601From Abigail Smith Adams to Harriet Welsh, 24 February 1815 (Adams Papers)
It was not untill after Susan returnd last evening, that I received your Letter of Saturdays date, oweing to the Severity of the Storm, we neither got our Saturdays, Patriot, nor yet our Wednesdays altho we Sent to the office for it. accordingly I never Saw the extract; we never wanted to see the papers more than last week, and never were more dissappointed. the news of Peace seemd to distract...
602From Abigail Smith Adams to Harriet Welsh, 8 March 1817 (Adams Papers)
I have not had any opportunity of writing to you before—indeed I have been So occupied: that I have not had time, for beside Sickness, the good folk who love Sleighing have many of them embraced this opportunity of visiting us; and Louissa wants constant watching to Supply her by little & little with the small nourishment She takes and to See that She does not exceed her Strength by Sitting up...
603From Abigail Smith Adams to Harriet Welsh, 17 August 1817 (Adams Papers)
I wrote to you on Monday by mr Cruft in much anxiety about John requesting you to let hear from you pr post, if not by osburn—I have not heard a word Since. I mentiond I beleive Sending to Mr Fosters, but I had as good send to wisscasset—I got the carpet on Saturday by Mr Beal, but did not know it, when I wrote to you. I like it much. thank you. but I made the Crape answer tho not very...
604From Abigail Smith Adams to Harriet Welsh, 15 March 1816 (Adams Papers)
your Note I received and thank you for it, altho it gave me much anxiety upon your & mrs Bailey’s account. I fear you will lose your dear little Girl, Yet she has youth of her side, and naturally a fine Constitution, but the poor child has had to contend with two diseases, the last of which is shocking from its long continuance—I know by my own confinement how long you have had a very Sick...
605From Abigail Smith Adams to Harriet Welsh, 17 October 1817 (Adams Papers)
Welcome home again—I received by mrs Adams your Note, and Carolines, the Same Mail brought me a Letter from Susan of the 7th from utica, saying that the Carriage was at the door waiting to convey them to Albany, from thence they should proceed to Fishkill—and I suppose would arrive there just about the time Caroline intended Setting out. which may retard them a day or two—I hope however if...
606From Abigail Smith Adams to Harriet Welsh, 14 March 1817 (Adams Papers)
I wrote the inclosed a few days Since, but not having an opportunity to Send it which I liked I have kept it for the memorandum which it contains—Louisa gets a little strength, tho She Swells and puffs in her feet and arms, no perspiration upon her. her appetite is better and She bears the Bark which is a good Symptom. these March winds are intolerable, worse than the coldest we have had...
607From Abigail Smith Adams to Harriet Welsh, 18 August 1817 (Adams Papers)
Before I go into Bed, I must write you a few lines, after the agitation of the day—about Ten this morning Louisa announced a carriage & four comeing down the Hill. I ran to the door, it arrived in a few moments, the first who sprang out was John, who with his former ardour was round my neck in a moment. George followd half crazy calling out o Grandmother—o Grandmother. Charles half frightned,...
608From Abigail Smith Adams to Harriet Welsh, 27 January 1815 (Adams Papers)
Here we are, Seated by the fire Side, viz Sir myself and Louisa, Susan gone to her uncles, mrs Adams and mrs Stebins came for her this afternoon. now look in upon us, the Segar going, Louisa with her Needle, I with my pen, missing dear Harriet, and wishing She was with us. for want of her, I read loud Six weeks in paris , and made myself So hoars; that to day I am obliged to keep as close as a...
609From Abigail Smith Adams to Harriet Welsh, 5 September 1815 (Adams Papers)
My correspondents increase so fast, that it puts out my eyes to write to them all. I have employd all this rainy morning in writing to Caroline to Abbe Shaw and to John Smith, the last Mail, did not give me the opportunity of writing to you this morning. I think with you that mrs A’s is a very good correspondent. She feels, what I experienced when I was in her situation; all is ceremony, all...
610From Abigail Smith Adams to Harriet Welsh, 18 March 1814 (Adams Papers)
The Sermon’s were returnd without my thanks which should have accompanied them, with expressions of pleasure confirmation and improvement, which I derived from the perusal of them. they discover a maturity of thought reflection, and research which do honourto the writer. Your society have every prospect, of consolation from the Character, tallents, and Superiour endowments of their present...
611From Abigail Smith Adams to Harriet Welsh, 28 January 1818 (Adams Papers)
Mrs Cushing came last fryday to make me a visit, so that I have not been able to write a line She left me to day about noon, when I received a note from You with Carolines and mr Lymans Letter. it took us Some time and trouble to decypher it, but finally we made out to read & reread it. The president thinks it the best and most accurate account of the State of Literature & the Learned...
