Author: Anthony Vaver

June 12, 1726

1726 June 12 (Sunday).  I could not go to Meeting.  I would humble myself before God for my former Negligence and unfaithfullness on this Blessed Day which justly Deserves the Divine Frowns.  I Beseech God to assist me by his Grace to greater Diligence and Zeal and Constancy in his Service, especially in my Great work on this Day for the Future.

 

I Sent a sermon to the meeting house but there being but 3 or 4 Men there they returned to my house.  Most of the people were gone to Meeting in neighbouring Towns.  There were Worcester people here for Mr. Burr[1] was ill.  It was doubtfull whether there would be any Meeting at Shrewsbury for Mr. Cushing[2] Broke his Arm some Time since and has not been able to preach for 2 Sabbaths.  The Time look’d very Melancholly.  It show’d in a Lively Light the great Priviledge of Comfortable free Enjoyment of the Lords Day.

[1]Reverend Isaac Burr of Worcester.

[2]Reverend Job Cushing of Shrewsbury.

June 14, 1726

1726 June 14 (Tuesday).  Training Day.  The Officers sent importunate Addresses to me to have me dine with them.  I rode as far as Mr. Maynards[1] (the next house) and it made me more chearfull.  It was Town meeting also, in the Afternoon upon account of our Sutton neighbours that would be Set off to us.[2]  Robert was at Moulding up my Indian Corn.  He did not make that Heavy Business of the First part that he did before.  I prosecuted some preparation for Next Sabbath.

[1]David Maynard of Westborough.

[2]See DeForest and Bates, Westborough, p. 101.

June 19, 1726

1726 June 19 (Sunday).  I preach’d on Prov. 3.6; p.m. on Eph. 5.16.  Captain Willard[1] din’d with me and Mrs. Holloway.[2]  Concluding Exercises in the Afternoon, I was very much Spent.  I was very Faint and my knees trembled very Sensibly and so I continued till I had rested my Self some time at home.  I had in the Evening a good Season of Serious Enquirys unto my Self.  God grant me more such and bless them to me.

[1]Benjamin Willard, father of Major Joseph Willard.

[2]Mrs. William Holloway of Westborough.

June 22, 1726

1726 June 22 (Wednesday).  Robert Henry went away.  I reckon’d with Neighbor Clark.  N.B. After a long time of Drought God in Mercy remembered us, and Last night and this morning (with not a little Thunder and Lightening) Sent us plentifull Showers of Rain.  I remain faint through pains in my Stomach which often Oblige me to desist Studying.  Yesterday Rebecca Paddison, apprehending Some Dangerous Tumour in her Breast, returned to her Mother.  Brother Champney[1] came up to See us.

[1]Samuel Champney, Jr., Parkman’s brother-in-law.

June 29, 30, 1726

1726 June 29, 30 (Wednesday, Thursday).  We pol’d in our Hay.  Neighbor Green and William Clark, My Self and Boy.  My Self and Neighbor Green.[1]  Notwithstanding such Exercise last mentioned was my Diversion and Choice, yet I found it sometime tir’d me very much.  It set me into Reflections upon the unhappy times we are fallen into and the Ingratitude of most of the people of the Country to their Ministers, very few besides the Boston ministers being able to Support themselves with what they Receive from their People.  Certainly they are straighthanded and if they Reap Sparingly no wonder since they Sow very Sparingly.  He that would be just will attribute hereto and not to the want of Either sufficient parts of Eager Inclination if there are not so great men among us as were famous in New England in the Dayes of Fathers.  Most ministers do groan under their pressures and it is an addition to the weight that Sinks them that the Generality of People are of the Sort and Spirit that it Scarce ever can prove to the Advantage of men to complain, but it is best to Suffer patiently, to obtain relief.  They Desire to be left to their own Generosity, the Extent of which is Enough Demonstrated.  This Reflection is the more melancholly when it is Evident Such Evil conceits are daily propated [propagated?] to the Dishonour of God with the Disparagement of his Ministry.  For, trifling as the following observation is, it is true: That their [blot] inward Respect is much proportion’d to our Externall appearance; when therefore it becomes mean through their neglect it will be in Danger of becoming worse through their Contempt.  But (Christo gratias) I have had little Experience, as yet.

