Boston Novmb: 9. 1749 Dear Brother,

I was much gratified some days ago with a short Letter from you, I shou'd have been glad to have wrote to you then but my time was short and I Could not attend it.

I rejoice at your health and wellfare and hope it will be Continued to you. As to our affairs they are much perplex'd at present, for we live wholly at uncertaintys but the time is hastening which must deside them for the ship is to Sayl next week if nothing unforeseen prvent. There is nothing Concluded about a place for ——r1 which gives me great uneasiness for F——2 designs by driving it off till the last to Leave her with us, for which I am Sorry (as you may judg) Since tis against her will.

Dear Brother I wish you Could be with us once more while we are together Since tis so uncertain whether we shall ever meet again, but if Providence denies us that Pleasure here on earth I hope we shall injoy it with the adition of Perfect and Endless happiness in a far better World for which I hope we are all preparing. My time is short & I must conclude your Sincere Friend & Loving Sisster,

ABIGAIL GREENLEAF

PS. I design by the next opertunity to Send your Wastecoat and some new Stockings. I intend to take all that belongs to you home to my house.

RC ; addressed: "To Mr. Robert Treat Paine att Lunenburg"; endorsed.

1.

Sister, i.e. Eunice Paine, who was sixteen years old at the time.

2.

Father's. Thomas Paine was contemplating a voyage to the Carolinas; see his letter to RTP of Nov. 27. 1749.

Lunenburg Novr. 12 1749 Dear Sister Eunice,

I am certainly in a vast hurry but will just express my love to you by a little Advice wch. I would have you accept as kindly as I give sincerely Vizt. as to a place of residence I like yr. proposall of Dr. Sewall's1 much and could wish it might be accomplis'd but what ever you do remember that Sister is a superiour now & therefore consult her advice as much as may be. If you can live att any other House I believe it will be adviceable but dear Sister remember that the best of Human Advice will perish before over ruling Providence therefore look above men & means to God above for Wisdom to direct. I wish you well with all 'my Heart and intend to hold correspondence with you by Epistles but am now much hurried. Write to me largely remmembring that whereas you have but one letter to write I have 3 or 4 &c. I Remain yr. loving Freind & Brother.

ROBT. TREAT PAINE

PS My love likewise to Mrs. Prudence2 (I dont know her reall name) & tell her that her Love comes too late & it might have been more acceptable 12 months ago &c.

RC ; addressed: "To Mrs. Eunice Paine att Boston"; endorsed.

1.

Joseph Sewall.

2.

Not identified.

Lunenburg Novr. 12 1749 Honored Sir,

Be pleas'd to accept of a few lines as a token of the respect & duty which your much oblidged Son bears towards you....1 It is indeed Sr. with great reluctancy that I realize yr. intended Voyage and altho' it is nott for me to regret yr. intended proceedings yet humane nature has many foibles & the weekness of tender Years needs much indulgence. Indeered Sr. if yr. Health could be served by any other means with vast pleasure should I hear it, but if that & that Method only will avail with profound submission I acquiesce.

I may Nott have an Oppertunity of writing to you or of hearing from 74 you again, therefore as far as words will go I would express my most sincere desire for yr. wellfare hoping that that same good Providence wch. has hither too kept us both will still keep us & preserve us & bring us Again to a happy meeting in this World if it be his sovereign Pleasure.... I hope Sr. I shall never be Unmindfull of the relation I stand in to you either as a Child or as One that Proffesses Christianity.

And Sr. I desire yr. remembrance of me that however Providence orders in this World yet that still we may be happy hereafter... It is the desire of Honored Sir yr. Loving & dutifull Son,

ROBERT-TREAT PAINE

RC ; addressed: "For Mr. Thomas Paine Merct. att Boston QDC"; endorsed. Annotated in another hand: "A note from this when I speak of his father."

1.

The ellipses in this letter appear in the original.