612From Abigail Smith Adams to Harriet Welsh, 13 January 1816 (Adams Papers)
I write again. I am yet among the Living, of which last Monday morning I had no expectation, but thanks to a kind providence I am yet Spaired for Something, and may I be finally found with the wise virgins, my Lamp trimmed. The Severe Snow Storm of yesterday has so Blockaded, the Roads that I know not when they will be passable—no opportunity of sending you Carolines Letter to day, or Letters...
613From Abigail Smith Adams to Harriet Welsh, 9 May 1815 (Adams Papers)
I wait this mornings post with much anxiety a report yesterday reachd us, that mr Dexter died at Troy this week by an aploplexy—if true the papers will this morning inform us, to our great grief and mourning— Henry Marston who took the Letters to you, said he would deliver the Letters in the morning. he is usually punctual to his word—I inclose you one since received which you will return on...
614From Abigail Smith Adams to Harriet Welsh, 25 March 1816 (Adams Papers)
I received your note this morning and wish you had known that mr Shaw came out last Evening alone. I looked & looked at noon for him with Some Friend, but they did not come. I asked him why he did not bring you. he said he came of suddenly— The P. never found mr Lymans Note to you untill this moning or he would sooner have commissoned you to thank mr Lyman and Say that he did not think any one...
615From Abigail Smith Adams to Harriet Welsh, 27 October 1815 (Adams Papers)
Since last monday, I have not been able to write you a line. I lived in bodily fear of the prevailing seve Disease knowing that an attendent was a distressing cough. on monday morning I rose all well as usual, compleated my Letters which were to go by John, and Sent them to the port. I Soon found I had a voilent fever in my head, accompanied with pain, which increasd with voilence, and my Eyes...
616From Abigail Smith Adams to Harriet Welsh, 10 May 1815 (Adams Papers)
I began to feel very much in want of a talk from you, this morning it came. I had written my Eyes almost out to get Letters ready to go to Newyork which I now send, to go by the vessel you Speak of, but if that vessel is gone then please to put them all w under the cover which I Send for the purpose, and the Letter also addrest to John, but do not send the Letter to John, unless the others go;...
617From Abigail Smith Adams to Harriet Welsh, 7 April 1818 (Adams Papers)
My last Note went to you by mr Marston, with two Letters enclosed—I did not write on Saturday as mr A. calld before I had leisure in the morning—it is now five weeks Since Susan was confined, and She is not able to Sit up more than half the day—She has been much weakened by an inflamation and much pain. added to that, what is calld the Miliary Eruption, which I never before Saw, but which I...
618From Abigail Smith Adams to Harriet Welsh, 8 September 1815 (Adams Papers)
I have not committed burglary this time—Caroline haven written in the cover, all well the 9th of Sep’br no I did not tell her of the liberty I took, So you need not go to frighten her least I should See clandestanly what you will communicate voluntaryly (Susan would Say See : G M—how you spell, So I will mend the word, voluntarily I did write you a note yesterday by the C. mail, did you not...
619From Abigail Smith Adams to Harriet Welsh, 22 March 1814 (Adams Papers)
I received your note of Monday I believe, as well as a very kind and friendly Letter previous to that, the note in which your feelings so powerfully opperated, I have put to rest as you desird. Caroline has quieted your mind, I trust upon some subjects, as the communications have given, much satisfaction to me. so far so good, yet there are many things yet to be learnt, respecting disposition...
620From Abigail Smith Adams to Harriet Welsh, 30 October 1814 (Adams Papers)
I have read your Letter, and see nothing to amend or alter, thank you for the communication. I coverd yesterday to you a Letter received from Caroline the P. in taking off the cover, tore the seal which was attachd to the paper, but none of us peaped— I only had a few lines saying she would write to me soon— I could not find a conveyance yesterday, I send it to day with a number of...
621From Abigail Smith Adams to Harriet Welsh, 1 March 1815 (Adams Papers)
I shall send George tomorrow by the stage and will be much obliged to your Father if he will go with him to the Tailors. I think the cloth had better be spunged, but he can be measured and the Coat snt out afterward. the patterns you sent were not equal to the cloth you procured before. I Should like to have the cloth fine as Can be had for ten dollars pr yd. cannot you send me Caroline’s...
