Month: July 1775

1775 July 1 (Saturday).  I went in to my nearest Neighbours Mr. Caleb Harrington who has now set up House-keeping there, his Wife being come and a sister with her.  Rev. Joseph Willard of Mendon going to change with Mr. Whitney of Northborough, calls and dines with us.  P.M. My Daughter Forbes and Ripley return from Mendon.  John is but weak and low; he fears he looses Ground.  My Daughter Hannah also droops and is poorly from Day to Day.  I meet with other Discomforts, which together with my own inward Frame make me very heavy.

1775 July 2 (Sunday).  Preached a.m. on Rev. 2.3.  Administered the Lords Supper.  Ripley and Daughter Forbes were at the Communion.  We had Capt. Jonas Brigham, Mr. Batheric, and Mr. Tainter there to day, though they have been absent twice before.  I have let them alone, conceiving that they were (though unreasonably) out of Frame, which I have endeavoured to sweeten another way than by formal Dealing with them.  Mrs. Maynard dined here.  P.M. repeated a Sermon on Isa. 55.2, last Clause, with various alterations suiting it to the present unhappy Circumstances.  Read another Paper which was a Copy, from our Provincial Congress, of what was Sent from the Congress at Philadelphia, Signed John Hancock President, Recommending a Fast through out all the Colonies, on July 20th.  May God Himself who is infinite Wisdom, be graciously pleased to prepare us for all that He Shall See meet to call us to!  Hannah out of Health.

1775 July 3 (Monday).  My Daughters Forbes and Baldwin, assisted and accompanyed by Ripley, undertook their Journey to Brookfield.  Mr. P. Whitney having changed with Mr. Willard (as abovesaid) and returning home, calls here.  P.M. Mrs. Harrington (Lieutenant Samuels Wife) made us a friendly Visit: especially on the account of John, in his low Condition.

1775 July 4 (Tuesday).  Those that tend upon John don’t need to Sit up through the Night, but lye by him, and rise two or three times in the night to hand him what he wants.  Lt. Baker kindly here.

1775 July 5 (Wednesday).  Neighbour Caleb Harringtons Mother, and his Wife, visit us.  N.B. wrote, and Sent by Lt. Baker, to Rev. Gordon, Roxbury.  P.M. Rev. Mr. Adams of Roxbury came in to See us.  He lodges here.  I hear that 8 Hundreds of Gunpowder passes by.  I am informed it is manufactured here in America: and is a present [for?] the General Cause, by a worthy Gentleman of Philadelphia.

1775 July 6 (Thursday).  Mr. Adams proceeds in his Journey, though I know not Whither.  Sophy and Suse Brigham go to Mr. Phinehas Hardy’s on a Visit, in Compliance with repeated Requests.  Mr. John Kelly’s wife comes to desire me to go to old Mr. Higgins who is very ill.  P.M. I went there, but he was unable to converse.  Knowing his Humor, I read to him some Passages out of the Book of Common Prayer: [and?] by Desire I prayed.  I also called at the other Houses on the Road.  At Eve I understood that John has had a poor afternoon — was Sick, and restless.  Mr. Adams returned here from Grafton, and again lodges here.

1775 July 7 (Friday).  Mr. Adams leaves us to return to Medfield.  P.M. my Son William came from Concord to see us and his Children.  John is somewhat revived again.  Hannah is much out of Health: and we are at a loss what to do for her.  Dr. Hawes being frequently here to See John takes Care of [her?].

[1775 July 8 (Saturday)?].  Mrs. P_____s task heavy in tending the Sick etc.  [torn] my Son William is greatly impressed with the [torn]oubles — is affected with his Situation [torn]mewhat infirm in Body, especially in Mornings.  Endeavour to support him.  He returns home.  I have had no letter or Message, but see in the News Paper that My Brother William is Dead! that he dyed at Stoughtonham — but when or how, is not specify’d.[1]

[1]“At Stoughtonham, Elder William Parkman, late of Boston,” Essex Journal, July 7, 1775.  The Continental Journal of October 3, 1776, advised “All Persons that are indebted to or that have any Demands on the Estate of Willkiam Parkman, late of Boston, Cabbinet maker, deceased, are desired to bring in their Accounts to Thomas Bayley, Administrator.

1775 July 9 (Sunday).  Preached a.m. on Isa. 65.1, but carry on the Discourse on Heb. 12.2.  P.M. preached on Act. 26.22, which with additions arising from the Occasion, my Brothers Death, may God bless to me and to all the Audience!

