Author: Anthony Vaver

1737 March 1 (Tuesday).  It had been very Icy and now by a snow upon the Ice and it was very Slippery and Troublesome riding.  I rode to Mr. Cook’s[1] to fix my Horse.  Called at Capt. Forbush’s.[2]

[1]Forbes: Cornelius Cook, the blacksmith, was living at this time in the house still standing on the corner of East-Main and Lyman streets.  This house was deeded to Cook, by his father-in-law, Thomas Forbush, in 1732, with four acres of land, for £4. 5s.  Cornelius was the father of the famous Tom Cook.  (See Aug. 27, 1779.)

He had eight other children: Jonathan, the oldest, was the father of Molly Cook, almost as well known for her eccentricities as her uncle Thomas.

Walett: Cornelius Cook, the blacksmith of Westborough.

[2]Forbes: Capt. Forbush was Samuel Forbush, and he lived in the house now standing on the corner of Lyman Street and the Turnpike.  The house has been enlarged since his day, but is probably the oldest in town.  For many years it was used as a tavern.  Samuel Forbush was a brother of Thomas, both of them being among the original settlers of Westborough.

Walett: Samuel Forbush.

1737 March 2 (Wednesday).  Sister Lydia rode down to Cambridge with me.  N.B. We sat out somewhat before 10 A.M., rode double, yet got to Father Champney’s at Cambridge promptly at 5 P.M.  N.B. Mr. John Jarvis was returning from his journey to Marlborough, whither he had been to wait upon Mrs. Hannah Breck,[1] who made a visit yesterday to her sister Mrs. Gott[2] in her illness.

 

From Father Champney’s I rode to Roxbury, called at Mr. Increase Sumner’s.  Thence I rode to Boston, waited upon my mother, and then went and Supped at Brother Elias’s.  N.B. Mr. Bowman the wharfinger and his wife at Supper with us.  My Horse sent to his Stables.  Lodged at Brother Elias’s.

[1]Walett: The daughter of the late Reverend Robert Breck of Marlborough who married Reverend Parkman of Westborough, Sept. 1, 1737.

[2]Walett: Sarah Breck, also a daughter of the Reverend Breck, married Dr. Benjamin Gott of Marlborough in 1728.

1737 March 3 (Thursday).  Mr. Mather[1] Lectured on [blank] against Covetousness.  Dined at Brother Samuel’s.[2]  P.M. visited Mrs. Pierpont,[3] Mrs. Hannah being at Marlborough.  Mr. Pierpont also had taken a Journey to New Haven.  Towards night I rode over to Roxbury.  N.B. Mrs. Sumner ill.[4]  I proceeded to Capt. Sharp’s.[5]  By Capt. Sharp’s strong Solicitation I tarried all night.  N.B. Mrs. Susan not very willing to think of going so far in the Country as Westborough, etc., etc., etc.

[1]Forbes: Probably Rev. Samuel Mather, son of Cotton Mather.  He was the fourth pastor of the dynasty of the Mathers over the Old North Church.  In 1765, he was living in Moon St., and Gov. Hutchinson took refuge in his house when his own elegant mansion was sacked by a mob.

He died June 27, 1785, aged seventy-six, and is buried on Copp’s Hill, in the Mather Tomb with Increase and Cotton.

Walett: Reverend Samuel Mather of the Old North Church, Boston.

[2]Walett: Samuel Parkman of Boston.

[3]Walett: Mary, the widow of Reverend James Pierpont (Harvard 1681) of New Haven.  She was the daughter of Reverend Samuel Hooker of Farmington, Conn., and the granddaughter of Reverend Thomas Hooker, the first minister of Hartford.  Parkman was very fond of Mrs. Pierpont and she appears in the diary numerous times.  After her death, Nov. 1, 1740, Parkman wrote a long eulogy which he intended to publish but did not.  The manuscript is in the library of the American Antiquarian Society.  See Sibley, III, 222-230.  Note: Walett is mistaken.  This was Sarah Pierpont, wife of James Pierpont, Jr.

