Category: Diary

1744 November 22 (Thursday).  Thanksgiving.  The first Very Cold Day.  Preach’d on 1 Sam. 7.12.  Old Mr. Green[1] with me.

[1]John Green, a neighbor.

1744 November 23 (Friday).  Mrs. Abigail Maynard[1] here.

[1]Daughter of James Maynard of Westborough.

1744 November 24 (Saturday).  A.M. Cloudy.  P.M. Rain and Something of Snow but not to lie.  At Eve came Mr. Cotton of Newton and Mr. Isaac Williams.  They acquaint’d me that Captain Trowbridge who was with them in their other Journey to Worcester and lodg’d here, was lately bury’d.  O that God would Shew us our End and make us know the Measure of our Days — how frail!

1744 November 25 (Sunday).  Mr. Cotton preach’d Two very awakening Sermons.  A.M. from Luke 19.14.  P.M. on Ps. 119.155.  Mrs. Whitney[1] in great agitations and Sometimes was heard crying out Oh!  Oh!  At Evening in my Family service Mr. Cotton on Rom. 8.9.  May God give a Special Blessing!

[1]Mrs. Nathaniel Whitney.

1744 November 26 (Monday).  Mr. Cotton to Worcester.  P.M. Mr. Peabody and Deacon Felch — but left me, to prosecute their Journey to Worcester.

1744 November 27 (Tuesday).  Rain.  I had appointed the Young Womens Catechizing but the Weather prevented their coming.  Thomas Winchester here and lodg’d here.

1744 November 28 (Wednesday).  Thomas consenting to carry a Calf for us to Boston, Neighbour Hezekiah How came and kill’d it, but by Reason of the bad weather Thomas deferr’d his going.

1744 November 29 (Thursday).  Preach’d my Lecture myself, on Rom. 16.20 first part.  Repeated from Heb. 13.20.  Little Sarah greatly Exercis’d with Vomiting and purging.  My wife detain’d from Lecture.  Thomas to Boston with the Calf.

1744 November 30 (Friday).  Brother Samuel Parkman having been at Hopkinton and rais’d his House there, at Eve came here, and lodg’d with us.  A Cold Season.

1744 December 1 (Saturday).  Brother Samuel return’d to Boston.  At Eve Thomas Winchester return’d from there.  Mr. Whitefield preaching at Boston.  I was rather more afore hand  with my preparations for the Sabbath than was Common with me and had somewhat more freeness and Ease of Mind.  But yet alas too unprepar’d.

1744 December 2 (Sunday).  Sacrament.  A pritty Cold Day.  A. and p.m. on Mat. 12.41.  Deacons Fay[1] and Newton din’d here.  The Lord follow us with his almighty Influences and make us Stedfast!  N.B. My Wife not out to Day by reason of her ague and Sarahs illness.

[1]Capt. John Fay.

1744 December 3 (Monday).  Mr. Samuel Williams and Mr. Charles Rice kill’d 2 Hoggs between 10 and 11 Score apiece.  P.M. pray’d with Captain Maynards Company at their Training, and din’d with the Officers.  N.B. Mr. Boynes met me who was Still uneasy about the Affair of the Well.  I told him to come to my House and I would Settle with him, though he had been very abusive to me.

1744 December 4 (Tuesday).  Deacon Newton, Mr. Whipple and I rode over (in the Cold) to Upton.  The Council Sat; but Mr. Goddard[1] of Leicester and Captain Clark[2] of Medway hinder’d by their illness and could not come.  We first of all Enquir’d into the Letter which now brought us together and whether the Church and pastor had Comply’d with our former Result etc.  See the Minutes of the Council.

[1]Rev. David Goddard.

[2]Edward Clark.  E.O. Jameson, Biographical Sketches….of Prominent Persons…in Medway, Mass.  (Millis, 1886), 131.

1744 December 5 (Wednesday).  Methods improving for Accommodations without going into further hearing.  Mr. Hall of Sutton greatly Sensible of Wrong done by the former Result.  He endeavours to compose a New Plan, the main of which was afterwards Accepted.

