Month: April 1740

April 1, 1740

1740 April 1 (Tuesday).  In the forenoon I was variously taken up.  Early I was at Mr. Hezekiah Hows[1] for Oxen and obtain’d them for the first part of the Day.  Sam and David work’d.  A.M. Sledded Stones till by the Infirmity of the Oxen and a Storm of Snow they were oblig’d to knock off.  I visited Suse Rogers who lay in a very low Condition.  N.B. her Testimony of the Hope she had in her Death, a very Remarkable Declaration of her Custom and Manner of Life, when She was but young, whilst she liv’d at Mr. Storers and whilst she liv’d at my House, withdrawing her Affections from the world, giving her Self to a Life with God and earnestly begging ever[y] Night and every Day an Interest in Christ, especially improving Sabbath mornings and Evenings for Retiring to Spend some Time with God and to begg this of him.  This She said was her continual practice especially whilst she dwelt at my House.  As to dying She hop’d she was ready, and was willing because she hop’d she had not sought God in vain (for He is a Mercifull God) (or to such purpose); but if [it] should be his will that She should live and recover, that She might serve and glorify him still in the world She was desiring of it (but left the Matter quietly with God).  But O what would become of her if she should live, and Should nevertheless forget these purposes of Serving God.  O wo unto her, wo unto her if she should!  As to her dear Infant She had given it to God before it was born; She gave it up to him when it was born and I give it up to him now, Said She, and Should be glad to do it in (his holy) (the Ordinance of) Baptism.  Thus she continued her speech, though but a whisper, through her great weakness, for some length of Time, telling me She thought she should not live over another Night.  The appearance of the Grace of God in her occasioned our Thanksgiving to God for her.  Dr. Gott was at my House in the mean Time to see my wife, who he judg’d had the Canker in her throat.  In the Afternoon the storm of Snow prevail’d greatly; and in the middst of it Mrs. Edwards[2] of Northampton, sister to Mrs. Pierpont[3] of New Haven came to see us, a young man from her Nei[gh]bourhood accompanying her.  They had neither of ‘em had the Meazles, and were much afraid: but I kept ‘em in a Separate Chamber as safely as I could that they might be wholly easy.

[1]Parkman’s neighbor and friend.

[2]Wife of the Rev. Jonathan Edwards, D.D.

[3]Widow of the Rev. James Pierpont.

April 2, 1740

1740 April 2 (Wednesday).  A rough, Cloudy morning, yet Mrs. Edwards Set out for Boston.  When the Morning got up it was warmer and the Day prov’d pleasant.  I rode down the road with Mrs. Edwards as far as Mr. Ebenezer Newtons of Southborough hithermost Corner — and returning I visited Sarah Bradish at Mr. Amsdens,[1] Thomas Bruce’s wife,[2] Abijah Bruce, Abigail Bruce,[3] who were sick and Suse Rogers who is yet alive.

[1]James Amsden of Westborough.

[2]Sarah Bruce.

[3]The daughter of Abijah and Mary Bruce of Westborough.

April 3, 1740

1740 April 3 (Thursday).  Suse Rogers[1] departed this Life about one o’Clock in the Morning.  Much perplex’d in the morning about our spring work, the Care of it crowding upon me at a very uncomfortable Rate.  After having been other where with no success, as I walk’d to Neighbor Hezekiah Pratts (who I sought to come with his Oxen and draw off the Stones from Ground which we wanted to break up for Planting) I had many musings touching the Conduct of God’s Providence in the world, especially where even his own work was more immediately at stake — but I was enabled to refer and rest matters with God.  Mr. Pratt came — after him Mr. Daniel Forbush[2] with Two Yoke of Cattle, and they drew off the stones.  This they did a.m.  David Baverick also came and rigg’d up the Fences; So that my Business was like to get along — for which I thank God that so I might attend to his service without so much distraction.  Mr. Samuel Crosby[3] inform’d me that Mr. Cushing had just lost Two Children, Mary and John, who dy’d the Day before yesterday of the Throat Distemper, and another was at the point of Death.  I rode over to the North side of the town, to Mr. Caruths, to Mr. Haywards[4] and Bakers[5] — to Mr. Livermores,[6] Balls and Wheelers.[7]  N.B. John Badcocks Conduct towards me as he accompany’d me part of the way back from Mr. Wheelers.  Mr. David Forbush plough’d stubble p.m.  A Letter from Mr. Cushing came while I was abroad.

[1]Wife of Parkman’s neighbor, John Rogers.

[2]Son of Deacon Jonathan Forbush.

