Month: September 1749

1749 September 1 (Friday).  Old Mr. Rogers[1] came with an Earnest request to go and see his son William who Seems to be in a very bad Frame — yesterday would have made himself away by running into the Pond and drowning himself but his Brother John went at that juncture to the Pond to water his Horse, and prevented him.  He got loose also a second Time and ran into the Pond Waste deep but his Brother got him out, and with help led him up to his Fathers where he was watch’d all night by two Men.  I visited him accordingly and pray’d with him.  N.B. Mr. Ebenezer Chamberlins Wife met me in returning home, to give me some clearer account about what her Husband and Mr. Joslin had Said from her about its being so late when I went to Meeting the Sabbath before last: and Says it was what Captain Forbush’s wife told her.  Ebenezer and Thomas cutting Stalks — Thrashing Rye etc.  At Eve Lieutenant Tainter came, in the Name of the Committee to inform me that the new Meeting House would be So put in order by the Sabbath that they expect’d the Services to be perform’d there: and he, for himself desir’d that I would dine at His House on that Day — but I thank’d him and declin’d it.

[1]John Rogers.

1749 September 2 (Saturday).  Ebenezer and Thomas went to Mr. Abner Newtons to fetch a Load of Clay for an Oven.  Benjamin Tainter came up from Cambridge with my Chair and brought a Letter from Forbush that he got down well with Mrs. Grice but without sister Lydia Champney[1] whom I now hop’d for; and it was a great Disappointment that she did not come.  He brought me from I know not who a Considerable Box of Pipes.  N.B. Neighbour Hezekiah How here in much Frett about the Meeting House.

[1]Parkman’s sister-in-law.

1749 September 3 (Sunday).  This Day we first met in the New Meeting House.  Molly and I with Suse and Alex rode in the Chair, Thomas and Lucy rode upon the Horse, Ebenezer and Billy went o’foot — Thus eight of us got to Meeting.  In the Exercise us’d the Lords Prayer.  I read 1 King 8th Chapter, but (according to desire) expounded Genesis 49 which was read last Lords Day.  Sang Psalm 92.12 ad. fin.  Preach’d on Rev. 3.3.  Din’d at Edward Baker Esquire’s — but my Children all went home.  P.M. read and gave Expository remarks on Luke 3.  Sang Psalm 132.4 to the End of the 10th omitting the 16th.  Preach’d once More on Rev. 3.3.  Baptiz’d 3 Children of Mr. David Bathrick, and one of Mr. Eleazer Whitney.  O that we might have the Grace to review, hold fast, and repent!  We got home in good Season.  It grieves me that Such a Number of my near Neighbours were absent from Meeting.

1749 September 4 (Monday).  Master Minot[1] of Concord who preach’d yesterday at Upton here, with one Mr. Wheeler of Concord and with them Mr. Jonas Warrin of Upton.  Near Night came Mr. Woolly to put up my Cyder Mill.  Wrote to New Haven.

[1]Timothy Minot, a schoolmaster of Concord, and an occasional preacher.

1749 September 5 (Tuesday).  Blessed be the Lord who from Year to Year, both preserves me and loads me with his Benefits!  Vide Natal.  Mr. Woolley at work, with Ebenezer, putting up the Cyder Mill.  Mr. Cushing and Mr. Davis[1] came and we rode together to Southborough, Association Fast.  Mr. Loring, Mr. Smith and Mr. Millen were all that came besides the foremention’d.  I was oblig’d to preach a.m.  Text was Jer. 8.5.  P.M. Mr. Millen preach’d on Rom. 2.28.29.  A variety of Cases at Evening — Mr. Cushings relating to Dr. Smith, Mr. Loring about general Petitions for and against Church Meetings, etc.

[The following is from Parkman’s Natalitia, Sept. 5, 1749.]  I seem now to be growing old apace.  I am fill’d with grief and astonishment at the Swift, unavoidable Flight of my Time!  Alas!  Whether I look backward or forward I am thrown into no small Anguish of Heart.  As to my past Life, how empty and sinful has it been!  As to what is to come, I am amaz’d at the Apprehension of the Brevity and Uncertainty of it, as likewise what is like to be the Eternal Event!  O that I might be suitably affected!  and might indeed be ready for the work and will of God!  Our Association Fast on account of the Signs of Degeneracy among us, was this Day at Southborough; and I attended on it.  It was my place to preach on that Solemnity.  My Text was Jer. 8.4.5.  May the Lord Himself please to awaken us, and prevent our falling into a Perpetual Backsliding!

[1]The Reverend Joseph Davis of Holden.

