Author: Anthony Vaver

1739 October 4 (Thursday).  Mr. Dorr, etc. rode away, and my Daughter Molly, Single on her Horse rode with them, Mr. Weld carrying my Niece Elizabeth behind him.  At Evening, Mr. Weld, Eliza, and Molly return’d, having been to Grafton.  Major Keys[1] din’d with us, and Mrs. Miles [2] of Concord.  P.M. John Oake,[3] James Geoffrey, James Eager and Samuel Allen[4] gather’d that part of the Corn by the old House and with Jotham[5] and Stephen Maynard and Noah How husk’d it out in the Evening.  N.B. Abial Allen help’d us these Two or Three Days but to Day went home, and Lydia Harrington came to serve us a Day or Two.  John Oake lodg’d here in order to his Working tomorrow.  Mr. Weld Lodg’d here.

[1]John Keyes of Shrewsbury.

[2]Wife of Deacon Samuel Miles.

[3]Son of Nathaniel Oakes of Marlborough.  Hudson, Marlborough, 426.

[4]Son of Ephraim Allen of Westborough.

[5]Son of David Maynard.

1739 October 5 (Friday).  Very Rainy.  Mr. Weld detain’d here by the Storm of Rain.  John Oake went off without working.

1739 October 6 (Saturday).  Mr. Weld left us.  I was not very well.

1739 October 7 (Sunday).  On Eph. 6.13 all Day but improv’d Some of the Discourse on Ps. 144.1, for I was under So great Indisposition that my preparation was much obstruct’d.  At Night I was very ill and went to Bed not being able so much as to perform the Dutys of the Family.

1739 October 8 (Monday).  I Sent Brother Hicks with Mr. David Maynard’s Horse down to Sudbury to him again for I found he would not Suit me.  William Johnson making Cyder for me at Mr. Hezekiah Hows Mill.

1739 October 9 (Tuesday).  William Johnson making Cyder for me still.  Captain Forbush[1] with his Team, Timothy Warrin and John Rogers came p.m. to get up and husk’d Corn.

[1]Samuel Forbush.

1739 October 10 (Wednesday).  Rainy.  General Muster of the Regiment of Horse at Lancaster.

1739 October 11 (Thursday).  [No entry.]

1739 October 12 (Friday).  Samuel Bumpso thrashing Rye.  William Johnson work’d for me.

1739 October 13 (Saturday).  Mr. Cabot[1] of Killingly here, very much out of Health.  Lodg’d here.  William work’d for me.

[1]Rev. Marston Cabot (HC 1724), first minister of Thompson, Conn.,1729-1756.  Killingly included the region that became the separate town of Thompson in 1785.

1739 October 14 (Sunday).  Mr. Cabot would not venture to undertake any part of the Public Service but went to Meeting and to Communion with us.  I repeated Sermon on Mat. 26.21.22.  P.M. on Eph. 3.10 last Clause.

1739 October 15 (Monday).  Mr. Cabot pursued his Journey to the Eastward.  Mr. Abraham Knowlton came to lay my East Garrett Floor.  Sam Bumpso and William Johnson at work for Me.  In great Trouble for want of Womens Help in the House.

1739 October 16 (Tuesday).  Mr. Knowlton at Work here.  Very Rainy forenoon.  Mr. Cushing din’d with us.  P.M. it held up and we rode to Association at Southborough.  At Eve Mr. Fisk[1] of Killingly came.  N.B. Mr. Cabot there before detain’d by the Storm.  See Association Records.  I lodg’d with Mr. Cushing at Ensign Brighams.

[1]Rev. John Fiske (HC 1702), first minister of Killingly, Conn.,1715-1741.  SHG, 5:144-47.

1739 October 17 (Wednesday).  Mr. Loring, Mr. Barrett[1] etc. came to Association.  I preach’d on 1 John 1.17 at the Public Lecture.

[1]Rev. Samuel Barrett of Hopkinton.

1739 October 18 (Thursday).  Several Nei[gh]bours on the South side of Town Mr. Bowman,[1] Stone,[2] Martin Pratt, Beriah Rice,[3] Jonathan Forbes, and Phinehas Walker, Dan Hardy, came and gather’d my Corn.  Molly Wright[4] came to wash for my Wife.

[1]James Bowman.

[2]Daniel Stone.

[3]Son of Edmund Rice, an original settler.

[4]Mary, daughter of Edward Wright of Framingham.  Temple, Framingham, 755.

1739 October 19 (Friday).  Mr. Williams has undertook to make up the Rest of my apples — Carting to Day.

1739 October 20 (Saturday).  Rain.

1739 October 21 (Sunday).  Rain.  On Eph. 3.10.

1739 October 22 (Monday).  Town Meeting to grant my Support.  Unanimous for 200.  Rainy.  I was greatly exercis’d by the Creatures lying So much upon my apples and I was oblig’d to be much abroad in the Town.  Both the Constables made up Accounts with me.  Rebecca Hicks[1] helps us.

[1]Mrs. John Hicks.

1739 October 23 (Tuesday).  Mr. Bridgham and Mr. Wyman[1] here.  Mr. Williams brought home 6 Barrells more of Cyder.  I had design’d to go to Boston but So much Business prohibited it.  Mr. Samuel Harrington brought me his Horse for my Journey, and greatly assisted me in getting down Cyder, etc.  Boil’d Two Barrells of Cyder into one.  Neighbor Maynards, Whipples, Forbushs etc. Lads Husking.  N.B. I made up Accounts with Ensign Maynard.

