Month: October 1755

1755 October 1 (Wednesday).  My Daughter Forbush came down last night to t’other House, and with her Mr. Joseph Manning; they came here today.  Mr. Manning and I visited Lieutenant Stephen Maynard who is Grown better, but he has two Children Sick.  N.B. Mr. Hezekiah Pratt and Mr. Kenny (for Mr. Nurse), dug stones for the Wall behind the Meeting House, and this was gratis.

1755 October 2 (Thursday).  Mr. Abijah Gale and Mr. Batheric came and began to Frame a Kitchin for me, on the Back of my New House.

1755 October 3 (Friday).  Mr. Alpheus Newton begins to dig a Cellar way for my Kitchin.  Mr. Dunlop and Mr. Beeton and his Boy work at levelling the Ground where the Kitchin is to stand.  Messrs. Gale, Batherick, Grow and Zebulun Rice at the Frame.  An Hot Day.  Mr. Edwards Whipple (with the Assistance of my Son William and Steers) brought a Load of Boards and Eight Braces.

1755 October 4 (Saturday).  Messrs. Gale, Grow, Rice and Batheric work at the Frame.

1755 October 5 (Sunday).  Read 2 Sam. 21.  Preach’d on Jer. 7.23, a. and p.m.[1]

[1]In the Westborough Church Records, Oct. 5, 1755 Parkman wrote, “Abigail, heretofore Maynard, now Lock (the wife of Joshua Lock) made a Confession of the Sin of Fornication, and was restored to Charity.  She also own’d the Covenant and Grace, her Dauter, was baptiz’d.”

1755 October 6 (Monday).  Mr. Ebenezer Forbush dug in my Cellar way for the new Kitchin.  Messrs. Gale, Zebulun Rice, and Batheric at Work on the Frame.  Towards Night we Rais’d — No Hurt — Thanks to God.  N.B. No Mr. Grow to Day.

1755 October 7 (Tuesday).  Our Well affords very little Water.  My sons Wife and Daughter Susanna ride to Watertown with my Mare in the Chair.  Messrs. Gale and Batheric at Work in rectifying the Frame and preparing the Principals — which are not yet put on.  The Reverend Mr. Cushing here and din’d with me.  Desires me to preach at a Private Fast at Shrewsbury next Tuesday on account of Mr. Samuel Wheelock[1] who is in a gloomy, delirious State, and lately cut this [sic] Throat, but not mortally.

[1]The son of a deacon of the same name.  It was he who died in Shrewsbury, April 8, 1756, although it is not ascertainable that this was a case of suicide.  Ward, Shrewsbury, pp. 465-466.

1755 October 8 (Wednesday).  No Body at Work.  Disappointed about sowing my Field, north west of the Meeting House: Can’t get up the Wall nor Rail-Fence.

1755 October 9 (Thursday).  Lecture on Eph. 1.3.  N.B. Mr. Grow work’d a.m.  Mr. Manning with my Daughter Forbush at Eve from Cambridge and Boston.  My Kinsman William Bowes Parkman generous in sending Me another Pamphlet concerning Affairs in America.  This is the Present State of North America — of the Discoverys of the English and French Claims Rights and Possessions etc.,[1] and therewith he sent me a Letter handsomely written.  A great Trouble to be straitened as to Water.  My Wife daily in Pain and her Life much afflicted, as her Time approaches.

[1][Ellis Huske], The Present State of North America (London, 1755).  A Boston reprint followed in 1755.

1755 October 10 (Friday).  Messrs. Gale, Grow, Rice.  Still finishing the Frame of my Kitchin and various things about it.  Ensign Harrington a Load of stones, from his own Home, to Stone my Cellar Way.

1755 October 11 (Saturday).  Gale and Rice a.m.  My Daughter returns here at Eve from her Father Forbushes.  Very Cold night and a.m. likewise.

1755 October 12 (Sunday).  There was a great Frost last Night: A Cold Day for this time of the Year.  Read a.m. 2 Sam. 22.  Preach’d on Hag. 2.7, those words — The Desire of all Nations.  Mr. Manning, Deacon Forbush, Sir Gardner and Mrs. Chamberlin (who has now got abroad again).  P.M. omitted Reading — preach’d on Exod. 17.12, latter part and 13 with reference to the Expeditions against the French and Indians.  N.B. My Daughter Forbush was dismiss’d from our Church to Brookfield 2nd Church.  Mr. Manning Still with us.  My Wife so indispos’d she Stays at home p.m.

