Taunton Ap: 25 1776 Dear Brother,

I can write to you with greater pleasure then when I wrote last. Then the family were all sick every thing embaras’d but thanks to a kind providence the lives of our children are all spar’d and tho’ they are still weak, yet health seem returning. Your other self is as well as usual. Sallys disorder settled in her back she is feeble and Tommy has some complaint still but as the weather grows warm we hope the’ll soon recover health. Charle has not had the fever. The dear boy is a fine spritely child. Polly is still weak but rides with Sally every fair day. I hope will soon be able to take a journey. Betty as soon as she got down stairs chose to go to some friend she has at Stoughton from thence intends to Boston. Mrs. Paine has in her place a woman in years, a widow, who bids fair to be of much greater service to her among her babes.

The weather is cold the spring not so forward as the last. Seth has been imploy’d some days in gardening most of the small seeds are sown. Till this last ten day we have known but little else but nursing for six weeks back we have really had a severe tryal. I hope our thankfulness will rise in proportion to the afflictions felt.

Mr. Greenleaf has been in Boston ever since the day after it was evacuated by our enemy. He is one of seven, apointed by the court to examine the associators, an ungreatful task it takes him much time I hear I wish t’was over. He finds his types safe but the cases all burnt by Mrs. Rankin who was left by Coll: Leverett in the house to take care 200of our effects. Many other losses I hear of that renders going to housekeeping difficult and requires time to repair. Add to this Mrs. Rankin delays removing so that I can’t say when I shall leave your house but hope to be in Boston, without my girls, before the year is compleated. I shall send Eunice to Mr. Cranches next week, where she will be easier got into town when tis proper, but I fear tis a poor place for youth. I hear the soildiers are very disordily severe punishmets are to be inflicted. It grieves me to hear it but tis no wonder since many of them are the scum of the people. Taunton will soon be reduc’d to its old inhabitants. Mr. Blanchards family are gone and Mr. J. Russel Mrs. Downe and Mrs. Chevers goes to morrow. Mr. Andrewss went last week. Mr. Colwel is remov’d into the Doctrs. house, and when Mr. Nat: Green is gone out of Leonards house, which he had a part of, Mr. Perkins is to remove into it. Capt. Avery from Boston is in the part that Colwel had. He is going to sea and leave his family here a pretty woman they say with two small children. Here is several familys from Newport that I suppose will tarry.

I don’t hear that their is to be any school here this summer. I am sorry that your children can’t have that advantage. They have gain’d very fast this winter but I fear will soon lose it, as learning is so great a task especially to Bob he can’t be perswaded to take any pleasure in it, and so many temptations on the green where he delights to spend most of his time. I was in hopes you wou’d have visit’d home before I had left it that you might have seen how great the alteration.

May 3. We now have an opertunity to send to Providence so must finish in haste with so bad a pen I can hardly write intelligible but must make some addition.

I began to remove, have sent some furniture down and last tuesday Eunice went to Braintree to tarry at Mr. Cranchs till I get to Boston. Doctr. Cobb carried her. He is gone to Boston with hopes of getting in surgion to the regiment raising for that station. He seems determin’d to remove his family after July is over when he expects an addition to his children. Their is a fine opening now, as so many phisicians have by their late conduct render’d the resolves obnoxious to their countrey. Many here are very uneasy at his leaving them but all their remonstrances cannot alter his purpose. He is I believe determin’d.

The children are mending fast but the cold rane weather keeps them back. Naby & Polly send their duty will write soon. Sister Eunice is, I 201hear, very sick at Coll: Palmers with a rash near a kin to the fever that afflicted our family.

I know not where I shall date my next letter from, but be it where it will & let my curcumstance be what they will I shall every pray for your prosperity and the welfare of your family. At present I am your Effectionate sister &c.,

Abigail Greenleaf

RC ; endorsed.