Month: April 1739

1739 April 1 (Sunday).  Mr. Stone rode up to Westborough in the Morning.  I preach’d at Southborough on Heb. 10.38 a. and p.m.  William Pierce had excepted against Mr. Stones form of baptizing because of his using the word [into] instead of [in] the name, etc. and therefor entreated me to baptize his youngest child.[1]  Mr. Stone had intimated the matter to me and consented freely that the Man Should request me, but I first opened the matter to him, read him Dr. Collins’s annotation upon Mat. 28.19 in the Continuation of Mr. Pools[2] and demanded of him whether he had any Disgust with Mr. Stone on any other, etc.  The name of the Child was Seth.  At Evening I return’d to Westborough.  Met Mr. Stone by the way.  N.B. Mr. Stone had forgot his Notes by changing his Coat, and had none with him at Westborough.  It was so late in the morning that he could not return home to fetch ‘em, but my wife, at his request, Show’d him a parcell of my Sermons and he chose them that are on Hos. 13.9, and preach’d from them a. and p.m.  N.B. My Young Red Cow brought a fine large Cow Calf.

[1]Baptism recorded in Westborough church records.

[2]Matthew Poole, a learned Non-Conformist divine, published Annotations on the Holy Bible, wherein the Sacred Text is inserted, and various readings annexed (2 vols.; London 1688).  Poole wrote the portion as far as chapter 58 of Isaiah.  Other writers continued the work.

1739 April 2 (Monday).  Jotham Maynard came to work and Molly Bruce[1] came as a Taylor to make a Coat for Ebenezer.  Jotham beat off at Noon by the Rain.  Read in Mr. Clarks last volume of Lives.[2]  Lost Two Ewes, one yesterday, the other to Day.

[1]Mary, daughter of Abijah Bruce of Westborough.

[2]Samuel Clarke (1599-1683), an English theologian, published The Marrow of Ecclesiastical Historie, Conteined in the Lives of the Fathers, and Other Learned Men, and Famous Divines (London, 1650).  This work was enlarged and published in a variety of subsequent English editions.

1739 April 3 (Tuesday).  Dull heavy Weather.  Jotham Maynard at Work all Day on the Fences of the Southside.  At Night a great Storm.  Windy, Cold, rain, Snow.

1739 April 4 (Wednesday).  The Snow a Considerable Depth, but the Storm over.  N.B. Mrs. Josslyn[1] here both yesterday and to Day.

[1]Mrs. Joseph Joslin.  Sometimes spelled Joslen or Josling.

1739 April 5 (Thursday).  Sister Hicks at Dinner with me.  I preach’d at the private Meeting at Mr. Whipple’s on Rev. 3.1.

1739 April 6 (Friday).  The Boys plough’d p.m., the Snow being so gone.  Hannah, wife of Daniel Warrin junior here.

1739 April 7 (Saturday).  The Boys plough’d all Day.

1739 April 8 (Sunday).  All Day on 2 Cor. 2.15.16.

1739 April 9 (Monday).  Boys at Plough again.  Samuel Rogers at work for me.

1739 April 10 (Tuesday).  I rode to Sudbury, in Company from Captain Williams of Marlborough with Mr. Cushing.  Mr. Nathan Stone and Mr. Seccomb at Mr. Lorings.  My Concio was on 2 Cor. 2.15.16.  The Occasion of this Discourse on this Text was the ill Conduct of divers Ministers, but particularly of Mr. Seccomb of Harvard.  N.B. Seven Towns in that Neighbourhood had had ministers guilty of Scandalous offences.

1739 April 11 (Wednesday).  Mr. Prentice of Grafton preach’d the public Lecture on Isa. 1.16.  N.B. Conversation with Mr. Samuel Cook upon the Affair of his refusing Marlborough.  Mr. Cushing, Mr. Stone, and Mr. Prentice of Grafton rode with me up to Marlborough.  I turn’d away to Mr. Edmund Rice’s at the urgent request of his wife, to discourse with their Daughter in Law who was under Spiritual Trouble.  Was at Colonel Woods’s and settled all accounts with him to this Day.  At the Doctors[1] at Eve.  Mr. Prentice my company up to Westborough but he stood along for home.  N.B. some free Conversation with him about his Preaching.  N.B. Samme Breck[2] at my House.  Came up yesterday.  Jotham Maynard work’d half a Day.

[1]Benjamin Gott, the physician of Marlborough.

[2]Samuel Breck, Parkman’s brother-in-law.

1739 April 12 (Thursday).  Jotham Maynard work’d another half Day.  Powder hill on Blaze, in a dry Time and an high Wind.  The Fire broke out of Brother Hicks’s Ground and burnt me up all the Fence upon the South and the north and north East, although the wind was very strong at South and south West.  I preach’d the Lecture on Rev. 3.1 latter part.  N.B. Mr. Tainter brought up from Cambridge a 3 year old Heifer which I bought of Brother Champney for 10£.

1739 April 13 (Friday).  Very fine spring Weather.  Barley Sow’d.  At Evening there arose a Storm of Thunder and Lightning.  N.B. My old Bell sheep kill’d as ‘twas Thought by a Wolf on my Hill in the upper Clear’d Ground.  I have now lost no less than Four grown sheep this last winter and this spring.

1739 April 14 (Saturday).  Abiel Allen went home.  Nor could anyone be got in his [sic] room.  P.M. I rode over to the Funeral of a Young Child of Mr. John Pannell.  Very Warm Day.

