Author: Anthony Vaver

1723 December 6 (Friday).  Mr. Prince[1] preach’d a Lecture.

[1]Reverend Thomas Prince, of the Old South Church, Boston (Harvard 1707).  Sibley, V, 341-368.

1723 December 8 (Sunday).  I preach’d all Day at Newton for Mr. Cotton,[1] on 1 Sam. 16.7.  N.B. Mr. Joseph Champney[2] and Mr. Cotton.

[1]Reverend John Cotton (Harvard 1710).  Sibley, V, 510-524.

[2]Parkman’s classmate (Harvard 1721).  Sibley, VI, 437-439.

1723 December 15 (Sunday).  I rode from Cambridge over to Waterton and preach’d at the Old Meeting house, both a. and p.m. on 2 Cor. 3.11.  Entertain’d at Lieutenant Coolidges.[1]  Return’d at night to Cambridge.

[1]Lieutenant Richard Coolidge, a representative of Watertown.

1723 December 18 (Wednesday).  The Reverend Mr. Gee[1] was ordain’d Colleague Pastor of the Old North Church with Doctor Cotton Mather.

[1]Reverend Joshua Gee (Harvard 1717).  Sibley, VI, 175-183.

1724 January 1 (Wednesday).  To Day it was very Stormy or I should have (according to appointment) visited Mr. Breck.

1724 January 2 (Thursday).  Fair Pleasant Weather invited me to Visit Mr. Breck.  I rode my Landlords horse.  The Conversation was very instructing and very Pleasant.  We Sat up very late discoursing of many Things miscellaneously.  I read Edifying Letters of the Jesuits, Missioners to the East Indies; after I was a bed.

1724 January 3 (Friday).  Mr. Breck oblig’d me to offer the morning Sacrifice.  After Sundry Colloquys we took a Walk to Merchant Woods’.[1]  I borrow’d the Spectator of him (volume 9).  I din’d at Mr. Breck’s.  After a Dinner, a Pipe, and Some Discourse, of Mr. Ickyl’s[2] Seat at Stow, of Westborough, etc., I repair’d home.

[1]Benjamin Woods of Marlborough.

[2]A Mr. Jekyl, an Englishman residing at the lower village in Stow, gave the town a small bell to hang in the meeting house in 1722.  Stow, Mass., 1683-1933 (Stow, n.d.), p. 11

1724 January 4 (Saturday).  I prepar’d (partly) for Sabbath.  In the Afternoon came Mr. Elmer[1] and Mr. Goddard[2] of Shrewsbury as they were passing to Sherborn.  Mr. Elmer invited me in Mr. Barrett’s Name to meet Mr. Barrett and the Company with his Wife, down at Framingham next Wednesday.

[1]Reverend Daniel Elmer (Yale 1713), who preceded Parkman as minister at Westborough.  Dissension arose and Elmer was dismissed.  He moved to Springfield in 1724, and in 1728 was ordained at Fairfield, New Jersey.  DeForest and Bates, Westborough, p. 51.  Franklin B. Dexter, Biographical Sketches of the Graduates of Yale College . . . 1701-1745 (N.Y., 1885), pp. 110-111.

[2]Edward Goddard.

1724 January 5 (Sunday).  I preach’d at Westborough all Day.  My Text was Math. 28.6.  In the Evening I was visited by Mr. Thomas Forbush.[1]

[1]One of the first settlers and selectman of Westborough.  See Frederick C. Pierce, Forbes and Forbush Genealogy (n.p., 1892).

1724 January 6 (Monday).  Town Meeting.  In the Evening Captain Fay and Mr. Oliver Ward[1] with Mr. Daniel How were with me.  Mr. Eliot and I nominated.  Messrs. Baker[2] and Holoway[3] committee.

[1]A selectman of Westborough.

[2]Edward Baker.

[3]William Holloway.

