Month: March 1752

1752 March 1 (Sunday).  We begin not only with a Sabbath but a Sacrament day.  I read the last chapter of Numbers.  Preached on John 1.41, a. and p.m.  It was a rainy day and but few women at communion.  P.M. read 1 Cor. 10.  Oh that God would please to bless these happy seasons to all our Souls — to my own in particular!  Deacon Forbush[1] and Mr. Thomas Kendal[2] dined with us.  Deacon Burnap[3] of Hopkinton with us, Mr. Barrett[4] not well.

[1]Jonathan Forbush.

[2]Thomas Kendall of Suffield, Conn., had married Susanna Tainter of Westborough.

[3]Jonathan Burnap.

[4]Samuel Barrett of Hopkinton.

1752 March 2 (Monday).  Town Meeting.  I was at Captain Maynard’s a.m. but returned seasonably to pray with the freeholders at their assembly.  Captain Forbush and Mr. Grout were their messengers.  A great deal of company at my house all p.m. and Eve — among the rest Mr. Joshua Townsend[1] — who was extremely full of Talk, and unmannerly with his Hatt, which since he us’d to be our Schoolmaster I took the more Notice of and as decently as I could, hinted to him.  N.B. Reckon’d with Messrs. How and Daniel Garfield, who bought a steer of me last fall.  Mr. Grow here and paid me so much in Money and Notes as amounted to above 68£ Old Tenor.  Sam Bumpso with Jonathan Grout and Abner Rice clear’d part of a.m.

[1]See Parkman Diary, Dec. 12, 1726.

1752 March 3 (Tuesday).  Rainy.  Mr. Forbush here from Brookfield.

1752 March 4 (Wednesday).  I rode to Mr. Stones; I went by the way of Deacon Matthias Rice’s,[1] who is confin’d by Illness; is doubtless delirious but Shews great Distress of Mind.  I pray’d with him.  It rain’d yet I proceeded to Southborough, din’d at Mr. Stones.  Preach’d his Lecture on Rom. 14.8.  I return’d (in the Rain) at Eve.  Call’d at Mr. Amsdens.  N.B. Exceeding hollow and miry Roads.

[1]Of Marlborough.

1752 March 5 (Thursday).  Am Reading old Mr. Niles of Braintree against Mr. Briant.[1]

[1]Samuel Niles, A Vindication of Divers Important Gospel-Doctrines . . . against the Injurious Reflections and Misrepresentations . . . of the Rev. Lemuel Briant’s (Boston, 1752).

1752 March 6 (Friday).  The Adjournment of Town-meeting brought much Company and Interruptions Particularly Mr. Kelly[1] of Hopkinton (of the Church of England) here.  Mr. Bezeleel Eager brought Me (from Mr. Davis[2] of Holden) Mr. John Taylor of Original Sin.[3]  At Eve came Mr. Grout, Lieutenant Tainter and Mr. Samuel Harrington, who propose to assist me in getting Timber for a Barn, also to help me in breaking up Land for an Orchard.

[1]Richard Kelley.

[2]Joseph Davis.

[3]The Scripture Doctrine of Original Sin Proposed to Free and Candid Examination (London, 1740).  There were subsequent English editions.

1752 March 7 (Saturday).  [No entry.]

1752 March 8 (Sunday).  Read Deut. I, and 1 Cor. 11.  Text a.m. Rom. 6.21.  P.M. Rev. 2.2 — hope there were Some good Impressions: but all is with God.

1752 March 9 (Monday).  Went in the Morning to t’other House.  Thence to Mr. Francis Whipples to See him under his broken Bones — but they were newly sett, and he was asleep, I refus’d to have him ‘waked.  I was at Mr. James Maynards but he was not at home.  P.M. Pray’d at the Precinct Meeting.  Private Baptism was desir’d for an infant Child of Mr. Solomon Woods — I took the opportunity of the people’s being together to go into their Meeting and consulted (such of the Church as were there) upon it.  There appeared an hearty Concurrence.  I propose tomorrow, 11 a.m. to do it.  N.B. Captain Maynard here and talks with me about buying my old place.

