Author: Anthony Vaver

1746 January 17 (Friday).  My Wife continues ill, her Physic does not cease Working.

1746 January 18 (Saturday).  I thought to have writ Something respecting our Controversie with the Church of Rome, and reasons against the Pretender — but my incumbrances etc.

1746 January 19 (Sunday).  Lieutenant Tainter came and inform’d Me that Sister Esther, my Brother Alexanders Wife dy’d on the 12th at Night, and was bury’d on Wednesday following.  The Lord sanctifye his holy Hand to us all, but especially to my poor Brother and his only Child as they need Special Grace at Such a Time! A.M. on Eph. 2.8. P.M. on Ps. 90.1, because of the Troubles in England. My wife somewhat Better.  Mrs. Kimball of Hopkinton din’d with us.

1746 January 20 (Monday).  Thomme to Mr. Barretts for Dr. Edwards Exposition on the Commandments.^[1]  Old Mr. Maynard here and wants I Should write his will over again a Third Time, which displeas’d me.  Neighbour David Maynard junior, John Rogers, and Richard Barns kill’d Two Hoggs for me — one weigh’d 242.  The other 224 when they were warm.

^[1]A work of the great English Calvinist divine, John Edwards (1637-1716).

1746 January 21 (Tuesday).  Very moderate weather. My wife not well yet, by reason of a Blister on her ankle, which does not heal up, but makes her very Lame.  Captain Maynard at Evening.

1746 January 22 (Wednesday).  Pleasant.  Wrote to my Brother Alexander by Captain Maynard.  Mr. Stratton^[1] of Waltham here: He and his son Harrington din’d with me.

^[1]Several Strattons lived in Waltham at this time.  Edmund L. Sanderson, Waltham as a Precinct of Watertown and as a Town (Waltham, 1936), pp. 138-140.

1746 January 23 (Thursday).  Sebastian Smith (the Spaniard) din’d here.  Mr. John Garfield^[1] came to acquaint me with the Death of one of the Twin Children of Mr. Daniel Warrin of Shrewsbury.  At Eve Mr. Bowker here, likewise Mr. Aaron Hardy of Grafton.  N.B. Reckon’d with Thomas Winchester and paid him all — and £4 old Tenor of Interest for his forbearance.

^[1]Of Shrewsbury.

1746 January 24 (Friday).  At the Funeral of Mr. Daniel Warrins Child.

1746 January 25 (Saturday).  Smart Storm — Snow, Wind, Rain, Hail, Thunder and Lightning.  Captain Maynard here.

1746 January 26 (Sunday).  On Ps. 68.1.  On Occasion of the Rebellion in Scotland.  Mr. Stratton of Waltham and Granny Forbush^[1] din’d here.  May we all be Convinc’d what Enemies of God We naturally are and may we obtain the renewing Grace of God that we may throw down our arms and submitt ourselves to Him!

^[1]Widow of Thomas Forbush.

1746 January 27 (Monday).  At Neighbour Hardys and Rogers’s in the Morning — rode to Eleazer Pratts p.m. and round by Bezaleel Smiths through a swamp over to Mr. Samuel Fay junior.  N.B. his wife after above Two Years Confinement got about again. But their Youngest Child sick. When I came home Mr. Stephen Fay here. He is Still disturb’d about my having Minutes of what pass’d between his wife and me May 3, 1744, and divers other Things came in.  ‘Tis Matter of Grief that we are so frequently in Jarrs. The Lord pardon us for his Names sake!

1746 January 28 (Tuesday).  A.M. at Ensign Bruce’s and Mr. Beeman’s.  P.M. sent for to go to Mr. William Nurse’s to see several Children Sick of the Throat Distemper.  In returning call’d at Mr. Stephen Fays — and (he being present) I put sundry close Inquirys to his wife offering to the oath that if She consent’d to the Substance of what had been written and did abide by that Reconcilement which was September 26 last I would blot out her name, but she would not make answer though repeatedly desir’d.  Her Husband and I more happy in our Agreement by far than I expected.

1746 January 29 (Wednesday).  Ante Meridiem: Recollections and Humilliations and [illegible] But was grievously interrupted by Dr. Gotts Mother (Mrs. Fairfield), Sally Gott and her Brother Benjamin as likewise Dr. Breck, all coming in a stormy Time (Raining hard) to see us, and I could not keep my Retirement.  But I remember the wormwood and the Gall this Day Ten Years agoe.^[1]  But how amazing the Divine Longsuffering towards Me who am most unworthy!

^[1]The anniversary of the first Mrs. Parkman’s death.