1724 January 7 (Tuesday).  I rode home, p.m., with Mr. Elmer who came to See me this morning.  Upon Seeing Mrs. Elmer in lonely and dejected Circumstances I made many Reflections concerning my own Manner of Living in Future Times, etc.  I went to Mr. Cushings[1] to See his Library and Discourse about Dr. Manton’s Works, 5 Volumes,[2] which he had talk’d of Selling to Me.  I rode back to Mr. Elmers, and (though by this Time it was very Dark) I rode home alone.

[1]Reverend Job Cushing of Shrewsbury (Harvard 1714).  Sibley, VI, 45-46.

[2]Thomas Manton, D.D. (1620-1677), Presbyterian divine, whose numerous works appeared in various editions.

1724 January 8 (Wednesday).  In the Morning came the Committee to treat with a Minister, to acquaint me that the Town had nominated Mr. Eliot with me in order to Choose one of us Minister for This Place.  I was moved with the Thought and manifested to them the Sense I had of the Weightiness of the Affair, And in Truth I was at a Stand (though I did not express any extraordinary hesitation) considering My incapacite on Every head.  But my Eyes and my Heart were directed to the Father of Lights from whom descends every Grace Sufficient that I might be endow’d and prepar’d in Some measure for which his providence might call me.  Mr. Cushing by this Time was come and waited for me below.  The Committee retir’d and I prepar’d to Ride.  Mr. Cushing and I rode to Mr. Whoods to gain Intelligence.  We were directed to Mr. Swifts.  We rode down and got there about Dark.  The Company was not arrived till 8 o’Clock.  Mr. Barrett and his Wife, Two Fathers, Brother Thornton Barrett[1] and Sister Greaves.[2]  Mr. Tilestone[3] and Son James[4] were there.  Mr. Tylestone informed me of the Death of Uncle Clough[5] and Mr. John Mountfort[6] at Boston.  We Sup’d very plentifully and for Rarity had a Pea-Hen roasted.  I lodg’d there with Mr. Tilestone and Mr. Thornton Barrett.

[1]Of Hopkinton.

[2]Perhaps Rachel Graves, wife of Joseph Graves of Framingham.

[3]Probably James Tileston (1678-c. 1740) of Boston.

[4]James, Jr. (b. 1704), son of above.

[5]Ebenezer Clough, father-in-law of Ebenezer Parkman’s brother, Elias.

[6]A prominent merchant of Boston.

1724 January 9 (Thursday).  In the Morning Mr. Swift oblig’d me to pray, and to return Thanks after Breakfast.  Mr. Morris and Deacon Barrat[1] went Back to Boston.  By the Deacon I convey’d a Letter to John Hicks[2] for me.  Between 12 and 1 o’Clock we Set out from Mr. Swift’s for Hopkinton.  We stop’d at the Tavern (Maynards)[3] where there was a great Number of Hopkinton People, and at Mr. Jones’s[4] we stop’d also.  Colonel How[5] was in the Company and with great Ceremony congratulated me.  We rode together on the Journey to Hopkinton, and he Gave me to Understand that he had been at Westborough at his Son Agar’s where he was informed how Affairs were carry’d on.  And the Colonel told me of the Opposition Mr. Thomas Ward[6] endeavour’d to raise, of which I believe more may be Said hereafter.  At Hopkinton there were very plentiful Provisions made, And there were many People.  In the Evening we Sang a Psalm, the 128 by Mr. Deming[7] and Sundry Psalm Tunes.  I had a great Deal of Discourse with Mr. Barret, of the Country, etc.  Mr. Deming, Mr. Cushing and I rode home with Mr. Whood.  Mr. Deming pray’d.  Mr. Cushing and I lodg’d together.

[1]Samuel Barrett, father of Reverend Samuel Barrett of Hopkinton.

[2]Of Cambridge.

[3]Jonathan Maynard’s tavern in Framingham.

[4]Colonel John Jones, then in Hopkinton (now Ashland).

[5]Thomas Howe of Marlborough.

[6]One of the first inhabitants of Westborough.

