Month: December 1740

1740 December 1 (Monday).  Exceeding Rainy; The Earth fill’d with water and the Floods rais’d.  No Church meeting — no Burial of widow Tomlins Child[1] as was appointed.

[1]Mary, daughter of the late Isaac Tomlin, Jr., and Gemima, died Nov. 28, 1740.

1740 December 2 (Tuesday).  A.M. I went over to the Funeral of the widow Tomlins Child, and p.m. to the Funeral of Deacon Newtons Child[1] both of which dy’d of the Throat Distemper.  A Third Grave was open’d this Day, Scil. for a Still born Infant of Daniel Stone.  After the Funerals I went with Mr. Grout to Neighbour Beriah Rice’s to see the Cow Mr. Tainter had bought for me and afterwards to Mr. Tainters.  N.B. Richard King son of King the Cutler, etc.

[1]The Westborough Vital Records do not reveal which of Josiah Newton’s children had died.

1740 December 3 (Wednesday).  I rode over to the north side to visit Thomas Warrins Family who had been long sick of the Throat Distemper.  Evening when I return’d.

1740 December 4 (Thursday).  Mr. Tainter brought home Two of my Calves which he had kept a long time for me — and brought a Fat Cow from Neighbour Beriah Rice’s and with Mr. Harringtons help kill’d her.  Weight 17 1/2 Score.  Tallow 35, and the Hide 56.  P.M. I was at old Mr. Rice’s, where the private meeting mett.  I preach’d on Ps. 89.47.

1740 December 5 (Friday).  Cloudy.  Eve Mr. Tainter came and cutt and salted up my Beef.

1740 December 6 (Saturday).  Rainy.  P.M. Neighbour Benjamin Fay[1] and his Wife came to discourse with me, but it was too late and I was too much engag’d in my Preparations to do them service.

[1]The son of Capt. John Fay.

1740 December 7 (Sunday).  Very Stormy Day — Rain, at night Snow.  High Winds.  I preach’d a.m. on Mat. 10.26.27.28.  P.M. on Jer. 2.19.

1740 December 8 (Monday).  Very Stormy Day, and we were nigh without wood.  P.M. Mr. Seth Rice[1] here about his sister Thankful.[2]  Neighbour Aaron Forbush here and reckoned with me.  They both of them fetch’d wood.  At Eve Ensign Maynard and Mr. Francis Whipple here, and Mr. Hall of Sutton came and lodg’d here.

[1]Son of Edmund Rice.

[2]Mrs. Josiah Rice.

1740 December 9 (Tuesday).  A bright fine pleasant Day.  Mr. Hall went upon his Journey to Boston.  Mr. Maynard here.

1740 December 10 (Wednesday).  A very blustering Storm of Snow and Rain, and we out of wood.  Ensign Maynard with his oxen came of his own accord and with young John Hicks got me two turns of wood.

1740 December 11 (Thursday).  A pritty good day — but heavy, Dirty and Snowy under Foot.  I rode to Marlborough and on my Way settl’d with and paid Mr. Beeman.[1]  Was at Mr. Feltons,[2] Mr. Williams (the sadler).  Din’d at Mr. Tainter’s.  Visited Mrs. Lydia Barnard who was Sick at Mrs. Gates’s.[3]  Visited Mr. Smith and Dr. Gott, and return’d home in the Evening.

[1]Eleazer Beeman of Westborough.

[2]Jacob Felton.  Hudson, Marlborough, 362.

[3]Sarah, widow of Simon Gates.

1740 December 12 (Friday).  I was not well in the Forenoon having taken Cold last night.

1740 December 13 (Saturday).  James Eager here to inform of the Death of Mr. Thomas Warrins eldest son.

1740 December 14 (Sunday).  Cold Day, windy — but very little Wood.  On Jer. 2.19.  Mr. Bradish and Mr. Samuel Fay, junior din’d with us.

