Author: Anthony Vaver

April 20, 1742

1742 April 20 (Tuesday).  Catechetical Exercise No.  5 at the Meeting House, above 30 young women (I Suppose) were present.  N.B. Mary Bradish[1] with me afterwards, being in some Spiritual Difficultys.

[1]Mary Bradish (b. 1715) was the author of the letter that Parkman read to his fellow ministers on June 16.  See “A Letter of a young woman after her passing through Some Singular Spiritual Conflicts and Trials,” 1742, signed M.B., Ebenezer Parkman, Commonplace Book (Massachusetts Historical Society), 92-95.

April 22, 1742

1742 April 22 (Thursday).  I had sent to Mr. Stone and to Mr. Cushing fruitlessly, to assist me.  I Sent a verbal Message to Mr. Burr[1] and though it was a rainy Day he came and preached my Lecture: a good usefull Sermon on Rom. 10, part of the 14 and 15 verses and the 17th, against Exhorters among the people etc.: with a moving Application.  Letter from Rutland read.  See Church Records.

[1]Isaac Burr (1697-1751), Yale 1717, minister of Worcester, 1725-1745, Windsor, Conn., 1747-1751.  DYG, 1:163-65.

April 25, 1742

1742 April 25 (Sunday).  Administered the Lords Supper.  Repeated on 2 Cor. 11.27.29.  P.M. on Eph. 5.14.  I was in much fear and trembling but cast my Self on God.  I chose to repeat in the forenoon that I might deliver the latter part of that Discourse; and likewise that I might deliver my Sermon in the afternoon more entirely by it self, it not admitting to be divided, but it being the Quantity of Two sermons.  I was much above an hour.  Some Number of Southborough people at Meeting and Some of Hopkinton.  Deacon Fay, Mr. William Johnson.  Madam Ward,[1] and her son Lieutenant Hezekiah Ward[2] dined with me.  N.B. Very Weary at Night.

[1]Probably Jane Ward.

[2]Probably Hezekiah Ward, son of William and Jane Ward, born June 28, 1703 (MVR, 187); died Mar. 6 1777 (Parkman diary, Mar. 9, 1777).  He and his wife Abigail joined the church, Sept. 7, 1729 (WCR, 20-21).  She died Mar. 30, 1735 (Southborough VR, 184).  Hezekiah was dismissed to the Southborough church, Sept. 3, 1741 (WCR, 59).

April 26, 1742

1742 April 26 (Monday).  Could not go with the Delegates till I had Sent to Grafton for my Mare.  When my sons were returned I rode to Shrewsbury.  Overtook Mr. Frink[1] riding up from Boston home.  Overtook our Delegates in Holden.  Reached Rutland at Night.  No Minister besides, for some Time.  At length Mr. Solomon Prentice.  Lodged at Deacon Stevens’s.

[1]Thomas Frink (1705-1777), Harvard 1722, minister of Rutland, 1727-1740; minister of the Third Church, Plymouth, 1744-1748; minister of Barre, 1753-1766.  SHG 7:69-75.

April 27, 1742

1742 April 27 (Tuesday).  Rutland Fast.  Mr. Burr and Mr. David Goddard, came in the Morning and Mr. Hall in sermon Time.  Mr. Prentice and I in the forenoon performed the Devotions of the Fast.  I preached on 1 Pet. 5.6.  P.M. Mr. Hall prayed and Mr. Burr preached on Rom. 10.14.15.17 verses.  O might it be a Day of Atonement etc.!  The Church was stayed, and directed to come to us in the Evening.  The Council was formed, and matters and Papers were put into our Hands, divers of them for hearing.  We read over 1/2 Dozen and referred the Rest till Tomorrow.  N.B. John Kidney.[1]  Lodged to night at Ensign Moses Hows with Mr. Hall of Sutton, but our Residence was at Deacon Stevens’s.

[1]John Kidney had served as an indentured servant to Parkman and tried to rape Molly Parkman (June 2, 1739).

April 28, 1742

1742 April 28 (Wednesday).  Hard at it in the Council — reading the papers and hearing their Defence.  Mr. Frink also very ready to wait on the Council, though he made a Distinction as he did not join with the Church in calling it.  P.M. Mr. Hall preached at the request of the people.  It interrupted the Business of the Council and carryed off the Members, So that we did not finish this Evening.  N.B. John Kidney acquainted me at large with the Methods of Gods Spirit with him in awakening him and, as he hoped, converting him.  Asked my pardon and my Familys — was ready to give it me under his Hand.  Several Gentlemen told me that in acquainting them with the wondrous Methods of Gods Grace with him he had made respectful mention of what he had received from me in the Time he lived with me: And he expressed the Same to me himself.  And among other Things when he was in Darkness and Distress from Day to Day and not able to find what method to take nor what to do, he was greatly relieved and directed by calling to mind those Lines he was wont to repeat with my Children, at the End of the morning and Evening Hymns, Praise God from whom all Blessings Flow etc.  He expressed his abhorrence of the Romish Religion — told me he was baptized at East Hadley and admitted into the Church there by Mr. Parsons[1] — but notwithstanding the Joys he had experienced about those Times yet that now he was in Darkness again and in great Fear and Trouble.  I directed and advised him as I thought his Case required.

