Month: May 1745

1745 May 1 (Wednesday).  I preach’d Mr. Stones Lecture on John 14.21.  Rode Mr. Charles Bruce’s Horse.  Ebenezer went afishing at the great Pond this Evening, this being almost the very beginning of their Fishing this Season.

1745 May 2 (Thursday).  I held my Catechetical Exercise again — and preach’d to the Young Women on Ps. 25.7.

1745 May 3 (Friday).  Mr. Whitefield preach’d at Mill-River in Mendon the first instant.

1745 May 4 (Saturday).  Mr. Belcher Hancock came and din’d with me, perswaded me to go in his Stead to North Sutton.  Had Lieutenant Aaron Forbush’s Horse.  Got up to my Lodging, at Lieutenant Isaac Barnards just as the sun was Setting.  N.B. Met my son Thomas going home.

1745 May 5 (Sunday).  Preach’d at North Sutton at the House of Mr. Singletary[1] by the Great Pond on Eph. 3.8, last Clause, a. and p.m.  Din’d at the Same House, and my Kinswoman Mrs. Susanna Fuller with me.  After Exercises and refreshments I rode to Mr. Halls which was nigher than my Landlord Barnards and lodg’d there.  N.B. One Mr. Sears of Millford on Rye in Connecticutt there in the Evening.

[1]John Singletary had come from Haverhill. Benedict and Tracy, Sutton, 726-727.

1745 May 6 (Monday).  Rode back.  Went to Mr. Batchellors at Grafton though Thomme was gone to Westborough on a Visit.  Very hot Day.  Din’d at Mr. Prentice’s.  Mrs. Prentice (I find) was very much in Raptures last Night, and was Somewhat full, at times, to Day.  At Westborough understood that from Mr. Hancock yesterday Mr. Whitney and wife with others sent over to hear Mr. Martyn,[1] not being able to bear Mr. Hancocks Doctrine.

[1]John Martyn of the north precinct.

1745 May 7 (Tuesday).  Thomme return’d to his master Batchellours.  Captain Forbush’s wife here to be Examin’d.  Ephraim Bruce towards Eve.  Sent Mr. Eaton of Leicester his Bolton by Robert Horn junior.

1745 May 8 (Wednesday).  Neighbour Edwards Whipple here to be Examin’d previous to his joining with the Church.  Nigh Eve came Mr. Bacon of Ashuelot and lodged here.  N.B. About supper receiv’d a Letter dated yesterday from Mr. Smith of Marlborough to preach his Lecture next Wednesday — it being difficult to determine what Wednesday he Means.

1745 May 9 (Thursday).  Mr. Bacon upon his journey home and I rode to Mr. Nathan Balls to see his son Ebenezer who was in a Languishing State.  N.B. Mr. Wheeler and Mr. Ball told me that their Northernmost part, being disappointed by their Brethren of the Precinct, were proposing to unite with a Number of Familys in Bolton and build Still another Meeting House.  N.B. Ephraim Bruce’s wife here.  P.M. her Brother Charles’s wife.  At Eve Edwards Whipple’s wife — all in order to their enjoying public privileges.  N.B. Mrs. Winchester here at Eve.

1745 May 10 (Friday).  My Wife to Marlborough on Nathan Maynards Mare to visit Mrs. Breck of Springfield.

1745 May 11 (Saturday).  Captain Maynard (in his Team) brought me up 14£ Sugar and my Kegg of 3 Gallons of Rum from Boston.  P.M. Mr. Millen[1] here.  He discover’d to me that it was by him that I sent Mr. Loring his Hubbards Absence of the Comforter.[2]  At Eve came Brother Samuel Parkman from Hopkinton, bound up to Bolton and thence to Hartford.  N.B. Ebenezer went to Lieutenant Tainters for his Chaise and brought it.

[1]Rev. John Mellen of Sterling.

[2]Nehemiah Hobart, The Absence of the Comforter Described and Lamented (New London, 1717).

