Robert Treat Paine Papers, Volume 1
The few moments that I had the pleasure of your Company this week does but increase my desire to See you again, the Malencholy disposition than you were in when you came down has given me 40great uneasyness. I have fear'd a thousand things for you; and I Long to know how you are in health for that is my greatest Concern.
I have Sent your Linnin and other nesesarys to you by the Bearrer and beg you to write me word how you are as to all your Curcumstances. Father is not Come home nor the Councill1 is not dissmiss'd, therefore I wou'd not have you Come down till the begining of the next week, and untill that time I shall wait with impatience. Your Sincere Friend & Loving Sisster,
PS Pray send me word how your Class mates that were Sick are now, & dont Expose your health by watching2 too much. I design to send John Willards3 with your things.
Thomas Paine acted as a representative of the Old South Church at a council requested by the Church in Medfield to settle a matter of discipline (Hamilton A. Hill, History of the Old South Church (Third Church) Boston, 1669–1884, 2 vols. [Boston, 1900], 1:597).
Attending a sick classmate.
John Willard (1732/3–1807), a second cousin of RTP and brother of Joseph Willard, later president of Harvard. His college costs were covered by his great-uncle Province Secretary Josiah Willard, and he probably spent time with that family who lived near the Paines. John Willard graduated from Harvard in 1751 and was later the minister at Stafford, Conn. (Sibley's Harvard Graduates, 13:158–162).