1Cotton Tufts to John Quincy Adams, 5 March 1788 (Adams Papers)
I rec d. Your Favour, previous to which I sent you by Post in a Letter to my Brother a Bank Bill of 20 Doll rs. , it would have been sent soon after your Brother mentioned to me your Want of a Supply, had I not heard that you proposed to be at Boston in a few Days— I am exceedingly gratified that your fraternal Advice was given to M r Charles and I flatter myself that it will with that of his...
2Cotton Tufts to John Adams, 28 February 1788 (Adams Papers)
I rec d. M rs. Adams’s Lett r. of Nov. 6. and had wrote a long Epistle of the 21 t. Ins t. and put it into the Post Office to go by a Cap. Brown who is to sail from Portsmouth, had also drawn a Bill on you for £150 Sterl g which I found necessary— But on receiving this Day M rs. Adams’s Favour of Jan y 1. and finding that they were not forwarded & that the Vessell would not sail for some Days...
3Cotton Tufts to Abigail Adams, 18 December 1787 (Adams Papers)
The System of Government reported by the late Continental Convention has afforded much Matter for Pens and Tongues— The Friends & opposers of it are distinguished by the Party names of Federalists & Antifederalists— These Names I suspect will continue as long as Whig & Tory— which of the Parties will carry their Point, is difficult to say— Many of the Advocates for the Constitution are...
4To John Adams from Cotton Tufts, 28 November 1787 (Adams Papers)
On Saturday last, the Gen l Court rose, having sat Five Weeks, but few Matters of Importance were accomplished. The first Thing that came under Consideration was the Recommendation of Congress to lay before the People a System of National Government reported by the late continental Convention— Resolutions were passed for assembling the Towns for the Choice of Delegates to sit in Convention on...
5Cotton Tufts to Abigail Adams, 31 October 1787 (Adams Papers)
In my last Letter to M r. Adams I inform’d Him of the Death of our beloved Uncle Smith— had we enjoyed his Life much longer, it would have been greatly desireable—but Heaven was kind in continuing that rich Blessing for so long a Time we have the utmost Assurance that He is happy tho’ We have lost one Source of our temporal Felicity— His Virtues may we imitate and with him share in a better...
6Cotton Tufts to Abigail Adams, 20–24 September 1787 (Adams Papers)
Yours & M r. Adams of the 1 t. & Yours of the 4 th. of July I rec d. the 6 th. Inst. the former by a British Vessell the latter by the Way of New York— being then in Boston, I immediately applied to our Friend D r. Wilch to prepare the Way for the Purchase of Borlands Farm thinking it best to conceal your Name, till we were sure of accomplishing the Business— The D r. applied and found that M...
7Cotton Tufts to Abigail Adams, 30 June 1787 (Adams Papers)
I beg you to inform M rs. Smith, that I have forwarded to M r M c. Connell enclosed in a Letter to Miss Margaret Smith the Picture she requested me to send and have rece d Information f m. D r. Crosby of M r. M c. Connell’s having rec d. my Letter— By M
8Cotton Tufts to John Adams, 30 June 1787 (Adams Papers)
On conversing with M r. Parsons relative to Your Sons entring into the Study of the Law, I found him disposed to take him under his Instruction, and it being the Wish of your Son to live with him, I accordingly agreed with M r. Parsons on the Subject— After Commencement Vacation M r John will repair to Newbury Port— M r. Parsons’s Terms are £100— for Thrree Years exclusive of Board, the money...
9Cotton Tufts to John Adams, 13 June 1787 (Adams Papers)
In my Letter to M rs. Adams P r. Cap t. Scott, I mentioned to her, That M r. S. Q. was negociating for Borlands Place— it was then my Opinion that He would purchase it— Yesterday M r. Cranch informed me that he had learnt from M r. Borland that M r. S. Q. had given up the Matter—and that M r. B. is determined to make Sale of it as soon as he has settled with M r. T——r. I conclude therefore...
10Cotton Tufts to Abigail Adams, 21 May 1787 (Adams Papers)
I rec d. your several Letters of Jan y. 24. Feb y. 8 t & March the 10 th. by Cushing, Barnard & Scott who all arrived in the latter End of April. Before the Receipt of M r. Adams Letter I had purchased the Half of the House & Land occupied by Belcher at £70— although it appeared to me to be dear— yet as it stood connected with your Land and the other half of y r. Building would go to Ruin...