1739 April 15 (Sunday).  Sacrament.  Preach’d on Mat. 22.12.  O that I had the Wedding Garment of a prepared soul to wait upon my Dear and blessed saviour in!  O that his own Righteousness might cover me that the Shame of my Spiritual Nakedness might not appear!  P.M. by means of my many avocations and Labours I was prevented Composing another Discourse, and therefor I repeated to page 7 of Sermon on Ps. 116.12.

1739 April 16 (Monday).  Abiel Allen having tarried over night, wash’d and did other heavy Business for my Wife.  N.B. Robert Bradish came and acknowledg’d his ill Conduct and Expressions at Two particular Seasons when he was with me as particularly in my House on October [blank] past, and on March 30, last at Evening and I forgave him and was reconcil’d to him.  This I bless God for, it having been an Article which I had much requested.  Fine weather — ploughing.  N.B. Hicks carry’d his Daughter Hannah to Cambridge.

1739 April 17 (Tuesday).  Catechiz’d at the Meeting House.  The Trees and divers of them, Apple Trees and Popplers, very Green and the Grass considerably grown.

1739 April 18 (Wednesday).  I went to Captain Fays with John Kidney who drove a Team and got 3 hundred pounds of Hay.  Neighbor John Rogers at work for me.  Splicing Rails and posts and Setting up Fence upon the back of the settle upon the Hill.  Receiv’d a Young Sow Pigg from Mr. Williams.

1739 April 19 (Thursday).  A white Frost last Night.  Neighbor John Rogers setting up Fence for me.  I went with John Kidney who drove my Team to Mr. David Brighams to get Sand.  My wife went as far as old Mr. Maynards.  The Turkey Hen Set.

1739 April 20 (Friday).  Mr. William Nurse here to request me to [go] up to a Sick Child a mile or Two above his House in Shrewsbury, but for many Reasons I could not.

1739 April 21 (Saturday).  Mr. Damon of Leicester here.  We sow’d a few Oates.  N.B. It was showery Some parts of the Day.

1739 April 22 (Sunday).  On 2 Cor. 15.16.  Widow Pratt din’d with us.

1739 April 23 (Monday).  Visited Neighbor Isaac Tomlin junior, he being in a very languishing Condition.  I had Neighbor Seth Rice’s Colt to ride upon from his House.  N.B. Captain Eager[1] from Court gave advice to Neighbor Rice[2] to go down to Boston to Confer with Two men who had been Captivated from Groton when they were but Ladds and had dwelt with the Indians ever since, whose English names were Tarbell[3] — Captain Kellogg[4] being likewise at Boston who was ready to serve them as an interpreter.

[1]James Eager of Westborough.

[2]Asher Rice, who had also been a captive of the Indians.

[3]See Samuel A. Green, Groton During the Indian Wars (Groton, 1883), 116-20.

[4]Joseph Kellogg.

1739 April 24 (Tuesday).  My old Red Cow Calv’d a fine large Bull Calf.  N.B. Colonel Woods, Mr. Stone of Southborough, Mr. John Burt[1] preacher at Marlborough and Mr. Jonathan Loring,[2] their School Master made me a Visit.

[1](HC 1736), later minister at Bristol, R.I., 1740-1775.  SHG, 10:29-31.

[2]Son of the Rev. Israel Loring of Sudbury.

1739 April 25 (Wednesday).  I walk’d to Mr. Noah Rice’s[1] to visit his wife, being under long Confinement and weakness, very discourag’d and Melancholly.  Continued my walk over to Mr. Tainters who had kept my Horse Sometime, and so rode back.  Call’d at Mr. Jonah Warrins.  N.B. Mr. John Pratt moving his Family to a new place by Mr. James Fays.  N.B. Mr. Peter Butler was at our House.  N.B. John Hicks junior help’d John Kidney in Carting out Muck.  Planted Peas, New Haven Squashes, etc. in the garden and sow’d various seeds.

[1]Son of Thomas Rice, an original settler of Westborough.

1739 April 26 (Thursday).  Neighbor John Rogers help’d in Carting out muck.  N.B. Brother Hicks lost his Black Ox.  Divers went to look for him up — found him dead in the mire of the Meadow on the North West End of the Great Pond.  My Wife rode to Marlborough.  N.B. Neighbor Seth Rice came up from Boston where he had Conference with the Tarbells of Groton and with Captain Kellogg upon the Affair of his Brethrens coming down from Canada.  N.B. He brought my wife some Honey Suckle Roots (for Vines for the Front Door) from Madame Lucy Dudley of Roxbury.

1739 April 27 (Friday).  My Lads fetch’d home some Hay from Neighbor Seth Rice’s.  Mr. Mead here.  It continues a very dry Season.  P.M. Brother Hicks help’d John in Carting Muck.  My Wife return’d from Marlborough and my Horse was kept this Night (as it was also the Night before last) at old Mr. Maynard’s.

1739 April 28 (Saturday).  John Hicks junior went on foot to Cambridge.  Ebenezer to Captain Eagers to carry Mr. Peter Butler 3£, 10 Shillings.  John Carting Muck Still.  Ebenezer Rode my Horse to Mr. Jacob Amsdens to have him kept there.

1739 April 29 (Sunday).  On 2 Cor. 2.15.16.  Very weary and faint at night, my Spirits having been greatly impress’d and my Body worry’d.  N.B. There had been a small Shower this Morn.  The wind Raw, and promising a Storm.

1739 April 30 (Monday).  A Rainy Time and the Earth much soak’d, after a very dry Week.  The praise to God for his Kindness and faithfulness.  Abiel Allen tarried over last night to help my Wife for Two or Three Dayes.