Month: August 1726

1726 August 1 (Monday).  I stir’d myself pritty much about my Hay, raking etc.  Just before Even I walk’d down to See Neighbor John Maynard who lay ill.  I pray’d with him.

1726 August 2 (Tuesday).  Our Mother Champney with my Child rode to Cambridge, stopping only at Livermores.[1]  Got down about 5 p.m. though we set out at almost 10 a.m.  We had a comfortable Journey.  But we found sister Ruth ill.  Brother Samuel Parkman happened to come up here and return’d again.  Sister Lydia[2] and I walk’d over to Brother Hicks’.[3]  She went to the Docters and then we returned home.

[1]Joseph Livermore of Framingham.

[2]Lydia Champney, Parkman’s sister-in-law.

[3]John Hicks of Cambridge, Parkman’s brother-in-law.

1726 August 3 (Wednesday).  I rode to Boston.  Brother Samuel Parkman rode my Beast to Cambridge.  I was at Mr. Bakers,[1] Demings, Greens[2] and Boyce’s.[3]

[1]Thomas Baker (Harvard 1724).

[2]Probably the home of Parkman’s friend Joseph Green (Harvard 1720).

[3]Samuel Boyce of Boston.

1726 August 4 (Thursday).  I bought Mr. Willard on the Catechism,[1] price 55 Shillings.  My appointment was to go back to Cambridge this morning and to proceed as far on my Journey as the Time would permit.  I sat tediously waiting for my Horse, but not coming I neither went to Lecture nor any whither else all Day.  About Sun setting Brother came and then I came to Cambridge.

[1]Samuel Willard, A Compleat Body of Divinity in Two Hundred and Fifty Expository Lectures on the Assembly’s Shorter Catechism (Boston, 1726).  Sibley, II, 13-36

1726 August 5 (Friday).  Leaving Sister Ruth[1] very ill I rode as far as Captain Brintnalls[2] where I waited for his Son some time, but not coming I hasted to Marlborough.  I din’d at Mr. Woods.[3]  Was at Mr. Brecks[4] — for there was no little need of Resting, it was so exceeding hot.  Thence (Gladly) home.  But here the Evening was very disconsolate!  My Wife was on the Bed lonely but sadly weeping, oppress’d and discourag’d with her own Pains and ills, and with the Sicknesses of many in the Town.  Sarjeant Rice,[5] and Son Eleazer,[6] Neighbor Maynard, Asher Rice, and Jeduthan[7] Fay all suddenly taken and very bad each with scorching fevers.

[1]Ruth Champney, Parkman’s sister-in-law.

[2]William Brintnall of Sudbury.

[3]Benjamin Woods of Marlborough.

[4]Reverend Robert Breck of Marlborough.

[5]Edmund Rice, an original settler of Westborough.

[6]Eleazer Rice lived in southwestern Marlborough but was admitted to the church in Westborough.

[7]Son of Samuel and Tabitha Fay.

1726 August 6 (Saturday).  My Wife was better.  I rested myself, till Mr. Cushing came in the Afternoon.  I rode to Shrewsbury.  Very hot indeed all the last 3 dayes.

1726 August 7 (Sunday).  I preach’d a.m. on Eccl. 11.8; p.m. on Rom. 1.20.  The Heat to Day also was very Tedious.  But after Exercises the Heavens grew Black and we had great Rains till Sunset when I rode Back home.

1726 August 8 (Monday).  I went to see Mr. Maynard and then Mr. Rice and his Son with all which I pray’d.

1726 August 9 (Tuesday).  I was Requested to Mr. Rice’s to assist him in settling his worldly Estate and Setting his house in order.  Here was his Brother Joshua Rice.[1]  I pray’d with him and his son.

[1]A proprietor of Worcester who later (unknown date) removed to Marlborough.  Lincoln, Worcester, p. 45, 47.

1726 August 10 (Wednesday).  I was at Mr. Rices again to finish his Last will and testament.  Here was Captain Brigham[1] and Deacon Rice.[2]  I pray’d here again.  I call’d in to see Neighbor Maynard as I went home, and I pray’d with him likewise.  In the Afternoon I rode out to See the Sick in the other parts of Town — Peres Rice and Jeduthan Fay.

[1]Nathan Brigham of Marlborough.

[2]Caleb Rice of Marlborough.

1726 August 11 (Thursday).  Another, one Nathanael Child, taken ill.

1726 August 12 (Friday).  Finished my Preparations.  Very Sickly in Mendon and severall other Towns.  Phinehas Hardy mow’d in my Lot for himself.

1726 August 13 (Saturday).  Very Rainy.  My wife not well.

1726 August 14 (Sunday).  I preach’d all Day upon John 2.1.  Edward Baker was propounded to the Church.

1726 August 15 (Monday).  I was sent for to Mr. Rices.  They apprehended him (according to his own phrase) near winding up.  When I came to him the Springs of Life were very weak and Low.  He could speak Yea or No but I had no answer from him to many Questions I asked him.  I pray’d Earnestly for him; I discoursed to his Wife and Children and Friends about the Bed and then Solemnly bid him Farewell.  He gave me fervent tokens and I Left him.  He dy’d about an hour after.  Captain Fay[1] and Two Sons came to take care of Some Hay which Phinehas Hardy and Thomas Forbush, Junior[2] mow’d to Day for me.