[4]Walett: Mrs. Increase Sumner.

[5]Walett: In Brookline.

1737 March 4 (Friday).  I rode to Father Champney’s.  Thence I went over to the Town.  N.B. Mr. Jonathan Monnef. Junior at Father Champney’s.  I returned P.M. from Town and went again to Capt. Sharp’s.  N.B. Capt. Sharp and Madame gone to the Funeral of a Relation at Roxbury.  I tarried whilst the Capt. and his Spouse came home.  Arguments which be fruitless with Mrs. Susan.  I returned to Father Champney’s between 8 and 9 in the Evening.

1737 March 5 (Saturday).  Sister Lydia was willing to go up again to Westborough with me if the weather would allow.  Upon her mentioning her carrying up some other Coloured clothes than her black, and our putting off our Mourning it (by Degrees) moved me very much and my Passions flowed almost beyond Controll, till I was obliged to retire away.  Every matter was most exceeding Sorrowful to me.  The weather was very discouraging to Sister Lydia’s Design, nor could she in prudence venture tho I tarryed for her till 11 when I sat out.  It rained and I had a very wet troublesome Journey.  I rode over the new Bridge in Sudbury and went to Capt. Clark’s[1] of Framingham.  The Waters flow abundantly, Ice rotts away, the Snow melts again, the Rain beats and the Storm strong.  Capt. Clark very urgent to have me stay, but I was resolute to get as far as I could.  I called at Mr. Stone’s[2] at Southborough, and about nine at night reached home.  D.O.M. Gratia.

[1]Forbes: Capt. Isaac Clark, of Framingham, was a noted man in his day.  He commanded a company of troopers which was out in Father Raile’s War in 1725, and one his one hundredth birthday rode horseback to and from Col. Trowbridge’s.  He lived to be one hundred and two, and died in 1768.  His gravestone says: “His offspring that descended from him was two hundred and fifty-one.”

Walett:  Isaac Clark.

[2]Walett: Reverend Nathan Stone (Harvard 1726), first minister of Southborough, 1730-1781.  Sibley, VIII, 99-105.

1737 March 6 (Sunday).  Repeated Sermon on Acts 2.37.38.  Dr. Thyery at meeting.

1737 March 7 (Monday).  Dr. Thyery visited me and dined with me.  I prayed with the Town before their Elections.  Mr. Prentice of Grafton visited me, and note well that the Day I went from home last week both he and his wife came to see me, just after we were gone.  A very fine pleasant Day.

1737 March 8 (Tuesday).  Cloudy.  Some Snow.  N.B. Many of the People gone to Sudbury about Housetonic Rights.[1]

[1]Walett: The development of Houssatonnuc townships was a matter of interest to numerous people in central Massachusetts.  Reverend Parkman later purchased a share in the area that became Sheffield.

1737 March 9 (Wednesday).  The water everywhere exceeding high.  Visit Mr. Sam Fay, and Stephen Fay.

1737 March 10 (Thursday).  The Winds more than ordinarily violent.  A Barn was blown down in Framingham.  A man narrowly escaped drowning at Framingham River.  The water being so deep, the Current so strong and the Winds so impetuous.

1737 March 11 (Friday).  Divers Neighbours (Mr. Maynard, Mr. Grout, and Mr. Chas. Rice), here in the Evening.  Catechizing, but only 4 boys, beside my own.  No catechizing P.M.  No children came.

1737 March 12 (Saturday).  [No entry.]

1737 March 13 (Sunday).  A.M. on Matt. 7.6 and P.M. repeated Sermon 46 being the 4th on Act 2.37.38.

1737 March 14 (Monday).  I visited Stephen Fay, Capt. Fay and old Mr. Rice.[1]  David went away.

[1]Forbes: Probably Thomas Rice, who was at this time eighty-three years old.  He had formerly lived on the same road as the Fays, in the house which had earlier served for many years as a garrison, and near which occurred the sad tragedy of 1704, when two of his sons and two of his nephews were carried into captivity, while his youngest little boy was killed by the attacking Indians.