11To John Adams from Cotton Tufts, 15 May 1787 (Adams Papers)
I rec d. Yours by Capt. Cushing with 50 Vol. of the Defence &c Thirty of which, I put into the Hands of M r Guild Bookseller, which were sold in the Course of 5 or 6 Days— Twenty I reserved—and took the Liberty to add to Your List of Distribution, One to Hon. Sam. Adams at the Instance of Bro r Cranch & myself, One to the Hon James Lovell at the Desire & advice of Un c Smith and one by y r...
12Cotton Tufts to Abigail Adams, 6 February 1787 (Adams Papers)
Col. Jacob Davis not long since called upon me for the Payment of one of the Lots of Land in Vermont State which you recd. a Deed of and was not paid for, by his Brother Ebenr Davis whom he empowered for that Purpose. I accordingly paid it, he requested Interest from the Time the Deed was given, I did not conceive myself authorized to allow it as You did not give me any directions relative to...
13Cotton Tufts to Abigail Adams, 2 January 1787 (Adams Papers)
By Capt. Folger who arrived here last Saturday, I recd. Your obliging Letter of the 10th. of Octobr. last, a Bill of the Books sent for Revd. mr Cutler, and your kind Present for which I return You my Thanks. The Bill for Papers procured by Mr. Adams at the Request Lt Govr. Cushing, which you refer to, has not been paid to me; not a Syllable has been said by him upon the Subject, nor have I...
14Cotton Tufts to Abigail Adams, 14 October 1786 (Adams Papers)
Your Favour of July 22d and Aug: 1st. and also Mr. Adams of July 4th. I recd by Barnard and Callihan, the former arrived the 5. Inst. and the Latter . In former Letters, I have expressed my Fears with Respect to the Stability of our Federal Government. Should this tumble, into Ruin, what is to be the Scituation of my Friend in Europe. But is not a Suspicion of this Nature, unwarrantable, Ought...
15Cotton Tufts to Abigail Adams, 15 August 1786 (Adams Papers)
In my Acctt. sent Mr. Adams you will not find any large sums Credited for Your Farm. The Farm Acct. with Pratt I settled in April last, the whole Produce of Your half amounted (for the Year preceding) to £37. 5.11. This is accounted for in part in my last Acctt. part in this and the Remainder is discharged by Pratts Acct for Work, Rates and Sunds. debited Tho Pratt and J. Marsh. The Losses...
16Cotton Tufts to John Adams, 18 July 1786 (Adams Papers)
Mrs. Cranch last Evening informed me, That a Mr. Standfast Smith of this Town is empowered to sell Verchilds Lands. Would it not be agreable to You to purchase those belonging to His Heirs which you have improved for some Years past? Sometime past I sued Sloane and recovered judgment against Him. He has given a Release to the Lands mortgaged and I think it would be best to sell them as they...
17Cotton Tufts to Abigail Adams, 6 July 1786 (Adams Papers)
I recd. yours of Jan. 10. Feby 21 and April the 8th And am obliged to you for your affectionate Letter of Condolance and also for the Intelligence conveyed in the several Letters. The State of our Country is uncomfortable, if not hazardous. The Scarcity (real I rather think than artificial) of Gold and Silver prompts People to seek a Remedy in Paper Money, already has Rhode Island issued...
18Cotton Tufts to Abigail Adams, 13 April 1786 (Adams Papers)
In some of my former Letters I mentioned the Probability, that Belchers Place would shortly be on Sale. Mr. Morton Atty. to C. W. Apthorp Esq has offered it to me but has not as yet set his Price. As I conceive it to be Your Wish to purchase it—If it can be obtained at a reasonable Price, I shall secure it. I have frequent offers of Salt Marsh and other Lands, in Braintree, some of them...
19Cotton Tufts to Abigail Adams, 12 January 1786 (Adams Papers)
I wrote to you last Week by Capt Lyde, expecting that He would have sailed the next Day. I find that He is still here And as Mr. Jenks the Bearer hereof, is going in his Vessell I am loth to omit the favourable opportunity of writing by Him. I propose to send by Him Our December Magazine, in which you will find a succinct Accountt of the Proceedings of the Genl Court in their last Session and...
20Cotton Tufts to Abigail Adams, 5 January 1786 (Adams Papers)
I have to thank you for your Communications of Sept and Octob. which came to Hand. And I have many Things which I wish to write but must confine myself to some few matters that have relation to your Affairs. Your Bro Adams informs me that he has your Note for £30. I wish to know whether you would have me discharge it. I this day paid your Mohr. Hall 5 Dolrs. for the ft. Quarter having...
