Cotton Tufts to Abigail Adams, April 22, 1800
Weymouth April 22. 1 , Start deletion, 7 , End, 800
Dear Mad m.
In my last I informd You of having contracted with the
Two Shipleys. 1 I had kept
them sometime in Suspense, they grew uneasy and wishd to be determind.
Business of every kind was pressing fast upon us, to depend upon transient
Help would be precarious and to delay engaging a fortnight or Three Weeks in
expectation of getting cheaper Help, appeared to me would ultimately be a
Loss. at this Time 15 Doll rs per Month was held
up by many of the Labourers— This Price it was said Faxons Son was
offer’d— 2 I found these
two Men were well skilld in Wall making and much must be made the present
Year— Had I rec d. Yours of the 4 th. Inst t. in Season
I should have governd myself accordingly, But as I know that it is
impossible at a Distance from the Scene of Action, to foresee & provide
for the Occasions of every Day—it necessarily obliges me in consulting your
Interest, sometimes to pursue my own Judgment, when it would have been more
pleasing to have reciev’d particular Instructions—
The House is coverd & shingled, the Chimnies begun
& , Start deletion, it , End, will be finishd this week—
Col. Bicknall of Abington who is the Mason informs me, that the Fire Place
below, from Point to Point is 4 Feet one Inch and an half— 3 who ever makes the Stone Jambs, I
suppose will know how to form them, when let in to the sides: the mason I
conceive will cut away the Corners of the brick Work to receive them so as
to give a proper Flare— I have engagd Lane a Painter to begin the Rooms on
the Morrow, which you wishd to have painted, also Beals to paint the House
M r. Clark lives in, He is to remove next
Monday—
If You have provided Stones for the Hearth & Jambs of
the Chimney or Chimneys, it would be best to forward them as soon as
possible, and Hay seed if You have procurd any as usual— Clover Seed is 25
Cents per lb . Herdseed 6 Doll rs. per Bushell— Shall you want to purchase any
Hay—it is now @ 4/6 per C t — I am dayly in
Expectation of getting the Oates, have been ordered to delay purchasing in , Start deletion, Expect , End, hopes of being cheaper—but
shall secure them before your Return. I am at a Loss to determine whether it
would be best to purchase any Stock for fatting, There is but one Cow on the
Farm for that Purpose— You have now seven new Milk Cows—which will furnish a
considerable Dayry— There are also 15 or 16 Mouths to be filld dayly—
am now at Quincy M r. Bates
informs me that is necessary that the Stones for the Chimney be sent forward
immediately.— I am obligd to brake off abruptly & am / Y rs —
C. T—