622From Abigail Smith Adams to Harriet Welsh, 7 July 1813 (Adams Papers)
I inclose you two Letters received yesterday I do hope that John will be able to comply with and accomplish the only wish which he Says his Mother has, that of getting to her Fathers House once more. altho he Says She has mended for these two last weeks, yet he give me no hopes that the complaint in her Breast is not Such as must prove fatal. Nancy writes that it is one hard cake—my mind is...
623From Abigail Smith Adams to Harriet Welsh, 14 January 1817 (Adams Papers)
I know dear H. that you will be glad to learn that S. received a Letter last Evening from mr C. dated 6 Jan’ry. he was recovering Slowly, but his Blister proved a troublesome companion so bad the dr had forbiden him to write for more than a week he was not disposed to remove from his Lodgings untill he heard from here, then as soon as he was able he intended sitting out for Washington. his...
624From Abigail Smith Adams to Harriet Welsh, 11 April 1815 (Adams Papers)
I would not have you expose yourself to go out in the rain, but when you do go out, John prays you not to forget the Shawl. I do not know if I mentiond half a pd wick yarn be so good as to look for black bombazeen I am told it is better for a pelise than Silk—the weather promises So bad & the roads so heavey that the P—— is discouraged from going. my Spirit will be with them altho my Body is...
625From Abigail Smith Adams to Harriet Welsh, 3 November 1814 (Adams Papers)
This is a strange world, or rather strange folks make it so, to render the drama compleat. Lodgings were taken at Mrs Blacks before I returnd home from an afternoons visit which I had been making, when I returnd, I found the new married couple, and Mrs A. Abbe met me at the gate and we cordially and affectionatly greeted each other, when I went in I received Mrs A. kindly, altho it was Stately...
626From Abigail Smith Adams to Harriet Welsh, 13 April 1815 (Adams Papers)
I did not think of your not returning again the next day when you left me, altho we miss you, much yet we know you cannot be in both places at once, but wherever you are, you are doing good, and this is the true end of Life. Thus thought the Dear departed Friend I mourn. Sav’d the parting pangs, and the final adieu. She seems like Enoch, to have been translated. Mrs Shaw writes, that when the...
627From Abigail Smith Adams to Harriet Welsh, 30 May 1817 (Adams Papers)
The Books have come, and never were in the Custom house as I beleive. it was not a Box, but a package. Farmers Works are a part of them. mr Tappant, Sent them out. mr Aspinwall our consul had the charge of them, and they came in the Margaret Frances, and not as Supposed in the Galen I received your Note by mr Greenleaf. I inclose the pattern I like best. Seven yds if you please of it. Louissa...
628From Abigail Smith Adams to Harriet Welsh, 3 March 1815 (Adams Papers)
I beleive the post Man thinks us very importent correspondents, as we observed that it was well the P had the priviledge of Franking. I have no Scruples upon that head as it is the only gratuity his country ever bestowed upon him. I mean to place a high value upon it, by as frequent a use of it as I have occasion for—George got home Safe altho through mud Snow and water. the day is now...
629From Abigail Smith Adams to Harriet Welsh, 17 January 1817 (Adams Papers)
I return the sermon with my Thanks I had read it before, mr Newton brought it in manuscript to us. I was pleased with it, then and quite as much upon a second perusal—the letters I shall inclose to Caroline on Monday—Mr Coleman was much pleasd with the kind notice he received from the great people and from Mr Rush and family in particular. when he says he felt at home their children were all...
630From Abigail Smith Adams to Harriet Welsh, 23 January 1816 (Adams Papers)
I know you will be glad to see my handwriting, and more so, when I tell you that I have rode out to day as far as the meeting house, and feel the better for it; Sunday night slept very little, and that much disturbed. last night was much easier and slept natural sleep—am very weak— this morg’ Mail brought a Letter from mrs Buckana for you, and Letters from N york from abroad, one from mr A to...
631From Abigail Smith Adams to Harriet Welsh, 18 November 1817 (Adams Papers)
I return Carolines Letter with thanks and rejoice to learn that she & the Family arrived safe after their Quixot expedition, in which I think Caroline risked her own Life & that of her child—tho while she was here I did not like to tell her so. She certainly made too free with her Health & constitution as her appearence showed— I have a commission from mrs dexter rather I should say petition....
632From Abigail Smith Adams to Harriet Welsh, 24 November 1817 (Adams Papers)
I known you are fast asleep while I have kindled my own fire in my chamber calld my men and maidens and am sit down in the parlour to write much to brag of at 73. but then I cannot see to thread my needle, nor sew quick nor go here & there as I could in days past, but then I have better health, and in general good Spirits. always endeavouring to look upon the bright side without Gloomy...
