302.6 
 
 B93R16 
 1903


 
 sthen Burn's 
 Journal 
 
 GAMES 
 
 "3Tfje beautiful, anfc rarlg safntrt." 
 
 fflrs. ft. 13. Slotoc. 
 
 ^THIRD EDITION) 
 
 WOODWARD 4 LOTHROP, 
 
 WABHINOTON. D. C. 
 
 1903.
 
 1G2GC18
 
 M 
 
 'VT^ 
 tf^ 3 
 
 ^^^|^,^|^|^^|^ 
 
 SI 
 
 
 C^jfi 
 
 aM 
 
 <i-> 
 
 53*1 
 
 ^s 
 
 S;3 
 
 Hfltft 
 
 1 
 
 s 
 
 P 
 
 AC 
 
 15?* 
 
 
 
 "x/S it fit that I should infuse a bunch of myrrh into the 
 
 (3) 
 
 J| festival goblet, and after the Egyptian manner serve 
 up a dead man's bones at the feast ? I will only show 
 !it, and take it away again, and it will make the wine bitter 
 
 1 
 
 If 
 
 ^> 
 
 but wholesome. Those married pairs that live as remember- 
 ing that they must part again, shall at the day of their death 
 be admitted to glorious es*x>us'ils " 
 
 5? 
 
 KS 
 
 ^^^K 
 
 S3^ 
 
 JEREMY TAYLOR. 
 
 S3 
 
 <io p$! 
 
 l^jfc^ 
 
 
 p 
 
 k^fcj^ 
 
 KU 
 
 (Q)l\E my kindest love to my dear wife, and tell her 'XT^Tl 
 \^f uf^Va 
 s-^t that the uncommon union, which has so long sub- EfiT^fc 
 
 j%y^l 
 
 n 
 
 Ks 
 
 sisted between us, has been of such a nature, as I ' [ %r*l^ | 
 
 trust is spiritual, and therefore will continue forever : and I M^Va 
 I '/ ^'^ 
 hope she will be supported under so great a trial, and sub- IvfejU 
 
 ggS 
 
 vU" 
 <v>? 
 
 rait cheerfully to the will of God." Ij^V^^ 
 PRESIDENT EDWARDS' LAST MESSAGE TO HIS V>'IFR. i *i"S 
 
 |OTI 
 
 ^^ 
 
 55^ 
 
 ffXJ 
 
 ^jt>^ 
 
 "S. ij^ 
 
 |5f 
 
 831 
 
 S59 
 
 KjOj 
 
 y^w 
 
 f 
 
 <JL> 

 
 r/ff/r$*ff^c|J\J 
 
 f T -T -T R^ 
 
 | 
 
 4 
 
 tfje Honorable Srrrrtaro 
 
 Historian, Statesman, Qiplotnat, 
 liort, Jritnti. 
 
 , . ; - ^
 
 Enfcti to Illustrations. 
 
 I A COLONIAL TYPE 
 
 II THE HUSBAND OF ESTHER 
 BURR 
 
 III THE MOTHER OF ESTHER 
 
 BURR 
 
 IV THE GRAND-DAUGHTER O 
 
 ESTHER BURR 
 
 PACK 2 
 65 
 79 
 92
 
 nortbampton, Tcb. 13, 1741, 
 
 RTS is my ninth birthday, and 
 ttlrs. Edwards, my mother, 
 has bad me stitch these sun= 
 dry sheets of paper into a 
 book to make me a journal, 
 tttcthinks, almost all this family keep 
 journals; though they seldom show 
 them. But mrs. Edwards is to see 
 mine, because she needs to know 
 whether 1 improve in composing; also, 
 whether 1 am learning to keep my heart 
 with all diligence; in which we are all 
 constrained to be engaged. 
 
 Chere has been a great religious 
 awakening here among the children. 
 One of my little mates, Phoebe Bartlett, 
 only a few years older than myself, 
 seems to be a wonderful Christian, and 
 has been one, ever since she was four 
 years of age. So lUr. Edwards, my 
 father, thinks. T do not expect to be
 
 12 ESTHER BURR'S JOURNAL 
 
 bead at us and puts her finger on her 
 lips, but we are sometimes ready to burst 
 out with miscbief: not because be pro* 
 vokes or deserves it, but because it is in 
 us; as I venture to say, it is in all 
 girls. 
 
 m
 
 ESTHER BURR'S JOURNAL 13 
 
 nortbampton, Jan. 9, 1742. 
 
 RS. Edwards was thirty* 
 three years old to-day. 
 Chat seems very old. 1 
 wonder if T shall live to be 
 thirty-three? flnd ITlr. Ed- 
 wards is forty seven years older than 
 she. Iflrs. Edwards seemed very seri- 
 ous all the day long; as if she were in- 
 wardly praying, "Cord, so teach me to 
 number my days, that T may apply my 
 heart unto wisdom." Indeed, this she 
 said to us girls, when we were trying to 
 practice some birthday trolics upon 
 her. flnd when she came from her clos- 
 et-devotions, her face actually shone, 
 as though* like Ifloses, she had come 
 down from the mount. T do not think we 
 girls ever will be so saintly as our moth- 
 er is. Jit any rate, we do not begin so. 
 I do not know as T want to be, which 
 is very wicked, 1 am sure. I think, that 
 perhaps Sarah may; she is the flower of 
 this family. * c
 
 14 
 
 ESTHER BURR'S JOURNAL 
 
 ! 
 
 H> 
 |f 
 
 northampion, Jan. 27, 1742. 
 
 flaming young preacher, 
 just from the college at new 
 Raven, has come to town. 
 Re preaches, every day t and 
 twice a day; our dear hon 
 ored father, who so much bears the 
 burdens of all the churches, being ab* 
 sent, doing the work of an evangelist, 
 my precious mother, though she would 
 gladly conceal it, is not a little cxcr* 
 cised to see the people flocking after 
 the young herald of the Cross, as 
 though they never heard preaching bc 
 fore. Ris name is Buell, and he is a 
 classmate in college of Samuel Rop- 
 kins. But, T can see this morning that 
 she has wrestled with the Cord, and 
 gotten the victory, for she says so 
 sweetly and triumphantly: "mould 
 6od, that all the Cord's people were 
 prophets, and that Cod would put his 
 spirit upon them." 
 
 mr. Buell will stay the second 
 week, and then mr. Ropkins will go 
 with him, as a kind of armor>bearer, 
 or lieutenant, to Boston, to capture that 
 city for the Cord, many Christians have 
 been greatly quickened and sinners 
 converted* T am not certain how my 
 honored father would regard some 
 things that mr. Buell does. But 1 am 
 sure, he would say, " Che Cord save 
 by whom he will save." c 
 
 * 
 
 I
 
 p 
 
 tfVr^ 
 
 tp 
 H 
 
 ga 
 
 northampton, jan. 27, again. 
 
 ^ 
 
 have just come in from 
 the three o'clock lecture. 
 Che place was too strait 
 for us, and the people 
 were deeply moved, many 
 wept, and not a few remained for a 
 period of three hours for conversation 
 and inquiry. Itlv honored mother, 
 whose spirit answers so quickly to 
 spiritual things* seemed to come back 
 home, "walking and leaping and 
 praising God." Us she entered the door, 
 she had my hand, and was singing, not 
 loudly, but as if it were in an inward 
 ecstasy, 
 
 "fiosanna to King David's son, 
 Ulho reigns on a superior throne!" 
 Jill the evening there was something 
 seraphic in her expression, and when 
 she kissed me for the night, methought 
 T looked on the face of an angel, my 
 honored father and dear mother seem to 
 me different from other people in this, 
 that their whole nature is attuned to 
 God's service and praise. Chey utter 
 themselves at once, as though they felt, 
 if they held their peace, the very stones 
 would cry out. Ulho knows but they 
 would? the northampton stones are 
 wont to hear such preaching.
 
 16 ESTHER BURR'S JOURNAL 
 
 northampton, Teb. 13, 1742* 
 
 have just come tripping up 
 stairs from morning worship, 
 and the song of the service 
 still follows me* T have been 
 thinking what a singing f am= 
 ily the Edwards family is* mother's 
 voice we have heard in psalms and 
 hymns and spiritual songs, ever since 
 our early babyhood* She sang us on 
 our pilgrim way, when we were in our 
 cradles* Jlnd to all the house, her voice 
 is always uplifting like the lark's, as 
 though her soul were mounting up to 
 heaven's shining gate on wings of song* 
 If father ever gets low>spirited from 
 his *' humors," as he calls them, her 
 voice is to him like medicine, as David's 
 harp was to King Saul* Jlnd when she 
 once begins, there is Sarah and jcrusha 
 and myself, like the ascending pipes of 
 an organ, ready to unite in making a joy= 
 ful noise to the Cord, all over the house 
 so that our home is more like an aviary 
 than the dwelling of a Colonial parson* 
 mother has been correcting the few 
 pages of my journal and father has 
 given me to transcribe into it, a descrip- 
 tion which he wrote of a certain lady,
 
 ESTHER BURR'S JOURNAL 17 
 
 when she was but thirteen years old. 
 Chis is only three years older than T am 
 now. Here is the extract: 
 
 " Chcv say there is a young lady in 
 new Haven who has a strange sweet* 
 ness in her mind, and a singular purity 
 in her affections; is most just and com 
 scientious in all conduct, and you could 
 not persuade her to do anything wrong 
 or sinful, if you should give her all the 
 world. She is of a wonderful sweetness 
 and calmness, and universal benevo- 
 lence of mind; especially, after the great 
 God has manifested himself to her mind. 
 She will sometimes go about from place 
 to place singing sweetly, and seeming 
 to be always full of ioy and pleasure, 
 and no one knows for what. She loves 
 to be alone, and walking in the fields and 
 groves, and seems to have some One in- 
 visible conversing with her." 
 
 Chis was Sarah Pierrepoint, my 
 precious mother. Itlr. Edwards wants 
 me to be like her. Ulhat do they say 
 of a young lady, also a minister's 
 daughter, who lives in this town of 
 northampton? my mother says, Itly 
 journal thus far is rather stilted and 
 mature for me; though everything in 
 the family is mature. 1 have a letter of 
 my father's written when he was 
 younger than T am, which T shall trans=
 
 18 
 
 ESTHER BURR'S JOURNAL 
 
 cribc, just to show where the present 
 writer gets her stilts and maturity : 
 Co miss Itlary Edwards at fiadley. 
 
 Olindsor t may 10, 1716. 
 Dear Sister: 
 
 Cbrougb tbe wonderful good> 
 ness and mercy of Cod, there has been 
 in this place a remarkable outpouring 
 of tbe Spirit of Bod. Tt still continues, 
 but T think T bave reason to think it is in 
 some measure diminished; yet, T hope 
 not much. Chree bave joined tbe 
 church, since you last heard, five now 
 stand propounded for admission; and T 
 think about tbirty persons come com= 
 monly on mondays to converse with 
 f atber about tbe condition of tbcir souls* 
 Tt is a time of general health here. 
 Hbigail, fiannah and Cucy bave bad tbe 
 cbicfcen>pox and bave recovered. 3e> 
 rusba is almost well. Except her, tbe 
 wbole family is well. 
 
 Sister, T am glad 1 bear of your 
 welfare as often as T do* T sbould be 
 glad to bear from you by letter, and 
 therein, how is it with you, as to your 
 crookedness* 
 
 Vour loving brotber, 
 
 Jonathan 6. 
 
 * 
 <* 
 
 &
 
 ESTHER BURR'S JOURNAL 19 
 
 nortbampton, march 6, 1742. 
 
