Month: April 1754

1754 April 1 (Monday).  Richard Kelly works here.  Noah Forbush here still at Shooework.  Ebenezer plough’d [in my Garden and split] the Indian Hills at my New Barn — and carry’d out some Muck from the stables.  P.M. Mr. Abraham Smith and his Brother Francis Wheeler here.  Mr. Nathaniel Green Coroner, with an Assistant here after Mr. Smith.  Mr. Smith and I return our writings which had past and reciprocally burn our Agreement and give mutually Full Discharge.  Mr. Green I suppose arrested or seiz’d him and they went all off together.  I fear the Event with poor Smith.  The Lord pitty, convince and forgive him!  and may I be in a proper Frame towards him.  May God forgive me wherein I have offended in my trading with him!

1754 April 2 (Tuesday).  My wife went over to t’other House.  Mr. Smith having given I know not what Satisfaction to the Officer, Green, is there till this Morning probably by reason of Mrs. Smiths being so near her Time, growing ill last night they had the midwife:  But when they had din’d they all rode away — viz. Mr. Smith and wife, and Child, and her Brother Francis Wheeler, for Sudbury.  Richard Kelly setts up, and mends, Fence at the Island, and prepar’d Beds in the Garden two long Beds for Hotspur Peas.  Mr. Simon Tainter junior, who fell into a Fit yesterday, is greatly recover’d to Day.

1754 April 3 (Wednesday).  Wrote to Mr. Hutchinson[1] to change next Sabbath.

[1]Aaron Hutchinson of Grafton.

1754 April 4 (Thursday).  Public Fast.  A.M. on Jer. 12.2.  P.M. on Ez. 18.30, latter part.  Improv’d Some parts of Sermon on Jer. 31.18, namely from page 6 to 15.

1754 April 5 (Friday).  I visited Mrs. Williams (Mr. Samuels wife) who has of late lost a number of Relations, and some of them very near and dear to her, at Sherbourn, by the mortal fever that has rag’d among them.  N.B. Mr. Abraham Smith at the other House to answer to Mr. Ebenezer Rice, sheriff.  He lodg’d (as I heard) at Lieutenant Bruce’s.  N.B. Mr. Ephraim Bruce here, and tells me that Mr. Smith had told Such Things at their House, as if true, he Should be greatly Disaffected to me for:  but when I came to understand what they were, it was even astonishing that ever a professing Christian Should pervert and misrepresent the Truth so.  Particularly that when our Agreement to throw up all our Bargain, was So clear, and in presence of his Brother Wheeler as well as other he Should so exceedingly misrepresent the plain and express’d Terms thereof.  Thus when it was propos’d that we Should throw up all, it was expressly mention’d that a Bag of Feathers which he sent to my Daughter Forbush (of 50£ weight at 7/6 old Tenor per pound, but was thrown in for 10£ in our Bargain) should be given in — and this was the least he could do Since he lay expos’d to an action in Law for Breach of Covenant and for Dammages by his presumptiousness coming into my House; Yet Mr. Smith tells ‘em at Bruce’s that this was not mention’d till after Signing the mutual Discharges; and that though he told me he had forgot that Article, yet I was so unfair and hard as to refuse to Consider it.

1754 April 6 (Saturday).  Receiv’d an insulting Letter from Mr. Smith, but God grant me Wisdom, Meekness and Patience.  I rode to Grafton.  Mr. Hutchinson in his New House, though very unfinish’d.

1754 April 7 (Sunday).  Preach’d at Grafton a. and p.m. on Ps. 51.11.

1754 April 8 (Monday).  Captain Maynard and Lieutenant Bruce run the North Line of the Island, and set up Stakes.

1754 April 9 (Tuesday).  Receiv’d a joyful Letter from my son Forbush that on the Night before last (the night after the 7th) my Daughter Mary was delivered of a Daughter, and both Mother and Child well.  All glory be to God our Saviour and Deliverer.  May He perfect begun Mercy!  Richard Kelly at work again on John Dunlops Account.  He setts up the Fence on the Line before mention’d.  My Wife to Mr. Harringtons and brought seven Dollars which I borrow of him to pay the Reverend Mr. Stone for Newton Meadow.

