Category: Diary

1755 September 18 (Thursday).  Mr. Nichols cleans up Rye and remainder of Wheat which Dunlop thrash’d, and mow’d Bushels in the New broke up Land.  I catechiz’d at Mr. Joslins.  After Catechizing came Mrs. Judith Bellows and was far from penitent.  I told her I was offended with her myself — and this for two Things — namely, her ill Carriage to her Husband, and her not adhering to the Truth.  As to the first, She had the assurance to Challenge me upon it.  I therefore apply’d to Mr. Joslin who Soon confronted her, particularly with her Conduct that very Day that I had been at their House the time before Last.  Mrs. Joslin also join’d with her Husband in it.  Yet She remain’d incorrigible.  I visited Mrs. Bruce and pray’d with her.  Her Case is now fear’d to be desperate.  When I return’d home met Brother Hicks[1] and his Daughter Hannah here.  N.B. He has been perplex’d at Boston, by Mr. Elijah Collins, by means of a Bond of Mr. Oliver Wards in which Brother Hicks was also jointly bound.  They lodg’d here.  N.B. one of their Horses Sadly lame.

[1]John Hicks of Sutton.

1755 September 19 (Friday).  Brother Hicks and his Daughter endeavour to go home; but the lame Horse is very lame this morning.  N.B. We have been much troubl’d by ten Hogs of Captain Samuel Forbush, which get into my Corn Field.  Nicols still at work for me — mows bushes in the design’d Rye Field.

1755 September 20 (Saturday).  Nicols a.m. builds Some stone Wall in the Lane behind the Meeting House.

1755 September 21 (Sunday).  Read 2 Sam. 19.  Preach’d on Luke 2.25.  Sir Gardner din’d here.  Read p.m. 2 Cor. 3, and preach’d on number 6, designing to begin again to Read the New Testament.  I insisted on that Expression in the number, repeating my first Exposition with additions.

1755 September 22 (Monday).  In the Morning Mr. Jeduthun Baldwin here — he came last Night — is going to Crown Point — and takes leave accordingly.  N.B. He tells me the Negro Man and Negro Woman who murder’d Captain Codman[1] of Charlestown, were Executed last Thursday, at Cambridge.[2]  The Man was hang’d, and was afterwards to be hang’d in Irons on Charlestown Neck: the Woman was burnt to Death, a frightfull Spectacle![3]  May all hear and fear!  especially to be punish’d Eternally in the Flames of Hell!  May my own Soul be suitably affected with the Thought![4]  Our Parish met to Day to grant my Support, as they call it.  I sent in a Memorial, that considering the Troubles [of] the present Time (by the War) I was willing to take up with what they did for me, as to sallery and Wood, last Year, if they would do it chearfully — but that I could not, with less.  In Return they Sent me a Committee (Mr. Grow and Ephraim Bruce) with their vote in the following words viz. “(thirdly) Voted and granted to the Reverend Mr. Parkman our Minister for his Support for the Current Year the Sum of thirty two Pounds Lawfull Money including his Firewood.” Sign’d by Thomas Forbush Moderator.  This I did not well understand.  The Committee Said the Precinct meant to make my whole sallery and Support to be in old Tenor £460.  I told em I did not know what my Sallery was, if there [was] needed so much support to make it up that Sum.  They said I had better go to the Precinct or write to them.  I chose this latter — and accordingly wrote to them desiring them to let me know what they Suppos’d I meant by Support for I conceiv’d my Sallery was 55£ Lawfull Money.  The Committee carry’d my writing to the people.  I remark’d also to the Committee that this was not So much as they did last Year for there was here no Subscription for the wood.  They went, but the meeting broke up without doing any thing further — either an answer to me — or about the Wood.

[1]John Codman.

[2]Aug. 19, 1755, “Phillis, a Negro woman, and Mark, a Negro Man, Servants to the late Capt. Codman . . . were found Guilty of poisoning their Master.”  The woman was sentenced to be “burnt to Death,” the man to be hanged.  The Boston Weekly News-Letter, Aug. 21, Sept. 18, 1755.  A Boston broadside of 1755 called attention to the “untimely end” of these miscreants.

[3][Additional note: Abner C. Goodell, Jr., The Trial and Execution, for Petit Treason, of Mark and Phillis, Slaves of Capt. John Codman, Who Murdered Their Master at Charlestown, Mass., in 1755; for which the Man Was Hanged and Gibbeted, and the Woman Was Burned to Death, Including also, some Account of Other Punishments by Burning in Massachusetts (Cambridge, Mass., 1883.]

