Robert Treat Paine Papers, Volume 2
—by this Opportunity I may inform you, that that period of time, which most men with such eagerness long for, is at last arrived, & I am no longer to be looked upon as one in a single state, but as one at last wedded to an honorable Family. The forever memorable Sixth of May, was the day of my espousals, on the which I was wedded to a Lady of great birth & parentage. Her maiden name was Law, descended from the Antient Family of the Laws which from the earliest ages have been esteemed the patron of the distressed & the protector of their Liberties. But as it is well known that matrimony alters everthing from a Virgin State, it must not be wondred if this Lady should loose some of the virtues of her Ancestors. Indeed some malicious persons have said, that the Family is much reduc'd form its primitive excellence, tho' it is only the difference of the Climate which has altered that branch of the family which has settled here from that which is on the other side of the Water.39There have been many generations of them in this country, varying no more than is common for the children in a Family to vary both from one another & also from the common parent. The Family has always been esteem'd wealthy, tho of late their portions are much reduced by reason of the Heirs being much increased, & the income of the Estate much less'ned. But tho' she brought me nothing in hand, yet she may justly be called a fortune, by reason of her large alliances & a considerable estate in expectancy. But there is one very singular Advantage I had in obtaining this Lady which is I was not constrain'd to the unreasonable custom of taking her for better for worse, but was indulged several years experience of her disposition & good qualities, before the knot was tied, & even then this knot is of such a nature, as to be no confinement to either of us, when we think we can better our circumstances by parting.