Month: November 1751

1751 November 1 (Friday).  Wind at South West and my House fill’d with Smoke.  See October 24.  N.B. Mr. Joseph Woods here and reckon’d with him for 750 feet of Boards at 16/ per hundred.  N.B. His Objections against the people’s adding the 50£ lately granted to be added to my Sallery and Support.  Nay and against the people’s paying 500£ towards my Remove to this Place.  Exclaims against my New House and thinks that it is too big, and that it is too high.  He thinks there needed to be no Chamber over the room we were sitting in etc., etc.  P.M. Baldwin to Shrewsbury and return’d to t’other House.

1751 November 2 (Saturday).  Baldwin built the Cellar stairs.  John Woods about the Garrett Floor.  Mr. Robert Cooks wife here and din’d with us.

1751 November 3 (Sunday).  Read Numb. 20, and Rom. 11.  The Exposition of the forenoon Chapter took up both parts of the Day in the room of sermons.

1751 November 4 (Monday).  Mr. Eleazer Kimball came and lath’d my Chamber in Ceiling.  Baldwin and his man John preparing the East Room for the Masons.  Ebenezer help’d in making Mortar.

1751 November 5 (Tuesday).  Sent Mr. Jonas Twitchell to Worcester for Bricks.  A very fine Day.  Ebenezer makes Cyder.  Sam. Bumpso has been thrashing wheat and Rye for Ebenezer for some Time.  N.B. Deacon Kimball came, and with his son lath’d and plaister’d my East lower Room: Part of the afternoon Robert Claffland waited on the Masons, and did divers Chores.  At Eve Alpheus Newton tended the Masons with Mortar, to plaister the East Room, and North Closet in the Chamber.

1751 November 6 (Wednesday).  Alpheus tended the Masons.  Baldwin trys for an Horse to go to Sudbury but in vain.  Works part of the day.  John p.m. to Marlborough.  About 3 p.m. the Masons break off and before Night go home.  Twitchell does not return from Worcester till Eve.  The Weather moderate for my plaistering.  N.B. Lieutenant Tainter and Solomon Baker Cart Wood from Moses Brighams.  Lieutenant 3 Times: the other 2 Turns.  So many Various affairs depending, and so much Noise and Confusion in every part of the House, that I Snatch Opportunity to study with great Difficulty.

1751 November 7 (Thursday).  Thanksgiving.  After a very rainy Night, a Very Rainy Morning.  Lieutenant Tainter brought a Loin of Mutton.  We somewhat expected Mrs. Nanny Gott but she did not come.  The sermon to Day on Ps. 4.7.  May God accept our Sacred Offerings and grant us true Gladness in our Hearts from the sense of his Special Favour and the Light of His Countenance upon us!  My Children all here together with us.  Blessed be God for Family Mercys and for the Measure of Health particularly we enjoy!  (although Alexander is somewhat Rheumatic.)

1751 November 8 (Friday).  Settled with the Collector, Mr. Williams.  Visited Adonijah Rice.  Ebenezer brought over the Bricks which Mr. Twitchell brought from Worcester the Night before last.  He also brought 10 Barrells of Cyder.  Mr. Robert Cook here in further Preparation for his Confession and owning the Covenant.  N.B. Lieutenant Ward waits upon Captain Maynard and Lieutenant Bruce to the Cook Island to settle the Measure and Bounds of it.  Captain Maynard also goes with Lieutenant Ward to view the Bounds of the last Plott of Land by Chauncy Cedar Swamp.  Mr. Ezekiel How there with a Letter from the aggrieved in the Church of West-Sudbury desiring a Council etc.  N.B. Baldwin did not work at Evening.

1751 November 9 (Saturday).  [No entry.]

1751 November 10 (Sunday).  Rainy Day.  I broke fast and din’d with my children at t’other House.  Sir Forbush there and pray’d in the Morning.  A. and p.m. read Numb. 28, and Rom. 8.  Mr. Martyn rode hither, and read Numb. 21, and Rom. 11, but Sir Forbush preach’d (his first sermons) a. and p.m. on 1 Cor. 15.55.  I tarry’d and lodg’d at Mr. Martyns that I might confer with him about the Council to be at Sudbury on Mr. Lorings Case, Mr. Martyn being Sent to likewise.