1745 May 12 (Sunday).  I preach’d on John 17.3, a. and p.m.  Propounded Edwards Whipple and wife for Church Communion.  Charles Bruce and his wife for public Humiliation and owning the Covenant.

1745 May 13 (Monday).  My Brother went on his Journey.  I went divers places for an Horse to go down to Cambridge but in Vain, particularly was at Jesse Brighams, Thomas Goodeno, Matthias Rice’s, and to Mr. Beeman’s.  Sister Hicks at our House at Evening from Sutton.

1745 May 14 (Tuesday).  Try’d Jonas Brighams Horse in the Chaise, but he was too furious — broke Whipple-Tree and threw me out, but without Hurt.  D.G.  But he was a good Horse in the saddle.  I rode him to Cambridge.  I stop’d at Colonel Wards to Condole under his great Afflictions.  Stopp’d also at Mr. Pattersons in Sudbury with my wife’s Kinsman Williams,[1] the school master there.  Yet got to Cambridge Some time before Night.  Mother Champney has had a very ill Turn and though much better than She was, especially last Friday, yet is very Weak and low.

[1]Abraham Williams, Jr. (HC 1744), of Marlborough. He later became the fifth minister of the First Congregational Church, Sandwich, Mass., 1749-1784. SHG 11:498-502.

1745 May 15 (Wednesday).  In the Morning I went over to College — was with Mr. Mayhew[1] particularly.  But I return’d over to Mothers.  Mr. Winthrop improv’d to Survey Father Champneys Lands, to prepare the Work for the Prizers, who all came.  I din’d with them.  N.B. Brother Champney now reports he did not take the Administration instead of Hicks.  I rode to Boston Early — broke fast at my Honor’d Mother’s (who is in much Comfort, except her Trouble about her Negro, Pito, who gives her much Trouble).  My Kinsman Elias (to my great Grief) is Still at home, unactive, Slothfull, disheartened and as far from engaging in any Business as ever.  Mr. Checkley[2] the Public Lecture on John 4.14.  After I din’d at Brother Alexander’s.  I visited Dr. Sewal, and there came in Dr. Chauncey,[3] and afterward Mr. Gee.  Mr. Whitefield the Subject, almost everywhere.  Dr. Wigglesworths[4] Letter to him came out to Day.  When I return’d to Mother Champneys at Evening the Prizers having done their Work, were gone home.  At home, Mr. Devotion of Windham, his wife and wife’s sister Visited my Family; came at Eve and Lodg’d.

[1]Jonathan Mayhew (HC 1744), minister of the West Church of Boston, 1747-1766. SHG 11:440-472.

[2]Rev. Samuel Checkley of the New South Church, Boston.

[3]Rev. Charles Chauncy of the First Church, Boston.

[4]Edward Wigglesworth, A Letter to the Reverend Mr. George Whitefield, by Way of a Reply to his Answer to the College Testimony against him and  his Conduct (Boston, 1745).

1745 May 16 (Thursday).  Mr. Devotion[1] etc. detain’d at our House because of the Rain.  Thomas Winchester went to Grafton, where a Fast is kept to Day, as there was also public Exercises both parts of the Day yesterday.  The Rain was Such as might have hinder’d him from work Some Part of the Forenoon but not the rest of the Day.  N.B. A Number of Ministers Met as an Association there — Nor did Mr. Prentice wholly omitt to invite me, but I was under Engagement to be at Cambridge for that very Time.  Thomme came home ill from Mr. Batchellors.

[1]Rev. Ebenezer Devotion.

1745 May 17 (Friday).  I went over to College in the Morning.  At Mr. Hancocks Chamber where were Mr. Flynt,[1] Mr. Mayhew and Mr. Nathaniel Gardner.[2]  Bought Dr. Wigglesworths Letter to Mr. Whitefield of Mr. Flynt, and borrow’d Tennents Examiner Examined,[3] of Mr. Mayhew.  On my Journey home I call’d at Dr. Robys,[4] at Sudbury, and found he was not averse to taking up my Kinsman Elias to study Physic with him, upon which I wrote to my Kinsman and committed it to the Care of the Doctor.  I din’d at Mr. Pattersons with my Kinsman Williams, the Schoolmaster there.  Rode into Marlborough to See Sister Breck[5] of Springfield who is ill yet at Dr. Gotts.  At Home, Brother Hicks (who drove up his Oxen from Cambridge) and his wife who came up (also) from Cambridge, lodg’d with us.