Thomas was one of the original settlers of the town and one of its most prominent citizens.  He served in the Legislature, and did his best to promote the welfare of the Church and town during a long life.  He died in 1748.

The house of Mr. Frank V. Bartlett now stands on the site of his old home.  This place he had sold, and Abner Newton was living there in 1737, when his dwelling-house was entered in the night-time by Hugh Henderson, who paid the penalty of his crime with his life in November, as recorded in the Journal for that month.

Walett: Thomas Rice, an original settler of Westborough.

1737 March 15 (Tuesday).  Early in the morning to Mr. Whipples,[1] etc.  At noon I was extremely indisposed.  Faint etc.  Storm, snow.  P.M. Dr. Thyery was here, I grew better.  D.G.

[1]Walett: Francis Whipple of Westborough.

1737 March 16 (Wednesday).  Dies. Humill. and Proc. Secret.  See my own Memoirs.  At eve, Mr. Whipple.  N.B. An ewe that was gored very ill — fine pleasant Day.  Roads extremely hollow.  Some of the oldest persons declare they scarce ever knew the Earth to have been so frozen as this winter.

1737 March 17 (Thursday).  A.M. Storm of snow.  Rain.  Trouble with my sick ewe.  Mr. Whipple to Boston.

1737 March 18 (Friday).  P.M. I rode to Marlborough to Colonel Wood’s.[1]  Eve at Dr. Gott’s.[2]  Mrs. Gott had been very ill, but is recovering.  Mrs. Hannah Breck with her, but I spent my time with the men, scil. the Dr. Coll. and Mr. Daniel Steward.[3]  Late in the Evening Deacon Woods[4] came to request me to visit a young woman at his House (Dauter of Mr. Samuel Stow)[5] apprehended to be at the Point of Death.  I went, prayed with her etc.  I lodged at Colonel Wood’s.

[1]Walett: Colonel Benjamin Woods.

[2]Forbes: Dr. Benj. Gott, a young physician in Marlborough, had married Sarah, daughter of the Rev. Robert Breck.  Hannah was a younger sister, at this time being twenty-one years old.  Her father had been a good friend of Mr. Parkman, when he first came to Westborough, and was a remarkable man.  He was ordained pastor when twenty-two.  “As to his learning,” says a writer in the News Letter for January 21, 1731, “I suppose it will be no offence to say, there were few of his standing that were even his equals.  He was such a master of the learned languages that he could, and did, frequently, to the capacity of his family, read a Chapter of the Hebrew Bible into English, and the Greek was still easier to him.  Pride, hypocrisy and affectation were his aversion; and covetousness was what he was a perfect stranger to.  His temper was grave and thoughtful, yet cheerful at times, especially with his friends and acquaintances, and his conversation entertaining and agreeable.”

Mr. Parkman and Mistress Hannah were married September 11, 1737 – all her objections finally overcome.  A piece of her wedding dress, and her wedding slippers are still treasured by Mrs. Tuckerman.  The dress is a heavy, white gros grain silk – the bodice evidently made with many rows of stitching, between which were run strips of cane.

The slippers are of brocaded silk – a green ground with figures in yellowish white and various shades of red – the heels are high, covered with the silk, and they are lined with a coarse linen.

Walett: Benjamin Gott of Marlborough.

[3]Walett: Daniel Stewart of Marlborough.

[4]Walett: There was no Deacon Woods in Marlborough at this time.  James Woods was elected in 1741 and served many years.

[5]Walett: Mary Stow died March 20, 1737.

