Month: February 1740

1740 February 1 (Friday).  Extreme Cold.  It was Dr. Colman’s[1] Lecture but I durst not venture out.  But at Eve Visited Mr. Webb.[2]

[1]Rev. Benjamin Colman, minister of the Brattle Street Church.

[2]Rev. John Webb of the New North Church.

1740 February 2 (Saturday).  Mr. Webb came and pray’d with Brother, and came again p.m. on the Business of my preaching for him, but I was of a long Time preengaged to Mr. Gee,[1] who on that Condition releas’d me at the Time of my Marriage.  P.M. Mr. Gees son came with his Request, etc.  N.B. Mr. Gee was married in the beginning of the Week to Mrs. Sarah Gardner.[2]  At Eve I waited upon Mr. Gee at his Father Gardners and to Mr. Mathers.[3]

[1]Rev. Joshua Gee of Boston.

[2]Sarah, daughter of Samuel Gardner of Boston, was the Rev. Mr. Gee’s third wife.

[3]Rev. Samuel Mather.

1740 February 3 (Sunday).  Mr. Mather a.m. on Ps. 97.11.  I din’d at Mr. Gardners with the Bridegroom and Bride.  P.M. I preach’d for the Bridegroom on Jude 10.21.  At Eve at my Brother Elias’s, and at Mr. Mathers, where was Captain Samuel Greenwood[1] and his Spouse, etc. and we all supp’d there but I lodg’d at my Brother Samuel’s.

[1](HC 1709).  A merchant of Boston who was made a captain of the militia.  SHG, 5:481-483.

1740 February 4 (Monday).  My Niece Elizabeth Corser’s[1] Child Eliza ill.

[1]Mrs. John Coarsa.

1740 February 5 (Tuesday).  Ensign Maynard brought me a Second Letter from my Wife.  Mr. Webb pray’d with my Brother again.  I visited and pray’d with Elizabeth Corser.  Din’d at my Niece Procter’s.[1]

[1]Hannah, daughter of Parkman’s brother William, married Samuel Proctor.

1740 February 6 (Wednesday).  Din’d at Brother Williams.  N.B. Deacon Larrabee[1] kindly visited me there.  The Weather much moderater.  P.M. I visited Mr. Robert Breck,[2] one of my Old School Mates and my wife’s Kinsman.

[1]Richard Larabee, deacon of the Brattle Street Church.  Drake, Boston, 661.

[2]Of Boston.  A Cousin of Mrs. Parkman.  Samuel Breck, Genealogy of the Breck Family (Omaha, 1889), 19.

1740 February 7 (Thursday).  Very Pleasant.  John White went to Cambridge for my Horse.  It was late before I mounted at Charleston, being after 11.  Stop’d at College at sister Barretts[1] and rode over to Father Champney’s.[2]  After 1 p.m. I set out from thence.  N.B. Sister Lydia[3] rode up with Brother Hicks on the 4th in a Whirry.  Levi Brigham — my Company part of the Way.  Got home at 7 1/2 in the Eve.

[1]Ruth Champney, sister of Parkman’s first wife, married John Barrett, May 5, 1737.  Paige, Cambridge, 507.

[2]Samuel Champney, Sr., of Cambridge, Parkman’s first father-in-law.

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

1740 February 8 (Friday).  Ensign Maynard the Meazles.  I visited him.  Sister Lydia keeps at Hicks’s.

1740 February 9 (Saturday).  Storm — Snow, etc.  Sister Lydia came here and lodg’d here.

1740 February 10 (Sunday).  Repeated John 9.4.

1740 February 11 (Monday).  Sister Lydia rode with Brother Hicks to Cambridge on his own Mare.  Visited Ensign Maynard.  Neighbor Charles Rice, etc.

1740 February 12 (Tuesday).  Visited Old Mr. Fay[1] — he, his wife and Family being Sick of the Meazles.  Visited Captain Fay’s wife who is exceeding Low and wasted.

[1]Capt. John Fay of Westborough.

1740 February 13 (Wednesday).  I rode to Marlborough, the Doctor[1] having Sent for me to visit them, Sister and all the Child being sick, but his little son John of about 9 months old much the worst and lying at the point of Death.  Din’d at Colonel Woods[2] with Mr. Aaron Smith.[3]  At their earnest request I went to the Funeral of Two of Mr. Joseph Tainters[4] Children — 4 others of his Children being at the Same Time sick, and one or more of them in a Dangerous state and all of the Throat Distemper.  At their Instant Desire I pray’d upon this sorrowful Occasion.  Return’d to Brother Gotts.  The Rain prevail’d so as to forbid my going Home, besides their Importunity on the Account of the Child which was nigh Expiring.  It dy’d about 8 of the Clock in the Eve, the Doctor being exceedingly distressed and impatient.  I lodged there with the Doctor.