[4]Chief Justice Stephen Sewall (Harvard 1760) handed down the death sentence to two slaves, Phyllis and her husband, who were convicted of poisoning their master.  Phyllis was to be burnt to death.  SHG cites the Proceedings of the Massachusetts Historical Society 20:142.  This may be the case to which Parkman referred, July 4 and September 22, 1755.  SHG, 6:561-67.

1755 September 23 (Tuesday).  Brother Hicks here, going to Boston again on the Affair of Elijah Collins: it being left to Arbitration.  N.B. We are exceedingly troubl’d by Captain Forbushes Hogs at my Cook Field — 10 of them and have been in nigh 10 Times.  I got Mr. Ebenezer Forbush to mend my Fence — and yet they got in.  I went to the Captain’s and they promis’d to Shutt them up.

1755 September 24 (Wednesday).  I went to Mr. Whipples to See how my Slit work Boards etc. lay — Solomon Baker brought a Load — all the Braces were missing and some other sticks.  Was at Mrs. Hitty Rice’s, and din’d with her.  To Day there is a Muster of Soldiers for Crown Point, at Captain Maynards — the Muster Master being Captain Josiah Richardson of Sudbury.

1755 September 25 (Thursday).  I made a Visit to Mr. Seth Rice’s.  He was not at Home.  He is gone to Dr. Smiths.[1]  His Family greatly distress’d for him, being grown worse of late — pain’d in Body as well as discompos’d in Mind.  Dr. Smith came there.  We rode together to see Lieutenant Stephen Maynard who is Sick of a Fever.  His Son Antipas also Sick and the Family in much Trouble.  Pray’d with them.  N.B. Josiah Lock, of the Same Family, Set out to go to Crown Point.

[1]Joshua Smith, the physician of Shrewsbury.

1755 September 26 (Friday).  A Great Frost last Night.  Mr. Thomas Stoddard promoted to be a Captain of a Company going to Crown Point, was here and his son Boardman with him.  N.B. I Sent home the Three Universal Magazines[1] by him, which I borrow’d of Esquire Steel[2] of Leicester.  Exceedingly encumber’d and Disappointed with respect to my design’d Kitchin — no Timber comes from Joslins as I expected — and my Field which I broke up in June — can’t get the Fencing Stuff.  My Son Ebenezer, instead of bringing Stuff here as I expected, goes to work for Mr. How without saying a word to me of it, which greatly disappoints and troubles me.  Brother Hicks returns from Boston and lodges here.  Another Frosty night.

[1]Published in London beginning in June, 1747.  Booksellers in Boston often advertised it for sale.

[2]Thomas Steel (Harvard 1730) was a businessman who served as town clerk and representative.  In 1756 he was appointed judge of the Court of Common Pleas for Worcester County.  See Washburn, Leicester, pp. 179-180, and Sibley, VIII, 783-785.

1755 September 27 (Saturday).  Call’d away at Night to visit Elijah Rice’s Wife (who now live within Upton Bounds).  She had been deliver’d of one Child, which was living; but there was another of which She could not be deliver’d.  They had Mrs. Forbush and Mrs. Clark — and had Sent to Dr. Greenleaf.[1]

[1]Daniel Greenleaf, a physician of Boston.

1755 September 28 (Sunday).  I tarried till after midnight — got home between one and two o’Clock — was but poorly Capable of preaching.  Yet I went through the Service of the forenoon reading 2 Sam. 20.  Preach’d on Luke 2.25.  P.M. read part of the Chapter of the Gospel of St. Matthew.  Read with some alterations and additions Number 2 of my Expositions.  More than 16 Requests for Prayers — about half of them respecting those who went to Crown Point.  Contribution for Mr. Jesse Maynard of the northside.

1755 September 29 (Monday).  Deacon Jonathan Forbush junior here.  We Counted the money gather’d Yesterday — found it £21.3 7 1/2 old Tenor.[1]

[1]This contribution was “for the Relief of Mr. Jesse Maynard who was lately burnt out.”  Westborough Church Records, Sept. 27, 1755.

1755 September 30 (Tuesday).  I visited the Widow of the late Thaddeus Gale, and Mr. Abijah Gale mourning for his Brother.  Also visited Mr. Abraham Bond and Mrs. Hannah Warrin mourning the Loss of their Father.  Visited Mrs. Bruce again, who now revives a little.

1755 October 1 (Wednesday).  My Daughter Forbush came down last night to t’other House, and with her Mr. Joseph Manning; they came here today.  Mr. Manning and I visited Lieutenant Stephen Maynard who is Grown better, but he has two Children Sick.  N.B. Mr. Hezekiah Pratt and Mr. Kenny (for Mr. Nurse), dug stones for the Wall behind the Meeting House, and this was gratis.

1755 October 2 (Thursday).  Mr. Abijah Gale and Mr. Batheric came and began to Frame a Kitchin for me, on the Back of my New House.

