Author: Anthony Vaver

1726 November 14 (Monday).  I rode to Marlborough.  I met Mr. Cushing a little before we Came to Mr. Brecks.  We were Disappointed in our Visit to Mr. Breck, He being gone to Boston.  We went to Mr. Woods’,[1] and to Mr. Thomas’s,[2] the last having been very ill, and continuing under Confinement.  Mr. Cushing went away for Lancaster when I went into Colonel Hows[3] to clear off my Beef Score, and thence I returned immediately home.

[1]Benjamin Woods of Marlborough.

[2]William Thomas of Marlborough.

[3]Thomas Howe of Marlborough.

1726 November 15, 16 (Tuesday, Wednesday).  I gave my Self very much to my Subject, being persuaded I shall be Depriv’d of Opportunity to study in the Latter part of the Week.

1726 November 17 (Thursday).  In the Morning I rode to Shrewsbury to Mr. Cushing.  There was Captain Baker of Brookfield.  Mr. Cushing rode with me to Lancaster.  Mr. Prentice was come out to go to Meeting.  He had Some Expectation of my Coming.  He gave me his Bible and I preach on (a Text I had not Design’d to, but I was straitned for Time and Could not Look over the whole of any Sermon and I therefore chose one I had frequently and somewhat lately preach’d) Acts 16.24.  We tarried all night at Mr. Prentice’s, and had good Entertainment.

1726 November 18 (Friday).  After Dinner we returned home.  Mr. Samuell Fay[1] and his Son[2] Cut and Carted me 1/2 Dozen Load of Wood.

[1]One of the earliest settlers of Westborough and the younger brother of Captain John Fay.

[2]Either Samuel, Jr. (b. 1705), Jeduthan (b. 1707), or Ebenezer (b. 1713).

1726 November 19 (Saturday).  I was very Strictly Engaged.

1726 November 20 (Sunday).  I preach’d all Day upon Mark 3.33.

1726 November 21, 22 (Monday, Tuesday).  I read and wrote some remarks upon a Book entitled Reliquise Anti Baxteriance.

1726 November 23 (Wednesday).  Captain Keyes of Shrewsbury was here to see Me.

1726 November 24, 25, 26 (Thursday, Friday, Saturday).  I was very much afflicted with Toothach and an ague in My Face.  Alas how Small a Matter will discompose and Obstruct those, who in the best plight have but just Sufficient powers to perform any Service at all!  N.B. 24.  I married Ebenezer Savage[1] and Mary Hamilton of Rutland, Mr. Parsons,[2] Mr. Burr,[3] and Mr. Cushing being absent.

[1]Given in Westborough Vital Records as Ebenezer Savige and Mary Hambleton, and in Rutland Vital Records as Ebenezer Savage and Mary Hambleton.

[2]Reverend David Parsons (Yale 1705), minister of the First Congregational Church of Leicester, Mass.  Dexter, pp. 36-37.

[3]Reverend Isaac Burr of Worcester.

1726 November 27 (Sunday).  I was grievously exercis’d all last night with pains in my Face.  In the morning I was easier and went to Meeting.  The Text a. and p.m. was Eph. 2.5.  We were Inform’d that Mr. Breck Yesterday buried his Youngest Child.[1]  It dy’d very Suddenly.  Mrs. Willard,[2] Mrs. Maynard, Mr. Behman[3] and his wife Din’d with us.

[1]Anna Breck (b. March 13, 1725).

[2]Probably Mrs. Martha Willard of Hassinimisco.

[3]Probably Eleazer and Hannah Beemon or Beamon of Westborough.

1726 November 28 (Monday).  I read the Occasional Paper vol. 3.

1726 November 29 (Tuesday).  Mr. Cushing came to see Us and lodg’d with us.

1726 November 30 (Wednesday).  Mr. Cushing return’d home.  Mr. Thomas Forbes, Junior was with me upon the Business of his Admission into our Church.  He made some Hesitation about Making a Relation, But I satisfy’d him of the usefullness of the Practice if well observ’d and therefore the Expedience thereof.  He was So well persuaded that he presented me one to be Read to the Church.

1726 December 1, 2, 3 (Thursday, Friday, Saturday).  I Employ’d myself almost wholly upon the Subject I Design further to Entertain my people with.

1726 December 4 (Sunday).  I preach’d a. and p.m. on Eph. 2.5.  It was a very stormy Day and I had but few hearers.  Mr. Jedediah How set the Tune and read the Line, p.m.

1726 December 5 (Monday).  Mr. Thomas Forbush, Junior’s youngest Child[1] dy’d very suddenly this morning, as I hear many Young Children in severall Towns round here.  In the Eve my Little Daughter was ill, But

[1]Thomas, Jr.

1726 December 6 (Tuesday).  Through the Divine Favour She was this Morning well recovered.  In the Afternoon I was at the funerall of Mr. Forbush’s Child.

1726 December 7 (Wednesday).  I rode over to Mr. Eagers upon the Affair of my absent Heiffer, But he was gone to Marlborough.  Hearing Mr. Thomas Ward[1] was at Mr. Allens[2] Mill I went Thither and met with him.  Mr. Allen requested me to go in and see his Wife.  I did and had an hour or Two’s Discourse with her.  I both found and left her in a poor Melancholly, dejected, distressed Condition.  From hence I rode to Marlborough.  I went down to Mr. John How’s (who I heard had my Heiffer) first with Two Young Men, Nathaniel Oak[3] and Joshua Goardin, and then with Mr. Ward (who had kept the Creature all Summer and winter Last) to prove it mine, if they were able to give Testimony.  They said (upon Seeing her) that they were not only able but ready, if call’d thereto, to give oath it was mine.  But these all not satisfying Mr. How we went over to Mr. Woods and Chose him and Mr. Jedediah Brigham[4] to Determine between us.  Upon hearing us it fell with full Consent to me and I gave Mr. How 10 Shillings for keeping her.  After this (it being Somewhat after nine o’Clock) I went to Mr. Brecks where I Lodg’d.

