1Cotton Tufts to John Adams, 3 July 1784 (Adams Papers)
Since Mrs. Adams’s Departure I have revolved within myself, whether you would not have an Inclination to purchase the piece of Land on Pens Hill (belonging to the Estate of the Honle. James Verchild late of St. Kitts deceased) which you have for some years past improved. His Heirs, I am informed, are now in England, that the Estate in the West Indies is under Mortgage, But that part of it...
2Cotton Tufts to John Adams, 20 June 1781 (Adams Papers)
I am told that a Vessell will this Day sail for Holland. I know not how to neglect so fair an Opportunity of Writing, convinced that a Line from your Friend will be acceptable, if it be only to inform you that we have an Existence in America as an indepen den t Nation, that our Commonwealth lives, that our annual Election is Compleated, the Legislative and executive Bodies organized, That our...
3Cotton Tufts to John Adams, 17 June 1776 (Adams Papers)
Our vast Extent of Territory requires a great Land Forrce to defend it. The Spirit of Commerce and Privateering already operates to render the Difficulty of raising Soldiers great. If I am right in what is advanc’d, and as the grand Struggle will soon ensue and it is incumbent on us to make the best Defence that we are capable off, Might it not be of general Utility to prohibit any Vessells...
4Cotton Tufts to John Adams, 21 November 1777 (Adams Papers)
Sometime in September last I wrote to You, and am not a little anxious to know whether you receivd my Letter, as it was sent about the Time You were removing from Philadelphia; In Your next to me or to Your Bosom Friend dont forget to inform me. I congratulate You on Our Success to the Northward.—When I saw Burgoines Proclamation I read the Man, when I saw his Orders to Col. Baum I was...
5Cotton 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...
6To John Adams from Cotton Tufts, 5 July 1783 (Adams Papers)
Yesterday Our Independance was celebrated in a decent yet joyful Manner—a solid Joy possessed every Heart, none of those Wildnesses which are often seen even in high Life and too often mark the Rabble on such occasions were any where seen on this Day— The Gen l Court had previously agreed to meet and render publick Thanks to the supreme Disposer of all Events, not only for the Blessing of...
7Cotton Tufts to John Adams, 25 July 1780 (Adams Papers)
My Letter of the 1st. of May last gave You some Account of the Proceedings of the Convention, the Business of which has been since compleated, the Constitution agreed upon And in September We shall proceed to the Choice of Governor, Lt. Governor, Senators, &c. On the last Wednesday of October the first General Court is to be held. Had a Negtive on the Governor and his Appointment of the...
8Cotton Tufts to John Adams, 29 October 1781 (Adams Papers)
In my last I informed You of the Enemy’s taking a Post in Virginia. At that Time they were in possession of Georgia and Charlestown and had overrun the greater part of S. Carolina. I have the Pleasure to inform You, That American Government is now again settled in Georgia, that the Enemy are confined to Charlestown in S. Carolina and that on the 18th. Inst. York Town and Gloucester the only...
9Enclosure No. 2: Account of the Dark Day in May 1780 (Adams Papers)
May 19. It thunderd early this Morning and raind about 7 or 8. About 9 a Darkness came on gradually encreasing at 11. I could neither read nor write without a Candle which soon became necessary for Family Business and continued untill past 3 P.M. A Heavy black Cloud hung at the Westward and Northward, a Thin Vapour Smoak or Fog rising up now and then and almost covering it at Times streaming...
10Cotton Tufts to John Adams, 14 April 1777 (Adams Papers)
We hear of your being at Philadelphia and wish You a comfortable Session there. The spring is now opening and with this (probably) some grand Important Scenes that will call for the Wisdom of the Politician and the Skill and Bravery of the Warrior. Troops are dayly marching from this State to the several Places of their Destination and were all the Levies compleated from the several States,...
11Cotton Tufts to John Adams, 26 November 1784 (Adams Papers)
Yours of Sept. 5. I received the 13th. Instant and rejoice to hear that You are in the Enjoyment of that Family Felicity, which your Scituation heretofore necessarily prevented. The Powers which You have given and the Trust which You have committed to me are great. How well I shall execute them Time must determine. New Care and new Trusts have for some Years past been encreasing upon me , they...
12To John Adams from Cotton Tufts, 15 August 1813 (Adams Papers)
Under the present afflicting scene of Providence that you Mr. Adams and connections of the deceased, may enjoy the consolations of religion and every needed support is the devout prayer of / Your symathizing Friend MHi : Adams Papers.
13Cotton Tufts to John Adams, 25 May 1797 (Adams Papers)
I hope before this Time M rs. Adams has arriv’d at Philadelphia and recovered from the Fatigues of her Journey; of her Health & yours I am solicitous to hear— Since M rs. Adams’s Departure I have been busily employed in adjusting your Farming Concerns, M r. Porter, who has the Care of your Homestead, appears to me from what little Experience I have had of Him, to be well disposed, diligent &...
14Cotton Tufts to John Adams, 14 June 1798 (Adams Papers)
From the 6 th. of May to the 23 d. We had hot dry Weather with scarce any Rain, Our Pastures & mowing Lands began to suffer, Barley & other Grain which before lookd promising began to wither, from the 23 d of May to the 9 th. Instant the Rains were great, not more than Two or Three fair Days— At present Your Grass Lands Wear a fine Appearance, Pastures also, Your Barns will be too small for...