 HUt just been caring for my 
 mocking*bird* who is now 
 rewarding me with a sonn. 
 Che cat was lurking in the 
 ball* and T have fust driven 
 ber away with the broom* witb which 1 
 have been sweeping tbe living>room. 
 Chough down by tbe fireside* attwi* 
 ligbt* she is my favorite* too* or ratber* 
 jcrusba's, who is very tender of pets* 
 Hnd even father, sometimes* while witb 
 us after supper* seems to enjoy ber pur> 
 ring* as be strokes ber in bis lap. 
 Cbougb I doubt if she has much divinity 
 about ber; unless it is in ber sparks of 
 electricity* wben she is rubbed tbe 
 wrong way.
 
 20 
 
 ESTHER BURR'S JOURNAL 
 
 Northampton, may 1, 1742* 
 
 have just come back from a 
 most wonderful ride with my 
 honored father, mr. Edwards, 
 through the spring woods* lie 
 usually rides alone. But, to- 
 day, he said he had something he want- 
 ed to show me. Che forests between 
 our house and the full-banked river 
 were very beautiful. Che wild cherry 
 and the dogwood were in full bloom. 
 Che squirrels were leaping from tree to 
 tree, and the birds were making a vari= 
 ous melody. Chough father is usually 
 taciturn or preoccupied, my mother 
 will call these large words, even when 
 he takes one of us children with him, to* 
 day, he discoursed to me of the awful 
 sweetness of walking with God in Ha 
 ture. Be seems to feel God in the 
 woods, the sky, the clouds and the 
 grand sweep of the river, which winds 
 so majestically through the woody si* 
 lences here. Be quoted, to-day, from 
 the Canticles, "T am the Rose of Sharon 
 and the Cily of the valleys," applying 
 the words to the Saviour, as though the 
 beauty and loveliness of the Saviour 
 were recalled in the works of creation;
 
 ESTHER BURR'S JOURNAL 21 
 
 and then, from the Gospel of 3ohn : 
 "Jill things were made by him, and 
 without him was not anything made, 
 that was made." Cbis was, as T sat be* 
 hind on the pillion, which we so much 
 use as a seat for another in horseback 
 riding. 
 
 When we reached "Che Indian's 
 Well," T slid off and brought a birch- 
 bark cup of crystal water for father to 
 drink. But, not before T had given my* 
 self a great surprise. For, having put 
 on m v mother's hat in sport, the first re* 
 flection in the dark water seemed to be 
 the face of my mother instead of my 
 own. Hnd when T told my father, he 
 said: "Us face answereth to face in 
 water, so the heart of man to man.'' 
 Hnd then he told me, that he had given 
 me that extract about Sarah Pierre- 
 point, that I might think of what my 
 mother was already, when she was still 
 a young maiden. 
 
 Going home, my father pointed out 
 to me the habits of a flying spider, that 
 sallies forth on his thread as upon 
 wings, and is borne by the wind from 
 tree to tree, so that he really is a great 
 traveler: how he raises himself on tip* 
 toe, turning up his body, how the silk
 
 22 
 
 ESTHER BURR'S JOURNAL 
 
 fluid in bis body becomes hardened on 
 exposure to tbe air, bow it is drawn out 
 by tbe current of tbe air. Indeed, I 
 came borne thinking a great many new 
 thoughts, which my excursion bad 
 awakened ; as I think my father intend 
 ed. Jlnd tbe verse came into my mind: 
 "Jill tby works praise tbee!"
 
 ESTHER BURR'S JOURNAL 23 
 
 northampton, June, 1743. 
 
 V mother has just come into 
 the house, with a bunch of 
 sweet peas, and put them on 
 the stand where my honored 
 father is shaving, though 
 his beard is very slight, me have 
 abundance of flowers, and a vegetable 
 garden, which is early and thrifty. Our 
 sweet corn is the first in the town, and 
 so are our green peas, my honored fa 
 ther of course has not time to give at- 
 tention to the garden, and so ttirs. Ed- 
 wards looks after everything there. Al- 
 most before the snow has left the hills, 
 she has it ploughed and spaded by 
 Hose's husband, who does all the hard 
 work there. She is our colored cook. 
 Ule hire her services from one of the 
 prominent people in father's parish* 
 who owns both her and her husband. 
 Chat word "owns" sounds strangely 
 about people. 
 
 Rev. Samuel Hopkins, my father's 
 student in theology, has some very 
 strong opinions against slavery, fie 
 once said to my father, that he believed
 
 24 ESTHER BURR'S JOURNAL 
 
 God would yet overrule for bis glory, 
 the coming of the blacks to tbis country; 
 quoting what Joseph said, " Vc meant 
 it for evil, but Cod meant it for good." 
 fie has already working in bis great 
 mind, tbe beginning of an effort to send 
 Christianized negroes back to Jlfrica. 
 Ule girls have cbanged bis nickname to 
 "Old Benevolence;" tbougb we all bave 
 for him tbe greatest respect. But, we 
 must bave something to make sport 
 about among ourselves. c
 
 ESTHER BURR'S JOURNAL 25 
 
 tlortbampton, juiv 23, 1743. 
 
 fit; Rev. Samuel Hopkins has 
 just paid us a short visit. fl 
 very strong attachment has 
 sprung up between this young 
 preacher and my honored fa= 
 ther. indeed, T believe, he has made my 
 father and mother his confidants in a 
 certain affair of the heart, which relates 
 to himself. JI certain young lady in 
 Horthampton none of the Edwards 
 girls is the object of this attachment* 
 and alas, it is not successful. It gives 
 us girls a great theme. 
 
 mr. Hopkins was to spend the 
 Cord's Day with us, and to preach in 
 my father's stead; though T really be* 
 lieve he would much prefer to listen to 
 my father. fls it turned out, they both 
 preached, and mr. Hopkins said the 
 comparison made bim ashamed.
 
 26 
 
 
 ESTHER BURR'S JOURNAL 
 
 
 ncrthampton, Sept* 14, 1743. 
 
 R. David Brainerd should 
 have graduated at new 
 Raven College this day. 
 mr. Edwards, my father, 
 is feeling much hurt be* 
 President CHap and the trustees 
 mr. Brainerd so shabbily 
 
 cause 
 
 have treated 
 and cruelly, my father says, as T think, 
 new Raven College has lost the bright- 
 est jewel she will ever wear in her crown, 
 mr. Brainerd was expelled from the 
 College, for saying of one of the tutors 
 who seemed indifferent to religious 
 activity, when mr. Olhitefield was 
 preaching in new Raven, and the stu-- 
 dents were generally giving much at- 
 tention to his word, that he had no 
 more religion than a chair. T can see 
 that my father thinks that he spake un> 
 advisedly, and should make amends for 
 it, as he was willing most humbly to 
 do, but, that he very likely spoke the 
 truth. Being a graduate of that Col- 
 lege, my father has been greatly bur= 
 dened at the irreligion and wickedness 
 prevailing there; and he is already in 
 conference with Rev. Burr of new* 
 ark as to founding a college, perhaps, 
 in the jerseys, where young men can 
 be safe from such influences. 
 
 t
 
 ESTHER BURR'S JOURNAL 27 
 
 It seems that mr . Brainerd was so 
 concerned for the students, that be went 
 from room to room talking and praping 
 with them all, whether they bad made a 
 profession of faitb or not* Indeed, tflr* 
 Samuel Hopkins told my father that it 
 was David Brainerd's visit to bis room 
 that convinced him tbat be himself was 
 not a Christian, tbongb be was even 
 tben intending to study for the ministry.
 
 28 
 
 ESTHER BURR'S JOURNAL 
 
 Northampton, Sept* 14, 1743, 
 
 $ T said, to return to the top* 
 ic above: this day David 
 Brainerd would have grad- 
 uated at new Raven College* 
 But, the faculty were unre- 
 lenting, notwithstanding his bumiliat* 
 ing confession* Re is likely to become 
 a member of this family, it seems* Soon 
 after coming to northampton he display* 
 ed strong affinity for 3erusha, our sis. 
 ter of seventeen, who was soon i tiocu, 
 lated with his high spiritual views, and 
 deeply interested in his Indian work* 
 
 my honored father Itlr. Edwards 
 regards him a young man of uncommon 
 abilities and gifts of nature, a close 
 student, with extraordinary power 
 in the pulpit* Tn private convcrsa* 
 tion, he is entertaining and profitable, 
 and very instructive on personal and ex- 
 perimental religion* Chus far, his Tn* 
 dian missionary labors have been soli' 
 tary. Ee thinks this a mistake* he has 
 had no domestic attention, no home 
 care, no one to hold him back from over 
 exertion* Jlnd he means now, should 
 he ever recover, which T very much mis* 
 doubt; to take a female helpmate back 
 with him* T am pretty sure this kind of
 
 ESTHER BURR'S JOURNAL 29 
 
 love never would satisfy me. 1 believe 
 be loves her, more because she will 
 make a good missionary, than for any 
 other reason. But, little does the dear 
 airl care. She has laid herself upon the 
 altar, and is more than willing to be an 
 offering for a sweet smelling savour to 
 him, as well as to her divine saviour 
 and Cord.
 
 3O ESTHER BURR'S JOURNAL 
 
 Hortbampton, may 14, 1744. 
 
 RS. Edwards, my moii.tr, 
 and my sister Sarah have 
 just set out with mr. fiop 
 kins on horseback for Bos- 
 ton* my sister rides behind 
 mr. ftopkins, and they are to lodge the 
 first night at Colonel Dwigbt's in Brook* 
 field. Cbis leaves a great vacancy in 
 our busy home: and intent on his studies 
 as my honored father mr. Edwards is. 
 I really believe he feels it the most. Cbis 
 visit to Boston has been a long time 
 planned, to execute sundry purchases 
 needful for the members of the house= 
 hold. Ulbile in Boston, mother and Sa 
 rah are to be entertained at the house of 
 Rev. mr. Prince, mr. Prince has a 
 daughter Sally, younger than our Sa = 
 rah father does not like to hear her 
 nick*named-witb whom, T sometimes 
 exchange letters. 1 hope hereafter to 
 visit Boston, myself; though T believe. 
 T would rather reside in nortbampton. 
 
 
 4* 
 
 4j 
 4* 
 
 4* 
 ^^J
 
 ESTHER BURR'S JOURNAL 31 
 
 north amp ton, Feb. 14 t 1747* 
 
 think T never knew so hapvv a 
 day. Chcrc has been a thaw, 
 the January thaw, later than 
 usual , and the rain bad frozen 
 on every tree and twig, and 
 when tbe sun a rose , it was just as though 
 tbey were all encased in silver. Hnd 
 everywhere tbe broken pieces off ice 
 were crackling down from tbe elms and 
 maples, all tbe way as we went to tbe 
 bouse of God. Che air was full of music 
 of tbe sleifib-bells of tbe cburcb-floers, 
 as tbey drove past. Jlnd 1 thought of 
 wbat is said in tbe Scriptures, of tbe 
 bells on tbe hiah priest's garments, and 
 bow bis sound was beard as be went 
 into tbe boly place; and so tbe greater 
 music of tbe cburcb-bells seemed to say 
 to my soul, holiness to tbe Cord ! 
 
