Category: Diary

1755 April 30 (Wednesday).  Mr. John Rogers comes with his Oxen and Plough — splits hills by the Barn and sows Wheat.  Billy with my Mare helps him.

1755 May 1 (Thursday).  In the Morning I went to Mr. Jonah Warrins[1] — Sarah, his Daughter, exceedingly Set to destroy herself, being requested by him though against her Inclination, I pray’d.  N.B. She ran away into the Woods, and all hands after her.  Neighbour Alpheus Newton a.m. sowed and plough’d in some more Wheat and some Peas at the Barn Orchard.

[1]Of Westborough.

1755 May 2 (Friday).  In the morning Captain Baker brought me a Letter from Mr. Forbush and my Wife (at Brookfield) urging me to go up there, and informing me that Mr. Benjamin Lull of the Manor of Peace would meet me Monday or Tuesday next at Brookfield.  P.M. rode up to Mr. William Nurse’s, on my own Mare, there got Daniel Nurse’s, and left mine.  Rode to Mr. Noah Brooks’s and lodg’d — at their earnest Request.

1755 May 3 (Saturday).  Rode to Brookfield.  Din’d at Mr. Roberts[1] at Leicester.  N.B. Dr. Upham[2] Company from Mr. Eatons.[3]  Found my wife and Mr. Forbush[4] and his in Health.

[1]The Reverend Joseph Roberts.

[2]Jabez Upham, a physician of Brookfield.

[3]The Reverend Joshua Eaton of Spencer.

[4]The Reverend Eli Forbes (or Forbush), Parkman’s son-in-law.

1755 May 4 (Sunday).  My People destitute (for I could not get up to Brookfield soon enough for Mr. Forbush to go to Westborough).  I preach’d at Brookfield a.m. on Rev. 22.16 and p.m. on Ps. 110.3.  Many of the other part of Town at Mr. Forbush’s meeting, Mr. Harding[1] being absent, and his people in great Disquietment.

[1]The Reverend Elisha Harding of Brookfield, who was dismissed by his congregation a few days later, May 8, 1755.  Salary difficulties were behind this controversy.  Sibley, XI, 561-562.

1755 May 4 (Sunday).  My People destitute (for I could not get up to Brookfield soon enough for Mr. Forbush to go to Westborough).  I preach’d at Brookfield a.m. on Rev. 22.16 and p.m. on Ps. 110.3.  Many of the other part of Town at Mr. Forbush’s meeting, Mr. Harding[1] being absent, and his people in great Disquietment.

 

[1]The Reverend Elisha Harding of Brookfield, who was dismissed by his congregation a few days later, May 8, 1755.  Salary difficulties were behind this controversy.  Sibley, XI, 561-562.

1755 May 6 (Tuesday).  Preach’d a Lecture for Mr. Forbush from Judg. 14.14.  After Lecture came Mr. Lull to Mr. Forbush.  Supp’d late at Lieutenant Abraham Hows, my wife, and Mr. Forbush, and his wife there also.  Mr. Lull lodg’d at Mr. Jabez Ayre’s.

1755 May 7 (Wednesday).  Mr. Lull came and we made an agreement about his Pearl-Hill Lot in Townshend, and reciprocally gave Notes of Sixty five pounds Lawfull Money to stand to our agreement — then we rode up to the Town, an Ecclesiastical Council sitting to Day on the Affair of Mr. Hardings Dismission.  I return’d with Mr. Forbush at Evening.

1755 May 8 (Thursday).  My Wife and I Set out for home.  Din’d at Captain John Browns in Leicester, and lodg’d at Mr. Cushings.

1755 May 9 (Friday).  We came home Safely, and our Tabernacle and all in it in peace.  D.G.

1755 May 10 (Saturday).  [No entry.]

1755 May 11 (Sunday).  Read 2 Sam. 5.  Preach’d on Gal. 1.15.16.  P.M. read Tit. 2, and preach’d on number 12, delivering an old Sermon out of a set of sermons from page 34.

1755 May 12 (Monday).  We heard at Eve that this Morning the Spouse[1] of Brother Smith of Marlboro died — and somewhat suddenly.  An heavy stroke!

[1]Martha Smith, wife of the Reverend Aaron Smith.

1755 May 13 (Tuesday).  [No entry.]

1755 May 14 (Wednesday).  Colonel Williams[1] came from the Reverend Mr. Smith to desire me to attend the Funeral of his Wife tomorrow.

[1]Abraham Williams of Marlborough held many town offices and was a justice of the peace.