15Cotton Tufts to John Adams, 24 April 1777 (Adams Papers)
I wrote to you last Week by Mr. Thos. Russell who was to set out for Philadelphia on Monday last. In it I gave you some Account of the Bill for regulating Prices &c. (entituled an Act to prevent Monopoly and Oppression) and the curious State we have been in since its Publication; it will not be long before I shall be able to give You a more particular Account of its Effects—something decisive...
16Cotton Tufts to John Adams, 10 December 1799 (Adams Papers)
Maj r. Penniman sometime since mention’d to me, that upon further Consideration, He would take £30. for his Salt Marsh & Island, that he had been offerd £27. and refused it. For the sake of Cash in hand I rather suppose He would take £27. If you are disposed to purchase it, you will be pleased to let me know, and the highest Sum you would give for it. We have had no heavy Storms since you left...
17To John Adams from Cotton Tufts, 5 November 1783 (Adams Papers)
The Pleliminary Articles of Peace, Cessation of Hostilities &C were not announced here by Authority untill sometime in April last, from whence I conclude that Congress did not recieve Dispatches from their Ministers before the latter End of March or beginning of April. Their Confirmation of these Doings of their Ministers was not (I am informed) forwarded to France untill the middle of April...
18Cotton 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...
19Cotton Tufts to John Adams, 3 July 1775 (Adams Papers)
You have no Doubt long before this heard of the unhappy Fate of Charlestown, its Destruction by Fire, the forcing of our Entrenchments there by the ministerial Troops and the Loss of our valuable Friend Doct. Warren who was shot through the Breast and soon expir’d. The Entrenchments were unfinishd the work of but one Night. However, they were gallantly defended and by all Accounts, there was...
20Cotton Tufts to John Adams, 3 November 1797 (Adams Papers)
I received Yours of Octob r. 14 h. and have attended to the several Matters mentiond therein. The Wall at the Foot of Pens Hill is nearly compleated, one or two Days Work will finish it as far as you directed the Workmen to proceed— there will then be Stones sufficient to rebuild the Wall between you & Hardwick and a large Number besides for any other Purpose it therefore appears to me, that...
21Cotton Tufts to John Adams, 26 September 1782 (Adams Papers)
Yours of July 2d. I received being the first, since you left America. I rejoice at the Success of Your Ministry, but am sorry to hear that Your Constitution has been shock’d by a nervous Fever. Our Friend Mr. Cranch has been in a most critical Scituation. In the close of last Winter, after repeated Colds, he was seized with frequent Faintings. His Perspiration and Expectoration almost entirely...
22Cotton Tufts to John Adams, 12 February 1779 (Adams Papers)
In the latter End of July and beginning of Novr. last I wrote to You. Am uncertain by whom the first was conveyed, the Latter was committed to the Care of Mr. Jenks (formerly my Apprentice) now a Surgeons Mate to the General Pickering Privateer from Salem which saild soon after and was to touch at France in her Cruize. In my first among other Things I gave You an Account of our Season, which...
23Cotton 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...
24Cotton 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...
25To John Adams from Cotton Tufts, 28 April 1802 (Adams Papers)
Know All Men by these Presents that I Cotton Tufts of Weymouth in the County of Norfolk and Commonwealth of Massachusetts, Executor of the last Will and Testament of Norton Quincy late of the Town of Quincy, Esquire, deceased, being in the County of Norfolk aforesaid. By Virtue of the Power and Authority given to me in and by the said last Will & Testament, as well as by the free Consent of...
26Cotton Tufts to John Adams, 6 August 1776 (Adams Papers)
Last Week I received Yours of July the 20th. also Dr. Rushs Letter on Inoculation for which You and the learned and benevolent Dr. have my sincere Thanks. He has thrown much Light upon the Subject and the Simplicity of his Method I admire. The whole Art seems to me to lay in reducing the Body to such a State as to prevent any great Degree of Inflammation or Febrile Motions. An Attention to the...
27Cotton Tufts to John Adams, 20 May 1800 (Adams Papers)
The several Matters mention’d in your last, have been attended to, so far as Circumstances would permit. The Rocks in the mowing Land, have been like to a powerful Enemy hard to conquer, it has required much of your Resolution to remove them from their strong Holds. To forward Business they were drilld in the Winter, as soon as the Ground became open, they were blown. one Blast made way for a...
28Enclosure No. 1: Weather Journal, 1779–1780 (Adams Papers)
The Autumn of 1779 was the most pleasant and agreable for its Fertility and the Mildness of the Air that has been remembered, scarce any Rain had fallen from the Month of August to November, the frequent Rains that fell in the Summer had sufficiently moistned the Earth, but little Rain afterwards was necessary as the Air was temperate between the Extremes of Summer Heat and Cold. The Winter...
29Cotton Tufts to John Adams, with a Copy of a Letter from Daniel Little, 27 November 1780 (Adams Papers)
I wrote to You last March also in June, the former by Capt. McNeil who had the Misfortune to be taken, the Latter by the Ship Mars Capt. Sampson bound to France, which must have reached You before this Time if no Misfortune has befallen the Ship. By Capt. Sampson I sent You Allens Narrative, a Journal of the Weather from November last with a general Account of Vegetation also a particular...
30Cotton Tufts to John Adams, 27 November 1797 (Adams Papers)
Since my last to you, Porter has finishd ploughing the Meadow on the back of your House, the lucky Moment was embraced for the purpose, no Time before or since would have answer’d. the Land by Bass is also broke up— The Manure in the Dung yard has been ploughd several Times and a considerable part of it carried upon the Clover Field on the Hill and on the Land designd for Barley, the latter...