Author: Anthony Vaver

1740 August 16 (Saturday).  Ebenezer rode over to Mr. Francis Pierce’s.

1740 August 17 (Sunday).  On Luke 12.21.  Mrs. Bathsheba Pratt,[1] Mrs. Rebecca Warrin,[2] Mrs. Joanna Forbush[3] and Mrs. Sarah Bruce[4] din’d with us.  At Noon I receiv’d a Letter from Mr. Ebenezer Morse[5] to request me to preach at Rutland this Day sennight — Mr. Frink having abdicated, but it must be (by Divine Permission) our Communion Day.  At Eve I sent an answer by Dr. Smith who had been to See Two more of Mr. James Bradish’s Children Sick of the Throat Distemper.  Scil. Jonas and Joseph.

[1]Mrs. John Pratt.

[2]Mrs. Timothy Warrin.

[3]Mrs. Jonathan Forbush, Jr.

[4]Mrs. Thomas Bruce.

[5]Later the minister at Boylston, Mass.

1740 August 18 (Monday).  Town Meeting respecting a Grammar Schoolmaster.  A very rainy Day.

1740 August 19 (Tuesday).  Mr. Asher Rice[1] here to take my Advice respecting his Journey to Albany.

[1]Son of Thomas Rice.  He had been captured by the Indians in 1704 and later was redeemed.  DeForest and Bates, Westborough, 37-39.

1740 August 20 (Wednesday).  Mrs. Rachel Bowker[1] visited us, and Din’d here, as did Dr. Smith likewise.  Ebenezer to Shrewsbury and got the mare Shod.

[1]The Daughter of John Bowker of Marlborough.  Hudson, Marlborough, 330.

1740 August 21 (Thursday).  Great Expectation of Mr. Barrett to preach but he came not.  I repeated on Ps. 43.3.4.  After Lecture Brother Hicks and David Baverick put up a Trough on Back Side of my House.  N.B. Ebenezer and Samuel Hicks rode to Cambridge, the latter to bring up the Mare.

1740 August 22 (Friday).  Very Rainy Day.  Brother Samuel Breck came, being on his Journey from Springfield to Cambridge.

1740 August 23 (Saturday).  Clear Weather.  Brother Samuel went on his Journey to Cambridge.  Brother Hicks put up the Troughs at the Back side of my House.  Samuel Hicks return’d from Cambridge.

1740 August 24 (Sunday).  Ps. 65.4.  Heb. 13.20.21.  Sacrament.

1740 August 25 (Monday).  Early in the Morning I visited Mr. Bradish’s Family.  Sarah very low, but Somewhat reviv’d.  I found her Smoaking.  I proceeded therefore on my Journey.  Stopp’d at Mr. Swift’s.  Din’d at Two o’Clock at Cambridge.  Went to Boston.  Ebenezer went to Charlestown to bring back the mare to Cambridge.  Brother Elias weak yet — he had a fitt this Day.

1740 August 26 (Tuesday).  The Several Companys of Volunteers for the Expedition against Cuba, quarter’d in Boston, muster’d to Day to receive their Bounty Money from the Province.  Four Companys were compleat in Arms, and five were unprovided.  Din’d at Brother Samuels.  P.M. at Mr. John Brecks.  At Eve at Mr. Keggels, and Supp’d at Brother Alexander’s.

1740 August 27 (Wednesday).  Commencement.  Din’d in the Hall.  My Kinsman Elias[1] Receiv’d his Degree, but did not dispute.  Lodg’d at Father Champney’s, and Cousen Elizabeth,[2] Her Brother and Mr. Halyer at Deacon Sparhawks.[3] Sorrowful News of the Death of Mr. Stoddard[4] of Chelmsford, who dy’d in his Well.

[1]Elias Parkman (HC 1737) was the son of Elias Parkman of Boston.  Elias, Jr., became a physician of Boston.  SHG, 10:223-224.

[2]Elizabeth, the daughter of Joseph Champney of Cambridge.

[3]Nathaniel Sparhawk.  Paige, Cambridge, 657.

[4]Rev. Samson Stoddard (HC 1701), minister of Chelmsford, 1706-1740.  SHG, 5:119-122.

1740 August 28 (Thursday).  A.M. at Sir Gay’s[1] Chamber where was Mr. Obadiah Ayres,[2] Mr. Samuel Coolidge,[3] etc.  Din’d at Sir Princes[4] Chamber.  P.M. Negro Boys in Masquerade.  Eve at Mr. Rogers.[5]

[1]Samuel Gay (HC 1740).  SHG, 10:496.

[2](HC 1710).  The chaplain of Castle William.  SHG, 5:510-512.

[3](HC 1724).  He was the schoolmaster of Watertown.  SHG, 7:326-331.

[4]Thomas Prince (HC 1740).

[5]Daniel Rogers (HC 1725), a tutor at Harvard College.  SHG, 7:554-560.

