Robert Treat Paine Papers, Volume 1
I always thought six weeks a long time to spend without Seeing you, but I never knew an absence Seem so long as this has done. I want to aquaint you with a thousand things that has happened but fear that having so many Crouding upon my memory I shall omit the most important affairs; but to begin my history. I Came to my own house last Monday was Sevenight where I was oblig'd to take up my abode by reason of a Strom that was So bad I Could not return that night and the next day tho't it better to Send for my things than to return to them, and So in short Settleled at house keeping with nurse to attend us and now have my things pretty well around me. I find it a very agreable place as to every part of living. Use has made the walk into town Seem shortn'd. I happen'd to be at fathers when Cap't Willard1 Came in with your Letter wc. was very pleasing to me Especialy to be inform'd that you were well in health and So well pleas'd with your Scituation. Father is hasting away from us he thought to Sail this day but the weather is So Cold that there work on board is much hendered but he will go in two days at most for his things are all on board & Cato's who is to attend him and is So overjoy'd that he goes about in Extacies; his black Skin will hardly Contain him. Father is So fatigue'd with Labour and Care that I wish the time was Come for him to Leave us hoping the Seas will Serve his health and that he will be perserv'd from all dangers and return'd to us in Safty.
Doctr. Sewall & Mr. Checkley2 both refuse to take Sisster which obliges us to take her to our house; I hope tw'ill be for the best but I fear the Consequences will be bad. I wish you were here for Some reasons that I han't time to write. I have Company Come in and therefore must Conclude Sooner than I intended to have done. Mr. Greenleaf Send his Love to you and I belive will write himself, pray accept the same from your Loving Sisster,
Novm. 30, father's affairs (I hear) are So backward that I believe tw'ill be Some time before he'ell go.
Jonathan Willard (ca. 1695–ca. 1757), a first cousin of RTP's grandmother. He had settled in Lunenburg, was active in town affairs, and was known as Capt. Willard Joseph Willard, Willard Genealogy, edited by Charles Henry Pope [Boston, 1915], 35).
Samuel Checkley (1696–1769), first minister of the New South Church of Boston, from 1719 (Sibley's Harvard Graduates, 6:74–78).
I have Expected some time to hear from you but have not. This Expectation has prevented my writing to you before, & perhaps may be the Reason with you; But as affairs are now Circumstanced in the Family, I think it may be a Satisfaction to you to hear from home & therefore shall lay aside all Formality & give you some Accot. of the Family.
Last Saturday yr. Father sail'd (before as good a Wind as could Blow) and left all his unsetled business with Mr. Freeman.1 Monday morning the Town (more Espesceilly yr. Fathers Creditors) were much alarm'd with the News & to Secure themselves Atach'd Every thing they Suspected was his, tho' too late for their Benifitt. The House hold Furniture which we were then moving in the midst of many Spectators Past untouch'd. But we well might write upon most of the Business of that Day & the Next Tohu Bohu.2 People now seems to grow more Calm & Business more Regular since they see that tis out of their power to touch any thing & find that things are Secured, not to Injure any Man, but, that Every Man may be secure; & your Father Secure in person and Estate from their Fury. Your things yr. Sister has taken home, and your Father has given you all his Book
I hope Sr. this Dispensation of Providence may Teach us all the Vanity of placing any dependance on any thing short of the Supreeme Good & Show us our Immediate Dependance upon God. Lett us be thankfull for 85 what we Injoy & Satisfy'd with the will of Heaven, and this we can Scarcely avoid if we take a Survey of the World in generall. How many Thousands in the world fare worse to one that Fares better than we! But I am out of my Sphere. I mean not, that you omitt the Exercise of any Vertue, & doubt not that we agree to Acknowledge our Dependance upon God. I would heartily Joyn with you, in Wishing our Father all possible prosperity here, & a Happiness, as Large as his Desire, & Equall to Eternity Hereafter.
I shall just Inform you we are all in health, and Naby is pleas'd with her new Habitation, sends her Love to you & I joyn with her in wishing you all the Felicity if this wourld & the Next and am Sr. your affectionate Brother,
Thomas Paine sailed for the West Indies on Saturday, Dec. 2, 1749, stopping at St. Johns, Antigua, where he visited a sugar works on Jan. 2, 1750. He then proceeded to North Carolina, stopping at Brunswick on Jan. 28. In May he was back in Boston (T. Paine, Journal, Dec. 2, 1749–Feb. 5, 1750; Paine, Paine Ancestry, 21).
Tohu-bohu. "That which is empty and formless; chaos; utter confusion" (OED).