Month: February 1758

1758 February 1 (Wednesday).  My Wife has had so very ill a Night I was up with her till one — got up again between 3 and 4 to wait on Mrs. Maynard who then returned from Mrs. Hitty Brigham.  It was the more tedious to me as it was So Severe a Season.  But we would Humbly put our Trust in God.  I returned to my Bed about 4 and rose at Sunrise — my Wife being Still in much the Same kind of pains, but they are both more smart and She is much more worn out and dispirited by means of them.  But Mrs. Maynard being here.  She (the Granny) will have some women brought to her help.  Accordingly Capt. Wood kindly brings his Wife; the widow Newton also being requested, comes.  They dine here.  And there is no great Difference with my Wife all Day.  We are waiting for thy Salvation, O Lord!  Women go home again at night except Mrs. Maynard.

1758 February 2 (Thursday).  Mrs. Maynard returns home by the Help of Capt. Wood and his Slay; but comes back again at Eve.  My Wife was so comfortable that with her Consent I went to the private meeting at Deacon Bonds and preached on Ps. 51.11.  When I came home at Eve Capt. Wood and Neighbour Pratt had gathered women together there being hopeful prospect that all would soon be over.  But throughout the whole Night there was nothing further.  The Company were (besides Granny Maynard) Mrs. Baker, Mrs. Anna and Abigail Rice, widow Newton, Mrs. Pratt, Mrs. Hammond, Mrs. Beeton and Widow Thankful Rogers.  N.B. Esq. Charles Brigham here with his Mare.  I offer him sixty pounds, half to be paid the first of next September and the rest, this Day twelve month (without Interest).

1758 February 3 (Friday).  The women still with us without Effect: except Mrs. Rogers, who went away: and Capt. Wood brought his Wife: and then went with a message to Dr. Crosby for Advice and Medicines.  But yet no Effect nor success as to Travail Pains.  After Supper several women went home, viz. Mrs. Beeton — Capt. Wood carryed home his wife and widow Newton.  The rest tarryed.  Inexpressible Distraction in my studys, in the middst of so much Company; together with the Difficultys of the Storm.

1758 February 4 (Saturday).  The Company chiefly goes off early in the morning, my Wife remaining as She was.  At 9 or 10 a.m. Mrs. Maynard also rides home in Mr. Nurse’s Whirry: Mrs. Hammond only stays and helps us, and dines with us.  A variety of other Company Succeed the other.  Messrs. Ebenezer and Aaron Nurse; Mr. Hammond, Mr. Beeton, who mends my broken Key gratis — etc.  Deacon Tainter and Esq. Brigham with his Mare again — who goes away desiring still further Time to Consider my offers.

1758 February 5 (Sunday).  Mrs. Maynard having Returned last Eve and lodged here, is with us over the Sabbath.  My Wife so distressed with Pain desires continuance of publick Prayers for her.  Omitted public Reading a. and p.m.  Preached a.m. on Rom. 8.28.  P.M. delivered part of Sermon on Rev. 22.16 — the Bright and Morning Star.  Mrs. Hannah Maynard dined here.  After meeting Dr. Crosby (having been desired) came in to see my Wife.  In the Eve Mr. Edwards Whipple came to bring Some Medicines from the Doctor.  Mrs. Maynard Still lodges here.

1758 February 6 (Monday).  An exceeding Cold Season.  Mrs. Maynard with us.  My Wife’s Pains dont leave her.  At Eve my son Ebenezer and his Wife came to us from Brookfield.

1758 February 7 (Tuesday).  My Wife Still lingering.  Mrs. Maynard goes home.  P.M. Mrs. Harrington here.  Her Conversation Serious and spiritual.  At Eve came Deacon Tainter, his wife and Daughter in Law.  They Supped here.

1758 February 8 (Wednesday).  The Weather is much more moderate and pleasant.  But my poor Wife in great Pain and Distress.  P.M. She thinks greater than ever.  She seems almost discouraged: they are Still of Cramp kind.  But at Eve especially they were extremely great.  She knows not what to do with her Self, her anguishes so great.  Mrs. Whitney and Mrs. Abigail Forb. (my Neighbour Zebuluns Wife) here.[1]  In the Eve Capt. Fay.  I was in deep Concern for my dear Wife whose sufferings are inexpressible.  We prayed with some Fervency, resigning the sorrowfull Case to our most mercifull, Covenant God in Jesus Christ our Lord.  N.B. she told me a while after that her pains were altered, and She had Travail Pains upon her.  About midnight I sent Thomas for Mrs. Maynard again and a few Nighest Neighbours.  Mrs. Newton, Beeton, two Rice’s, Mrs. Baker, there being good Road to them.

[1]Zubulon Rice mar. Abigail Forbes, Jan. 7, 1737.   Parkman used her maiden name.

1758 February 9 (Thursday).  Time of prayer.  About forty minutes after two o’Clock a large fat Child was born!  Glory to God who appeared for her Help!  She is now in a comfortable State as is the Child also.  May we never forget the divine Benefits!  Inst. after Day all the women went off Home; except Mrs. Maynard and my Daughter Elizabeth who is happily here with us.  In the morning Exercise, we read Ps. 116 and Sung part of 139, v. 14 etc. in Tate and Brady’s version.  Mrs. Maynard went home a.m., my son Thomas waiting upon her with Capt. Woods Horse.  We had also Benefit by a Colt which Ebenezer rode from Brookfield.  At Eve Mr. Hammond brought our Nurse, Miss Martha Dunlop.

