Category: Diary

1752 November 5 (Sunday).  A very pleasant Day.  I preach’d a. and p.m. on Heb. 9.15.  N.B. Ebenezer and his Wife went home to the Other House to Dinner.  Old Mrs. Whipple din’d here.  After the Exercises p.m. I Stop’d the Church and read a Draught of a Letter which I had prepar’d to Send in my own Name to the Committee of the aggrieved Brethren in the West Church in Sudbury.  But it was desir’d they might have some Time to take it into Consideration before they discover’d their Thoughts upon it.

1752 November 6 (Monday).  Messrs. Biglo and Claffland came a.m. to underpinning my Barn.  P.M. we all go to the Burying of Mr. William Pierce’s son Seth, his wife and Two more sons sick of the Same Fever.

1752 November 7 (Tuesday).  Messrs. Biglo and Claffland at work here again, underpinning the Barn and making a Stage or Causey to go into the stable Door.  They also face the Well.  I visit Mrs. Pierce and her sons.  N.B. I was at Justice Bakers to get him to pay Captain Chandler of Worcester for me 20£ Old Tenor and he tells me he will do it.

1752 November 8 (Wednesday).  Mr. Forbush and his Wife came from Boston, where my Daughter has been, now a long Time providing for her keeping House.  They lodg’d at t’other House, as did Mr. [blank] Taylor of Brookfield from Captain Witts with a Team for Mrs. Forbush’s Goods.

1752 November 9 (Thursday).  Mrs. Nabby Baker making and altering Gowns for Lucy.  She, with Mr. Taylor,[1] Mr. Bartlett[2] of Sutton din’d here.  My Daughters Goods which are here, loaded up in Mr. Taylors Cart: and he goes to t’other House to lodge.  Mr. Forbush etc. here with us, and both dine and lodge here — which is a Rarity!

[1]James Taylor of Sutton.

[2]Richard Bartlett.

1752 November 10 (Friday).  After Mr. Forbush etc. had din’d here they went to Upton to visit Mr. Fish[1] and his Wife, though there was great likelihood of Rain.

[1]The Reverend Elisha Fish.

1752 November 11 (Saturday).  Rain a.m.  Mr. Forbush and his wife return’d from Upton p.m.

1752 November 12 (Sunday).  Mr. Forbush preach’d a. and p.m.  A.M. on Isa. 64.6, that Clause “And we all do fade as a Leaf.” P.M. on Rom. 16.7 — “Who were in Christ before me,” insisting chiefly on those words, “who were in Christ.” N.B. My Daughter was not well and did not go to Meeting.

1752 November 13 (Monday).  So great Rain p.m. especially that we little expected Company.  Yet at Eve came a number of persons from Brookfield, viz. Captain Witt, Messrs. Bartlett and Abraham How.  The two former lodged here.  Mr. How lodg’d at Captain Bakers.  Several Persons came also to t’other House — viz. Jeduthan Baldwin, who rode in a Chair for Mr. Forbush and my Daughter, and one Mr. Smith.  Two others also who lodg’d at [blank].  Mrs. Nabby Baker here making and altering Gowns for my Daughter Lucy.

1752 November 14 (Tuesday).  Early in the Morning Mr. Forbush and his Wife, with the Company who came to wait on them together with a Number from us, My Son Ebenezer and his Wife, Thomas and Lucy — Messrs. Daniel and Jonathan Forbush and their Wives, took leave of us for Brookfield, designing to dine at Sergeants[1] at Leicester: the weather Fair, and Everyone, through Mercy, in Health.  Lucy is gone with her sister to tarry with her this Winter.  May God be gracious to them, and give them a prosperous Journey by the Will of God!  and may their Joys be never diminish’d!  I visited Mrs. Pierce and her Children that are sick.  P.M. Antoine Cussac, a Deserter from the French Forces at Chignecto, or from Crown Point, here.  At Eve I marry’d Mr. Francis Harrington[2] and Mrs. Deborah Brigham,[3] at her Brother Jonas’s, and I supp’d there.

[1]Jonathan Sargent kept a tavern in Leicester.  Emory Washburn, Historical Sketches of Leicester (Boston, 1860), p. 391.

[2]Of Worcester.

[3]The daughter of David Brigham of Westborough.

1752 November 15 (Wednesday).  Ensign Josiah Rice made me a present of a pair of Turkeys and a Bag of Turnips.  N.B. Billy, and Mrs. Molly Bond[1] are all that keep House at my other House.

[1]The daughter of Jonathan Bond.