 But T must begin to speak of earlier 
 in the day. T was awkened in the 
 morning by someone's kissing me on 
 my eyes and my mouth and my ears. 
 In the haze of my morning dreams T 
 thought it might be tbe angels. But, no, 
 T soon saw that it was my angebmotber,
 
 32 ESTHER BURR'S JOURNAL 
 
 and she was half saying and half sing* 
 ing: "Jlwake, my Esther, my queen. 
 Chis is the day of thine espousals* Tor 
 the King deligbtetb in thee and calleth 
 ihce by name* Re brings thce to Ris 
 banqueting*bouse and Eis banner over 
 thcc is love/' Chen, 1 remembered it 
 was my fifteenth birthday, and also, 
 that 1 was that day, to take upon me the 
 vows of God. Jlnd 1 answered mother, 
 as by a kind of inspiration: "T was 
 asleep, but my heart waketh* Tt is the 
 voice of my beloved that knocketb. Eis 
 head is filled with dew, His locks with 
 the drops of the night.' ' Jlnd T quickly 
 arose, for T saw the house was already 
 astir. 
 
 my honored father preached on 
 Ruth's Resolution as though to me, 
 from the words, "Entreat me not to 
 leave thee, nor to turn from following 
 tbee." (Ruth it lv) T shall never forget 
 his words about the people of 6od. Re 
 said, "Cbey are the most excellent and 
 happy society in the world* God whom 
 they have chosen as their Bod, is their 
 father. Re has pardoned all their sins, 
 and they are at peace with Rim. Jlnd 
 Re has admitted them to all the privil* 
 eges of children. Jls they have devoted
 
 ESTHER BURR'S JOURNAL 33 
 
 themselves to God, so God has given 
 himself to them, lye carries them on 
 eagle's wings far above Satan's reach, 
 and above the reach off all their enemies 
 in this world." Chis he afterwards let 
 me copy from his sermon. Und T said 
 in my heart: "hy people shall be my 
 people, and thy God my God."
 
 34 
 
 ESTHER BURR'S JOURNAL 
 
 ' 
 
 nortbampton, 1747* 
 
 has fust returned 
 from her sojourn in Boston, 
 with her sick charge, David 
 Brainerd, the Indian mis* 
 sionary. Che v came by easy 
 stages, but be is much exhausted, and 1 
 believe, is not long for this world, nev- 
 er was there such devotion, shall T say 
 idolatry? bestowed upon mortal man. 
 never was there so humble a handmaid 
 of the Cord as Serusba. She reminds 
 me of what is said of Ruth and Boaz: 
 "Hi hen she fell upon her face and bowed 
 herself to the ground, and said unto 
 him, Why have T found grace in thy 
 sight, that thou shouldst take knowl* 
 edge of me ?" Her whole nature goes 
 out after spiritual things, and this man 
 is her ideal* She actually almost wor> 
 ships the ground he treads upon. She 
 feels that she is unworthy to perform 
 the most menial offices for him. She 
 is iust sure to wear herself out in her 
 constant ministrations, which are day 
 and night, unremitting and unceasing. 
 If he should die soon, and 1 believe he 
 will, T am sure she would prefer to die 
 with him, as Chomas said to the Cord 
 about Cazarus, "Cct us go that we may 
 
 t 
 
 * 

 
 ESTHER BURR'S JOURNAL 35 
 
 die with him!" Indeed, we all fear t 
 that with the close off bis life, she will 
 feel that her work is ended, like Simeon 
 saying, "now lettest tby servant depart 
 in peace." 
 
 %
 
 36 
 
 ESTHER BURR'S JOURNAL 
 
 nortbamton, Oct. 9, 1747* 
 
 fi sainted sufferer of the 
 bouse, our temporary guest, 
 our brother in the Cord* has 
 at length, breathed bis last* 
 fie called us all to bis bed* 
 side, and tenderly talked of bis going, 
 and bade us, when we stand by bis 
 grave, to remember bis words, fie ex* 
 pressed himself ready to part with us 
 all. 
 was 
 
 "For to depart and be with Christ 
 far better/' Co our jcrusba, his 
 
 longtime nurse, who has watched and 
 almost felt every pang of bis poor rack* 
 ed body, for many months, be said: 
 "Dear Serusba, are you willing to part 
 with me? T am quite willing to part 
 wf tb you* Chough if I thought T should 
 not see you and be happy with you in 
 another world, T could not bear to part 
 with you* But, we will spend a happy 
 eternity together." flnd so he had bis 
 message for each one of us all, and 
 then fell asleep* 
 
 m
 
 ESTHER BURR'S JOURNAL 37 
 
 nortbamton, Oct. 12, 1747. 
 
 > bave fust come borne 
 from the public improve* 
 ment of David Brainerd's 
 decease. Of course* my 
 honored father preached 
 the discourse. fiis text was from 2 Cor. 
 v. 8 t "Absent from the body but pres 
 ent with tbe Cord." 
 
 he was unusually exalted, even 
 for him. Che closing bymn was 
 "Ulbv do we mourn departed friends ? 
 
 "Or shrink at death' s alarms ?" 
 It was sung grandly and triumphantly 
 by our great choir of voices. Dear 3e 
 rusba's illuminated face was a study. 
 She was rapt up no more in tbe living. 
 It seemed as tbougb ber soul, liberated 
 from eartbt was already mounting up to 
 boly communion with tbe spirits of tbe 
 iust made perfect, of wbom not one of 
 tbe great congregation could doubt, 
 Ittr. Branerd was now one. JInd wben 
 came tbe words 
 
 "Jlre we not tending upward too, 
 
 Jls fast as time can move ? 
 nor would we wisb tbe hours more 
 slow 
 
 Co keep us from our love !"
 
 Mr* 1 
 
 38 
 
 ESTHER BURR'S JOURNAL 
 
 4> 
 
 it seemed to me as though she saw 
 heaven open, the golden gates lifted 
 up and was only waiting for angel- 
 wings to mount there. She is not long 
 for this world. Tor exactly nineteen 
 weeks, day and night, she has cared 
 for this sick man ; and she only eight* 
 een. 
 
 |M|*
 
 ESTHER BURR'S JOURNAL 39 
 
 - 
 
 * 
 
 ^ 
 
 ES 
 
 KS 
 
 nortbamptotit Oct. 12, 1747* 
 
 respect was shown mr . 
 Hraincrd's memory at the 
 funeral, which occurred to* 
 day: eight of the neighbor* 
 ing ministers being present, 
 seventeen gentlemen of liberal educa* 
 tion and a great concourse of people. 
 Che October foliage, full of glory, seem* 
 ed nature's expression of the triumphal 
 conclusion of his life's years; and when 
 we all stood at the open grave, and his 
 precious dust was committed to the 
 dust, my father pronouncing the words: 
 "Jlnd T heard a voiee from heaven say* 
 ing, 'Blessed are the dead that die in 
 the Cord;' yea, saith with the Spirit that 
 they may rest from their labors, and 
 their works do follow them," it was a 
 solemnity not soon to be forgotten. Jlnd 
 when we returned home to the dwelling 
 where he had suffered so long, it was 
 like coming back to earth from the gate* 
 way of Heaven. How strangely earth 
 and Heaven are brought together in this 
 family!
 
 aj 
 
 40 ESTHER BURR'S JOURNAL 
 
 nortbampton, 1747* 
 
 V honored father has not on 
 
 ' v * hci -fl h * '* a $acred duty 
 to care for nir. Brainerd in 
 his own house, as a friend 
 atu | due st, rememberfna the 
 words, "He not forgetful to enter- 
 tain strangers; for by so doing, many 
 have entertained angels unawares:" 
 but he has felt that a record of his 
 saintly exercises and experiences 
 should be made for others* Re firmly 
 believes that the journal he has kept, is 
 to be largely blessed in making minis- 
 ters and missionaries, till the end of 
 time* c
 
 ESTHER BURR'S JOURNAL 41 
 
 Ilortbampton, Feb. 14, 174$. 
 
 f)TS day our dear Serusba 
 died at eigbteen. If as she 
 and ber sainted David, and 
 we all believe, sbe be gone to 
 ber father's Rouse, sbe bas 
 already joined the boly company, of 
 which be since last October bas been 
 one. Cbey have been separated only 
 five months. Chough T doubt, whether 
 be bas ever been absent from ber 
 thought and longing love. Chis is what 
 tbe world calls St. Ualentine's day, 
 though I have been taught to think that 
 all folly. Being a girl, T suppose, 1 
 could not belp remarking tbe coinci> 
 dence. Jlnd 1 recalled from tbe Psalms 
 as it was my day's reading : "Sbe sball 
 be brought unto tbe King, in raiment of 
 needle*work ; tbe virgins, ber compan* 
 ions, that follow ber sball be brought 
 unto thce; tbey sball enter into tbe 
 King's palace." Jlnd so we sball lay 
 tbe frame of this ministering angel side 
 by side witb tbat of tbe man, wbo 
 breathed out bis life almost in ber arms. 
 Tt is fust five montbs and two days 
 since bis burial, now tbey can say in 
 concert, "my beloved is mine, and T am 
 fiis!"
 
 42 
 
 ESTHER BURR'S JOURNAL 
 
 II 
 
 nortbampton, January* 
 
 JR6J1C excitement has been 
 occasioned by a new year's 
 sleigb*ride and ball for danc= 
 ing, that has just occurred 
 here. It was a gay party of 
 young people, some of my more intimate 
 friends among them, who drove to a bo* 
 tel in fiadley, and spent the hours till 
 midnight in dancing the Old Year out 
 and the new Year in. Ulben it was 
 known such a party was in contempla* 
 tion, the mothers of the young people 
 had a prayer-meeting to pray that no 
 harm might come to them ; indeed, that 
 they might be converted to a better style 
 of piety, than they then had; for many of 
 them were already church-members. 
 Co my honored father and mother, it 
 has been a time of great grief* Hnd 
 when with morning light, the great slcd= 
 loads drove up through the streets, with 
 their laughing, giddy freight, 1 saw the 
 tears in the eyes of them both. 1 am 
 only too glad, that none of the children 
 of this family were invited to go: or had 
 they been, would have so far departed 
 from the wishes of their parents, as to
 
 5LWIifW%'5^ 
 
 ESTHER BURR'S JOURNAL 43 
 
 care to do so* Cbis household, even 
 when tbere are visiting young people as 
 quests , is so well regulated, that with 
 nine o'clock conies the hour for family 
 worship when the different members re* 
 tire; while our morning worship is usu 
 ally by candlelight. 
 
 ^i^ 
 
 1
 
 44 
 
 ESTHER BURR'S JOURNAL 
 
 t 
 
 norJhampton. 
 
 have just been permitted 
 to read Richardson's nov- 
 el: "Sir Charles 6randi= 
 son." Our father and moth 8 
 er have first read it, and 
 regard it a wholly suitahle book as to 
 morals and character* Our honored f a- 
 ther has gone so far as to express ad- 
 miration for its literary style, and also 
 to speak his regret that he had not ear= 
 lier given more attention to such mat* 
 ters; he being so intent upon the 
 thougt, as to have no time to clothe it 
 in elegant language* this novel was 
 sent to us from Scotland, where it had 
 made a great stir* Of course, to read 
 such a book, is an unusual event in such 
 a family as ours* Jlnd we have had a 
 great time taking it in turn, and discus* 
 sing its characters. t c 
 
 4* 
 
 -------"---"-- 
 
 ,^
 
 V4Vh-/ 
 
 m 
 
 ESTHER BURR'S JOURNAL 45 
 
 Northampton. 
 