1752 March 10 (Tuesday).  A.M. very cold.  Catechiz’d at the Meeting House.  27 Males: 15 Girls.  Rode to Mr. Woods after Catechizing and din’d there, the Child very dangerously ill.  P.M. in Presence of a number of the Church and others I Baptiz’d it — the Name was Patience.  I introduc’d the administration with Some short Exercise on the Work and Duty of a Parent on such Occasion — and after the Exercise we sung part of the 143 Ps.  Concluded with the Blessing.  Artemas Ward Esquire there and came home with me.  It Snow’d very Hard and the Ground soon cover’d.  Wrote by Esquire Wards[1] Brother Thomas Trowbridge[2] of Groton, to John Stevens Esquire of Townsend about the Plott of Lott Land.

[1]The future major general and commander-in-chief.

[2]Artemas Ward married Sarah, the daughter of the Reverend Caleb Trowbridge of Groton, July 31, 1750.

1752 March 11 (Wednesday).  Mr. Forbush from Waltham, here; and wants immediate advice about Brookfield.

1752 March 12 (Thursday).  In the Morning having thought of Mr. Forbush’s Case with regard to Brookfield Proposals, I rode over to Mr. Martyns whither he was gone to meet a Brookfield Messenger, Mr. Cutter; and I din’d there.  Mr. Forbush prepar’d his answer, which had some Conditions inserted respecting Wood and Sallery — and he sent it by Mr. Cutter.  P.M. I rode to Marlborough accompany’d by Forbush who is returning to Waltham.  I pay’d Mr. Felton 22£ 5 shillings old Tenor and obtain’d of Mr. Ephraim How to pay him the rest, as he Should want it.  I return’d home by Deacon Matthias Rice’s who is grown much better.

1752 March 13 (Friday).  Mr. Thomas Axtell here, and with him Mr. Aaron Hardy.  Mr. Axtell here many Hours — he din’d here — with much Ado we came to an agreement.  I engag’d him 4 Bushels of Indian Corn for what he had given my Piggs.  At Eve I rode to See Mr. Moses Warrins Wife in her low Condition and apprehended to be dying — but she reviv’d.  N.B. had Widow Newtons Mare.  Lieutenant Tainter from Boston, when I got home.

1752 March 14 (Saturday).  Impossible for me to prepare Two Sermons this Week, have so many Impediments and Interruptions.  My mind much exercis’d with it.

1752 March 15 (Sunday).  Deut. 2.  Read a.m. and preach’d on Rom. 6.21.  P.M. read 1 Cor. 12.  Preach’d on the Death of Louisa Queen of Denmark, King George’s Youngest Daughter and improv’d Sermon on Ps. 39.8.  N.B. Widow Child din’d here.

1752 March 16 (Monday).  The Reverend Mr. Wellman[1] and Mr. Amos Case din’d here.  Sent by Mr. Wellman to Mr. Prince at Boston, and by Mr. Case to Mr. Wilkins[2] of Souhegan.

[1]James Wellman of Millbury.

[2]Daniel Greenwood, of the north parish of Sutton.  [Additional note: This footnote might refer to the “Mr. Greenwood” in the entry for Mar. 21.]

1752 March 17 (Tuesday).  Storm of Rain and Wind.

1752 March 18 (Wednesday).  Storm continues — increases — a considerable Snow — and very Cold.

1752 March 19 (Thursday).  Forbush from Waltham again, and wants further Advice.  P.M. I preached to Young People from Mat. 18, number 19, 20.  At Eve Mr. Abijah Gale here.

1752 March 20 (Friday).  Sent to Boston by Mr. Jonas Bond of Sutton; and bought 7 Yards Tow Cloth of him.  P.M. Mr. Noah How and his wife here to be examin’d — but I am oblig’d in Conscience to put them by and request them Still to take further Pains.  We hear that the Small Pox greatly Spreads in Boston.

1752 March 21 (Saturday).  Snow’d a.m.  Rain’d p.m. but at 3 p.m. rode to North Sutton.  N.B. Ebenezer and William went to Mr. Daniel Matthews with our Barley to be Malted.  N.B. Mr. Greenwood of Sutton rode with me at Evening to Mr. Wellman’s.

1752 March 22 (Sunday).  I preach’d there on Rom. 8.7.  Mr. Minott[1] Schoolmaster din’d with me.  At Eve I rode up to See my Kinswoman Mrs. Fuller[2] who through God’s Goodness is yet alive and was able to be at Meeting p.m.  There came Mr. Holman and Mr. Fish — they follow’d me with Questions for the Explanation of the Sacred Scriptures till 10 o’clock.  I lodg’d at Cousen Trasks,[3] and Master Minott with me.  N.B. No Proclamations till to Day.  I baptiz’d a Child of William Wait.  N.B. Mr. Wellman preach’d at Westborough on Gen. 19.14, and Ps. 19.11.