1751 November 11 (Monday).  In the Morning it rain’d.  But so heavy did the Affair of Sudbury lie upon us that Mr. Martyn and I determin’d to ride to Southborough and Conferr with Mr. Stone who was another sent to: we stop’d at my other House where were Messrs. Noah How and Daniel Garfield junior who at this Time bought my Fat Steer — agreed to give 13 pence old Tenor for him Hide Beef and Tallow.  We call’d also to see old Mr. Rogers, with whom I pray’d.  When we came to Southborough Mr. Stone was gone abroad.  We sent after him — din’d and tarry’d there until sunsetting but saw him not.  We drew up a Letter to the Sudbury Committee and to Mr. Loring.  In my return home, call’d to see Mr. Amsden.  John Woods return’d to work here p.m.

1751 November 12 (Tuesday).  Mr. Martyn and his wife came here, in hopes to see Mr. Stone here, but he did not come.

1751 November 13 (Wednesday).  I think Ebenezer has finish’d his making Cyder.

1751 November 14 (Thursday).  Lieutenant Ward here laying out Land for me: he setts off an acre for me south of the Meeting House: and the Four Acres which I lately bought of Mr. Richard Barns.  He also laid out a little Bit of Land which was Common between the ministerial Lot and my Land, being 27 Rods.  At Eve I was at Mr. David Maynard juniors.

1751 November 15 (Friday).  Lieutenant Ward laid out another Scrap of Land joining to the Road south west of the Meeting House, and bounding on the Burying Place.  43 Rods.  P.M. Mr. Claffland work’d for me; is making an Hovell for my Cattle.  Captain Tainter[1] of Watertown and his Wife here.  Sir Forbush is gone to Brookfield to preach.

[1]John Tainter was the brother of Deacon Simon Tainter of Westborough.

1751 November 16 (Saturday).  Mr. Claffland all Day — upon the Hovell etc.  Wondrous fine agreeable weather and thus it has been for Some Time.  Captain Richardson and Mr. Cornelius Woods of Sudbury here to confer with me on the Affair of their design’d Council they having receiv’d my Letter of Denyal last Night.  They din’d here, but I still persisted in Denying them and finally refus’d to go.  Baldwin begins the Outside of the Door — pediment, Pillars etc.

1751 November 17 (Sunday).  Moderate Weather Still.  Read Numb. 22.  Preach’d on 1 Thess. 4.4 carrying on my Exposition of the seventh Commandment.  P.M. read Rom. 12.  Preach’d on James 2.24, using in part, Notes which were deliver’d under Eph. 2.5 last Clause.[1]

[1]In the Westborough Church Records for Nov. 17, 1751, Parkman noted that “Robert Cook and Sarah his wife offer’d Confession of their being Guilty of the Sin of Fornication, and likewise their Aggravating it by Denying it; upon which they were restor’d to Charity and Own’d the Covenant.”

1751 November 18 (Monday).  Exceeding fine Weather.  I committed my Plotts of Land lately taken up to Captain Maynard to be presented to the proprietors.  Visited old Mr. Rogers — both broke fast and din’d at t’other House.  N.B. Mrs. Molly Martyn and Mrs. Betty Williams there, and din’d with us.  P.M. at Captain Maynards.  At Eve Lieutenant Tainter and Mr. Harrington with their Teams, and a Number of Neighbours (Pratt, Ebenezer Maynard etc.) to the Number of 14 or 16 more, besides my Two oldest sons, Spent the Evening in Levelling the Banks on the fore side of my House.

1751 November 19 (Tuesday).  Very fine Day — got Lime from Mr. Jonathan Forbush’s and from Lieutenant Bruce’s to Top my Chimneys and Sent Ebenezer at Eve for Mr. Willson, at Evening (after he had accompany’d Mrs. Molly Martyn home) and he lodg’d at Mr. Willsons.  Mr. Daniel Forbush work’d at the Stone-wall south west of the House and at the North underpinning.  Near Night came Mrs. Nanny Gott[1] to See us, and lodg’d here.

[1]Anna, the daughter of the late Dr. Benjamin Gott of Marlborough.

