1755 May 29 (Thursday). Convention Lecture by Mr. Joseph Parsons of Bradford, on Mat. 5.14.15.16. Din’d at Mr. Mathers, where also din’d a great number more, viz. Messrs. Job Cushing, John Gardner, Parsons, Abbot,[1] William Balch,[2] Bradstreet,[3] etc. P.M. Visit my Kinswoman Langdon[4] lately widow’d, and the Deacon her Father in Law attended the Conversation a little while [but Mr. Lowel desiring me to go to smoak a Pipe with Dr. Chauncy,[5] I comply’d. N.B. The Conversation chiefly of Mr. Biles[6] and his wife in their violent squabbles. No word of our own Disgusts. I think this visit was on the 28th.] At Eve Brother Samuel and I visited Deacon Grant. Both return’d to his House, and there arose an unexpected Contest between him and me about Clark the Separate who had exhorted in Boston a few Years Since and was lately in Falmouth. Mr. Charles Frost present and join’d with him, very sanguinely. I Soon held my Tongue: and let it go off.
[1]The Reverend Hull Abbot of Charlestown.
[2]The minister of Groveland.
[3]Simon Bradstreet, the minister of Marblehead.
[4]Parkman’s niece Mary was the widow of Edward Langdon.
[5]Charles Chauncy of the First Church in Boston.
[6]The Reverend Mather Byles of the Hollis Street Church. A modern authority says “that Byles’s humor was enough to make a wreck of any woman.” Sibley, VII, 479.