Robert Treat Paine Papers, Volume 3
I Receved your Letter dat. 1 may1 and was Glad to hear of your Safe arrivel So far and of your better helth. Our Children are well I am not very well but keep about. Our family is much Larger then when you Left home. Mr. Greenleafs whole family are come and Miss Eunice So I have my house full and hands too but I hope I Shall have wisdom and Strength Given me to goe through my task. I have taken all your things out of the office and put them in a Chamber and Mr. Greenleaf improves that and our Chambers are all full at present but I hope that in time they will get their goods out of Boston So that they might Live by themselfs. I told them when they might improve part of the house and Such as we had they Should be welcome to for they have nothing hear at present but one bed. They Live with me at present. I hope what I have done in this affair will be agreable to you. Doct. McKinstrey and family are gone to Boston and our Committee have taken his Shop and goods under their care but Doct. Cobb will give you account of their procedings. I have not been able to get any Rum or Sugar as yet but I hope I Shall Soon. Their vesels are expected every day. I hope by the next Letter you able to Give an account when you Shall be at home for I Long to hear. Dont Stay all Summer for I Shall die if you doe. Brother Jonathan had a Son Born Since you Left home.2 Hoping your welfare I am your Loving wife,
Not located.
Sally’s brother Jonathan Cobb (c. 1739–1801) followed their father as an iron manufacturer and in 1778 inherited the iron works and attached property. He married his step-mother’s niece, Hannah Beal, in 1774. Their infant son died in October 1775, aged 5 months (
NEHGR
91[1937]:372).
The inclosed letters I suppose contain every thing relative to public affairs & the affairs of your family, where I am with my whole train, & am by the perfidy of Genr. Gage strip’d of Furniture printg. office & other effects to the amount of near £500. Sterling eccept a single bed, some clothing, plate, & about 12£ Sterlg. in cash, besides the loss of a Business of about £300 Sterlg. pr. annum.
I have dismis’d three apprentices, & yr. sister has discharg’d her maid servant so that our family is reduced near one half but we are still too many for you to support.
I have some expectation of geting Tommy into business at providence for the present as to myself I am now going to Cambridge to consult friends there, for unless I can be doing something my wife & children must soon suffer for want of clothes.
Truces & capitulations have till now been held Sacred. They are essential parts of the law of Nations. Is it not then the duty of every separate nation, State & government, to call Gage to an accot. for violating them? I hope the Continental congress to whom we look for relief, will demand of him a compliance with the engagements he has solemnly entered into with the Town of Boston.
I dare not presume to dictate to wise men, as the members of the continental congress have proved themselves to be. But I cannot but wish that they would publish a manifesto directed to all the nations of the earth, & cause it to be dispersed thro’ the world, setting forth the barbarous— the DIABOLICAL treatment the colonies have received from G. Britain & this province in particular, who are in the very focust of minsterial fury, & then make the last appeal to him who is Judge among the people, & who has rebuked Kings for their sakes. I feel disposed to write a sheet upon this sub49ject but I must set out on my Journey to Cambridge. After thanking you for your kind invitation of my self & family to yr. house & table. I wish you & yr. brethren in Congress wisdom equal to yr. task & am Sr. yr. friend & brother,