1758 February 10 (Friday).  My Wife very Comfortable; Thanks be to God and the Child flourishing.  Master Billy Buckminster, his Sister Fanny and Miss Patty Rice of Framingham here.  Deacon Tainter goes to Boston and carrys the Genealogical Account of our Family (contains the Account of my fifteenth child, Hannah) to my eldest Brother.  At Eve Capt. Wood here.

1758 February 11 (Saturday).  Ebenezer and his Wife ride to Watertown.  My wife more Comfortable and has the Blessing of her Milk come to suckle the Child.  A fresh divine Favor.  D.G.

1758 February 12 (Sunday).  Omitted public Reading both a. and p.m., it being Still a rigorous Season though the Afternoon was pleasanter than of late has been usual.  Preached a.m. on Rom. 8.28.  P.M. on Ps. 62.5.  Read v. 8 also, and the intermediate verses.  This Sermon was much too hastily thrown together.  May God most Compassionate overlook my Defects!  P.M. I dedicated to God in the Ordinance of Baptism, my dear Daughter Hannah.  I desire humbly to wait on God respecting her that She may be truely Gracious!  My wife was got up.  Brother Forb. and Granny Maynard dined with us.

1758 February 13 (Monday).  My Wife has Sore Nipples to her great Distress.  Pleasant Weather.  Am grieved at my own Dullness and Deadness.  Deacon Tainter, Capt. Fay, Mr. Biglow here.  The two last pay me their Rates, with what I owed ‘em.

1758 February 14 (Tuesday).  My Sons Horse, which he rode down being here in keeping, I rode up to Mr. Zebulon Rice’s and Capt. Woods.  At Evening Ebenezer and his Wife return from Watertown, having been at Boston.  My Brother Parkman living, and is better.  Brother Samuel gone to Nottingham.  His Daughter Bradford offended that I had not called my Infant Elizabeth Bradford — whereas She never had given Leave nor any way hinted it.

1758 February 15 (Wednesday).  Ensign Charles Brigham here with his Mare again.  I had wrote a Line to him by my son Thomas who met him on the Road hither.  He dined with me as did old Mr. Hezekiah How, and Amon Blanc (besides Ebenezer and his Wife).  After Dinner the Squire consented to bring me his Mare tomorrow for 60£ old Tenor to be paid without Interest by the first Day of next September.  At Eve Esq. Brigham and Mr. Hale of Sutton here.  Esq. Says he’ll bring the mare tomorrow.  Deacon Tainter, his Son and Daughter in law here.

1758 February 16 (Thursday).  My Son and Daughter designed to have gone home to Brookfield but it prov’d very Stormy.  It prevails to be a great Storm of Snow: yet by the former snows remaining on the Earth, there is a great Body in the whole.  My Wife has Several very faint turns — and She is kept back, though the Child grows apace.  No Squire to Day.

1758 February 17 (Friday).  Dull, Cloudy Weather; Sometimes Snowing a little.

1758 February 18 (Saturday).  Though it be a very fine, bright pleasant Day, yet is the Snow So deep that it is very difficult stirring.  My Son and his Wife Still with us.

1758 February 19 (Sunday).  Another very fine Day — and many more came to Meeting than I expected.  Read 1 Chron. 28.  Preached a. and p.m. on Rom. 8.28.  Read p.m. Luk. 16.  Lt. Perez Rice of Sutton and his Wife dined here.

1758 February 20 (Monday).  Rain last Night and this Morning, afterwards very pleasant.  Mr. Mason tells me the Ways are so filled with Snow that there has not gone so much as one Horse in the Road to Shrewsbury near him; and there are but steppings over to Mr. Martyns.  N.B. Esq. Brigham brings the Mare, which I have bargained for; and I gave him a Note for Eight pounds L.M., payable the first of next September, and She is put up into the Barn as Mine.

1758 February 21 (Tuesday).  Deacon Tainter came (and was the means of Abner Newtons coming also) and killed a Barrow for me of 273 lb.  N.B. Ebenezer has changed his mare with Abner Newton for his and gives him 20£ old Tenor more.  At Eve Capt. Wood and a Number more here.

1758 February 22 (Wednesday).  Ebenezer and I settled divers Accounts before his going home.  He [and] his Wife Sett out in a Slay for Brookfield.  They carry Breck with them.  Thomas also hires a Horse and goes with them.  They are obliged to go out to the Country Road by Mr. Martyns.

1758 February 23 (Thursday).  I visited old Mrs. Gaschet who is in a low Condition, being very Aged and dropsical.  Dined at her sons.  The Snow so deep, and the Paths so bad I rode in Danger.  I visited also Mr. Chaddock and his Wife.  In returning I was extremely Cold, and did much fear some of my Hands would freeze.

1758 February 24 (Friday).  At Eve Mr. Asaph Rice who is our School-Master, and keeps at Capt. Fays, came to See me.  It much perplexes me to have such visits.

1758 February 25 (Saturday).  Mr. Israel Walker here for money in behalf of George Crossman.

1758 February 26 (Sunday).  Read 1 Chron. 29 and Luk. 17.  Preached a. and p.m. on Rom. 8.27.  A pleasant Day and many were out at Meeting.  May God of his infinite Goodness and Mercy grant success unto the Word of his Grace!

1758 February 27 (Monday).  A very pleasant Day; I rode out to various Neighbours.  At Eve Mr. Batherick and Mr. Ebenezer Forbush here.  Leaves me only 2 Dollars.

1758 February 28 (Tuesday).  Deacon Tainter putts my Mare into his Team to teach her to draw.  Our Nurse goes away.  The Occasion was her sister Elizabeths marriage.  Jane Kelley comes in her stead.  At Eve Deacon Bond, [Mr.?] Hammond.  The former gives me a Dollar towards paying for my Mare; the Latter brings a present of Beef, and Seems to be reconciled.