Month: May 1749

May 2, 1749

1749 May 2 (Tuesday).  Visited Mrs. Deborah Brigham who is yet ill.  P.M. Was Sent for by the Society at the Framing the design’d Meeting House, to go and pray with them as they were now going to lay the Groundsills of the House.  The persons who came with the message were Messrs. Biglo and Daniel Hardy.  I went and pray’d with them and after prayer I put them in mind of what I had Said to them on the Lords Day past.  N.B. a very Cold Wind — fear I took Cold.  Indeed my Heart was too Cold, at least was very difficulty brought to this Work.  I find Indeed a great deal of Wisdom and Grace to go through what is now called for.  O that God would grant that as the Day is So my Strength may be!  Finish’d planting.

May 3, 1749

1749 May 3 (Wednesday).  A.M. came Mr. Martyn and his Wife; Mr. Cushing also, and Mr. Stone and din’d with us.  After Dinner we all rode over to the Raising of the New Meeting House.  Mr. Barrett likewise came: and a great Concourse of people.  The Frame went up well; and through God’s great Goodness, Neither Life nor Limb lost.  The only Hurt I have heard of was by the Fall of a Board which graz’d a man’s forehead but Slightly.  But the Impudence of Young Men with the Young Women was with them very Shameless.  I was obliged to go and reprove several.  Reverend Mr. Cushing, Barrett, Martyn and Stone refresh’d themselves with me at Deacon Newtons.[1]  Mr. Cushing (when all the Timber was in place and the Frame compleated) Pray’d and gave Thanks.  After which we sang Ps. 13.10.13-16 and there was a plentiful Entertainment.  Mr. Barrett carved; Mr. Martyn Return’d Thanks after Supper.  When the Company drew off we repair’d again to Deacon Newtons.  N.B. Forbush brought a message from Mr. Frost[2] of Mill-River to desire me to change with him next Lords Day.  I Spake of it to the Ministers, and Mr. Barrett oppos’d it, without Mr. Frost would retract his having an Hand in ordaining Mr. Reed[3] of Framingham.  Mr. Martyn Seconded him so that I sent this return that I could not, but would be glad to see him and converse with him.

[1]Josiah Newton.

[2]The Reverend Amariah Frost (Harvard 1740), the minister of Milford, Mass., 1742-1792. Sibley, X, 494-496.

[3]The Reverend Solomon Reed of Framingham was a New-Light preacher.  Sibley, X, 398-400.

May 4, 1749

1749 May 4 (Thursday).  Daniel did not come to work today, many Watertown Friends of his being at his uncles.  Mr. Joseph Phillips of Oxford here and din’d with us.  P.M. Ebenezer went to help Neighbour Ebenezer Maynard.  David Forbush and Anna Whitney[1] married.  At Eve Daniel came and Sarah Harrington.  Nathan Maynard and Benjamin Whipple in the Name of their Society (together with Ebenezer) presented me Daniel as desirous to be admitted among them, but I was not ready for an Answer, he having been but a little while among us.

[1]The daughter of Nathaniel Whitney.

May 8, 1749

1749 May 8 (Monday).  Daniel Hastings sett out o’foot for Watertown.  A.M. Mr. Mede[1] here.  Lent Mr. Mead my Dult. Histor. both volumes.  P.M. I went over to Neighbour Elijah Rice’s, Tinneys,[2] and John Chamberlins — gather’d some Hair.

[1]James Mead, an uneducated teacher and preacher, founded a New-Light church in Middleborough in 1750.  Thomas Weston, History of the Town of Middleborough (Boston, 1906), p. 467, 475.

[2]Stephen Tenney.

May 9, 1749

1749 May 9 (Tuesday).  Five of my Cattle were driven by Mr. Francis Whipple etc. to Nichewoag.  Ebenezer assisted as far as Shrewsbury.  Ebenezer upon the Fences — middle Pasture.  P.M. I rode round by Mr. Cooks to Mr. Nurse’s, to Mr. Eliezer Rice’s (his wifes sister being lately dead) and to both the Whipples.  N.B. Old Mrs. Whipples Hair.

May 10, 1749

1749 May 10 (Wednesday).  Molly went to Cambridge with Mr. Beriah Rice and his son Asaph.  I accompany’d her as far as Mr. Daniel Warrins.  Ebenezer a.m. looking up the sheep.  P.M. he Carted Stones for Wall.  Dr. Crawford and his Brother with their wives here.  Sam Bumpso buying Land of Mr. Axtell, desires me to lend him money, which I did.  Mrs. Miller here again.  Reading Sir Isaac Newton on Daniel and the Revelations.

May 11, 1749

1749 May 11 (Thursday).  I rode over to the Northside.  Din’d at Mr. Jacob Rice’s — he not at home.  He was gone to Lancaster to fetch Brick for Mr. Martyn.  I went to Mr. James Balls to look of an Heiffer (which I bought) his price and which I agreed to was 20£ old Tenor.  N.B. David Bates, an Young Man, there, who was bit by a Rattle snake last Tuesday.  I was at Mr. Billings’s[1] and at Mr. Asa Bowkers where was Mr. Cushing.  Return’d at Evening.

