1726 March 14, 15 (Monday, Tuesday). There is Need of again and again Remarking the Extream Difficulty and Distresses of People For themselves and their Beasts for want of Both Corn and Hay.
Author: Anthony Vaver
March 16, 1726
March 17, 18, 19, 1726
1726 March 17, 18, 19 (Thursday, Friday, Saturday). I further pursu’d my Subject of Secret worship and accordingly
March 20, 1726
1726 March 20 (Sunday). I preach’d on the same Text as Last Sabbath. Jason Badcock an illegitimate born Child presented by Mr. Joseph Wheeler was Baptiz’d. That I might warrant this practice by Suitable Defence thereof I consulted our gravest New England Divines, Increase Mather, etc., First, and then Foreign most Judicious as van Mastericht (as well as those of our own Nation) Ames, etc.
March 21, 22, 23, 1726
1726 March 21, 22, 23 (Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday). I made it my Business to Enquire into the State of the Land and to Study the Causes of the Divine Judgement and what God is Demanding of Us by his Severe hands upon us. It is a Distresing time. Multitudes under heavy Sufferings for want of Hay for their Creatures.
March 24, 1726
1726 March 24 (Thursday). A Publick Fast. My Text was Jas. 12.4, a.m. and p.m. I Labour’d hard. When Exercises were over my mind was possess’d with it that God would be favourable to us this Year Ensuing.
March 25, 26, 1726
1726 March 25, 26 (Friday, Saturday). Very Strictly Engag’d in my Preparations.
March 27, 1726
1726 March 27 (Sunday). I preach’d upon Ps. 25.11.
March 28, 1726
March 29, 1726
1726 March 29 (Tuesday). Mr. Rice Sundry Times visited me upon account of his Mare. Mr. John Pratt with me about my Meadows, etc.
March 30, 1726
1726 March 30 (Wednesday). No whither can one turn but the Calamity of the times are felt, Everyone Complaining and Lamenting. My Neighbor Clark though a foreigner I could not but Commiserate, and I actually did put forth Myself to my utmost to succour him Every Way, By Grain, Hay, keeping Creatures, Money, etc. O Miserere Deus! Corn was Sold at Oxford for 8 shillings per Bushel, and in other places.
March 31, 1726
1726 March 31 (Thursday). I rode down to Captain Wards to Engage Robert Henry to Live with me and I did so and Silence Bartlet, one for 23 t’other for 8 pounds per Year.
April 1, 1726
1726 April 1 (Friday). William Wilson of Concord, a poor Shiftless man Lodg’d with us Last night, and about the same time Simon Tainter[1] (who had been with me some time agoe) was with Me in a very Heavenly and Devout Time, Conversing of his State and preparations for his admittance into the Communion. I was upon My Preparations as also the 2nd Day.
[1]Of Westborough. He was admitted to the church, April 3,1726. Westborough Church Records. Simon Tainter, who later became a deacon, and who lived until 1763, was a good friend of Parkman. Harriette M. Forbes, The Diary of Rev. Ebenezer Parkman (Westborough, 1899), pp. 11-12.
April 3, 1726
1726 April 3 (Sunday). I preach’d upon the Same Text as last Sabbath, Ps. 25.11. John Whood of Hopkinton at Dinner with us. He rode home his Horse which I had had to keep.
April 4, 1726
1726 April 4 (Monday). One of Mr. Ward’s Cows went home. What man would not think it worth Noting that [he] has Seen the mighty Contests and Brawlings that are often made about the most inconsiderable things of this kind, and the Reflections cast upon the honesty and uprightness of those of Sacred Character (because they ought to be Examples to observe), if there is not a peculiar preciseness and Exactness in making up the minutest part of an account.
April 5, 1726
1726 April 5 (Tuesday). Silence Bartlet came to Live with us. Two of Neighbor Clarks Cows went away. My Hay growing very short, or my Tenderness towards this man would not have suffer’d me to Send them away.