1755 October 13 (Monday).  Rain.  The Rain increases till it is a very Wet time.  Mr. Manning and my Daughter Forbush here.  Draw near as to Wood.

1755 October 14 (Tuesday).  Rain Still a.m.  About noon It began to Clear So that I undertook my Journey to Mr. Samuel Wheelocks in Shrewsbury to assist in the Exercises of a Fast there on the Account of his Melancholly.  The assembly (which there was) met at Lieutenant Stones.  Prayer was over before I got there, and the last Syllables of the Psalm were singing when I went in.  Yet Mr. Cushing would not excuse me from Preaching.  Text was Rom. 11.33.  N.B. Although Mr. Wheelock would not Suffer the Exercises to be at his House, neither could I obtain to see him before I went to meeting.  Yet after we had done, he sent his son to desire me to go to him and Pray with him: only with this Caution that nobody must go with me.  I went and pray’d with him, but could hardly keep him with me.  He thinks there is no Such Sinner as he is — that he has Committed the Sin unto Death; and this was the Reason why he was against the Exercises — because it is added “I do not say You Shall Pray for it.”  My Visit to him was Short.  Mr. Cushing, his Wife and I stop’d at Mr. Braggs[1] (They went first and waited for me).  There we had Some refreshment — which I needed, for I had had a very wet and worrying Journey.  I return’d home before I slept; my Wife’s Circumstances forbad my Staying.  My Daughters, Forbush and Lucy and Mr. Manning went over to Mr. Martyns and lodged there; though they were also Sopp’d with the Rain.  N.B. It was Training to Day, at Lieutenant Brighams, but his Invitation was too late for me to attend it.  I was pre-engag’d to go to Shrewsbury.

[1]Ebenezer Bragg, an early resident of Shrewsbury, was a carpenter.

1755 October 15 (Wednesday).  Mr. Manning p.m. brought Lucy from Mr. Martyns; Molly remains there, but he lodges at t’other House.  I wrote by him to Mr. Lull in which I desire him to Send his Deed of Townshend Rights, to be acknowledged and Recorded; and to accept of Mr. William Jones of Lunenbourg to be one of our Arbitrators instead of Captain John Stevens of Groton.  Daughters Eliza and Susanna from Watertown.

1755 October 16 (Thursday).  My Son Thomas finishes the digging of a Cellar Way from the Kitchin.  Mr. Benjamin Tainter brings me 4 Barrells of Cyder, gratis — one Barrell from his Father, another from Mr. Daniel Forbush, a Third from Ensign Harrington and one from Mr. Solomon Woods.  All Gratis.  Little John Sav’d from Drowning.  Bill had dug an Hole in Neighbour Barnabas Newtons meadow in the Time of Drought, which was now fill’d with Water; into this John fell and Samuel pull’d him out.  D. Grates plurimas!

1755 October 17 (Friday).  Before it was quite light in the Morning Lieutenant Tainter came and brought a Load of Wood fearing we Should Suffer — whereas Timothy Warrin had brought a Load last Eve.  My Sons Thomas, and William undertake to gather our Corn, but it rains hard before they got home one Load.  My Wife in Pains, expecting her Hour for which the Lord mercifully prepare us!  Her Pains continue at Times, yet we go to Bed — we lie till after midnight — when She grew so ill that I fetch’d Mrs. Forbush — and then Mrs. Baker, in the meantime Sending along 3 Mrs. Rices.

1755 October 18 (Saturday).  Ebenezer brought his Wife in the Morning — and Messrs. Phinehas Hardy and Batherick came to work on my Kitchin Roof (boarding and Shingling).  About 9, or between 9 and 10 o’Clock a.m. my wife was deliver’d of her ninth, and my fourteenth living Child: her fourth, and my Seventh Daughter — a perfect Child and Well; and especially my Wife in great Comfort.  Blessed be the Name of God!  May we have a due Sense of the divine Mercy (So utterly undeserv’d) and may we have Grace to Walk accordingly!  I threw by the Preparations which I was making, as Soon as the Child was born, and set myself to prepare on Gen. 22.14, though under many Disadvantages.  The Women din’d here with us, and then went home o’foot Except Mrs. Forbush who was waited on by William with an Horse.  Rachel Pratt watches.