1740 December 15 (Monday).  Mr. Bradish Sent his son Jonas to cutt Wood for me, and he got down one Turn with my Oxen, whilst I was gone to the Funeral of Mr. Thomas Warrins Son, the third of his Children that had dy’d by the Throat Distemper.  At Ensign Maynards as I return’d home.

1740 December 16 (Tuesday).  Bright but Cold Weather.  Mr. Taylor[1] of Sudbury and Lieutenant Brigham[2] of Southborough here and din’d with me.  Their Errand was to request me to visit Captain Nathan Brigham of Marlborough labouring under great Trouble of Mind.  Matthias Rice, Mr. Townsend,[3] Dr. Gott here.  I visited Mr. Townsends youngest Child that was Sick.

[1]Thomas Taylor.

[2]Timothy Brigham.

[3]Joshua Townsend of Westborough.

1740 December 17 (Wednesday).  A very Violent and tempestuous Storm of Snow, and we very Short of Wood.  But through Gods great Mercy we are all in Health.  John Hicks sent to help us in cutting up what wood we had, etc. and help tend the Cattle, and lodg’d here.

1740 December 18 (Thursday).  I was according to appointment to have visited Captain Brigham and to have preach’d the Lecture in Marlborough but the drifted Snow, and the high, cold winds blowing the Snow about renders it exceeding difficult travelling.  I rode with much trouble as far as Mr. Aaron Forbush and from thence to Mr. Whipples went upon Racketts and obtained Three young Men to come and cutt and sledd some wood.  Ebenezer Maynard, Aaron Forbush, junior and Edward Whipple who in the Cold and Snow got down Six Load.

1740 December 19 (Friday).  Cold, and difficult stirring in the Deep Snow — at the Funeral of Mrs. Townsends youngest Child.  O that God would make it matter of quickening to Me, who am alas how far behind!

1740 December 20 (Saturday).  Cold, cloudy, Snow’d a little.  My mare very lame.  Lieutenant Hezekiah Ward[1] here.

[1]Of Westborough.

1740 December 21 (Sunday).  Cold Day.  Difficult getting to meeting.  Jer. 2.19.  O that it may Convince and humble me for my forsaking God!

1740 December 22 (Monday).  At Mr. Hows[1] in the Morning by whom I wrote to Mr. Cooper[2] of Boston.  Dr. Smith,[3] Master Townsend and Mr. Hezekiah Pratt here.  Dr. Smith din’d with us.  Set up a Bedstead in the dining room.

[1]Parkman’s neighbor, Hezekiah How.

[2]Rev. William Cooper of the Brattle Street Church.

[3]Joshua Smith, physician of Shrewsbury.

1740 December 23 (Tuesday).  Very Cold Season.

1740 December 24 (Wednesday).  Very Cold.  Dr. Smith here having again been to Mr. Townsends whose Wife and eldest son Sick.  I visited Mr. Townsends Family and Neighbour Barns.[1]  N.B. Neighbour Barns renew’d the Leave to me to cut wood in his Swamp.  His Father Bruce[2] and his Brother Charles there.  My son Thomas not well.  Receiv’d from Boston by Ensign Maynard.

[1]Richard Barnes.

[2]Elizabeth, daughter of Abijah and Mary Bruce of Westborough, married Richard Barnes, Jr., of Marlborough, May 10, 1739.

1740 December 25 (Thursday).  Cold.  I rode to Deacon Newtons to see his Sick Children.  Lieutenant Bakers,[1] old Mr. Rice’s, Neighbour Daniel Forbush.  Din’d at Mr. Harringtons.  Visit Neighbour Grows, Thurstons,[2] John Pratts, James  Fayes, Grouts, Captain Fays.[3]  Cold Evening.  Mr. Francis Whipple came to ask me to Joseph Greens Wedding, which I solemniz’d at Mr. Whipples and Supp’d there.  Edward Whipple accompany’d me back.

[1]Edward Baker.

[2]Joseph Thurston.

[3]John Fay, an original settler.

