Author: Anthony Vaver

1739 November 8 (Thursday).  About 4 o’Clock in the Morning my Wife got up by reason of my great Extremity, and desir’d Mr. Whipple to go away for the Doctor which he did.  The Doctor came about 10 o’Clock and saw my Distress’d State, bled me again and gave me a portion of Rubarb which work’d kindly and my Breath was better Somewhat.  Yet it remained bad.  Captain Eager watch’d.  A very labouring Breath Still.  My Niece Eliza carry’d down by Ensign Maynard.

1739 November 9 (Friday).  A Cloudy Day.  Mr. Tainter[1] watch’d.

[1]Simon Tainter.

1739 November 10 (Saturday).  Somewhat better, through Gods great Goodness.  The Doctor Came, but left nothing new.  In the Evening My Brother Parkman came to see me, to my great Joy.  N.B. Samuel Bumpso work’d for me p.m. digging Potatoes.  Levi Brigham watch’d.

1739 November 11 (Sunday).  I was very faint and weak.  No preaching — but a Thin Meeting.  Simon Tainter junior watch’d.

1739 November 12 (Monday).  Mr. Cushing made me a Visit and pray’d with us.  I was very weak and feeble.  N.B. David Maynard, junior and his Brother Jotham came and had Two Store Piggs of me.  The one weigh’d 46, the other 54.  At Eve Mr. Frink came to see me.  N.B. Captain Eager brought home the Fatt Cow, bought of Mr. Jabez Rice[1] for £13.5.0.  Mr. David Maynard junior watch’d.  I had the best night of any Since I was Sick, and it had been most pleasant to enjoy by Dear Brothers Company.  D.G.

[1]Son of Deacon Caleb Rice of Marlborough.

1739 November 13 (Tuesday).  My kind Brother left us.  Mr. Grout and Mr. Tainter came and kill’d my Fat Cow.  N.B. The Quarter weigh’d 20 Score and 16 pound.  Mrs. Tainter came to help us in cleaning Tripe, etc.  And we had also hired Sarah Forbush[1] to work for us to Day.  I was (through the Divine Goodness) Still better.  The Doctor was here.  Left the Ethiops Mineral,[2] etc.  Bekky Hicks watch’d and I rested pritty well.  D.G.

[1]Mrs. Samuel Forbush.

[2]A name formerly given to certain black or dark-colored compounds of metals.

1739 November 14 (Wednesday).  I could walk from my Bed to the Fire.  P.M. Mrs. Dorothy Rice[1] here and She watch’d.  I did not rest quite so well as before.

[1]Mrs. Seth Rice.

1739 November 15 (Thursday).  In the Morning very feeble.  N.B. The Town Met to provide preaching.  My Wife watch’d with me till Two o’Clock, and had no other watcher.  Edward[s?] Whipple was to have watch’d but came not.

1739 November 16 (Friday).  Extreme Cold — froze up the Earth.  My House unbank’d, my Potatoes the greatest part in the Ground.  A purging has attended me and continues, but by the Cold we were prevented sending to the Doctor.  Stephen Fay had engaged to watch tonight, but fail’d.  My Wife Sat up again till past midnight, after which I did without.  Old Mrs. Tomlin, wife of Deacon Tomlin,[1] dy’d on the 16th in the Night, having wash’d the forenoon before.  She complain’d some Hours before She dy’d and the Deacon and his Son Sat up with her, but when a Nei[gh]bour whom they sent for came and went to her (they Supposing her to be drowzing) She was found breathless.

[1]Isaac Tomlin.

1739 November 17 (Saturday).  The Cold Something abated.  I Sent Ebenezer to Marlborough to the Doctor.  Mr. William Jenison[1] came up from Waterton to preach here.  Ruth Hicks watch’d.  I crawl up very Slowly, yet Sit up Considerably.  My Joints, my Knees and Ankles especially, weak and feeble.

[1]William Jenison (1707-1750), Harvard 1724 (SHG,, 7:371-74), former minister of Salem, Mass., who had been dismissed by his congregation, Dec. 27, 1736.

