Colonial North America: Harvard University Archives

Wednesday July 29 1778. We arrived ( at Springfield from Hadley) about Tea-time _ found Mrs. Dwight well, but young Dwight was out of town __ Spent evening {with} Mr. [Breek?], whom we found [sociable?] and generous. Thursday. We called upon [Pynchon?] after breakfast & took a view of [the?] town. The Laboratory and [Park?] of Artillery were at [the?] upper end of [the?] town. We saw a large number of [brass?] mortars and field pieces. These, with what ammunition [?] be [prepared?], [?] held in [?] to be sent to any place where [necessiaty?] might require. Springfield was [?] [the?] most [?] & [consequent?] place for these things, as it is near [the?] center of {New} England.__ The town is pleasant; stands upon [the?] East, or rather, North side of [the?] river, and alomost parallel to it. Many of [the?] [?] are elegant & stand upon that side of the [?] next to [the?] river; this opposite side of [the?] [?] is [walked?] by a fine rivulet for near a mile.

We dined at Mr [Breeker's?]__found him [?], but rather gloomy & [?] [?] [the?] times. Spent [the?] evening at Mrs Dwight's in company with Mr [Buckminster?], his [fifties?] [?]. Mr [Buckminster?] said he had [?] Hartford [?] time__ that he understand Lebanon had applied to me to preach there upon probabtion__ We slept at Mr [Breeker's?] where we chatted upon various matter [till?] late. When retired to [bed?] Mr Merricks, a young preacher [?] [?] [?], showed us a picture of Mr Dorr [?] [first?] husband of Mrs [Breeker?]; and added, that Mr [Breeker?] once merrily told Mr Dorr in the presence of his wife, that he should not be married till he was dead & [?] have his wife; which really happened. [Friday?] Dined at Mrs Dwight's__ called upon Dr Williams [(4 miles)?] whom we found hospitable & sociable. Spoke of his sister who was taken by the Indians at Deerfield about 70 years ago, &

in Boston [?].

July 18. Thursday. Took home a number of books in I [?] of [Dear?] Nightingale. I agreed to return & supply [?] after one Sabbath. Read some in Wynne's [history?] of British America [?] 1 [?]. It gives a good account of [the?] Canada expedition.

July 21. Sabbath. Preached for Mr Bean in [foreroom?]. Heard him preach a [Serm.?] to those in [?] [?] to Canada. Heard over [?] had retreated to Crown Point or to Ticonderoga. Spent [?] of this week in [?] bibe & Spectator. Chose me a [text?] for [?] next week. Heart there ws a [plot?] discovered at Albany. [?] [?] Parker had a [?] & ws driven from [?] [?]: 3 [?] taken & several ships much damaged. - Several ships lost in [?] Charlestown Bar.

July 28. Sabbath All day at Providence. Kept at Mr [?],

Seq. 16 July 30. Tuesday.

Collected some th[?] for [?] & again a [?] after Dinner. Wrote I afternoon again ‘N.

July 31. Wednesday. Wrote all day & after I finished, Lern^n.

Aug. 1. 1776. Thursday. This day was[?] appointed to the [?] as a fa[?] by 1 Morsa church [fate/hate?] & as a congregational society or chiefly formed out of you & after you, y^e (the), conform to yr faith & c. I preachd all day. But as I was offered by no other Society in Rouilew[?] I did not feel like [?]. Stopped after [?] at Dr Bowen’s, saw Mis. Dolly who appeard agreeable, —

Aug. 2. Fryday. Read Shedach & Lyatator. Took a walk w Mr Chalkley up to his [?], found all vegetables very Nourishz & a very promising Season.

We rode upon a river bank for three miles, all which w most [?] inter[?]. We were agreeably entertained by several families. Heard a letter from Mr. Ofmer a member of Congress, which mentioned that French fleet which faild [?] {bring?} & had, for a little while, blocked up New York, but then lay before Newport, opened their orders at Sea, May 29, after which time they were to commit hostilities against ‘ English. We lodged at Mr Hungtingdon’s and found a sociable, pleasant evening.— Wednesday. We returned to Wethersfield before dinner. Heard that {General} Lee’s trial was closed & refull sent to Congress. That {General} Washington, army wr at Whiteplain, about 16,000 men. — Dined at Col. Betin’s & wr very hospitably entertained— drank at Mr Michael’s who appeard sensible[?]. We found Mr Nash directly [?], happily married

& surrounded by a number of good families. Supped with a New York gentleman elegantly & sociably.