1737 March 19 (Saturday).  A.M. To Dr. Gott’s, but a short space with Mrs. Hannah.[1]  At my Request, she had (she assured me) burnt my Letters, Poems etc.  P.M. Funeral of Capt. Eleazer How.[2]  Capt. Brigham[3] informed of the Death of President Wadsworth,[4] the Night before last, also lately Part of Northampton Meeting-House fell and wounded many, in time of Divine Service, and the Burning of Young Colonel Chandler’s[5] House at Woodstock, and three persons consumed in it, scil, Mrs. Wright, her son and a man who was asleep with him.  I returned home.  At eve, Dr. Thiery at my house in great Urgency going to Boston for Drugs, to relieve Stephen Fay, no persuading him to the Contrary although the Roads are extreme bad, the night Dark etc.  N.B. A piece of Cotton Linnen of 12 yards from Mr. Caruths.

[1]Walett: Hannah Breck of Marlborough whom the Rev. Parkman was courting.

[2]Walett: Of Marlborough. The commander of a company of militia.

[3]Walett: Nathan Brigham of Marlborough.

[4]Walett: President Benjamin Wadsworth of Harvard College.

[5]Walett: Lieutenant-Colonel Thomas Chandler, Woodstock’s first representative to the Gen- eral Assembly of Conn. Clarence W. Bowen, Woodstock An Historical Sketch (New York, 1886), p. 47.

1737 March 20 (Sunday).  On Matt. 7.7.8.  P.M. on Matt. 7.9.10.11.

1737 March 21 (Monday).  I visited Stephen Fay — was at the Capt.’s, find Thyery is not a man of Truth or Probity.  At Cousin Winchester’s etc.

1737 March 22 (Tuesday).  Rain and Cloudy.  Visited old Mr. Ward’s[1] Family, reckoned with Mr. Josiah Newton.  Rainy — came home in the Night and in the Rain.

[1]Walett: Probably Thomas Ward, an original settler of Westborough.

1737 March 23 (Wednesday).  Cold northerly wind.  P.M. visited old David Monanaow,[1] Indian, he tells me he was 104 last Indian Harvest.  Says the name of Boston was not Shawmut but Shanwawmuck.  Channcy Pond was called Nawgawwoomcom and Marlborough, [blank].  N.B. Mr. Seth Rice[2] here about this time to discourse with me on the life of his sister Thankful.  I visited Mr. D. Brigham’s[3] family, and old Capt. Byles.[4]

[1]Forbes: After King Philip’s War, some of the Marlborough Indians who had been taken prisoners and confined on the islands in Boston harbor, returned to their old homes.

“Among those who returned,” says Rev. Dr. Allen, of Northborough, “was David alias David Munnanaow, who joined Philip and, as he afterwards confessed, assisted in the destruction of Medfield.  This treacherous Indian had, it is said, a slit thumb, which circumstance led to his conviction. . . .

“His wigwam was on the borders of the pond near the public house long known as Williams’ Tavern, where he lived with his family many years and died in extreme old age.”

The last members of David’s family still made their homes in the field by the pond, within the memory of many persons now living.  Until very lately, an extremely old chestnut has been pointed out as the tree under which these Indians had their wigwam.  It was called the Wigwam Tree.  At last, like old David himself, it has succumbed to old age.

Walett: Sometimes spelled Munnanaw and Munnanaow. He fought with King Philip but afterwards returned to his home in Marlborough.

[2]Walett: Seth Rice and his sister Thankful were 2 of the children of Edmund Rice, an original settler of Westborough.

[3]Walett: One of Parkman’s neighbors.

[4]Walett: Captain Joseph Byles of Westborough.

1737 March 24 (Thursday).  Froze hard again last night.  Cold windy day.

1737 March 25 (Friday).  I rode to Marlborough, din’d with Mr. Hovey at Mm. Madame Fish’s.  Spent the afternoon at Dr. Gott’s — was at the Colonel’s, but returned to Doctor’s.  Mr. Hovey there with a Bass Viol.  N.B. Mrs. H___h B___k at the Doctor’s still.  Our conversation of a piece with what it used to be.  I mark her admirable Conduct, her Prudence and wisdom, her good manners and her distinguishing Respectfulness to me which accompany her Denyals.  After it grew late in the Evening, I rode home to Westb., through the Dark and the Dirt, but cheerfully and comfortably (comparatively).  N.B. My Family all abed.

