Diary, 1737-1743; 1753-1774.

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Diary, 1737-1743; 1753-1774.

http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/213868075

The original diary of John Ballantine, 1737-1743; 1753-1774, is in the possession of the Westfield Athenaeum and is now almost illegible. This typed transciption was made in 1886 by Joseph D. Bartlett ( - ) of Westfield, Mass., and is heavily annotated by Bartlett. The annotations usually appear in parentheses but are sometimes difficult to distinguish from Ballantine's original text. Not all of the material in the original diary was transcribed and there are freqent errors, especially in the spelling of proper names. However, the diary transcription does provide valuable information in terms of the religious and political issues that were much discussed in New England during the 18th century. The diary also concerns social customs of the era, and Ballantine listed at the end of each month and year the number of births and deaths in Westfield, grouped by sex and age. Included are references to the Rev. Robert Breck (1713-1784), whose ordination had stirred a controversy in 1736; the outbreak and battles of the French and Indian War; the "Separatists" who broke with Ballantine's church because they opposed the partaking of communion by those who had not experienced conversion; and visits paid to Ballantine by such people as Jonathan Edwards (1703-1758), President Aaron Burr (1715/16-1757) of Princeton University, and Samuel Mather (1706-1785), one of his closest friends. There are daily entries concerning his ministerial duties, visits, family activities, illnesses in town (especially a smallpox epidemic in 1760), and an annual list of donations of food and fuel given to him by his parishioners. The diary contains information about slaves owned by various townspeople, murders committed in the region and punishments, Ballantine's attendance at local church councils and association meetings, preparation of his students for admission to Harvard, and the beginnings of trouble between the American Colonies and Great Britain during the 1770s. Ballantine also referred to a traveling show that was staged in Westfield in 1773, complete with wire-walkers.

1 v. (282 leaves) ; octavo.

American Antiquarian Society

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SNAC Resource ID: 7010756

American Antiquarian Society

Related Entities

There are 7 Entities related to this resource.

Harvard University

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w64n9x97 (person)

Harvard College was founded by a vote of the Great and General Court of Massachusetts on October 28, 1636 that allocated “400£ towards a schoale or colledge.” Subsequent legislative acts established the Board of Overseers, but it was the Charter of 1650 that created the Harvard Corporation as the College's primary governing board and defined its composition and authority. The College Charter became a contentious target for College officials, the Massachusetts Governor and General C...

Bartlett, Joseph D.

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w6x07mkx (person)

Mather, Samuel, 1706-1785

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w6mg840x (person)

American clergyman. From the description of Manuscript sermon : place not specified, 1791 Aug. 14. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 729248589 Rector of Old North Church. Son of Cotton Mather. From the description of Autograph letter signed : Boston, to "My dear child" (a relative), 1776 July 8. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 270636634 ...

Burr, Aaron, 1716-1757

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w60g4xnv (person)

Clergyman and college president. From the description of Deed for sale of land in Fairfield township, Conn., 1738. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 79452376 Aaron Burr was born on January 4, 1716, to Daniel and Elizabeth Burr in Upper Meadows, Connecticut. He excelled in languages and sciences at Yale College, from which he graduated in 1735. He stayed at Yale for an additional year to study theology, supported by the Berkeley Foundation, during which he became in...

Ballantine, John, 1716-1776

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w6sj2zfn (person)

The Rev. John Ballantine (1716-1776) was graduated from Harvard College in 1735 and was ordained as minister in Westfield, Mass., in 1741. He married Mary ("Molly") Gay (1726-1794) of Dedham, Mass., in 1743 and served as Westfield's pastor until his death in 1776. He was a highly respected man who participated in many local church councils, association meetings, and ordinations. From the description of Diary, 1737-1743; 1753-1774. (American Antiquarian Society). WorldCat record id: 2...

Breck, Robert, 1713-1784

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w6rb8hf5 (person)

Edwards, Jonathan, 1703-1758

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w60001p6 (person)

Jonathan Edwards (1703-1758) was a colonial American Congregational preacher and theologian. He was president of the College of New Jersey (now Princeton University) from February 1758 to his death, one month later. From the description of Jonathan Edwards family collection, 1723-1798. (Princeton University Library). WorldCat record id: 276567983 American theologian. From the description of Autograph letter signed : Stockbridge, to The Reverend Joseph Bellamy, 17...