April 10, 1754

1754 April 10 (Wednesday).  Kelly at work here:  and finishes for John Dunlop.  Lieutenant Forbush Setts out 90 Apple Trees South west of the Barn — 70 out of my own Nursery and 20 from Mr. Whitney.  Showery p.m.  P.M. a Cow which Ebenezer had of Mr. Abraham Knowlton and which I have had to keep a while, was Mir’d in the Swamp which I took up a few Years ago, near the Cedar Swamps; but we got her out again alive.  Before Welch[1] in Boston Jayl is hang’d (the Day for his Execution being tomorrow) another barbarous Murder is Committed, and by another Irishman.[2]

[1]William Welch, also known as George Kelly, was tried and convicted of the murder of Darby O’Brien “in November last by stabbing him in the Belly.” The Boston Weekly News-Letter, March 14, 1754.  Welch was executed in Boston, April 11, 1754.

[2]“Last Saturday in the Afternoon Two Men at the South End having some Dispute about cording Wood on a Wharf, one of them struck the other on the Head with one of the Sticks, so that he fell down Speechless and expired soon after.  The Man that gave the Blow surrender’d himself up to Justice, and, after Examination, was committed to Prison: The Jury of Inquest have found it wilful Murder.”  The Boston Weekly News-Letter, April 11, 1754.