Author: Anthony Vaver

1738 February 14 (Tuesday).  Mr. Weld of Upton came to See me and [illegible].

1738 February 15 (Wednesday).  Mr. Weld left us.  Pleasant Day.  Jotham Maynard thrashing Rye.  One of my little last year Twin Lambs found Dead at the old House.  At Evening Neighbour Hezekiah Pratt, Mr. Whipple,[1] Mr. Livermore,[2] and Mr. James Fay[3] here.

[1]Francis Whipple.

[2]Jonathan Livermore.

[3]Son of Captain John Fay.

1738 February 16 (Thursday).  I visited Edward Fay Sick at Mr. Increase Wards.  Jotham Maynard thrash’d Rye, and p.m. he clean’d it up.  5 ½ Bushels.  N.B. I reckon’d with Mr. Josiah Newton.  N.B. I deliver’d up to Mr. Hezekiah Pratt a Bond of 900£ which he had given his Parents and which was repos’d in my Hands.

1738 February 17 (Friday).  Very Cold, windy.  Dr. Gott din’d here.

1738 February 18 (Saturday).  Mr. Weld came at Candle Light.  I had a troublesome Cold ride — got no further than to Mr. Phinehas Hardy at Grafton.  Lodg’d there.

1738 February 19 (Sunday).  Mr. Hardy was so kind as to ride over to Upton with me.  A Cold windy Day.  I preach’d on Heb. 13.17.  Was entertain’d at Ensign Jonathan Woods.  Went into Mr. Sadlers[1] after the afternoon service.  Conversation on his wide Difference with Mr. Weld.

[1]Captain John Sadler, one of the first selectmen of Upton.  Upton, Mass., 1735-1935 (Upton, 1936), pp. 11, 14.

1738 February 20 (Monday).  I rode down to Mrs. Dorrs at Mendon, and din’d there.  Mr. Dorr acquainted me with the Disquietments at Bellingham and the late Councils there.  Mr. Weld and my Kinsman came to Mendon.  When we return’d from thence we call’d at Mr. Sadlers and at Captain Hazletines.[1]  Late home and Cold.  My wife had a very ill turn, and had been very ill for Two Dayes.  Keeps her Chamber.  Abort,[2] etc., etc.

[1]John Hazeltine, an early resident and prominent citizen of Upton.

[2]Old usage for an untimely birth or miscarriage.

1738 February 21 (Tuesday).  My wife keeps Chamber.  Mr. Stone[1] of Southborough made us a Visit.

[1]Reverend Nathan Stone.

1738 February 22 (Wednesday).  Read Eusebius Hist. Eccl. by Valesius.[1]  Mr. Maynard and Sister Hicks were kind in visiting my wife.

[1]An English translation of Valesius’ edition of Eusebius, History of the Christian Church, 3 volumes (Cambridge, 1720).

1738 February 23 (Thursday).  It was generally very good pleasant Weather.

1738 February 24 (Friday).  Mr. Jonathan Whipple was So kind as to present me with a Store Pigg about Six weeks old.

1738 February 25 (Saturday).  [No entry.]

1738 February 26 (Sunday).  Matth. 8.21.22.  Eph. 5.25.

1738 February 27 (Monday).  Very Cold.  Brother Breck[1] of Springfield came at Evening.

[1]Samuel Breck (Harvard 1741), Parkman’s brother-in-law, married Elizabeth Cooley of Springfield, Mass., in 1744.  He became a surgeon.

1738 February 28 (Tuesday).  My Spouse first got down stairs after her illness.  After Dinner Brother Breck and my Kinsman rode to Marlborough.  I rode as far with them as my visit to old Mr. Forbush led me.  Mr. Forbush in a very low State and not likely to Continue.  At Evening wrote by Neighbour David Maynard, junior, to Brother Samuel Parkman by who I sent the Ballance of Mr. Billings (Taylor at Boston) Accompt, being 9£.

1738 March 1 (Wednesday).  Expected my Kinsman but in vain.  N.B. Our Brethrens Interest in Marlborough sold by auction for 113£.

1738 March 2 (Thursday).  Lecture on Gal. 6.15.  Church Meeting.  See the Records.

1738 March 3 (Friday).  Brother Breck and my Kinsman return’d and din’d with us.  P.M. Brother Breck went from us on his Journey to Springfield.

