Sir, Decr. 25 1777

I rec’d yours by Mr. Padleford the discription of your Journey home was what I expected excepting the information you had of the maids having left sister, &c. I feel very anxious for her but at present have no prospect of a remedy can get nothing of help for myself. As to my manner of brewing with malt only I steep my malt over night the next day hang it over the fire let it boil four hours with hops then cool and turn it 437up as other wort the quantity you have will make ten gals: beer. Shall I look out for a black girl? The whites are all entering into wedlock their Brains are turn’d with prize money my love to sister and children

Dear Uncle,

I wonder why my Aunt should tell you I Put 1 third spirit into the barbarry shrub. We had 4 quarts of the juice to which I added one quart of spirit. I think sir, I told you so & wrote so while I was at your house. Pappa sends love & says he will send the box of Candles which we have in the house & a barrel of flower; if he can get it in a teem which Capn. Dennis will have in Town in a day or two. I am very Sorry that my Aunt is again destitute of help. She must get somebody there. There is none here, but she cant be alone with so many babys I am sure. I most heartily Pitty her. My love to my Cousins. I hope their Coughs are better. I have been to Church to day, the first time I ever saw Christmas in my life. Parson Parker1 gave us an exelent discourse from these words: he came unto his own, & his own received him not: With duty to my Aunt & yourself I am yrs. &c.

A. Greenleaf

RC ; addressed: “The honle. R. T. Paine Esqr. Taunton”; endorsed: “Abigail Greenleaf & AG. jur. Decr. 1777.”

1.

Samuel Parker (1744–1804), a Harvard graduate of 1764, was ordained in England in 1774 and the same year was appointed as assistant minister of Trinity Church, Boston. He was one of only two Massachusetts Anglican clergymen to remain in their parish during the Revolution. In 1779 Parker became rector of Trinity. On Sept. 16, 1804, he was consecrated as bishop of the Eastern Diocese but died on Dec. 6 of the same year (Sprague, Annals of the American Pulpit, 5:296–297; Sibley’s Harvard Graduates , 16:76–84).