Month: September 1740

September 2, 1740

1740 September 2 (Tuesday).  My Wife rode to Mr. Winchesters[1] a.m. and with me p.m. to Mr. Wheelers,[2] Mr. Balls,[3] etc. and thence over the Hill to Mr. Gamels, Jesse Maynards,[4] etc.  Simon Tainter junior our Company back.  Captain Hapgood of Shrewsbury burys his Eldest Son of the Throat Distemper to Day.  Very Cool Evening.

[1]Benjamin Winchester of Westborough.

[2]Joseph Wheeler.

[3]Nathan Ball.

[4]Son of David Maynard.

September 4, 1740

1740 September 4 (Thursday).  A Fast was kept by this Church and Town on occasion of the Throat Distemper coming among us.  I began the Exercises.  Mr. Cushing preach’d on Amos 4.10 the first and last Clauses.  Mr. Cushing prayed p.m. and Mr. Prentice of Grafton preach’d on Jonah 3.10.  Lieutenant Brigham[1] of Southborough and his wife, Mr. Phinehas Hardy and Neighbor Zebulon Rice’s wife at Supper with us.  At Eve I rode down to visit Neighbor Thomas Bruce’s Family, Two of whose Children are very bad.

[1]Nathan Brigham.

September 7, 1740

1740 September 7 (Sunday).  An exceeding rainy Day.  I preach’d at Rutland a.m. on Ps. 122.6 to the End.  P.M. on Jude 10.21.  At Evening came Captain Stevens,[1] Ensign Moses How[2] and a Third to see me.  Mr. Frink and I sat up till past 1 o’Clock upon his Farewell Sermon on July 27 last, from Rev. 3.3.[3]

[1]Deacon Joseph Stevens of Rutland.

[2]Also of Rutland.

[3]Rev. 3.3: “And hast borne, and hast patience, and for my name’s sake hast labored, and has not fainted.”

September 8, 1740

1740 September 8 (Monday).  A.M. I visited Ensign How and Jonathan Goodenow, and Mr. Frink accompanying me as far on my Journey as to the Grist Mill, there he stopp’d.  I call’d to see Mr. Calwell[1] and old Mr. Clark, and Lieutenant Davis[2] who had Several Children sick of the Throat Distemper with whom I pray’d.  N.B. Dr. Fletcher[3] accompany’d me down below Biglo’s.

[1]John Caldwell of Rutland.

[2]Simon Davis of Rutland.

[3]Hezekiah Fletcher, the physician of Rutland.  Jonas Reed, A History of Rutland (Worcester, 1836), 115-116.

September 10, 1740

1740 September 10 (Wednesday).  My wife rode with me to Marlborough being ask’d by Dr. Gott to meet with a young widow whom he purposed to bring from Boston to his House this Evening.  We visited Colonel Woods whose illness So increases that this Day he is got up into his Chamber from which tis fear’d he will never come down.  We waited at Evening for the Doctor at his House till we were weary, and then return’d home without seeing him.

September 15, 1740

1740 September 15 (Monday).  P.M. Mr. Baxter[1] and Madam accompany’d by Captain Winchesters[2] wife of Framingham, came, and they lodged here.  N.B. This Day arriv’d Neighbor Eliezer Rice from Albany with his Brother Ozorongoughton[3] and Mr. Tarbell[4] for a Companion and Interpreter.

[1]Rev. Joseph Baxter of Medfield.

[2]Ebenezer Winchester.

[3]The Indian name of Timothy Rice who had been captured in 1704.  Parkman later spelled this name Oughtzorongoughton.  See The Story of the Rice Boys.

[4]John Tarbell.  See Green, Groton during the Indian Wars, 116-120.

September 16, 1740

1740 September 16 (Tuesday).  Mr. Baxter and Madam, Captain Winchester and his wife rode from hence to go to Brimfield.  I rode with them as far as Neighbor Seth Rice’s, where I saw the Captives.  P.M. at the Burying of another of Thomas Bruces Children and visited one of Captain Warrins which was very low of the Same Distemper.  Towards Evening the Captives came to view to [sic] old House where Mr. Rice us’d to dwell, and they were at my House, Some number of the Neighbours accompanying them.

