Author: Anthony Vaver

1745 May 16 (Thursday).  Mr. Devotion[1] etc. detain’d at our House because of the Rain.  Thomas Winchester went to Grafton, where a Fast is kept to Day, as there was also public Exercises both parts of the Day yesterday.  The Rain was Such as might have hinder’d him from work Some Part of the Forenoon but not the rest of the Day.  N.B. A Number of Ministers Met as an Association there — Nor did Mr. Prentice wholly omitt to invite me, but I was under Engagement to be at Cambridge for that very Time.  Thomme came home ill from Mr. Batchellors.

[1]Rev. Ebenezer Devotion.

1745 May 17 (Friday).  I went over to College in the Morning.  At Mr. Hancocks Chamber where were Mr. Flynt,[1] Mr. Mayhew and Mr. Nathaniel Gardner.[2]  Bought Dr. Wigglesworths Letter to Mr. Whitefield of Mr. Flynt, and borrow’d Tennents Examiner Examined,[3] of Mr. Mayhew.  On my Journey home I call’d at Dr. Robys,[4] at Sudbury, and found he was not averse to taking up my Kinsman Elias to study Physic with him, upon which I wrote to my Kinsman and committed it to the Care of the Doctor.  I din’d at Mr. Pattersons with my Kinsman Williams, the Schoolmaster there.  Rode into Marlborough to See Sister Breck[5] of Springfield who is ill yet at Dr. Gotts.  At Home, Brother Hicks (who drove up his Oxen from Cambridge) and his wife who came up (also) from Cambridge, lodg’d with us.

[1]Tutor Henry Flynt.

[2](HC 1739), a Boston schoolmaster. SHG 10:366-368

[3]Gilbert Tennent, The Examiner Examined, or Gilbert Tennent, Harmonious (Philadelphia, 1743).

[4]Ebenezer Roby was the physician of Sudbury.

[5]Mrs. Samuel Breck, Parkman’s wife’s sister. [Walett should have said sister-in-law.]

1745 May 18 (Saturday).  My Brother Samuel Parkman returning from Hartford to Boston touch’d here this morning (having lodg’d at Worcester).  Presently after his taking Leave it Sett in for Rain, and p.m. was very Wet.  Brother and sister Hicks went home Early.

1745 May 19 (Sunday).  Repeated Sermon on Eph. 3.10 from page 18 to page 32, under that Text in Phil. 2.8, a.m. and Ex. 9, p.m. Appointed the Communion and Preparatory Lecture.

1745 May 20 (Monday).  Sent Thomme down to Dr. Gott that he might be under his advice and Directions: he rode before his mother who visited her sister Breck to Day and carry’d her Child; and Thomme return’d home with Mrs. Sally Gott[1] instead of his Mother.

[1]Sarah, daughter of Dr. Benjamin Gott.

1745 May 21 (Tuesday).  Town Meeting to choose a Representative, but the Town were of the Mind to rely upon the Courts Goodness and would Send none considering the Towns New and heavy Burdens.  Receiv’d from Mr. Edwards of Northampton Proposals for printing his Treatise of Religious Affections.[1]  Mr. Breck of Springfield came at Evening in his Chair and brought his Daughter Lois and lodg’d here.

[1]Jonathan Edwards, A Treatise Concerning Religious Affections, in Three Parts (Boston, 1746).

1745 May 22 (Wednesday).  In the Morning about 8 o’Clock I rode to Mr. Williams’s and marry’d his Daughter to Mr. Reuben Maynard of Shrewsbury.  Immediately return’d back to Mr. Breck who was waiting for my Company to Marlborough.  He and his little Daughter rode in his Chair and Mrs. Sally Gott and I in Mr. Tainters Chaise.  We call’d to see Colonel William Ward.  We din’d at Dr. Gotts p.m.  From Mr. Smiths Fence my Mare broke loose and ran away with the Chaise.  Soon oversett it.  Scrap’d one Thill in Sunder, clear’d herself of her tackling and posted away for home, but was presently Stop’d by the Smith on the Hill.  We gather’d up the broken Tackling, dragg’d the Chaise to Mr. Smiths, and I rode to Deacon Stevens’s and got him to it to look upon it and make a new Thill.  Thus I left the Chaise, and my wife and child rode with me on Horseback home at Evening.