 RTS day, we leave dear, 
 sweet Rortbampton, where 
 all of us have been born, and 
 wbere we have so many ties 
 of childhood and youth. 
 Even the very trees around our home, 
 seem a part of us. there is one e!m, 
 tbat is called my father's, be has so 
 long studied beneatb it. Chough these 
 places will know us no more forever, 
 though much bitterness and persecution 
 have marked tbe men who have com* 
 passed our departure, as my honored 
 lather says, we do not go as David left 
 Jerusalem driven out by tbe rebellion of 
 bis son Hbsalom, though it seems so 
 to me at least, but believing in tbe 
 words of tbe sacred writ : "Behold, T 
 send an angel before tbee, to bring tbee 
 into tbe place which I bave prepared. 
 Lead me in tby righteousness because 
 of mine enemies ; make tby way straight 
 before my face." 
 One of the bitterest experiences 
 connected with this removal is the fact 
 that some of the active instigators of it 
 are actually flesh of our flesh, and 
 blood of our blood. Chis is more 
 than the Psalmist's complaint of tbe
 
 ESTHER BURR'S JOURNAL 
 
 one who "lifted up the heel against 
 him :" "We took sweet counsel togeth- 
 er, and walked to the bouse of God in 
 company," though this also was true. 
 flnd doubtless, the Cord's servants 
 have to take the baptism of their mas* 
 ter, who quotes this passage with refer* 
 ence to the defection of 5udas. 
 
 ur* 
 
 4i 
 
 t 
 
 * 
 
 I 

 
 f*>^H^" * ^^li^" * *~ 
 
 ^ *-^lt^ *'^M^" * -~ 
 
 JL T* ' 
 
 S3 
 
 B3i 
 
 jp 
 
 KS 
 
 ^ 
 
 5i 
 
 L.*Lr 
 
 ESTHER BURR'S JOURNAL 47 
 
 tlortbampton. 
 
 could be more beau 
 tiful than tbe manner, in 
 which Tflr. and mrs. d* 
 wards bave submitted to tbe 
 decision of tbe Council witb 
 its majority of only one, recommending 
 our removal from this place. We cbil* 
 dren bave been indignant beyond ex- 
 pression. It bas not always been pos- 
 sible for us to please our parents by 
 sbowing a meek and quiet spirit. Jlnd 
 seeing them take everything so patient^ 
 ly, we bave sometimes seemed to feel 
 tbe more satisfaction in sbowing our re- 
 sentment, may 6od forgive us, if we 
 are wrong. But we feel like shaking 
 tbe dust off of our very feet, as a testi* 
 mony against a people, to whom our fa- 
 ther bas ministered in boly tbings for so 
 many years, and wbo bave been born of 
 bis ministration of tbe truth into tbe 
 Kingdom of God. c
 
 48 
 
 ESTHER BURR'S JOURNAL 
 
 Stockbridge, mass., Dec. 22, 174$. 
 
 letter to Ittr. Edwards, my 
 honored father, from Itlr. 
 Burr, states that the Hew 
 Jersey College was organ* 
 ized under an enlarged 
 charter, nov. 9, and that he has been 
 chosen President to succeed ttlr. Dick* 
 enson, who has lately died. Tor the 
 present, he will serve without salary* 
 Chere is a graduating class of eight, of 
 whom seven expect to be ministers of 
 the Gospel* Ittr. Burr has two tutors to 
 assist him. lie himself teaches the an- 
 cient languages and mathematics, cal- 
 culates eclipses and practices survcy= 
 ing, besides being the pastor of the 
 church there* But of work, my honored 
 father says, tllr* Burr never tires, and 
 he passes from one thing to another, 
 with the greatest facility and grace* 
 hi$ whole arrangement, which has 
 been discussed in a correspondence be 
 tween my father and Governor Belcher 
 is very satisfactory* Tt is not Antici- 
 pated that mr* Burr will resign his pas= 
 torate, at least, at present; though how 
 he finds time to do so much none of us 
 can guess* 
 
 fc 
 i$ 
 
 *> 
 
 m
 
 ESTHER BURR'S JOURNAL 49 
 
 Stockbridge, may 26, 1749* 
 
 X is the practice off mr. d 
 wards to finish bis own meal, 
 which is always very simple, 
 and then return to the table to 
 say grace, at the close, when 
 we are all done, for we begin and end 
 our meals in God* Cbis morning as be 
 did not come at once, my dear motber 
 wbo always berself says grace, when 
 fatber is absent from borne, said that 
 Jonathan Edwards, Jr., wbo is Just 
 past eight years old, might officiate. 
 Cbis pleased us all. Tor be fell into ffa 
 tber's exact words and intonations, as 
 a child would do, without seeming to 
 intend it. me all maintained the great- 
 est decorum, as was befitting, for we 
 know that "out of the mouth off babes 
 and sucklings God has ordained 
 praise* '-a favorite verse off father's, 
 wbo believes in the early conversion off 
 children. Cbis evening, too, we chil- 
 dren are to have a birthday festival in 
 Jonathan's honor, though this we keep 
 a profound secret. Jls to Jonathan, Jr., 
 we all expect be will some day make a 
 great divine ; though outwardly he does 
 not resemble our fatber; being dark, 
 and plain, and very small.
 
 ESTHER BURR'S JOURNAL 
 
 Stockbridflc, 3an. 21, 1752. 
 
 town is delightfully lo- 
 cated for winter sports. Che 
 river has a very quiet flow, 
 so that we have skating 
 parties, and the bills all 
 around furnish suitable declivities for 
 coasting. 1 have just come in from 
 ttlest stockbridflc road, with my cheeks 
 all aalow and pulse beating wildly. Illy 
 sister and 1 had two Tndian boys to pull 
 our sleds for us, and to guide them over 
 the crust, which flashes like a mirror, 
 as with lightning rapidity we speed 
 from one descent to another, until we 
 finally reach the level of our quiet 
 street. Jit the corners, the wood men 
 came in with their heavily loaded wood* 
 sleds, and the sleigh bells rang right 
 merrily as though it were a winter's 
 holiday.
 
 ESTHER BURR'S JOURNAL 51 
 
 Stockbridac, Jan* 27, 1752. 
 
 RE sacred writer said, "O that 
 T had wings like a dove, that 
 T might fly away, and be at 
 rest." Even Stockbridgc has 
 my honored father's enemies, 
 not Indians, that lurk in the wilderness 
 "iTx and waylay the unsuspecting victim. 
 '4 Our Indians, especially the fiousaton- 
 acs, are peaceable and docile. Chere is 
 not a member of this family, that is not 
 engaged in giving them instruction in 
 the Bible. Hnd our honored father has 
 determined to send Jonathan the sec* 
 ond when he is nine years old to live 
 among Itlr. Brainerd's Indians, that he 
 may learn their language in his child* 
 hood, and thus escape the hard labor of 
 acquiring a language in his adult life, 
 not Indians, but the scattered remnants 
 off that bitter company, who moved my 
 father from northampton. 
 
 my father has just written to his 
 own father: "my wife and children are 
 well pleased with our present situation. 
 Chey like the place far better than they 
 
 ' 

 
 52 
 
 ESTHER BURR'S JOURNAL 
 
 expected. Here, at present, we live in 
 peace; which has, of a long time, been 
 unusual to us. Che Indians seem much 
 pleased with our family, especially my 
 wife." Jlnd yet t there is trouble enough 
 here. It was only the other day, that a 
 visitor to the male tllohawk school 
 struck a child of the Chief Sachem of 
 the Onoquagas on the head with his 
 cane, without any provocation. Che 
 Iroquois are all indignant, and threaten 
 to leave the town. Uery improper use 
 has been made of the moneys which 
 have been sent here by IHr. Fjoilis, the 
 English patron of the Indian schools. 
 Che individual who has received these 
 moneys, has had no school established, 
 and kept no regular account of his ex- 
 penditures. Che Indian children have 
 been permitted to grow up in filth and 
 ignorance. But as this man has mar- 
 ried into the family of the resident trus- 
 tee all of this is covered up. But, of 
 course, nir. Edwards feels bound in 
 duty, to communicate the facts to the 
 Boston Commissioners.
 
 ESTHER BURR'S JOURNAL 53 
 
 Stockbridqc. feb. 2, 1752. 
 
 Sally Prince of Boston, 
 whose father is a great 
 friend of my father's, and 
 who is herself a great friend 
 of mine, has been writing 
 me about the sports of the winter in that 
 city* mith us simple country people, 
 the chief place of social recreation and 
 amusement is the sinqina-school. He* 
 sides the pleasure of getting together 
 one evening each week, when we are 
 arranged for part singing, the singers 
 are permitted to sit in the gallery on 
 Sundays, if they promise to keep to 
 their own seats, and not infringe on the 
 women's pews* Che women, of course, 
 do not need to make any such promise 
 about the men. Sometimes, indeed, we 
 have sleighing parties, and those that 
 love dancing finish up such parties 
 with a social dance. Chough my honor* 
 ed father believes that such customs 
 are full of danger to young people. In 
 that sermon at Northampton, which 
 created the great disturbance, resulting 
 in his being dismissed, I remember he 
 said this: "T do not desire that young 
 people should he abridged of any prop* 
 er liberties," showing that he was
 
 54 
 
 ESTHER BURR'S JOURNAL 
 
 not arbitrary and unreasonable in bis 
 views: but tbat certain social practices 
 were creeping in tbat deserved bis re- 
 buke. 
 
 *x
 
 ESTHER BURR'S JOURNAL 55 
 
 Stockbridge, Tcb., 1725. 
 
 55 
 
 ffXj 
 
 R 
 
 
 family is very busy mak- 
 ing lace and embroidery, so 
 as to replenish the household 
 treasury. In Northampton, 
 my honored father had pur- 
 chased a valuable homestead, with 
 land for fuel and pasturing, and had 
 erected a commodious dwelling house* 
 Chese had, by our exercising the strict- 
 est economy, all been paid for, before 
 his removal. Hmong the bitterest of our 
 experiences, therefore, was to be sent 
 roofless and homeless to a wilderness. 
 But, neither my honored mother, nor 
 any of the children bated a jot of hope. 
 Ule began at once, the making and dec- 
 oration of fans and other ornamental 
 work, which we were assisted to dis- 
 pose of in Boston, by our friends the 
 Princes there, Bow narrow our circum- 
 stances were, may be seen from the ne- 
 cessity put upon our father, to use the 
 margins of otherwise useless pamphlets 
 and the backs of letters, on which to 
 write his sermons and treaties. But, 
 he knows no other law of life, and so he
 
 ESTHER BURR'S JOURNAL 
 
 keeps on with bis thirteen hours a day 
 in bis study. Re has lately bad a bex* 
 agonal table made, witb six several in* 
 dining leaves* so tbat be can bave bis 
 books of reference before bis eyes, all 
 at once, and can leave them open at tbe 
 passage where be leaves off.
 
 ESTHER BURR'S JOURNAL 
 
 57 
 
 Stockbridgc. 
 
 sound echoes through 
 our hills. Every Sabbath 
 day, and every lcctureday 
 one of the praying Indians 
 blows a conch*shell, to call 
 the people to worship. Jit first, it 
 seemed wanting in solemnity, but, now 
 we are used to it, the shell begins to 
 have a sacred sound, and the summons 
 is speedily heeded. 1 am fond of watch' 
 ing the people as they congregate: Che 
 Indians gliding up the river*bank in 
 their noiseless canoes, the farmers and 
 wives on horseback, with children in 
 arms, or tucked in, here and there, as 
 there is space for them, the pedestrians: 
 rich and poor meeting together before 
 the Cord, who is maker of us all. 
 
 $ 
 
 4
 
 58 
 
 ESTHER BURR'S JOURNAL 
 
 Stockbridge, may, 1752. 
 