1737 March 26 (Saturday).  I had appointed to ride to Grafton in order to changing with Mr. Prentice tomorrow, but it proved so very Rainy all day that it was unpracticable.

1737 March 27 (Sunday).  Fair and pleasant Day.  Matt. 7.12 A.M., but P.M. repeated Sermon II, Acts 2.37.38.  N.B. Mr. Silas Brigham[1] and Mr. Eleazer Pratt[2] of Shrewsbury had desired me to baptize their Children.  Accordingly, in my manner I desired the Children might be brought forth to Baptism.  But only one appeared.  I looked about till I conceived that something had befallen the other or those concerned with it.  I proceeded and baptized Mr. Pratt’s (which was the Child that was brought) when the prayers were over we proceeded to the last Singing; in the Time of the last Singing Mr. Brigham and his Child came in.  After the Blessing and when I was down in the Alley going out, Mr. Brigham asked me whether his child could not be baptized.  I ans’d, it could not now.  My Reasons are these.  Besides that, when I am spent with the foregoing Services, it is too much to expect me to repeat over them again.  Besides that, such a custom indulged would involve us in great irregularity and Difficulty, but this administration for my known Friends would have forced me to make it a custom, and besides the impatience of many of the Congregation to get away home, being they live 4, 5 or 6 miles off.  Besides those Reasons, I would urge that is was so very sudden upon me that I could not judge which way I could vindicate it if I should proceed.  Again, by the suddenness I was too much confused to have my Power at command to perform the Devotions; nor was I furnished therefor (Eccl. 5.1.2).  So that it would have been nothing short of horrible Presumption for me to have done it.  Lydia Cutting not well.

[1]Forbes: Mr. Silas Brigham, so unfortunately tardy this Sunday morning – had married Mindwell Grout, and the baby Jemima born four days before this, was their first child.  She married Constantine Hardy.

Mr. Eleasar Pratt lived near Wild Cat Swamp, and was afterwards set off to Westborough.  His baby, Sarah, was nearly six months old, and he hardly deserved so much more credit as Mr. Parkman would seem to give him, for he had his good wife Ruhamah to get the baby attired in its best frock, with the deftness which the care of three older children had given her.

Poor Silas Brigham, and poor Mindwell!  How they must have worried, and how flushed his young face must have been when he marched down the aisle, after all the hurry, to have his pride in his first-born so humbled by the Minister’s censure.

The Church Records say under date of April 3, 1737: “Jemima of Silas and Mindwell Brigham baptized by Rev. Mr. Prentice of Grafton.”

Walett: Of Westborough.  The child was Jemima, born 4 days before.  On April 3, 1737 the child was baptized by Reverend Prentice of Grafton.

[2]Walett: Eleazer and Ruhamah Pratt lived in a part of Shrewsbury later added to Westborough. Their child, Sarah, was six months old.

1737 March 28 (Monday).  Lydia [1]worse, having a bad Ague in her face and it threw her wholly by; but it was so ordered in Providence, that Deborah Ward came to see us and she served us.

 

Adjournment of Town Meeting.  N.B. Brother Hicks[2] had been chosen Constable, but gets off by virtue of a Commission to be Deputy Sheriff.  (David Baverick diets here).

[1]Walett: Lydia Champney, the sister of Parkman’s first wife.

[2]Walett: John Hicks, Parkman’s brother-in-law by his first marriage.

1737 March 29 (Tuesday).  Very Rainy.  Lydia worse, considerable Fever.  Benj. How with David at his work and din’d with us.  Neither of them to be persuaded to go for Dr. Gott for Lydia.  Jonathan Rogers came to go, but we did not send.

1737 March 30 (Wednesday).  Lydia somewhat better, very fine weather.

1737 March 31 (Thursday).  Publick Fast.  I preached on Isa. 1.9.  N.B. Mr. Abraham Amsden of Marlb. here to desire me to attend the Funeral of his Brother Thomas’ only Son,[1] a youth near 21, and very hopeful, who died after a short illness of but a few Days.  O that I and that the people of Westb., at least some of them might be of that small Remnant which God has left of truely Godly Ones!  and O that we might have Grace to Demean and to acquit ourselves as such; and that it might please God to keep off His Judgments that this Land may not be made as Sodom and like unto Gomorrah, but that the Div. Mercy might be afforded to us as we need it and that Glory may yet Dwell in our Land!