1755 May 15 (Thursday).  This Day 2 o’Clock p.m. was last Lords Day appointed to be the Time for the Catechetical Exercise to Young Women: but the Funeral aforesaid prevented it.  I took very effectual Pains to Notifie the Young Women in the several parts of the Parish of it.  And my wife and I rode down in the Chair to Marlborough.  We stop’d and din’d at Colonel Williams as did Messrs. Cushing and Martyn[1] and their wives.  The Bearers at the Funeral were the Reverend Messrs. Loring[2] and Cushing, Gardner,[3] Martyn, Goss[4] and I.  Mr. Cushing pray’d, Mr. Loring having a Cold.  We return’d safe home at Evening.

[1]The Reverend John Martyn of Northborough.

[2]Israel Loring of Sudbury.

[3]John Gardner of Stow.

[4]Thomas Goss of Bolton.

1755 May 16 (Friday).  Catechetical Exercise to Young Women — 29 present.  At Eve Mr. Ebenezer Cutler of Grafton requested me to go in the Morning to See his Son Ebenezer who is ill in Body and disturb’d in Mind.

1755 May 17 (Saturday).  Mr. Williams Wife has Fitts — he lends me his Mare and I rode to See the foresaid young man.  Call’d at Mr. William Nurse’s, and agreed with him to preach (by divine leave) at his House next Thursday.  Din’d at Mr. Cutlers.  At Mr. Bezaleel Smiths and at Mr. Eleazer Pratts in my return home.

1755 May 18 (Sunday).  Mr. Martyn preach’d for me a.m. on Job 31.14.  P.M. on [blank].  I preach’d for him a. and p.m. on Rev. 22.17.  After the Exercises I visited Captain James Eager, who languishes in Jaundice, etc.

1755 May 19 (Monday).  Town meet to choose a Representative — they Chose Mr. Francis Whipple.

1755 May 20 (Tuesday).  Was at the Funeral of Samuel Lyscomb, of Southborough, Esquire.  N.B. a.m. was at Marlborough — at Mr. Woods, and at Mr. Smiths.  Din’d at the House of Mourning.

1755 May 21 (Wednesday).  Was at Captain Bakers, at Eve and married Mr. Jonathan Adams[1] and Mrs. Hephzibah.[2]  N.B. Mr. Forbush from Brookfield here.

[1]Of Shrewsbury.

[2]The daughter of Squire Edward Baker.

1755 May 22 (Thursday).  Preach’d at Mr. William Nurse’s on Isa. 66.2.  Mr. Cushing and Mr. Hutchinson[1] there.

[1]Aaron Hutchinson of Grafton.

1755 May 23 (Friday).  [No entry.]

1755 May 24 (Saturday).  Was at the Funeral of Mr. David Mathis of Southborough.  Ebenezer rode to Brookfield to look of Mr. Harding’s Place, or desire the refusal of it.  N.B. old Mr. Graves, Deacon Amsden and Deacon Woods desir’d me to preach at Southborough tomorrow, Seeing Mr. Forbush would preach for me, and Mr. Stone[1] was gone to Hardwick.

[1]The Reverend Nathan Stone of Southborough.

1755 May 25 (Sunday).  Preach’d at Southborough.  A.M. on Rev. 22.14, and p.m. on Gal. 3.10.  Cursed is Everyone etc.  Mr. Forbush for me on [blank].  I went in the Morn and return’d at Eve.  N.B. In Southborough they had a Contribution for me.

1755 May 26 (Monday).  At Eve came Mr. Breck[1] of Springfield and lodg’d here.

[1]The Reverend Robert Breck, Jr.

1755 May 27 (Tuesday).  Mr. Breck, Mr. Whipple (the Representative of this Town) and I set out for Boston.  Din’d at Mr. Woodwards[1] at Weston.  Lodg’d at Brother Samuels at Boston.  N.B. Mr. Charles Frost[2] of Falmouth lodges there also.

[1]The Reverend Samuel Woodward.

[2](Harvard, 1730).  Frost was a wealthy merchant and landowner, justice of the peace and representative of Falmouth, Maine.  Sibley, VIII, 715-717.

1755 May 28 (Wednesday).  Mr. Checkley[1] preach’d the Election Sermon on Zeph. 1.15.  A Day of Darkness.  I din’d at Mr. Secretary Willards[2] where also din’d old Mr. White[3] of Gloucester, old Mr. Niles[4] of Braintree, Mr. Wigglesworth[5] of Ipswich, Messrs. Nathaniel[6] and Daniel Rogers,[7] and Mr. Hemingway[8] of Townshend.  P.M. Made a Visit to Colonel Mascarene[9] where my kinswoman Hersey[10] lives — and attended the Convention of Ministers.  Mr. Prince[11] Moderator and Dr. Mayhew[12] Scribe.  Visited my Kinswoman Olivers Family, but he was not at home.  Poor old Scipio (one of my Brother Alexanders Negro Men) very low.  Instructed and prayed with him.  Visited my sister Rebecca,[13] at the North End; and lodg’d at Brother Williams.