1745 May 23 (Thursday).  Mr. Breck and Mr. Smith came up from Marlborough.  They din’d with me and after Dinner Mr. Breck preach’d my Lecture from 1 Pet. 3.15, a useful Sermon.  May God Succeed it, and bless the Preacher.  Not many North Side People at Lecture.  N.B. Ebenezer Ball, in a Consumption brought low, was pray’d for.  N.B. One Mr. Town of Oxford labouring under a Diabetes, and much enfeebled, was carry’d along in an Horse litter, some Framingham people assisting.  Mr. Breck and Mr. Smith return’d to Marlborough.  The former carrying off the works of the Author of the Whole Duty of Man,[1] for which he is to bring me all he has of Dr. Owen.[2]

[1]Richard Allestree, D.D. (1619-1681), the royalist divine, is generally held to have been the author of The Whole Duty of Man, which was first published in 1658 and went through more than thirty editions. The work Parkman refers to may have been his Forty Sermons whereof Twenty-one are now First Published (2 vols.; London, 1684).

[2]Over eighty works of John Owen (1616-1683), the English divine, were published. One had recently been published in America: Eshcol: a Cluster of the Fruit of Canaan Brought to the Borders (Boston, 1744).

1745 May 24 (Friday).  Sent Ebenezer to Marlborough for the Chaise we left to be mended by Deacon Stevens;[1] and after much worry and trouble with the unruly Mare, he got home with it.

[1]Samuel Stevens.

1745 May 25 (Saturday).  Neighbor Jedidiah How cutt 5 young Piggs for me.  Captain Maynard here after his Journey to Boston — a great hindrance to me in my preparations and I am rarely without great Perplexity upon such occasions.  Edwards Whipple, and afterwards his Wife with their Relations.

1745 May 26 (Sunday).  On John 17.3 a.m.  After admitting Edwards Whipple and his wife into the Church, I administered the Lords Supper.  N.B. the greatest Part of our Northern Brethren absent, to my great Grief.  P.M. I consider’d the proneness of our Young People to run into great Extravagancys at the Election Time, and for some abatement of their ungodly Mirth I made an Essay on Luke 6.25.

1745 May 27 (Monday).  [No entry.]

1745 May 28 (Tuesday).  [No entry.]

1745 May 29 (Wednesday).  The first Election that I remember to have kept in Westborough. I read partly in my Family old Mr. Higginsons Election Sermon on the Cause of God and his People.[1]  Had a good Dinner with my Family, rejoicing in the great goodness of God to his people in all the Memorable Works which He had wrought, and for that He continues to us our precious and pleasant Things — and after Dinner we Sung part of the first 8 Verses of Ps. 78, Tate and Bradys Version.  P.M. a number of Elderly men came to see me.  Old Mr. Maynard, Mr. Whipple and his Brother Lambson of Ipswich.  Upon the whole, I endeavour’d to keep the Day in humble gratitude to God, hearty Loyalty to the Government over me, and Communion with the Ministers in their General Convention, and in Chearfull Satisfaction with my own House, charging and watching over all under my Care that good order and good Hours be observ’d which (for any Thing has come to my knowledge) were So.

[1]John Higginson, The Cause of God and His People in New-England (Cambridge, 1663).

1745 May 30 (Thursday).  Thomas had gone to his Fathers and not being well return’d late this Morning — yet had struck no stroke at Weeding till to Day.  I rode again to Mr. Nathan Balls to see his son Ebenezer who grows worse.  I visited Mr. Livermores[1] Family, one of whose Daughters of about 11 years of age has been much troubled with Fitts.  N.B. I took some pains, as I had Opportunity to Enquire into the Reasons of the absence of Such a Number of the Northside Members from the last Communion.  Mr. Livermore prevented by his Daughters Fitts.  Mrs. Hannah Ball and divers others disquieted in their minds with their Differences.  Mr. Jacob Rice Said he could not leave his House, it being the place where the North Assembly meets — but there appeared to me no strength nor Validity in his Excuse.