[1]Walett: Joseph, who had died the day before.

1737 April 1 (Friday).  I rode down to Marlb. to the Funeral of Joseph Amsden’s.[1]  Many youth present and seem to be affected.  O that there might be abiding impression on their souls!  and upon all of us.  This is the second Death in that near Neighbourhood of youth in Flower and Glory within a very little while.  N.B. This Joseph Amsden was one of the Bearers of the other, scil, the young woman that Dyed at Deacon James Wood’s on the 19th of last month.  After Burial I returned to Capt. Amsden’s to afford him what consolation I could under his melancholy circumstances.  N.B. Coll. Woods with me.  N.B. Capt. Nathan Brigham gave further accounts of the Fury of the Mob at Boston[2] — assaulting the Town House etc.  At Eve, I was at Dr. Gotts, Mrs. H___h was thought to be gone up to Mr. Week’s[3] or Capt. Williams,[4] with design to lodge there, but she returned to the Doctors.  And she gave me her Company till it was very late.  Her Conversation was very Friendly, and with divers expressions of Singular and Peculiar Regard.  Memorandum.  Oscul:  But she cannot yield to being a step mother.  I lodged there, and with great satisfaction and Composure.

 

Memorandum.  Ebenezer[1] has begun to learn his 2. Accidence[2] and now makes a business of it.

 

[Note: There is a gap in the diary between April 1 and September 20.]

 

[1]Walett: Parkman’s first son, born Aug. 20, 1727.

[2]Forbes: The 2. Accidence was a small book containing the rudiments of grammar.

[1]Walett: Abraham and Thomas, as well as Captain Isaac, were sons of Isaac Amsden, an early resident of Marlborough.

[2]Forbes: From Boston News Letter for April 1, 1737: — “On Thursday Night the 24 instant, the middle Market House in this Town, together with several Butchers’ Shops near the same, were cut, pulled down and entirely demolished by a number of persons unknown: and several posts of the North Market House were also sawn asunder the same Night.”

In consequence of which Gov. Phipps issued a proclamation offering a reward of one hundred pounds for the detection of any of the ringleaders.

[3]Walett: Supply Weeks of Marlborough.

[4]Walett: Captain Abraham Williams of Marlborough married Elizabeth Breck, sister of Hannah Breck.

1737 September [20?].  [Blank] which were upon their journey to Connecticut came to see us, dined with us and prevented us (altho Sister Lydia and Mrs. Bekky were gone already as Earnest of our Going) till so late in the P.M., then the Rain coming also that we were utterly disappointed.

1737 September 21 (Wednesday).  We rode to Cousen Winchester,[1] but they being gone and their neighbours also to Worcester, we struck along up to Mr. Prentice’s at Grafton.  N.B. Their son Nathaniel’s finger had been wounded, the Top of one of his Fingers being cut off.  N.B. Mrs. Sartel[2] of Groton here.  Called at Capt. Fay’s as we returned home in ev’g.

[1]Walett: Elizabeth Champney, cousin of Parkman’s first wife, was the second wife of Benjamin Winchester of Framingham.

[2]Walett: Probably a relative of Sarah Sartele (Sartell or Sawtell) who married Reverend Solomon Prentice of Grafton in 1732.

1737 September 22 (Thursday).  Visited Capt. Eager’s wife[1] who had been some time sick.

[1]Forbes: Capt. Eager was one of the first settlers in that part of Westborough which afterwards became Northborough.  His house was the first built on the New Connecticut Road, between Sam’l Goodenow’s Garrison and the Town of Worcester.  It was the first tavern opened in the place.  He died in 1755.

Walett: James Eager of Westborough.