51Abigail Adams to John Adams, 19 August 1774 (Adams Papers)
The great distance between us, makes the time appear very long to me. It seems already a month since you left me. The great anxiety I feel for my Country, for you and for our family renders the day tedious, and the night unpleasent. The Rocks and quick Sands appear upon every Side. What course you can or will take is all wrapt in the Bosom of futurity. Uncertainty and expectation leave the...
52Abigail and John Adams to Mary Smith Cranch, 12 January 1767 (Adams Papers)
Mr. Etter was so good as to come this morning and inform me that his Sons would go to Salem tomorrow. By them I gladly embrace this Opportunity of inquiring after the welfare of you and your family. It has been a very long time since I heard any thing from you; the roads have been so block’d up with Snow here; that I assure you I have not been to Weymouth since mother came from Salem. They...
53Abigail and John Adams to Isaac Smith Jr., 4 January 1770 (Adams Papers)
I Congratulate you upon the fine weather we have had since your absence; if it has been as favourable to you, as it has been here, you will long Ere this reaches you be safely arrived in Carolina. When you left us, you did not tell me, nor did I know till a few days agone, that you designd a visit to our (cruel) Mother Country, shall I say. I highly approve your design. Now is the best Season...
54Abigail Adams to Isaac Smith Jr., 20 April 1771 (Adams Papers)
I write you, not from the Noisy Buisy Town, but from my humble Cottage in Braintree, where I arrived last Saturday and here again am to take up my abode. “Where Contemplation p l umes her rufled Wings And the free Soul look’s down to pitty Kings.” Suffer me to snatch you a few moments from all the Hurry and tumult of London and in immagination place you by me that I may ask you ten thousand...
55To George Washington from Daniel Jenifer Adams, 4 February 1775 (Washington Papers)
Since I saw you last, I have Wrote to my Uncle at Anapolis, Acquainting Him of my Sisters contending for the Land you Attach’d. He has Since Wrote to them Touching the Matter, and they are Agree’d to give the Land up on conditions they can keep it this Year, as they are prepareing for a Crop and has Sew’d some considerable Quantity of Wheat, and I immagine it will make no Odds with you, as it...
56To George Washington from Daniel Jenifer Adams, 3 October 1772 [letter not found] (Washington Papers)
Letter not found: from Daniel Jenifer Adams, 3 Oct. 1772. GW wrote in his account with Daniel Jenifer Adams (printed as note 2 in GW to Robert McMickan, February 1773 ): “In a Letter dated Kingston Jamaica Octr 3d 1772 he [Adams] accts for.”
57To George Washington from Daniel Jenifer Adams, 15 March 1775 (Washington Papers)
Yours of the 8th Instat, came safe to hand, wherein you mention, you have come to the resolution of taking upon your Self the payment of my Father’s debts, provided I will Suffer a Condemnation of the Attach’d Effects—join my Sisters in Conveying the Lands to you—& Surrender possession of the Negroe &ca. To all this I and my Sisters will comply with, but Sir I think it will be very Necessary...
58Will of Deacon John Adams, with Comments by His Son John, 8 January 1760; 10 July 1761; 29 April 1774 (Adams Papers)
In the Name of God Amen. The Eighth day of January in the year of our Lord one Thousand Seven hundred and Sixty, and in the thirty third year of his Majestys Reign King George the Second &c. I John Adams of Braintree in the County of Suffolk in the Province of the Massachusetts Bay in New England Gentleman, being in Health of Body and of Perfect mind and Memory thanks be given to God therefor....
591772. Novr. 21. (Adams Papers)
Next Tuesday I shall remove my Family to Boston, after residing in Braintree about 19 Months. I have recovered a Degree of Health by this Excursion into the Country, tho I am an infirm Man yet. I hope I have profited by Retirement and Reflection!—and learned in what manner to live in Boston! How long I shall be able to stay in the City, I know not; if my Health should again decline, I must...
60From John Adams to William Tudor, 28 August 1774 (Adams Papers)
I received your obliging Letter at New York, and it was peculiarly acceptable to me and my Companions, and of great Use to Us among our Friends at New York. We all intreat the Continuance of your Favours, you can have no Idea of the Pleasure We take, in the Letters of our Friends and especially in yours because the Contents of it were very usefully particular and interesting. The Generals...