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

[2]Mrs. Jonathan Fuller.

[3]Samuel Trask was an adopted son of Jonathan Fuller of Sutton.  Benedict and Tracy, Sutton, p. 735.

1752 March 23 (Monday).  My Kindred full of kind Endearments.  But we must part.  My Kinsman Trask rode with me to Grafton.  I proceeded to Mr. Hutchinsons where was Mr. Wellman and we din’d together.  In returning home I made a Visit at Mr. Moses Warrins, whose wife is low and weak yet, but is somewhat better.  When I came home understood that Captain Witt and Mr. Barns of Brookfield had been here to see Mr. Forbush but he was not here.  They seem determin’d to have him at Brookfield.  N.B. Mr. Wellman tells me that Cousen Nat Parkmans Wife at Boston has the small pox.

1752 March 24 (Tuesday).  My Wife went to t’other House and return’d at Eve.  Captain Witt etc. here again but it still happens to be when I am absent.  Mr. Forbush comes to me still to advise with me in the weighty Case before him: For Brookfield do not accept his Conditions, but do make further proposals to him, which are such as make the Matter no better than it was before.

1752 March 25 (Wednesday).  Dr. Samuel Gardner to see us (having lodg’d at t’other House) and din’d here.  We hear the Small Pox So spreads that they begin to inoculate in Boston.  May God in infinite Mercy Shew his Compassion to the Distress’d Town.

1752 March 26 (Thursday).  Publick Fast on occasion both of the Small Pox and the Season.  I preach’d a.m. on 2 Sam. 24.14.  In my preparations I Spent my Time upon the forenoon sermon.  P.M. preach’d on Zech. 12.10, to page 7, and made Some Additions according to the Business of the Day.  A rainy Day, yet considerable many People out: I wish it might be to Some good Purpose.  N.B. Not only Mr. Seth Rice went out of Meeting from the forenoon sermon, but Mr. Robert Bradish also.  N.B. My Daughter Lucy has stay’d at home from Public Worship several Days — she has now an ague in her Face, and has been pritty much troubl’d with it.

1752 March 27 (Friday).  Exceeding rainy Day.

1752 March 28 (Saturday).  Mrs. Lucy Bowker here a.m.  Mr. Winchester from Boston and brings us account that now the Small Pox prevails there very much.  I am dissatisfy’d with Mr. Prince’s misimprovement of the Materials etc. which I Sent him about Mechoachan.[1]

[1]Sometimes spelled mechoacanna.  Any of several plants of the morning-glory family with roots used as cathartics.

1752 March 29 (Sunday).  Read Deut. 3 and 1 Cor. 13.  Preach’d on Rom. 6.21, last Clause, a. and p.m.

1752 March 30 (Monday).  Prepar’d Something in reply to Benevolentius in the last Boston Gazette.[1]

[1]The Boston Gazette or Weekly Journal, Dec. 17 and Dec. 24, 1751, contained an article entitled “The Cure of Cancers,” taken from the Gentleman’s Magazine for July, 1751.  Parkman became involved in a dispute over the nature of phytolacca, poke-weed, and mechoacan.  A note from Parkman appeared in the issue of Feb. 18, 1752, in which the Westborough minister asserted “That at New Haven he made a Business of discoursing with Capt. Dickerman; who told him, it was Mechoacan that he used for his Cancer in his Cheek.”  Another correspondent, “Benevolentius,” argued that Parkman was mistaken.  Boston Gazette, March 24, 1752.  The March 31 issue of the paper did not contain Parkman’s response and there are no known copies of the next 2 issues.

1752 March 31 (Tuesday).  Kill’d a young Sow to Send to Boston, but sold it to Mr. John Beeton, Smith; weigh’d 152.  Mr. Beeton to Boston.  Sent by him to invite Mr. Stoddard to come up to us this Small Pox Time.  Sent by Mr. Richard Kelly the like to Brother Samuels Children and to Dr. Parkmans Widow — to this last because: She had writ to my Daughter Molly that she had rather come here than go to Weymouth.  And Sent a Letter to Mr. Kneeland, for the Press, — in Vindication of Captain Dickerman.