Category: Diary

1744 August 7 (Tuesday).  I visited Mr. John Caruth’s wife who languishes in Body and is very much distress’d in Mind.  As I was riding over upon this visit Captain Forbush met me and acquaint’d me that a man was kill’d last night by his Cart near Ensign Bruce’s in this Town.  At my Return home I was requested to attend the Funeral of the Said poor Man, at 4 p.m.  I had appointed with myself that this Afternoon I would visit in that Corner and my Wife and I accordingly rode down to Mr. Ebenezer Chamberlains and by means thereof we were till somewhat past 5 when I got to Ensign Bruce’s, the people being very much gather’d and long waiting.  It was a very sorrowful Time!  The providence very awfull indeed.  The man was of Sutton, one Mr. Samuel March of about 29 or 30 Years, originally from Newbury.  His poor mournfull widow, the Daughter of Captain Sibley[1] of Sutton was there, with her Father and Some Number of Sutton Friends along with them.  The Lord Sanctifie His holy dispensation in peculiar to them and to his Mate (Mr. Holbrook) who was upon the Road with another Team just before Mr. March; but O that God would also enable all of us to make a Suitable Improvement of So awakening a Providence, and Convince us that we know not the Hour!  For as Saith Solomon man also knoweth not his Time: as the Fishes etc. and as the Birds, etc.  So are the sons of men Snared in an Evil Time, when it cometh Suddenly upon them.  Eccl. 9.12.  N.B. I understand that 5 Indians of the Cagawaya’s went to Boston last Friday; and that Some Considerable part of our Soldiers who were sent out to guard and Scout in our New Towns, were call’d in, and had return’d.  Thomas at Mr. Beemans.

[1]Joseph Sibley.

1744 August 8 (Wednesday).  Rainy Day.  Thomas came home from Mr. Beemans.

1744 August 9 (Thursday).  My Kinsman Needham[1] with his Wife from Norwich and they carry away their son Thomas with them.  N.B. I gave him everything that he carry’d away with him, except his Coat which Mr. Needham agrees to pay me for.  P.M. Mrs. Eager and her Sister Mrs. Patty Ward rode here in their Chair to make us a Visit.  Many Interruptions by Company almost from Morning till night.  Thomas Set up a New Rail Fence between my Fore yard and Garden.

[1]Parkman’s eldest sister, Mary, had married Daniel Needham.

1744 August 10 (Friday).  [No entry.]

1744 August 11 (Saturday).  Mr. Matthew Bridge[1] going up to preach at North Sutton and Mr. John Brown[2] with him.  They din’d here.

[1](HC 1741), later minister of the First Congregational Church of Framingham,1746-1775.  SHG 11:8-11.

[2](HC 1741), later minister of Cohasset,1747-1791.  SHG 11:12-17.

1744 August 12 (Sunday).  On Eccl. 9.12, on occasion of the Sudden Death of Mr. Samuel March on the 6th Instant.  May the Lord Sanctifie both his Word and Providence to us that we may be Quicken’d and O that we may be found ready how suddenly so ever we Should be Summon’d!  Mr. Coollidge din’d with me.

1744 August 13 (Monday).  The Towns Committee went down to the General Court to reply to the Petition of the North side.  I wrote to Mr. Danforth by Ensign Rice.  P.M. I was at Captain Bakers[1] an Hour or Two, he not being well, nor could go to Court.  Rainy at my return in the Evening, found Mr. Brown and Bridge from Sutton at my House.  And they lodg’d here.

[1]Edward Baker.

1744 August 14 (Tuesday).  They rode with me to Sudbury to Ministers Meeting.  We went first to Mr. Smiths[1] at Marlborough and he requested my Mare might be put into his Chaise and we rode together.  See Association Records for Mr. Barretts Concio on 2 Cor. 5.20 etc.  N.B. Mr. Gardner[2] an Excellent prayer in the Evening with the Family.  N.B. Mr. Cook[3] came among us.  Mr. Smith rode my mare to Mr. Cooks.

[1]Rev. Aaron Smith.

[2]Rev. John Gardner of Stow.

[3]Rev. William Cooke of Wayland.