[1]Dr. Benjamin Gott, Parkman’s brother-in-law.

[2]Benjamin Woods, the merchant of Marlborough.

[3](HC 1735).  Ordained June 11, 1740, in Marlborough.  SHG, 9:575-578.

[4]The deacon of Marlborough.

1740 February 14 (Thursday).  Captain Amsden[1] burnt my Mares Mouth for (what is call’d) the Lampers.  I went to Mr. Zechariah Maynards,[2] the widow Hows,[3] and Mr. Joseph Rice’s[4] where I din’d.  Thence I rode up to Mr. Thomas Wards in Westborough and to Lieutenant Holloways whose Youngest Child was very bad after the Meazles.  Captain Eager came from thence with me, whose son was Sick also of the Same Distemper.  Very troublesome, hollow riding, the Earth being much open’d.  N.B. David Baverick and Samuel Bumpso getting Rails.

[1]Isaac Amsden of Marlborough.

[2]Son of John Maynard, an early resident of Marlborough.  Hudson, Marlborough, 413.

[3]Widow of Thomas Howe, tavern-keeper of Marlborough (d.1733).  Hudson, Marlborough, 382-383.

[4]Of Marlborough.

1740 February 15 (Friday).  I rode again to Marlborough to the Funeral of John Gott,[1] and return’d at Eve.  David and Samuel again.

[1]Infant son of Dr. Benjamin Gott.

1740 February 16 (Saturday).  Mr. Aaron Smith from Marlborough made me a Visit.  David and Samuel and Ezekiel Pratt at work again.  Mr. Smith din’d and Spent the afternoon with us and then went to Southborough.  Rain at Evening.

1740 February 17 (Sunday).  Rain.  Act. 3.19.  Mr. Thurston[1] and Mr. James Fay[2] din’d here.

[1]Joseph Thurston of Westborough.

[2]Son of Capt. John Fay.

1740 February 18 (Monday).  Visited Ensign Maynard.  David, Samuel and Ezekiel getting Posts.  P.M. Cold.  At Eve Stephen Fay[1] came to desire me to visit his Mother, but I was too much indispos’d to venture out in So Searching an Air.

[1]Another son of Capt. John Fay.

1740 February 19 (Tuesday).  Visited Mrs. Fay, who was yet alive but very low.  N.B. Mr. Sherman of Marlborough and Mr. Phinehas Rice of Stow my Company in going to Captain Fays.

1740 February 20 (Wednesday).  Read the Life of Signor Roselli, an Italian.

1740 February 21 (Thursday).  Mr. Metcalf[1] and Mr. [blank] of Medway here a.m.  Captain Eager p.m.  The Children went to School at Mr. Townsends,[2] This being the first of my knowing the School was kept there, although it had been kept there this fortnight, as the Master told me.  Mr. Goodenow[3] here in the Eve to begin to pay me Rates for the Current Year.

[1]Jonathan Metcalf.

[2]Joshua Townsend.

[3]David Goodenow of Westborough.

1740 February 22 (Friday).  Samuel Bumpso and Ezekiel Pratt came to clear in the Swamp.  David having the Meazles.  The Sow discovered to have Eight Piggs.  Old Mr. Whipple and Captain Warrin here at Evening.

1740 February 23 (Saturday).  At the Funeral of the Infant Child of Mr. Eliezer Rice.  Dr. Gott din’d with us.  Samuel Bumpso and Ezekial Pratt Clearing and finish’d afternoon.

1740 February 24 (Sunday).  Act. 3.19.  Mrs. Byles[1] and Mehitable Coddington din’d with us.

[1]Mrs. Joseph Byles of Westborough.

1740 February 25 (Monday).  Town Meeting.  N.B. I gave the Town a General Receipt in full written in the Town Book.

1740 February 26 (Tuesday).  My Wife rode to Marlborough on Brother Hicks’s Mare.  I rode with her as far as Captain Forbush’s.[1]  I went to Mr. Cooks.[2]  Got an Iron Hoop fitted for dirty Shoes at my west Door.  Visited old Mrs. Forbush,[3] Ensign, Captain.  Neighbor Barns[4] — N.B. their Child very Sick.

[1]Samuel Forbush.

[2]Cornelius Cook, Westborough blacksmith.

[3]Widow of Thomas Forbush.

[4]Richard Barnes.

1740 February 27 (Wednesday).  Neighbor Barns came up and dock’d my Mare.  P.M. his Father came and Challeng’d part of my Land.  We went down to the Bounds.  At Evening my wife return’d safe.  Fine Weather.

1740 February 28 (Thursday).  Fine Weather.  I preach’d the Lecture on Gal. 5.25.

1740 February 29 (Friday).  Rain a.m.  Clear p.m.  Somewhat forward in my preparations.