Author: Anthony Vaver

1738 December 28 (Thursday).  At about 4 in the morning Mrs. Forbush call’d me up with great earnestness to gather some women together.  It was very Cold, and I ran on foot to sister Hicks and to old Mrs. Knowlton — sent to Mrs. Maynard and rode to Mrs. Byles, all which came together by Daybreak.  We were in the Article of Distress.  About Seven o’Clock my Fourth Daughter was born.  An exceeding Small Child and great doubt whether it would continue alive.  But my wife in a good State, through the wondrous Goodness and Mercy of God.  A Cold Day.  Sent Ebenezer Maynard to Dr. Gotts, and to call Mrs. Mary Sherman[1] to Nurse.  N.B. Sear’d the Ox which continued bleeding.  N.B. Suse Cutting,[2] being married to John Rogers, as I concluded, is come up to dwell at Neighbour Rogers’s.  Nurse watch’d.

[1]Mrs. John Sherman of Marlborough.

[2]John Rogers of Westborough married Susanna Cuttin in Watertown Dec. 26, 1738.

1738 December 29 (Friday).  Mrs. Forbush carried home by Ebenezer.  N.B. Mrs. Tainter here to discourse with me upon the Offence I had manifested at her Daughters being the Introducers of Velvet whoods among young persons of low Rank in the Congregation and she in a Christian manner Submitted and ask’d forgiveness inasmuch as She had been the Author of it.  Martha Maynard[1] watch’d.

[1]Daughter of David Maynard of Marlborough.

1738 December 30 (Saturday).  My wife in great Pain.  Mrs. Maynard here.  At Evening my wife exceedingly pained under her Breasts — thought to be the Coming of her milk.  Molly Lee and the Nurse watch’d.

1738 December 31 (Sunday).  Cold, p.m. Snowy.  Concluded the Year with Rev. 20.12 and Discourse before the Baptism of my Daughter Elizabeth God hath Sworn on Mal. 3.17.  My Wife Easier to Day.  Rebecca Hicks[1] watch’d.  As I have renewed my Engagement unto God and given up my Self and mine to Him, So, on the other Hand, God himself hath Sworn that they that Fear Him Shall be His in the Day that He will make up his Jewells.  And O that We might be of that number!  And that this Dear Infant in particular may be a rich Jewell in the Cabinet of God!  In finishing the Year God enable me to have a reallizing thought of the finishing of all Things, and that Great Day of the Eternal Doom for all both Small and Great, that I may be found ready for it whenever it Shall break forth!

[1]Mrs. John Hicks, Parkman’s sister-in-law.

1739 January 1 (Monday).  It may with great Reason affect us that the Waste of Years which hasten us into Eternity, makes no more impression upon us, or no more abiding!

1739 January 2 (Tuesday).  I rode to Marlborough round by Mr. Josiah Rice’s[1] and Captain Eagers.[2]  My Little son Thomas rode with me.  Rode to Captain Joseph Hows,[3] Mr. Joseph Tainters[4] where we Din’d, to Mr. Peter Butlers, Colonel Woods’s and to Dr. Gotts.  The Cold prevail’d at Evening So much that I yielded to their persuasions, for the sake of my son, to tarry over night.  An Exceeding Cold night.

[1]Of Hopkinton.  The son of David Rice of Marlborough.

[2]James Eager of Westborough.

[3]Of Marlborough.

[4]Deacon of the Marlborough church.  Hudson, Marlborough, 456.

1739 January 3 (Wednesday).  A very Cold Day — but Thomme and I rode up home through a sharp Cold Wind.  Call’d to see Captain Warrins Wife who is exceeding low and weak.  Extreme Cold night.  Hannah Maynard[1] watch’d, as Lucy Forbush[2] did with Nurse last Night.

[1]Mrs. David Maynard of Westborough.

[2]Louise or Lucee (b. Dec. 7, 1719) was daughter of Aaron Forbush.

1739 January 4 (Thursday).  My Wife makes no great Haste in Recovery, but the Child is very weak and feeble yet, and the sore Mouth has been prevailing upon it for some time.  Abiel Allen watch’d.  Cold Season.