 R1S has just happened to me: 
 Rev. Itlr. Burr of tlewark, 
 President of the new Jersey 
 College, wbo has visited our 
 bouse, both in tlortbampton 
 and Stockbridge for many years; as a 
 little girl, T have romped with him . and 
 sat on bis lap, rose this fl. Til* to take 
 an early breakfast and start for borne 
 again, betimes, on horseback to the 
 Hudson, fltid as it was my week to care 
 for the table, I bad spread the break- 
 fast for him, no other member of tbe 
 family having yet arisen. Che clotb 
 was as wbite as snow, for T bad taken 
 out a fresh one with its clean smell, for 
 tbe occasion, and tbere was not a 
 crease in it; tbe room was full of tbe 
 aroma of tbe freshly made tea. T bad 
 selected some of tbe last caddy, that 
 came from tbe Rev. Chomas Prince's of 
 Boston, a family very dear to us. Che 
 newly churned butter was as yellow as 
 gold. T bad rolled it and stamped it 
 witb my own bands, flnd to top tbe 
 wbole, one of our father's deacons, an 
 Indian, wbo knew of Itlr. Burr's early 
 start, bad brougbt in some fish freshly 
 taken from tbe fiousatonic. ttlr. Burr 
 
 T 
 4* 
 
 T 
 
 T 
 T 
 
 4 
 4
 
 *t 
 
 t 
 t 
 
 i f 
 
 t 
 
 -r -r -r -r -r -r -r 
 
 ESTHER BURR'S JOURNAL 59 
 
 partook with the greatest relish* keep* 
 ing up a current of gracious speech* ev- 
 ery moment; and finally fixing bis 
 flashing eyes on me, as I sat rapt and 
 listening at the other end of the board* 
 he abruptly said: "Esther Edwards, 
 last night* T made bold to ask your hon- 
 ored father* if T can gain your consent* 
 that T might take you as Ittrs. Burr* to 
 my tlewark bachelor's quarters and 
 help convert them into a Christian 
 home* Ulbat say you ?" Of course* al- 
 though from my early girlhood* Itlr. 
 Burr had treated me with favor* T was 
 wholly unprepared for this sudden 
 speech, and blushed to my ears and 
 looked down; and stammered out* as 
 we are taught to say here : "If it please 
 the Cord !" Chough when we came to 
 separate* T could not help playfully say- 
 ing* "Was it the loaves and fishes* Itlr. 
 Burr?" fie laughed, and kissed me for 
 the first time. 
 
 T am only seventeen, and T had nev- 
 er received such attention from any per- 
 son. JInd it has set my being all aglow 
 with new life. JInd so we parted, he for 
 his ride through the wilderness to the 
 
 Sfl 
 
 t
 
 ragn 
 
 /il^nC/^ 
 
 60 ESTHER BURR'S JOURNAL 
 
 fiudson, and T to resume my domestic 
 duties. T soon beard my heart keeping 
 time to bis horse's boots as tbey made 
 tbe turnpike echo, and 1 paused to 
 watcb tbe splendid animal ascend tbe 
 hillside to tbe Ulcst. Che sun was just 
 rising, and smiting tbe river mists witb 
 '.s rod of gold. Hnd T went about all 
 day, making melody in my heart to tbe 
 Cord* my dear mother appeared to sur- 
 mise tbe new secret of my life tor, 
 doubtless, mr. Edwards bad told her, 
 as tbey haw no secrets from each other, 
 but said notbing. meanwhile. T tried to 
 imagine mr. Burr's progress from point 
 to point, until be reached tbe sloop on 
 tbe river, and tben T seemed to lose him 
 among tbe bigblands, as tbe sloop bore 
 him seaward to tlewark, my heart witb 
 him. T could not belp asking myself: 
 "Has be been waiting for me, all these 
 years T 1 Ht any rate, T thought to my 
 self, T am bis Racbel; bis lamb, as tbe 
 word means, nor do T need to steal my 
 tather's gods, as did she. For already 
 bis God is my Hod ! and bis people, 
 my people.
 
 ESTHER BURR'S JOURNAL 61 
 
 Stockbridge* march, 1752. 
 
 TRG pressure of duties upon nir . 
 Edwards* my honored father, has 
 been so great* that it seems al- 
 most impossible for him to en* 
 dure it. UJhat with preaching to 
 the white people* and the Indians* and 
 catechisina the children: what with put* 
 ting up a new dwclling*house and get* 
 ting together money to pay for it: what 
 with the intrigues of those who are sc= 
 cretly obstructing his work and trying to 
 supplant him; and what with his con* 
 stant thinking and writing* my honored 
 mother is fearful that his health will be 
 utterly broken down, indeed, he al- 
 ready has the symptoms of ague and 
 fever* which is very prevalent in these 
 new settlements. c
 
 *^]lr ' **R^* 
 
 5$^W^ 
 
 i&^Ag&M 
 
 
 w?*Ol 
 62 ESTHER BURR'S JOURNAL RrVj 
 
 
 pws 
 
 
 Stockbridge, 3unc S, 1752. 
 
 L^CS 
 
 ^^ 
 
 
 TRTS is my last day in Stock- 
 bridge, in this dear home, with 
 my honored mother and sisters. 
 
 ?XJ 
 Xi? 
 
 
 Che orchards are filled with ap 
 
 <i^> 
 
 
 ple*bloom as for a bridal. Dear 
 
 rV^ 
 
 
 beautiful Stockbridge; the sweetest 
 
 v^> 
 
 
 place on earth, with her mountains tree< 
 
 ^ffp 
 
 
 topped to the blue skies, her miniature 
 
 rXj? 
 
 
 meadows along the ffiousatonic, where 
 
 k vl> 
 
 
 the Indians have their picturesque en* 
 
 ^? 
 
 
 campments, the river, willow=embos= 
 
 ^j 
 
 
 omed, where the strong arms of my 
 tawny friends have so often noislessly 
 
 S? 
 
 _ 
 
 guided the canoe, and we have glided 
 
 " t !J 
 
 f^J? 
 
 as in a dream. Yes, also dear sanctu> 
 
 ^ ^w^ 
 
 K^ 
 
 ary of God, where the red man and the 
 
 ^(^ 
 
 p*^ 
 
 white man have dwelt together in peace, 
 
 v^ 
 
 KTvJ 
 
 as in their own Father's Rouse, and 
 
 ^j 
 
 aShi 
 
 where my good father's instruction 
 
 <j^ 
 
 K^ 
 
 has so often fallen upon us all alike, as 
 
 ^JV^ 
 
 |^j^ 
 
 manna from Rcaven. " Blessed are 
 
 ^j 
 
 SS 
 
 they that dwell in thy house ; they shall 
 
 ^^ 
 
 1 
 
 still be praising thec." * 
 
 1 
 
 H 
 
 
 ^ t^J^ 
 ^ ^ ^ 
 
 l??Sir^?!r?^fr?^^ 
 
 ^:*\&^\v^^x^d>^
 
 ESTHER BURR'S JOURNAL 63 
 
 Stockbridge. 
 
 sometimes essayed a 
 description to myself of rtlr. 
 Edwards. Cet me do it again, 
 before 1 leave my father's 
 bouse for tbe bouse of my 
 husband, fiis face is almost womanly 
 in refinement and feature, and grace. 
 Cbere is a kind of sweet sedateness, an 
 elevated, almost celestial serenity, to 
 some, perhaps severity, of expression. 
 flnd wben be is speaking in tbe pulpit, 
 it often seems that bis voice has a su- 
 pernatural, an angelic tenderness and 
 authority. Cbere is in bis utterance no 
 weakness or softness, though it is not a 
 loud voice nor very masculine. Cbere 
 is sucb a hoi v loyalty to tbe truth in tbe 
 speaker, as though be were one of God's 
 swift messengers, unwinged indeed, 
 save in tbe spirit, which often tries lofty 
 flights, but coming straight from tbe in- 
 effable glory, commissioned of infinite 
 love to proclaim tbe trutb and defend it. 
 In person, be sometimes reminds me of 
 Iflicbael flngclo's arch-angel with 
 drawn sword ; of pictures of 3obn tbe
 
 ESTHER BURR'S JOURNAL 
 
 evangelist, which our Scotland friends, 
 the rskine$t have sent us, and which 
 hand in our living room.

 
 ESTHER BURR'S JOURNAL 65 
 
 Stockbridgc, June, 1752. 
 
 F>e good man who has chos* 
 en me for his bride, has sent 
 a young messenger from 
 llcwark, with two horses, to 
 conduct my honored mother 
 and myself to new Jersey, fie says, 
 Chere is plenty of Scripture for it. Did 
 not Isaac thus send for Rcbckah ? 1 am 
 to ride nimrod, Ittr. Burr's great admir* 
 ation and pride. T am glad to go. I 
 suppose T feel some as did Christiana, 
 in "Pilgrim's Progress," when she had 
 summons to follow her husband. Is it 
 wrong to think of my new home as the 
 type of heaven ? T hope it is not wrong 
 to feel so. T had f o kiss the bark of the 
 elm=trcc, that stands in front of my win* 
 dow, and where T have so often watched 
 the returning robins, as they huilt their 
 nests and reared their young, and then 
 taught them to fly away; and now T am 
 to stretch my wings and go, after their 
 example. But, mine are the wings of 
 the dove ! 
 
 Ulhen we mounted the hill, on our 
 way toward Ulest Stockbridge, I was 
 fain to turn again and look back on the 
 lovely little town in the valley, and the 
 surrounding mountains in their grand-
 
 66 
 
 ESTHER BURR'S JOURNAL 
 
 cur. On either side stood the bills* late = 
 ly clothed with new verdure; between 
 them, the beautiful intervales, beneath 
 which crept the river, the smootb=qlid- 
 ing fiousatonic, and where were feeding 
 the cattle* 7 shut my eyes if I might fix 
 the picture and make it mine forever, 
 and then rode on with my companions* 
 Jind soon Rimrod, with his eager spirit, 
 gave me enough to attend to. Re seem* 
 ed to know he was taking me to his 
 master. c c 
 
 me took the turnpike to the fiud* 
 son. Che road having been lately 
 mended, our progress was slow. In- 
 deed, there were some passages where 
 the men were still at work picking out 
 the stones and the stumps. But, even 
 this gave us all the more leisure to look 
 at the beautiful woods, and to hear the 
 brooks full of glancing fish, bubbling 
 by the roadside. Che birds were very 
 lively with their songs, and the bushy* 
 tailed squirrels were full of their 
 pranks. Che early dews, too, were 
 dropping on the leaves, flnd soon my 
 steed having come to know his rider, 
 moved on obediently, and as though 
 more than satisfied with his burden. 
 Our riding companion, who has just 
 
 4 
 * 
 
 
 ^sM^t^Jt^t*t|J J>^
 
 55? 
 
 *<kj* 
 
 ESTHER BURR'S JOURNAL 67 
 
 
 
 H 
 
 
 n 
 
 1 
 
 graduated at the College, was not very 
 talkative, tbougb quite enougb so for 
 me. my dear motber, wbo was witb us 
 but, ab, only a motber could know tbe 
 soliloquies going on in her heart. She 
 
 s 
 
 ^^ 
 
 bid all those motber*tbougbts, even 
 from me* 1 am afraid, it sometimes 
 seemed to ber, tbat sbe was accompany^ 
 ing ber Isaac, to a place tbat Bod would 
 tell ber of for tbe altar, c c 
 
 Gsther Burr's Song. 
 
 m 
 
 1 
 
 1 
 
 SI 
 
 My lore hath love that he sendeth me 
 
 H 
 
 SI 
 
 St 
 
 From the piney wilds, where the mayflow'r blows, 
 And the princely Hudson seaward goes. 
 And I have love, that I waft to him, 
 As I mount my steed for the Hudson's brim; 
 As 1 mount my steed and speed to him. 
 