[1]John Green of Westborough.

July 4, 1726

1726 July 4 (Monday).  I rode away to Mr. Brecks,[1] who acquainted me with what was done last association.  Especially referring to Mr. McKinstrys[2] Cause, and Mr. Barretts[3] with Mr. How.  Thence I rode to Mr. Woods.  Thence to Mr. Cooks where I din’d on fry’d Pigeons.  Thence to Livermores, from whence to Father Champney’s.[4]  My Journey hither was very Tedious but I proceeded to Boston.  Through my illness I was very much tired.  Brother John,[5] I was informed was ready to sail for Dublin in a vessel belonging to the Family.  Brother Alexanders[6] wife Last week was Delivered of a Daughter.[7]

[1]Reverend Robert Breck of Marlborough.

[2]Reverend John McKinstry of Sutton. Benedict and Tracey, Sutton, pp. 32-35.

[3]Reverend Samuel Barrett of Hopkinton.

[4]Samuel Champney, Sr., Parkman’s father-in-law.

[5]Parkman’s brother-in-law, John Tyley.

[6]Parkman’s older brother, Alexander.

[7]Esther Parkman, born June 29, 1726.

July 5, 1726

1726 July 5 (Tuesday).  I was about various Concerns but I was very faint and incapable of Business.  I was at Mather Byles’s[1] and he show’d me (at my Request) his Poem to Mr. Dowding on his Verses of Eternity, Sent in a Letter to Sir Byles.  This Poem was published in the Courant No. _____.[2]  He repeated his own and Mr. Adams’s[3] Poems on Captain Winslow[4] deceas’d with all which I was very well pleas’d.  I was at various places but I was not well in Either.  I was very much afflicted with the Oppressions at my Stomach.  I was with Dr. [Louis] Dalhonde.

[1]Mather Byles (Harvard 1725), poet, humorist, minister of the Hollis St. Church, Boston, 1732-1776.  Sibley, VII, 464-493.  For information on Byles’ poetry see the Introduction by C. Lennart Carlson in the 1940 facsimile edition of Byles’ Poems on Several Occasions (Boston, 1744).

[2]The New England Courant, No. 237, published in Boston.  Dowding may have been Joseph, b. 1702.

[3]John Adams (Harvard 1721), poet, minister and classmate of Parkman.  Sibley, VI, 424-427.

[4]Captain Josiah Winslow (Harvard 1721) was the commander of a fort on St. George’s River in Maine, and was killed in an Indian engagement April 30, 1724.  Sibley, VI, 587-589.  Byles’ poem was printed in his Poems on Several Occasions (Boston, 1744), and Adams’ in his Poems on Several Occasions (Boston, 1745).

July 6, 1726

1726 July 6 (Wednesday).  Commencement.  I was much of a stranger at College, but my indispositions much prevented my making my Observations.  The Batchelours had their Degrees in the Meeting house in the Morning.  But there was so much rain at noon that the masters Disputations were in College-Hall and their Degrees given them in the Afternoon.  I was at Sir Bridghams[1] Chamber at Dinner but I was not fit for any Conversation through my Lifelessness.  I was desir’d by Mr. Barrett to Meet here with our Association upon Mr. McKinstrys Cause, But no body came.  Mr. Breck led me to Sir Saltonstalls[2] Chamber where there being little Company I had most Quiet.  It was a very rainy Time which kept the Town full of People, full of Jollitys and no one knows what.  At Night having borrowed a Large Sturdy Coat I ventured over to Father Champney’s but it was very wet, uncomfortable.  Here was Cousin Dorcas Bows[3] and Susan Champney.[4]  We lodg’d Comfortably.  But a little after midnight Mrs. Jerusha Fairweather and Mrs. Mary Gain Came over.  I was awoke but they concluded I was asleep, and therefore I was never Troubled.

[1]James Bridgham (Harvard 1726).  Sibley, VIII, 7-10.

[2]Nathaniel Saltonstall (Harvard 1727).  Sibley, VIII, 263-265.

[3]Mrs. Parkman’s cousin.

[4]Susanna Champney, daughter of Joseph Champney, and Mrs. Parkman’s cousin.

