Month: May 1754

May 2, 1754

1754 May 2 (Thursday).  I preach’d at Lieutenant Tainters, by his Desire, the sermon and on the Text I preach’d from when Neighbour Newtons House was burnt, viz. Lam. 3.22.23.  My wife went with me.  Before I got home Mr. Eleazer Williams meets with an Horse to Visit his Mother.  I went and pray’d with her; she is hastening away apace, and was Sensible.  Discours’d like a good Christian.  Gave her Testimony to the Truth of the Christian Religion and to the Expediency and usefulness of waiting upon divine Ordinances.  Mr. Williams desir’d me to return again in the Morning —

May 3, 1754

1754 May 3 (Friday).  Which I did — but his Wife was a Corps laid out.  She departed after Day break this Morning.  Mr. Eleazer Whitney brought me forty Rails, ten of them being beyond the Number I expected, and not Splic’d.  Still exceeding dry Weather.  Mr. John Freeland Taylor makes a Coat of Blue Broad Cloth for Thomas.  This Day is a week since Mrs. Williams was confin’d — She was at Lecture yesterday was Sennight.

May 5, 1754

1754 May 5 (Sunday).  I have been preparing upon the Doctrine of Original Sin, comparing Mr. John Taylor,[1] Dr. Watts (Ruin and Recovery),[2] Turrettine,[3] Van Mast., Mr. Willard[4] etc. and cannot finish in season what I propos’d.  Therefore on this Consideration and on Consideration of the Extraordinary Drought preach’d a.m. on Jer 14.22 and p.m. on Occasion of the Death of Mrs. Williams and another of Mr. Nathaniel Whitneys Brothers and [sic] I preach’d on Job 14.14.  The public Reading was Judg. 20, from number 26, a.m. and p.m. was 1 Pet. 3.

[1]John Taylor, The Scripture Doctrine of Original Sin Proposed to Free and Candid Examination (London, 1740).  Other editions followed.

[2]Isaac Watts, “The Ruin and Recovery of Mankind,” Discourses, Essays, and Tracts on Various Subjects, VI (London, 1753), 177-320.  The Ruin and Recovery evidently did not appear as a separate imprint.

[3]This was probably Francisus Turretinus, Compendium Theologiae Didactico-Elencticae (Amsterdam, 1695).  Parkman owned this volume.  See Diary, Nov. 21, 1747.

[4]Samuel Willard, D.D., minister of the Old South Church and Vice-President of Harvard College, was the author of numerous works.  The editor has not discovered a work with reference to original sin in the title.  Many of Willard’s writings were collected by Joseph Sewall and Thomas Prince and published as A Compleat Body of Divinity in Two Hundred and Fifty Expository Lectures (Boston, 1726).

May 6, 1754

1754 May 6 (Monday).  Here the Woods at Wachusett are much on Fire in this terrible Drought, and ‘tis thought they approach nearer.  The burnt leaves by means of the strong Winds reach even hither.  Mr. Jonas Twitchell works for me, carrying out Dung — my sons Ebenezer and Thomas also hard at it.  Have Ebenezers Cart and Oxen and my Mare for the Team: and borrow Deacon Newtons Cart.  Mr. Bigelow and Timothy Warrin here at Evening.  Mr. John Freeland finishes Thomas’s Coat and goes home.

May 10, 1754

1754 May 10 (Friday).  Ebenezer’s Mare which I have now the Care of, is kept at Mr. Bonds whilst Ebenezer has mine to work — that I may help him what I can.  His Father Harrington here.  Lucy came from Brookfield with Mr. Baldwin last night.  I rode up to Shrewsbury to the Funeral of Colonel Nahum Ward.  A very great number of people attended — many Gentlemen from Neighbouring Towns — except Ministers, there being no Minister from the Neighbouring Towns or Parishes but my Self.  Mrs. Patty in a low Condition.  I supp’d with the Bearers and other Gentlemen at the Widows.  Justice Baker and Lieutenant Fay my Company home.  N.B. We had a very refreshing Rain gently distill’d most of the Afternoon.  A Seasonable Blessing this exceeding dry time.

May 15, 1754

1754 May 15 (Wednesday).  Mr. Hezekiah Pratt plough’d at the Island.  I was at t’other House.  Ebenezer has begun to plant one piece.  I was at Mr. David Maynards with old Mr. Green.  N.B. I wrote to Colonel Chandler concerning my Collection of Poems and sent him the Paper of Subscriptions.[1]  Wrote also to Mr. Forbush of Brookfield.  These were sent by Elisha Jones.  Mr. Baldwin and John Woods begin to work at the Meeting House.  They undertake the Pulpit in the first place.  Frequent Showers of Rain, rendering it a wonderful season, thanks be to God!  O that Grace might Spring in our Hearts!  Mr. Nathaniel Whitney here and seems very Calm.  I read him a paper containing Several Offers which I make him.  To which he makes me no Reply.

[1]Parkman’s hopes of publication of his poems, which have been lost, never did materialize.  [Additional note: Parkman proposed “a Collection of the most ingenious celebrated English Poems, collected from divers Poets of the greatest Fame”; Boston Gazette, July 24, 1753.  Parkman’s Commonplace Book (Massachusetts Historical Society), 44, contains a list of poems that, while undated and appearing between copies of letters dated 1779, probably represents the poems that he hoped to have printed in the early 1750s.]