[1]Samuel Checkley of the New North Church.

[2]Josiah Willard, Secretary of Massachusetts.

[3]The Reverend John White.

[4]The Reverend Samuel Niles.

[5]Samuel Wigglesworth, the minister of Hamilton.

[6]The Reverend Nathaniel Rogers of Ipswich.

[7]Daniel Rogers, the minister of Ipswich.

[8]The Reverend Phinehas Hemenway.

[9]Jean Paul Mascarene of Boston.  See New Eng. Hist. and Gen. Register, X (January, 1856), 143-147.

[10]Mrs. Israel Hearsey.

[11]Thomas Prince of the Old South Church.

[12]Jonathan Mayhew of the West Church in Boston.

[13]Parkman’s sister-in-law, Mrs. Alexander Parkman.

1755 May 29 (Thursday).  Convention Lecture by Mr. Joseph Parsons of Bradford, on Mat. 5.14.15.16.  Din’d at Mr. Mathers, where also din’d a great number more, viz. Messrs. Job Cushing, John Gardner, Parsons, Abbot,[1] William Balch,[2] Bradstreet,[3] etc.  P.M. Visit my Kinswoman Langdon[4] lately widow’d, and the Deacon her Father in Law attended the Conversation a little while [but Mr. Lowel desiring me to go to smoak a Pipe with Dr. Chauncy,[5] I comply’d.  N.B. The Conversation chiefly of Mr. Biles[6] and his wife in their violent squabbles.  No word of our own Disgusts.  I think this visit was on the 28th.] At Eve Brother Samuel and I visited Deacon Grant.  Both return’d to his House, and there arose an unexpected Contest between him and me about Clark the Separate who had exhorted in Boston a few Years Since and was lately in Falmouth.  Mr. Charles Frost present and join’d with him, very sanguinely.  I Soon held my Tongue: and let it go off.

[1]The Reverend Hull Abbot of Charlestown.

[2]The minister of Groveland.

[3]Simon Bradstreet, the minister of Marblehead.

[4]Parkman’s niece Mary was the widow of Edward Langdon.

[5]Charles Chauncy of the First Church in Boston.

[6]The Reverend Mather Byles of the Hollis Street Church.  A modern authority says “that Byles’s humor was enough to make a wreck of any woman.”  Sibley, VII, 479.

1755 May 30 (Friday).  Set myself to hire Money in order to Purchase of the Reverend Mr. Harding of Brookfield for Ebenezer: but in vain.  Visited Colonel Saltonstall at his Brother Cooks — he is exceeding low, and much distress’d.  Pray’d with him and commended him to God.  Visited Mr. Foxcroft — din’d with my Kinsman Winter.  Mr. William Winter and I go to old Mr. Owen Harris to hire money, but the attempt there also was without any success.  Visited Mr. Sutton who Shew’d me a mathematical Bellows.  N.B. at the 3 Horse Shooes enquired after Francis Fogery — or Allagajo — could not find nor hear of Him — but there was Bartholomew — and Captain Lane an Interpreter.  Lodg’d at Miss Dudley’s.

1755 May 31 (Saturday).  A great Frost last night.  Undertook my Journey home and I arriv’d well; found my Family in Peace.  D.G.  N.B. I din’d at Mr. Isaac Brooks in Waltham and rode most of the Journey home alone.  Call’d at Dr. Robys,[1] and at the Widow Darlings.

[1]Ebenezer Roby, the physician of Sudbury.

1755 June 1 (Sunday).  Read 2 Sam. 7.  Preach’d on Ps. 68.1, a. and p.m., and p.m.  read Ps. 66.  N.B. Mention’d to the Congregation Judge Saltonstalls[1] Sickness, before Prayer.

[1]Colonel Richard Saltonstall.

1755 June 2 (Monday).  Lucy and I rode to t’other House and din’d there.  Mr. Eliezer Rice goes to Boston to See his Son Silas at the Camp, and at his Request I wrote a few Lines of Instruction and Caution to the Youth.  I visited at Mr. David Maynard juniors and talk with him about his getting Timber for a Kitchin, which he says he will forward.  N.B. Whilst I was gone last week Mr. Phinehas Hardy brought 3 Posts for my Kitchin.  Mr. Freeland at work here, turning a Coat for Billy.

1755 June 3 (Tuesday).  Rode over to Deacon Bonds; at Eve Mr. Baldwin here.