Diaries, 1776, 1778.

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Diaries, 1776, 1778.

The diaries of Benjamin Guild document his travels as a Presbyterian pastor in Massachusetts and Rhode Island. The daily entries describe the people Guild met, talked to, and dined with, the funerals he attended, and the sermons he gave. There are many passing references to the activities of American, British, and French soldiers during the American Revolution. For instance, Guild notes the invasion of Canada and battles occurring in New York. In August 1778, after visiting Providence, Rhode Island, he comments on the disordered state of the city after American soldiers passed through it. Finally, Guild recalls a visit by officers of the French fleet to the Harvard College library in September 1778 and describes a dinner he had on board the French man-of-war, Sagitaire. Guild's diary entries describe the death and funeral of Doctor [Arthur] Eliot (1717-1778), minister of the New North Church of Boston. In addition, his entries also make reference to his lectures at Harvard College, the examination of students, and his desire to learn Hebrew.

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SNAC Resource ID: 8181878

Harvard University Archives.

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Harvard University

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w64n9x97 (person)

Harvard College was founded by a vote of the Great and General Court of Massachusetts on October 28, 1636 that allocated “400£ towards a schoale or colledge.” Subsequent legislative acts established the Board of Overseers, but it was the Charter of 1650 that created the Harvard Corporation as the College's primary governing board and defined its composition and authority. The College Charter became a contentious target for College officials, the Massachusetts Governor and General C...

Guild, Benjamin, 1749-1792

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w6bz64fb (person)

Benjamin Guild lived from 1749 to 1792. Thus, he witnessed the American Revolution from his home in Boston, Massachusetts. He was born in Wrentham, Massachusetts on April 17, 1749. He was the son of Benjamin and Abigail (Graves) Guild. Guild received his Bachelor of Arts (1769) and his Master of Arts (1772) degrees from Harvard College. As a Presbyterian pastor he preached in several Massachusetts communities including Dedham, Haverhill, and Cambridge. Guild was a Latin tutor at Harvard College ...