1740 August 29 (Friday).  Brother Hicks goes to Boston dissatisfy’d about the Managements of the Directors of the Land Bank.  Ebenezer so ill he could not go to Boston as was propos’d, that he might go to School.  I undertook my Journey home.  Call’d at Mr. John Hunts[1] at Watertown (who has lately set up a Still House there).  There I found Mr. Cheney[2] of Brookfield who was riding home also.  We din’d at Mr. Williams’s[3] at Weston where were Mr. Seccomb[4] and Halery[5] of Newton (a young preacher).  At Marlborough We found Colonel Woods in a low State of Health.  Call’d at Dr. Gotts.  Mr. Cheney rode to our House and lodged here.

[1]A Representative.  Bond, Watertown, 304.

[2]Rev. Thomas Cheney.

[3]Rev. William Williams.

[4]Rev. John Seccomb of Harvard, Mass.

[5]Parkman probably meant Jonathan Helyer (HC 1738), who later was minister at Newport.  SHG, 10:294-295.

1740 August 30 (Saturday).  Mr. Cheney went on his Journey.  The Throat Distemper increases in Westborough.  Sarah Bradish[1] (a Member of our Church) was bury’d the Day before Yesterday, and Joseph Bradish, her brother of about 7 or 8, was bury’d yesterday, and Some Number are Sick.

[1]Daughter of James Bradish.

1740 August 31 (Sunday).  On Micah 6.9 and p.m. on Zech. 7.5, preparatory to the Fast which with the Advice of the Deacons of the Church and the Selectmen of the Town I appointed to be on Thursday next.  The persons for whom prayers were ask’d to Day, being Sick of the Throat Distemper were Richard Barns, Hannah (wife of Noah) Rice, Robert Bradish, Miriam Fisk, Abigail Dunton, a child of Thomas Bruce, Four Children at Mr. Gamels.[1]

[1]Samuel Gamel or Gamwell.

1740 September 1 (Monday).  I visited Captain Warrin, Thomas Bruce’s and Samuel Hardys Familys.  N.B. Captain Warrins Son Silas ill with the Throat Distemper, but walks about.  Mrs. Hardy ill with the Same and Several of their Children.

1740 September 2 (Tuesday).  My Wife rode to Mr. Winchesters[1] a.m. and with me p.m. to Mr. Wheelers,[2] Mr. Balls,[3] etc. and thence over the Hill to Mr. Gamels, Jesse Maynards,[4] etc.  Simon Tainter junior our Company back.  Captain Hapgood of Shrewsbury burys his Eldest Son of the Throat Distemper to Day.  Very Cool Evening.

[1]Benjamin Winchester of Westborough.

[2]Joseph Wheeler.

[3]Nathan Ball.

[4]Son of David Maynard.

1740 September 3  (Wednesday).  A great Frost last night.

1740 September 4 (Thursday).  A Fast was kept by this Church and Town on occasion of the Throat Distemper coming among us.  I began the Exercises.  Mr. Cushing preach’d on Amos 4.10 the first and last Clauses.  Mr. Cushing prayed p.m. and Mr. Prentice of Grafton preach’d on Jonah 3.10.  Lieutenant Brigham[1] of Southborough and his wife, Mr. Phinehas Hardy and Neighbor Zebulon Rice’s wife at Supper with us.  At Eve I rode down to visit Neighbor Thomas Bruce’s Family, Two of whose Children are very bad.

[1]Nathan Brigham.

1740 September 5 (Friday).  I improv’d the forenoon as Separately as I could to my usual Exercises.  P.M. undertook to make a Visit to Colonel Woods who (as I hear) grows worse, but a great Storm of Rain, Thunder, etc. prevented my going any further than Captain Warrins where I was confin’d (much against my Inclination at this Time) Several Hours.

1740 September 6 (Saturday).  Mr. Samuel Coolidge here.  He was riding to Leicester.  I rode with him as far as Shrewsbury.  I din’d at Mr. Cushings, and thence I rode to Rutland at the repeated Sollicitation of Mr. Ebenezer Morse, and Captain Howard by him, Mr. Frink having ceased to preach.  I lodg’d at Mr. Frinks.

1740 September 7 (Sunday).  An exceeding rainy Day.  I preach’d at Rutland a.m. on Ps. 122.6 to the End.  P.M. on Jude 10.21.  At Evening came Captain Stevens,[1] Ensign Moses How[2] and a Third to see me.  Mr. Frink and I sat up till past 1 o’Clock upon his Farewell Sermon on July 27 last, from Rev. 3.3.[3]

[1]Deacon Joseph Stevens of Rutland.

[2]Also of Rutland.

[3]Rev. 3.3: “And hast borne, and hast patience, and for my name’s sake hast labored, and has not fainted.”