April 7, 1726
April 8, 1726
1726 April 8 (Friday). Another of Mr. Wards Cows was Sent home.
April 9, 1726
1726 April 9 (Saturday). This Day the Last of Mr. Wards Cows and his Horse went away. N.B. The 5th and 6th Neighbor Clark and his Son ploughed (with my Mare and Mr. Wards Horse) my Stubble, and the 8th and 9th Neighbor Clark with my Boy went on (as aforesaid) in ploughing and sowing of Wheat and Rye and Barley.
April 10, 1726
1726 April 10 (Sunday). This Day was our sacrament. I preach’d upon Lamt. and 2 Cor. 1.12. I have great Reason to express all gratitude to God for his presence with me, inasmuch as I trust I had much of the presence and spirit of God with me.
April 11, 1726
1726 April 11 (Monday). Robert Henry came to live with me. Neighbor Clark Sow’d My Oats, and Some Peas. William Clark Harrow’d till Eleven o’Clock and then Robert took the Work.
April 12, 1726
1726 April 12 (Tuesday). I rode down to Association at Marlborough. Present, Mr. Swift,[1] Mr. Breck, Mr. Prentice,[2] Mr. Loring,[3] Mr. McKinstry,[4] Mr. Cushing,[5] Mr. Gardner,[6] Mr. Cook,[7] Mr. Barrett, Mr. Burr[8] and myself. Mr. Swift opened the Association with prayer, and Mr. Thomas McKinstry[9] proposed a Matter between himself and one of his parish, in which he requested our Sentiments and advice concerning the best Manner of Managing it. He had preach’d a Sermon from these words in Eph. 5.20: “Giving Thanks alwayes for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.” In which Sermon he maintained that we ought to give Thanks to God not only for Prosperous but Even Adverse Dispensations. One Putnam (and Sundry others Combining) had been Set Against, and Still manifested uneasiness at Such Doctrine and this man was Resolute to make a stir about it. He had alwayes been Discontented with Mr. McKinstry but now Charges him as inorthodox. We therefore wrote a brief Declaration according to Mr. McKinstrys Request in This Wise.
Application being made to us the Subscribers, conven’d at Marlborough April 12, 1726, by the Reverend Mr. John McKinstry, Setting forth that he had delivered certain Doctrine as follows, viz., that the Children of God ought to give thanks to God at all Times for all his Providence to us, Whether they be prosperous or Afflictive, and the Doctrine was Dissatisfactory to some of his Brethren. Our Opinion hereupon being Desired we freely Declare that we judge said Doctrine to be agreeable to the Sacred Scriptures and Sentiments of the most Judicious Expositions of Orthodox Divines. Sign’d by Ebenezer Parkman, John Swift, Robert Breck, John Prentice, Israel Loring, Job Cushing, John Gardner, William Cook. Having din’d, Mr. Axtil[10] of Marlborough Desir’d advice of the Association in his Case, who for irregular Behaviour and Discourse with respect to one Tabitha Rice[11] (who had laid a Child to his son), and the Church, likewise in Managing the Affair, was suspended. But his Infirmity of understanding rendered him incapable of the plainest Counsell and Direction which from Everyone given him. Mr. Cook also Proposed a Cause between Two of his Parish who were uneasy with one another in a Bargain they had made about some Land. But some other Business Engaging me I took little notice of it, Seeing it was not in my Power to advantage it any manner of way.
Association Breaking up, I rode with Mr. Barrett as far as Mr. Eagers[12] of the Town where my Horse broke, but Lighting upon Mr. McCollisters[13] Son upon a Horse I rode home. My Beast was Safe at my own Barn. Brothers Champney[14] and Hicks[15] were to see us.
[1]Reverend John Swift of Framingham.
[2]Reverend John Prentice of Lancaster.
[3]Reverend Israel Loring of Sudbury.