[1]Of Westborough.

[2]Son of the Westborough selectman.

1726 August 16 (Tuesday).  In the Morning Prescot[1] a Young Scholar and my wife’s remote Kinsman came to See us, but tarried but an hour or Two.  Mr. Edmund Rice’s Funerall, after which I visited Nathaniel Child and Asher Rice (sick).

[1]Peter Prescott (Harvard 1730).  Son of Dr. Jonathan Prescott of Concord.  Sibley, VIII, 772-774.

1726 August 17 (Wednesday).  I prepar’d for my Lecture.  Phinehas and his Brother Daniel[1] mow’d for me to Day.  Captain Fay came and Two Sons (but one finding himself not well returned home) and with his Team and got in part of my Hay.  He left his Team with me.  My Wife rode away from us for Cambridge (the Lad John before her).

[1]Hardy brothers of Westborough.

1726 August 18 (Thursday).  Captain Fay came again and Lieutenant Forbush to get up the Rest of my Hay.  Mr. Thomas Forbush[1] lent them his hand after Meeting.  I preach’d a Lecture from Rev. 22.20.

[1]Selectman of Westborough.

1726 August 19, 20 (Friday, Saturday).  Having had Such avocations this week, no one can think me Idle these Two Dayes, seeing a Sacrament approaches.

1726 August 21 (Sunday).  Sacrament Day.  I preach’d a.m. on Heb. 10.22.  Captain Willard,[1] Dr. Matthews,[2] Hezekiah Ward[3] and Mrs. Grove of Greenland communicated with us.  P.M. I preach’d upon 1 John 2.1.  Many Marlborough people, Mr. Breck I concluded to be absent.

[1]Benjamin Willard of Grafton.

[2]Dr. John Matthews, physician of Marlborough and Southborough.

[3]Of Marlborough.

1726 August 22 (Monday).  So many of my Friends absent I was very lonely.  I walk’d down to Neighbour Greens.[1]  I read miscellaneously.  I kill’d 8 Pidgeons (and how many more I know not) at a shot.

[1]John Green of Westborough.

1726 August 23 (Tuesday).  In my lowly State I wrote a Letter to my wife which I never Design’d to Send.  I had great opportunity to Discourse with my Maid servant of things of an Everlasting Importance.  I improv’d it in some measure, but found she had received but very barely in her Education, being very unacquainted with the Principles of Religion, and not able to so much as to return  any Answer to the Catechism taught our Smallest Children.  Alas!  The Irreligion and Ignorance of many (professedly Christian) Families among us of this Country, notwithstanding the Care universally taken for their Instruction!

1726 August 24 (Wednesday).  Phinehas Hardy went to Boston.  I wrote diverse letters.  Several:  to my Father, Deacon Henchman.  I was at Lieutenant Forbushes.[1]

[1]Lieutenant Samuel Forbush of Westborough.

1726 August 25 (Thursday).  I read various things.  Very Impatient Except when I was immers’d in Thought.  I went down to Lieutenant’s again expecting the Young Man, but he came not.  Neighbor Clark with me in my Return home.

1726 August 26 (Friday).  I receiv’d from Boston.  Mr. Willard on the Catechism brought up to me.

1726 August 27 (Saturday).  I have been finely at Liberty this Week for my Preparations.  Yet not finish’d till within Night sometime.

1726 August 28 (Sunday).  I preach’d again upon 1 John 2.1, a. and p.m. I was much wearied at noon, and very unactive.  Aged Mrs. Holloway[1] was Suddenly taken ill this morning.  At Midnight Mr. Holloway came to me and desir’d me to rise and ride to his Mother.  I did so.  When I came to her she could Scarce Speak, but her understanding was Strong.  I pray’d after which She Reviv’d and spake a great deal to me alone of her former Desires and the Comforts She had lately received from Deacon Keys[2] of Shrewsbury, etc.

[1]Mother of William and/or Adam Holloway of Westborough.

[2]Deacon John Keyes should not be confused with Captain John Keyes, another resident of Shrewsbury.  The ancestry of both is unclear.  Ward, Shrewsbury, pp. 339-341.

1726 August 29 (Monday).  About 4 o’Clock I went up and went to Bed.  I return’d home about nine.  I sent for Mr. Oliver Ward’s Horse and about 11 Rode away for Cambridge.  It was past one when I left Mr. Amsden[1] yet I got to my Father Champneys[2] whilst the Day light was visible.

[1]Captain Isaac Amsden of Marlborough.

[2]Samuel Champney, Sr., of Cambridge.

1726 August 30 (Tuesday).  Brother Champney[1] with us.  We set out near Night, and without stopping at any Tavern we came to Westborough presently after sun-down.

[1]Samuel Champney, Jr.

1726 August 31 (Wednesday).  My Corn Stalks were Cut (in part).  My Child not well, she now breading her Eye Teeth.  I have had very Sensible Perception of the Truth of the Apostles Saying 1 Cor. 7.31.  The Fashion of this World passeth away.  Truly a very Slender observation makes it Obvious.  Everything in Nature being in incessant Motion; and we living by Changes The Age Wears off Time is at last to be small ow’d up in Eternity.