Month: June 1726

1726 June 1 (Wednesday).  Robert came between 1 and 2 p.m. to Hoe for me.

1726 June 2 (Thursday).  Robert still at Howing.  Perhaps there may be many more Tedious and Chafing things in Hirelings than ever Mention has been made of.  Silence Bartlett being much indispos’d went to Marlborough to take advice of the Phicician.

1726 June 3 (Friday).  Robert at the Same Business still with William Clark to assist him.  I was at my Preparations.  In all my Wayes, outward on  Secular Wayes as well as Spirituall I acknowledge God.

1726 June 4 (Saturday).  It was very hot all Day.  We have had a very fierce Sun and but little Rain for Some time.  In the Evening I went down into my Cellar thin clad as I had been in the Day and got a bad Cold.

1726 June 5 (Sunday).  I rose much indispos’d.  I went to public Worship which my wife urged very much against.  I was very faint when I Entered the house, but (with much difficulty) I went through the Exercises of the forenoon.  In the Intermission I was still worse.  I tarry’d at home, and sent Mr. Symms’s[1] Sermon to delaying Sinners to be Read.  Neighbor Thurston and Mr. Tomlin,[2] I was told, pray’d.  I grew very ill, having pains through my Limbs, oppression and sharp pains at my Stomach that caused much faintness.  Just the way of Divine Providence I would acknowledge God.

[1]Thomas Symmes, A Monitor for Delaying Sinners (Boston, 1719).

[2]Deacon Isaac Tomlin.

1726 June 6 (Monday).  My illness increased.  My Wife was not well nor any Child.  I sent John Storey to Marlborough for Silence Bartlett.  Robert wrought for Neighbor Clark.

1726 June 7 (Tuesday).  I sent for Mr. Barrett.

1726 June 8 (Wednesday).  Robert had not finish’d Howing till 11 o’clock.  And then I order’d him to get up my Mare and carry Silence Bartlet to Brookfield.  After they were gone Mr. Barrett came to see Me.

1726 June 9 (Thursday).  Mr. Ward[1] Sent his Daughter Dinah to us.  Robert returned just within Night.

[1]Oliver Ward of Marlborough.  Dinah (b. 1709) was his eldest daughter.

1726 June 10, 11 (Friday, Saturday).  This week was a weary time.  What I could read chiefly was the Arch Bishop of Cambrays Telemathus, by Boyer.  Dinah Ward went home.

1726 June 12 (Sunday).  I could not go to Meeting.  I would humble myself before God for my former Negligence and unfaithfullness on this Blessed Day which justly Deserves the Divine Frowns.  I Beseech God to assist me by his Grace to greater Diligence and Zeal and Constancy in his Service, especially in my Great work on this Day for the Future.

 

I Sent a sermon to the meeting house but there being but 3 or 4 Men there they returned to my house.  Most of the people were gone to Meeting in neighbouring Towns.  There were Worcester people here for Mr. Burr[1] was ill.  It was doubtfull whether there would be any Meeting at Shrewsbury for Mr. Cushing[2] Broke his Arm some Time since and has not been able to preach for 2 Sabbaths.  The Time look’d very Melancholly.  It show’d in a Lively Light the great Priviledge of Comfortable free Enjoyment of the Lords Day.

[1]Reverend Isaac Burr of Worcester.

[2]Reverend Job Cushing of Shrewsbury.

1726 June 13 (Monday).  I read Drydens Virgil from the 7th Aneid.

1726 June 14 (Tuesday).  Training Day.  The Officers sent importunate Addresses to me to have me dine with them.  I rode as far as Mr. Maynards[1] (the next house) and it made me more chearfull.  It was Town meeting also, in the Afternoon upon account of our Sutton neighbours that would be Set off to us.[2]  Robert was at Moulding up my Indian Corn.  He did not make that Heavy Business of the First part that he did before.  I prosecuted some preparation for Next Sabbath.

[1]David Maynard of Westborough.

[2]See DeForest and Bates, Westborough, p. 101.

1726 June 15 (Wednesday).  I read in Sir Matthew Hales Contemplations.[1]  Rebecca Paddison came to Live with us.

[1]Hale (1609-1676) was the famous English jurist. His Contemplations Moral and Divine (London, 1676) appeared in numerous subsequent editions.

