91Mary Smith Cranch to Abigail Adams, 27 May 1787 (Adams Papers)
I went to Boston yesterday & had the mortification to find my Letters did not go by Barnard or Davis although they had been on Board each of them. they got to town just as the vessels were sailing. Knox the Pilot took them as he was going on Board, & promiss’d to deliver them to the captain, but forgot it So after wearing them in His Pockit four or five days he return’d them as dirty as I...
92Mary Smith Cranch to Abigail Adams, 29 June 1787 (Adams Papers)
I have sent one Letter on Board capt Cushing but it is so long since that unless I Write again you will not feel as if you had heard from me for a long time— Cousin JQA & Billy have been at home above a week. Cousin charles was here yesterday. he came to wait upon mrs Hilliard & Daughter— your Sons are all well We are busy prepairing for commencment for although we do so little by way of...
93Abigail Adams to Mary Smith Cranch, 16 July 1787 (Adams Papers)
If as the poet says, expectation makes the blessing sweet, your last Letter was peculiarly so, as you conjectured I was not a little anxious that neither Captain Barnard or Davis brought me a line. I was apprehensive that Something was the matter some imminent danger threatning some Friend, of which my Friends chose not to inform me untill thir fate was decided. I sent on board the Ship, the...
94Mary Smith Cranch to Abigail Adams, 16 July 1787 (Adams Papers)
My dear sister will I am sure excuse me if I send her now but a short Letter—when she is inform’d that there is but one day between this & commencment & that I have but just hear’d that cap t. Folger will sail this week It is true we are doing but little but it makes us more work than Ten such entertainments at home. every thing is dress’d here, & to be cut cold at cambridge except Green Peas....
95Mary Smith Cranch to Abigail Adams, 21 July 1787 (Adams Papers)
The Day—the mighty Day is over, & our Sons have perform’d their Parts—& receiv’d the Honour of the college in a manner which will do them credit while they Live— never did you see two Happier Faces than theirs when they return’d from meeting— I do not believe they will ever feel so happy again— If to excell where all did well—can give pleasure your Son must feel a peculiar one. He has a...
96Mary Smith Cranch to Abigail Adams, 19 August – 1 September 1787 (Adams Papers)
The vacancys of our Sons always produces a hurry in our business & although we endeavour to keep every thing in good order for them from week to week—yet when they come home they have many wants which we could not foresee— we have sent your two youngest Sons in good health & good repair to college & are now fixing your eldest for Newbury & our own for Boston Cousin Tom has made a visit to...
97Abigail Adams to Mary Smith Cranch, 15 September 1787 (Adams Papers)
When I wrote you last, I was just going to Set out on a journey to the West of England. I promised you to visit mr Cranchs Friends and Relatives, this we did as I shall relate to you we were absent a month, and made a Tour of about six hundred Miles. the first place we made any stay at, was Winchester. There was formerly an Earl of Winchester, by the Name of Saar de Quincy. he was created Earl...
98Mary Smith Cranch to Abigail Adams, 23 September 1787 (Adams Papers)
I wrote to you about three weeks since thinking clallahan would sail immediatly but he is not yet gone & I find Folger will go before him—but my Letters will be old unless I add a short one now— I was not a little dissapointed by not receiving a Line by the Last vessel which arriv’d Doctor Tufts receiv’d one from you & he got it before those you sent by the way of new york He will tell you...
99Mary Smith Cranch to Abigail Adams, 30 September 1787 (Adams Papers)
I went to Boston last Monday & there found that Barnard had arriv’d & brought me Letters both from you & Mrs Smith— I carre’d all mine for you & put them on board Folger—who said he should sail immediatly, but I hear he will not till next Teusday. I thought I had said every thing & told you all you would wish to know in my large Pacquet—but your Letter has given me new subjects—& first let me...
100Abigail Adams to Mary Smith Cranch, [before 18] October London 1787 (Adams Papers)
I have already written you a long letter giving you an account, of my journey, this must relate Chiefly to private affairs. your Letters by captain cushing and Folger came safe to hand. I thank you for your pleasing account of commencment, as well as for your care and attention to my sons, which it is unnecessary to solicit a continuance off because I am perfectly sure of it. I am sorry a...