[1]David Parsons, Jr. (1712-1781), Harvard 1729, minister at Hadley East or Third Precinct (Amherst), 1739-1781; SHG, 8:610-15.

April 29, 1742

1742 April 29 (Thursday).  When the Result was read and the Council Dissolved, and we had also waited on Mr. Frink we left the Town with Hopes of Peace: for we had the happiness of Satisfying all partys that we were concerned with (But it is far the greatest to please and glorify God).  They were full of their grateful Thanks, and even Mr. Frink also, notwithstanding he joined not with the Church in calling the Council.  Mr. Buckminster,[1] the probationer, accompanyed us down the Road.  N.B. Several Distressed persons detained me on the Way in Rutland and in Holden, with their Spiritual Troubles — viz. Mr. Jonathan Stones wife,[2] Mr. Caldwell,[3] Mr. James Smith.[4]  Stopped by the Rain at Shrewsbury at Mr. Allens.[5]  He sett Two Shooes upon my Horse.  N.B. his Son James nigh wasted to Death.  I warned and directed and prayed with him and his Parents and the Company at the Shop.  My wife went to Marlborough.  At Home Thomas had ploughed etc.

[1]Joseph Buckminster (1720-1792), Harvard 1739, minister at Rutland, 1742-1792; SHG, 10:348-54.

[2]There is no Jonathan Stone in the published Rutland or Holden vital records, but there was a John Stone in Rutland whose wife was Elizabeth.  She died May 21, 1751, in her 38th year; he died Oct. 11, 1776; RVR, 249.

[3]This may have been John Caldwell of Rutland, several of whose children were baptized in the 1740s and 1750s; ibid., 25

[4]This may have been the James Smith whose wife Margaret gave birth to a son, James, Mar. 29, 1722; ibid., 88.

[5]Robert Allen of Shrewsbury, blacksmith

May 2, 1742

1742 May 2 (Sunday).  On Eph. 5.14.  P.M. repeated on Heb. 13.17 to page 19, occasioned by the late Separation of Mr. Frink from his pastoral office.  Mrs. Bathsheba Pratt here, being greatly distressed for the Hardness of her Heart notwithstanding that She had been a member in full Communion above 20 Years.[1]  N.B. Lieut. Holloway and Mr. Joseph Woods[2] dined with us.  I gave Account to the Church at Eve of our Transactions and success at Rutland.

[1]“Bersheba” Pratt, a member of the Marlborough church, was admitted to the Westborough church, July 25, 1725 (WCR, 2).

[2]This may have been the same Joseph Woods who Parkman said was “of Southborough” (Jan. 23, 1738).  That Joseph Woods, b. Aug. 20, 1705; mar. Thankful _____; and had one son in Southborough, Seth, b. Oct. 9, 1738 (Southborough VR, 85), who lived in Westborough; Ermina Newton Leonard, Newton Genealogy, Genealogical, Biographical, Historical, Being a Record of the Descendants of Richard Newton… (De Pere, Wisconsin, 1915), 367 n.

May 5, 1742

1742 May 5 (Wednesday).  My Wife rode to Cambridge.  I rode with her as far as Marlborough, but both of us soaked through with an heavy Shower in the woods between Westborough and Southborough back of Lieutenant Brighams Pond.  I attended the fast Exercises at Old Capt. Brighams, which were occasioned by the dull, unactive and very insensible state he was fallen into and had been in for more than a Year: I preached on Mic. 7.7, Mr. Smith having prayed before sermon.  In the latter Exercise I prayed and Mr. Prentice of Grafton preached upon Ezek. 36.37.  I returned home at Eve.

May 6, 1742

1742 May 6 (Thursday).  Thomas planted part of the upper Field.  Mr. Paterson[1] an Irishman from Stoddard Town here.  N.B. He had been one of those that had fallen into a Strange Fit by the pressure of his Distress at hearing the word preached.  P.M. I preached at Capt. Fays on Eph. 5.14, Sermon ii.  Rainy.  Mr. Benjamin Fay[2] came home with me at Eve in the Rain.  N.B. I repeated that sermon because of divers people being at a great Loss about the Doctrine held forth therein.

[1]Not otherwise identified.

[2]Benjamin Fay (1712-1777) and his wife Martha joined the church, July 26, 1741 (WCR, 58).

May 8, 1742

1742 May 8 (Saturday).  Finished planting our Fields.  Mr. Deming[1] came; at the my Request he stayed with us.  Mr. Jenison came in the Eve designing to preach for me if I wanted Help.  Providence cast in a fine parsel of Pond Fish, by Jonathan Rogers.