July 7, 1726

1726 July 7 (Thursday).  In the Morn I found that Two Young Gentlemen had waited upon the forementioned Ladies but Despairing of Room in the House, never Enquir’d and roll’d into the Barn.  Yet one was Sir Clark[1] one of the Orators; the other Mr. Woodbridge,[2] son of Governor Woodbridge[3] of the Asiento Company in the West Indies.  It was Dark weather but pleasant Company particularly Mrs. Gains, with whom I chiefly confin’d my Conversation.  About Ten I return’d over to the Town.  I met Mrs. Porter who had just before had a turn of Illness and was coming out of Colledge to take the Air.  She Desir’d me to walk with her.  I embraced the opportunity, and (with her Sister, Two Miss Charnocks[4] and their Gentlemen Mr. Baxter[5] and Mr. Baker[6]) we walk’d round the Common, a long walk for an ill Man and a woman but half reviv’d.  We lodged Safe at Sir Balch’s[7] and I bid them Adieu for I was Oblig’d to hasten to Boston, to finish the Rest of my Business.  I did so and Returned back to Cambridge.  I waited on Sir Clark, and gave up the Cause.  I retir’d to Father Champneys again and was much Diverted by the Facetious Company of Mrs. Gain.

[1]William Clark (Harvard 1726), later a Boston physician and political writer.  Sibley, VIII, 12-19.

[2]Benjamin Woodbridge (Harvard 1728).  Sibley, VIII, 533-535.

[3]Judge Dudley Woodbridge of Barbados.

[4]Elizabeth and Mary, daughters of John and Mary Charnock of Cambridge or Boston.

[5]Joseph Baxter (Harvard 1724). Sibley, VII, 304-305.

[6]Thomas Baker (Harvard 1724).  Sibley, VII, 294-295.

[7]William Batch (Harvard 1724).  Sibley, VII, 296-304.

July 8, 1726

1726 July 8 (Friday).  About Ten (as I remember) I took horse for home, Mother Champney[1] being with me.  I was become much better and my Journey was Much Easier than I (fearfully) Expected it would be.  We came home very Safely.  (Deo Optimo Salvatori Gratas quam plurimas.)  Asher Rice had been here at work (Mowing).  When I had been at home sometime and had Contented my Self with my appointment with Mr. Cushing to Change.  I was Surpriz’d to hear that his Arm was very bad and he gone or going to Narragansett, upon which I was driven to Compose Discourses for Sabbath Day.  But I was in a flutter and could write but four lines.  I Examined myself concerning my Negligence.  I considered my Journey as Necessary to seek advice touching my Health; that I had no Opportunity or Strength; and the Divine Providence intervening and removing the means of my assistance I had the more Solid grounds to proceed to Entreat the Divine Help.

[1]Mrs. Samuel Champney, Parkman’s mother-in-law.

July 10, 1726

1726 July 10 (Sunday).  I preach’d all Day upon Jer. 4.14.  My Wife was Taken with a shivering and Trembling while in the afternoon Exercise, but Showed nothing to me till I was come out of meeting, when She walked very Slow and look’d more pale and sunk than I had ever seen heron any occasion that I remember.  But she made a shift to get home and then grew somewhat better.  I concluded it to be issue proceeding from the Procidantia Uteri which she had been Troubled with.  This accident put us upon Weaning the Child which this Night began.

July 11, 1726

1726 July 11 (Monday).  I went out to see my Hay; Mr. Rice[1] came to see me and he with my own people (Two of them) got it into Cock.  The Boy, first with me and then the men, poled it in, there being appearance of foul Weather nigh, and the cocks standing round the Barn, very Easy at hand.  Now and in the next Morning together we carry’d in above Thirty.

[1]Asher Rice of Westborough.

July 12, 1726

1726 July 12 (Tuesday).  My Wife Rode with me to Mr. Cushings whose arm Continues very Stiff and Troublesome.  Yet Patient Job was good Company.  What a favour of heaven to have the mind Stock’d with wise, with Divine Principles whereby it is fortify’d and kept Even.  My Wife Seem’d to have a comfortable Time, and I made my Observations upon the Pleasure she seem’d to take in this Ride.  Yet I understood afterwards that while at Mr. Cushings She was not very well.