1749 September 6 (Wednesday).  A.M. I return’d home, with the same Company that I had in going.  Mr. Woolley.

1749 September 7 (Thursday).  Mr. Woolley.  Old Mr. Garfield here to desire me to go to the Funeral of his son Jacobs Child.

1749 September 8 (Friday).  Mr. Woolley went home.  Mr. Millen here.  Ebenezer makes Cyder at the New Mill.

1749 September 9 (Saturday).  Visited Neighbour William Rogers — heard Mrs. Garfield was very bad, therefor[e] went forward and visited her nigh her End.  Return’d back to Mr. Cooks to have my Horse prepar’d for my Design’d Journey.  Whilst there, Mr. Minot came to me.  He din’d with us.  P.M. I rode to Upton.  Entertain’d at Captain Hazzletines.[1]

[1]John Hazeltine of Upton.

1749 September 10 (Sunday).  I preach’d at Upton a. and p.m. on Ps. 110.3.  Din’d at Captain Sadlers.  May God please to make it the Day of his power with my Soul!  and with all that hear me!  Call’d at Mr. Elijah Warrins — and at Mr. Jonas Childs at Evening.  Supp’d at Home.  Mr. Minot preach’d at Westborough on 2 Tim. 2.19, and 1 Cor. 14.1.  Mr. Minot din’d at Esquire Bakers.

1749 September 11 (Monday).  Mr. Minot left us.  Mr. Bucknam[1] going to Brookfield calls here and dines.  At the Funeral of Mr. Jacob Garfields wife.  Visited Neighbour Abner Newton.

[1]The Reverend Nathan Bucknam of East Medway.

1749 September 12 (Tuesday).  Molly and I rode in the Chair to Concord — din’d at Mr. John Weeks[1] at Marlborough and got to Mr. Minot’s seasonably — made a visit to Colonel Minot — but both my Daughter and I lodg’d at Mr. Timothys.  But my Principal Errand was with Mr. Gold the Sadler, to see whether he would take Thomas to perfect him in the Trade of Sadler.  He took it to Consideration of.

[1]A prominent citizen who later became a colonel.

1749 September 13 (Wednesday).  Mr. Minot very Courteous, accompaying me from place to place and particularly to Mr. Whitneys — where I bought Voetius’s Select Disputations,[1] 2 volumes for 25/ old Tenor.  Mr. Gold settles his Terms that Thomas must either live with him a Twelve month and pay 30£ old Tenor, or live with him 18 Months.  Din’d at Mr. Minots, call’d at Mr. Bliss’s.[2]  Was at Mr. Jotham Browns, and at Mr. Ebenezer Newtons in returning — got home, through God’s Goodness in Safety.

[1]Daniel Voet, Disputationem Selectarum Decima-Quartae (1656).  I have found no reference to an English translation.

[2]The Reverend Daniel Bliss of Concord.

1749 September 14 (Thursday).  Cathechiz’d at Mr. Josselyn’s.

1749 September 15 (Friday).  Rain’d hard.  Mrs. Bekky Gott[1] and Mrs. Bekky Williams[2] from Marlborough to visit us, and lodg’d here.

[1]The daughter of Dr. Benjamin Gott.

[2]The daughter of Colonel Abraham Williams.

1749 September 16 (Saturday).  The Young Ladys return’d.  Young Cattle out of the Woods.  Rode up to Grafton in Complyance with Mr. Hutchinsons Request, but I not having Sent him any word, I was oblig’d to ride up as far as Captain Lelands[1] before I saw him, and then to Mr. Holbrooks[2] before he to Westborough.  N.B. He lodg’d at Captain Baker’s: I at Mr. Holbrooks.

[1]James Leland.

[2]John Holbrook of Grafton.

1749 September 17 (Sunday).  Preach’d at Grafton on 2 Cor. 3.15.  P.M. 10.14.17.18.  Din’d at Mr. Isaac Harringtons.  Baptiz’d 4 Children — viz. of Mr. Abner Stow, Mr. John Sherman, Mr. Moses Eager, and Mr. Abijah Allen.  At Eve rode as far as to Mr. Winchesters, refresh’d there — afterwards Supp’d at Home.  May God be pleas’d to cause his word to make a deep Impression on both my own heart and the hearts of his people.  Mr. Hutchinson tarried — the Town of Grafton being to meet to Morrow to choose a Minister or rather to see whether it will concurr with the choice of the Church.