[1]Jonathan Livermore of Westborough.

1745 May 31 (Friday).  Mr. Cushing and Mr. Morse came up from Boston; and they gave me Some Account of what had been done at the Election and at the Convention.  In particular at the latter Mr. Clark[1] of Salem Village preach’d a Seasonable, Close sermon with regard to Mr. Whitefields Errors of mis-conduct — and both he and his wife were present.  The Collection was large, £290 Old Tenor.  In the Convention Mr. Gee[2] and others made proposals of Subscribing the Platform and Confession of Faith; or Some other good Draught — but it was rejected.  Mr. Prince[3] no longer Clerk, but Mr. Turell[4] chose in his Room.

[1]Rev. Peter Clark of Danvers.

[2]Rev. Joshua Gee of Boston.

[3]Rev. Thomas Prince of Boston.

[4]Rev. Ebenezer Turell of Medford.

1745 June 1 (Saturday).  My son Thomme much out of Health So that I sent him to Marlborough to Dr. Gotts that he might get suitable Directions and Druggs of him.  Mr. Simon Goodard came here to ask whether his coming to Meeting here on sabbath Days would be disagreeable to Me?  And in reply, I expressed to him in what Case and for what Reasons it would.  His Father here presently after, but we had nothing upon his sons Errand.

1745 June 2 (Sunday).  On Sabbath Morning Mr. Breck[1] came up and preach’d for me all Day, a.m. on Ps. 130.3.4, p.m. Mat. 25.1-13.  He return’d to his wife at Marlborough after he had Supp’d.  N.B. he brought up the Agreeable News of our Forces having Succeeded in the Capture of a French Man of War of 64 Guns.  To God to praise and Glory!

[1]Rev. Robert Breck, Jr., of Springfield.

1745 June 3 (Monday).  [No entry.]

1745 June 4 (Tuesday).  Training in each part of the Town and beating up for Volunteers — but none as yet enlist for this Recruit.  P.M. I held my Catechetical Exercise to the Young Women.

1745 June 5 (Wednesday).  A.M. Mr. Townsend[1] from the Northside here, and very full of Discourse.  I visited Neighbour William Rogers junior’s Wife who lies Sick.  P.M. I rode (with my wife) over to the raisings on the west side of the River.  Mr. Seth Rice an House and Ensign Josiah a Barn.  N.B. Brother Hicks was here a.m. and brought up yesterdays Gazette[2] containing a large and particular account of the Successes of both Army and Fleet.

[1]Joshua Townsend.

[2]The Boston Gazette, or Weekly Journal, June 4, 1745.

1745 June 6 (Thursday).  Preach’d at Mr. Bradish’s[1] on Isa. 66.2.  Mr. Cook[2] there.  N.B. another fruitless Attempt of Reconcilement with him.

[1]James Bradish, an original settler of Westborough.

[2]Cornelius Cook.

1745 June 7 (Friday).  Thomme for my Malt at Mr. Matthias’s and brought it.  Mr. Green here for a Pigg I sold him.  Weigh’d [blank] .

1745 June 8 (Saturday).  Thomme return’d to his Master Batchellor at Grafton.

1745 June 9 (Sunday).  On John 17.3, and p.m. on Mat. 6.10.  Received from Reverend Mr. Salter[1] of Mansfield (who stop’d at Captain Fays[2] in his journey home) Mr. Solomon Williams’s[3] Sermon[4] on his Ordination and the Windham Associations Letter to the Several Societys in that County concerning Mr. Pain[5] etc.  Mr. James Fay who brought these deliver’d me also a Book from Deacon Merriam[6] of Grafton, being Dr. Francke[7] against the Fear of Man.

[1]Richard Salter (HC 1739), minister at Mansfield, Conn., 1744-1787. SHG 10:404-409.

[2]Capt. John Fay.

