Robert Treat Paine Papers, Volume 3
I rec’d yours of July 5th. & the declaration for which I thank you for I have been Longing to See it this Some time.1 I was in hopes that when Independence was declared you would return but by your Letter I find I am once more disappointed. You Say you Long to See our next Generation. I Should be as highly gratified as you would but I Belive we Shall both walk with Cains before that time. Last week I Spent at Swansey with friend Bowers. I had a very agreable visit. I Cared Charles & he was much admired. Mr. Bowers Said he Should be very glad if you had been with me but he hoped when you return:d to see us at his house. I Sent to Boston by the docter for Linnen but their is not any to be had. I feel very uneasy about it for I am in great want of it for the Children as well as for you.
I desined to finish my Letter Last night but Major Otis’s Daughters Came to Spend the evening with me. You say you write more perticular than I do. From thence I may Conclude that my Letters are of but Little value for I am Sure I write ten Lines to your one. If you ware Sick I Should hear of it but you Sildom write of your welfare. We have mowed our Grass but it has been So dry here this Summer that we have not So much hay this year. If you think you Shall be at home next winter I will buy hay now for I Can have it Cheaper now than in fall. Freelove Send duty & desire you would fulfill your promis 251that is to marry her which I Suppose She will be in the fall. Brother Jonathan had a Son born Last week & docter is expecting one in a Short time. I desire to be thankfull that I ant in that row this year.2 Our family are well. Bobe & Sally Send their duty to you & are Longing to See papa. Their often talking about the Little dog. I am your ever mindfull & affectinate,
Father & mother desires to be remember’d to you. Father fails very much he is So much alter’d you hardly think twas him.
Letter not located. RTP’s only surviving comment on the Declaration of Independence was his diary entry for July 4, which read simply: “Cool. The Independence of the States voted & declared.”
The son born to Jonathan and Hannah (Beal) Cobb died in infancy on Aug. 29, 1776. Mary Cobb (1776–1851), the sixth child of Dr. David and Eleanor (Bradish) Cobb, was born at Taunton, July 26, 1776. She married Col. John Black and lived at Ellsworth, Maine (Whittemore, Memorials of the Massachusetts Society of the Cincinnati, 108).
Since I wrote the inclosed I have heard from Town. Brother was innoculated last Saturday. My Sisters were broke out, but did very well. Mamma says were far from sick. I long to hear again. Your letter inclosing the declaration, came to hand last monday. Twas the first information we had, of our being the states of america. I rejoice to see it since tis thought best by that grand body, of which you are a member, as I hope it will hasten the happy period when the blessings of Peace will smile all around us. I beleive we did not tell you, our barber has the small Pox, but does finely. The Docr. was luckily here, & moved him into a house near Mrs. Whites. I am Sir with my Prayers for the best of heavens blessing upon you & yours, many generations to come, ever yrs. &c.,