1739 January 5 (Friday).  My Wife very faint and weak, fainting in going from the bed to the Table.  Ruth Hicks watch’d.  Cold continues.  Boys sled wood.

1739 January 6 (Saturday).  My Wife feeble.  Childs Sore mouth continues Bad.  Rebecca watch’d.

1739 January 7 (Sunday).  Moderate fine Day.  On Rev. 20.12.  N.B. Mr. Daniel Stones Wife din’d here.  At Eve Rebecca Taynter[1] tarried and watch’d.  My wife somewhat more Comfortable.  The Child in doubtfull State by its Sore Mouth.  N.B. Publick Prayers for the Child.

[1]Mrs. Simon Tainter.

1739 January 8 (Monday).  Old Mrs. Knowlton and Mrs. Maynard here.  Boys cutting wood within the Fence.  Child very bad.  Mrs. Maynard watch’d.

1739 January 9 (Tuesday).  The Child extreme bad, especially the latter part of the Day.  Boys sledded home wood.  P.M. and Evening we thought the Child was dying — took nothing for many Hours, a Ghastly pale overspread the Visage and appear’d choak’d up; sometimes was Seemingly gone for some while together.  We pray’d for it p.m.  All night distress’d about it and expecting its last Gasp.  Nurse and my Daughter Molly sat up with it.

1739 January 10 (Wednesday).  Through the Great Mercy of God the Child is alive this morning — and Continues — the sore mouth abates — peels and clears off.  I rode over to visit Mr. Lawrence’s wife,[1] Mrs. Samuel Gamels[2] and Jesse Maynards[3] Family.  N.B. Jotham Maynard thrash’d Barley with John Kidney.

[1]Mrs. Benjamin Lawrence.

[2]Of Westborough.  The name was also spelled Gamwell.

[3]Formerly of Marlborough.  The son of David Maynard.

1739 January 11 (Thursday).  Frequent Snows.  Trees ever so loaded yesterday when I rode over to the North side of the Town that it was very difficult passing, It being very deep in the Roads, yet it Snow’d again to Day.  The Child somewhat better.  Martha Maynard Watch’d.  Storm continues.

1739 January 12 (Friday).  A very great Storm, Windy, Cold, and Snow’d very fast.  Nurse Watch’d.

1739 January 13 (Saturday).  Sent for to visit Captain Warrin’s Wife who was deliver’d of a very large Child this morning, but herself in a very low distressing Condition.  Abiel watch’d.

1739 January 14 (Sunday).  A Morning of great Trouble!  The Childs soreness of Mouth had return’d for Two or Three Days, but we did not judge it in immediate Danger.  There was nothing of this discover’d in the first of the Morning.  But about nine o’Clock I was call’d down from my Study with the Alarm that the Child was dying!  About 10 She ceas’d to breath!  The will of the Lord be done!  I preach’d on Rev. 20.12.[1]  O that we might have a due sense of the Divine Mind Concerning us!

[1]Rev. 20.12: “And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works.”

1739 January 15 (Monday).  Deacon Newton[1] kindly came and brought Two Bottles of wine and offer’d to go to Marlborough upon what Errands would be Necessary to be done there.  Ensign Maynard went to Mr. Cushings.  Ebenezer Maynard dugg the Grave.  The Snow exceeding Deep, by which means it was very difficult to break away to get wood, for 3 Fires and one so long all night as well as Day, had wasted wood at a very great Rate.  Yet we got a Supply.

[1]Josiah Newton.

1739 January 16 (Tuesday).  Mr. Cushing and his Wife came to the Funeral of my Infant Elizabeth.  The Weather was moderate.  The Neighbours in very considerable Numbers, attended.  I desire to interr my Dead in the Faith of the new Covenant and of the glorious Privilege of the Resurrection to Eternal Life.  N.B. Nurse was bearer.  No Friends from Marlborough.  N.B. Mr. Cushing and his Wife could not go to the Grave.  Jotham cut wood a.m.

1739 January 17 (Wednesday).  My wife was exceeding full of pain.  Jotham Maynard cut Wood all Day and my Boys Sledded home 7 Load.  At Evening I visited Mrs. Warrin[1] who was exceeding Slow and nigh unto Death.  Could not Speak to  me for some time, but at length reviv’d and discours’d a little.  N.B. Took my Leave of her.  The Cold Continues.  N.B. Dr. Gott here.