1744 August 15 (Wednesday).  There was more Business done by the Association than usual — more Collections, etc.  Mr. Swift[1] of Acton preach’d a Smart, bold Sermon on Mat. 13.5.6.  After Dinner Mr. Wood,[2] Deacon Miles[3] and others from Concord came in among us to request the Ministers so far to Countenance Them of their Party as to preach among them in their Separation from Mr. Bliss.[4]  But they were rather advis’d to seek out some suitable Young Gentleman to preach to them and leave it to him to Change with neighbouring Ministers as they Should incline or see prudentest.  Return’d home through Marlborough and for the Sake of Mr. Cushing and Mr. Morse’s[5] Company, by Ensign Bartletts.  Found Mr. Weld[6] here.

[1]Rev. John Swift, Jr., of Acton.

[2]Ephraim Wood.  Lemuel Shattuck, History of the Town of Concord (Boston, 1835), 388.

[3]Samuel Miles.

[4]Rev. Daniel Bliss.

[5]Rev. Ebenezer Morse of the North Parish of Shrewsbury.

[6]Rev. Thomas Weld of Upton.

1744 August 16 (Thursday).  Mr. Weld left us — but not before Ensign Wood of Upton also, came, both of them on Account of Council papers.  Mr. Weld to return Some and Ensign Wood to take off a Copy of his Daughters Oath.  N.B. Two Exercises yesterday and the like to Day at Grafton but I could not go up, having so newly come Home, and much Business lyes behind.  At Eve Mr. Cornelius Cook here, and was partly Examin’d in order to his joining with the Church.

1744 August 17 (Friday).  Captain Maynard and Mr. Francis Whipple return’d from Boston and inform’d that having laid their Reply to the North side’s Petition, before a Committee of the Honorable Board, viz. Judge Wilder,[1] Colonel Berry,[2] Captain Watts,[3] a Committee was appointed by the Two Houses to come up and View the Town and make report accordingly.  Said committee were Captain Watts, Major James[4] and Mr. Dodge, to come up Next Tuesday come fortnight.

[1]Joseph Wilder was a Special Justice of the Superior Court.

[2]Thomas Berry was a Special Justice of the Superior Court.

[3]Samuel Watts was late Judge of the Inferior Court of Common Pleas in Suffolk County.

[4]John James of Medford.

1744 August 18 (Saturday).  [No entry.]

1744 August 19 (Sunday).  On Mat. 12.36.  P.M. repeat’d on Mat. 7.24 to 27.  Mr. Coollidge[1] din’d with me.

[1]Samuel Coolidge of Westborough.

1744 August 20 (Monday).  Ebenezer Wheeler brought me a summons to answer in Court tomorrow at Worcester Court in the Case depending between Reverend Mr. Weld of Upton and Rachel Wheeler of Grafton.  N.B. Samuel Baker here to be examin’d in order to his joining with the Church.  P.M. Mr. Cook with me on the Same Errand.  At Eve Captain Maynard and Mr. Whipple here.

1744 August 21 (Tuesday).  I early rode to Colonel Wards[1] to enquire whether the Business of the sessions would be likely to bring the Wheeler Case on to Day?  The Reason of My Enquiry was, I had appointed the Catechetical Exercise to Young Women to be this afternoon before I had known any Thing of Mr. Wheelers summons.  Who told me it would be Contrary to Custom of the Court if it was call’d, and assur’d me I might safely return home for to Day.  Upon which I return’d accordingly.  P.M. attended upon my Catechizing of Young Women, and deliver’d them a sermon on Ps. 25.7.  Hannah Forbush[2] full of Spiritual Concern came to my House, as her Brother Eli had been not long Since.

[1]Nahum Ward of Shrewsbury.

[2]Daughter of Thomas Forbush.

1744 August 22 (Wednesday).  I rode up to Worcester Court — from Mr. Cushings had Dr. Stanton Prentice’s[1] Company.  Visited Mr. Burr and Dr. Breck.[2]  Mr. Solomon Prentice came there and we went together to the Court — where I attended the forenoon.  I din’d at Mr. Burrs with Mr. Loring[3] of Marlborough and Dr. Breck.  P.M. a very lazy Time, whilst I neither Care to be at the Court, it being Sultry Hot, nor Ventur’d to go to the prisoner (Edward Fitz Patrick) but convers’d with Some of my old Nei[gh]bours who had gone from us whom I occassionally light of, and at Eve was at Mr. Waldo’s.[4]  But I lodg’d with my Brother Breck.  N.B. at Captain Daniel Wards[5] where I lodg’d, Mr. Ebenezer Wheeler and many of that Company had taken up their Quarters.

[1]Physician of Lancaster.

