Mary Smith Cranch to Abigail Adams, April 25, 1800

Quincy April 25 th 1800

My Dear Sister

I know your impatience to hear frequently of your affairs
here & I am as solicitous that you should— last week & untill this
Morning it has not been in my power to write you more than a few lines— Mrs
Norton came here with Edward & Thomas last thursday week for me to nurse
her with the proper Influency she has been very ill a violent distressing
cough, & not able to take the least care of her children She is now
better but has not left her chamber & her cough is still very
troublesome to add to my care mr & mrs Gannetts came the after Mrs
Norton to Lodge one night & proceed to Plymouth the next day—but in the
night he was Seiz’d with a complaint at his Lungs & was not able to
leave here till monday— & Our house
was a Hospetal for the children were sick too— In the midst of this it
became absolutely necessary to remove mr Wibird. The heat of three days was
several degrees above common Summer heat & his life was in danger from
every kind of vermin— he was cover’d with Sores from his Shoulders to his
Toes— I had to make an ointment to take a Linnin Shirt Stockings &
drawers of Mr cranchs to put upon him & to fasten rag’s with ointment
into his shirt. I took with me Major Millar Cap n. Bracket & his Father Deacon webb & mr Cranch we sent a
cart before us to take away his Trunks &C. We spent Several hours
endeavouring to perswaid him of the Necessaty of his removal he was
obstinate & cross, altho the Blood was streaming from his Shoulders
& stomack. Such an object of filth I am Sure you never beheld— Cap n. Brackit had prepair’d a handsome lower Room
for him. We went determind to force him away if he would not comply. capt.
Brackit & his Father were obliged in the morning to tear his Breeches
drawers & woolen Stockings of of him by violence he threatning to Scream
Murder all the time—but when mr Cranch told him (after we had sent away all
his Trunks which he possitively forbid) that he Should go & call’d the
other Gentlemen to take hold of him & put him into the chaise—he jump’d
of the Bed & said he would & came away
very peacably— he has certainly in a manner lost his reason: he is very pale
& I do not think if he had not been remov’d he could have liv’d but a
very little time Cap n. Brackit will have a great
deal of trouble with him to make him undress for the night—but I hope he
will get him to do it

He complains that he was taken by violence that he is not
a free man: the neighbours have been in to congratulate him & wish him
joy as if he had just been Married. I sent the next morning to inquire how
he did & he sent Me word “he was as well & as comfortable as could
be expected—[”] to be sure he had a happy deliverance the day before—&
of a numereous of spring.

Mr Cranch has been with him two days puting his things in
order & placing his Books upon there Shelves. every thing is neat &
clean on & about him now & he looks like a human Being— cap n. Bracket is as kind as a son could be—

I have receiv’d three or four Letter from you two
yesterday with one for the Doctor which I deliver’d myself as you
desir’d. 1 I shall attend
to every thing you wish me to. I was three hours Yesterday with George
removing things from your front Room & chamber & looking to the
things in the others & endeavouring to Secure them for the house is Much
expos’d by being So open Zube is returnd but she is at present very unwell
She was takeing a puke yesterday—

I inclose a description of your chamber chimney. 2 Would you not wish to have a
stone Jamb. Plastering will always be ragged

Mr & Mrs Gannet are just returnd I can write no more
but will write by the next mail

Love & respects to the President, Mrs Johnson my
cousins now with you & to be pray all of
you look-out. you are to be supprisz’d— but not by your affectionate
Sister

Mary Cranch 3