Month: February 1727

1727 February 1 (Wednesday).  Mr. Willard and his Kinsman, the Chearful Captain[1] came while we were at an Excellent Dinner on Roast Turkey, etc., at Mr. Brecks.  Near Sundown I was very Eager and Earnest to come home.  Mr. Breck urged Exceedingly to stay but I resisted his most pressing Importunity and took my leave.  I mounted and my Business leading Me down to Mr. Woods’s,[2] Messrs. Willards would walk thither.  Mr. Wood treated us handsomely and we all Sang the more chearfully.  Here I rose up not a few times to return home but Captain Willard hung upon Me and would by no means let me have my way.  Mr. Jonathan How[3] (the Tavern keeper) came up from Boston while we were at Mr. Woods’s and having several Haddock I bought one for my Wife; and we returned to Mr. Brecks, where We had Sad and Melancholly News of a Young Man Mr. Simon Bradstreet that last friday fell down very suddenly on Mr. Greenwoods wharf at Boston and next morning dyed.  The News Letter had given an account of the very Surprizing and most Sudden Death of Mr. Samuell Hirst[4] A.M. of Harvard College, who not long Since fell down Dead on the long wharf at Boston, being in perfect Health (to appearance) the moment before.  And one Lewis[5] Sometime publisher of the Boston Gazette, the same afternoon was taken with an Apoplectick fit and dy’d in Two Hours.  O that I may also be ready, and that all Young Persons might fear and prepare, Since So many die in full strength, etc., to Demonstrate to us that in an hour that we think not our Lord cometh!  I lodged at Mr. Brecks tonight also.

[1]Captain Benjamin Willard of Grafton.

[2]Benjamin Woods of Marlborough.

[3]Of Marlborough.

[4](Harvard 1723).  Sibley, VII, 190-192.

[5]Thomas Lewis.

1727 February 2 (Thursday).  In the morning Jonathan How came and invited us to a fish dinner.  Accordingly we all went up to his house and Din’d with him on Haddock.  Here his Brother Hezekiah[1] of Westborough happen’d very Lukily, whom I implor’d to carry home my Fish and some necessarys.  When we came from Mr. Hows, we parted with Mr. Breck and rode to Mr. William Jonson’s[2] and thence up to my house, Messrs. Willards being with me.  They lodg’d with us.

[1]Hezekiah Howe was an original settler of Westborough.

[2]William Johnson of Marlborough.

1727 February 3 (Friday).  Messrs. Willards went to Stoney Brook, while I confin’d my Self in my Studys as also

1727 February 4 (Saturday).  This Day.  It was exceeding Stormy and Snow’d hard.

1727 February 5 (Sunday).  I preach’d on Heb. 3.14, both fore and afternoon.  The hard weather allow’d me but a small Congregation.

1727 February 6 (Monday).  My Brethren Elias and Samuel[1] came (with Lieutenant Samuell How of Framingham their Conductor) to See us.

[1]Elias and Samuel Parkman of Boston.

1727 February 7 (Tuesday).  Mr. How went home after Dinner.  My Brethren acquainted me that my Sister Susanna[1] had been Twice publish’d to Captain Josiah Willard of Salem.  A cold Season.

[1]Susanna Parkman of Boston.

1727 February 8 (Wednesday).  It being Somewhat warmer, my Brethren went away for Boston.  Towards night came the Willards and lodg’d with us.

1727 February 9 (Thursday).  Mr. Willard preach’d my Lecture from Prov. 27.1.  I beseach God to grant this Young Gentlemans Endeavours may [be] [illegible] and accepted.  He has undertaken for nine Sabbaths at Stoney Brook and I pray his Labours there and Everywhere besides may be Succeeded for the great good of many!  After Lecture they went away.  Mr. Jonathan How of Marlborough and Jedidiah How of This Town came to Sing.  Mr. Bradish[1] came to Request my Prayers and Assistance in a Matter grievous and Burthensome to him respecting his Oath of Administrator to an Estate of a Kinswoman of his (when living) of Boston.

[1]James Bradish or Braddish, an original settler of Westborough.

1727 February 10 (Friday).  My Heart is so backward I fear my Preparation for the Sacrament Approaching will be none of the Best.  I find all my Sufficiency must be of God.

1727 February 11 (Saturday).  It was Violently Stormy, Blustering Cold Snow, Extream Tedious and Difficult.  The Snow Deep.