[1775 July 10 (Monday)?].  John is better, yet very weak.  But Hannah is worse — has the Rash, as the Doctor Judges.  Her Head and Face are much affected.  One of her Teeth was drawn.  [torn] Mr. Higgins is dead![1]  N.B. Town Meeting to See whether the Town will consent that the Province proceed so far in taking upon them the Government as to Send a Representative to the [designed?] General Assembly.  [torn] goes home to her Fathers.

[1]Not in Westborough Vital Records.

1775 July 11 (Tuesday).  I [illegible] at Mr. Higgins’s Funeral.  His Christian Name was Thomas — his son says he was 92 last March, having been born in the year 1683.  I prayed at the House, and then prosecuted my Journey towards Stoughtonham.  Dined at Mr. Fitch’s, Hopkinton.  Heard there that my Friend Capt. Thomas Clark dy’d lately.  Called at Rev. Prentice’s, at Mr. [illegible] Marsh’s, and at Mr. Enoch Adams’s in Medfield.  Stopped at Mr. Thomas Adams’s, and returned him his Baumgarten

[torn]man Nature and Education of Children.  Lodged

[torn] Adams’s; and was thus far well.  D.G.

[1775 July 12 (Wednesday)]

[torn]ted with Mr. Thomas Adams, and Saw his Daughter Han

[torn] is remarkable for her Memory and progress in her

[torn] Latin.  I went on to Mr. Paysons at Walpole

[torn]ating a Fourth Son at College.)  I arrived at

[torn]n’s Mr. Samuel Bradshaws Stoughtonham, to mourn with

[torn] Loss of their Father.  My sister in Law (my

[torn]) and my late Kinsman Nathaniels Widow

[torn]ouse of Mr. Rhodes, where my Brother dy’d.

[torn] at my Cousen Bradshaws.  N.B. Their Daughter

Sarah is Still in very infirm and pain [torn]

At Eve (after a very wonderfull Appearance of [torn]

Blessing of Rain) I went back to the two [torn]

Appartments at Mr. Rhoads, where I found my [torn]

Parkman (Son of Nathaniel) who is a seafaring man [torn]

to sea again.  He was now come from Cambridge, and [relates?]

that our provincial Soldiers have been to Nelsons Island, drove off Cattle, burnt Stacks of Hay — etc.  I lodged at that House.  Hear that my Cousen Bowland, his Wife and Children are about 3 miles off.  By information I find that my Brother arrived at Mr. [torn] in Stoughtonham, May 12.  He removed to Mr. [torn] the 16: that on the 26 he was taken ill; and on June [torn] was interred on the 29 in his 90th year, hav[torn] 19 (Old Stile) 1685).

1775 July 13 (Thursday).  Rose early, and having prayed with Such as could attend, I sat out soon after 4 o’Clock in the Morning.  Rode a good part of the way to Mr. Paysons before sunrise — to Justice Adams — breakfast at Mr. Thomas Adams’ — borrow of him Burton on Melancholy, and The View of human Nature in Select Historys.  Called to See Mr. Jonathan Townsend — Mr. Adams and Lady, of Roxbury, at his Brother Enochs — at Mr. Ezek Marsh’s, Mr. Prentice’s at Holliston.  Missed my Way (and therewith Dinner) in Hopkinton.  Went to See Dr. Bond at [torn] who refreshed me and my Horse.  Went in to Capt. Thomas Mellen torn] — [illegible] oated at Mr. Fitch’s — at Mr. Barretts — arrived at home before sun-setting.  Mr. Penuel Bowen[1] was here to see me; but returned home to Southborough.

[1]Penuel Bowen (1742-1788), Harvard 1762, second minister of the New South Church, Boston, 1766-1772; later removed to South Carolina and became an Episcopalian.

1775 July 14 (Friday).  My Friend Quincy of Lancaster, now, came from his Son Edmunds (Stoughtonham) [illegible] lodged here, a most agreeable Meeting, and I hope profit[torn].  N.B. Squire Whipple has obliged me so much as to take my Turn this week to bring the News Paper from Worcester.  See in the Spy, the Address of the Virginian Burgesses to the Earl of Dunsmore, on the great and important Controversie between Great Britain and the Colonies.

1775 July 15 (Saturday).  Mr. Quincy left us to go to Lancaster.  I expected Mr. Cornelius Waters of Sutton to [preach?] for me tomorrow — but he came not to me [torn].

1775 July 16 (Sunday).  Mr. Waters not coming I was obliged to p[torn] Except that I had before, viz. on Isa. 55.3, a. and P.M. [torn] these peculiar Times.  I made many alter[torn] be fervent!  May the Divine Power accompany [torn]

1775 July 17 (Monday).  Hannah has for a good while been ill; but now her Disorders are increased, and her Case is become very Piteous.  I went to the aged Widow Sarah Forbush; who is grown dropsical, besides the trouble of her Cancer.  Conversed, examined and prayed with her.  Send the Doctor to Hannah.  Breck Sends two Teams to Marblehead, and P.M. Sets out himself.  We are informed that Neighbour Moses Nurse, who went to Salem with his Team, last week, has met with Some Disaster.