1752 November 16 (Thursday).  Publick Thanksgiving.  I preach’d on Ps. 50.22.  O that we might truely offer praise, so as that we may indeed Glorifie God!  and so order our Conversation that we may all See and enjoy the Salvation of God!  N.B. Mr. Edwards Whipple who has been wont to set the Tune, having set 100 new at the first singing, Mr. David Batherick was so displeas’d that at the Next Singing he rose up and Set a Tune that would please himself better, and thus likewise at the last Singing, to the great Disturbance of many.  At Evening came Messrs. Williams, Francis and Edwards Whipple, Nathan Maynard and Mr. Jonathan Ward,[1] the Schoolmaster to visit me.

[1]The son of Hezekiah Ward of Westborough.

1752 November 17 (Friday).  Mr. Nathan Sergeant of Leicester who has been at Work for me in making some Joiners Ware for my Daughter Forbush in his way to Boston din’d here.

1752 November 18 (Saturday).  The Turkey Cock was Stole away by a Fox as we suppose.

1752 November 19 (Sunday).  On Ps. 11.7, a.m., and when I nam’d that Psalm to be Sung expressly desir’d Mr. Edwards Whipple would Set the Tune, and added that considering how awful those Words are, may no one presume, on what Pretence So ever to interrupt the Sacred Worship.  P.M. repeated Sermon 308 to 310, on 2 Cor. 3.15 in one Exercise.  And may God please to faster and ripen the Impressions which arise hereby!

1752 November 20 (Monday).  Rainy.  No one but Billy and Molly Bond to keep House and take all the Care of the Stock etc. at t’other Place.  At Eve came Several Brethren of the Church to See me (and it was agreeable to my Desire Signify’d to Deacon Forbush) and converse about the Sudbury Affair.  They were Lieutenant Tainter, Ensign Miller, and Mr. Whitney: afterwards came Deacon Forbush.  They were of opinion that there was no need of the Churchs acting any Thing formally about it.  The Authors of the Sudbury Letter had requested Nothing but that we would consider of our own Conduct, which it no doubt behoves us to do: Let the Pastor of this Church if he pleases do So much as inform one of them that their Letter has been laid before us.  Those Brethren aforesaid made some Business of discoursing about Brother Bathericks Conduct on the late Day of Publick Thanksgiving.  They agreed that Deacon Forbush Should go and talk with him — and if he should appear unconvinc’d of his Error, they conceiv’d it must be laid before the Church.  But if he was Sensible, and would do so no more, this being discover’d to the Pastor, they were willing it should be passed over.  Left Arm so Painful I put on a Blister.

1752 November 21 (Tuesday).  Esquire Baker here.  Informs me that he has paid Captain Chandler of Worcester 20£, 13.4, Lawful money, for me.  It being for 1000 Clabboards which I bought of him last year.  He Signifys to me at the Same Time that Captain Chandler express’d uneasiness at my long Delay.  I gave Esquire Baker a note til the first of next April.  Sometimes rainy.  The Weather exceeding windy — Sour — and therefore So uncomfortable that I am much confin’d whereas I had otherwise gone to t’other House to See how Billy Conducts there, or to Mr. Pierce’s seeing another, Francis, lies now Sick among them — Five, in all, now Sick.  May God be mercifull to them.  At Eve came Mr. Marrit of Cambridge, and smok’d a pipe with me, but he lodg’d I suppose at Justice Bakers.

1752 November 22 (Wednesday).  North West Wind very Cold this morning — Tis the Day appointed for the Ordination of Mr. Jacob Cushing[1] at Waltham.  May he be strong in the Grace which is in Christ Jesus!  Am debarr’d the pleasure of Waiting upon it, but may God be with me in my Solitude!  Mr. Joseph Goodale and his Wife, from Grafton, for Boston din’d here.  Billy from t’other House informs me that his Brothers return’d from Brookfield last Night.  Billy rides p.m. to Mr. Joseph Batchellors at Grafton.

[1]Jacob (Harvard 1748), the son of the Reverend Job Cushing of Shrewsbury, served the First Congregational Church of Waltham, 1752-1809.  Sibley, XII, 252-257.

1752 November 23 (Thursday).  The Coldest Morning hitherto.  The Earth is now froze hard.  P.M. Snows hard.  Mrs. Persis Warrin, wife of Moses Warrin, here.  At Eve, he himself — both of them that I might gather Minutes from them for their relation to the Church.  My Lameness in my left Arm very troublesome.  Can’t pull off or put on my Cloths.  My Affairs Somewhat perplex’d.  My son has not come to me since his Journey to Brookfield and winter is come upon us before I am ready — No place to put up my Cattle o’nights, how cold or Stormy Soever.  No small Wood at the Door, but some Pine which being lately cut down is unfit to burn.  But my wife went to See old Mrs. Dorcas Forbush[1] and get Lieutenant (her son) to let his Team go, and Samuel Forbush now prevail’d with to bring up a Load before Night.  May the Lord look on my very Afflicted State and appear for my Help and Relief as he has numberless Times done!

[1]Widow of the late Thomas Forbush.