1755 October 3 (Friday).  Mr. Alpheus Newton begins to dig a Cellar way for my Kitchin.  Mr. Dunlop and Mr. Beeton and his Boy work at levelling the Ground where the Kitchin is to stand.  Messrs. Gale, Batherick, Grow and Zebulun Rice at the Frame.  An Hot Day.  Mr. Edwards Whipple (with the Assistance of my Son William and Steers) brought a Load of Boards and Eight Braces.

1755 October 4 (Saturday).  Messrs. Gale, Grow, Rice and Batheric work at the Frame.

1755 October 5 (Sunday).  Read 2 Sam. 21.  Preach’d on Jer. 7.23, a. and p.m.[1]

[1]In the Westborough Church Records, Oct. 5, 1755 Parkman wrote, “Abigail, heretofore Maynard, now Lock (the wife of Joshua Lock) made a Confession of the Sin of Fornication, and was restored to Charity.  She also own’d the Covenant and Grace, her Dauter, was baptiz’d.”

1755 October 6 (Monday).  Mr. Ebenezer Forbush dug in my Cellar way for the new Kitchin.  Messrs. Gale, Zebulun Rice, and Batheric at Work on the Frame.  Towards Night we Rais’d — No Hurt — Thanks to God.  N.B. No Mr. Grow to Day.

1755 October 7 (Tuesday).  Our Well affords very little Water.  My sons Wife and Daughter Susanna ride to Watertown with my Mare in the Chair.  Messrs. Gale and Batheric at Work in rectifying the Frame and preparing the Principals — which are not yet put on.  The Reverend Mr. Cushing here and din’d with me.  Desires me to preach at a Private Fast at Shrewsbury next Tuesday on account of Mr. Samuel Wheelock[1] who is in a gloomy, delirious State, and lately cut this [sic] Throat, but not mortally.

[1]The son of a deacon of the same name.  It was he who died in Shrewsbury, April 8, 1756, although it is not ascertainable that this was a case of suicide.  Ward, Shrewsbury, pp. 465-466.

1755 October 8 (Wednesday).  No Body at Work.  Disappointed about sowing my Field, north west of the Meeting House: Can’t get up the Wall nor Rail-Fence.

1755 October 9 (Thursday).  Lecture on Eph. 1.3.  N.B. Mr. Grow work’d a.m.  Mr. Manning with my Daughter Forbush at Eve from Cambridge and Boston.  My Kinsman William Bowes Parkman generous in sending Me another Pamphlet concerning Affairs in America.  This is the Present State of North America — of the Discoverys of the English and French Claims Rights and Possessions etc.,[1] and therewith he sent me a Letter handsomely written.  A great Trouble to be straitened as to Water.  My Wife daily in Pain and her Life much afflicted, as her Time approaches.

[1][Ellis Huske], The Present State of North America (London, 1755).  A Boston reprint followed in 1755.

1755 October 10 (Friday).  Messrs. Gale, Grow, Rice.  Still finishing the Frame of my Kitchin and various things about it.  Ensign Harrington a Load of stones, from his own Home, to Stone my Cellar Way.

1755 October 11 (Saturday).  Gale and Rice a.m.  My Daughter returns here at Eve from her Father Forbushes.  Very Cold night and a.m. likewise.

1755 October 12 (Sunday).  There was a great Frost last Night: A Cold Day for this time of the Year.  Read a.m. 2 Sam. 22.  Preach’d on Hag. 2.7, those words — The Desire of all Nations.  Mr. Manning, Deacon Forbush, Sir Gardner and Mrs. Chamberlin (who has now got abroad again).  P.M. omitted Reading — preach’d on Exod. 17.12, latter part and 13 with reference to the Expeditions against the French and Indians.  N.B. My Daughter Forbush was dismiss’d from our Church to Brookfield 2nd Church.  Mr. Manning Still with us.  My Wife so indispos’d she Stays at home p.m.

1755 October 13 (Monday).  Rain.  The Rain increases till it is a very Wet time.  Mr. Manning and my Daughter Forbush here.  Draw near as to Wood.