1739 November 18 (Sunday).  Mr. Jenison preach’d a.m. on Exod. 33.18.  P.M. on 2 Corinth. 12.9.  Mr. Tainter din’d with us.  I could take but very Little.  Stephen Fay watch’d.

1739 November 19 (Monday).  Mr. Jenison, when the Committee (Scil. Ensign Maynard and Mr. Tainter) had been with him for further Service, went away to return to Waterton.  Old Mr. Maynard came and winnow’d up my Beans.  Jotham Maynard had another Store Pigg.  Weigh’d 52.  Asa Brigham[1] watch’d.

[1]Son of neighbor David Bridgham.

1739 November 20 (Tuesday).  Dr. Gott here.  Deacon Tomlin’s Wife’s Funeral.  At Eve Mr. Cushing here.  I Seem’d to be still growing Somewhat better.  D.G.

1739 November 21 (Wednesday).  A Cold Season for some Days together.  Thomas Green (Brother of our former Neighbor John) here.  Brother Hicks kill’d a Pigg for me of about 48 pounds to Send to Boston, and Fowls kill’d at Eve, that Mr. Winchester[1] going down for me upon the errand of a Maid there, might not go empty.

[1]Benjamin Winchester.

1739 November 22 (Thursday).  Before I got up I was in great Pains in my Bowels.  The Day was a very ill Day with me.  I had eat Milk the night before with good appetite, and I thought it sat So well upon my stomach that I might eat boil’d milk this Morning, but I was thereupon greatly disordered.  Sick, faint, and Vomited Several Times in the Day Casting up whatever I took down.  Mr. Winchester went down to Boston for me upon my Mare to bring up a Maid, one Mary Wakefield from thence.  At Evening, though exceeding ill, I marry’d Timothy Warrin and Rebecca Tainter.[1]  Bekky Hicks watch’d.

[1]Daughter of Simon Tainter.

1739 November 23 (Friday).  A.M. I was Still weak and faint, appetite gone.  P.M. Somewhat better.

1739 November 24 (Saturday).  Mr. Winchester came up last night without the Young Woman.  Mr. Jenison came.  I was Somewhat Comfortable, though week [sic].

1739 November 25 (Sunday).  Mr. Jenison on Mat. 8.17, and John 19.34.  My Spirits low and Stomach weak at Dinner.  But I Still repose my Self on God.

1739 November 26 (Monday).  Mr. Jenison and my wife rode away together, the one for Southborough, the other for Marlborough, but return’d after a little Time, my wife having fallen from her Mare and hurt herself so as to incapacitate her for proceeding.  Colonel Woods[1] and Mr. Smith[2] (preacher) from Marlborough to see me.  They din’d, and tarry’d till Evening.  At Evening Mr. Jenison rode with them.  I was considerable Comfortable and lively, and had some Considerable Appetite; Slept also comfortably.

[1]Benjamin Woods of Marlborough.

[2]Aaron Smith (HC 1735), later minister at Marlborough, 1740-1778.  SHG, 9:575-78.

1739 November 27 (Tuesday).  Very pleasant Weather.  Mr. Jenison return’d.  Dr. Gott here, left me Bitters and Crocus Martis,[1] advis’d me to take the Air by Degrees.  My wife feels her hurt of Yesterday much more.  Bit [But?] I was better than I had been any Day, and had a good Night, through the great goodness of God.

[1]Crocus of iron, sesquioxide or peroxide of iron.

1739 November 28 (Wednesday).  Pleasant Day — and I was very Comfortable.  But my Family greatly afflicted by my wife’s pains and Confinement — being very weak-handed and yet much to do.  (Mr. Jensison here, etc.) Lieutenant  Baker (one of the Committee to take Care of the pulpit) here.  He went to Ensign Maynards and provided Molly Lee who came to help us.  Father Champney came up again.

