Mrs. Sewall's funeral.1 Judge Sewall heard, November 21, of the death of William Tilly, "a great loss to the South Church and to the town," and, November 30, of that of Samuel Bridge, whom also we suppose to have been a member of the church or congregation, as he left a small sum of money to the poor of the church. "The good Lord stay his hand!" says Sewall in his diary.

Mr. Thomas Foxcroft" was ordained as colleague at the Old, or First Church, on Wednesday, November 20. Mr. Joseph Sewall joined in laying on hands. Dr. Increase Mather gave the right hand of fellowship, and said that he had performed this service three times at the South Church, and this was the third time it had fallen to him at the First Church.

Lord's Day Dec 8. Mr. Secretary [Josiah Willard] puts up a Note for Thanksgiving for his safe Arrival [from England]. Madam Winthrop for the Recovery of her only Son.

P. m. Mr. Jonathan Belcher comes to the Assembly and very pathetically acknowledges [we suppose, in a note] God's distinguishing Mercy towards him. At night the Church is stayed, and Mr. Thomas Prince's two Moneths being compleat; Friday the 20th current is

dently thought more of than a judicial one. Judge Sewall was known to his townsmen as Captain Sewall, and Mr. Walley, who was also on the bench, was usually called Major Walley. The military title took precedence even of the favorite prefix, deacon; for example: Captain Frary, Captain Williams, Colonel Checkley.

1 Another bearer, Col. Elisha Hutchinson, a councillor, was buried December 16. "Now," says Sewall, "I have been a Bearer to three of my Wive's Bearers in less than two Moneths time." 2 Thomas Foxcroft was a son of Francis Foxcroft, a prominent man in King's Chapel, who designed his son for the ministry of the Church of England. After his graduation in 1714, Thomas taught school in Roxbury, where, becoming intimate with the Rev. Nehemiah Walter, he was convinced by him “of the truth and excellence of the Puritan faith, which he adopted," and gave his life to the Congregational ministry. He married Anna, daughter of John Coney, the goldsmith.

"My Father was as great a Genius as his Country could boast of, but wanted an Education to Improve and polish it. Governor Dudley (who was a good Judge) used to say that Mr. Commissary Belcher would make a good Minister of State to any Prince in Europe, Especially in the Article of Finance. His late Farewell and Blessing of me show'd his strong thoughts and great modesty. Its fresh in my memory and will be till the Frost of Age seals up that Faculty; he called me to his Bed-side, took me by the hand and said - Son you may expect me to bless you in a better manner and style than I am able to do, for God did not put it into your grandfather's power to give me the Education he Inabled me to give you, but remember my Last Words to you are— - May the Blessing of the God of Abraham and the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob rest upon you and your seed for Ever. Amen. Farewell. Neither the Patriarchs nor Apostles

3 [More than thirty years afterward, could have done it better."]