[7]Probably Daniel Deming (Harvard 1700) who had been minister at Needham, Mass., and was later supply pastor at Lyme, Conn.  Sibley, IV, 518-519.

1724 January 10 (Friday).  In the Morning I was appointed to go back to Mr. How’s (upon Mr. Cushing’s Horse) to Bring Madame Graves in Company with Mr. Barrett and Madame, Old Mr. How[1] and his Wife.  We din’d at Mr. Whoods Upon roast Goose, roast Pea hen, Bak’d Stuff’d Venison, Beef, Pork, etc.  After Dinner we Smoak’d a Pipe, read Governor Shute’s[2] Memorial to the King and Mr. Cushing and I rode home.  This Eve I visited Old Mr. Rice.[3]  Ensign Newton[4] was with him.  I borrow’d an Horse of him for my Service to Marlborough and to Stow.  I returned Mr. Pratt’s[5] Horse, which I had Us’d through all these Frolicks, by his young Son.  In the Morning I rode to Marlborough.  After Dinner (upon Roast Beef) with Mr. Breck, and our Concerting Measures upon Changing, Mr. Breck rode away for Westborough.

[1]Captain Thomas Howe of Marlborough.

[2]Governor Samuel Shute of Mass.

[3]Thomas Rice of Westborough.  See Andrew H. Ward, A Genealogical History of the Rice Family (Boston, 1858).

[4]Thomas Newton of Westborough.

[5]John Pratt of Westborough.

1724 January 11 [?] (Sunday).  I preach’d all Day at Marlborough from 1 Sam. 16.7.  In the Evening Mr. Breck returned.

1724 January 12 (Monday).  In the Forenoon Mr. Breck and I rode to Stow to Mr. Gardners[1] and over to See Mr. Ickyls Seat.  We arrived again at Marlborough about Seven, Evening.

[1]Reverend John Gardner (Harvard 1715).  Sibley, VI, 88-90.

1724 January 13 (Tuesday).  [No entry.].

1724 February 28 (Saturday).  I receiv’d the Vote of the Town of Westborough in which I am call’d to the great and arduous Work of the Gospel Ministry among them.[1]

[1]See DeForest and Bates, Westborough, pp. 62-63.  On Jan. 6,1724 the Westborough town meeting appointed “a Commeete to Go to Sum Reverend ordained Elders that are
a quanted with Mr. Ebenezer Parkman and Mr. Jacob Eliot, Both of Boston, and Candideats for the ministry, for their advice and Recommendation in order for Election as the Law Directs.”  In February Parkman was chosen minister and the town voted a yearly salary of £80, and £150 for “a settlement,” the latter to be paid in three equal annual installments.

1724 June 5 (Friday).  Answer’d the Town of Westborough in the Affirmative, relying upon their Christian Goodness and Generosity (Since they Shew such fervent Affection to me) to maintain and Support me among them, according to which this Office they call me to shall require.

1724 July 1 (Wednesday).  Commencement.  Happen’d to be the Day I receiv’d my Master’s Degree.[1]

[1]Parkman married Mary Champney, a daughter of Samuel and Hannah Champney of Cambridge on July 7, 1724 in Cambridge.  See Paige, Cambridge, p. 507, and Cambridge Vital Records, II, 299.  DeForest and Bates, Westborough, p. 71, incorrectly give the place and date of the marriage as Boston, Sept. 14,1724.

1724 August 1 (Saturday).  I prepar’d for the Sabbath.  Mr. John Prat came to Me concerning my Hay.  He had bargain’d with me to take it by the Halves.  But his Business now was to tell me that he had found that was like to be but about 7 Loads and he thought I had better profit all for my own Spending.  He said he had got Two loads of it in Cock for me.  I Should be welcome to his Labour therein and he would help Me in Mowing another Day if I could procure him Company.  I was very thankful to his kind Disposition and determin’d to accept.  About nine this Evening we had an Alarm all over Town but heard no Cause.