1755 October 14 (Tuesday).  Rain Still a.m.  About noon It began to Clear So that I undertook my Journey to Mr. Samuel Wheelocks in Shrewsbury to assist in the Exercises of a Fast there on the Account of his Melancholly.  The assembly (which there was) met at Lieutenant Stones.  Prayer was over before I got there, and the last Syllables of the Psalm were singing when I went in.  Yet Mr. Cushing would not excuse me from Preaching.  Text was Rom. 11.33.  N.B. Although Mr. Wheelock would not Suffer the Exercises to be at his House, neither could I obtain to see him before I went to meeting.  Yet after we had done, he sent his son to desire me to go to him and Pray with him: only with this Caution that nobody must go with me.  I went and pray’d with him, but could hardly keep him with me.  He thinks there is no Such Sinner as he is — that he has Committed the Sin unto Death; and this was the Reason why he was against the Exercises — because it is added “I do not say You Shall Pray for it.”  My Visit to him was Short.  Mr. Cushing, his Wife and I stop’d at Mr. Braggs[1] (They went first and waited for me).  There we had Some refreshment — which I needed, for I had had a very wet and worrying Journey.  I return’d home before I slept; my Wife’s Circumstances forbad my Staying.  My Daughters, Forbush and Lucy and Mr. Manning went over to Mr. Martyns and lodged there; though they were also Sopp’d with the Rain.  N.B. It was Training to Day, at Lieutenant Brighams, but his Invitation was too late for me to attend it.  I was pre-engag’d to go to Shrewsbury.

[1]Ebenezer Bragg, an early resident of Shrewsbury, was a carpenter.

1755 October 15 (Wednesday).  Mr. Manning p.m. brought Lucy from Mr. Martyns; Molly remains there, but he lodges at t’other House.  I wrote by him to Mr. Lull in which I desire him to Send his Deed of Townshend Rights, to be acknowledged and Recorded; and to accept of Mr. William Jones of Lunenbourg to be one of our Arbitrators instead of Captain John Stevens of Groton.  Daughters Eliza and Susanna from Watertown.

1755 October 16 (Thursday).  My Son Thomas finishes the digging of a Cellar Way from the Kitchin.  Mr. Benjamin Tainter brings me 4 Barrells of Cyder, gratis — one Barrell from his Father, another from Mr. Daniel Forbush, a Third from Ensign Harrington and one from Mr. Solomon Woods.  All Gratis.  Little John Sav’d from Drowning.  Bill had dug an Hole in Neighbour Barnabas Newtons meadow in the Time of Drought, which was now fill’d with Water; into this John fell and Samuel pull’d him out.  D. Grates plurimas!

1755 October 17 (Friday).  Before it was quite light in the Morning Lieutenant Tainter came and brought a Load of Wood fearing we Should Suffer — whereas Timothy Warrin had brought a Load last Eve.  My Sons Thomas, and William undertake to gather our Corn, but it rains hard before they got home one Load.  My Wife in Pains, expecting her Hour for which the Lord mercifully prepare us!  Her Pains continue at Times, yet we go to Bed — we lie till after midnight — when She grew so ill that I fetch’d Mrs. Forbush — and then Mrs. Baker, in the meantime Sending along 3 Mrs. Rices.

1755 October 18 (Saturday).  Ebenezer brought his Wife in the Morning — and Messrs. Phinehas Hardy and Batherick came to work on my Kitchin Roof (boarding and Shingling).  About 9, or between 9 and 10 o’Clock a.m. my wife was deliver’d of her ninth, and my fourteenth living Child: her fourth, and my Seventh Daughter — a perfect Child and Well; and especially my Wife in great Comfort.  Blessed be the Name of God!  May we have a due Sense of the divine Mercy (So utterly undeserv’d) and may we have Grace to Walk accordingly!  I threw by the Preparations which I was making, as Soon as the Child was born, and set myself to prepare on Gen. 22.14, though under many Disadvantages.  The Women din’d here with us, and then went home o’foot Except Mrs. Forbush who was waited on by William with an Horse.  Rachel Pratt watches.

1755 October 19 (Sunday).  Read 2 Sam. 22 from number 26.  In preaching I went on with the Repetition (with Some Alterations) of Sermon on Eph. 1.3.  Mrs. Chamberlin din’d with us.  P.M. Read Mat. 2.  Preach’d on Gen. 22.14, and baptiz’d my New-born Daughter, Anna Sophia.  May a gracious God pardon us and accept our Offerings!  Mrs. Pratt (wife of Neighbour Hezekiah) watches.

1755 October 20 (Monday).  Very Rainy.  Messrs. Edwards and Benjamin Whipple din’d here.  N.B. The last is become a Separate at Lambs Town.  I had Some free Talk with him upon it.  At Eve my wife has Pains in her Breasts and Smart in her Nipples to a great Degree.  These forebode ill.  Mr. Zebulun Rices Daughter Abigail draws her Breast.  My Daughter Lucy watching.

1755 October 21 (Tuesday).  Deacon Forbush is Stoning my Kitchin Cellar Way.  Sarah Watch’d.  My Wife got up on the 21.

1755 October 22 (Wednesday).  Thomas and William cutt up and bring in 3 Turns of Corn from the Cook Field.  A great Frost last Night.  My Wife distress’d with her Nipples.  She got up, but she grows weaker by Reason of the Childs sucking her when her Nipples are So Sore.