Thursday. Set out early for Providence --- Dined at Coventry, where [i?] rested 4 or 5 hours. The tavern-[?] said he never remembered such fine crops of all kind, as this year. [?] [?] had never suffered for rain at any one time. We arrived at Milford about [?] which was about 37 miles from Wethersfield. Found Mr. Mesinger better than when I used to call upon him. He told me several families had returned to that town from Susquehanna, and some in [?] [distress?]; uncertain whether their head was alive or not. We could not hear any authentic particular [respecting?] an expedition to Rhode-Island, which for some time had appeared to be in contemplation, under {General} Sullivan. We found, however, that two brigades of the continental army was gone; that

Some of the Conneticut militia were sent for; and that artillery & ammunition were sent forward from Springfield. Fryday. Went over to [Woodworth?] before dinner; found it [exusive?] hot, uneven & fatiguing. Dined with Mr Dexter, who [?] Mr Leonard, place after his unhappy suicide[?] in the army, & who had lived at [Woodstoch?] ever since ‘ first summer of ‘war. Spent our time till about 4 o'clock very agreeably. Found Mrs Shaty a [very?] young [?]: Mrs Dolly waiting for Bradford who has exchanged the pulpit for the counter. We rode 11 miles after Sunset & lodged at Wilmats. Then we heard that all the troops had marched from Providence to Liveston the day before: that I French fleet had obliged ‘ English to burn, [Linh?] or destroy all their [?] in Newport harbor; & that y^e Ship [dumped?] 1 [?] into Providence River.

Saturday.

Arrived at Providence about 10 o'clock. Saw Mr [Ch?ley] who still remains a cripple, but [joeose? {joyous?}] & sociable. Mr Bullard boards there; but was gone to Bristol to see what was going on. We heard that a large number of spectators wr at MountHope to see [?] went of an attempt to land. Many volunteers wr on their way, & many had already joined the army, from Boston, Salem, Newbury & Portsmouth. The independent company, commanded immediately by {General} Hancock wr on the front. Some of [first?] characters, & of [?] [?] blood in New-England wr engaged in person. Chief of the [?] [?] wr able wr gone from Providence and from [?] movements [?] wr conjectured that our army would land that night. We dined at Mr Cushing's, whose wife said that her house [?] Bristol wr saved by a [?] person's being in [it?], [there?] the humanity of

an officer, but contrary to [n?] inclination & attempt of a soldier, when , town wr burned. We [?i?ed] , college which appeared filthy & abused by , soldiers. Left Providence about 6 o'clock & slept at Mr Weld's. Sunday. Aug. 9. 1778. A Mr Noble, who wr driven from his [?] at, [Eastwand?], was to [?] Mr Weld, Mr Gannett & I rode over to Wrentham. I left him at Mr Bean's to [preach?] for him, & went to my father's. Found all well. Heard Mr Gannett all day, and [stayed?] at [Sacrament?], for, [first?] opportunity at any place for about a year. Between meetings we had a beautiful flower; before which , earth wr [excep?] [dry?] & [?] every kind of [?] destroyed. We wre told that more South; near Taunton, [?] corn ws entirely cut off, & that for a [?] of 30

who, having married one of {them}, lives with them yet. She has paid several visits to her friends; but is generally anxious to return. This part of Springfield called long medow, is pleasant, having a handsome meeting house, but too wide a street. This is {the} case with many of {the} river-towns. We rode to Enfield about 8 or 9 miles. This place is pleasant & similar to {the} former; but more populous and elegant. Arrived at East Windsor about Sunset. Found Mr Perry's wife almost wasted by a consumption. Lodged at Capt Grant's, Mrs Marsh's father's. Saturday. Mr Gannett went on for Wethersfield, but I tarried to assist Mr Perry upon {the} Sabbath. Spent my time chiefly at Capt Grant's, whom I found sociable, rich & a high whigg. Genl Prescot had boarded with him, after he was taken by Capt Barton upon Rhode-Island. But his sour, uneasy temper prevented a con