1724 August 2 (Sunday).  I preach’d all Day.  My Text:  Acts 2.37.38.

1724 August 3 (Monday).  Rainy Weather.  I went out to get Men to Mow and Make my Hay.  I was at Mr. Rice’s.  His son Beriah[1] agreed.  At Mr. Prats his Son agreed, and the old Man himself engag’d to See to the Making.  This was very kind.  But I got Mr. Clark[2] to help him.  I was at Mr. Aaron Forbushes[3] and Bakers.  Returning home I was caught in the Rain and was very Wet.  Went into Mr. Prats to Dry and get a Coat.  Thence home.  The Next Day I was at the

[1]Beriah Rice (b. 1702), son of Thomas Rice.

[2]Westborough Vital Records (Worcester, 1903) do not give any record of a Clark in this period.

[3]An early inhabitant of Westborough.

1724 August 4 (Tuesday).  Fast at Hopkington [sic] in order to Ordination.  Mr. Baker a.m., Mr. Dor[1] and Mr. Swift p.m.  They Read a Paper of Meeting to Pray and Confer, etc.  N.B. We met in Mr. Barrett’s New House.  Immediately after Exercises I rode away for Cambridge and got down about Eleven.  N.B. Mr. Hobby[2] speaker at Hopkinton.

[1]Reverend Joseph Dorr (Harvard 1711) of Mendon, Mass.  Sibley, V, 574-578.

[2]William Hobby (Harvard 1725).  Later minister of First Church at Reading, now Wakefield, Mass.  Sibley, VII, 530-537.

1724 August 5 (Wednesday).  Brother Hinds[1] [Hicks?] talked very hot about Living at Westborough.

[1]Perhaps Jacob Hinds (1685-1764?) who lived at various times in Brookfield, Marlborough, Shrewsbury and West Boylston.
[Note: This may have been a misreading for John Hicks.]

1724 August 6 (Thursday).  I rode round to Boston but did not get there till Lecture was over.  The News was Malden Emerson’s[1] House was Burnt last Friday Night.  Four Men taken at Rutland, 3 kill’d and one Captur’d.[2]  There was one more wounded.  I rode up to Cambridge to Night though it rain’d all the way.

[1]Reverend Joseph Emerson (Harvard 1717) of Maiden.  Boston News-Letter, Aug. 6, 1724.  Sibley, VI, 170-175.

[2]Boston News-Leiter, Aug. 6, 1724.  The three men who perished were James Clark, Joseph Wood and Uriah Wood. Eleazer Ball was wounded.  The name of a boy captured is unknown.  Blake, Rutland and the Indian Troubles, pp. 10-11.

1724 August 7 (Friday).  I rode to Framingham.  Lodg’d at Mr. Jones’s.[1]  I visited Increase Ward.[2]

[1]Colonel John Jones.

[2]The only Increase Ward noted lived in Westborough.

1724 August 8 (Saturday).  In the Morning I rode to Hopkinton.  Mrs. Spencer here still.  I read severall fine Poems, etc.

1724 August 9 (Sunday).  I preach’d at Hopkinton; Mr. Barrett at Westborough.  My Text was Rev. 3.20, and John 15.14.  N.B. The first (through forgetfullness) I preach’d the Second time in this place.

1724 August 10 (Monday).  Mr. Barrett’s Wife and Mrs. Spencer rode with Me to White Hall.[1]  In the After noon we gathered Hazelnutts.  Towards Evening rode home.

[1]A large pond in Hopkinton.

1724 August 11 (Tuesday).  In My Study of King on Church.

1724 August 12 (Wednesday).  Visited Landlord Maynard.  He not at Home.

1724 August 13 (Thursday).  I rode to Marlborough Lecture.  Mr. Cushing preach’d.  After Lecture Mr. Gardiner of Stow came to Mr. Brecks.  Captain Fay[1] and Mr. Prat rode home with me.

[1]Captain John Fay.

1724 August 14 (Friday).  Read Martin Mar Prelate, and prepar’d for the Sabbath this and

15th Day.