1755 October 19 (Sunday).  Read 2 Sam. 22 from number 26.  In preaching I went on with the Repetition (with Some Alterations) of Sermon on Eph. 1.3.  Mrs. Chamberlin din’d with us.  P.M. Read Mat. 2.  Preach’d on Gen. 22.14, and baptiz’d my New-born Daughter, Anna Sophia.  May a gracious God pardon us and accept our Offerings!  Mrs. Pratt (wife of Neighbour Hezekiah) watches.

1755 October 20 (Monday).  Very Rainy.  Messrs. Edwards and Benjamin Whipple din’d here.  N.B. The last is become a Separate at Lambs Town.  I had Some free Talk with him upon it.  At Eve my wife has Pains in her Breasts and Smart in her Nipples to a great Degree.  These forebode ill.  Mr. Zebulun Rices Daughter Abigail draws her Breast.  My Daughter Lucy watching.

1755 October 21 (Tuesday).  Deacon Forbush is Stoning my Kitchin Cellar Way.  Sarah Watch’d.  My Wife got up on the 21.

1755 October 22 (Wednesday).  Thomas and William cutt up and bring in 3 Turns of Corn from the Cook Field.  A great Frost last Night.  My Wife distress’d with her Nipples.  She got up, but she grows weaker by Reason of the Childs sucking her when her Nipples are So Sore.

1755 October 23 (Thursday).  Cold, Bleak Season.  Messrs. Phinehas Hardy, Zebulun Rice and Edwards Whipple here Shingling my Kitchin Roof.  Am straitned for Wood, being near out this Cold Weather.

1755 October 24 (Friday).  A Number of Soldiers from Lake George — whom I interrogate of their state and understand there is a great Force of Canadians at the Narrows.

1755 October 25 (Saturday).  Storm of Rain and Snow — and We without Wood except Some Timber of Ebenezer Rice which he had condemn’d and given me.

1755 October 26 (Sunday).  Read 2 Sam. 23.  Preach’d on Hagg. 2.7, a. and p.m.  Sister Forbush din’d here.  O that God would bless the Exercises to my own Saving Advantage!  and to the Eternal Good of all the hearers!

1755 October 27 (Monday).  Deacon Forbush again at the stoning my Cellar way.  Mr. Thomas Twitchell tends him.  Receiv’d Letters of the 13 and 16 from Mr. Jeduthun Baldwin at Lake George.  Other Letters are come also; all Signifying that the Army is not like to proceed against Crown Point this Winter.

1755 October 28 (Tuesday).  Mr. Grow finishes the Covering of my Roof.  Mr. Nurse puts on the Iron of the Wheel-barrow made by Mr. Edwards Whipple for me.  Mr. Martyn and his Wife here and dine with us.  They carry home my little John.  Cornelius Biglow junior (who was here upon some Cooper Business) din’d here.

1755 October 29 (Wednesday).  The Cold Air we have had produces Snow.  A Considerable storm.  My Daughter Susanna goes over to Mr. Martyns.  In the Night I had a Turn of distressing Pain.  God be thank’d I am out of Hell!  May these Trials be Sanctify’d to me for my thorough awakening that I may flee from the dreadfull Wrath which is to come!

1755 October 30 (Thursday).  The storm of Snow continues and increases.  It prevents Deacon Forbush coming to finish my Cellar Way: It prevents also the Young Women coming to the Catechetical Exercise appointed to be to Day.  Receiv’d a Letter from Mr. John Parker of Southborough, now at Lake George.

1755 October 31 (Friday).  Mr. Hall[1] and his Delegate here, in their return from a Council on Mr. Reeds[2] affair at Framingham.  Mr. Putnam,[3] Candidate, here, on his Journey to Pomfret.  The Weather Fair, but every Thing wears a Winter Hue.  I hear Mr. Eliezer Rice is return’d home from Lake George.

[1]The Reverend David Hall of Sutton.

[2]The Reverend Solomon Reed of the Second Church of Framingham, a fervent New- Light preacher, had salary problems, and the next year departed for other pulpits.  Sibley, X, 398-400.

[3]Aaron Putnam (Harvard 1752) served the First Church of Pomfret, Conn., 1755-1802.