Adams Family Correspondence, volume 8
Not being able to dispose of my oxen as I expected, & to have taken half the money for them, I do not find myself able to pay French without taking less than 50 Dollors with me, 46 of which it will take for my conveyence to Providence & passage on Board the packet.
372I must therefore request the favour of you sir to pay him for seven months wages at 50 dollers pr year. you will see by the papers that I have settled an account with my Brother & pay'd Spear a Parish Rate I have an account with vezey, it cannot be large as he was pay'd last fall, a small accompt with mr Marsh & something to be setled with deacon Webb. I do not recollect any thing Else. I have left the Horse with my Brother for sale out of which he is to pay 20 dollors to col Thayer for the wood Land. my oxen I wish to have sold as soon as possible, by note if a responsible person can be found who wants them. Thomas spoke to me for a Hat a round one is all he wants. I fear sir that we shall fall in your debt, and wish you would let me have given you a Note for the thirty pounds I had of you I have paid Brisler half a years wages 10.£ 6.s
d out of the Thirty & sent my son 20 dollers, Boards Nails and other expences attendant upon getting my furniture on Board, and some small articles of cloathing for Tom & Charles, has taken away all that I sold my stears & wool for. at present I fear we shall not be able to remitt any thing to you, but when I get to House keeping I shall be better able to judge— I cannot but repeat my sincere acknowledgments to you for all your kind and Friendly attentions, and believe me Dear Sir your / ever affectionate
P S I have given French an order which he will present to you with my papers you will find an account vs John Newcombs1 he has one against me which will nearly balance, not quite I believe because I cannot get him to settle I inclose you a Note for the money due to French—
RC (NHi:Misc. Mss. Adams, Abigail); endorsed: “Mrs. A. Adams June 17. 1789.”
Probably John Newcomb (1761–1823), a member of a Braintree family of stoneworkers. The bill in question was likely for the construction of a wall just completed between the Adams and Bass properties (Sprague, Braintree Families
, p. 3431R, 3434, 3435, 3449, 3450, 3454; U.S. Census, 1790, Mass., p. 196; AA to JA, 26 April and 5 May, both above).
ca. 17 June 1789]
Mr Bass is to pay 20 Dollors pr Year and the Taxes for one half the House and the whole, of the small garden this Rent is to be paid this Year in work to me or my order Pheby is to pay four dollors a year the year to commence from July 1.st 1789 Seven months she has 373lived in the House to be given to her— Mrs Palmer is to pay 15 dollors pr year She is to have what is now upon the Garden, the fruit excepted which is Leased to Brother Adams. Mrs Palmer is to have the potatoes planted behind the House. she is to have what wood remains in the Yard after mrs Brisler moves: during her stay the wood to be in common, 2 small plumb Trees near the House to go with the house The Horse Cart sadle Bridle—Farming utensals sledge to be deliverd to the dr
memorandum
Deacon Webb had two ox hides one cow one stear & two calf skins[.] of Him received one Side of Leather[.] mr marsh may have taken some uncertain1
MS (Adams Papers, Adams Office Manuscripts, Box 1, folder 1); endorsed by Cotton Tufts: “Mrs. Adams / [Directions?].”
Cotton Tufts wrote beneath this line that “Mr Marsh has had one Side 25w.” costing £1.1.8. According to Tufts, Marsh also had taken “one ox hide & Cow hide” at the same price for a cost of £0.2.4.