1737 March 27 (Sunday). Fair and pleasant Day. Matt. 7.12 A.M., but P.M. repeated Sermon II, Acts 2.37.38. N.B. Mr. Silas Brigham[1] and Mr. Eleazer Pratt[2] of Shrewsbury had desired me to baptize their Children. Accordingly, in my manner I desired the Children might be brought forth to Baptism. But only one appeared. I looked about till I conceived that something had befallen the other or those concerned with it. I proceeded and baptized Mr. Pratt’s (which was the Child that was brought) when the prayers were over we proceeded to the last Singing; in the Time of the last Singing Mr. Brigham and his Child came in. After the Blessing and when I was down in the Alley going out, Mr. Brigham asked me whether his child could not be baptized. I ans’d, it could not now. My Reasons are these. Besides that, when I am spent with the foregoing Services, it is too much to expect me to repeat over them again. Besides that, such a custom indulged would involve us in great irregularity and Difficulty, but this administration for my known Friends would have forced me to make it a custom, and besides the impatience of many of the Congregation to get away home, being they live 4, 5 or 6 miles off. Besides those Reasons, I would urge that is was so very sudden upon me that I could not judge which way I could vindicate it if I should proceed. Again, by the suddenness I was too much confused to have my Power at command to perform the Devotions; nor was I furnished therefor (Eccl. 5.1.2). So that it would have been nothing short of horrible Presumption for me to have done it. Lydia Cutting not well.
[1]Forbes: Mr. Silas Brigham, so unfortunately tardy this Sunday morning – had married Mindwell Grout, and the baby Jemima born four days before this, was their first child. She married Constantine Hardy.
Mr. Eleasar Pratt lived near Wild Cat Swamp, and was afterwards set off to Westborough. His baby, Sarah, was nearly six months old, and he hardly deserved so much more credit as Mr. Parkman would seem to give him, for he had his good wife Ruhamah to get the baby attired in its best frock, with the deftness which the care of three older children had given her.
Poor Silas Brigham, and poor Mindwell! How they must have worried, and how flushed his young face must have been when he marched down the aisle, after all the hurry, to have his pride in his first-born so humbled by the Minister’s censure.
The Church Records say under date of April 3, 1737: “Jemima of Silas and Mindwell Brigham baptized by Rev. Mr. Prentice of Grafton.”
Walett: Of Westborough. The child was Jemima, born 4 days before. On April 3, 1737 the child was baptized by Reverend Prentice of Grafton.
[2]Walett: Eleazer and Ruhamah Pratt lived in a part of Shrewsbury later added to Westborough. Their child, Sarah, was six months old.