[2]Samuel Breck, physician of Worcester.

[3]Jonathan Loring, a lawyer.

[4]Cornelius Waldo, Jr., son of the prominent merchant of the same name in Boston.  See Waldo Lincoln, Genealogy of the Waldo Family (Worcester, 1902), 1:71-72.

[5]The son of Obadiah Ward, an early settler of Worcester.  See Andrew H. Ward, Ward Family, Descendants of William Ward (Boston, 1851), 23.

1744 August 23 (Thursday).  In the Morning after the Rain I went to the Jayl and Spent Some Time with the prisoner who is as Yet unhumbled — has talk’d of late in a Strain of denyal of the Fact, and grumbles at his Windows being Shutt up (though at That tis thought he receiv’d ill Counsel) and Complains of the Room he is confin’d in etc. — as if he was treated hardly because he was a Stranger.  Mr. Campbell[1] of Oxford there and pray’d with him, and whilst we were in the Jayl the Wheeler Case was call’d at Court, and was thrown out of that Court.  I din’d with Mr. Solomon Prentice at Mr. Eatons.[2]  P.M. return’d home having Mr. Dana[3] the Lawyers Company great part of the way, but he proceeded down the Road to Marlborough.

[1]Rev. John Campbell.

[2]Joshua Eaton (HC 1735) was the first lawyer to settle in Worcester.  He fell under the spell of George Whitefield, became a New Light preacher, and the minister of the first church of Spencer, Mass., 1744-1772.  SHG 9:533-38.

[3]Richard Dana (HC 1718) served various towns before settling in Boston, where he later became a prominent Son of Liberty.  SHG 6:236-39.

1744 August 24 (Friday).  Mrs. Hephzibath Maynard[1] here p.m. but my wife gone to visit Neighbour Davids[2] wife who is ill.  Thomas gets Fencing Stuff, having mow’d our Bushes over.

[1]Mrs. John Maynard.

[2]David Brigham.

1744 August 25 (Saturday).  Thomas Cutt Stalks.  I was (according to my Custom) confin’d closely in my Study as I was yesterday also, yet having met with So many hindrances all the fore part of the Week I was too much behind in my preparations.

1744 August 26 (Sunday).  A.M. on Matt. 12.36.37.  P.M. on 10.38.39.  Mr. Coollidge din’d with me.  He appears very gloomy, very Despairing of his Eternal State.  At Eve James Bradish, junior deliver’d me a Letter from the Separate Church in New Haven, praying assistance in Council on the 13th of September next.

1744 August 27 (Monday).  Mr. Ebenezer Rice came about noon to get my Team to go to Boston.  I rode to Mr. Winchester[1] and obtain’d his Oxen to go with my own to Boston.  Thomas went with the Team to Mr. Abraham Temple’s at Grafton for the Load and so Set out with it before Day.  Brother Hicks and Deacon Hall[2] of Sutton here.  They went to Boston.

[1]Parkman’s brother-in-law had moved from Westborough to Sutton about 1740.

[2]Percival Hall.  Benedict and Tracy, Sutton, 654.

1744 August 28 (Tuesday).  Visited Captain Forbush who is sick of a Fever.  A Council of Five Churches sat at Grafton, The Churches of Lancaster, Oxford, East Sudbury, Waltham and Southborough, being call’d by the agrieved only.  I Hear that the North and south side of this Town have employ’d Major Jones[1] of Hopkinton to measure the Roads of this Town — and that they begin to Day.

[1]John Jones.

1744 August 29 (Wednesday).  Major Jones with his Chain Men accompany’d by Mr. Miller,[1] Deacon Forbush[2] and Beriah Rice,[3] are come, in their measuring, to my gate, and thence proceed to the South Eastward to go down to Mr. Belknaps Corner.  At Eve I visited Captain Forbush who grows worse, yet sleeps very much Day and Night.

[1]James Miller of Westborough.

[2]Jonathan Forbush.

[3]Son of Edmund Rice, an original settler.

1744 August 30 (Thursday).  A.M. Major Hicks[1] of Salem, Deacon Whittemore[2] and Mr. Joseph Bradford, with Brother Hicks who met them on his Journey down, and return’d to Sutton with them, but was now proceeding on his Journey again.  They din’d here and took Leave.  P.M. I preach’d on John 1.11, and after Exercise read the Letter from New Haven receiv’d last Sabbath.  At Eve I visited Captain Forbush who is not much better.  Major Jones Measuring again to Day.  Heard that the Council at Grafton had perswaded the Church and agrieved Brethren to unite in Calling a Council consisting of the following Churches, Mr. Prescotts[3] of Salem, Mr. Wigglesworths[4] of Ipswich, Mr. Emersons[5] of Malden, Mr. Turells[6] of Medford, and Mr. Hobbys[7] of Reading.