1775 July 18 (Tuesday).  Hannah So bad in the last Night that at about 2 (in the Morn) Elias went for the Doctor — who came.  Hannah but very poorly.  Mr. Russell carrys his Wife to Watertown.  We hear Mr. Moses Nurse has met with a sad Disaster at Malden, fell from his Waggon, and One of the Wheels went over his Body.  And that a Number of our Soldiers are sick.  Mr. Edmund Rice is extreme bad.  At Evening I was desired to go to [illegible] Gale’s Tavern, where he lay.  But I was So very much indisposed, that I could not cease long from going to the little House — And besides this I had no Horse.  Rev. Hall of Sutton returning from the Army called here, and I prevailed with him to pray with us under our Afflictions: which may God graciously hear and Answer!

1775 July 19 (Wednesday).  Mr. Edmund Rice dy’d[1] last Night at Mr. Gale’s, in his Way home to his Family.  May God please to Pity his Family, his Parents, and Sanctify it to all Others, especially the Soldiers; and to those who are Sick in a peculiar Manner.  My Son Samuel and his Consort returned from Newbury; and he had been to Pownalborough.  Mr. Edwards Whipple came to desire me to attend the Funeral of Mr. Rice tomorrow.  I was very infirm — had a lax Body and grew weak and faint with it.

[1]Edmund, son of Edmund and Hannah, b. Feb. 27 1757; Westborough Vital Records, 8.  Death not recorded

1775 July 20 (Thursday).  General, Continental Fast, on the Account of the American Distresses, and Civil War commenced.  I preached a.m. on Isa. XIV.8.9 and read v. 20, 21.  P.M. made an Exercise from my former Sermons on Isa. XXVI.20.21.  May God most gracious and Merciful hear our fervent protracted Supplications and accompany the word with a Blessing; Pardon the Iniquities of our holy Things, and grant us Relief!  Attend the Funeral of the late Mr. Edmund Rice.  My son Samuel waited on me with his Chaise.

1775 July 21 (Friday).  A.M. Visited Several Sick soldiers who being Sick were come up to their Parents and Friends, viz. Daniel Hardy junior and Henry Marble, John Fay (Capt. Jonathans son) — his sister Joanna also languishes, Spitting Blood: went to Mr. Joseph Grouts to see his son, Still very low.  Mr. Fitch of Hopkinton dined with me.  Desires to Change but am pre-engaged to Mr. Stone.  Mrs. Pigeon of Newt[on], who resides at Coll. Wards at Southborough and her Daughter, Miss Patience, made a Visit here; principally to see my son Samuel and his Wife.  Breck is gone to Worcester.

1775 July 22 (Saturday).  We were Surprized about 9 or 10 o’Clock a.m. with Johns Bleeding again.  The Blood came up by a little Cough, as it did before.  He was himself alarmed — “must bid the world Adieu!” — said he.  Yet P.M. he was more comfortable inasmuch that Mr. Stone coming to change with me, I ventured to leave him.  But I did not go to Southborough.  Mr. Fitch went there, and I to Hopkinton and lodged at Mr. Fitch’s.

1775 July 23 (Sunday).  I preached a. and P.M. on Isa. 63.8.  P.M. baptized Mary Daughter of John and Hannah [Clemens?]: held up by Mr. Nathan[iel?] Pike, the Father being in the Army: and Elijah, Son of Seth and [blank] Gashet; and also read a Paper directed to me, signed by Mr. Fitch, appointing a Lecture at the Widow Pierce’s, with design to have her Daughter admitted  into the Church.  I returned home after the Exercises, but to my Sorrow found that my dear John had bled a good deal about Midnight (or this Morning rather) and to a greater Degree than that lately and thus he did this Evening.  May the Lord support him and prepare him for his holy will!  Mr. Stone preached a.m. on 1 Cor. [9?].26, P.M. on Jud. 22.22.  He returned home.

1775 July 24 (Monday).  My Neighbour Nurse whose Waggon loaded with salt, ran over him when at Mendon in his late Journey from Salem home, the 14th instant, is got home: and this Morning went to see him.  A wonderful preservation.  To God be Glory!  Samuel to Hopkinton to Wm. B. Townsend.  Mr. Pet. Whitney here, and his sister Briggs.  He prays with [torn] John being very low.  Sally and Hannah [ride in Chaise?] to Capt. Maynards

 

[Note:  The diary ends abruptly here, with the succeeding pages to August 9 apparently no longer extant.]