1745 February 18 (Monday). This Day The Committee from the Northside were with me to receive my determinate answer[1] to their Message on December 10 to go over and be their Minister. Lieutenant Holloway and Mr. Collister[2] here, but Mr. Matthias Rice did not come. Those who were here gave me their Bond for Security of £12, 10 s. I dealt somewhat freely with them about their last Petition to the Court and warn’d them against Unrighteousness and against Divisions, but wish I had been more faithfull on the Affair of the Petition, notwithstanding that I had it over with them time after Time. Mr. Dan Warrin trimming my Orchards. A Number of hands cutting and Carting Wood for me, viz. Benjamin Whipple with a Yoke of Oxen made up my Team. Mr. Benjamin Fay with his Cart and 2 Yoke of Oxen, and Jonas Brigham with his Cart and 2 Yoke. The Cutters were Mr. Harrington, Dunlop, Edwards Whipple, Noah How, Sam Baker, Silas Pratt, Levi Brigham, [blank] White, Charles and Artemas Bruce, Moses Warren, and Samuel Bumpso. And they got to my Door 50 Load of Wood. N.B. At Eve Samuel Baker discours’d with me touching his admission into the Church, but not without some Disputing on Visible and Real Right to Special Ordinances. Ebenezer return’d to the School.
[1]Parkman declined the offer of the northside people in his “determinate answer” which is printed in Kent, Northborough History, 22-23. The northside committee reported Feb. 21, 1745: “we have accordingly applied ourselves to the Reverend Mr. Parkman, and he hath chose to Tack the Twelve pound Ten Shillings, and we have accordingly given bond to the said Mr. Parkman of L12.10s. to be paid by the first Day of May Nexte in sewing.”
[2]John McCollister.