[1]Rev. Ebenezer Wyman (HC 1731), minister at Union, Conn., 1738-1746.  SHG 9:116-17.

1739 October 24 (Wednesday).  I rode down to Lexington on Mr. Samuel Harringtons Horse.  N.B. Difficulty in finding the Way from Weston.  One Segar and one Mellage my Pilots it being Night.  I went to Captain Joseph Bowmans[1] and lodged there.  Very kindly entertain’d by them.

[1]Prominent citizen of Watertown.  Bond, Watertown, 690.

1739 October 25 (Thursday).  View’d a Mare of Mr. Francis Bowmans.  Rode to Cambridge at Father Champneys.  Ferry’d over from Charleston.  Visited my honored aged Mother who was much better.  Lodg’d at Brother Elias’s.

1739 October 26 (Friday).  Rode to Mr. Tainters[1] and Browns[2] at Waterton.  Met Mr. Francis Bowman and Mr. Samuel Harrington.  Din’d at Mr. Strattons of Waltham.  Bargained with Mr. Bowman for his Mare.  Rode home with Mr. Harrington and a Considerable Company of Neighbors, etc.  Ensign Forbush, etc.  We rode over the new Bridge.  Not well at Wards, but held up home between 10 and 11 at Night.

[1]Capt. John Tainter of Watertown, brother of Deacon Simon Tainter of Westborough.

[2]Deacon William Brown, a prominent resident of Waltham.

1739 October 27 (Saturday).  Not well, but yet in my Study.  In the Night very ill.

1739 October 28 (Sunday).  Grew worse.  Not able to go to Meeting.  A.M. — P.M. preach’d on Rev. 2.21 but with much Difficulty, being very ill and feeble.

1739 October 29 (Monday).  Abroad in the forenoon, but in pain, chiefly in my left Hip and Groin.  Dr. Gott occasionally here.  P.M. could not walk.  At Eve my pains exceedingly increas’d.  Neighbor How came and got my bed down into the lower room, and lifted me on to it.  All night in great pain.  My Wife got up twice.  Took Flower of Brimstone, which purged Me.

1739 October 30 (Tuesday).  I grew More helpless.  Ebenezer rode to Grafton for a market for the rest of my Cyder, but in Vain.  N.B. Mrs. Maynard, Sister Hicks,[1] etc.  No Watcher yet.

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

1739 October 31 (Wednesday).  Ebenezer rode to Dr. Gott but he came not.  He Sent me the Turbith Mineral[1] which I did not venture to take.  Mrs. Maynard and Brother Hicks watch’d.

[1]Turpeth Mineral, a basic mercuric sulphate used as a purgative.

1739 November 1 (Thursday).  Dr. Gott came — judg’d I am taken with an high Inflammatory Rhumatism.  Bled me in the right arm — insisted upon my taking my Turbith if diminished.  N.B. It work’d 5 times up, and 30 or 40 Times downward.  Nathan Maynard[1] was Sent for the Doctor but he did not come, but Sent a Plaister, etc.  Nathan Maynard and Bekky Hicks[2] watch’d.  Ensign Maynard getting wood for me.

[1]Son of David Maynard, one of the neighbors.

[2]Rebecca, daughter of John and Rebecca Hicks.

1739 November 2 (Friday).  The Doctor came and bleeds me again.  Gave Something to prevent my purging.  P.M. Nei[gh]bours on the South side came and got wood.  John Rogers and Sister Hicks watch’d.  A Bad Night.

1739 November 3 (Saturday).  Still remain in a weak, pained State.  Worried through the Day.  Jotham Maynard and Bekky Hicks watch’d.  A bad Night again.

1739 November 4 (Sunday).  No Preaching, but few at Meeting.  Doctor came.  Bleeds again and gave Rubarb which work’d kindly.  Deacon Newton[1] and My Niece Eliza watch’d.  A dismal Night!

[1]Josiah Newton.

1739 November 5 (Monday).  Storm of Snow.  Lieutenant Holloway[1] went for me to Jabez Rice’s to bespeak a fat Cow, and came and gave me Notice of it.  Jotham Maynard fixing up the Barn to house Creatures.  Jedidiah How watch’d.  Somewhat easier Night.

[1]William Holloway.

1739 November 6 (Tuesday).  Doctor came.  Found me with a very bad Sore Throat, my Head on the back part great disorder’d — tottering and pained — Yet he judg’d I was better, and did not bleed me.  Mr. Stone visited me and pray’d with us.  Several of my Nei[gh]bours here.  My Head grew worse and those Disorders were very troublesome.  But I had some good Rest nevertheless.  Samuel Baker[1] and Molly Lee watch’d.

[1]Son of Edward Baker, an original settler.

1739 November 7 (Wednesday).  In the Morning My Fever was much Worse, and p.m. the Use of my Right Hand (which hitherto I have been favor’d with when every other Limb was disenabled) was taken away, but through Gods Mercy to me my Left grew better.  About 9 at Night my Stomach grew very full of pain.  I lay Striving for Breath all Night.  Mr. Whipple watch’d.