1749 September 18 (Monday).  Mr. Hutchinson to Mr. Martyns.  Mr. Bucknam here in his return from Mr. Hardings[1] Ordination.  P.M. I went to Proprietors Meeting at Marlborough with a plot of 13 1/4 acres, which lyes South East of our new Meeting House — which they granted: and I left it with Colonel Williams to be recorded.  At Mr. Smiths in my return home.

[1]The Reverend Elisha Harding (Harvard 1745), the minister of Brookfield, 1749-1755.

1749 September 19 (Tuesday).  Took my Son Thomas with me in my Chair, to Concord.  We din’d at Deacon Rice’s and were entertain’d Courteously and handsomely.  Call’d at Mr. Jotham Browns, Thomas having much longing after them.  We went to Mr. Goolds, and, by the Assistance of Mr. Minot with whom they were lodg’d, enter’d into Articles of Agreement with said Gould — and after Several visits in the Neighborhood, I return’d to Mr. Goolds, and tarried with them all Night.

1749 September 20 (Wednesday).  Set out from Concord for Boston.  Call’d at old Mr. Hancocks[1] at Lexington, but only the old Lady at Home.  Thence to Cambridge and din’d at Deacon Whittemores[2] — thence to Boston.  N.B. a Cold Night.  Bells rung for Fire.  The Chief noise in Boston is about the Money lately come in to re-emburse for Charge of Cape Briton.

[1]The Reverend John Hancock.

[2]Samuel Whittemore.

1749 September 21 (Thursday).  Mr. Cowell[1] presented a black Hickery or Walnutt Stick.  My late Kinsman John Parkmans Widow made me a Present of her late Husbands Rocculo,[2] which was a little the worse for Wear.  Mr. John Breck presented me Εικωυ Βασιλικη Δεμτερα, and Mr. Edwards of Northampton Sent me by Mr. Bromfield, his Book against his Grandfather.[3]  I beg grace to be truely Thankfull to God for so many favours.  Sister Lydia Champney rode with me to Cambridge — but I lodg’d in sister Lydia’s Chamber.

[1]Peam Cowell.

[2]The roquelaure was a cloak-like garment often of bright and gay colors.  The name was spelled and misspelled in a bewildering number of ways.  “Roculo” was one variant.  See Alice M. Earle, Two Centuries of Costume in America (New York, 1910), pp. 264-265.

[3]Jonathan Edwards, An Humble Inquiry into the Rules of the Word of God, Concerning the Qualifications Requisite to a Complete Standing and Full Communion with the Visible Christian Church (Boston, 1749).  This was an effort to counteract the Halfway Covenant
and relative liberalism of his maternal grandfather, the Reverend Solomon Stoddard of Northampton.

1749 September 22 (Friday).  We Set out early (Sister Lydia and I in my Chair) from Cambridge.  Din’d at old Mr. Livermore’s at Weston.  My Mare very Dull — very hardly expected that She would hold home, but we arriv’d in Safety at Evening.

1749 September 23 (Saturday).  [No entry.]

1749 September 24 (Sunday).  Somewhat rainy and raw Cold Air.  The Meeting House too open, difficult to undergoe it.  Read Exod. 2.  Preach’d on Eccl. 5.1.  Din’d at Esq. Bakers.  P.M. read Luke 6, and preach’d on Luke 6.31, repeating my Exposition on the parallell place in Matthew.  Daniel Hastings here.

1749 September 25 (Monday).  Rain.  The precinct by their Committee Sold the old meeting House Frame.

1749 September 26 (Tuesday).  Mr. Martyn I hear is gone to Boston with his wife to see his mother who is ill.  I visited Mr. Tomlin[1] who seems to be near his End.  Daniel Hastings kill’d a Steer for me.  He left us and return’d to Watertown

[1]Hezekiah Tomlin.

1749 September 27 (Wednesday).  Ebenezer makes Cyder — getts in Rowing — I assisted him — Mrs. Mary Sherman.

1749 September 28 (Thursday).  Captain Maynard came to desire me to go to Mr. Tomlins who is still living.  At Eve Mr. Thaddeus Gale here to discourse with me about his joining to the Church.

1749 September 29 (Friday).  Mr. Tomlin dy’d last night.  He was an innocent harmless man, and seriously inclin’d, but was Somewhat liable to be discomposed in his reason, and doubted much of his Sincerity and Faith.  The Lord Sanctify his holy Dispensation for our awakening and quickening!

1749 September 30 (Saturday).  Mr. Tomlin bury’d.  Receiv’d a Letter from the first Church in Sutton to assist in Council there on the 17th of next Month.  It was deliver’d by Lieutenant Peres Rice.[1]

[1]Formerly of Westborough, but now a resident of Sutton.