Author: Anthony Vaver

1740 January 17 (Thursday).  Mr. Nathaniel Oake here to desire me to visit John Caruths[1] Sick Child.

[1]Of Westborough.

1740 January 18 (Friday).  I rode over to see John Caruths sick child, and in returning I visited Deacon Tomlin.[1]

[1]Isaac Tomlin.

1740 January 19 (Saturday).  [No entry.]

1740 January 20 (Sunday).  On Ps. 119.59.  P.M. My wife went to Meeting, the first after her lying in.

1740 January 21 (Monday).  Lieutenant Holloway brought a Letter from Mrs. [sic] Pierpont and acquainted me that my Friends at Boston were well, and in particular My Brother Elias whom he had din’d with.

1740 January 22 (Tuesday).  It is a good Sledding Time but I have nobody to improve it.

1740 January 23 (Wednesday).  Ensign Maynard brought me the Sorrowfull Tidings that my Brother Elias was struck with the Dead palsie (as its commonly call’d) on Monday last; that he was himself with him Yesterday, and he lay in a very dull, insensible state, and it was greatly to be fear’d whether he would get over it.  At Eve Brother and Sister Hicks[1] were here.

[1]Mr. and Mrs. John Hicks of Westborough.

1740 January 24 (Thursday).  I had many heavy Thoughts; very much desir’d to get down to see my Brother, but I was under So much Weakness and often in Pains that It could not be judg’d Safe for me to venture out in So Cold Weather upon such a Journey.  Ensign Maynard here Sometime in the forenoon.  Said it was very Sharp Cold, etc.  At Eve Mr. Samuel Harrington here.

1740 January 25 (Friday).  [No entry.]

1740 January 26 (Saturday).  [No entry.]

1740 January 27 (Sunday).  Ps. 119.59.  Mr. Moses Pierce junior was come from New Haven.  I took him Home and he din’d and lodg’d with us.

1740 January 28 (Monday).  Rode to Marlborough in Company of Mr. Pierce.  We went through Marlborough.  At Waltham we had more Company.  Mr. Jabez Ward of Marlborough.  Mr. Pierce rode with me to Father Champneys but thence he went to Boston — it proving Evening I durst not Venture further.

1740 January 29 (Tuesday).  This Memorable and Melancholly Morning I was full of Wormwood and the Gall.  I drank so deep of this Day Four Years since.[1]  It was very Cold but I was too uneasy to keep from my Dear Brother Elias to whom especially I was making my Visit.  At Roxbury at Mr. Davis’s Shop I got my Mare new Shod that I might help her as to her stumbling.  At Boston it was very grievous to see my Brother in So strange a Condition.  He did not know me in some Time — but in the afternoon he undertook to tell over to me the whole Manner of his being taken, etc., which he went through very intelligibly and exactly, but which he had not till now, nor had appear’d So rational or Compos’d till now.  Blessed be God for Such a measure of Mercy.  My Venerable mother there with her son Continually, and in a Measure of Comfort and Health.  I made this my Chief Residence although I Sometimes lodg’d and Din’d otherwhere.

[1]This was the anniversary of the first Mrs. Parkman’s death.

1740 January 30 (Wednesday).  A.M. I went to Christ’s Church and heard Dr. Cutler[1] on Dan. 6.21.  P.M. at Mr. Condy’s[2] Lecture on 2 Pet. 3.18 forepart.  After service Mr. Chauncy,[3] Mr. Condy, Mr. Gray[4] and I went to Mr. Welsteeds.[5]  But at Evening I was at an Entertainment at Brother Alexanders, our Kinsman John Parkman having brought his Mistress to them at this Time.

[1]Rev. Timothy Cutler (HC 1701), minister of Christ Church Episcopal in Boston, 1723-1765.  SHG, 5:45-67.

[2]Rev. Jeremiah Condy, Jr. (HC 1726), who had recently returned from England and was minister of the First Baptist Church, 1738-1764.  SHG 8:20-30.

[3]Rev. Charles Chauncy (HC 1721), minister of the First Church of Boston, 1727-1787.  SHG, 6:439-467.

[4]Rev. Ellis Gray (HC 1734), minister of the New Brick Church of Boston, 1738-1752.  SHG, 9:400-404.