 ^s<^ ^3^L. 
 
 ^P T"^^ 
 
 ?xS 
 
 *i 
 
 6%> 
 
 <j5 
 ^P 
 
 <A? 
 
 <t^> 
 
 s 
 
 
 
 ii 
 
 
 
 ivi 
 
 Si^ ! ^S^S^@H 
 
 l
 
 68 
 
 ESTHER BURR'S JOURNAL 
 
 On Sloop, fiudson River. 
 
 Ottl T know what a grand 
 river is. Our own Conncc* 
 ticut at nortbampton, as if 
 sweeps along through the 
 wide intervales* especially 
 in the spring time, when its bosom is 
 full, is a very impressive sight : but the 
 scene is still rather picturesque, than 
 grand. Cbere is an attractive softness 
 about the whole landscape. Che moun= 
 tains are distant, and not so high. But, 
 here the mountains crowd up to the 
 very banks of the river, as if to dispute 
 its progress to the sea; as sometimes to 
 the eye, while We move along through 
 their fastnesses, they seem actually to 
 have done. Che lights and shadows 
 made upon them by the floating clouds, 
 their own reflection in the water, the 
 great width of the river, sometimes a\- 
 most like a lake with here and there a 
 Dutch village, or an Tndian encamp* 
 ment on either bank, the exhilaration of 
 the whole, 1 can never forget. Jlnd 
 then, when we came to what one might 
 call the palisades, there were new at- 
 tractions. Jit length* new York, at the
 
 ESTHER BURR'S JOURNAL 69 
 
 mouth of the river, with its harbor of 
 sloops, and bcre and there, a larger ves- 
 sel* JInd then Dcwark bay and rivert 
 and my new borne in the Jerseys. Hnd, 
 then, taking tbe trip without mr. Burr, 
 as it were, added to tbe romance. It 
 seemed more like realizing tbe Scrip- 
 ture words respecting marriage: about 
 leaving fatber and mother. Chough 
 mother, bless her sweet heart, is witb 
 me still. T could not dream her away; 
 blessed soul !
 
 70 
 
 ESTHER BURR'S JOURNAL 
 
 Newark, n. 3., June 29, 1752. 
 
 TRTS day 1 was married to the 
 man who has chosen me for bis 
 helpmate in the Cord; and, who, T 
 have reasons to believe has been 
 waiting for me as long as Jacob tarried 
 for Rachel, lie is my senior in years, 
 but is young and elastic in spirit, full of 
 Christian enterprise. Chough short in 
 stature, compared with my honored \a-- 
 ther, who is very tall: and though of a 
 delicate frame, like my father, he is all 
 energy and zeal: moving here and there 
 and everywhere, almost like a flash of 
 light. flnd yet he is modest and unas- 
 suming; though everywhere at his ease; 
 courteous too, and obliging to all. fie 
 has been pastor here for fifteen years, 
 and he is almost his people's idol. Jlnd 
 now 1 have come to address myself to 
 the duties of a pastor's wife, in which* 
 although T have my mother as an exam- 
 ple, T am so unlike her that the task does 
 not seem an easy one. Sfic began her 
 married life at seventeen. T begin mine 
 at 18=19. mr. Burr has acquired the rep* 
 utation here, of being a lover of bospi* 
 tality. fiis door is always open, and his 
 board always full, fie is a bountiful 
 giver, and though himself abstemious at 

 
 ESTHER BURR'S JOURNAL 71 
 
 tbe table, be wants to see it generously 
 t urn i shed, and as be has tbe means to 
 do it, T shall try to gratify him; tbougb it 
 will be very mucb better provided than 
 our own table, at my father's bouse, 
 wbere evreytbing was as simple and 
 plain as possible* Chough in nortbamp= 
 ton and Stockbridge, rtlr. and Itlrs. ed= 
 wards were careful to fulfill tbe injunc= 
 tion: "Use hospitality without grudg= 
 ing." Che stranger was always wel= 
 come* c c c c c
 
 JOURNAL 
 
 <fr 
 
 newark, 17S2. 
 
 busband, nir. Burr, has 
 persuaded me to take up 
 Gatin with him. T bad 
 learned it a little in our 
 borne at nortbampton, 
 wbere was mucb teacbing of tbe clas> 
 sics. flnd last evening be read with me 
 a letter of tbe Roman orator Cicero, ad* 
 dressed in bis exile, "to bis Dear er* 
 entia, bis Cittle Cullia, and bis Darling 
 Cicero." nir. Burr believes it to be 
 genuine. Itlr. Burr was speaking of 
 Cicero's surprise that great calamity 
 sbould bave overtaken one, whose wife 
 bad so faithfully worshipped tbe gods, 
 and wbo bad himself been so services 
 able to man, and said it reminded him of 
 wbat tbe tempter says of tbe patriarcb* 
 "Dotb 3ob serve God for naugbt?" 
 Hnd tben be remarked tbe effeminate 
 sensibility of tbe writer, wbo says be 
 would write oftener, did not writing 
 make bis grief at tbeir separation more 
 insupportable ; drawing a parallel to 
 tbeir advantage with tbe words of job : 
 "Cbougb be slay me, yet will T trust in 
 bim !" Cbis is a babit witb nir. Burr. 
 It is as tbougb be carried tbe two worlds 
 in bis mind in that parallel manner. 
 
 4f> 
 
 & 
 
 < 
 
 4f 
 4f 
 
 <0 
 
 4f 

 
 ESTHER BURR'S JOURNAL 73 
 
 ncwark, 1752. 
 
 ' has been a great refresh* 
 mcnt to my soul, to*day, 
 to bear again Itlr. Edwards, 
 my honored father* from the 
 pulpit. 1 still think, there is 
 none like him. Re was corresponding 
 member of the Presbyterian Synod, 
 which sat here, and he preached from 
 jamcs Thl9. It was especially grateful 
 to his daughter to witness, in this 
 strange land, how eagerly his words 
 were received, especially by all of the 
 ministers* Chcrc are those in two con- 
 tinents who honor and revere his name, 
 though Northampton, in her worldly 
 pride, cast him out and spat upon him. 
 I never recall that, without thinking 
 of how Jlbsalom and those that felt 
 with him, treated David the King in his 
 exile from his throne. It was Jlbsalom 
 in both cases, a young upstart in his 
 pride, who was most officious. T shall 
 yet live to see how humbly some of 
 those people will return with confession 
 and tears. Chough this is not becoming 
 in a minister's daughter and a minis= 
 ter's wife.
 
 74 
 
 ESTHER BURR'S JOURNAL 
 
 Rewark, 1752* 
 
 R. Burr read to me again 
 from the letters of Cicero to 
 bis wife and children. Tn 
 this letter, as Itlr. Burr 
 translated it, occurs this 
 passage: "It is our very virtue, which 
 has brought us disgrace. Ole have 
 committed no other fault than that of 
 surviving our own good fortune." Che 
 great Roman, Ttlr. Burr said, wonders 
 that virtue should be so maligned and 
 punished. Che greater Jlpostle could 
 write to the elders of the church at 
 ephesus: "none of these things move 
 me, neither count I my life dear unto 
 me, so that T may finish my course with 
 ioy." JInd a greater than the Jlpostle 
 has put it among the beatitudes of his 
 kingdom: "Blessed are ye when men 
 shall revile you and persecute you and 
 say all manner of evil against you false* 
 ly for my sake." Ulhat a contrast be 
 tween the triumphant Christian martyr, 
 and the puzzled and discouraged feel- 
 ing of the pagan philosopher. Cerentia, 
 as he had said before, had done what 
 she could to appease the gods by her 
 piety, and he to propitiate the people by 
 his service. But, this combination of
 
 
 ESTHER BURR'S JOURNAL 
 
 75 
 
 reliaion and morality did not protect 
 them. Chcv did not seem to know, that 
 6od's real children are made perfect 
 through suffering. Chis is the Christian 
 mystery, to which the master intro- 
 duces ns.
 
 76 
 
 ESTHER BURR'S JOURNAL 
 
 llewark, April, 1753. 
 
 mH . Burr bas just rode up to tbe 
 door on bis Himrod, the sad= 
 die horse, which be bad me 
 name nimrod t because be 
 bad been a great bunter 
 and in which we botb of us take much 
 pride, fie beckoned to me as 1 sat at 
 tbe window with my sewing, and T glid= 
 ed down to pat Him rod's glossy neck, 
 and to kiss tbe bandsome rider, fie bas 
 just set out alone for Elizabeth, wbere 
 once dwelt tbe Kcv. nir. Dickenson, 
 who was interested with my husband in 
 tbe founding of tbe new college, and 
 wbere is tbe residence of Governor Bel- 
 cber. Sometimes cur colored man, 
 fiarry, wbo is very conceited about bis 
 skill as a horseman, drives ITir. Burr on 
 sucb trips; but, at this season of tbe 
 year, tbe roads are so unsettled, tllr. 
 Burr prefers tbe saddle. T have come 
 back to my sewing, but 1 keep tbe pic- 
 ture of my knigbt in my mind's eye : tbe 
 slender but erect figure, tbe steed 
 cbamping bis bit, witb mottled back and 
 sides, and bis neck clothed witb tbun- 
 der ; tbe graceful borseman for 1 must
 
 ESTHER BURR'S JOURNAL 77 
 
 come back to him sitting in the saddle 
 as though born there; as though horse 
 and man were but one, according to the 
 classic conception of the centaur.
 
 Dewarfe, Dec., 1754. 
 
 ESTHER BURR'S JOURNAL 
 
 had a sweet and preci- 
 ous letter from my own dear 
 honored mother, full of sym- 
 pathy and appreciation. She 
 writes of the sacred privil- 
 ege of motherhood* Indeed, I have 
 heard her say, that she should be wills 
 ing to be the mother of children, even if 
 they were to have no protracted life in 
 this world; she has such an exalted 
 conception of their destiny hereafter. 
 "Of such is the Kingdom of God." 
 She cautions me tenderly as to the cf 
 feet of the feelings and affections of the 
 mother upon the child unborn : and as* 
 sures me, as myself the daughter of 
 many prayers, that 1 may safely entrust 
 all my anxieties to a covenant God. 
 Chis was in answer to a letter in which 
 T had intimated a happy secret, which 
 is gladdening our newark home. I do 
 not forget that she herself seemed 
 especially to walk with Bod, when the 
 advent of another member of her own 
 faml1y=circle was drawing nigh. She 
 always seemed to feel that all her chil- 
 dren were gotten from the Cord, as the 
 first human mother expresses it.
 
 ncwark, 3an. t 1754. 
 
 first year of my married 
 life, 1 often found myself 
 comparing Itlr. Burr, my 
 aood husband, with lllr. Ed- 
 wards, my honored father. 
 Having always heard my father preach 
 from my childhood, and knowing that 
 he is reckoned a prince among the 
 Cord's servants, this is not strange. 1 
 think my father more impressive and 
 solemn ; but, Itlr. Burr is more ingrati* 
 ating, and captivating; has more of 
 what people call eloquence, my honor- 
 ed father has such rigid and intense 
 earnestness, that he is led almost to 
 scorn all adornment of discourse. 
 While of late years, writing on his ab- 
 stract treatises, and preaching largely 
 to the Tndians of Stockbridge, who are 
 but little demonstrative, he has grown 
 more and more careless of outward 
 grace. Besides he is by nature more 
 reserved. Iflr. Burr's nature seems to 
 bubble up and overflow into expression, 
 taking on beautiful tinted sprays like 
 the water of a fountain. Re often seems
 
 m 
 
 80 
 
 ESTHER BURR'S JOURNAL 
 
 to me less a man commissioned to wit= 
 ness against the wickedness of a sinful 
 world, than a celestial messenger of in* 
 vitation winged to earth, bis face radi- 
 ant t bis eyes full of kindly fire and bis 
 voice melody itself* Hut. every man af- 
 ter bis own order. Since 1738, sixteen 
 years, beginning witb bis twenty*tbird 
 vcar, be has been pastor here .
 
 m 
 
 v**-/ 
 
 m 
 
 ESTHER BURR'S JOURNAL 81 
 
 \~f*/ 
 
 m 
 
 tlewark, 
 
 . 25, 1754. 
 
 bis day is the appointed day 
 for our wood carting. Che 
 farmers in our parish bring 
 load after load of wood front 
 the parsonage lot, and it is 
 chopped up in the yard and made ready 
 for the tire-place. Such a day of confu= 
 sion it has been ! Such a noise of driv- 
 ing oxen, I hope we may never have for 
 a twelve month at least. 
 
 next week, (he Presbyfciy is to sit 
 here, and it is expected they will dis- 
 miss Iflr. Burr from the church and 
 congregation, to give himself wholly to 
 the care of the College. It is a severe 
 strain upon us all. For here, as T have 
 said before, he is almost idolized. But, 
 he thinks of the demands upon young 
 men, as godly ministers, and we are 
 both willing to make the sacrifice. T 
 can see plainly that it all goes back to 
 successfully founding an institution 
 where young men can be fitted for the 
 Christian ministry; the long dream and 
 prayer of TTlr. Edwards as well as of 
 himself. 
 
