Month: May 1736

May 1, 1736

1736 May 1 (Saturday).  David Bathrick went with my Team to the Ministerial Lot and brought up a Load of the Posts and Rails got by Lieutenant Holloway etc.  P.M. Mr. Ivory Hovey came up to see me and Returned to Marlborough.  He informed me of the Death of Mr. Mather Withington, late preacher and in Nomination at Marlborough.  David ploughed part of the Afternoon.

May 3, 1736

1736 May 3 (Monday).  I rode over to Mr. Fergusons.  Discoursed with Mr. Caruth of his Difference with his wife.  Visited Ensign Forbushwho is very bad of a pluretic Fever.  And at Eve Mr. Aaron Hardy who is also Sick of a Fever.  David to Day some Muck, some ploughing.  Cold Season yet.

May 4, 1736

1736 May 4 (Tuesday).  David finished our ploughing over for planting.  Ebenezer drove the Oxen at ploughing.  P.M. I rode to Beriah Rice’s to have my Horse shod.  N.B. at nigh one o’Clock I was called out of my Bed by Lieut. Baker, who was accompanyed by Capt. Forbush, Neighbour Bradish, Josiah Newton, Abijah Bruce, John Hicks and Samuel Hardy, to deliver me a Confession to be read to the Church Signed by the last of these persons, on account of his writing and uttering certain defaming verses of which Mary Bradish was the Authoress — See [blank].[1]

[1]On May 4, 1736, “Brother Samuel Hardy offered a Confession for his writing and so being instrumental in uttering forth, divers verses to the Defamation and Reproach of the Committee which the Town had improved to search out who Cut the Pulpit Cusheon, and to the Reproach of divers other persons….  This Confession was read, and he was restored” WCR,41).

May 5, 1736

1736 May 5 (Wednesday).  A very pleasant, Warm Air — almost the first and the only Springlike Day — so Cold and melancholly has the Spring been.  Late p.m. Mr. John Tucker of Boston, pump Maker, came with his Tools to go to work for me; but he did not go to work this Eve.  Mr. Jonah Warrin came and wrought upon the Posts (See April 30) and with Davids Help half the Day or thereabouts, finished ‘em — above 60.  Ensign Maynard rode my Horse to Boston.

May 6, 1736

1736 May 6 (Thursday).  Mr. Tucker began to work upon my Pump.  Neighbour Aaron Forbush came and gave me the forenoon in Boring: And Benjamin How — Rain p.m., beat off all my Hands from work — except that David Employed himself about making a Bench for the outside of the Kitchin, Eastward.  Rev. Mr. Hall of Sutton came towards Night, in the Rain, and lodged with us.  Mr. Tucker not well at Eve.

May 7, 1736

1736 May 7 (Friday).  A good Day for our Pump Business, and an Excellent warm Day for the Earth.  David Bathrick and Jotham Maynard boring.  P.M. Benjamin How at work here.  Mr. Hall went home.  I visited Deborah Brigham who is Sick of a Fever.  Ensign Maynard who rode down my Horse to Boston to wait upon my honoured and aged Mother up hither, came up without her.  The Reason Sarah Tiley Sick of the Distemper. 

May 11, 1736

1736 May 11 (Tuesday).  Mr. Tucker fitting Pump Boxes, Spire etc.  My Red Heifer drove up into the Woods beyond Brookfield Town; the Care of Driving etc. taken by Capt. Warrin.  We began to Plant.  Very good weather for our Business; p.m. especially.  I rode to Mr. Josi. Newtons for Pump Leather.  Simon Tainter junior[1] here in the Eve with Message from the Private Meeting requesting me to preach to them.

[1]Simon Tainter, Jr., b. Apr. 8, 1715.

May 18, 1736

1736 May 18 (Tuesday).  Mr. Peres Rice was here and I read to him the Letter which the Church had <word crossed out> desired me to write to him.  I visited a Sick Child of Ithamar Bellows, and Mindwell King Sick at his House of Sore Throat and Fever.  Visited that Corner of the Town.  Reconciled [S. or I] Belknap and Jonathan Bellows.  Ithamar Bellows’s Child dyed before I returned.[1]

[1]Seth, son of Ithemore and Mary Bellows, was b. Apr. 15, 1736; d. May 18, 1736 (WVR, 18, 229).