21To John Adams from Cotton Tufts, 21 December 1785 (Adams Papers)
Your Favour of Sep t. 9 t I rec d. and Your Present of Neckar for which I return You Thanks and am much gratified with Your Sentiments on the Whale Oil Fishery, to this Branch of Business, the General Court have given Encouragement as You will find by a Bill sent you by M r Cranch— Every Day more and more convinces me, that the commerical Restraints of Great Britain, so far as they respect...
22To John Adams from Cotton Tufts, 24 November 1785 (Adams Papers)
I have repeatedly forgot to mention to You That in Sep r. 1783. D r. Holyoke then President of our Mass tts. Med l Society rec d. Your Letter dated in June, enclosing Copies of the Votes & C of the Royall Society of Medicine at Paris. In Octob r. following the Med l Society met and voted their Unanimous Thanks to You for Your friendly Attention to the Interests of the Soc y. and directed an...
23Cotton Tufts to Abigail Adams, 16 November 1785 (Adams Papers)
When I wrote to You by Capt. Cushing informed You of my Fears with respect to Mrs. Tufts’s Illness. The Event which I then feared, has since taken Place. Heaven has executed its Will. The Partner of my Life is gone to Rest, She expired a bout 7 oClock on the 30th. of Octob. in the Evening, after a long and painful Sickness. Amidst the various Tryalls of Life, it is sometimes a Consolation that...
24Cotton Tufts to Abigail Adams, 14 October 1785 (Adams Papers)
Your agreable Letter of May. 10. from Auteuil I received by your Son. His Absence You will feel and I do not wonder that you parted with him with Regret as his Ability to relieve his Parents from many Cares and Burdens must have been great. He is now pursuing his Studies with his Uncle Shaw, more especially in the Latin and Greek Languages. In other Respects he was qualified to have entered in...
25Cotton Tufts to Abigail Adams, 12 October 1785 (Adams Papers)
The anxious Sentiments of a Parent which You have manifested in the close of Your last Letter, I have read with a sympathetic Feeling. It would give me singular Pleasure to have it in my Power to give you such Information as would entirely set your Mind at Ease. I had hopes that Time would have produced such Evidence, as would have removed Doubt. I scarcely know what to say. If the Character...
26Cotton Tufts to John Adams, 6 October 1785 (Adams Papers)
On the 6th. Ultimo I drew on You for £100 sterling in Favour of Mr. Samuel Eliot, payable at 30 Days Sight of whom I received 5 Per Cent above Par. The Exchange has been somewhat higher, up to 7 Per Cent, but has fallen, and it is thought will be still lower. Part of the Money received I have let out for a few Months on private Security that I may if Occasion should call, have wherewith to...
27Cotton Tufts to John Adams (Adams Papers)
The Want of a sufficient Power in Congress to regulate the national Concerns of the United States is now pretty generally seen and has been severely felt. In the opening of the last Session of the Gen Court, the Governor in his Address to both Houses among other Things laments that Congress had not been authorized to regulate their foreign Trade, and suggests the Necessity of further Powers...
28Cotton Tufts to Abigail Adams, 19 April 1785 (Adams Papers)
It is now a violent Snow Storm (PM) and I hope it will be the last for this Spring, for the Snow has been on the Earth through the Winter and from January to the first Instant the Sledding has continued; on the 26th. of March I rode to Abington, from Mr. Williams’s Meeting House, in one of the Roads for near two Miles the Snow was level with the Walls and the Crust so hard as to bear my Horse,...
29Cotton Tufts to Abigail Adams, 11 April 1785 (Adams Papers)
I have not received any Letter either from Mr. Adams or from you since Yours, just after your Arrival at Passy. We are solicitous to hear, from You—and I flatter myself that We shall for the future have more regular Intelligence. We have had much to do in the Electioneering Way. So far as we can judge from Accounts from different Parts of the Country, Mr. Bowd oi n will be elected Governor. Am...
30Cotton Tufts to John Adams, 11 March 1785 (Adams Papers)
The Dispute between New York & this State has been referred to Congress, a Federal Court has been appointed, the Judges have been chosen by the Parties and the Tryall will be had in June next at Williamsburg.— Mess rs. Lowell, Sullivan & Parsons are Agents in Behalf of this State and have a Power to join Doc r. Johnson of Connecticut in Council and in Case of Sickness or otherwise any other...