Confession and Relation of Mindwell Entwishill, [May 23,] 17841

Introduction

Mindwell, the daughter of David and Lydia Batherick. was born January 27, 1750, and baptized on February 4.2 On January 3, 1777, when she was nearly twenty-seven years old, she gave birth to a son, Aaron Hill, the name suggesting the child’s paternity.3 After a visit to the Batherick home on April 22, Ebenezer Parkman noted in his diary, “Mindwell his Daughter with a Baby, though she is unmarried. Severely rebuked her.” Mindwell married Edmund Entwishill on January 21, 1783,4 and on May 23, 1784, “after humbling herself for the Sin of Fornication before God and Man,” she was admitted to the church and her son Aaron Hill was baptized.5 Edmund Entwishill was later known as Edmund E. Hill, suggesting that, in naming her child Aaron Hill, Mindwell was referring to Entwishill.

Entwishill may have been something of an opportunist. Apparently born in Manchester, England, in 1746, he is said to have arrived in “this Country” in 1767. What brought him to Westborough is unknown, but he soon declared his intention to marry Evinas Harrington (November 17, 1770) and later made known his intention to marry Sarah Gale (December 6, 1777), neither intention leading to marriage.6 There’s nothing in the Westborough records to identify Evinas Harrington. Sarah Gale, the twenty-four-year-old daughter of Abijah and Abigail Gale, died on October 16, 1778, eleven months after the intention was recorded.7

In his service during the Revolution, Entwishill was described in 1780 as “age, 34 yrs.; stature, 5 ft. 8 in; complexion, brown; occupation, gentleman soldier; residence, Westborough.”8 While perhaps a “gentleman soldier” in the Revolution, he had the more prosaic occupation of weaver when he died in Haverhill on April 22, 1821, leaving a widow, Abigail.9

Mindwell is said to have died in Westborough in 1789, perhaps following the birth of a son, Edmund Entwis Hill, on November 28, 1788.10

The Confession and Relation

I Belive there is but One God in three Persons, and That he made man at first Holy and Upright, and that man disobeyed and broke his Holy Law: for which man deserves to die—being also Sensible That I am a Sinner and that I have been adding daly unto the Stock of Orignal Sin which dwelleth in me, and that in an hour of Temptation I have been Left to fall into the Sin of Fornication, and thereby have Offended God and all good People: for which I desire to take Shame to myself: Humbly Asking for givness of God, and all whom I have offended—I also Acknowlidge That my Life hath been full of Vanity—and that I have been going astray from God days and times without Number (Notwithstanding the Maney calls and warning I have had from God, and by my Pearents) for which I desire to be Humble before him—beging your prayers for me. That I may be enabled to die unto Sin and Live unto God, Through Christ, who came to Seak and Save them that are lost—and being Sensable that I am alost, and an Undone Creature—I desire to cast myself on him, who hath Said come unto me all ye that Leabour and are heavey leaden and I will give you Rest—who also hath Said if any man Thirst lit him come unto me and drink, who likewise in a Nother place Saith do this in Rememberance of me—Therefore In Obedince to my Once Crusified Seavour, I desire to Give myself up unto God, Through Christ, beging his forgivness of all my past Sins—and Trusting in his Merits for Salvation I would now offer myself to your Christian Cherity—desireing your Acceptance of me—and your prayers for me that I may be aworthy Communicant at the Table of the Lord.

Mindwell Entwishill