1From Abigail Smith Adams to Esther Black, 24 January 1813 (Adams Papers)
your Letter of December & gave me pleasure, and I wish I could in return Communicate the Same to you, but Since I wrote you last you have been calld to mourn with is —Dear Relatives the loss of a kind Husband and the affectionate parent of a Numerous family from your long connection & intimacy with them, the Sudden Death of the Head of such a family must nearly afflict you— and I hope you will...