[1]Joshua Hicks.

[2]Samuel Whittemore was a deacon of the Cambridge church for over forty years.  Paige, Cambridge, 688.

[3]Rev. Benjamin Prescott (HC 1709), first minister of Peabody, Mass., 1713-1756.  SHG 5:485-91.

[4]Rev. Samuel Wigglesworth (HC 1707), first minister of Hamilton, Mass., 1714-1768.  SHG 5:406-12.

[5]Rev. Joseph Emerson.

[6]Rev. Ebenezer Turell.

[7]Rev. William Hobby.

1744 August 31 (Friday).  Thomas return’d in safety from Boston in the Night; and it was the greater Favour as it prov’d a very rainy morning, which follow’d.

1744 September 1 (Saturday).  Have understood that the prisoner FitzPatrick had made his Escape out of Worcester Jayl — But is taken again.  Brother Hicks here who brought me a Letter from Reverend Mr. Webb[1] of Boston intimating to me that it is unlikely that he shall go to New Haven to be upon the Council there.

[1]Rev. John Webb.

1744 September 2 (Sunday).  Sacrament day.  Mr. Coolldge, Captain Fay[1] and his Daughter Goodenow[2] din’d with me.  I preach’d a.m. on 1 Cor. 11.26.  P.M. repeated Sermon on 2 John 8.  A.M. not without some hope that God was among us — but yet we have very great Reason to be humbled under a sense of our Leanness and Blindness, our Negligence and sinfullness.  I again laid the New Haven Letter before the Church but they did not see Cause to Consent to the Request thereof.  They urg’d that they as it was far off So they could not come to any tolerable understanding of their Case; nor could Learn how that Society had Separated from Mr. Noyes,[3] etc.  For my own part, I could not inform them, having never been inform’d myself, and I thought myself too nearly ally’d to Mr. Pierpont,[4] to warrant my pressing the matter upon them.

[1]John Fay.

[2]Dinah Fay had married David Goodenow of Marlborough.  He later moved to Shrewsbury.  Hudson, Marlborough, 373.

[3]Rev. Joseph Noyes.

[4]James Pierpont, Jr., son of the Rev. James Pierpont, Noyes’s predecessor at New Haven, was a leader in the movement to establish a second church.  Dexter, 189-90.

1744 September 3 (Monday).  I visited Ensign Josiah Rice’s Child, ill of the Cankers; and Captain Forbush who Still lyes sick of a Fever.  The Lord look upon him and be gracious to him.  N.B. Mr. Batchellour and his partner, Mr. Goodhew, flourish in their Coopering at Captain Maynards[1] and to Day sent a Load of Barrells to Boston.  This is the first Load out of the Town.

[1]John Maynard.

1744 September 4 (Tuesday).  The Gentlemen whom the General Court has Sent as their Committee to View this Town and Judge of the Circumstances hereof, and make Report accordingly — viz. The Honorable Samuel Watts Esq. of Chelsey, Major Jones of Hopkinton and Mr. Dodge[1] of Wenham, are suppos’d to be at Hopkinton.  P.M. Mr. Joseph Wheeler and Samuel Allen here good part of the Afternoon, but went south I suppose to wait (with others) upon the Said Gentlemen; but it was so rainy that they came not into Town.  I wrote to the Society in New Haven which had lately sent to us.

[1]Numerous persons of this name, several of them prominent, were living in Wenham.  See Myron O. Allen, The History of Wenham(Boston, 1860), 141-142.

1744 September 5 (Wednesday).  The Rain prevail’d greatly and continued all Day.  So that neither did the Courts Committee come to us to Day.  An Exceeding Rainy Time.  Jejun. priv. vide Natal.  The Lord enable me to take due Notice of his adorable patience and long suffering towards me!  I now enter upon my 42nd Year.  The Rain so heavy that if I would ever So fain I could not go to Southborough to Day, as requested by Mr. Stone[1] to preach his Lecture.

 

[In the Natalitia is recorded the following under date of September 5.]