[3]Of Shrewsbury.  One of the founders of the church there.  Ward, Shrewsbury, 255.

[4]Simeon Hayward.

[5]Edward Baker.

[6]Jonathan Livermore.

[7]Joseph Wheeler.

April 8, 1740

1740 April 8 (Tuesday).  A morning of great Hurry and Engagement.  Mr. James Fay and Eliezer Rice each of them with Two Yoke of Oxen to break up Some Grass Ground on my south side.  But our plough (which I had of the widow Tomlin) soon broke and we were oblig’d to get another, first at Ensign Maynards but Chiefly at Stephen Fays — and his held, but the Ground was so Stoney (notwithstanding all our pains and charge in Digging many of the stones out) that they made but a poor Hand of it.  When we had din’d I rode over to Lancaster to the Association.  N.B. Mr. Livermore rode Two or Three Miles with me.  I got to the Meeting in the middst of the Exercises.  Mr. Loring, Mr. Solomon Prentice, Mr. Stone, Mr. Josiah Swan[1] and Mr. Smith from Marlborough were all that came to Day.

[1]Rev. Josiah Swan (HC 1733), minister of Dunstable, Mass., 1738-1746.  SHG, 9:331-332.

April 9, 1740

1740 April 9 (Wednesday).  Mr. Seccomb,[1] Mr. Stearns,[2] etc. came.  Mr. Stone preach’d the public Lecture upon Rom. 8.37.  N.B. Mr. Lorings Exceptions against the Doctrine deliver’d.  After Dinner I rode with Captain Joseph Willard[3] and Deacon Cooper[4] of Grafton to Shrewsbury to the Funeral of a Third of Mr. Cushing’s Children who dy’d by the Throat Disease.  A Melancholly Time!  I return’d home at Eve.

[1]Rev. John Seccomb of Harvard, Mass.

[2]Rev. David Stearns of Lunenberg.

[3]One of the founders of Grafton.

[4]Samuel Cooper.

April 10, 1740

1740 April 10 (Thursday).  My Daughter Molly Sick of the Meazles.  A sorrowful Message by Ezekiel How[1] that sister Gott was taken suddenly about an Hour before sundown yesterday with an Apoplexy, but partly Epileptical also, and was not thought to continue.  I preach’d (Repeated) on Ps. 119.5, and after Lecture I rode to Marlborough and found the Sorrowful Case of sister Gott to be as aforesaid!  Lucy with the Measles.

[1]Son of Thomas How of Marlborough.

April 11, 1740

1740 April 11 (Friday).  About Seven in the morning Sister Gott expir’d.  A very Solemn Morning!  I rode home when I had dispatch’d various Affairs at Marlborough.  P.M. Ebenezer Maynard rode before my Wife to Marlborough who also return’d safe at Evening.  My son Thomas and Ebenezer much indispos’d.  Mrs. Whipple helps us.

April 14, 1740

1740 April 14 (Monday).  We rode down to the Funeral of Sister Gott.  There were Mr. Loring, Mr. Barrett,[1] Mr. Brintnall,[2] Mr. Smith, etc.  O that God would make us to know our End, etc.,[3] and O that we might hear Christ Saying to us Be ye Ready also, for In Such an Hour as ye Think not, the son of man cometh![4]  Brother Hicks and his son plough’d for me.

[1]Rev. Samuel Barrett of Hopkinton.

[2]Rev. William Brintnal of Sudbury.

[3]Psalm 39.4: “LORD, make me to know mine end, and the measure of my days, what it is; that I may know how frail I am.”

[4]Matthew 24.44.

April 23, 1740

1740 April 23 (Wednesday).  Very warm, but yet windy.  I rode to Captain Warrins that I might send to Boston by Mr. Samuel Harrington who was to call there.  I sent also to Mr. Francis Bowman[1] of Lexington by the Same.

[1]Prominent officeholder, magistrate and representative of the town in the General Court.  Charles Hudson, History of the Town of Lexington (Boston, 1868), 17.

April 24, 1740

1740 April 24 (Thursday).  Very Dry windy weather.  Ebenezer Rode to Mr. Robert Allen’s, at Shrewsbury and got my Mare New Shod.  Nigh to Evening came Mr. John Henry Lydius[1] from Boston, upon his return to Albany, and lodg’d here.

[1]Son of a Dutch minister at Albany.  He later had to face charges brought against him in 1747 by the Council of New York for becoming a Roman Catholic and alienating the friendship of the Indians from the English.  Collections on the History of Albany (Albany, 1871) 4:144.