1740 September 8 (Monday).  A.M. I visited Ensign How and Jonathan Goodenow, and Mr. Frink accompanying me as far on my Journey as to the Grist Mill, there he stopp’d.  I call’d to see Mr. Calwell[1] and old Mr. Clark, and Lieutenant Davis[2] who had Several Children sick of the Throat Distemper with whom I pray’d.  N.B. Dr. Fletcher[3] accompany’d me down below Biglo’s.

[1]John Caldwell of Rutland.

[2]Simon Davis of Rutland.

[3]Hezekiah Fletcher, the physician of Rutland.  Jonas Reed, A History of Rutland (Worcester, 1836), 115-116.

1740 September 9 (Tuesday).  At the Burial of Thomas Bruce’s Child who dy’d by the Throat Distemper.

1740 September 10 (Wednesday).  My wife rode with me to Marlborough being ask’d by Dr. Gott to meet with a young widow whom he purposed to bring from Boston to his House this Evening.  We visited Colonel Woods whose illness So increases that this Day he is got up into his Chamber from which tis fear’d he will never come down.  We waited at Evening for the Doctor at his House till we were weary, and then return’d home without seeing him.

1740 September 11 (Thursday).  I rode up to the Fast at Shrewsbury accompany’d by Mr. Stone.[1]  Mr. Cushing pray’d and Mr. Stone preach’d on Ps. 57.1.  Mr. Prentice of Grafton pray’d p.m. and I preach’d from Mic. 6.9.  I return’d at Evening.

[1]Rev. Nathan Stone of Southborough.

1740 September 12 (Friday).  Ensign Forbush[1] sent his Son and a Yoke of Cattle, Sergeant Bruce a Son and a Yoke of Cattle and Captain Warrin[2] his Oxen, and plough and Harrow to plough and harrow [sic] my rugged Ground on the South Side.

[1]Thomas Forbush, Jr.

[2]Daniel Warrin.

1740 September 13 (Saturday).  Benjamin Forbush[1] work’d for me, a.m. mowing Bushes.  P.M. took care of Stalks.  Daniel How[2] came part of the afternoon and help’d.

[1]Son of Aaron Forbush.

[2]Son of Parkman’s neighbor, Hezekiah How.

1740 September 14 (Sunday).  On Mic. 6.9.  Eccl. 8.11.  Mrs. Billings[1] din’d with us.

[1]Hannah, wife of Thomas Billings of Westborough.

1740 September 15 (Monday).  P.M. Mr. Baxter[1] and Madam accompany’d by Captain Winchesters[2] wife of Framingham, came, and they lodged here.  N.B. This Day arriv’d Neighbor Eliezer Rice from Albany with his Brother Ozorongoughton[3] and Mr. Tarbell[4] for a Companion and Interpreter.

[1]Rev. Joseph Baxter of Medfield.

[2]Ebenezer Winchester.

[3]The Indian name of Timothy Rice who had been captured in 1704.  Parkman later spelled this name Oughtzorongoughton.  See The Story of the Rice Boys.

[4]John Tarbell.  See Green, Groton during the Indian Wars, 116-120.

1740 September 16 (Tuesday).  Mr. Baxter and Madam, Captain Winchester and his wife rode from hence to go to Brimfield.  I rode with them as far as Neighbor Seth Rice’s, where I saw the Captives.  P.M. at the Burying of another of Thomas Bruces Children and visited one of Captain Warrins which was very low of the Same Distemper.  Towards Evening the Captives came to view to [sic] old House where Mr. Rice us’d to dwell, and they were at my House, Some number of the Neighbours accompanying them.

1740 September 17 (Wednesday).  Mr. Baines[1] of Marlborough came to digg my Well.  A.M. it rain’d.  P.M. he wrought.  I rode to the South and South west of the town, was at old Mr. Rice’s.  The Chief had been there and remember’d the Old Gentleman.  They were down with him to view the place where he was carry’d away Captive.  N.B. I wrote to the Governor concerning the Captives.

[1]William Bains.

1740 September 18 (Thursday).  The Funeral of Captain Warrins little Daughter, which dy’d by the Throat Distemper.  The Strangers went from us to Groton to visit Captain Tarbell.  They were at my House as they went.  Mr. Baines went off in the Morning to look him up an hand to work with him, he having taken my well by the Great [?].  In the Bargain we agreed that he Should Dig till he found Water to my Reasonable Content, and Should Stone the Well compleat and be four feet within the wall at the Bottom, for Ten pounds and his own and a man’s keeping, and I should draw him Stones convenient about the Well.  And in Case he Should not find a good Spring this Season the well shall be covered up till another, only he Should receive five pounds of money and the remainder when the Well should be finished whenever it Shall be.

1740 September 19 (Friday).  Very Cold, Windy but bright Morning.  Mr. Baines came late from Marlborough and Sett to his work without an Hand.  Mr. Whitefield came last Night to Boston.