1752 November 24 (Friday).  The morning bright, and the whole Earth round us in its Winter White.  As to me although I am not able to dress my Self in my upper Cloths, yet I thank God I feel so well in my Stomach and am able to read, write, Study, go to the Door; and So far look after my Affairs.  My Confinement however, gives me many Disappointments.  May I have the Grace to exercise the Patience call’d for!

1752 November 25 (Saturday).  But may God be pleas’d to grant me a Suitable Frame of Temper under all his Dealings with Me and Mine!  At Eve came Three of our Young Kinswomen, viz. Ruth, Hannah and Elizabeth Hicks[1] from Salem and Cambridge in their return Home to Sutton; and lodge here.  N.B. This is the first Night of our tying up Cattle in my New Barn.  We now put up three Cows.

[1]Daughters of John Hicks of Sutton, Parkman’s brother-in-law.

1752 November 26 (Sunday).  Our Kinswomen keep Sabbath with us.  I preach’d on Ps. 11.7, a. and p.m.  At Eve our Kinswomen went home with Ebenezer.  O that we might be truely righteous that we might have the reward and be blessed with the Righteous!

1752 November 27 (Monday).  A bright pleasant Day.  I walk’d up to Mr. Ebenezer Rice’s to reckon with him; but he was not at home.  I visited Sarah Newton[1] lately cur’d of a Polypus[2] in her Nose: Din’d there (at Deacon Newton’s) but the Deacon not at Home.  At Mr. Nurse’s also.  In the Eve Ebenezer was here, and we had some talk of our Settling our Affairs — his Labour on the place as taking it to the halves etc.  I gave him Two Ridgling Piggs of last Spring, over and above, but we defer the Exact Settling.

[1]The daughter of Abner Newton.

[2]A polyp, a mass of swollen mucous membrane.

1752 November 28 (Tuesday).  Our Kinswomen, who have been a Night or Two past as t’other House, return hither and go over to Upton, designing from thence Home to Sutton.  The Weather frequently wet: the Day in general Dark, windy and uncomfortable.  My Arm I think is somewhat better through the Favour of God, but my Wife dull, disconsolate.  May God Himself, Support, Strengthen and Comfort her!

1752 November 29 (Wednesday).  I was at Mr. Biglo’s and convers’d with Captain Ephraim Littlefield of Holliston there, concerning the present state of the Church there.  I din’d at Mr. Elijah Rice’s.  Went from thence (in the Rain) to Mr. Pierce’s.  Mr. Barrett[1] there, praying with the sick.  I also pray’d with them before I came away.

[1]Samuel Barrett of Hopkinton.

1752 November 30 (Thursday).  Rainy, but Mr. Hutchinson[1] came and din’d with me, and preach’d the Lecture on Heb. 13.20.  After Sermon Moses Warrin and Persis his wife were admitted into the Church, also Amy Mainard Wife of Ebenezer Mainard.  N.B. This was done agreeable to a proposal of it made to the Church and consented to last Lords Day.  They were admitted before the Congregation because the Day was So Short, and Dark Night soon coming on.  Furthermore, the Brethren were stop’d to see what they would incline to do about the Sudbury Affair.  Their Minds were, to let it drop, so no Vote was pass’d about it.  N.B. I ask’d the Churchs Minds respecting my appointing or desiring a Person to sett the Psalm, and they voted that they were Satisfy’d with what I had done in it, particularly with my having desir’d Brother Edwards Whipple to Sett the Psalm.  I moreover requested that they would Shew their Minds respecting the Tunes which we had usually Sung — Triple-time Tunes were especially intended, viz. Mear Ps. 100 new etc.  They voted Satisfaction thereupon.  At least I conceiv’d there was a Vote, because nobody objected against it: but otherwise, I am not altogether clear in it, that there was a Majority of Hands.[2]  N.B. Mr. Silas Brigham here; and I gave him an Extract from the Reverend Mr. Morse’s Letter about him.

[1]Aaron Hutchinson of Grafton.

[2]In the Westborough Church Records, November 30, 1752, Parkman entered: “The Brethren also voted that they were Satisfy’d in the Pastors having desir’d Brother Edwards Whipple to Set the Tune; and in the Tunes which we have been wont to Sing in this Congregation.  N.B. These last Votes were occasion’d by Some late Disturbances in our Singing.”

 

At the Close of this Month I would take Notice of the great Goodness of God in that I enjoy Such a Measure of Ease and Comfort as I am favour’d with; having good Appetite to my Food and in my Breast, Strength and Vigor, Notwithstanding that in my Limbs I have Sometime; the Blister I lately us’d upon it having reliev’d me but a little.  But my Family Cares are heavy and Perplexing, and especially the deep and distressing Concern for my Everlasting well-being, and that of my dear Wife, Children; and to these I would not fail to add my dear Flock.  O what shall I do that this greatest of all Interests may be Secur’d!  and that true, Spiritual Religion may indeed flourish among us!  Blessed be God that we are still permitted the invaluable Privileges of the Means and Season of Grace, notwithstanding my great unprofitableness; and our indifferency in Matters of Religion in general.  O that God would please to pour out His Spirit upon us; and that I might especially myself experience the happy Effects of it!