1739 November 29 (Thursday).  Public Thanksgiving.  Mr. Jenison preach’d on Eph. 5.20.  Among the great and Signal Benefits receiv’d from a most merciful and gracious God, his redeeming my Life from Destruction, easing my Limbs and granting me a great measure of Comfort, and the mercy Shewn my wife at the time of her Fall on the 26th, is to be Celebrated with gratefull Joy and Praise.  But O that it might not be with me as with Hezekiah in 2 Chron. 32.25!

1739 November 30 (Friday).  My wife So full of pain and So confin’d that she could not sit up, not So much as to dine with us.  Several visitors p.m.  Mr. Jenison continues with us.  Several Nei[gh]bours in the Evening, etc.

1739 December 1 (Saturday).  Molly Lee continues here yet.  My wife Still very much Confin’d and in grievous Smart.  Dr. Gott call’d here as he was visiting Several patients.  A Bath which he directed to, gave her much Ease.  Mr. Jenison and I read alternately the Minute Philosopher Vol. 2.  N.B. I went to the South Door, but did not venture to Step out.  N.B. The Committee paid Mr. Jenison for the whole Time of his service even including tomorrow also.

1739 December 2 (Sunday).  Mr. Jenison on Job 14.14.  Molly Lee having gone home last night, Bekky Hicks came for to Day.  N.B. Sister Hicks’s kindness in coming over to dress my Wife’s wound.  Mrs. Harrington of Framingham din’d with us.

1739 December 3 (Monday).  Mr. Jenison left us early in the Morning tough it was rainy.  Molly Lee again.  Dr. Gotts Young Man, Hemingway, here.  Molly Lee making Soap.  Dark, misty weather.

1739 December 4 (Tuesday).  Misty and Dull weather a.m.  Mr. Williams bought my Calves and agreed to give me 50 shillings for one and 30 shillings for the other.  He Shod my Mare round and cork’d her for the Winter.

1739 December 5 (Wednesday).  My Wife in very great Pain and Distress all the forenoon.  P.M. Easyer.  At Eve Captain Eager here.  Brother Samuel Breck,[1] and Gad Hitchcock came from Springfield, after having had the Meazles up there.  N.B. Samuel Baker rode my Mare to Boston to bring up a Maid from thence, who Brother Elias had recommended.

[1]Parkman’s brother-in-law, the physician of Springfield, Mass.

1739 December 6 (Thursday).  Breck and Hitchcock rode off very Early.  A pleasant Day.  I went out abroad in the middle of the Day.  N.B. Father Champney continues among us — lodges at Brother Hicks and comes over to us in the Morning.  At Eve Mr. Tainter and his Wife and Brother Harrington of Framingham in their Return from Suffield, were here.  At Midnight Samuel Baker came up, and brought with him Judith Rocke to serve us.

1739 December 7 (Friday).  The Honorable Thomas Hutchinsons Funeral at Boston.  Father Champney went home.

1739 December 8 (Saturday).  Mr. Tainter p.m. with his Team to get down Some Loggs.

1739 December 9 (Sunday).  Moderate Weather till Evening when it blew up Cold.  Mr. Jenison on Ps. 110.3 and Prov. 16.31.

1739 December 10 (Monday).  Mr. Jenison went away early.  Cold Morning but pleasant sunshine.  Town Met to grant Money for preaching.  At Evening Sundry Neighbours here.  N.B. Mr. Tainters advice to offer the Town to bear Some part of the Charge of preaching, he not duly Considering the great and extraordinary Charges which I was brought into by my Sickness.  Began Mr. Chubbs[1] true Gospel etc.

[1]Thomas Chubb (1679-1747), the English deist, wrote The True Gospel of Jesus Christ Asserted (London, 1738).

1739 December 11 (Tuesday).  Cloudy.  Continue upon Chubb.  Old Mrs. Howard bury’d.  Mr. Cushing here.

1739 December 12 (Wednesday).  Rain.  Finish’d Chubb.  Meazles go from house to House.  Jotham Maynard dress’d Flax for us.  Reckon’d with Samuel Bumpso and William Johnson.  Wrote to Mrs. Pierpoint.[1]

[1]Widow of the Rev. James Pierpont of New Haven.  [This was probably her daughter-in-law, Sarah Pierpont.]