Mary Smith Cranch to Abigail Adams, October 19, 1799
Quincy october 19th 1799
My dear Sister
I was very glad to hear by the Letter you sent me from
Brookfield, that you had got Safely so far. 1 the week prov’d so Stormy &
disagreable I was affraid I Should hear you were Sick. this week has been in
general So pleasant excepting one day very windy that I hope you are Safe at
eastchester this evening, & that the President is recover’d from his
cold. your children well & the Sweet Caroline rejoicing to see
Grandmama
I went yesterday to see mrs Black— it was the first time
I had seen your House Since you left it— all was Safe there: but I did not
want to stay in it— I mett mr D Greenleaf
& wife mrs Black & her Daughter Blake at mr Blacks. mr Blake is in
Jail in Boston mr & mrs Greenleaf regret the absence of your Family very
much, mr Shaws company especially. I believe they will spend the winter in
Boston. mr Apthorps Family mov’d into Boston today: 2 I am no great visitor or I should
feel deserted So many have left us. mrs Black will be in Boston the Siting
of the court with her Husband. if We Should be Well, I may Sometims go to
Town With them this is all the excursions I expect to make till you
return—
I went over to Weymouth the day you left Quincy &
took with me the Gown & Flour for mrs Norton She sends her Duty &
many thanks— Richard & will m walk’d over to
see the Parade Which Was to have been the next day but the rain disappointed
them, as it did hundreds of others
mr [Gunrry] has return’d your Sons Letter which you lent
him. I Shall inclose it, as I suppose you would wish to have it with
you— 3
Judge Cushing call’d upon us this afternoon I gave him my
Sons Letter, & mr Cranch talk’d with him upon the Subject— he Says
unless the other Judge Should be prejudgicd in favor of some other Person he
does not doubt his obtaining the office he wishes for— 4 I believe the office is
respectable—& if it will Support him & make him cheerful I Shall be
glad— He is Scarcly ever out of my mind— I hope my dear Sister you will find
time to write to him— he does wrong to be so deprest his misfortuns have in
a manner destroy’d his usefulness he is too good to be lost—for want of
fortitude & a resolute Spirit— Since cousin Thomas’ visit he feels as if
he had a Friend & indeed a Brother—cousins visit was an unspeakable
advantage to him— 5 I hope
they will meet again Somehow or other the very Face of Cousin Thomas will
inspire him with courage
Mr Cranch’s cold is much better— Doctor Phipps has lost
his Son. Gaius Thayers Wife & two children are Sick with the Fever his
Son dy’d off. his Wife he hopes will leave him he says—wretch—I hope he will
never have another 6
Did you think to leave a pair of St[ockings] for Miss
Paine? I forgot to take them if you did.
remember me kindly to the Presidentt your children &
all Friends & write as often as you can to— / your ever affectionate
& gratefal / Sistr
Mary Cranch