[5]Rev. William Welsteed (HC 1716), minister of the New Brick Church of Boston, 1728-1753.  SHG, 6:153-158.

1740 January 31 (Thursday).  Mr. Chauncy preach’d at the public Lecture on 2 Pet. 3.16.  Those words, In which are some Things hard to be understood, a Sermon as no doubt, very pleasing to Some So very Disgusting to others.  Very cold.  At Eve Mr. Harb Dorr and Mr. Davenport (the Baker) at Brother Elias’s.  N.B. Brother Hicks brought a Letter from my wife, but I saw not him.  N.B. Sorrowful News of Mr. John Adams’s[1] (My old Friend) Death and of Mr. Ebenezer Hancock[2] of Lexington.

[1]Parkman’s classmate at Harvard.

[2]Rev. Ebenezer Hancock (HC 1728), minister at Lexington, 1734-1739.  SHG, 8:427-429.

1740 February 1 (Friday).  Extreme Cold.  It was Dr. Colman’s[1] Lecture but I durst not venture out.  But at Eve Visited Mr. Webb.[2]

[1]Rev. Benjamin Colman, minister of the Brattle Street Church.

[2]Rev. John Webb of the New North Church.

1740 February 2 (Saturday).  Mr. Webb came and pray’d with Brother, and came again p.m. on the Business of my preaching for him, but I was of a long Time preengaged to Mr. Gee,[1] who on that Condition releas’d me at the Time of my Marriage.  P.M. Mr. Gees son came with his Request, etc.  N.B. Mr. Gee was married in the beginning of the Week to Mrs. Sarah Gardner.[2]  At Eve I waited upon Mr. Gee at his Father Gardners and to Mr. Mathers.[3]

[1]Rev. Joshua Gee of Boston.

[2]Sarah, daughter of Samuel Gardner of Boston, was the Rev. Mr. Gee’s third wife.

[3]Rev. Samuel Mather.

1740 February 3 (Sunday).  Mr. Mather a.m. on Ps. 97.11.  I din’d at Mr. Gardners with the Bridegroom and Bride.  P.M. I preach’d for the Bridegroom on Jude 10.21.  At Eve at my Brother Elias’s, and at Mr. Mathers, where was Captain Samuel Greenwood[1] and his Spouse, etc. and we all supp’d there but I lodg’d at my Brother Samuel’s.

[1](HC 1709).  A merchant of Boston who was made a captain of the militia.  SHG, 5:481-483.

1740 February 4 (Monday).  My Niece Elizabeth Corser’s[1] Child Eliza ill.

[1]Mrs. John Coarsa.

1740 February 5 (Tuesday).  Ensign Maynard brought me a Second Letter from my Wife.  Mr. Webb pray’d with my Brother again.  I visited and pray’d with Elizabeth Corser.  Din’d at my Niece Procter’s.[1]

[1]Hannah, daughter of Parkman’s brother William, married Samuel Proctor.

1740 February 6 (Wednesday).  Din’d at Brother Williams.  N.B. Deacon Larrabee[1] kindly visited me there.  The Weather much moderater.  P.M. I visited Mr. Robert Breck,[2] one of my Old School Mates and my wife’s Kinsman.

[1]Richard Larabee, deacon of the Brattle Street Church.  Drake, Boston, 661.

[2]Of Boston.  A Cousin of Mrs. Parkman.  Samuel Breck, Genealogy of the Breck Family (Omaha, 1889), 19.

1740 February 7 (Thursday).  Very Pleasant.  John White went to Cambridge for my Horse.  It was late before I mounted at Charleston, being after 11.  Stop’d at College at sister Barretts[1] and rode over to Father Champney’s.[2]  After 1 p.m. I set out from thence.  N.B. Sister Lydia[3] rode up with Brother Hicks on the 4th in a Whirry.  Levi Brigham — my Company part of the Way.  Got home at 7 1/2 in the Eve.

[1]Ruth Champney, sister of Parkman’s first wife, married John Barrett, May 5, 1737.  Paige, Cambridge, 507.

[2]Samuel Champney, Sr., of Cambridge, Parkman’s first father-in-law.

