From John Adams to John Farmer, 25 November 1819
Montezillo Novber. 25th. 1819
dear Sir
I have not received your Memoirs of Billerica—they must have <been> nested some-where in the Post Office or have been taken out of the Mail—
This letter however is intended to make a particular enquiry, a suspicion has darted into my head that the late learned ingenious scientific public Spirited and benevolent Count Rumford, was a descendant of your Billerica family of Tompsons—his Name, was Tompson—and was born in or near your Town—you can undoubtedly inform me—whether their is any foundation for my <discovery> conjecture—I am ambitious of discovering whether this industrious Bee, is descended from the swarm which issued from the Hive at mountwallaston—
your Compliance will very much oblige your / friend and humble Servant
John Adams
MHi: Adams Family Papers, Letterbooks.