1754 April 10 (Wednesday).  Kelly at work here:  and finishes for John Dunlop.  Lieutenant Forbush Setts out 90 Apple Trees South west of the Barn — 70 out of my own Nursery and 20 from Mr. Whitney.  Showery p.m.  P.M. a Cow which Ebenezer had of Mr. Abraham Knowlton and which I have had to keep a while, was Mir’d in the Swamp which I took up a few Years ago, near the Cedar Swamps; but we got her out again alive.  Before Welch[1] in Boston Jayl is hang’d (the Day for his Execution being tomorrow) another barbarous Murder is Committed, and by another Irishman.[2]

[1]William Welch, also known as George Kelly, was tried and convicted of the murder of Darby O’Brien “in November last by stabbing him in the Belly.” The Boston Weekly News-Letter, March 14, 1754.  Welch was executed in Boston, April 11, 1754.

[2]“Last Saturday in the Afternoon Two Men at the South End having some Dispute about cording Wood on a Wharf, one of them struck the other on the Head with one of the Sticks, so that he fell down Speechless and expired soon after.  The Man that gave the Blow surrender’d himself up to Justice, and, after Examination, was committed to Prison: The Jury of Inquest have found it wilful Murder.”  The Boston Weekly News-Letter, April 11, 1754.

1754 April 11 (Thursday).  Rode to Mr. Daniel Mathis’s to a Fast kept there on Account of his Sciatica and Discouragements.  Mr. Stone[1] was there, but no Minister besides.  I preach’d a.m. on Ps. 51.11, and pray’d both before and after Sermons.  Left Mr. Stone to carry on the remaining Exercises:  being oblig’d myself to hasten to my own Catechetical Exercises to Young Men.  About 24 persons attended:  I deliver’d Number 5 which is from page 17 to 22.

[1]Nathan Stone of Southborough.

1754 April 12 (Friday).  To my great Sorrow Mr. Abraham Smiths Goods which Mr. Ebenezer Rice seiz’d on an Execution, were sold at Vendue at Captain Maynards.  Billy work’d part of the Day at Mr. Nurse’s.

1754 April 13 (Saturday).  Mr. Moses Morse plough’d my Stubble at the Island, with 4 Oxen and his large Plough.  At Eve my Kinsman Mr. Daniel Needham[1] came from Norwich and is travelling to Salem.  He is much out of Health.

[1]Parkman’s oldest sister, Mary, had married Daniel Needham.

1754 April 14 (Sunday).  Read Judg. 18.  Preach’d on Ez. 18.30, repeating with alterations and additions Sermon on Jer. 31, from page 15 to the End.  P.M. Read Jam. 5, preach’d on 1 Thess. 4.17, last Clause, and chiefly made use of Sermon on Ps. 17, ult.  The Happiness of Heaven from the Company:  Especially of the glorious God Himself — from page 73 to 82.  The Reason of my using old sermons to Day (though I made great Alterations) was I was preparing on a difficult Text, viz. Rom. 5.12, and by means of many Interruptions as well as the Subject I could not accomplish my Preparations.  N.B. My Kinsman was so ill that he went not to Meeting at all.

1754 April 15 (Monday).  Mr. Nathan Maynard plough’d my Island stubble with Mr. Nurse’s and his own Oxen.  My Kinsman still but poorly, but behaves as a Christian.  Sent his Horse to Mr. Bathericks to be kept.

1754 April 16 (Tuesday).  My Kinsman goes on his Journey.  Rode to Shrewsbury Ministers Meeting at Mr. Cushings.  Mr. Stone, Morse, Mccarty,[1] Buckminster,[2] and Davis[3] there.  Mr. Buckminster the Concio on 2 Cor. 2.15.16.  Mr. Martyn not there to Day.  Mr. John Brighams wife came to us.

[1]Thaddeus Maccarty of Worcester.

[2]Joseph Buckminster of Rutland.

[3]Joseph Davis of Holden.