1726 June 16 (Thursday).  N.B. We kill’d our Calf.  The inability and negligence of Robert!  An Exceeding Dry time.

1726 June 17  (Friday).  Most of us were ill with Colds, and many roundabout us also.

1726 June 18 (Saturday).  I finished my Preparations.  I had Sundry Reflections upon my past unserviceableness that might Righteously detain me from Gods house not only a Day or Two, but forever.

1726 June 19 (Sunday).  I preach’d on Prov. 3.6; p.m. on Eph. 5.16.  Captain Willard[1] din’d with me and Mrs. Holloway.[2]  Concluding Exercises in the Afternoon, I was very much Spent.  I was very Faint and my knees trembled very Sensibly and so I continued till I had rested my Self some time at home.  I had in the Evening a good Season of Serious Enquirys unto my Self.  God grant me more such and bless them to me.

[1]Benjamin Willard, father of Major Joseph Willard.

[2]Mrs. William Holloway of Westborough.

1726 June 20 (Monday).  I rode as far as Mr. Tainters[1] to raising his Barn.  It was a pleasant time, but not altogether without Trouble and Toil.

[1]Simon Tainter of Westborough.

1726 June 21 (Tuesday).  I grew Weary of Robert Henry; having set me up Some Lengths (perhaps a Score) after his Manner, I made up accounts with him and gave him his Liberty.

1726 June 22 (Wednesday).  Robert Henry went away.  I reckon’d with Neighbor Clark.  N.B. After a long time of Drought God in Mercy remembered us, and Last night and this morning (with not a little Thunder and Lightening) Sent us plentifull Showers of Rain.  I remain faint through pains in my Stomach which often Oblige me to desist Studying.  Yesterday Rebecca Paddison, apprehending Some Dangerous Tumour in her Breast, returned to her Mother.  Brother Champney[1] came up to See us.

[1]Samuel Champney, Jr., Parkman’s brother-in-law.

1726 June 23 (Thursday).  Brother returned home.  I felt much pain in My Stomach, which made any work very Heavy.

1726 June 24 (Friday).  I Employ’d the Chief of this Week in My preparations for the Sabbath, for my Indispositions allow’d me but very little Liberty without a Respit and avocation.

1726 June 25 (Saturday).  Mr. Tainter and Bowman of Sutton mow’d for me.

1726 June 26 (Sunday).  I preach’d all Day and Administer’d the Sacrament, But I Scarce went through the Business.

1726 June 27 (Monday).  This Day, for want of all other Help than my little Boy, I rak’d and turn’d my Hay till just before Night.  Neighbor Clark sent his Son to assist in making it up.

1726 June 28 (Tuesday).  This Morning we had many refreshing Showers, which I look upon as a great Mercy notwithstanding I had near two Load of Hay Expos’d in it.  Hannah Paddison came to live with us.

1726 June 29, 30 (Wednesday, Thursday).  We pol’d in our Hay.  Neighbor Green and William Clark, My Self and Boy.  My Self and Neighbor Green.[1]  Notwithstanding such Exercise last mentioned was my Diversion and Choice, yet I found it sometime tir’d me very much.  It set me into Reflections upon the unhappy times we are fallen into and the Ingratitude of most of the people of the Country to their Ministers, very few besides the Boston ministers being able to Support themselves with what they Receive from their People.  Certainly they are straighthanded and if they Reap Sparingly no wonder since they Sow very Sparingly.  He that would be just will attribute hereto and not to the want of Either sufficient parts of Eager Inclination if there are not so great men among us as were famous in New England in the Dayes of Fathers.  Most ministers do groan under their pressures and it is an addition to the weight that Sinks them that the Generality of People are of the Sort and Spirit that it Scarce ever can prove to the Advantage of men to complain, but it is best to Suffer patiently, to obtain relief.  They Desire to be left to their own Generosity, the Extent of which is Enough Demonstrated.  This Reflection is the more melancholly when it is Evident Such Evil conceits are daily propated [propagated?] to the Dishonour of God with the Disparagement of his Ministry.  For, trifling as the following observation is, it is true: That their [blot] inward Respect is much proportion’d to our Externall appearance; when therefore it becomes mean through their neglect it will be in Danger of becoming worse through their Contempt.  But (Christo gratias) I have had little Experience, as yet.

[1]John Green of Westborough.