May 20, 1736

1736 May 20 (Thursday).  Funeral of Ithamars Child.  N.B. I had been at Cousen Winchesters and dined with them.  At Eve at Neighbour Asher Rice’s.  N.B. he was very Stout and sharp respecting my blaming him for not bringing me the Money he had gathered in February last, upon the Plea of my Extraordinary Troubles, at that Time.  At Neighbour Josiah Newtons.  Things are almost every way very heavy and Burthensome.

May 22, 1736

1736 May 22 (Saturday).  Fine Weather.  The Trees Still in their high Flourish and Whiteness.  David finished shearing by noon: 7 Yesterday and 11 to Day.  P.M. mended Fence lower part of the South Fence of the South side: and put up a little shelf by the east Window in the Kitchin etc.  My Life extreamly solitary!

May 23, 1736

1736 May 23 (Sunday).  On Mat. vi.13.  Many Southborough people here — Mr. Stone gone to Harwich.  Mr. Johnson din’d with me and Mr. Ithamar Bellows.  I had but an uneasy Night last night, much broke of my Rest — to which I attribute my dullness I found in my Spirits to Day — yet p.m. more Chearfull.  A very warm Day.

May 24, 1736

1736 May 24 (Monday).  Cousen Winchester had brought Calliminco etc. from Boston to make me a pair of Breeches, but no Ferguson this morning (as was agreed) to do the work.  Pritty hot.  David, with my Oxen, dragging stones down on the south Side.  Benjamin Garfield, a Lad, Son of Benjamin Garfield of this Town dyed to day of Sore Throat and Fever, having been taken but the Day before yesterday.[1]

[1]Benjamin, son of Benjamin and Bethiah Gafel, b. May 3,1718, WVR, 51.  Death not recorded. 

May 25, 1736

1736 May 25 (Tuesday).  I rode to Southborough to the Funeral of old Mr. Moses Newton — aged ninety one or Two.[1]  About 12 o’Clock I proceeded on my Journey to Cambridge.  At Mr. Baldwins I found Mr. Cushing of Shrewsbury and Coll. Chandler[2] of Worcester, Major Pomroy and divers other Representatives.  We rode in Company till my parting to go to F. Champneys.  F. Champney very much disordered and has been ever since his Dear Daughters Decease.  My Daughter Mary not well yet of her breaking out.  Lodged at F. Champney’s.

[1]Moses Newton, Sr., d. May 23, 1736 (Southborough VR, 176).

[2]John Chandler (1693-1762); George Chandler, The Descendants of William and Annis Chandler Who Settled in Roxbury, Mass. 1637 (Worcester, MA, 1883), 51, 120.

May 26, 1736

1736 May 26 (Wednesday).  I rode to Boston.  Capt. Durant of Newton overtook me.  My Honored Mother (whom I purposed to have waited upon to Westborough [this?] week) had been very bad of the Gout, and continues in great Pain, and is very much confined with her Lameness.  Mr. Holyoke,[1] of Marblehead preached from Neh. 7.2.[2]  Both the Sermon and the Oratorial Delivery much applauded.  I Din’d at Brother Alexander’s with the Family.  In the middst of this Days Joys my Heart is sorrowfull.  The Circle of Brothers and Wives through Divine Goodness and forbearance unbroken from the Time of Setting up these Dinners, <word crossed out> till the Awfull breach where I stand.  We now sing of Mercy and Judgment.[3]  I was at the Convention a little while.  Mr. Cotton[4] and Mr. Torrey[5] (of Providence and South Kingston) the Subject of the Discourse.  At Mr. Fennels shop — went over to Charleston in the Eve to Mrs. Gibbs’s, with Mr. Prentice of Grafton.  Mr. Bows, Mr. Solomon Prentice and I lodged at Brother Samuel Parkman’s.  Mr. Prentice with me.  Hot weather.

[1]Edward Holyoke (1689-1769), Harvard 1705, minister of Marblehead, 1716-1737, ninth president of Harvard, 1737-1769; SHG, 5:265-78

[2]Edward Holyoke, Integrity and Religion…a Sermon Preach’d before…His Majesty…on the Anniversary for the Election of Councillors, May 26, 1736… (Boston, 1736).

[3]Psalm 101:1, “I will sing of mercy and judgment: unto thee, O Lord, will I sing.”