[1]David Deming (1681-1746), Harvard 1700, minister at Cromwell, Connecticut, 1703-1711; Needham, 1713-1714; Medway, 1715-1722; supply minister, Lyme, Connecticut, 1723-1730, and North Lyme, Connecticut, 1736; SHG, 4:518-19.

May 12, 1742

1742 May 12 (Wednesday).  Mr. Smith of Marlborough preached to the Young Men of the first Society on 1 Chr. 28.9, a good usefull sermon.  Mr. Cushing and Mr. Jenison were also here.  Mr. Smith rode away immediately after Exercise on occasion of his Neighbours setting him up a Barn Frame this afternoon.  Hopes of my Wife this Evening blasted.  Thomas getting Posts.

May 14, 1742

1742 May 14 (Friday).  Rainy Morning.  Clear p.m.  Mrs. Williams here again — Sarah Bellows[1] — Daniel Stone[2] and his wife — all of them Candidates for the Communion.  At Eve my Wife returned, and in safety.  Blessed be God!  Mr. John Mead[3] lodged here.

[1]Sarah Bellows, daughter of Eleazer and Sarah Bellows, was admitted to the church, May 30, 1742 (WCR, 62).  She married Phinehas Forbush, Jan. 5, 1743 (WVR, 123).

[2]Daniel and Mary Stone were admitted to the church, May 30, 1742 (WCR, 62), and dismissed to Hardwick, Aug. 17, 1747 (WCR, 80).

[3]When John Mead died, Sept. 28, 1771, Parkman noted, “Tis conjectured in his 82d year.  He was Mr. President Lock’s great Uncle.”  Samuel Locke (1732-1778), Harvard 1755 (SHG, 13:620-27), served as Harvard’s president, 1770-1773.

May 17, 1742

1742 May 17 (Monday).  I rode to Mr. Jesse Brighams.  Phinehas Forbush[1] with me upon his Souls Distresses.  N.B. News from Grafton  that Mr. Philemon Robbins[2] preached there yesterday and Twenty or More persons fell down with Distress and Anguish.  Mr. Smith, Taylor, at work here.

[1]Phinehas Forbush (1721-1747) was admitted into the church, July 11, 1742 (WCR, 63).

[2]Philemon Robbins (1709-1781), Harvard 1729, minister at Branford, Connecticut, 1733-1781; SHG, 8:616-27.

May 18, 1742

1742 May 18 (Tuesday).  Exercise to young women on Ps. 73.24.  Mrs. Brown[1] of Leicester (Mother of Mrs. Chamberlain) here.  Mrs. Edwards[2] from Northampton and Searl[3] a Freshman of N.H. College, here; and lodged here.

[1]Marcy Brown mar. John Chamberlain, Mar. 12, 1741; LVR, 129.  Two children of John and Mercy Chamberlain were baptized, Apr. 1, 1744.  Mercy (or Marcy) had owned the covenant at Leicester (WCR, 69).  When their son Samuel was baptized, they were “now of Stockbridge,” May 2, 1756 (WCR, 105).

[2]Sarah (Pierpont) Edwards, dau. of Rev. James Pierpont (1660-1714), Harvard 1681, minister of New Haven (SHG, 3:222-30) and wife of Jonathan Edwards.

[3]John Searle (1721-1787), Yale 1745, minister at Sharon, Connecticut, 1748-1754; Stoneham, 1759-1776; Royalton, Vermont, 1783-1787; DYG, 2:53-55.

May 19, 1742

1742 May 19 (Wednesday).  Very rainy Morning.  Sweet Converse with Mrs. Edwards, a very eminent Christian.  ½ after eleven I left home and rode to Sutton Fast.  Preached there on Eph. 5.14.  After Meeting an elderly Woman, one Mrs. White (whose Husband is a Baptist) So overcome that She was led into Mr. Halls.  She Seemed to be in great Distress — but She had much Joy and Love.  At Evening Dr. Morss and divers others came in and Sung.

May 20, 1742

1742 May 20 (Thursday).  I had determined to go to Worcester to see the Prisoner, Green, whom I had lately writ to on occasion of his turning Quaker.  But I could not go from Mr. Halls seasonably enough — Mr. Hall and his wife[1] went with me to Brother Hicks’s, who has got his New place into a very good way.  I dined at Grafton.  Mrs. Prentice[2] very full of Spiritual Things.  I rode home and with my wife went over to Mr. Lulls.  Preached there on 1 Thess. 1.10.  And after that Exercise, I preached in half an Hour (at their Special Request) to the Young society on that side of the Town, on Ps. 119.59.  At Evening Solemnized the Marriage of Jonas Child to Sibyl Shattuck and Jonathan Cutting to Sarah Ball.  These Nuptial Solemnitys were at Capt. Eagers.  N.B. Mr. Jenison made the last prayer.  N.B. Thomas getting Fencing Stuff.

[1]Elizabeth (Prescott) Hall, wife of Rev. David Hall of Sutton.

[2]Sarah (Sartell) Prentice, wife of Solomon Prentice, minister of Grafton.