Author: Anthony Vaver

1727 May 8 (Monday).  Captain Fay[1] ploughed.  All this before we could plant.  And it was but 2 1/2 Acres.  I was at Mr. Bakers.

[1]John Fay, the prominent early resident of Westborough.

1727 May 9 (Tuesday).  It rain’d So that Mr. Baker[1] could not come.

[1]Edward Baker of Westborough.

1727 May 10 (Wednesday).  Mr. Baker and Mr. Charles Rices Son came and planted for me.  I was afflicted with a Boar I lately Cutt, for there was Hazard So late.  N.B. Lecture put by.

1727 May 12, 13 (Friday, Saturday).  My Child was very ill.  In the morning I found the Boar dead.

1727 May 14 (Sunday).  I preach’d on Song 2.3 and Administer’d the Sacrament; p.m. on 2 John 8.

1727 May 15 (Monday).  I went to see Mr. Tainter[1] and Mr. Jonathan Forbush[2] who was sick.  I Sent Some Hair to Boston by Mr. Baker.

[1]Simon Tainter of Westborough.

[2]The younger brother of Thomas and Samuel Forbush of Westborough.  He changed the name to Forbes.  He became a deacon of the church and died in 1768.

1727 May 16 (Tuesday).  I went down to Marlborough.  I acquaint Mr. Breck[1] with my trouble with Mr. Forbush.  He said though he was known to be the plainest and bluntest Man, yet he wondered at his extream Ignorance, unguardedness, etc.

[1]Reverend Robert Breck of Marlborough.

1727 May 17 (Wednesday).  Mr. Stone,[1] Mrs. Goddard[2] and her son David were here.

[1]Lieutenant Isaac Stone of Shrewsbury, selectman of that town.  Ward, Shrewsbury, pp. 423-424.

[2]Probably Mrs. Edward Goddard of Shrewsbury.

1727 May 21 (Sunday).  I preach’d on Ps. 119.9.

1727 May 22 (Monday).  I rode over with my Wife to Mr. Ephraim Allens[1] to see his poor afflicted wife.  I had hair of her which I Sent to Boston by Mr. Hezikiah Ward for we returned by the way of Mr. Brighams.

[1]Of that part of Westborough that later became Northborough.

1727 May 23 (Tuesday).  In the Night I marry’d Mr. Daniel Warrin[1] to Mary Wetherby.

[1]Captain Daniel Warrin or Warren was an original settler of Westborough.  His first wife was Rebecca Garfield.

1727 May 24 (Wednesday).  It was very Cold.  Tis the Day appointed [f]or the ordination of Mr. Amos Throop[1] at Woodstock.  Gods presence be in his Church and with his Servant.

[1](Harvard 1721).  Minister of the First Congregational Church, Woodstock, Conn., 1727-1735.  Sibley, VI, 572-574.

1727 May 25, 26, 27 (Thursday, Friday, Saturday).  I had Sufficient Business with my Sermons, considering especially what my avocations may be next Week.

1727 May 28 (Sunday).  I preach’d again on Ps. 119.9, a.m. but p.m. on Ps. 25.7.  I beseach God to bless these Courses of Sermons not only to the young people of this Town, but to me who stands in the greatest need of assistances of these kinds!

1727 May 29 (Monday).  Early in the morning I rode to Mr. Brecks upon my Journey to Boston, but the weather being various he detain’d me till after dinner when I left him.  I hit upon Judge Meinzies[1] and had his Company to Cambridge.  He was very civil and generous to Me on the Road, though his Conversation I had no great Esteem of.  I turn’d out of the Road to go to Father Champneys and thence proceeded to Boston, and was not much after nine at my Fathers House.

[1]John Menzies, a Justice of the Peace of Middlesex County.

1727 May 30 (Tuesday).  I was not abroad much, except among my Relatives.

1727 May 31 (Wednesday).  Mr. Joseph Baxter of Medfield preach’d the Election sermon from 1 Tim. 2.1.2.  Mr. Stimpson,[1] Mr. Greenwood,[2] Mr. Turell[3] and I din’d with the officers of the Town Militia and the company of Cadys [Cadets?] which waited upon his Honor the Lieutenant Governour.[4]  Mr. Turell Pray’d and it fell to me to return.  The Afternoon was in greatest part Spent at Mr. Henchmans[5] Shop with Mr. Greenwood, Turell, Prince,[6] etc., etc.  We went to Mr. Sewalls[7] to the Convention.  In the Evening I was with Mr. Lowell[8] and his Wife[9] first at his and then at her Fathers.  I was also at Captain Kings where Mr. Joseph Parsons[10] was with Mrs. Porter.  I invited him to lodge with me.  Accordingly he did.  He told me sorrowfull News of Mr. Samuel Coffins[11] being far Spent in a Consumption and his Life dispair’d of.

[1]Joseph Stimpson (Harvard 1720), of Charlestown.  Later minister at Maiden, 1735-1744.  Sibley, VI, 410-411.

[2]Isaac Greenwood, Professor of Mathematics at Harvard College.

[3]Reverend Ebenezer Turell (Harvard 1721), minister of Medford, 1724-1778.  Sibley VI, 574-582.

[4]Lieutenant Governor William Dummer was acting governor at this time, pending the arrival of Governor William Burnet.

[5]Daniel Henchman, publisher and bookseller in Boston.

[6]Nathan Prince, tutor at Harvard and brother of the famous historian, Thomas Prince.

[7]Reverend Joseph Sewall of the Old South Church, Boston.