 >.*/ 
 
 m
 
 82 
 
 ESTHER BURR'S JOURNAL 
 
 Ilewark, Dec. 1, 1754. 
 
 XCHEinECV hurried prepar* 
 ing for the Presbytery. Cues= 
 day provided a dinner and 
 nobody came until afternoon. 
 Enough to try a body's pati- 
 ence. In the evening they came thick 
 and fast. Presbytery sat on our affairs, 
 and adjourned till January. Our people 
 are in a great pickle. Some of them 
 show a very bad spirit. c c c 
 
 Chursday: Dined ten ministers. 
 Chis day, Presbytery examined a young 
 candidate for the ministry for one of the 
 Dutch Islands in the Ulest Indies, c 
 
 < 
 
 I
 
 ESTHER BURR'S JOURNAL 
 
 55 
 
 Dcwark, 3an. i, 1755* 
 
 day set apart for fasting 
 and prayer, on account of 
 the late encroachments of 
 the French* and their dc= 
 signs against the British 
 Colonies of America. President Burr 
 preached what was largely a historical 
 discourse, giving the Trench progress 
 from the time of Rcnry TU. Chcsc were 
 the closing paragraphs : 
 
 "Shall we tamely suffer our delight' 
 ful possessions to be taken from us? 
 become the dupes and the slaves of a 
 Trench tyrant ? God forbid! 'Cishigh 
 time to awake, to call up all the Briton 
 within us, every spark of English valor, 
 cheerfully to offer up our purses, our 
 arms, and our lives to the defence of 
 our country, our holy religion, our ex> 
 cellent constitution, and invaluable lib- 
 erties. Tor what is Cife without Ciber* 
 ty? 'Cis not worth having. H free* 
 born Briton should disdain the life of a 
 slave. Better, far better to sacrifice 
 it to the defence of our liberty and 
 country, than to survive the dismal 

 
 day, when these regions of light and 
 liberty shall be overspread with ignor- 
 ance, superstition, and tyranny, flnd 
 had we but the spirit of our brave an-- 
 cestors, who cheerfully ventured their 
 lives, and resigned all the comforts 
 thereof in an howling wilderness, were 
 we animated by the same heroic spirit 
 in defence of them, with the same ar* 
 dent desire of leaving them inviolate to 
 posterity, we should soon make our en 
 emies flee before us, and again sit 
 quietly under our own vines and fig- 
 trees, and eat of the good of the land !"
 
 ESTHER BURR'S JOURNAL 85 
 
 January 12, 1756. 
 mr. Burr gone to new Vork, 
 and T as busv as a bee. 
 
 Cuesday eve. Chis eve 
 miss Sukey, our wench, began with me 
 about her sours concern* Hnd T find 
 she has had a great many serious 
 thoughts since she has been here* She 
 is full of her inquiries as to what she 
 must do to be good. She tells me she 
 tries to pray from the heart, but finds 
 she can't, and she seems to have some 
 sense of sin* Dow my heart is rejoiced ! 
 O that God would give us this one soul ! 
 It seems as if T could not be denied my 
 request, that God would perfect the 
 good work that seems to have begun in 
 her whilst in this house, O how great a 
 blessing upon us! T hope God has 
 heard some of my poor prayers for her. 
 Hnd T hope for a heart to pray more 
 earnestly for her than ever. What a 
 comfort to see those under our care in- 
 clining to the ways of religion and true 
 virtue. 
 
 march 26, 1756. T was unexpected' 
 ly delivered of a son the 6th of Fcbru= 
 ary. Dad a fine time, although it pleas 
 ed God in infinite wisdom to order that
 
 ESTHER BURR'S JOURNAL 
 
 i 
 <c 
 
 ^ ^ 
 
 > 
 
 j : 
 f 
 
 ? 
 *^ 
 
 JE.1 
 
 " -<. 
 
 Iflr. Burr was not at home. Tt seemed 
 very gloomy when T found my time bad 
 come t to think that 1 was, as it were, 
 destitute of earthly friends, no mother, 
 no husband, and none of my particular 
 friends that belong to the town ; they 
 happening to be out of town. But O my 
 dear God was all these relations and 
 more than all to me in the hour of my 
 distress. Chose words in Psalms were 
 my support and comfort through the 
 whole : "Cbey that trust in the Cord 
 shall be as mt. Zion that cannot be 
 moved, but abideth forever;" and these 
 also, "Hs the mountains are round 
 about Jerusalem , so is the Cord round 
 about them that trust in him," or words 
 to that purpose* 
 
 T had a very quick and good time, a 
 very good lying in till about three 
 weeks, then 1 had the canker very bad, 
 and before 1 had recovered of that my 
 little JIaron (for so we call him) was ta 
 ken sick, so that for some time we did 
 not expect his life, he has never been 
 so well since, though he is comfortable 
 at present. T have myself got a very 
 bad cold and very sore eyes, which 
 makes it very difficult for me to write at 
 all ; sometimes T am almost blind, c 
 
 A 
 4 
 
 -4 
 
 *' 
 
 . : 
 
 4 4
 
 ESTHER BURR'S JOURNAL 
 
 flpril 17, 1750. 1 have written to 
 miss Prince of Boston to please pro- 
 cure for me the following things : 6 fan 
 mounts, two aood ones for ivory sticks, 
 two black and white and two white 
 ones; 1*4 Ibs. flum arabic, one large pen- 
 cil and one short one, one dozen of 
 short cake pans, my milk-pot altered to 
 some shape or other, a pair of coral 
 beads, some cod-fish, patterns of caps, 
 (not ye airy caps for beaux , send me 
 word how to cut ruffles and handker- 
 chiefs, send word how they make 
 aowns. I send by ttlr. Burr. 
 
 Jlpril 19, 17 se. rtir. Burr has set out 
 for Boston. T need not write how lone- 
 some the house and everything about it 
 appears, nor could 1 if 1 would. Kittle 
 Sally observing my gloom upon nir. 
 Burr's leaving me, sets herself prettily 
 as I think to comfort me. She imagined 
 T was sick. She says, "mamma, poor 
 mamma is sick. Don't be sick, mam- 
 ma, Papa ain't gone." Upon this 1 
 smiled ; the little creature's eyes sparkl- 
 ed for joy and she says in transport, 
 "mamma ain't sick. Dear mamma," 
 etc.
 
 88 
 
 ESTHER BURR'S JOURNAL 
 
 February 20, 1757.-lHr. Burr was 
 sent for the College about dark, and 
 when he came there be found about 
 twchty young men in one room, crying 
 and beading to know what they should 
 do to be saved* Four of them under the 
 deepest sense of their wicked hearts 
 and need of Christ ; Taneuil amongst 
 the rest* Row it will rejoice his good 
 mother's heart, mr. Burr prayed and 
 left them to come home greatly affected. 
 Ole sat and talked till late and knew not 
 how to lay by the glorious subject, c 
 
 Teb. 21, 1757. Good news to write 
 this morning. JH minister's son 
 near Philadelphia hopefully received 
 comfort last night in the night. Cbcrc 
 was little sleep amongst them; some up 
 all night, mr. Spencer sat up till one 
 o'clock, then left those poor young crca= 
 tures seekiug God. Che conversion of 
 this young Creat, for that is his name, 
 is a very dear and remarkable one. Che 
 particnlars 1 have not heard, but mr. 
 Burr says he thinks evidently a work 
 of grace. Re has been under some im- 
 pressions for more than a year, but his 
 concern has increased lately.
 
 ESTHER BURR'S JOURNAL 89 
 
 10 O'clock: H pious young man 
 came from the College for mr. Burr, he 
 tells me (bat a areat part of the scbol- 
 ars are gathered into one room, crying 
 in great distress, and that another bad 
 received comfort. Oh, my heart exults 
 at the thought that Gcd is about to re* 
 vive religion in general, may we not 
 hope for it ? my soul doth magnify the 
 Cord for what he hath done. 
 
 ve : Che Cord's work goes on glo 
 riously in the College, mr. Burr sent 
 for mr. Cennent of Freehold to come 
 and assist in drawing the net ashore* 
 for it is ready to break with the abund* 
 ance of the fish that are caught in it. 
 3ust now he came to the College and is 
 greatly rejoiced, c c 
 
 9 O'clock : no work carried on here* 
 but only to get something to eat, and a 
 little of that will suffice too. For my 
 part T haven't any creature to say one 
 word to, and when 1 am ready to burst* 
 T have recourse to my pen. c 
 
 mr* Cennent is astonished and 
 amazed, between ioy, sorrow, hope and 
 fear, and says he doesn't know what 
 passion is uppermost, but he must call 
 it an angelic ioy that he feels, which is
 
 r* 
 
 4^- ^ 
 ^^f?j 
 
 4>- 
 
 S 
 & 
 
 & 
 
 |t 
 
 < r 
 
 4> 
 t> 
 
 90 
 
 ESTHER BURR'S JOURNAL 
 
 the case with us all. my brother is un 
 der a great deal of concern among the 
 rest. 
 
 O what shall T surrender to the Cord 
 for His goodness in pouring out His 
 Spirit in such a wonderful degree ! 
 
 Cuesday, ?eb. 25, 1757.-1 am ready 
 to set up my Cabcrnacle and say, 
 "Cord, it is good to be here." Indeed, 
 the thoughts of living have never been 
 so comfortable to me as now. Che 
 Cord is indeed here, c 
 
 Wednesday, Bug. 31, 4 o'clock P.m. 
 just now I received a letter with a 
 black seal, but it contained blacker 
 news. 6ov. Belcher is dead : died this 
 B. m. Che righteous are taken away 
 from the evil to come. Chis is such a 
 loss, that we cannot expect to have 
 made up in a Governor. I feel quite 
 sunk with this and other bad news. His 
 Cordship is returning to Dew Vork, and 
 then Halifax will be taken no doubt. 
 
 Eve : Iflr. Burr not returned. Heavy 
 news Iflr. Belcher's death will be to 
 him. c c c c c c c 
 
 Chursday, Eve, Sept. 1, 1757. Itlr. 
 
