Robert Treat Paine Papers, Volume 3
We have been expecting you home this many weeks past. Thought sure at Mr. Adams arrival you would set out, and not having a line from you so long confirm’d the opinion. But, I am determined to send you a short account of our health and proceedings.
April 5. I began to write as you see but was hindred. We have had a sick family this four weeks past your wife was taken with an Eruptive fever that prevails here. She had it slight but soon after, Sally was seiz’d. She continues very weak still. Has been sick four week. My Eunice and in a few days Polly were took down, then Betty, and now your son Tommy. Tis a very ugly disorder but does not prove mortal. It has been all round the country this winter. Doctr. Blanchard1 say he has seen forty down with it at once in the camps.
Mrs. Paine and I intended t’ve wrote largely by this opertunity but you must excuse us this time. We are both fatuig’d and she is not very well has a sore throat a disorder that few escape.
182Mr. Greenleaf is in Boston. I suppose has or will write to you but I hear is very busy. We are more favour’d then many others. Our office is safe. A ball from Lechmeres point enter’d the house and broke my largest Glass. This is all the perticulars I’ve received.
Mr. Greenleaf wrote he shou’d fetch me assoon as t’was proper. We have been so taken up here.
April 7. A child wak’d or some other call forc’d me to leave writing. I now begin again. The Doctr. just reviv’d us with a letter from you dated Mar: 25. We have your own hand to support us in our expectations of seeing you & when we have time shall vindicate ourselves. You see I have taken great pains to write this. The family is so sick that I have not one moment. Naby boby & charlee myself & seth are all that can move. No help to be had, some can’t come others are afraid of the distemper. Your wife can’t write. She has suffer’d greatly this five days with her throat it now seems going off her fever is lower setts up a little. Sally & Tommy are better. My girls throat are worse, more physick oh dear. May we be carried safe through this trying correction. I’ve no time to think of Boston or any affairs but what relates to our family.
Mrs. Paine desires me to write that Mr. Cobb has paid the rent for the pasture. She is loth to have any more money of him as he has paid his debt. He don’t refuse but she chuses you shou’d know that he says so and as soon as she can write will send you an account of his conduct. Shall not pay seth till she has further orders from you. Supposes you will send money. Cloth can not be made for you shirts for health and flax and labourers are wanting and you must certainly be in want soon. It is to be had in Boston tho: high.
I intended this by Mr. Breck but cou’d not finish it soon enough to send to Boston and he setts out from there to morrow. By him we shall expect to hear from you. Doct. Blanchard will carry this to the post. He is going with the hospital to N. York. Mr. Barnum is going Chaplain and Mr. Reads son of Titicut supplys his place here. I recolect we rec’d a letter tother day with a Book for Bob, and Docr. Smiths Oration. Are grateful for every favour. May a Blessing attend you. I’ll write again next post and am your Oblig’d Sister
Please to accept my most gratefull thanks, for your remembrance of me, & my Sisters. I wrote to you last January from Coll: 183Leonards at Raynham, where I spent three months. Wonder if you ever had it; I fear it did not arrive safe, as you have not mentioned it. Boston’s being again restored to us in such, a manner, gave us unspeakable Pleasure, but the whole Family have been so distressed, with this Sickness that I have hardly time to realize it. I hope we shall soon be reinstated in Family Circumstances, & that we shall have Sufficient business, to enable my Parents to spend the remainder of life in a comfortable way, free from fatiguing care. We all long for your return Sir that may thank you in Person for your great kindness, before we leave your hospitable roof. Cousin Sally sends her Duty to her Pappa, with a Petition for a book. I intend soon to write, when we are well eno’ for me to find Leasure. My Sisters joyn me in Duty to you Sir, accompanied with our best wishes for your health & Prosperity. I am my dear Uncle your ever dutifull & much obliged Niece
Probably Samuel Blanchard of Boston, who served as surgeon’s mate, June-August 1775. Later as a surgeon he was listed among prisoners sent from Halifax to Boston, November 1777 (Massachusetts Soldiers & Sailors of the Revolutionary War, 2:154).
I have a moment spared me by the bearer (Mr. Lucas) to write a line from the place of my nativity which has been so long in the possession of the British barbarians, who in a very precipitate manner left the town last Sabbath day morning. Many of the inhabitants have been plundered of their whole effects. Poor brother Leverett1 has been a large Sufferer. I have lost nothing.
Your family were well when I left Taunton, which was last monday week. My family are in middling circumstances as to health & all your friends there.
Whether I shall remove into town, soon, or not, I cannot determine. I think it will not be prudent, (before The enemies ships are gone out of the 184harbor) to have my family here. My apprentices are all in the army & I know not what I shall do to set the office going. No help is to be had. Tommy wont like to work alone.
We are by order of the Council & house making inquisition for addressers, associators, & the aiders & abettors of The enemies of our country.
To morrow the Thursday lecture will be opened. Gen. Washington & some other officers will grace the audience with their presence. Dr. Eliot2 is to preach. A dinner will be prepared for the Genl. &c. & a number of the house & council will attend the entertainment.
I should be glad to fill this sheet but am not allow’d time only to add that I am, dear Sr. Sr. yr. hume. Servt.
John Leverett (1726/7–1777), a Boston merchant and colonel of a Boston regiment during the Revolution, was married to Greenleaf ’s sister Mary. He died in Middletown, Conn., the following year.
General Washington invited the Rev. Andrew Eliot (1718–1778), minister of the New North Church, to offer the Thursday Lecture as an official thanksgiving sermon to commemorate the evacuation of Boston by the British army. The official party processed from the state house to the Old Brick Church for a sermon based upon activities in Boston under siege. They then proceeded to the Bunch of Grapes Tavern for an elegant meal, provided at public expense (
Sibley’s Harvard Graduates
, 10:155; New-England Chronicle, Apr. 4, 1776).