[4]Josiah Cotton (1703-80), Harvard 1722, minister at Providence, R.I., 1728-1747, at Woburn, 1747-1756, and at Sandown, N.H., 1758-1780; SHG, 7:50-56.

[5]Joseph Torrey (1701-1791), Harvard 1728, minister of South Kingston, R.I., 1732-1791; SHG, 8:498-507.

May 27, 1736

1736 May 27 (Thursday).  At the Convention Dr. Colman preached on 1 Chron. 29.14, in the Old south Meeting House, previous to a Collection for Mr. Cotton and Torrey — gathered about 93£ for ‘em both.  <Word crossed out.>  I dined at Dr. Sewals[1] — exceeding well entertain’d.  Visited [Madam?] Lowel[2] of Newbury at Mr. [Ben Garden’s?].  Rode to Cambridge at Eve.

[1]Joseph Sewall (1688-17690, Harvard 1707, minister of Boston’s Old South Church; SHG, 5:376-93.

[2]Sarah Lowell, dau. of Noah and Sarah (Tunnell) Champney, who mar. John Lowell (1704-1767), Harvard 1721, minister of the Third Church of Newbury (First Church of Newburyport), 1726-1767; SHG, 6:496-502.

May 28, 1736

1736 May 28 (Friday).  Mr. Stanton Prentice[1] of Lancaster my Company from F. Champneys.  We rode to Capt. John Jackson’s at Newton – dined there.  Called at old Mr. Abraham Jacksons.  N.B. Mrs. [Burrydell?] Jackson[2] there.  Called at Mr. Williams[3] of Weston.  N.B. Mr. Convers and Seccomb[4] there.  I think it was 5 o’Clock when we set out thence.  N.B. Abraham Nutt my Company up to Westborough.  Got up by about 10 o’Clock.

[1]Stanton Prentice, b. 1711, son of Rev. John Prentice of Lancaster; d. Dec. 1, 1769, AEt’s, 58; Abijah P. Marvin, History of the Town of Lancaster, Massachusetts: from the Frist Settlement to the Present Time, 1643-1879 (Lancaster, 1879), 645.

[2]Mrs. Borridell [dup. Borodel, int. Borredell] Jackson mar. Samuel Jackson, Mars. 16, 1738; Vital Records of Newton, Massachusetts, to the Year 1850 (Boston: New-England Historic Genealogical Society, 1905), 317.

[3]William Williams, Jr. (1688-1760), Harvard 1705, minister of Weston, 1709-1750.  SHG, 5:295-300.

[4]John Seccomb (1708-1792), Harvard 1728, minister of Harvard, 1733-1757, Chester, Nova Scotia, 1759-1792 .  SHG 8:481-90.

May 29, 1736

1736 May 29 (Saturday).  David, in my Absence had dug Stones down upon the South Side the first and last Days.  Cleared down behind the Field another Day.  P.M. Mr. Solomon Prentice and Mr. Josiah Swan came here.  The latter on his Journey to Shrewsbury to preach for Mr. Cushing: the former came to change with me; and accordingly I rode to Grafton.  David began Weeding p.m.

May 30, 1736

1736 May 30 (Sunday).  I preached at Grafton on Phil. 4.5.  Pritty hot Day.  I baptized Benjamin, son of Joseph Kidder[1] of Grafton.  Mr. Prentice returned at Eve.

[1]Benjamin, son of Joseph and Hannah Kidder.  The Vital Records of Grafton, Massachusetts, to the End of the Year 1849 (Worcester: Franklin P. Rice, 1906), 78, describe them as “of Sutton” when their daughter Hannah was baptized in 1732.

May 31, 1736

1736 May 31 (Monday).  I returned to Westborough.  N.B. on the Way I met Abraham Temple and had discourse with him concerning the Difference between Rev. Mr. Prentice and him.  David Weeding.  Brother Hicks’s son Samuel[1] broke his Arm.  Dr. Gott up to set it.  The Doctor Informs that the Sore Throat distresses Mr. Britons Family at Southborough.  One Child Dead, Mrs. Briton Dangerous and one or Two Children more sick.[2]

[1]Samuel, lone of John and Rebecca (Champney) Hicks, b. Jan. 28, 1729 (CVR, 1:349.

[2]Elizabeth, wife of John Britten, d. May 31, 1736; James, son of John, d. May 29, 1736; William, son of John, d. June 2, 1736 (Southborough VR, 159).