[3]Lydia Champney, Parkman’s sister-in-law.

1740 February 8 (Friday).  Ensign Maynard the Meazles.  I visited him.  Sister Lydia keeps at Hicks’s.

1740 February 9 (Saturday).  Storm — Snow, etc.  Sister Lydia came here and lodg’d here.

1740 February 10 (Sunday).  Repeated John 9.4.

1740 February 11 (Monday).  Sister Lydia rode with Brother Hicks to Cambridge on his own Mare.  Visited Ensign Maynard.  Neighbor Charles Rice, etc.

1740 February 12 (Tuesday).  Visited Old Mr. Fay[1] — he, his wife and Family being Sick of the Meazles.  Visited Captain Fay’s wife who is exceeding Low and wasted.

[1]Capt. John Fay of Westborough.

1740 February 13 (Wednesday).  I rode to Marlborough, the Doctor[1] having Sent for me to visit them, Sister and all the Child being sick, but his little son John of about 9 months old much the worst and lying at the point of Death.  Din’d at Colonel Woods[2] with Mr. Aaron Smith.[3]  At their earnest request I went to the Funeral of Two of Mr. Joseph Tainters[4] Children — 4 others of his Children being at the Same Time sick, and one or more of them in a Dangerous state and all of the Throat Distemper.  At their Instant Desire I pray’d upon this sorrowful Occasion.  Return’d to Brother Gotts.  The Rain prevail’d so as to forbid my going Home, besides their Importunity on the Account of the Child which was nigh Expiring.  It dy’d about 8 of the Clock in the Eve, the Doctor being exceedingly distressed and impatient.  I lodged there with the Doctor.

[1]Dr. Benjamin Gott, Parkman’s brother-in-law.

[2]Benjamin Woods, the merchant of Marlborough.

[3](HC 1735).  Ordained June 11, 1740, in Marlborough.  SHG, 9:575-578.

[4]The deacon of Marlborough.

1740 February 14 (Thursday).  Captain Amsden[1] burnt my Mares Mouth for (what is call’d) the Lampers.  I went to Mr. Zechariah Maynards,[2] the widow Hows,[3] and Mr. Joseph Rice’s[4] where I din’d.  Thence I rode up to Mr. Thomas Wards in Westborough and to Lieutenant Holloways whose Youngest Child was very bad after the Meazles.  Captain Eager came from thence with me, whose son was Sick also of the Same Distemper.  Very troublesome, hollow riding, the Earth being much open’d.  N.B. David Baverick and Samuel Bumpso getting Rails.

[1]Isaac Amsden of Marlborough.

[2]Son of John Maynard, an early resident of Marlborough.  Hudson, Marlborough, 413.

[3]Widow of Thomas Howe, tavern-keeper of Marlborough (d.1733).  Hudson, Marlborough, 382-383.

[4]Of Marlborough.

1740 February 15 (Friday).  I rode again to Marlborough to the Funeral of John Gott,[1] and return’d at Eve.  David and Samuel again.

[1]Infant son of Dr. Benjamin Gott.

1740 February 16 (Saturday).  Mr. Aaron Smith from Marlborough made me a Visit.  David and Samuel and Ezekiel Pratt at work again.  Mr. Smith din’d and Spent the afternoon with us and then went to Southborough.  Rain at Evening.

1740 February 17 (Sunday).  Rain.  Act. 3.19.  Mr. Thurston[1] and Mr. James Fay[2] din’d here.

[1]Joseph Thurston of Westborough.

[2]Son of Capt. John Fay.

1740 February 18 (Monday).  Visited Ensign Maynard.  David, Samuel and Ezekiel getting Posts.  P.M. Cold.  At Eve Stephen Fay[1] came to desire me to visit his Mother, but I was too much indispos’d to venture out in So Searching an Air.

[1]Another son of Capt. John Fay.

1740 February 19 (Tuesday).  Visited Mrs. Fay, who was yet alive but very low.  N.B. Mr. Sherman of Marlborough and Mr. Phinehas Rice of Stow my Company in going to Captain Fays.

1740 February 20 (Wednesday).  Read the Life of Signor Roselli, an Italian.