633From Abigail Smith Adams to Harriet Welsh, 16 April 1815 (Adams Papers)
Susan would insist, that she saw the packet go out about 8 oclock this morning. I hope it was so for the wind was fine, and has continued so all day. our prayers follow them. I should have sent Charles in, with a small key which I fear George left belonging to a small Box. did he say any thing respecting It? This will be a memorable day to me, the return of the Sabbeth, upon which the pure...
634From Abigail Smith Adams to Harriet Welsh, 2 August 1817 (Adams Papers)
How shall we get on without you? I dont half like it. why cannot you come out with mr Shaw? if you had Said Yes mr Clarke would gladly have come in for you. taking all things into consideration—I made a proposition to them to day that they should be married on Sunday Evening—as they rejected having a dinner, for I could not see how I could avoid a dinner if they were married in the...
635From Abigail Smith Adams to Harriet Welsh, 6 August 1815 (Adams Papers)
My Eyes have been very troublesome the week past, So that I have not used my pen. I thank you for Carolines Letter, was rejoiced to find She got along so well. the next day was voilently hot, untill the cloud arose in a tempest in Salem in a fine refreshing showr in Boston, but to us barren clouds without water. we have had only a Slight Sprinkle. the heavens are as Brass the Earth powder and...
636From Abigail Smith Adams to Harriet Welsh, 8 December 1814 (Adams Papers)
I have been intending to write to you, and thank you for the loan of mr Everets Sirmon which I was loth to part with I heard it read once, and twice I read it myself, each time with new pleasure. I intended transcribing a part of it, but neglected it. The Letters received to night were of a month older date than those received by the Chancy. Mr A’s Letters are all interesting. this shows the...
637From Abigail Smith Adams to Harriet Welsh, 18 February 1818 (Adams Papers)
I have wanted to be writing these two days, but an incessant succession of company which the fine sleighing has tempted out, has prevented, and this Evening after tea I have taken my pen to thank you, for your kindness to George, and to say mr Adams will Send you a check upon the Bank on Saturday if he does not come to Town before—I have a Letter from Caroline which altho it does not contain...
638From Abigail Smith Adams, Receipt, 2 May 1815 (Adams Papers)
Balance due upon a former re paid Jobe Tinil for a Small trunk Lock and Key for John 1 33 paid Louisa Dexter knitting one pr Socks 25 100 11 30 Received in full 100 5 MHi : Adams Papers.
639Obituary Notice for Abigail Smith Adams, 12 November 1818 (Adams Papers)
In the death of Mrs. ADAMS, her friends and society lament no ordinary loss. The grave has closed over the mortal remains of one, whose character combined with as much practical wisdom and substantial virtue as have ever been possessed by any individual. Society is not adorned with a purer example; virtue had not a firmer prop; religion cannot number among its friends a more rational,...
640Will of Abigail Adams, 18 January 1816 (Adams Papers)
I Abigail Adams wife to the Honble: John Adams of Quincy in the County of Norfolk, by and with his consent, do dispose of the following property. First, that injustice may not be supposed to be done to my Sons, I have conveyed to John Quincy Adams by Deed, all my right and title in the farm given me by my Unckle Norton Quincy valued at $2200, and to my Son Thomas Boylston Adams, all my part,...
641Three party indenture for distribution of property between JA and AA et al., 7 October 1814 (Adams Papers)
This indenture of three parts made and concluded this seventh day of October in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred & fourteen by and between John Adams Esquire and Abigail his wife in her right, of Quincy in the County of Norfolk & Commonwealth of Massachusetts, Richard Norton of Alexandria in the District of Columbia Esquire, William Norton of Weymouth in said County of Norfolk,...
642Abigail Adams, receipt, 17 January 1815 (Adams Papers)
Bought for John Adams as pr Bill 3 yds Satinet 11/6 5 75 1 yd Lining 34 ct 1 doz Buttons 50 2 Skains Silk 25 1 Skain Twist 12/2 paid Sampson making coat & mending Sundries 50 paid pray Soaling Boots 50 $7.96 1/2 Received in full Cash advanced by Mrs: A Adams—for GW & JA $7.96. MHi : Adams Papers.
6431810-1812 Abigail Adams, Rules for Disposing of the Day, 1810 to 1812 (Adams Papers)
Rules for disposing of the Day Rise by Six. if any time before Breakfast to walk out a little way into the garden after Breakfast.. to read a chapture in the Bible. then to sit down to Sew or knit for three hours. at 12 to quit work, and read write or amuse themselves as they please. at three oclock to apply again to the needle untill Six when the remainder of the time may be applied as they...