1752 December 1 (Friday).  The Rain continues Still.  Billy goes to School to Day to Mr. Jonathan Ward at Mr. Eliezer Rice’s.  Samuel Bumpso Bushel Turnips.  P.M. Sun breaks out.  I improv’d the Day in Study, prayer and Self Reflection.  At Eve Mr. Batherick here.  Tells me he is sorry for what he did on the late Day of thanksgiving, and that he will do so no more.

1752 December 2 (Saturday).  Ebenezer and his wife watch’d at Mr. Pierce’s last night.  It remains an House of great Distress.  Ebenezer Pierce is now taken ill.  Mr. Hezekiah Pratt a Load of Wood, when we were much Straitned.  Mr. Grout another.

1752 December 3 (Sunday).  Having finish’d both my Sermons last Night, my Mind is happily freer to Day.  Thanks be to God who has enabled me thus far.  I preach’d a.m. on Isa. 9.6, first Clauses.  Administer’d the Lord’s Supper.  Deacon Forbush din’d with us.  P.M. on 1 Cor. 6.9.10, the unrighteous etc. Shall not inherit the Kingdom of God.  This finishes the eighth Commandment.  N.B. Deacon Forbush dines with us.  The Weather Comfortable, a great Favour considering how late in the Year.  O might I suitably profit by the services of this Day!  Behumbl’d for all my unrighteousness, and repair to and copy after Jesus the righteous, and escape the punishment of the unjust!

1752 December 4 (Monday).  Mr. John Martyn[1] bore me a Message from his Father desiring me to preach his Lecture next Wednesday.  The Town Met to Day at the North Meeting House, to consider and provide Money to pay Town-Debts.  N.B. We this Day gave out the Last of the Corn in the Corn-Barn (which was the Island Corn) Nor is there any left of all the Indian Corn that I rais’d here, excepted a few Ears in the Garrett which were trac’d up.  Billy gets out Corn for our Eating, at t’other House.  At Evening Snows — in the Night the storm prevails, and by Morning the Snow is pritty deep.  But God protects and guards Supplys and comforts us.

[1]The son of John Martyn, the minister of the north precinct.

1752 December 5 (Tuesday).  A very Winterlike Morning.  The Day bright by 10 a.m. but Cold.  I examin’d Some Number of Authorities yesterday and to Day on the ninth Commandment and am writing Something of an Exposition of it.  Read also Stackhouse’s Body of Divinity.[1]  It grows exceeding Cold.

[1]Thomas Stackhouse, A Complete Body of Divinity . . . Extracted the best Ancient and Modern Writers (London, 1729).  A second edition was published in London in 1734.

1752 December 6 (Wednesday).  Messrs. Martyn Pratt and Elijah Rice, get out Flax.  Neighbour Eliphalet Adams also.  N.B. Mr. Jonathan Forbush brought me about 254 feet of Plank which he had sav’d for my stable and Cow House.  N.B. It was So Cold I did not venture to go over to preach Mr. Martyns Lecture to Day.  I desire to be humbled under the Frowns of God’s Providence whereby I am detain’d and prevented.

1752 December 7 (Thursday).  Rainy, and raw Cold.  Lieutenant Tainter and his son Simon, and Neighbour Eleazer Williams kill’d an Hog for me of 253.  I catechiz’d at the Meeting-House, but had only Two Children besides 4 of my own.  Lieutenant at Evening.  Salted up my Pork.

1752 December 8 (Friday).  Lieutenant Tainter assisted my son Ebenezer in killing and dressing a Cow, at t’other House.  I visited Mr. Pierce’s Family.  Ebenezer Pierce extreme bad.  N.B. Mr. Whipple’s Mill-stone from Hopkinton.

1752 December 9 (Saturday).  Cold Searching Winds, and very uncomfortable Weather to poor Rheumaticks.  Lieutenant Hunt[1] of Concord, Brother in Law to Deacon Merriam[2] of Grafton, here; chiefly on the Affairs of Acton, from whence he wants to be dismiss’d.  The uneasiness which he and others have with Mr. Swift,[3] much the Same with the Sudbury Brethren with Mr. Loring.[4]

[1]Simon Hunt.

[2]Joseph Merriam, one of the pioneers of Grafton, married Ruth Hunt of Concord.  Pierce, Grafton, p. 532.

[3]John Swift, Jr.

[4]Israel Loring.