee behind.
22. Snow on level about 6 inches.
23. Visited Elizabeth Reed and Thomas Skilton, being sick, and dined at Deacon Reed's.
24.1 In evening, married Widow Wyman to Mr. Richardson, of Billerica.
31. Visited Jonathan Tidd, Jr., and old Mrs. Thompson, being sick.
CHAPTER LIII.
SHERBORN.
BY ALBERT H. BLANCHARD, M.D.
Two hundred and fifty years ago the territory which now constitutes the pleasant town of Sherborn was one vast wilderness. No white face had ever been seen within its borders ; only the Indian and his dusky mate trod its forest paths and plied the ca- noe on its fair streams. In peace and plenty they lived their rude life, contented with the products of the chase and of the lakes and rivers, the Charles on the east and the Sudbury on the west. The Nipmuck tribe, less warlike than some of their neighbors, oc- cupied this region and that to the westward of it. They had just heard, in 1621, of the arrival on the shores of Plymouth of a band of men with pale faces, and in some manner communicated with them. This was the first inland tribe with which the English formed an acquaintance. It was independent of other tribes and powerful in numbers. Naturally peaceful, they prospered so long as they held together, and resisted the influences of the other tribes. When first known to the white settlers they were governed by a squaw-sachem, who resided near Wachusett Mountain, and they possessed most of the present counties of Middlesex and Worcester, and still more land to the north and west. But in the year 1647 they were unable to agree concerning a chief, and di- vided into as many as five bands, each having a dif- ferent chief. Traditions appear to show that one of these bands settled in the locality which is now the southwest part of Sherborn, and erected their "stan- nocks" or wigwams there ; hence the name by which that district was formerly known, and by which it is still called by some of the older inhabitants.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.