[8]John Lowell (Harvard 1721) of Boston was the first minister of Newburyport, 1725-1767.  Sibley, VI, 496-502.

[9]Lowell married Sarah Champney, a cousin of Parkman’s wife.

[10](Harvard 1720).  Minister of Bradford, 1726-1765.  Sibley, VI, 393-396.

[11]Brocklebank Samuel Coffin (Harvard 1718) of Newbury.  Sibley, VI, 234.

1727 June 1 (Thursday).  In the morning (family exercises and breakfast ended) we walk’d up to Mr. Sewalls.  Mr. President Wadsworth[1] preach’d in the Convention from Hagg. 1.13.  The Devotions over though there had been long contests and debates about the phrasing of the address drawn up by Mr. Colman[2] to be Sent to his Majestie from the ministers in New England.  Yet there were very hot and very long oppositions today also.  And upon no other than the calling themselves the Ministers of the Churches, and whether it should not be the Teaching Elders, etc.  Mr. Williams[3] of Deerfield was chosen to preach the Next Year.  We din’d at an house Some little way below Mr. Sewalls in the Same Street.

[1]Benjamin Wadsworth, President of Harvard College.

[2]Dr. Benjamin Colman (Harvard 1692), minister of the Brattle St. Church, Boston, 1699-1747.  Sibley, IV, 120-137.

[3]Reverend John Williams (Harvard 1683), first minister of Deerfield, 1686-1729.  Sibley, III, 249-262.

1727 June 2 (Friday).  It was late in the morning before I could set out from Charlston upon my Journey.  I din’d at Father Champneys.  At Mr. Learneds[1] was Mr. Cheney of Brookfield and his wife; and thither came Breck[2] from College.  We all rode up within the bounds of Marlborough together where I parted from my Company.  I got home seasonably.

[1]Thomas Learned was a tavern-keeper in Watertown.

[2]Robert Breck, Jr. (Harvard 1730), son of the Reverend Robert Breck of Marlborough.  Breck, Jr., was later minister of the First Church of Springfield, 1734-1784.  Sibley, VIII, 661-680.

1727 June 3 (Saturday).  I was much Engag’d and Employ’d that I might make up my preparations for the Sabbath.

1727 June 11 (Sunday).  King George dy’d at his Brother Ernest’s Palace at Osnaburg.

1727 June 14 (Wednesday).  The sad News of the Kings Death arriv’d at Richmond and George II was proclaim’d at Leicester House.

1727 July 3 (Monday).  My Little Daughter Molly was extremely ill So that we thought between 9 and 10, She would have expir’d.

1727 July 4 (Tuesday).  Mr. Jonathan Howard[1] dy’d.  My Child was very bad about noon and continued So, Sometime.  But it was Some Comfort that Captain Whoods Widow was with us.

[1]Of Westborough, although the death is not recorded in the Westborough Vital Records.

1727 July 17 (Monday).  I went to Cambridge.

1727 July 18 (Tuesday).  To Boston and return’d to Cambridge.

1727 July 20 (Thursday).  I came home and our Mother Champney[1] with me.

[1]Mrs. Samuel Champney, Sr., Parkman’s mother-in-law.

1727 August 1, 2 (Tuesday, Wednesday).  It was exceeding hot So that I could scarce mind my Business; but was oblig’d to make Some preparation for my Lecture.

1727 August 3 (Thursday).  Mr. Cushing and his Wife happened to come to See us upon this Day.  But he had no Notes with him and I had not finished my Sermon, so that I was debarred their Company very much.  I Lectur’d on 1 Chron. 28.19.  Mr. Cushing pray’d.  His Wife not at Meeting.  After Meeting I had information that Mr. Tomlins[1] Daughter was dead.  A Young Woman that had lain confin’d ever since I had been in Town; and dy’d unbaptis’d.  (O Jesu Misericors ne mihi imputatur).  I went over to the house and discours’d with Mr. Tomlin and with the family, etc.

[1]Isaac Tomblin was an early settler of Westborough.  The Westborough Vital Records do not give the death of this person.

1727 August 4 (Friday).  She was buried.  I was full of Concern.  God Sanctifie her Death to others of her Age and Circumstance.

1727 August 5 (Saturday).  It continues very hot, and parching weather.

1727 August 6 (Sunday).  I had appointed on this Day to administer the Sacrament of the Lords Supper, but we were disappointed, the Elements not being brought up nor the Person (Thomas Ward) that went for them, return’d.  God graciously forgive wherever he has Seen Guilt, and whatever Unpreparedness in his Servants that Should provoke him to debarr us therefrom!  I preach’d on 1 Chron. 28.9, a. and p.m.  It was very hot and I was very faint and weary when the Exercises were over.

1727 August 7 (Monday).   I went to Mr. Thomas Newton’s, who had a great deal to Say about Mr. Peres Rice[1] and wanted much that he Should be brought under Church censure, Seeing the Court of Judicature had found him guilty of violating the Civil law, in the act against Selling drink without License.  I was at said Rices also but not to Discourse with him, nor did I upon anything besides coming to Mow for me.

[1]Son of Thomas Rice, one of the original settlers of Westborough.

1727 August 8 (Tuesday).  Father Champney came up to See us.  It is a favour of heaven that we can hear of the welfare of our Friends, and ought to be thankfully acknowledged.

1727 August 9 (Wednesday).  Mr. Bradish[1] came and by his Help we got in near a load of Hay which was mow’d by Nathaniel Child last Saturday.

[1]James Bradish, an original settler of Westborough.