[3]Solomon Williams (HC 1719), minister of the First Church in Lebanon, Conn., 1722-1776. SHG 6:352-361.

[4] Solomon Williams, Ministers of the Gospel (New London, 1744).

[5]Elisha Paine had been imprisoned in 1743 in Connecticut for preaching without a license. He is said to have founded the First Baptist Church in Harwich. The pamphlet Parkman mentioned is A Letter from the Associated Ministers of the County of Windham (Boston, 1745).

[6]Joseph Merriam.

[7]August Hermann Francke, Nicodemus; or a Treatise Against the Fear of Man (3d ed.; Boston, 1745).

1745 June 10 (Monday).  At Mr. Hows in the Morning.  At Mr. Ebenezer Nurse’s to get an Horse to go to Ministers Meeting.  Could not Succeed with him — but did with Mr. Hezekiah Pratt.

1745 June 11 (Tuesday).  I have discover’d that though Ebenezer performs his Tasks of Lessons, yet he has an inward heavyness and drops now and then a word how glad he Shall be to be at Work upon the place, how much better the place Should Soon be if he Should labour etc.  I therefore took the Opportunity this Morning to talk with him, and I once More still gave him Liberty to Choose what Method of Life Should Suit his Genius best.  I rode to Boston by the Way of Captain Barnards[1] of Marlborough, to Association.  The following were present.  Messrs. John Prentice,[2] Loring, Cushing, Cook, Barrett, Stone, Seccomb,[3] Smith, Goss, Marsh,[4] Morse, Millen; and Mr. Buckminster was voted in.  Mr. Martyn also and Mr. Nathaniel Gardner,[5] Candidates were there.  After Prayer arose a Sharp and Vehement insisting for my transcribing into the Association Book, the minutes of the Meeting[6] at Mr. Smiths in Marlborough, last January when a Testimony was drawn up against Mr. Whitefield, but which I Strenuously deny’d and gave my Reasons for my Refusal of it.  It was desir’d that Mr. Stone would but he refus’d also; and though his Reason was that he had no more authority than anybody Else, he being Clerk only for that Meeting, yet when it was about to be put to Vote that he might be authoriz’d by the Association to do it, he still refus’d.  I repeatedly offer’d, and entreated that I might resign the office of Clerk.  I had now that the Burthen of it for 20 years, and it was Time Somebody else Should take a Turn.  But it was not granted — except by a Member or Two — of which Mr. Marsh was chief, who several Times desir’d that a New Clerk might be Chose.  After long Contest about recording those Minutes (it being of an out-of-Season, out-of-place Meeting, and when besides the Business of that Meeting, Two Members were admitted and one old Member dismissed) Mr. Barrett offer’d himself that if the Association Should appoint him to transcribe Mr. Stones Minutes into the Book, he would do it, which accordingly they did.  Then Mr. Martyn (the Concionator not being present) deliver’d an Exercise on Mat. 16.27, which no one Member (I think) was Satisfy’d with, he therein advancing that there would be no rewards in the future world according to Mens Works, untill the General Judgment.  But the Chief Subject of Conversation was Mr. Whitefield.  Collections were unthought of (I Suppose) by the Moderator.  They were never call’d for.  After Supper at Mr. Goss’s, Mr. Stone and I went home with Mr. Martyn and lodged there.

[1]Robert Barnard was a miller and tavern keeper. Hudson, Marlborough, 313.

[2]Rev. John Prentice of Lancaster.

[3]Rev. John Seccomb of Harvard.

[4]Thomas Marsh of Mansfield, Conn.

[5]Nathaniel Gardner (HC 1739), a Boston schoolmaster. SHG 10:366-368.

[6]See Allen, Worcester Association, 24.

1745 June 12 (Wednesday).  In the Morning before the public Meeting, there was a free Conversation with Mr. Martyn about his Sermon Yesterday, the Scheme being New and some passages offensive, to us all.  Mr. Cook preach’d the Public Lecture upon Amos 8.11.  In my returning I rode to Marlborough.  Messrs. Barrett, Stone and Smith in Company.  I visited Sister Breck who is yet at Marlborough.