September 17, 1740

1740 September 17 (Wednesday).  Mr. Baines[1] of Marlborough came to digg my Well.  A.M. it rain’d.  P.M. he wrought.  I rode to the South and South west of the town, was at old Mr. Rice’s.  The Chief had been there and remember’d the Old Gentleman.  They were down with him to view the place where he was carry’d away Captive.  N.B. I wrote to the Governor concerning the Captives.

[1]William Bains.

September 18, 1740

1740 September 18 (Thursday).  The Funeral of Captain Warrins little Daughter, which dy’d by the Throat Distemper.  The Strangers went from us to Groton to visit Captain Tarbell.  They were at my House as they went.  Mr. Baines went off in the Morning to look him up an hand to work with him, he having taken my well by the Great [?].  In the Bargain we agreed that he Should Dig till he found Water to my Reasonable Content, and Should Stone the Well compleat and be four feet within the wall at the Bottom, for Ten pounds and his own and a man’s keeping, and I should draw him Stones convenient about the Well.  And in Case he Should not find a good Spring this Season the well shall be covered up till another, only he Should receive five pounds of money and the remainder when the Well should be finished whenever it Shall be.

September 23, 1740

1740 September 23 (Tuesday).  Rain a.m.  As Soon as I had din’d (Somewhat after one o’Clock) I Set out from Cambridge.  At Sudbury lit on Mr. Samuel Bagnal going to Boston.  I rode with him and got to Town before nine o’Clock.  Lodg’d at Brother Elias’.  N.B. Ebenezer lodges there and goes to the North Latin School.  This he has done nigh a fortnight.  N.B. An Awfull Providence yesterday at Mr. Checkleys[1] meeting House in Boston.  Three or Four Persons kill’d in the crowd, and many wounded — among the wounded sister Esther[2] and her Daughter.  Mr. Whitefield preaches Twice every Day to the astonishment of all.

[1]Rev. Samuel Checkley.

[2]The wife of Parkman’s brother, Alexander.

September 24, 1740

1740 September 24 (Wednesday).  Having receiv’d no return from the Governor[1] touching the Captives with us, I waited on his Excellency, who told me the Governor and Council had directed the Secretary to write me an Answer and he had done it, but knew not where it lodg’d, or where it miscarried.  It rained a.m. and detain’d me at Irelands till past 11.  From thence I rode up to Dana’s, on the South part of Cambridge, and to Father Champney’s from whence I went to College where Mr. Whitefield had been preaching.  His Text was 2 Cor. 2.17.  I din’d at Brother Barretts and thence went to Mr. Appletons[2] where Mr. Whitefield was.  N.B. The Account which he gave of the Time and Manner of the powerful working of the Spirit of God upon him.  P.M. He preach’d in the College Yard again; his Text was Mat. 11.28.  It was to incredible multitudes, and with wondrous power.  N.B. I wrote to Captain Tarbell.  At Eve I rode over to Medford with Mr. Turell[3] and his wife.  Lodg’d at my Kinsman Bradshaws.[4]

[1]Jonathan Belcher, Governor of Massachusetts.

[2]Rev. Nathaniel Appleton of Cambridge.

[3]Rev. Ebenezer Turell of Medford.

[4]Parkman’s niece, Sarah, married Samuel Bradshaw of Cambridge.

September 26, 1740

1740 September 26 (Friday).  We rode to Dr. Roby’s[1] and din’d there.  From thence to Marlborough to see Colonel Woods who was by this Time reduced to a very low State by the Hydrops Pectoris.  In the middst of many Fears respecting his Sincerity, he maintained an humble Hope in God.  I pray’d with him and took leave.  Call’d at the Doctors and return’d Home (with my Sister Willard[2] with me).  N.B. Mr. Baines came on the 23d near night, and the next Day his Young Man, one Merritt, and they both work’d daily at the Well.  Sam Bumpso came on the 24 and pinch’d up my Thrashing Floor.  Mr. Thomas Billings came for Lieutenant Holloway and Sow’d nigh Three pecks of Rye upon my New Ground on the South Side.  And the Cattle were brought from the woods.  Sam Bumpso and Ezekiel Pratt wrought wheat.

[1]Ebenezer Roby, the physician of Sudbury.

[2]Mrs. Josiah Willard of Salem, Parkman’s sister Susanna.