[4]Reverend John McKinstry of Sutton. Benedict and Tracey, Sutton, pp. 33-35. He was not a member of the Marlborough Association. Allen, Worcester Association, pp. 5-7
[5]Reverend John Cushing of Shrewsbury.
[6]Reverend John Gardner of Stow.
[7]Reverend William Cooke (Harvard 1716) of Wayland. Sibley, VI, 134-138-
[8]Reverend Isaac Burr (Yale 1717) of Worcester. Dexter, pp. 163-165.
[9]This should be Reverend John McKinstry.
[10]Thomas Axtell. Axtell was the subject of several discussions by the Marlborough Association. See Allen, Worcester Association, pp. 12, 19-20.
[11]The daughter of Edward Rice of Marlborough. There is no record of the birth of her child close to this date, but there is a record of a daughter, Sarah, born to Tabatha Rice, July 10, 1723. Tabatha Rice married one Nathaniel Oakes or Oke, Feb. 20, 1726/7. Marlborough Vital Records (Worcester, 1908), p. 160, p. 304.
[12]Either Zachariah Eager or his brother Zerubbabel, both of whom were residents of Marlborough at this time.
[13]Probably John McCollister of Westborough.
[14]Samuel Champney, Jr., of Cambridge, Parkman’s wife’s brother.
[15]John Hicks of Cambridge, Parkman’s brother-in-law.
April 13, 1726
1726 April 13 (Wednesday). Our Brethren went to Hopkinton and so home. Neighbor Green Bought part of the South Side of my Land. In the Evening we gave writings.
April 14, 1726
1726 April 14 (Thursday). Mr. Barrett came to see us.
April 15, 16, 1726
1726 April 15, 16 (Friday, Saturday). Gloomy Weather for the Season. We had Cold Storms for most of the week.
April 17, 1726
1726 April 17 (Sunday). I preach’d upon 2 Cor. 1.12 and Ps. 25.15. I was Extreamly Tired in my Body so that I could not only not keep off the Bed but Scarce lye on it.
April 18, 1726
1726 April 18 (Monday). Neighbor Clark had my Beast to plough for him.
April 19, 1726
1726 April 19 (Tuesday). Neighbor Clark’s last Cows went home.
April 20, 1726
1726 April 20 (Wednesday). I heard of Severall more Creatures Dead.
April 21, 1726
1726 April 21 (Thursday). Neighbor Green paid me forty pounds upon first bonds. Planted Apple Trees.
April 22, 1726
1726 April 22 (Friday). Bright, warm, after long Cold Rainy Weather.
April 23, 1726
1726 April 23 (Saturday). We were in a sad Commotion by the Hills being fir’d. Robert was Exceeding unfortunate to burn the Brush after long uneasiness through my fears of his persuasions. I gave him leave to set fire to the most Distant Heap and the last in the wind, but the Leaves were drie and the wind fresh so that it put us to great Labour to carry it. It burnt about 20 Rod of my fence and would have Consum’d without a period if I had not receiv’d Neighbor David Maynards Help, and been very Diligent my Self. But before Neighbor Maynard came, it raged to such a Degree that we grew so hot and faint as Severall times to give up and Robert[1] Lay’d himself down in an Expiring posture, till quickened by a New Resolution. It got Lead upon the Fence before Help came. Through Divine favour we put a stop to it to our great Joy att about noon. It continued to burn indeed, but not to run and Spread. We were oblig’d to have an Eye over it continually, and I was not, many times, without fear of its catching again because Towards night there were great Gusts of Wind, Thunder and Lightning and very little if any Rain. This was the more terrible as happening in the middst of my Preparation for the Sabbath. But God was very Gracious.
[1]Robert Henry, Parkman’s hired hand.
April 24, 1726
April 15, 1726
1726 April 25 (Monday). I Catechized the Children at the Meetinghouse. Number above Twenty.
April 26, 1726
1726 April 26 (Tuesday). Mr. Ward came with his Cart and We Carted out 20 Load of Muck. I made up accounts with Mr. Ward.