[1]Thomas Billings.

May 14, 1749

1749 May 14 (Sunday).  Preach’d at Shrewsbury a. and p.m. on Jer. 8.4.5.  I read there a.m. Genesis 36, p.m. Mark 8.  Baptiz’d Two Children.  Job son of Deacon Miles,[1] and Submitt of Benjamin Maynard.  At Mr. Cushings Desire I acquainted the Church etc. with the design’d association Fast, and invited them to attend.  At Eve I went in to Colonel Wards[2] to Weep with him and his Family, he being bereaved of his son Ithamar, of about 28 or 9 years by the Small Pox.  He dy’d at the Pest House below Boston.  I return’d home.  Mr. Cushing was on if once the Master of the House be risen up and put to the Door, etc.

[1]Samuel Miles.

[2]Nahum Ward.  Ithamar, returning from sea, died unmarried on Governor’s Island in Boston harbor.  Ward, Shrewsbury, p. 459.

May 17, 1749

1749 May 17 (Wednesday).  My Kinsman and I rode to Shrewsbury, Mr. Stone with us — to the Association Fast on the Account of the Declension in Religion.  There were present Messrs. Loring, Cushing, Martyn, Stone, Seccomb, Smith, Davis, Mellen.  Mr. Cushing pray’d (in publick) and Mr. Mellen preach’d on John 13.17.  P.M. There came a Letter to the Association sign’d Edward Goddard, Bragg, Simon Goddard and Benjamin Goddard manifesting their Dissent to the Fast — but no Notice was taken of it by the Association.  N.B. Colonel Nahum Ward went to Boston the same Day — and said something to me of the ministers giving their people so little warning of the Fast — intimated also that he thought we had better lay the matter before our Churchs.  N.B. Mr. Maccarty admitted.  Mr. Swain[1] among us.  N.B. The Association voted to have the Report of the Committee which contains the sum and substance of the answer etc. to be inserted in the Book of their Minutes.  We return’d at Evening.

[1]Joseph Swain (Harvard 1744) later the minister of Wenham, 1750-1792.  Myron O. Allen, History of Wenham (Boston, l860), pp. 181-184.

May 22, 1749

1749 May 22 (Monday).  Was at Mr. Cooks, and likewise visited Neighbour Abner Newton under his Confinement and illness, and I din’d there — p.m. My Kinsman and Ebenezer rode over to Mr. Martyns.  Daniel is clearing the lower end of the South Orchard.  Mr. Samuel Williams and Mr. Charles Rice here.  Abigail Baker making Stays here.

May 23, 1749

1749 May 23 (Tuesday).  Ebenezer and Daniel began to weed.  My Kinsman rides Every Day; and has somewhat better Stomach but is often in Sinking Dejection.  A.M. frequently in some Trouble about young people’s disorderly night walking: have now Such a Number (My son Ebenezer, Daniel Hastings, Abigail Baker[1] and Sarah Harrington) of young persons in my own Family that it causes me some Perplexity when my own do walk contrary to the advice and Counsel which I am frequently giving them.

[1]The daughter of Edward Baker, Esq.

May 29, 1749

1749 May 29 (Monday).  My Kinsman Nathaniel (on Mr. James Bowman’s Horse) Set out with me for Boston.  We din’d at Mr. Farrars[1] in Framingham after a turn of Fishing in his River — lodg’d at Captain Tainters at Watertown — my Kinsman being much worn with the Journey thus far.

[1]Major John Farrar, the proprietor of a grist mill, held several town offices and in 1774 was named to Framingham’s committee of correspondence.  Temple, Framingham, pp. 544-545.

May 30, 1749

1749 May 30 (Tuesday).  Went into Boston.  Put up my Horse at Mrs. Keggells.[1]  N.B. We had Stopp’d a While at Cambridge, and gave Deacon Whittemore order to deliver my Chair to Benjamin Hastings of Watertown; which I understand since, he accordingly did.  Din’d at Mr. Proctors.[2]  Mr. Sweetzer has made me a new dark brown Wigg.  Besides the Hair I provided, it cost me £4.14.0, and Mr. Eaton a Bever Hatt, 12£.

[1]Mrs. Abel Keggell, the cousin of Mrs. Parkman.

[2]Samuel Procter.

May 31, 1749

1749 May 31 (Wednesday).  Mr. William Balch of Bradford preach’d the Election Sermon.  The Day exceeding Hot.  Din’d at Mr. Olivers — his Father and mother, and Brother and sister Lowden din’d there also.  P.M. at Convention.  Mr. Barnard[1] of Marblehead moderator.  The Report of a Committee appointed last year, to consider of a Fund for society for Propagating the Gospel among the Indians took up much of the Time and was adjourn’d.  Lodg’d at Brother Parkmans.

[1]The Reverend John Barnard.