 

September 5.  I endeavour’d to humble my Soul with Fasting, and I Spent the Day chiefly in acts of Religion and Devotion.

 

I first Consider’d and then endeavour’d to praise God for, His astonishing Patience and rich Goodness towards Me.

 

I reflected with some seriousness upon my ungratefull Returns to God – recollecting my past conduct, and especially my youthfull; my Soul was fill’d with much both Shame and Grief.  My late Transgression also testifie against me, and ought deeply to humble me: the Defects of my Ministry and my own unprofitableness and unfaithfulness under my Christian Obligations.

 

I sought the Lord in prayer and supplication for Pardoning Mercy and sanctifying Grace.  I sought for myself – for my Family – for my Flock.  I carry’d their present state to God as they are now engag’d in the great Affair of Dividing the Town, and the General Courts Committee now here among us.  I carry’d to God also, as I was able, the state of the Churches of this Land,  as circumstanc’d at this Day.  I renewed my Solemn Engagements before the Lord and my Resolutions to walk before Him (by his Grace assisting me) in Integrity all the Days of Life.

[1]Rev. Nathan Stone.

1744 September 6 (Thursday).  But gratify’d Mr. Cushing (as far as I was able) by preaching to Day for him.  Text John 1.11.  Very few at Meeting there.  Mr. Samuel Biglo’s wife with Me, in her soul Distresses still.  Return’d at Evening.  N.B. The Courts Committee view’d the south part of the Town.  I was with them at Eve at Captain Maynards.  N.B. Mr. Ebenezer Baker of Marlborough a great Interruption of our Conversation there.

1744 September 7 (Friday).  So grievously broke in upon by the Various Matters of the View of the Town etc., that I could not attend to My Studys.  Din’d with the Committee at Captain Eagers.[1]  N.B. Lieutenant Holloway intimated to Me that it was agreeable to my own Desire that I was with the Committee whereas it was in Conformity to their Special Request Sent me by Captain Eager and Captain Eagers own personal Request that I put myself to the Trouble to go over and din’d there.  N.B. Captain Watt’s advice that I would not engage myself in the Disputes of my Neighbours about Dividing the Town, The Rather because they all, universally express’d so much Love and Esteem etc. and were each of them desirous to enjoy me among them.  Conformable to his Advice I Said nothing but after a little Space retir’d.

[1]James Eager of Westborough.

1744 September 8 (Saturday).  I had many close Reflections upon myself, Chastizing myself for my Pusillanimity that I did not boldly bear my Testimony against the slender Provisions in the Most Towns throughout the Country for the Maintenance of ministers, which withholding more than is Meet tendeth to Poverty and is one of the Principal Causes of the many Dissentions in the Land — but know not what the Event would be if I had Zealously appear’d in it since it might soon have involv’d me in what the Committee had so much advis’d me against.  However my mind was Somewhat Eas’d when Major Jones and Mr. Dodge came along by my House in the forenoon in their return home (Captain Watts going down the Road from Captain Eagers), for though I could not have Opportunity to declare my mind last night yet I did to the fore-named Gentlemen to Day.  Lieutenant Holloway and Mr. Jacob Rice being in Company with them.  In which I expressly declar’d especialy that I could not by any means Countenance Such Divisions of Towns or Parishes as incapacitated them for bearing the necessary Public Charge etc., and that notwithstanding all the Love which the Town express’d to Me yet I intimated that they certainly did not provide for me as was necessary to enable me to answer their Expectations from me.  Captain Maynard at my House afterwards, and at noon Lieutenant Holloway and Rice — but would not stay to dine.  P.M. Mr. Coollidge returns from the North side and keeps School no more, being far gone in Despairs, Sordidness and viciousness (viz. Idleness and sloth, Smoaking and Drinking) — But he seem’d so much to Desire to remain with me over the Sabbath that I even told him he should be welcome.

1744 September 9 (Sunday).  Great Frost last night.  On Consideration of the State of Things in the Town I repeated sermon on Ps. 103.19 latter part.  Mr. Coollidge and Mr. James Balls wife din’d with us.  Mr. Coollidge says he is utterly without Hope.

1744 September 10 (Monday).  My forenoon taken up in various necessary Things — fixing a Well — Buckett to the Pole etc.  Mr. Coollidge went to Captain Maynards and din’d there, but return’d home.  P.M. Spent mostly with him.  At Eve I visited Captain Forbush.  Thomas Winchester at his Fathers.  Mr. Coollidge lodg’d here.