1745 June 13 (Thursday).  I got Mr. Benjamin How to work for me to Day in Changing the Doors of my Barn, and placing my Great Doors on the North.  N.B. Ebenezer discovers by all his Conduct that he preferrs Labour to Studying — and though it grievously wounds me, yet I yield the point finally.

1745 June 14 (Friday).  Ebenezer at work on the Smaller, South, Barn Doors.  P.M. Mr. Miller here.  Mr. Jenison (who has begun to keep school at Mr. Hezikiah Pratts, lodging at Mr. Williams’s) came here p.m. and had some further talk, but yet seems to be resenting and goes away unquiet.  Molly exercis’d much with Toothach goes to Hopkinton, to Mr. Barrett[1] to pull them out which troubled her.  He pull’d Two.

[1]Rev. Samuel Barrett of Hopkinton.

1745 June 15 (Saturday).  Mr. John Chamberlain having bought of the Maynards the West End of the House which he himself us’d to live in, this Day mov’d it, upon Wheels, beyond Captain Maynards nigh the River.  P.M. Thomme return’d home again from Grafton being in such Pain and under So great Discouragement that his master[1] sends all his Things Home with him.  God grant the Grace and Wisdom needed under every Trial!

[1]Joseph Batcheller, the weaver of Grafton.

1745 June 16 (Sunday).  On John 17.3.  P.M. on 2 Tim. 3.16.  N.B. Mr. Jenison came in the Morning and also din’d with us.  N.B. at Noon Time Mrs. Whitney went down the road near my Barn and there made a great Out Cry.  N.B. Captain Baker (with my Consent obtain’d at noon) after the Public Exercises of the Day desir’d the Congregation to stop, and warn’d his Company to come together tomorrow Morning at 9 o’Clock.

1745 June 17 (Monday).  I visited Mr. Hezikiah Pratts Child sick of a fever.  Both Companys met to Show Arms and beat up for Volunteers, but I was with neither of them.  Captain Maynard indeed came to my House to ask me but I was not at Home.  N.B. Mr. Benjamin Burnap of Hopkinton here and din’d with us.  N.B. David Warrin of Marlborough here, with a Message from Mr. Smith, who had again still asked me to preach a Lecture for him, and which by our Agreement was to have been tomorrow, but it So falls out that their Military Companys are then to meet, and therefore the Lecture is wav’d.  N.B. Thomas Winchester gone part of today, as he was half of Saturday, p.m. of Friday helping Mr. Chamberlain, and p.m. Thursday last, at his Fathers raising.

1745 June 18 (Tuesday).  Last Night a Night of Thunder and Lightning and Rain.  My Wife not well.  Thomas began to Mow the Garden and Fore Yard.  Mr. Salter and his wife on their Journey home, came and lodg’d here.  Their Horses had broke from them at Sudbury and Mr. More (Son of Deacon) waited on them hither with Two, who also return’d with the Evening.  Mr. Salter brings Sad News from the Fleet and Camp at Cape Briton.  Captain Smithhurst[1] missing in the Country Galley, and 140 Land soldiers cutt off in their Attempt on the Island Battery.  Yet God has deliver’d 3 French Sail into our Hands, Two 36-Gun-Company-Ships from France and a Quebeck Sloop with Flour and Peas.

[1]Smithhurst captained the Prince of Orange, a vessel of 16 guns. The Boston Gazette, or Weekly Journal, 11 June 1745.

1745 June 19 (Wednesday).  A Young Man, one Laffland from Landlord Wards in Marlborough, brought Mr. Salters Stray Horses, and they proceeded upon their Journey.  I rode with them as far as Captain Bakers.  N.B. Reckon’d with Samuel Baker.  P.M. Hard Thunder and heavy Rain.  Towards Eve came Mr. Benjamin Goddard to talk with me about what is the Duty of a Christian that in his Conscience did Seriously judge that the Constant Preaching he sits under is not edifying, if So much as Safe.  My Wife rather Worse.