 IT* 
 
 l 
 
 * 
 
 *: 
 
 4* 
 
 *
 
 ESTHER BURR'S JOURNAL 91 
 
 Burr returned in health. O bow flood 
 is Cod in preserving him in bis goings 
 out and bis commas in ! Cbese mercies 
 ought not to be forgotten by me. c 
 
 Ittr. Hurr, is sent for to preach the 
 Governor's funeral sermon. P. 111. : fl 
 deal of company. 
 
 Triday H. in. If we go to Boston we 
 sball be tbere by tbe second week in 
 October. 
 
 now about Sally and JIaron. Sally 
 bas got pretty hearty again t and is not 
 mucb of a baby ; affects to be tbougbt a 
 woman, nothing she scorns more 
 than to be told sbe is a child or baby. 
 We are about sending her to school, 
 but Itlr. Burr expects she will prove a 
 numb head. But for my part, 1 think 
 her about middling in all accounts. She 
 grows thinner and more shareable. 1 
 have taken her to meeting and she be- 
 leaves very well, and can give a good 
 account of what papa does there. She 
 can say some of Dr. Watts' verses by 
 heart and the Cord's Prayer and some 
 other prayers* But she is not over 
 about the matter. c
 
 92 
 
 ESTHER BURR'S JOURNAL 
 
 Haren is a little* dirty* noisy boy* 
 very different from Sally almost in ev- 
 erything, lie begins to talk a little* is 
 very sly* mischievous* and has more 
 sprightliness than Sally. I must say* 
 he is handsomer* but not so good tcm= 
 pered. fie is very resolute* and requires 
 a good governor to bring him to terms. 
 
 m
 
 BURR'S JOURNAL 93 
 
 Princeton, Sept. 2, 1757. 
 
 dear husband, Ittr. Burr, 
 is preparing a funeral dis- 
 course in memory of Hover* 
 nor Belcher of Elizabeth* 
 town, who died Jlugust 31. 
 1 have besought him to spare himself 
 the undertaking. o*day he has been 
 getting the sermon ready, and to*mor> 
 row he will ride forty miles to deliver it, 
 on the 4th instant, when he should be 
 lying upon a sick bed, and nursed with 
 the greatest care at home. T fear the 
 worst. 
 
 September 5th. Ittr. Burr has re- 
 turned, but, alas, his fever which was 
 at first of an intermitent kind has set- 
 tled into one affecting the brain, and he 
 is much of the time in delirium. 1 have 
 often been alarmed to think God might 
 take him from me. T hope God will help 
 me with Pis hand, should this awful 
 dispensation come to me. fie has an 
 infinite right to Bis own.
 
 ESTHER BURR'S JOURNAL 
 
 Princeton, Oct. 7, 1757. 
 
 V loss, shall T attempt to de- 
 scribe it? God only can 
 know. Ulhat can be written 
 to set forth the affliction 
 of a poor disconsolate wid- 
 ow and two fatherless ones? T have 
 lost all that could be desired in a crea- 
 ture* T have lost all that T ever set my 
 heart on, in this world. Tn his eulogi- 
 um, Gov. Civingston said : "Cease not 
 to weep an angel, whom you loved a 
 man." Oh, T am afraid 1 shall conduct 
 myself so as to bring dishonor to my 
 God, and the religion 1 profess, no, let 
 me rather die, this moment. 1 am over- 
 come. Co God only will T carry my com- 
 plaint. T will speak it to fiis glory, that 
 I think fie has in an uncommon degree 
 discovered fiimsclf to be an all-suffici- 
 ent God, a full fountain of good.
 
 ESTHER BURR'S JOURNAL 
 
 Ep 
 
 ESJ 
 
 I 
 
 H 
 38 
 
 Princeton, Dov. 2, 1757. 
 
 Rflue just written a letter to 
 my affectionate and honored 
 father, in answer to one full 
 of consolation, sent to me by 
 him after Itlr. Burr's death. 
 In it 1 said, and this T wish to put on 
 record as a part of my journal : 
 
 "One evening, in talking of the glo 
 rious state my dear departed husband 
 must be in, my soul was carried out in 
 such large desires after that glorious 
 state, that T was forced to retire from 
 the family to conceal my joy. Ulhen 
 alone, T was so transported, and my 
 soul carried out in such eager desires 
 after perfection and the full enjoyment 
 of God, and to serve Rim uninterrupted- 
 ly, that 1 think my nature would not 
 have borne much more. T think, that 
 night T had a foretaste of Reaven. Che 
 frame continued in some good degree, 
 the whole night. 1 slept but little, and 
 when T did, my dreams were all of 
 heavenly and divine things. Frequent- 
 ly, since, T have felt the same in kind, 
 though not in degree. T beg leave to 
 
 ^S 
 oci
 
 96 ESTHER BURR'S JOURNAL 
 
 add my need of the earnest prayers of 
 my dear and honored parents, and all 
 good people that 1 may not at last be a 
 castaway ; but that God would con 
 stantly grant me new supplies of divine 
 grace/' c 
 
 my honored father's letter was so 
 affectionate* comforting and refreshing, 
 that T shall transcribe it in my journal : 
 
 Stockbridge, tlov. 20, 1757. 
 Dear Daughter : 
 
 I thank you for your most comfort* 
 able letter; but more especially would T 
 thank God, that Re has granted you 
 such thoughts to write. Row good and 
 kind is your Rca vcnly Father ! Row do 
 the bowels of Ris tender love and com* 
 passion appear, while Re is correcting 
 you by so great a stroke of Ris hand ! 
 Indeed, Re is a faithful God j Re will re* 
 member Ris covenant forever ; and nev= 
 er will fail them that trust in Rim. But 
 don't be surprised, as though some 
 strange thing had happened to you, if 
 after this light, clouds of darkness 
 should return* Perpetual sunshine is 
 not usual in this world, even to God's
 
 ESTHER BURR'S JOURNAL 97 
 
 true saints. But 1 hope, if (iod should 
 bide fiis face in some respect, even this 
 will be in faithfulness to you, to purity 
 you, and fit you for yet further and bet 
 ter light. 
 
 jHs to Lucy's coming home, her 
 mother will greatly need her, especially 
 if we remove in the spring. But yet, 
 whether your circumstances don't much 
 more loudly call for her continuance 
 there, must be left with you and her. 
 She must judge whether she can come 
 consistently with her health and com- 
 fort at such a season of the year. If she 
 comes, let her buy me a staff, and after 
 advice, and get a good one or none. 
 mr . Cffelstein has promised her a good 
 horse and side-saddle, and his son to 
 wait on her to Stockbridge; and T sup- 
 pose rtir. Fonda can let her have a horse 
 and side-saddle to mr. ffelstein's. 
 
 Cimmy is considerably better, 
 though yet very weak. Ule all unite in 
 love to you, Cucy, and your chilhren. 
 Vour mother is very willing to leave 
 Lucy's coming away wholly to you and 
 her* I am, your most tender and affec- 
 tionate father, 
 
 Jonathan Edwards. 
 Co Itlrs. Esther Burr, 
 
 at Princeton, new Jersey.
 
 98 
 
 ESTHER BURR'S JOURNAL 
 
 ~G J 
 
 * 
 
 Princeton, n. 3. flpril, 175$. 
 
 taken this brief mem- 
 orial of mr. Edwards* "Itly 
 most tender and affectionate 
 father ;" yes t and alas, my 
 last words from bis pen, 
 from the "Boston Gazette" of the 10th 
 instant: "On Wednesday, the twenty- 
 second of march, at Nassau Fiaii, an 
 eminent servant of God, the reverend, 
 pious, mr. Jonathan Edwards, Presi- 
 dent of the College of new Jersey ; a 
 gentleman of distinguished abilities 
 and a heavenly temper of mind ; a most 
 rational, generous, catholic and ex- 
 emplary Christian, admired by all who 
 knew him, for his uncommon candour, 
 and disinterested benevolence ; a pat- 
 tern of temperance, meekness, patience, 
 charity ; always steady, calm and sc = 
 rene ; a very judicious and instructive 
 preacher ; and a most exellent divine. 
 jHnd as he lived, cheerfully resigned to 
 the will of fieaven, so he died, or rath" 
 er, as the Scriptures emphatically ex- 
 press it, with respect to good men, he 
 fell asleep in Jesus, without the least 
 appearance of pain." 
 1 wonder if this tribute to my honor-
 
 ^STHER BURR'S JOURNAL 
 
 j 
 
 ed father's memory were not from the 
 pen of the family's kind friend, Rev. 
 Chomas Prince. 
 
 But, 1 must copy this letter, too, from 
 my dear widowed mother to poor wid= 
 owed me ; yes, and my two fatherless 
 ones: 
 
 Stockbridge, Hpril 3, 175$. 
 my Dear Child : 
 
 fl holy and a good God has covered 
 us with a dark cloud. O that we may 
 kiss the rod, and lay our hands upon 
 our mouths ! Che Cord has done it. Be 
 has made me adore Bis goodness, that 
 we have had him so long. But, my God 
 lives and Be has my heart. O what a 
 legacy my husband and your father has 
 left us. me are all given to God, and 
 there I am, and love to be. 
 Vour ever affectionate mother, 
 
 Sarah Edwards. 
 
 ^a^g: 
 
 PS 
 
 XX 
 
 X 
 
 M 
 1 
 
 m
 
 3&5ftQ&^^rararas&*i 
 
 700 ESTHER BURR'S JOURNAL 
 
 
 ote. 
 
 ESTHER EDWARDS BURR died April 7, 1758, about eight 
 months after her husband, President Burr of Princeton, 
 sixteen days after her father, President Edwards, Pres- 
 ident Burr's successor, and about six months before her 
 mother, in the twenty-seventh year of her age, leaving to the 
 mercies of the world, two orphan children, Sally and Aaron, re- 
 spectively four and two years of age. It is said of her in the 
 Life of President Edwards, that " she exceeded most of her sex 
 in the beauty of her person, as well in her behaviour anil 
 conversation. She discovered an unalfected, natural freedom 
 towards persons of all ranks with whom she conversed. She 
 had a lively, sprightly imagination, a quick and penetrating 
 discernment, and a good judgment. She possessed an uncom- 
 mon degree of wit and vivacity, which yet was consistent with 
 pleasantness and good nature ; and she knew how to be face- 
 tious and sportive, without trespassing on the bounds of deco- 
 rum, or of strict, serious religion. In short, she seemed 
 formed to please, and especially to please one of Mr. Burr's 
 taste and character, in whom he was exceedingly happy. But, 
 what crowned all her excellencies and was her chief glory 
 was religion. She left a nnmber of manuscripts and it was 
 hoped they would be made public : but they are now lost."
 
 University of California Library 
 Lx>s Angeles 
 
 JUN 
 
 01 ir-' 
 
 Ufi 
 
 
 
 ^SfOJIT 
 
 fe ^F-CAI 
 ^ ? * x- 
 
 
 
 MAR I ^ 1996 
 
 DU EATE RECEIVED 
 
 i 
 
 c^ => 
 
 
 ^ 
 ^?Aavi 
 
 ^jlOS-Al 
 
 o r i 
 
 g g(o( 
 
 ^ S 
 
 O ii, 
 
 ^ %a3Ai 
 
 a <$ 
 
 T O 
 
 fe 
 
 -Tl ^_) r 
 
 1 1^ 
 
 I %*P 
 
 tym 
 
 j 
 ^ 
 
 c 
 ? 5, x ^- 
 
 ^nsojr 
 
 ^ ro 
 
 315 
 
 ^ 
 >&Aav 
 
 ^ios-^ 

 
 -