1744 December 6 (Thursday).  We accomplish’d the Arduous and Sorrowful Affair of Mr. Welds Separation and Dismission from his people.  Mr. Hall went away Home before the Solemn reading of the Result.  Mr. Peabody, Bucknam[1] and I invited Mr. Weld to our Pulpits and we all offer’d to preach a Lecture to the people at proper seasons.  Mr. Peabody and Bucknam to preach tomorrow.  Deacon Newton return’d Home in the Night, but Mr. Whipple stay’d to accompany me.

[1]Rev. Nathan Bucknam of East Medway(now Millis).

1744 December 7 (Friday).  Mr. Peabody (our late Moderator) preached on Isaiah.  After Dinner we took Leave.  Mr. Bucknam to preach p.m.  In my Journey home Mr. Whipple was my Company.  We came by Solomon and Elijah Rice’s where we call’d and at Neighbour Eleazers also.

1744 December 8 (Saturday).  May the Frowns of Heaven on the Ministry be duely Improv’d by Me!  Ebenezers Lessons a great Hindrance to me.

1744 December 9 (Sunday).  I preach’d on the Occasion of the Dismission of Mr. Weld, and of Mr. Burr[1] the Week before, from Matt. 28.20.  And pray it may be follow’d with a Blessing to both myself and the people.

[1]Rev. Isaac Burr of Worcester.

1744 December 10 (Monday).  Sixteen came to get me Wood.  Solomon Woods with a Team, Mr. Grow, Miller,[1] Harrington,[2] Daniel, Jonathan, Phinehas and Eli Forbush,[3] Beriah Rice, Dunlop, Daniel Warrin, Elijah Warrin, Benjamin Tainter, Jonathan Grout, Jonas Child and Zebulon Rice.  The Swamp clear’d.  My Team improv’d all Day.  N.B. The Committee from the Northside with me, to make me their Offers according to the General Court which erected them into a precinct.[4]  Neighbour Jedidiah How here in the Evening.

[1]James Miller.

[2]Samuel Harrington.

[3]Sons of Deacon Jonathan Forbush.

[4]Dec. 9, 1744, the north precinct had appointed a committee “to Treate with the Reverend Ebenezer Parkman to see if he will tack up with the offer of the precinct as it is sett forth in the act of Courte which has divided the Town into Two Precincts and come to be our Minister, or whether he will stay in the first Precinct and Tack the Twelve pounds, Ten Shillings ordered the petitioners to pay and to give security for said money agreeable to said act.”  Kent, Northborough History, 20.

1744 December 11 (Tuesday).  Four Persons came to get the rest of the wood which was cut yesterday, to the Door.  Mr. Dunlop (who was the Means of the rest), Mr. Jonah Warrin, Mr. Hezekiah Pratt with his Oxen and Sled and Moses Nurse with his Oxen and Sled likewise.  They improv’d my Team and got down a good Pile.  The Young Women Catechizing.  They Said the 3 last Answers.  I deliver’d another Discourse on Ps. 25.7, chiefly against Company keeping and Unchastity.  At Eve Mr. Peter Bent[1] here from Marlborough to talk with me in Mr. Boynes Behalf.  Snow’d in the Night.

[1]Prominent citizen who later represented Marlborough in the General Court.  Hudson, Marlborough, 324.

1744 December 12 (Wednesday).  My Wife and I rode to Marlborough.  Call’d at Neighbour Matthias Rice’s, where was Mr. Thomas Ward.  My wife was blooded by Dr. Gott, and we din’d with him.  P.M. at Mr. Smiths[1] where was Mr. Edward Barns.  N.B. Talk of Boynes’s Conduct.  I call’d at divers Places to hire money to pay Mr. Lull and Thomas Winchester but in Vain.  We return’d by Matthias’s, and were kindly and handsomely entertained by them.

[1]Rev. Aaron Smith of Marlborough.

1744 December 13 (Thursday).  Rain.  Mr. John Pratt[1] of Lambstown relates the great Revival of Religion among them in that Town.  He desires a Dismission for himself and wife from our Church.