101Abigail Adams to Mary Smith Cranch, 8 October 1787 (Adams Papers)
I inclose a pamphlet upon darying which when you have read, be so good as to give to Pheby provided she becomes my dairy woman, and be so good as to procure me the following List of Herbs & send me in small Bags Catnip mint penny Royal & Hysop. You will laugh I suppose, but I want them for my Voyage, & what I get here are good for very little. Catnip is an herb I never could find here. I have...
102Abigail Adams to Mary Smith Cranch, 8 October 1787 (Adams Papers)
I have just sent some Letters to go by Captain Folger, but find he does not sail so soon as captain Cushing. Should he arrive before Folger without a Line I know by experience how fruitfull your imaginition would be of conjectures, and tho I have said all that appeard to me of importance, & perhaps more than others will think of any, in my Letters on Board Folger, I forgot to inclose a paper...
103Abigail Adams to Mary Smith Cranch, 20 October 1787 (Adams Papers)
As captain Folger is not yet gone I write a few more lines by him, tho I have nothing new to acquaint you with, only that two days ago my little darling was inoculated for the Small pox. if whenever you come to have Grandchildren, you will scarcly know any difference between them & your own children, particularly if you should be under the same roof with them; I have got mr Jenks to take the...
104Mary Smith Cranch to Abigail Adams, 21 October 1787 (Adams Papers)
To hear that our dear good uncle Smith is added to the number of the Friends who have departed this Life since you left america will not greatly surprize you if you have receiv’d my Letters by the last ships which sail’d: yes my sister That good Man last monday morning about Two a clock clos’d his Eyes upon this vain world never more to open them till the last joyful Trump shall Wake to life...
105Mary Smith Cranch to Abigail Adams, 22 December 1787 (Adams Papers)
I last week heard from all your sons they were well. After this you may read on calmly— We are all well excepting great colds & coughs. I think in this Letter I shall not have to mention the death of any new Friend many very many of my Letters have convey’d the sorrowful tydings of some dear Friend departed, & if you should live to return to us you will find vacancys which will draw Tears from...
106Abigail Adams to Mary Smith Cranch, 10 February 1788 (Adams Papers)
Since I have had any opportunity of conveyence to my dear Sister, I have received from her Letters of the following dates August 19 Sep br 23. & 30th october 21 & Nov br 14 th. the contents of which have variously affected me— The Scripture tells us that it is better to go to the House of mourning than the House of Feasting. to that I think I have oftener been calld through the progress of...
107Elizabeth Smith Shaw to Mary Smith Cranch, 17 February 1788 (Adams Papers)
I hear Judge Seargant is to go to Boston tomorrow, & I will not defer writing a few Lines to my Sister, & most heartily thanking her, for her two kind remembrances of me— When I read that my young Friends designed me a Visit, I felt execeding sorry that they were prevented by the weather— They need not have been frighted, for there is seldom a Time from November, to March but what persons may...
108Elizabeth Smith Shaw to Mary Smith Cranch, 8 May 1788 (Adams Papers)
You cannot think how anxious I have been to hear from my Sister Adams, & you. Two Vessels I saw by the Papers had arrived from London, & I could not but think we had Letters— The intelligence you give me of her Health, makes me feel solemn indeed— It is 18 Months since she has been in a very poor way— I know she is mortal, & must die— But the very Idea of her being separated from us, I cannot...
109Abigail Adams to Mary Smith Cranch, 24 November 1788 (Adams Papers)
I know you will rejoice with me that all was happily over & mrs Smith safely abed before I reachd her She thought she should do as she did before, so told no one that she was unwell, untill mr Smiths mamma & sister could scarcly reach her, and a Negro Woman whom she has was obliged to officiate for her. happily she had on some former occasions assisted some of her own coulour, but all were...
110Elizabeth Smith Shaw to Mary Smith Cranch, 26 November 1788 (Adams Papers)
I do not know whether you have heard a word from me since I left you, if you have not, I presume it will afford you some pleasure to be assured that I got home well, though we had an uncommon cold time— We found our own Family in good Health— But Miss Lydia Marsh was very sick with the scarlet fever, & good Mrs Marsh was taken the day we got home with a very voilent fever, which threatened...