[1]Mary, widow of Capt. Daniel Warrin.  [Was she a widow?  EP visited Capt. Warrin’s wife, January 13.]

1739 January 18 (Thursday).  My wife easier this morning, but very weak.  Ebenezer and John rode to Marlborough.  Brother Samuel Breck came from Springfield and went to Marlborough.  N.B. I wrote to Mrs. Pierpont[1] at New Haven and sent it to Boston for Conveyance.

[1]Widow of the Rev. James Pierpont of New Haven.

1739 January 19 (Friday).  My Wife exceeding full of pain again, weak and distress’d, her lower Limbs grow useless and one of her feet swells again.  I wrote to Mr. Secretary Wyllys[1] and Mr. Austin[2] at Hartford, to be sent by Colonel Pyncheon of Springfield.  N.B. The Moderatest and pleasantest Day that we have had a very great While.  Divers Women to visit my Wife.  N.B. Mrs. Warrin dy’d last Night.  Mr. James Maynards wife watched.

[1]George Wyllys, Secretary of the Colony of Connecticut.

[2]John Austin, a merchant of Hartford.

1739 January 20 (Saturday).  Mrs. Warrin Buryed.  N.B. I baptiz’d the Infant at the House before the Corps were mov’d.  N.B. Mr. Sherbourn and Mr. S. Grant upon their Journey with Mr. Prentice to Grafton, and thence designing to proceed to Connecticut.  My Wife exceeding full of pain, very faint and weak and low.  Granny Forbush watch’d.  N.B. Simon Tainter, junior went for the Doctor at almost Eve.

1739 January 21 (Sunday).  On Rev. 20.12.  My Wife in great Extremity.  The Doctor was here in the morning.  Cousin Winchester[1] tarried after meeting and watch’d.

[1]Elizabeth, Mrs. Benjamin Winchester.

1739 January 22 (Monday).  Cousin Winchester tarried till her Husband came at Eve.  Mr. Cushing and Captain Flagg,[1] Sister Gott and Mrs. Bulah Bent here.  My Wife very full of Pain yet!  N.B. We kill’d the Pig which I bought Some Time agoe of Lieutenant Holloway.  Weight 126£.

[1]Benjamin Flagg, Jr., of Worcester.  Also a selectman.  Lincoln, Worcester, 52, 55, 57.

1739 January 23 (Tuesday).  Dr. Gott here.  My Wife’s pains do not Cease.  Nurse sat up what she could.

1739 January 24 (Wednesday).  Mr. Stone[1] made us a visit.  Din’d with us and before he went away at Evening he pray’d with us.

[1]Rev. Nathan Stone of Southborough.

1739 January 25 (Thursday).  My [wife] has not been easy ever since the 17th Day.  Divers Women here.

1739 January 26 (Friday).  Dr. Gott and Captain Williams here.  Doctor din’d.  Captain Williams went to Ensign Maynards and when he return’d was in so great an Hurry that he would only Eat a mouthful of Bread and cheese although Food was preparing for him.  It was what gave us some vexation because I had invited him to Dinner.

1739 January 27 (Saturday).  My Wife Easyer and Stronger, but I was not very well.

1739 January 28 (Sunday).  A very Stormy Day.  Snow’d hard.  I went to Meeting House a.m. and preach’d Still on Rev. 20.12 although I was not well.  P.M. the storm increasing greatly I sent for the people to my own House, and perform’d Divers services at Home.  Preach’d on 2 Pet. 2.11, Continuing the same Subject which I was upon in the forenoon.

1739 January 29 (Monday).  Bright Day.  P.M. I rode to Mr. Charles Rice’s.[1]

[1]An early resident of Westborough.

1739 January 30 (Tuesday).  Sent various Errands by Mr. John Rogers, particularly to Brother Champney and to Mrs. Kiggell.

1739 January 31 (Wednesday).  Mr. Aaron Forbush had my oxen to sled down a large stick of Ship Timber to Marlborough.  My Wife lys ill yet, but gathers Some Strength and can begin to take a step or Two with Help.