Adams Family Correspondence, volume 14

Abigail Adams to John Adams, 18 October 1800 Adams, Abigail Adams, John
Abigail Adams to John Adams
my dearest Friend Saturday Quincy October 18th 1800

I have not written to you since you left Me, but as I know you must feel anxious to hear, I write tho it will but add to your apprehensions; my own Health has mended, tho the Weather has been so wet and unpleasent that I have not dared to venture out, not even to See my dear sister in her sickness and distress. she is very low with the fever confined to her Bed. Katy Gannet taken down, & George Palmer, added to this Mrs Norten was thought dyeing all thursday. she is since a little revived, tho exceeding dangerous from the same cause which carried off poor Humphries—1 the fever spreads. there are 8 new cases since last week Jackson is very sick with it, & has not left his Bed since you went away the Dr hopes he will not be 423 worse.2 I have sent to his Father and Friends to inform them; and prevaild upon mr Porter to have him removed down to the Farm House—as it was very inconvenient to me, and prevented my making any progress in getting ready to go away, taking my help to attend him— I have to seek an other coachman— Mr Black & Mr Smith are upon the inquiry. I wrote to sole, but his wife was so sick that he could not leave her—3 it is very distressing to me to leave My sister, to whom I owe so Much for her attention and kindness to Me at all times, but more particuliarly in My long sickness— when I might be of service to her, all the aid I can afford her whilst I stay, is by watchers—and My help are very ready to serve me, for her. the season is growing cold and wet. I shall endeavour to get away next Week if I am successfull in procuring a driver— I Must commit my Dear Friends to a kind Providence—and with a heavey heart leave them— I got mr Shaws Letter from William’s since which I have not heard from you—4 I pray God preserve you, and give us a joyfull Meeting

Mrs Brisler had a Letter from Mr Brisler at Washington last Evening dated the 8th day after he left here. he tells her he fear he shall be worse off, than Adam was in Paridice, for he had a woman provided for him but there they tell him no such Being is to be had. he therefore requests I would send him on a freight— I shall make every exertion in my power— inclosed you will find some return Letters

with Love to William / I am Your affectionate

A Adams

RC (Adams Papers); endorsed by TBA: “Mrs: A Adams / 18th: October 1800 / 26th: Recd:.”

1.

George Palmer (1788–1855) was the youngest son of Elizabeth Hunt and Joseph Pearse Palmer, a nephew of Richard Cranch’s who died in 1797 leaving his large family in financial difficulties. Charles Humphrey (b. 1782) died of “putrid fever” in Weymouth on 2 Oct. 1800 (Megan Marshall, The Peabody Sisters: Three Women Who Ignited American Romanticism, Boston, 2005, p. xii–xiii, 36–37; Vital Records of Weymouth Massachusetts to the Year 1850, 2 vols., Boston, 1910, 1:141, 2:284).

2.

The Adamses’ coachman was James Jackson (b. ca. 1772). He died in Quincy on 22 Oct. (AA to Elizabeth Smith Shaw Peabody, 26 Oct., DLC:Shaw Family Papers; Sprague, Braintree Families ).

3.

Not found.

4.

Not found.

Abigail Adams to Mary Smith Cranch, ca. 18 October 1800 Adams, Abigail Cranch, Mary Smith
Abigail Adams to Mary Smith Cranch
my dear sister [ ca. 18 October 1800]1

It is a great Grief to me my dear sister that I can do so little for you in your trouble when I owe So Much to you. beside being much of an invalide myself Jackson is very sick keeps his Bed—and a 424 thousand cares devolve upon me in concequence of the sudden determination very reluctantly enterd into from a sense at this late period, without any previous arrangment— but all this is small in comparison to leaving Mrs Norten and you Sick— Becky will watch with You to night— I send some Wine for mrs Norten, and pray you to send me your demijohn

Mrs smith and Betsy Howard are gone to Town to day

I have to prepare ten of us to go away—a new coach man to seek— I did not design You should have had any intelligence about it, but mrs Smith says she told You a saturday. pray let me aid You with any thing I have that you want—2

RC (MWA:Abigail Adams Letters).

1.

The dating of this letter is based on AA’s description of James Jackson’s condition in her letter to JA of 18 Oct., above.

2.

AA wrote again to Cranch [ante 27 Oct.] (MWA:Abigail Adams Letters), expressing concern about Cranch’s health and informing her that she had sent apples and pears and would send flour as well. AA also inquired about Cranch’s condition in a series of letters to Lucy Cranch Greenleaf, writing twice [ante 22 Oct.], once [ante 26 Oct.], and three times [ante 27 Oct.]. She also told Greenleaf that she would send supplies to the family and offered to assist with the care of Lucy Greenleaf and John Greenleaf Jr. (all MWA:Abigail Adams Letters).