Mary Smith Cranch to Abigail Adams, October 15, 1797

Quincy october 15th 1797

Dear Sister

I thank you for your Letter from worcester since that I have
heard by the papers you have arriv’d in new-york. 1 I hope Safe. you must have had bad weather
some part of the way if Such as we had reach’d you. last Sunday evening we had a
terrible Tempest of thunder Lightning & wind & rain the Lightning struck the
house of cap n. J o. Baxter
& every person in it reciev’d a Shock there were many young People collected there
Boilstone Adams & I believe Sukey mr Adams was very much affected for several
hours & many were obliged to be rub’d with vinagar for a long time it came down by the side of the chimney & went thro the
house into the cellar. 2 that no one
should be kill’d was a great preservation. it Struck a house in milton also. I never
Say Such Lightning. it was like columns of Fire & fell to the Ground. the wind was
violent mr & mrs Norton were on the top of Pens hill when it took them. they were
oblig’d to run into a house for shelter they look out their house & the chaise was
blown half way down the hill. they were on their way to Atkinson. they return’d
yesterday found & left all well. the little Boys were finely & contented.
cousen Betsy Stay’d with mrs Nortons children in her absence 3

I Saw mrs Porter to day they are both well I spoke to her about
the clothes lines. She will take care of them. mr Foster & Eliza Bond were here
last Sunday— She has got her health & looks finely but neither She nor I can make
Cousen Betsy own that there is any connection design’d to be form’d between mr F &
her notwithstanding all the appearences She does fib. I know She does. they were
Several hours alone together in our east Parlour 4 she has recover’d her spirits much better than
I fear’d She would. had She been with her Brother She would have felt very differently
from what She now does I believe it would have kill’d her in her feeble State. Sister
Peabody did not forget that the day he was buried was the 29th of September it
render’d the Scene doublely Solemn

your Neice mrs Hubbart & Salomy came the last week to make
you a visit they did not know you were gone. they spent an affternoon with me 5 Doctor Tufts came to do business with
you about half an hour after you left us. he wishes for many directions which he
expected to receive—

mr Cranchs coat I supposed you must have taken by mistake. we
have not receiv’d it yet nor heard of it only by your Letter. but think it will come
along Tis one he wants much this time of the year his Devonshire is too thick &
heavey

I am impatient to hear from you again & to know how you found
mrs Smith & your other children my Love to them all— I want to know also where
congress will be call’d. do not go to an unhealthy Spot— Stay with your children
untill you can go into your own house I Shall be distress’d about you if you do— I
have been from home but once since you left me your house looks So gloomy I cant bear
it— I wish it was occupy’d in your absence by some Sensible neighbour— George Apthorp
is come with his wife & her mother mrs Perkins, a Sister of mrs Aptho[rp] mrs A is
a pretty innocent Sensible coun[try] Girl just 19 years old— they are come to Settle here.— our neighbour mrs Apthorp has been very
ill for above three weeks in violent pain in her back & one side it has at last
Show’d itself to be the Shingles to a dreadfull degree. She continues very ill 6

mrs Norton Sends a thousand thanks for your kind present. had it
made. & it looks very handsome—

pray give my Love to the President & Louissa / & believe
me at all times your truly / affectionate Sister

M Cranch

mrs Porter Says she has found […] Buckets

Doctor Tufts wishes to know what is to be done with the cheese
butter &C 7