181

John Porter.

Diary of a Great Awakening minister in southeastern Massachusetts, interleaved in an almanac.

[Bridgewater, MA], 1 January to 31 December 1742
[14] manuscript pages, interleaved in a printed 1742 Boston almanac, "An Astronomical Diary or Almanack" by Nathaniel Ames, [16] printed pages, 8vo (7 x 4 inches), stitched, uncut; title page coming detached, almanac leaves worn with minimal wear to the slightly smaller manuscript leaves. 

  • Notes: The Rev. John Porter (1716-1802) graduated from Harvard in 1736, and began preaching at the new Fourth Church of Bridgewater, MA in 1739. He raised a large family there and remained as pastor until his death in 1802. The church he helped launch is now the Christ Congregational Church of Brockton, MA. 

    Religion had stagnated in Bridgewater until the arrival of Great Awakening preachers George Whitefield and Gilbert Tennent in the region in early 1741, which had a transforming effect on Porter and his congregation over the next two years. Rev. Porter described his religious journey at length in a letter published in Thomas Prince's "The Christian History" on 11 and 18 February 1743 (pages 396-408). This is the period covered in this 1742 diary. 

    Most of Porter's diary entries are confined to one or two lines, but some offer insight into his work and spiritual life. On 20 January he wrote "went to Mr. Perkins' sacramental lecture. Mr. Angier preached. I preached in even'g to ye young people from Eccl 11:9." On 2 February he noted: "My birthday. Went to Mr. Perkins' evening lecture. Have lived 26 years. O how little of my time have I spent in serving God & preparing for eternity." At the end of March he reflected "Thank God for his mercies this month." 

    On 7 July he attended the commencement ceremonies at Harvard. The next day, "at Boston, heard Mr. Davenport." This was likely the radical Great Awakening itinerant preacher James Davenport, who just the previous month had been tried for disorderly conduct and was publicly declared to be "disturbed in the rational faculties of his mind."  

    The diary also includes brief but historically interesting notes such as, "Preached at Mr. Jonathan Packard's"; "Went to Mr. Perkins Evening Lecture"; "Preached in the Evening at Edward White's"; "Went a visiting in ye west part of my parish"; "Went to town. Mr. Perkins Sacramental Lecture. Mr. Colton Preached." "Catechized ye children;" "Preached at Captain Carpenter's;" "Blessed be ye Lord for his goodness expressed to me this ye month"; and "At Boston, heard Mr. Davenport" (the radical Great Awakening preacher, James Davenport, who was arrested the same year for causing a disturbance).

    Preceding the diary pages is a page of family records, tracing Porter's arrival in Bridgewater, his ordination, the purchase of a home, his two marriages, and the births of his 9 children. Three of the sons listed here had prominent careers: John Porter (1752-1790) was a major in the American Revolution, and Huntington Porter (1755-1844) and Eliphalet Porter (1758-1833) followed their father into the ministry.
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