1751 November 20 (Wednesday).  Ebenezer return’d from Mr. Willsons (of Shrewsbury) and it being a Cloudy Morning Mr. Willson did not come.  It proves a dull Day misting and likely to bring on a Storm.  Mrs. Nanny p.m. to t’other House and lodges there.

1751 November 21 (Thursday).  Baldwin on the Head of the Door yet.  John covering and closing a little House.  Mrs. Rachel Bowker[1] who came into Town with Mrs. Nanny Gott, came to see us a.m.  Mrs. Nanny also return’d here.  Sir Forbush came and din’d with us.  P.M. he preach’d my Lecture on Isa. 50.10.  May God accept of him, and both bless him and make him a great Blessing!  Mrs. Bowker and Mrs. Nanny to Marlborough.  Baldwin did not work at Evening.  But went to t’other House and lodg’d there.

[1]The daughter of John Bowker of Marlborough.

1751 November 22 (Friday).  Mr. Ebenezer Kimbal here a.m. lathing the Stair way.  By him I sent the Reverend Mr. Price of Hopkinton Deism Reveal’d volume I.  Baldwin rode my Horse to his Fathers.  John Woods about the little House.

1751 November 23 (Saturday).  Mr. Ebenezer Rice brought part of my Books from Mr. Daniel Gookins Bookseller in Boston, which have lain there some time to be sold.  Samuel Bumpso work’d gratis at the Vault of the little House.  But it grows very Cold.

1751 November 24 (Sunday).  Read Numb. 23.  Preach’d on Ps. 4.7.  Lords Supper.  P.M. read Rom. 13 and finish’d the Discourse on Ps. 4.7.  Cold Day.  Read Sudbury Letter to the Church.

1751 November 25 (Monday).  Proprietors Meeting at Marlborough.  Sent 3 Plotts by Captain Maynard, Viz. one of 5 acres and [blank] Rods, which has been depending these Twelve Months: the second was of 27 Rods joining to the Ministerial Lot; the third of 43 Rods by the road South West of the Meeting House.  They were granted, with this Exception in the Last, of Liberty for Stables on the Front of it.  Lucy Bowker at work for my sons at the other House.  Mr. Daniel Forbush lays the East room Hearth.  Baldwin finish’d and paint’d the Front Door.  Cold Day.  At Night Snow.

1751 November 26 (Tuesday).  The Snow went off; chiefly by noon.  P.M. Mr. Claffland finish’d the Hovell.  At Eve at Lieutenant Forbush’s.

1751 November 27 (Wednesday).  Mr. Edward Willson came to top out my Chimney, the morning being pleasant: and my son Ebenezer here to help him.  But by that Time the Staging was compleated, the weather was So Cold, he quitted it.  Samuel Bumpso here and din’d with us.  P.M. they all clapp’d to and finish’d the Vault of the Little House, and bank’d it up.  Mrs. Nabby Baker at work here, making my wife a plad gown.  P.M. I Catechiz’d at the Meeting House.  P.M. Baldwin and John Woods left us.  For this turn of their Work am indebted to Jeduthan Baldwin £4.13.4, or 35£ old Tenor — in all £9.6.8, or 70£ old Tenor this Day.  N.B. His whole work comes to £113.10 shillings old Tenor.

1751 November 27 (Wednesday).  Mr. Edward Willson came to top out my Chimney, the morning being pleasant: and my son Ebenezer here to help him.  But by that Time the Staging was compleated, the weather was So Cold, he quitted it.  Samuel Bumpso here and din’d with us.  P.M. they all clapp’d to and finish’d the Vault of the Little House, and bank’d it up.  Mrs. Nabby Baker at work here, making my wife a plad gown.  P.M. I Catechiz’d at the Meeting House.  P.M. Baldwin and John Woods left us.  For this turn of their Work am indebted to Jeduthan Baldwin £4.13.4, or 35£ old Tenor — in all £9.6.8, or 70£ old Tenor this Day.  N.B. His whole work comes to £113.10 shillings old Tenor.

1751 November 29 (Friday).  Comfortable Day.  Messrs. Brown and Ballard from Boston call’d at the Door.  Billy has been not well for some time.  Pain in his Neck and Face.

1751 November 30 (Saturday).  Grows Very Cold.  At Eve it Snow’d fast.