[1]Tutor Henry Flynt.

[2](HC 1739), a Boston schoolmaster. SHG 10:366-368

[3]Gilbert Tennent, The Examiner Examined, or Gilbert Tennent, Harmonious (Philadelphia, 1743).

[4]Ebenezer Roby was the physician of Sudbury.

[5]Mrs. Samuel Breck, Parkman’s wife’s sister. [Walett should have said sister-in-law.]

1745 May 18 (Saturday).  My Brother Samuel Parkman returning from Hartford to Boston touch’d here this morning (having lodg’d at Worcester).  Presently after his taking Leave it Sett in for Rain, and p.m. was very Wet.  Brother and sister Hicks went home Early.

1745 May 19 (Sunday).  Repeated Sermon on Eph. 3.10 from page 18 to page 32, under that Text in Phil. 2.8, a.m. and Ex. 9, p.m. Appointed the Communion and Preparatory Lecture.

1745 May 20 (Monday).  Sent Thomme down to Dr. Gott that he might be under his advice and Directions: he rode before his mother who visited her sister Breck to Day and carry’d her Child; and Thomme return’d home with Mrs. Sally Gott[1] instead of his Mother.

[1]Sarah, daughter of Dr. Benjamin Gott.

1745 May 21 (Tuesday).  Town Meeting to choose a Representative, but the Town were of the Mind to rely upon the Courts Goodness and would Send none considering the Towns New and heavy Burdens.  Receiv’d from Mr. Edwards of Northampton Proposals for printing his Treatise of Religious Affections.[1]  Mr. Breck of Springfield came at Evening in his Chair and brought his Daughter Lois and lodg’d here.

[1]Jonathan Edwards, A Treatise Concerning Religious Affections, in Three Parts (Boston, 1746).

1745 May 22 (Wednesday).  In the Morning about 8 o’Clock I rode to Mr. Williams’s and marry’d his Daughter to Mr. Reuben Maynard of Shrewsbury.  Immediately return’d back to Mr. Breck who was waiting for my Company to Marlborough.  He and his little Daughter rode in his Chair and Mrs. Sally Gott and I in Mr. Tainters Chaise.  We call’d to see Colonel William Ward.  We din’d at Dr. Gotts p.m.  From Mr. Smiths Fence my Mare broke loose and ran away with the Chaise.  Soon oversett it.  Scrap’d one Thill in Sunder, clear’d herself of her tackling and posted away for home, but was presently Stop’d by the Smith on the Hill.  We gather’d up the broken Tackling, dragg’d the Chaise to Mr. Smiths, and I rode to Deacon Stevens’s and got him to it to look upon it and make a new Thill.  Thus I left the Chaise, and my wife and child rode with me on Horseback home at Evening.

1745 May 23 (Thursday).  Mr. Breck and Mr. Smith came up from Marlborough.  They din’d with me and after Dinner Mr. Breck preach’d my Lecture from 1 Pet. 3.15, a useful Sermon.  May God Succeed it, and bless the Preacher.  Not many North Side People at Lecture.  N.B. Ebenezer Ball, in a Consumption brought low, was pray’d for.  N.B. One Mr. Town of Oxford labouring under a Diabetes, and much enfeebled, was carry’d along in an Horse litter, some Framingham people assisting.  Mr. Breck and Mr. Smith return’d to Marlborough.  The former carrying off the works of the Author of the Whole Duty of Man,[1] for which he is to bring me all he has of Dr. Owen.[2]

[1]Richard Allestree, D.D. (1619-1681), the royalist divine, is generally held to have been the author of The Whole Duty of Man, which was first published in 1658 and went through more than thirty editions. The work Parkman refers to may have been his Forty Sermons whereof Twenty-one are now First Published (2 vols.; London, 1684).