[1]Formerly of Westborough.  Sometime after 1737 he moved to Lambstown plantation, which became the town of Hardwick, Mass., in 1739.Lucius R. Paige, History of Hardwick, Mass.  (Boston, 1883), 456.

1744 December 14 (Friday).  Mr. Beeman and Mr. Bowman, Captain Warrin and Captain Maynard here p.m. at Evening.

1744 December 15 (Saturday).  At the Funeral of Mr. James Maynards Daughter Olive, who dy’d the Night before last, having been ill but a Day or Two, but I hasten’d home without going to the Grave.  She was nigh 11 Years old.

1744 December 16 (Sunday).  On Mat. 12.42.  Deacon Fay and Mr. Solomon Woods’s wife din’d here.  P.M. Repeated on Ps. 146.4.

1744 December 17 (Monday).  Dr. Gott here.  Mr. John Mead at Evening.

1744 December 18 (Tuesday).  Mr. Mead and Mr. Jeduthan Fay din’d here.

1744 December 19 (Wednesday).  [No entry.]

1744 December 20 (Thursday).  Visited Mr. Samuel Fay junior’s Wife who lies in a very low Condition — has not been at public worship these 16 months.  At Eve Mrs. Baker (wife of Captain) here to be examin’d in order to joining with the Church.  Mr. Jenison came from Lunenberg with his Cloths etc., in order to his keeping School in this Town again, but was now immediately going to Watertown first; he lodg’d here.  One of my Oxen ill.  Captain Maynard very kind and Friendly according to his Wont in my Difficultys.  He blooded the Ox.

1744 December 21 (Friday).  My Ox very ill — a Fever — bound up.  Captain Maynard here administering to him.  Lieutenant Tainter here.  He rak’d the Ox.  At Eve he was somewhat better.  Mr. Jonas Warrin here from Upton.  Sent word by him that Next Wednesday come sennight (by Divine Leave) I would preach at Upton.  N.B. I had told Captain Hazzleton[1] the like a few Days agoe.

[1]John Hazeltine.

1744 December 22 (Saturday).  Great Snow Storm last night and to Day.  N.B. Mr. Samuel Mower[1] of Worcester here to desire me in the Name of the Committee, to preach tomorrow come sennight at Worcester, Mr. Cushing being to preach tomorrow.  My Ox better.  Captain Maynard here (in his kindness) to See him.

[1]See Caleb A. Wall, Reminiscences of Worcester(Worcester, 1877), 351.

1744 December 23 (Sunday).  On Mat. 12.43.44.45.  P.M. Repeat’d Sermon on Heb. 13.21, from 2 Cor. 13.9.  Thin Congregation but 2 or 3 Men from the Northside — bad Travelling.

1744 December 24 (Monday).  At Mr. Cornelius Cooks and at Lieutenant Thomas Forbush’s[1] a.m.  P.M. I rode to Mr. Lulls and he Sign’d me another Deed of the 70 acre Lot in Townsend.  Ensign Josiah Rice rode down with me and was one of the Witnesses.  Mr. Thomas Billings the other.

[1]Deacon, town clerk, and selectman of Westborough.  Pierce, Forbes and Forbush Genealogy, 27.

1744 December 25 (Tuesday).  [No entry.]

1744 December 26 (Wednesday).  The Rain abated and the Shining Sun about 11 a.m. induc’d me to ride to Marlborough to preach Mr. Smiths Lecture.  Bad travelling and Clouds and rain return’d — but I had reason to think that he depended upon me.  But when I through all my Difficultys got there he told me he had not appointed it.  It was Such bad weather that he had not appointed the Sacrament.  Neither did he expect me to come — Whereas he ought to have Sent me Word that he had put the Exercises aforesaid by — and as to my Coming he could not know that it would not be good Weather by that Time.  This is the Second Time of Disappointment about his Lecture of Late.  I din’d with him, and then rode to Mr. John Stows on the Business of Thomas Winchester.  At Dr. Gotts at Eve but lodg’d at Mr. Smiths.