1738 March 4 (Saturday).  Fine Weather — invites to Guardening.  The Chive and parsely Sprung.

1738 March 5 (Sunday).  Rain.  Sacrament.  Heb. 10.35.  P.M. Exod. 18.21.  Mr. Greaves, Deacon Fay and his wife din’d with us.  Very much tir’d at night.

1738 March 6 (Monday).  Town meeting.  Chose only 4 select men all Day.  Rain, Cold.

1738 March 7 (Tuesday).  Adjournment of Town Meeting.  Grows Cold again.  N.B. Mr. Jonathan Forbush helped me in laying a front Hearth Stone in my Study.

1738 March 8 (Wednesday).  Cold, windy Day.  Visited old Mr. Thomas Forbush.  My Kinsman (accommodated with Mr. Francis Whipples Horse) rode with me to Shrewsbury.  N.B. Mr. Cushing gone to Lancaster.  N.B. A Meeting of the Proprietors of the Houssatunnoc Township No. 3[1] at Captain Daniel Hows.  And on Consideration of my paying 15£ I was admitted into their Society.  N.B. The peculiar Friendliness of those who were Westborough Members, and especially of Mr. James Miller, who in a Singular manner espoused my Cause.  The remaining Right (of the Seven that were to be disposed of) was sold to the highest Bidder for 26 10s.  Late in the night when we got home, and very Cold, but through the Goodness of God we got home Safe and well.

[1]Later the town of Sheffield, Mass.

1738 March 9 (Thursday).  Catechizing at the Meeting House forenoon and Afternoon.

1738 March 10 (Friday).  I visited old Mr. Thomas Forbush being esteemed to be near his End.  He acknowledged his Passionateness, and rash Speaking, especially in the Times of our Contention, and ask’d forgiveness.

1738 March 11 (Saturday).  A very sharp Storm, — the Snow deep for it fell all Day.

1738 March 12 (Sunday).  I had prepar’d a Discourse to Wives, but I did not care to deliver it because there were So few at meeting.  I repeated a. and p.m. Sermon on Gal. 6.15.

1738 March 13 (Monday).  It was a Day appointed to get Wood for me, but the Depths of the Snow prevented Captain Eager and his Neighbours.  But Captain Warrin and his Son Jonas came with a good Strong Team, and Neighbour Aaron Hardy and his Boy, Samuel Forbush (son of the Ensign) and Charles Bruce, and in the afternoon John Rogers and John Bradish came; and they got me a good Pile, 10 very large Loads, though it was heavy, troublesome Stirring and but one Team.

1738 March 14 (Tuesday).  A.M. John Rogers with their Oxen and mine sledded stones from the Chimney of the Old House, but the Rain prevail’d upon us in so much that we were beat off before noon.  N.B. Lieutenant Holloway[1] brought News from my mother, Brother, etc., with Flower, etc.  N.B. Mr. Wheeler here.  Talk of Jason again.

[1]William Holloway of Westborough.

1738 March 15 (Wednesday).  Very much troubled with the Tooth ach by means of the Cold I took yesterday.

1738 March 16 (Thursday).  The Tooth ach prevails upon me.

1738 March 17 (Friday).  With great difficulty attend’d at all to my Studys, by means of Pain.

1738 March 18 (Saturday).  Blistering relieves me as it has been wont, but am much indispos’d.

1738 March 19 (Sunday).  On Eph. 5.22.33.  N.B. So ill a Night last that when I awak’d in the morning I concluded I Should not be able to go to meeting.  But Samuel Forbush came with an Earnest Request  from his dying Grandfather that I would step down to him.  I rose, and wrapping up well I ventur’d, pray’d with him, etc.  As the Day rose I grew more lively, and by Divine Favour I got through the Exercises.  N.B. Mr. Samuel Mason[1] of Stonington din’d and Supp’d and lodg’d here.

[1]Descendant of Captain John Mason of Pequot War fame.

1738 March 20 (Monday).  Under Indisposition still and great Fear of the Return of the Rheumatism.  N.B. Old Mr. Forbush dy’d last night about 10 o’Clock.  Mr. Mason rode to Mr. Peabodys.