111Mary Smith Cranch to Abigail Adams, 30 November – 2 December 1788 (Adams Papers)
I have been waiting above a week hopeing to have a Letter from my dear sister informing me of her safe arrival at newyork Before I can write said I—I think I must have a Letter— you left us so unwell that I have been anxious about you ever since— I have a thousand times wish’d you back again your Letter to Mr Adams dated at Hartford has in some measure reliev’d me— I hope before this that you...
112Mary Smith Cranch to Abigail Adams, 14 December 1788 (Adams Papers)
I do indeed rejoice with you all upon the happy event which took place in mr smiths Family before your arrival I hope my Neices health is perfectly restor’d that the young gentlemen are both very well—& that you may soon return accompany’d by Coll n. smith whom I wish much to see— you must not think of comeing in the stage. It would be highly improper upon every account— we receiv’d your...
113Abigail Adams to Mary Smith Cranch, 15–18 December 1788 (Adams Papers)
I thank you for your kind Letter of Nov br 30th Dec br 2d you judg’d rightly I was almost melancholy to be a month from Home, and not to hear once from Home in all that Time, but the post is long in comeing I am Eleven miles from York with a great Ferry between, and you are ten from Boston so that we do not always get our Letters ready for post day. I wrote you the day after I arrived here &...
114Abigail Adams to Mary Smith Cranch, 19 June 1789 (Adams Papers)
This day is the Aniversary of my Landing in Boston and Tomorrow that of my departure from it. many are the mercies I have to be thankfull for through all my Perigranations, all the painfull scenes I have past through, has been the temporary seperation from my Friends, fatigue either of Body or Mind I scarcly name amongst them for I have my pleasures and gratifications which I set down as a...
115Mary Smith Cranch to Abigail Adams, 21 June 1789 (Adams Papers)
I last evening receiv’d your kind Letter from Providence but shall not be able to get one to you by tomorrows Post—but shall write by the next I have not seen mr Brisler since you went away but heard that your Goods were puting on Board the vessel yesterday This day Twelves months I accompany’d my dear Brother & Sister to the House of God to offer with grateful hearts I hope our...
116Abigail Adams to Mary Smith Cranch, 28 June 1789 (Adams Papers)
I wrote you from Providence some account of my polite reception there & closed my Letter just as I had accepted an invitation to dine with mr Brown & Lady. the forenoon was pass’t in receiving visits from all the principal gentlemen and Ladies of the Town, who seemed to vie with each other, to convince me that tho they were inhabitants of an Antifederal state. they were themselves totally...
117Mary Smith Cranch to Abigail Adams, 5–6 July 1789 (Adams Papers)
I promiss’d to write you by the Post when your Furniture Sail’d but Doctor Tufts Said he had done it— I hope you have it safe & that it has been more fortunate than in its last voyage— I heard you did not leave Providence till the monday after you left us. I want to hear of your arrival reception &c—how you found mr Adams mrs Smith & her little ones—whether she will continue in the House with...
118Abigail Adams to Mary Smith Cranch, 12 July 1789 (Adams Papers)
I received your kind Letter by mr Brisler who reachd here on the 4th of july, Since which you will easily suppose I have been very buisily engaged in arraneging my Family affairs. this added to the intence heat of the season Some company (tho for three days I was fashionably not at Home,) and some visiting which was indispensable, having more than fifty upon my list, my Time has been so wholy...
119Mary Smith Cranch to Abigail Adams, 30 July 1789 (Adams Papers)
I can never Sufficiently express my thanks or my gratitude for your last kind & affectionate Letter & you must not laugh at me nor chide me when I tell you that I sat & weept over it as if it had brought me some evil tydings I felt the full force of that maxim of Solomons “It is more blessed to give than to receive” But my dear Sister you must forgive me if I tell you I cannot accept your...
120Mary Smith Cranch to Abigail Adams, 2 August 1789 (Adams Papers)
I have been several times to your new house but I do feel such a want of my dear sisters smiling countinance that I do not know how to bear the house I go into the best Parlour & set my self down & view mrs Smith & the coll— this gives me some pleasure but I want to put little Jack in her arms I do wish to see & hug the little creature again that sweet archness in his countinance I shall never...