Month: April 1738

1738 April 1 (Saturday).  Mr. Whipple return’d with my Horse from my Kinsman.

1738 April 2 (Sunday).  On Eph. 6.4.  Mr. Ebenezer Chamberlains Wife din’d with us.

1738 April 3 (Monday).  Raw Cold.

1738 April 4 (Tuesday).  I rode abroad for Help in my Farm Business.  Went to Mr. David Brigham’s and found their Daughter Deberah very ill of a Fever.  I took a ride round by Captain Forbush[1] and old Mr. Wards.[2]  Silas Brigham here at Evening, his sister Deborah being at the point of Death.  Easterly lowering Weather.

[1]Samuel Forbush.

[2]Increase Ward.

1738 April 5 (Wednesday).  Deborah Brigham very low and dangerously ill.  A very great storm of Rain, Cold and tedious, especially in the Morning.  When it was more moderate I went down to see Deborah Brigham.  Our maid boiling Soap.

1738 April 6 (Thursday).  Mr. Pratt, with his Cattle, Brother Hicks’s and my own, to which we added Mr. Rogers’s in the Afternoon broke up the Grass Ground on the West and South of the old House.  P.M. I visited Mr. Josiah Russells Child which was Sick.  Cloudy and Raw weather yet.  Mr. Pratt, p.m., plough’d Stubble Ground.

1738 April 7 (Friday).  Easterly Wind, Cloudy, Cold — Rain at Times throughout the Day.

1738 April 8 (Saturday).  The Same Weather still.  Captain Brigham[1] of Marlborough here.  P.M. I rode to Shrewsbury and met Mr. Cushing[2] coming to Westborough.  Mr. Burr[3] at Mr. Cushings.

[1]Nathan Brigham.

[2]Reverend Job Cushing of Shrewsbury.

[3]Reverend Isaac Burr of Worcester.

1738 April 9 (Sunday).  I preach’d at Shrewsbury on Rev. 3.1.  Return’d at Eve, home, and there found Mr. Andrew Boardman[1] School Master of Hopkinton who lodg’d with us.

[1]Andrew Bordman (Harvard 1737), later minister of the First Congregational Church in Chilmark, 1746-1776.  Sibley, X, 121-122.

1738 April 10 (Monday).  I rode to Marlborough.  Mr. Burr (who preach’d at Marlborough yesterday for Mr. Bliss) was there when I went down.  Conversation with him about Bedforth Lands in Connecticut.  Din’d at Dr. Gotts.  Talk’d with Ensign Gotham Ward touching what had been reported of the neighbouring ministers in the Affair of Marlborough against Mr. Benjamin Kent.[1]  In returning Home, had Colonel William Wards Company.  N.B. Took down a Jack at Father Breck’s.[2]

[1]Minister of Marlborough.

[2]Home of the late Reverend Robert Breck of Marlborough, father of Parkman’s second wife.

1738 April 11 (Tuesday).  David Baverick wrought for me.

1738 April 12 (Wednesday).  David Wrought to Day also, and Mr. Aaron Forbush wrought with my Team in Splitting Hills.

1738 April 13 (Thursday).  Fast.  On Ps. 65.2.

1738 April 14 (Friday).  David Batherick again.  He Sow’d Rye.

1738 April 15 (Saturday).  David Still.  He Carted stuff and mended Fence.  Neighbour Aaron Hardy came with a Yoke of Oxen and plough’d up the rest of the stubble ground.  I was necessitated a.m. to assist at the Team my Self to my great Trouble and affliction.

1738 April 16 (Sunday).  Sacrament.  Repeated Isa. 50.10.  P.M. Eph. 6.4.

1738 April 17 (Monday).  I rode into the Southwest part of the Town for necessary Supplys for the occasion approaching.  N.B. Mr. Hall of Sutton here.  N.B. Mr. William Caruth planted Potatoes for me.

1738 April 18 (Tuesday).  Brother Hicks and his wife rode upon my Horse to Cambridge.  The Association met at our House, Viz. Mr. Prentice[1] of Lancaster, Mr. Loring,[2] Mr. Cushing, Mr. Stone of Southborough, Mr. Prentice of Grafton (who also brought his Spouse with him).  Mr. Jabez Richardson[3] and Mr. Andrew Boardman likewise came.  No Body was prepared to give a Concio.  At their Request I repeated my Discourse on Eph. 3.10.  Our Conversation turn’d upon the Affairs of Marlborough as they respected the Settlement of Mr. Bliss among them.  Mr. Stone and Mr. Boardman left us.

[1]Reverend John Prentice.

[2]Reverend Israel Loring of Sudbury.

[3](Harvard 1730), an itinerant preacher and schoolmaster at Woburn.  Sibley, VIII, 778.

1738 April 19 (Wednesday).  Mr. Bliss and Mr. Haven came.  Mr. Prentice of Grafton laid some Difficultys he was labouring under, before us.  Mr. Prentice the Moderator gave Mr. Bliss reasons why he Suppos’d the Association would not look upon themselves call’d to meddle with the Affairs of Marlborough.  The Moderator preach’d the public Lecture on Ps. 73.25.  I pray’d the Church to receive their Votes for a Deacon or Deacons.  The First (which was not ripen’d till the 3d Trial) was for Brother Thomas Forbush, For whom (at last there were 24 Votes out of 36 Members).  Then the Church unanimously mov’d for a second to be Chosen — to which I consented.  But seeing the Association were waiting for me I (with the Church’s Consent) appointed Deacon Fay to receive the Church’s Votes whilst I withdrew.  When I returned I found they had chosen Brother Seth Rice to be the other Deacon.[1]

[1]See Church Records, April 19 and May 25, 1738.  Both Thomas Forbush, Jr., and Seth Rice declined election.

1738 April 20 (Thursday).  John Rogers wrought for me — ploughed in Rye and Barley.

1738 April 21 (Friday).  Simon Tainter, junior, came and wrought for me.  He plough’d the remainder of the Stubble, with Brother Hicks’s oxen join’d to mine.  P.M. Plough’d in Barley, with only my Cattle.  I planted Cucumbers, Squashes.  At Eve visited Mr. Hezekiah How, his Daughter being Sick.

1738 April 22 (Saturday).  Rain a.m.  Held up p.m., yet Brother Hicks comes not with the Children.

1738 April 23 (Sunday).  Eph. 6.4. Very pleasant weather.

1738 April 24 (Monday).  A Fine, forward season.  Brother and Sister Hicks came up from Cambridge and brought home my Daughter Lucy, who had been at Cambridge for 2 Years, and through the Favours of Heaven she had a fine, Comfortable journey.  D.G.

1738 April 25 (Tuesday).  Mr. Haden here, and help’d me mend the Boxes of my Pump.

1738 April 26 (Wednesday).  John Rogers wrought for me, plough’d my ground second Time.

1738 April 27 (Thursday).  Catechiz’d at the Meeting House.  N.B. 42 Boys a.m.  [Blank] Girls p.m.  Mr. William Caruth came and p.m. planted more potatoes.

1738 April 28 (Friday).  The Spring advanc’d mightily, but today was very Cold.  Suse Cutting had today to visit her Friends in the South of the Town.

1738 April 29 (Saturday).  Trees put out very much — begin to Bloom.

1738 April 30 (Sunday).  Eph. 6.4.  God grant that all Parents might have a due sense of the weighty Duty incumbent on them respecting the Education of their Children!  their Important Chance and tremendous Reckoning!