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1746 January 30 (Thursday).  They all lodg’d here. Dr. Breck to Boston.  Mrs. Fairfield and the rest din’d with us, and toward Eve they return’d to Marlborough.  At Eve Mr. Williams and Winchester here. Wrote Two Letters for Mr. Winchester. Late in the Evening came Captain Ephraim Williams junior — supp’d with me and hasten’d to Captain Maynards and he lodg’d there.

1746 January 31 (Friday).  Mr. Samuel Hardy and William Rogers junior Swingling Flax.  At Evening Mr. Phinehas Hardy of Grafton, who tells me that he and Mr. James Fay have exchang’d places.  N.B. Mr. Fay has left us for many sabbaths.

1746 February 1 (Saturday).  Mr. Benjamin Fay here for me to go to Mr. William Nurse’s Daughter Priscilla’s Funeral, which I comply’d with.

1746 February 2 (Sunday).  On Ps. 68.1, Mat. 11.12. Widow Woods, Widow Thurston and Mr. Ithamar Bellows’s wife din’d here.  N.B. I hear there is one Mr. Manson a Barber from Sudbury, is hir’d by the School Committee to keep school in the South East part of the Town.

1746 February 3 (Monday).  Town Meeting for Town Debts.  N.B. I sent in a Paper to the Town to Consider the Dammages I sustain by the long delay of my Dues – especially £82 old Tenor, from June 5 in the Year 1744 to October 20 of the same Year.  Eli Forbush here.  Letter from Mr. Jenison.^[1]  Deacon Forbush, Beriah Rice — all upon the Same Thing, viz. to have me teach Eli and Asaph Rice.^[2]  Brother Hicks here.  Sarah Henry at work here on Ebenezers Jackett etc.

^[1]William Jenison, the former schoolmaster of Westborough.

^[2][Additional footnote: Asaph Rice (1733-1816), Harvard 1752, was the son of Beriah and Mary (Goodnow) Rice of Westborough.  After graduation he taught school, tried his hand at the “practice of Physick,” worked with Eli Forbes at a mission, and then served as minister of Westminster.]

1746 February 4 (Tuesday).  Thunder and Lightning in the Night past.  Brother Hicks to Cambridge.

1746 February 5 (Wednesday).  Mr. Benjamin Burnap here and din’d.  I visited Sundry of our Near Neighbours — old Mr. Maynard etc.  Old Mrs. Rogers Sick of a Fever and I went to see her; Spent some Time with her: she has Strong Confidence that she is prepar’d to dye, and appears much resign’d to the Divine Will.

1746 February 6 (Thursday).  I preach’d at the Private Meeting at Lieutenant Tainters on Mat. 18.18.19.  My wife rode with me. We din’d there. O that the Lord Jesus Christ might meet with us in all our Meetings!  We were inform’d that Yesterday the Quarter sessions at Worcester abated the Rates of the Second Precinct to the Rate of £82 10 shillings to me from June 5 to October 20, 1744, and they gave Judgment also that the precincts proceedings had been invalid from the Beginning.

1746 February 7 (Friday).  Noah How framing my Shed over my East Door.  His Brother Benjamin a.m. assisted him.  Mr. Goodwin^[1] of Worcester here to request me to preach at Worcester.  Dr. Gott with him.

^[1]James Goodwin.

1746 February 8 (Saturday).  I visited Mrs. Rogers again who is very low.  Noah framing a.m.

1746 February 9 (Sunday).  On Ps. 68.1, Eph. 2.6.  N.B. Mrs. Fay (Samuel juniors wife) wondrously recover’d after Confinement above Two Years, out at Meeting to Day.  Both Mr. Fay and his wife din’d with us.  N.B. Receiv’d from Mr. Pierpoint by Mr. Loring.^[1]

^[1]The Reverend Israel Loring of Sudbury.

1746 February 10 (Monday).  A Precinct Meeting at which I was prepar’d to give an Answer to their Messages to Me last Year: But by what was determin’d last Week at Worcester Court in the Affair of the North precinct, this precinct were So alarm’d and Suspicious of the invalidity of their own Acts, as a precinct, from the Beginning, that they ventur’d not to do anything Further — save that they chose a Moderator and then pass’d every Vote after (upon the several Bills or Petitions which were carry’d in) in the Negative.  No Opportunity was given (nor by my Friends desir’d) for my Answer. N.B. Reckon’d with Deacon Newton. William Bois of Blanford was married to Mary Hamilton (Daughter in Law to Mr. Gamel).