May 16, 1754

1754 May 16 (Thursday).  Showery this Morning also.  Lucy lodg’d at t’other House.  I went into the Neighbourhood to get somebody to plough or harrow my Ground, but without Success.  I was at Mr. Daniel Warrins — but he offer’d a Bushel of Indian Corn.  N.B. I had din’d at Lieutenant Tainters with Master Hezekiah Coolidge[1] who came the Day before Yesterday to keep School, and keeps at the School House.  Mr. Baldwin here at Eve, and asks Leave to Spend a little Time with my Daughter Lucy.

[1](Harvard 1750). He was the son of a tavernkeeper and selectman of Sherborn.  At Harvard, Coolidge had been punished for fighting, card-playing, and gambling.  After making his humble confession and graduating, he kept the Roxbury Grammar School for a time.  At Westborough he frequented taverns and gambled, and was soon dismissed from the school.  Sibley, XII, 539-540.

May 20, 1754

1754 May 20 (Monday).  Town Meeting to See whether the Town will Send a Representative.  They vote not to.  Billy must furrow out for ploughing; he has Benjamin Rice to help him; but they prove insufficient — forc’d to get Mr. Jonathan Forbush to hold plough and we plant part of the piece by the Barn.  Mr. Hezekiah Coolidge visits me and lodges here.

May 21, 1754

1754 May 21 (Tuesday).  Greatly fatigued and disappointed about Oxen to plough my further Field at the Island.  I Seek to above half a score Neighbours in Vain.  We are also out of Rye, and when I was about to go out p.m. Mr. Isaac Johnson of Southborough came to desire me to go and see his Father in his last Minutes (as they apprehend), Mr. Stone being gone with his Wife to Mr. Martyns.  It was exceeding difficult for me to go, yet I went.  Return’d at Eve.

May 22, 1754

1754 May 22 (Wednesday).  Lieutenant Gilbert of Brookfield here.  N.B. my Horse was kept last Night by Mr. Batherick.  Lieutenant Thomas Forbush plough’d for me.  Abner Warrin wash’d 5 of my sheep, which were all that were wash’d.  P.M. my son Forbush here.  He goes at Eve to t’other House.  Deacon Haynes[1] of Sudbury brings a Letter to our Church for a Council.

[1]Josiah Haynes.

May 27, 1754

1754 May 27 (Monday).  Andrew Newton Sign’d and seal’d and deliver’d another more fairly drawn Deed, and his Wife also in presence of Messrs. Biton and Lock, their near Neighbours.  Din’d at Mr. Bridge’s[1] in Framingham on part of a large Turtle or Tortoise.  Showery — yet rode to Captain Livermore’s[2] at Waltham and lodg’d there.

[1]The Reverend Matthew Bridge.

[2]Samuel Livermore.

May 28, 1754

1754 May 28 (Tuesday).  Visited Mrs. Williams (widow of the late Reverend Mr. Williams)[1] and Mr. Cushing[2] and his Wife.  Proceeded on my Journey to Cambridge (having been refresh’d at Watertown at Mr. Benjamin Hastings) din’d at Brother Champneys late[3] in the Day — Rain prevented my going to Boston.  At Eve at President Holyokes[4] — and at Mr. Spragues.  Lodg’d at sister Barretts:  Sister Lydia[5] being there also, but my Mare (Ebenezers) was kept at Brother Champneys.

[1]Warham Williams of Waltham had died, June 22, 1751.

[2]The Reverend Job Cushing of Shrewsbury.

[3]Parkman’s brother-in-law, Samuel Champney of Cambridge.

[4]Edward Holyoke of Harvard College.

[5]Parkman’s sister-in-law, Lydia Champney.

May 29, 1754

1754 May 29 (Wednesday).  Early to Boston.  Put up my Mare at Mr. Procters.  Dr. Mayhew[1] the Election sermon on Mat. 25.21.  Din’d at Brother Samuels and went to the Convention p.m.  Dr. Sewal Moderator and Pray’d.  At Eve at Brother Samuels my Brother William also.  Sweet Conference together about our Affairs, which are in Common.  I lodg’d there.

[1]The great Jonathan Mayhew.

May 30, 1754

1754 May 30 (Thursday).  Conference with my Brethren and Messrs. Oliver and Briant[1] at Mr. William Winters office upon settling what our honoured Mother had given us, and we agree with the Executor, or Eldest Brother.  Broke fast at Olivers.[2]  Return’d to Convention and attended the public meeting.  Mr. Williams[3] of Long Meadow preach’d on Exod. 25.8.  The Collection follow’d.  I din’d at Dr. Sewalls.[4]  Present Messrs. Flynt,[5] Niles,[6] Williams (that preach’d), Townsend[7] of Needham, Byles,[8] Quincy (Edmund)[9] — p.m. at Mr. Prince’s,[10] and at Mr. Foxcrofts.[11]  Supp’d at Cousen Edward Langdons — and lodg’d at Brother Parkmans.  Return’d Mr. Pierpoints Letters to Mrs. Derricut.

[1]Joseph Bryant had married Parkman’s niece, Elizabeth Parkman.

[2]Edward Brattle Oliver, who had married Parkman’s niece, Esther Parkman.

[3]Stephen Williams.

[4]The Reverend Joseph Sewall of the Old South Church.

[5]Tutor Henry Flynt of Harvard College.

[6]The Reverend Samuel Niles of Braintree.

[7]The Reverend Jonathan Townsend.

[8]Mather Byles of Boston.

[9](Harvard1722).  “Squire” Quincy, the great landowner and office-holder of Braintree and Boston.

[10]Thomas Prince of the Old South Church.

[11]Thomas Foxcroft of the First Church in Boston.