1727 February 12 (Sunday).  I was much afraid the Sacrament must have been put by, and Captain Fay[1] mention’d its being So; but provision being made and a Very Considerable number of Communicants present I proceeded though truly it was a Very Severe Season.  I preach’d on 2 John 8, a.m. and on Heb. 3.12, I trust in the Meritts and advocation of Christ, but I’m sure my performances, some of them can recomend Me to God.

[1]John Fay of Westborough.

1727 February 13 (Monday).  I began to Read the Synopsis Criticism[1] on the New Testament for a Morning Exercise.  Captain Willard call’d here.

[1]This may have been Synopsis Criticorum aliorumque S. Scripturae Interpretum, 1678.

1727 February 14, 15  (Tuesday, Wednesday).  I read miscellaneously.  Chiefly Mr. Willard[1] on the 5th and 7th Commandments and the Art of Speaking.

[1]Reverend Samuel Willard (1640-1707), vice-president of Harvard College.

1727 February 16 (Thursday).  I was Employ’d on my Subject as This is my Business and Employment, and such an one as calls for great Constancy and patience.  So God grant I may So continue in it as in some measure to Deserve the Approbation and Comendation I Know thy services.

1727 February 17 (Friday).  Mr. Cushing came to see Me.  I would fain reap Some Benefit of Every Such Conversation.

1727 February 18 (Saturday).  I was taken up with my preparations.

1727 February 19 (Sunday).  I preach’d upon Heb. 3.13 a. and p.m.

1727 February 20, 21 (Monday, Tuesday).  I early (in the Week) began my Studies for my Sermons.  I conceive many advantages would accrue by it, and I’m Sure not a few Disadvantages would be avoided by it.

1727 February 22, 23, 24 (Wednesday, Thursday, Friday).  Mr. Ball (Junior) cut wood for me.  I could make but Slow progress in my Business because of my Affliction by the Toothach.

1727 February 25 (Saturday).  My Toothach continues; but I finish’d my sermons (to a very small matter) by almost an hour before Sunset, when Mr. Cushing came and requested me to go to Shrewsbury.  But my indisposition Oblig’d me to tarry all night.

1727 February 26 (Sunday).  In the morning I rode to Shrewsbury and a.m. preach’d on Ps. 95.7; p.m. on Phil. 1.27.  In the Even, Captain Keyes[1] visited me.  I read Mr. Hancocks[2] Ordination Sermon[3] by his Father,[4] and Mr. Ward Clarks[5] by his Father in Law.[6]

[1]Captain John Keyes of Shrewsbury.

[2]Reverend John Hancock (Harvard 1719), minister of First Church of Bramtree (now Quincy), 1726-1744.  He was the father of the patriot John Hancock, first signer of the Declaration of Independence.  Sibley, VI, 316-319.

[3][Additional footnote: John Hancock (1671-1752), A sermon preached at the ordination of Mr. John Hancock [1702-1744]. A.M.: in the North Precinct of Brantree [sic]; Novem. 2. 1726 (Boston: Printed for Thomas Hancock in Ann-Street near the drawbridge, 1726).  Evans 2748.]

[4]Reverend John Hancock (Harvard 1689), minister of Lexington, 1698-1752.  Sibley, III, 429-439.

[5]Reverend Ward Clark (Harvard 1723), minister of First Congregational Church of Kingston, N.H., 1725-1737.  Sibley, VII, 156-158.

[6]Clark’s ordination sermon was by John Odlin (Harvard 1702;, minister of Exeter, N.H.  Odlin was not Clark’s father-in-law, for Clark married Mary Frost, the daughter of Charles Frost of Kittery, Maine.  Sibley, V, 168-172 and VII, 156-158.  [Addition to footnote: John Odlin (1681-1754), Christian courage necessary for a Gospel minister. An ordination sermon preached at Kingston, Sept. 29. 1725. When Mr. Ward Clark was ordained Pastor of the church there (Boston: Printed by B. Green, 1727).  Evans 2939.]

1727 February 27 (Monday).  After I had gone with Mr. Cushing to his house, din’d, etc., I returned home.  Many of the Town came in to see me, it having been Town meeting.  Mr. Ball (Nathan)[1] brought me Tobacco.

[1]An early settler of Westborough.