[1]Of Westborough.

[2]Ephraim Allen who lived in that part of Westborough which became Northborough in 1776.

[3]Nathaniel Oak (Oaks, Oakes), Jr. of Marlborough, later a resident of that part of Lancaster which became Bolton in 1738.

[4]‘ Son of Samuel Brigham of Marlborough and the proprietor of a tannery in that town.  Hudson, Marlborough, pp. 334-335.

1726 December 8 (Thursday).  Mr. Breck walked with me to Mr. Woods’s.  Here was Old Mr. How[1] of Hopkinton who told over the Manner and Methods of Mr. Barretts[2] coming into Hopkinton and Settling there.  Mr. Woods went up with us to Mr. Brecks where we din’d upon a Turkey.  When Near night I came away, but meeting Mr. Jacob Amsden[3] I went in with him into his Father Behmans,[4] and thence I came home with Mr. Amsden.

[1]John How who was prominent in the establishment of the First Congregational Church in Hopkinton in 1724. Manual of the First Congregational Church in Hopkinton (Boston,
1881), p. 20.

[2]Reverend Samuel Barrett, first minister at Hopkinton.

[3]Of Marlborough.

[4]Jacob Amsden married Sarah Beaman, daughter of Thomas Beaman of Marlborough, October 28,1719.  Jacob Amsden, son of Isaac Amsden, Sr., of Marlborough lived in Westborough as early as 1722.

1726 December 9, 10 (Friday, Saturday).  My Sermons took up the whole of my Time.  I sent John and Nathaniel Oak to Marlborough, and in the morn they brought the Heiffer home.

1726 December 11 (Sunday).  I preach’d again All Day upon Eph. 2.5.  Old Mrs. Forbush,[1] Mr. How[2] of Hassinemisco, and his wife, Mrs. Newton,[3] Mrs. Goodeno[4] din’d with us.  An Exceeding Cold Day.

[1]Probably the wife of Deacon Thomas Forbush.

[2]Nehemiah How.

[3]Either Mrs. Thomas or Mrs. Josiah Newton of Westborough.

[4]Mrs. David Goodenow of Westborough.

1726 December 12 (Monday).  Very Cold.  Our schoolmaster, Mr. Townsend[1] came into Town, and the School began.

[1]Joshua Townsend of Brookfield was engaged for £18 to teach six months in three parts of Westborough.  For twelve or thirteen years he continued to be the schoolmaster.  DeForest and Bates, Westborough, pp. 96-100.

1726 December 13 (Tuesday).  I was at Captain Fay’s,[1] Mr. Pratts,[2] etc., to get hands to Cut wood and kill my Swine.

[1]Captain John Fay of Westborough.

[2]Probably John Pratt, a neighbor of Parkman.

1726 December 14 (Wednesday).  Neighbor Pratt and Maynard[1] came and kill’d Two of my Swine.  P.M. it was Stormy, Snow, etc.  Mr. Ward Reckon’d with me.

[1]David Maynard.

1726 December 15 (Thursday).  Very high Winds and Sharp Cold.  Mr. John Pratt, Junior and his Brother Came and Cutt Several Load of wood for me.  An High German Doctor was here.

1726 December 16 (Friday).  I finish’d Mr. Addisons 3d volume containing His Dialogues upon Medals, The Present state of the War, 1707, and of the Christian Religion.

1726 December 17 (Saturday).  Upon My preparations.

1726 December 18 (Sunday).  I preach’d all Day upon Luk. 6.46.  Mr. Simeon Howard din’d with us.

1726 December 19 (Monday).  Very Stormy.  High winds and Rain.

1726 December 20 (Tuesday).  William Clark Thrash’d Oates for me.  Mr. Barrett[1] expected according to word sent us but Came not.  Mr. Peres Rice here with Complaints against his uncle, Mr. Samuel Fay, etc.  He told me Some in the Town were Examining whether my marrying the Rutland couple was according to Law.  Mr. Breck sent home my Political State 12 volumes, and a Pamphlet, by his son Mr. Robert and young Rice of College.[2]

[1]Reverend Samuel Barrett of Hopkinton.

[2]Caleb Rice (Harvard 1730), youngest son of Caleb Rice of Marlborough.  Later the first minister of Sturbridge, Mass., 1736-1759.  Sibley, III, 774-775.

1726 December 21 (Wednesday).  Very Cold and we but Short firewood.

1726 December 22 (Thursday).  In the morning I sent for Neighbor Clarks cart for my Lad to bring home wood upon.  But there Came some young Men that both Cut and Carted a good supply (of 7 Load).  Captain Fay’s 2 sons and Team, Peres Rice’s Servant and Nathaniel Child[1] were my men.

[1]Nathaniel Child of Westborough.

1726 December 23, 24 (Friday, Saturday).  My whole time is taken up about my subject, and I Desire no other Employment on these Dayes.

1726 December 25 (Sunday).  I preach’d upon Luk. 11.26 a. and p.m.  Mrs. Holloway[1] din’d with us.

[1]Either Mrs. William or Mrs. Adam Holloway of Westborough.

1726 December 26 (Monday).  A.M. I read Lowths Directions for Reading the Scriptures.[1]  P.M. I read the Clergyman’s Vade mecum.

[1]Probably the popular work Directions for the profitable reading of the Holy Scriptures by the English theologian, William Lowth, D.D. (1660-1732).  The work first appeared in a London edition of 1708.  Numerous other editions followed.