[2]Over eighty works of John Owen (1616-1683), the English divine, were published. One had recently been published in America: Eshcol: a Cluster of the Fruit of Canaan Brought to the Borders (Boston, 1744).

1745 May 24 (Friday).  Sent Ebenezer to Marlborough for the Chaise we left to be mended by Deacon Stevens;[1] and after much worry and trouble with the unruly Mare, he got home with it.

[1]Samuel Stevens.

1745 May 25 (Saturday).  Neighbor Jedidiah How cutt 5 young Piggs for me.  Captain Maynard here after his Journey to Boston — a great hindrance to me in my preparations and I am rarely without great Perplexity upon such occasions.  Edwards Whipple, and afterwards his Wife with their Relations.

1745 May 26 (Sunday).  On John 17.3 a.m.  After admitting Edwards Whipple and his wife into the Church, I administered the Lords Supper.  N.B. the greatest Part of our Northern Brethren absent, to my great Grief.  P.M. I consider’d the proneness of our Young People to run into great Extravagancys at the Election Time, and for some abatement of their ungodly Mirth I made an Essay on Luke 6.25.

1745 May 27 (Monday).  [No entry.]

1745 May 28 (Tuesday).  [No entry.]

1745 May 29 (Wednesday).  The first Election that I remember to have kept in Westborough. I read partly in my Family old Mr. Higginsons Election Sermon on the Cause of God and his People.[1]  Had a good Dinner with my Family, rejoicing in the great goodness of God to his people in all the Memorable Works which He had wrought, and for that He continues to us our precious and pleasant Things — and after Dinner we Sung part of the first 8 Verses of Ps. 78, Tate and Bradys Version.  P.M. a number of Elderly men came to see me.  Old Mr. Maynard, Mr. Whipple and his Brother Lambson of Ipswich.  Upon the whole, I endeavour’d to keep the Day in humble gratitude to God, hearty Loyalty to the Government over me, and Communion with the Ministers in their General Convention, and in Chearfull Satisfaction with my own House, charging and watching over all under my Care that good order and good Hours be observ’d which (for any Thing has come to my knowledge) were So.

[1]John Higginson, The Cause of God and His People in New-England (Cambridge, 1663).

1745 May 30 (Thursday).  Thomas had gone to his Fathers and not being well return’d late this Morning — yet had struck no stroke at Weeding till to Day.  I rode again to Mr. Nathan Balls to see his son Ebenezer who grows worse.  I visited Mr. Livermores[1] Family, one of whose Daughters of about 11 years of age has been much troubled with Fitts.  N.B. I took some pains, as I had Opportunity to Enquire into the Reasons of the absence of Such a Number of the Northside Members from the last Communion.  Mr. Livermore prevented by his Daughters Fitts.  Mrs. Hannah Ball and divers others disquieted in their minds with their Differences.  Mr. Jacob Rice Said he could not leave his House, it being the place where the North Assembly meets — but there appeared to me no strength nor Validity in his Excuse.

[1]Jonathan Livermore of Westborough.

1745 May 31 (Friday).  Mr. Cushing and Mr. Morse came up from Boston; and they gave me Some Account of what had been done at the Election and at the Convention.  In particular at the latter Mr. Clark[1] of Salem Village preach’d a Seasonable, Close sermon with regard to Mr. Whitefields Errors of mis-conduct — and both he and his wife were present.  The Collection was large, £290 Old Tenor.  In the Convention Mr. Gee[2] and others made proposals of Subscribing the Platform and Confession of Faith; or Some other good Draught — but it was rejected.  Mr. Prince[3] no longer Clerk, but Mr. Turell[4] chose in his Room.

[1]Rev. Peter Clark of Danvers.

[2]Rev. Joshua Gee of Boston.

[3]Rev. Thomas Prince of Boston.

[4]Rev. Ebenezer Turell of Medford.