1740 December 26 (Friday).  Exceeding Cold.  Cloudy a.m.  Snow p.m.  I rode to Captain Eagers[1] and to Ensign Bartletts[2] in the Storm.  At Eve the Storm prevail’d much.  Difficult getting Home.  After I got Home the Storm was exceeding Vehement.

[1]James Eager of Westborough.

[2]Daniel Bartlett of Marlborough.

1740 December 27 (Saturday).  My Wife had been Somewhat ill all night but in the morning was so full of Pain that I rode away to fetch Granny Forbush to her.  The Snow which fell last night added to the former (both being deep) made is extraordinary difficult passing.  I was overmatch’d with it at old Mr. Maynards.[1]  Ebenezer Maynard and Neighbour Pratt took their Horses and rode before me, by which means I succeeded.  Brother Hicks carry’d up his wife, and fetch’d Mrs. How and Ensign Forbushs[2] wife.  Ensign Maynard brought his wife and fetch’d Mrs. Whipple.  Mr. Williams also brought over his.  But we were in great Want of Wood through the Disappointments which I had met with.  This Ensign Maynard help’d by chopping and sledding down a Load from the Hill.  A time of Remarkable Difficulty yet God was pleas’d to help us through.

[1]David Maynard.

[2]Thomas Forbush, Jr.

1740 December 28 (Sunday).  I repeated sermon on Job 14.5.  The women still here a.m.  At noon Mrs. Maynard and Mrs. How went Home.  At Eve Mrs. Forbush (Ensigns wife) went home.  My wife continuing yet about the Room.  The Midwife, Mrs. Whipple, and Mrs. Williams Remain’d all night.  Visited Mr. Townsends Family.  Joshua very bad.

1740 December 29 (Monday).  Eleazer Williams, Thomas Winchester,[1] Nathan Maynard[2] and Ezekiel Pratt after 11 a.m.  Afterwards Lieutenant Tainter in the afternoon got wood.  Captain Eager here.

[1]Son of Benjamin Winchester.

[2]Son of David Maynard.

1740 December 30 (Tuesday).  Mr. James Fay with a Number of Hands came to get wood and brought one yoke of Oxen.  The Hands with him were his Two Brethren, Robert Bradish, Jonas Child, Samuel Bumpso, Samuel Baker,[1] Elijah Rice,[2] Ephraim Whitney,[3] Noah How, and Stephen Maynard with a Team (paid for by Mr. Fay).  Joshua Townsend aged 8 Dy’d, and Mr. Beemans youngest Daughter of 5 years of age.  I rode to Mr. Beemans.  Eleazer exceeding bad and all the rest sick.  John McClung of Pensylvania, on his Journey, came at Night.

[1]Son of Edward Baker.

[2]Son of Charles Rice.

[3]Son of Nathaniel Whitney.

1740 December 31 (Wednesday).  John McClung left us, carrying Letters for us, to my Kinsman Benjamin Parkman[1] at Philadelphia, and Mrs. Pierpont[2] at New Haven.  I went to the Funeral of Mr. Beemans little Daughter.  His son Eleazer thought to be irrecoverable.  Dr. Gotts young man, Hall, was my Company to Marlborough to Captain Nathan Brigham who was Still in a Melancholly, disconsolate Condition.  I din’d late at Captain Brighams.  Colonel Ward[3] there at Evening.  Had his Company as far as his House, where I call’d; as I did also at Mr. Jacob Amsdens,[4] it being exceeding Cold.  After I got home I marry’d Two Couple.  Mr. Thomas Joslin[5] to Lucy Forbush[6] and Nathaniel Johnson[7] to Sarah Forbush.[8]

[1]Parkman’s nephew.

[2]Mrs. James Pierpont.  Parkman must not have realized she had died Nov. 1, 1740.

[3]William Ward of Southborough.

[4]Of Westborough.

[5]Son of Nathaniel Joslin of Marlborough.

[6]Daughter of Aaron Forbush of Westborough.

[7]Son of John Johnson of Marlborough.

[8]Daughter of Aaron Forbush.  She and her husband lived in Marlborough.  Pierce, Forbes and Forbush Genealogy, 26-27.