1754 April 17 (Wednesday).  Mr. Martyn and Mr. Smith came to Association.  Mr. Davis preach’d on 1 Cor. 16.13.  We went in a Body to see Colonel Ward,[1] at his request, he being in a low State of Health.  I pray’d with him.  His Daughter also ill.  Mr. Millen[2] my Company home, but he goes to Hopkinton.  Mr. John Child and his Lad and Dr. Jenison lodge.  I Sent my Mare to Captain Bakers and Dr. Jenisons[3] to Deacon Newtons.

[1]Justice Nahum Ward of Shrewsbury died a few weeks later, May 7, 1754.

[2]The Reverend John Mellen of Sterling.

[3]William Jennison, who did not have a college education, studied medicine with Dr. Stanton Prentice of Lancaster.  He began to practice medicine in Mendon in May, 1753, but “afterwards engaged in trade.”  Bond, Watertown, II, 802.

1754 April 18 (Thursday).  Mr. Child glazes my sons shop.  Dr. Jenison to Leicester.  Lieutenant Hezekiah Ward din’d.  P.M. Mrs. Molly Martyn.  Unusual Cold Weather.

1754 April 19 (Friday).  Exceeding Cold.  Ebenezer’s weak Cow brings a Calf.  The Cold is more Severe, and the Ice thicker than I think I have ever known it.

1754 April 20 (Saturday).  The Weather moderated considerably, yet ‘tis Cold.  An unusual Time!  Mr. Greenwood[1] of Sutton, from the General Court calls and takes the Journals of the House of Representatives which he had lent me; and acquaints me with the proceedings of the Court.

[1]Daniel Greenwood.  Benedict and Tracy, Sutton, p. 653.

1754 April 21 (Sunday).  Read Judg. 19.  Preach’d a. and p.m. on Rom. 5.12.  Read p.m. 1 Pet. 1.  Acquainted the Congregation that I perceiv’d it was the mind of those I had Convers’d with that it is not adviseable to have among us, a public Contribution for Mr. Hill of Shrewsbury (who was burnt out and whose Request was read some Sabbaths ago) not only because of our Circumstances here, but Mr. Hill has receiv’d pritty full Supplys; and it is not expected from us, all Things considered.  But yet if any persons are still So inclined as to Contribute Money or Necessarys of Life, they may use their Discretion.

1754 April 22 (Monday).  Thomas rides to Hopkinton upon my Mare.  He desires to use some severity with Mr. Israel Walker who keeps him out of his Money from one Year to another.  He was to have return’d the same Day but did not.

1754 April 23 (Tuesday).  Thomas return’d — does nothing with Mr. Walker.

1754 April 24 (Wednesday).  My wife makes a Visit to Mr. Martyns p.m. and return’d at Eve.

1754 April 25 (Thursday).  Mr. Barrett[1] preach’d my Lecture of Ps. 24.8.  N.B. Captain Wood[2] came with him, who also, and Dr. Brigham of Marlborough din’d with us.

[1]The Reverend Samuel Barrett of Hopkinton.

[2]John Wood.

1754 April 26 (Friday).  Mr. Jacob Foster here in his Way to Brookfield.  Alpheus Newton disquieted with my Sheep.

1754 April 27 (Saturday).  Trouble with my Creatures breaking in to Neighbour’s Meadows.

1754 April 28 (Sunday).  Read Judg. 20 to number 25.  Preach’d on 1 Cor. 15.24.27.28, a. and p.m.  P.M. read 1 Pet. 2.  May God pardon our sins and graciously accept us!  My Neighbour Williams’s Wife ill of the Fever (as it is Suppos’d) which so many of her Relations have dy’d of at Sherbourn.

1754 April 29 (Monday).  Thomas help’d me at the Garden a.m.  Catechiz’d Children at the Meeting House both a. and p.m.  Visited Mrs. Williams in the Morning and prayed with her.  Was at t’other House at Eve.  Gave Lieutenant Maynard a Note to Mr. Bigelow of 8£ Lawfull Money.  Mr. Foster came back from Brookfield but goes to his Brother Twitchells to lodge.  N.B. We were almost wholly out of Hay.

1754 April 30 (Tuesday).  Mr. Foster came here and rode with me to Mr. Jonas Brighams who moves a Barn from the East side of the Road to the back of his House.