Month: July 1728

1728 July 1 (Monday).  [No entry.]

1728 July 2 (Tuesday).  [No entry.]

1728 July 3 (Wednesday).  My wife and Children were brought up in a Calash with brother Champney[1] and Sister Lydia.[2]

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

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

1728 July 4 (Thursday).  I lectured on Isa. 26.9.

1728 July 5 (Friday).  Brother and Sister rode down in the Calash.

1728 July 6 (Saturday).  My interruptions have been very great; but God graciously assists me.

1728 July 7 (Sunday).  I preach’d all Day upon Phil. 3.8.9.10.11, and in the forenoon I adminstered the Sacrament of the Lords Supper.

1728 July 9 (Tuesday).  Mrs. Burt[1] came for her Daughter.[2]

[1]Mrs. Thomas Burt of Reading.

[2]Sarah Burt had been Mrs. Parkman’s helper.

1728 July 10 (Wednesday).  Mrs. Burt carry’d away her Daughter.  A great Affliction to us.

1728 July 11, 12, 13 (Thursday, Friday, Saturday).  It was a time of much Trouble and Concern with us respecting our weakhandedness.

1728 July 14 (Sunday).  I preach’d all Day on Phil. 3.8.9.10.ll.

1728 July 15 (Monday).  I rode to Cambridge with Neighbor Green.[1]  Found nobody at Father Champneys but sister Hannah[2] just when I was going away and there came two men that would go in for Cyder.  I went in again and tarried till they went away.  I rode with them to Boston.  Trouble Brother Samuell[3] and Mr. Dorcas.[4]

[1]John Green.

[2]Hannah Champney, Mrs. Parkman’s oldest sister.

[3]Samuel Parkman of Boston.

[4]The reference (clearly legible) to a “Mr. Dorcas” is a bit puzzling.  Parkman was probably referring to Dorcas Bowes, who married Samuel Parkman Jan. 29, 1729.

1728 July 16, 17 (Tuesday, Wednesday).  I visited my Relatives and acquaintances.  At Mr. Thatchers.[1]

[1]Reverend Peter Thatcher of Boston.

1728 July 18 (Thursday).  Mr. Sewall preach’d Excellently from Ps. 119.115.  Occasion, Phillips and Woodbridge Duel.[1]  At Mr. Wilsteeds in the Eve.  Here was Mr. Joseph Green[2] of Barnstable.  The Governours[3] coming in Everyones motions.  His Excellency’s Family came to Dr. Cooks this Eve.

[1]Henry Phillips (Harvard 1724) killed Benjamin Woodbridge in a duel on Boston Common, July 3, 1728 and escaped to France.  The affair caused much excitement and produced several sermons in Boston and elsewhere.  Sibley, VII, 424-429.  See Samuel G. Drake, The History and Antiquities of Boston (Boston, 1854), pp. 579-580

[2]Reverend Joseph Green, minister of Barnstable, 1725-1770.

[3]Governor William Burnett.

1728 July 19 (Friday).  A very great Day.  His Excellency’s Entrance into Boston was truly very Stately and Splendid.  I was at Mr. Eliots.[1]  I din’d at Holmes’s.[2]  Sister Lydia rode with me to Cambridge.  Earthquake at Newbury, etc.

[1]Jacob Eliot of Boston, later first minister of Lebanon, Connecticut.

[2]Ebenezer Holmes (Harvard 1724), a merchant of Boston.  Sibley, VII, 368-371.

1728 July 20 (Saturday).  I rode up home.  Got home a little after noon.  Prepar’d what I could for the Sabbath.  I praise God for his goodness this Journey.

1728 July 21 (Sunday).  I preach’d in the forenoon on Phil. 3.8.9.10.11.  Afternoon repeated the Sermon (Numb. 28) on Prov. 10.28.

1728 July 22 (Monday).  I rode up to see Mrs. Nurse[1] who Suffer’d by a fall into the Cellar.  Earthquake at Boston, at Newbury, as far as York, and many think it was then heard among us.

[1]Mrs. William Nurse of Westborough.

[In another part of the diary the following note appears:]

 

July 22 [1728].  At Boston a small shock but at Newbury the houses shook.  Some thought they heard it among us at the Same time, viz. about break of Day.  I am apt to think I heard it myself.

1728 July 23 (Tuesday).  I rode to Mr. Barretts[1] but found him not, He being over at Holliston.

[1]Reverend Samuel Barrett of Hopkinton.

1728 July 24, 25, 26, 27 (Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday).  As much time as I had spent upon my preparations but I was greatly taken off by the affairs of my house and of this Busy Season abroad.

1728 July 28 (Sunday).  I preach’d all Day on Gen. 18.25.  Mr. Nurse ill and distracted was at our house when meeting was closing, and till our Evening Exercise was over.  I was in no little concern of mind about the Earthquakes Continuing.

1728 July 29 (Monday).  I assisted with my own hands in the Carting, etc.

1728 July 30 (Tuesday).  Having got in my Hay, Rice, Barley, and Wheat, I dismiss’d Thomas Kendal for a while.  Now we are intirely alone having no Servant nor any one in the House.  Our Loneliness gives Scope for Thought.  God Sanctifie our solitude, and help us to improve in acquaintance with Himself.  There was much Lighting in the North almost the whole Evening.

1728 July 31 (Wednesday).  A very hot Day.  About 11 at Night came up a storm of Rain with Thunder and Lightning.