1746 February 11 (Tuesday).  I rode out to see old Mr. Rogers and his wife who were Sick.  Then to see old Mr. Whipple, where was his son Francis. Talk’d of the present Confusion of the Town in both precincts.  I went also to see Captain Baker, and Spent Some with him upon the Public Affairs in Town and Precinct. Debated amicably and parted Peaceably.  Reckon’d with his Son Samuel. Neighbour Samuel Hardy Swingling Flax. Bright day but windy and Cold. N.B. I sent for Mr. Whipple and talk with him again upon the Confus’d state of the Town and precinct.  P.M. was at Captain Maynards. N.B. About the Time a New Trouble Still blew up: which Neighbour Beriah Rice acquaint’d me with, viz. Robert Bradish went from one house to another Exclaiming against Last Sabbath afternoon sermon, as being Corrupt and Damnable Doctrine — So much in Defence of Grace and to the Disparagement of Works in point of Justification before God.  But ‘tis a Favor that when this kind of Trial arises, I am complain’d of upon such Occasion as This. The Lord grant me suffering Grace in Suffering Time!

1746 February 12 (Wednesday).  [No entry].

1746 February 13 (Thursday).  Mr. Daniel Forbush^[1] kindly to acquaint me with the disgusts of Some others with last Sabbaths Exercise in the afternoon — looking upon himself (as Mr. Rice likewise did) in Duty and Faithfulness bound, to do it.

^[1]Son of Deacon Jonathan Forbush.

1746 February 14 (Friday).  Very much engag’d in my Preparations — and Collecting the Sense and Judgment of the most Celebrated men on the Great Doctrine of Justification by Faith alone.

1746 February 15 (Saturday).  [No entry].

1746 February 16 (Sunday).  On Eph. 2.8.  Added a Defence of this Doctrine from innumerable Authoritys not only to shew the Truth but the Importance and Weight of it.  Read a Manuscript Extract of Mr. Lorings from Mr. Abraham Tailer^[1] on Justification.  P.M. Repeat’d the remainder of Exposition of Mat. 11.12.

^[1]The Reverend Abraham Taylor was a dissenting minister of England.

1746 February 17 (Monday).  Paul Newtown and Mary Farrar^[1] Marry’d.  Jonas Child here to be Examin’d and taught in order to his joining with the Church.

^[1]Given as Paul Newton and Mary Farrour in Westborough Vital Records


1746 February 18 (Tuesday).  I rode over to Mr. Biglo’s to see his Daughter that was Sick; and I proceeded to Mr. Barretts — who (as I before conceiv’d would be) was going down to a Council at Framingham previous to the Ordination of Mr. Matthew Bridge.^[1]  I made a Visit to Captain Morris, who return’d with me to his sisters (Mrs. Barretts) with which we din’d.  N.B. Their Sister Barrett’s (Widow) House in an high wind took fire on the Roof — but by the help of the School Boys was Discover’d and Extinguish’d.  I return’d home at Eve, and marry’d Thomas Patrick and Sarah Johnson.  N.B. Neighbour Hardy riding with me inform’d that Mr. James Fay was this Day moving out of Westborough and Mr. Phinehas Hardy was moving in.

^[1](Harvard 1741), minister of the church at Framingham, 1746-1775.  Sibley, XI, 8-11.

1746 February 19 (Wednesday).  I rode to the Ordination of Mr. Matthew Bridge at Framingham. My son Ebenezer rode down also.  Entertain’d at Ensign Stones.  Great opposition by Captain Goddard^[1] and others Yesterday and today.  The Council consisted of 11 Churches.  Mr. Loring Moderator and Mr. Stone Clerk.  The Council repair’d to the Meeting House before noon.  Mr. Cook of Sudbury pray’d.  Mr. Appleton^[2] preach’d from 1 Cor. 13.1.2.  Then the Clerk read the Councils Result.  Mr. Loring gave the Charge, Mr. Williams^[3] of Weston pray’d after the Charge, and gave the Right Hand.  An Exceeding great Throng attended.  May I have a suitable Impression upon my Spirits at the Remembrance of my own solemn Ordination!  Visited old Madam Swift.^[4]  Mr. Cushing and Stone, and Mr. Briton the Clothier my Company in returning.  We call’d at both Mr. Britons and Mr. Stones.  Reach’d home in Comfort.  D.G. Moderate comfortable Weather.

^[1]Edward Goddard.  These opposition charges were printed as A Brief Account (Boston, 1750).

^[2]The Reverend Nathaniel Appleton of Cambridge.

^[3]The Reverend William Williams.

^[4]Widow of the Reverend John Swift.

1746 February 20 (Thursday).  Great Change of Weather last night.  Today very Cold and windy.  Esquire Williams^[1] of Stockbridge came at Eve, having left Mr. Lydius^[2] at Boston, endeavouring to get French Prisoners, with which to redeem his Children from Canada.

^[1]Ephraim Williams, a founder of Stockbridge.  See Sarah C. Sedgwick and Christina S. Marquand, Stockbridge 1739-1939 A Chronicle ([Great Barrington]), 1939), pp. 22-24.

^[2]Johannes Lydius of Albany.  See Collections of the History of Albany (Albany, 1871), IV, 144.