Adams Family Correspondence, volume 6

Cotton Tufts to Abigail Adams, 16 November 1785 Tufts, Cotton AA Cotton Tufts to Abigail Adams, 16 November 1785 Tufts, Cotton Adams, Abigail

Cotton Tufts to Abigail Adams

Dear Cousn Boston Nov. 16. 1785

When I wrote to You by Capt. Cushing1 informed You of my Fears with respect to Mrs. Tufts's Illness. The Event which I then feared, has since taken Place. Heaven has executed its Will. The Partner of my Life is gone to Rest, She expired about 7 oClock on the 30th. of Octob. in the Evening, after a long and painful Sickness.

Amidst the various Tryalls of Life, it is sometimes a Consolation that they will one Day terminate. It may be such when the Prospect is near, but when distant and the Suffering great, it is but a feeble Support, especially if the Idea of a future Existence be excluded, but when We Can look through present Sufferings to a future State of Ease and Tranquillity accompanied with real 2 Joy that will not only exceed our Wishes in Degree, but our Conceptions in Duration, it affords some solid Support, alleviates our Distresses and spreads over the Wound an healing Balm. Though of all Tryalls of Life that of the Loss of so near a Connection is perhaps one of the greatest, yet I am not without Consolation when I reflect upon that Patience Christian Fortitude and happy Temper of Mind which She discovered through the whole of her sickness and that Readiness which she manifested to obey the Call of Heaven and close the Scene. She has Weathered the Storm and is I trust arrived safe in the Haven of Felicity where May We my Dear Friend one Day meet and associate with those of 458our departed Friends and Relations. With Love to Mr. Adams and Cousin Nabby.

I am Yr. affectionate Friend & Uncle

Cotton Tufts

RC (Adams Papers); addressed: “Madm. Abigail Adams Grovesner Square Westminster”; endorsed: “Dr Tufts November 26. 1785.” Some damage to the text at a tear.

On 14 Oct., above.

Written over another word.

Richard Cranch to John Adams, 19 November 1785 Cranch, Richard JA Richard Cranch to John Adams, 19 November 1785 Cranch, Richard Adams, John

Richard Cranch to John Adams

Dear Bror. Boston Novr. 19th. 1785

I have just received the within Letters, and as I hear Capt. Young is to sail tomorrow I take the liberty of inclosing them to you.1 By Capt. Cushing who sailed a few Weeks ago I sent you the News-Papers from last May,2 and by Capt. Young I have sent the Papers since and a Register for 1786. I have also sent a little Bundle for Sister Adams.3

I wrote you largely by Capt. Cushing, and have wrote you again a few days ago by Capt. Young, who will wait upon you. He is related to (your) Mr. Tudor's Wife. I hope this will meet you under agreeable Circumstances, and that your Dear Lady and Daughter are well. Master Charles was with me to day and dined with Mrs. Cranch at Uncle Smith's; he is very well and behaves well at Colledge: your Sons at Haverhill were well this Week, as were also Brother Shaw and Family, and Mr. Thaxter. Your Honoured Mother, and your Brother were well last Sunday. I have recommended your Brother to the Governor for a Justice of the Peace, and the Governor has promised me that he shall be appointed. The movement of mine is yet wholly unknown to your Brother, and I intend it shall be so untill I carry him his Commission.4 I am with the highest Esteem, your affectionate Brother

Richard Cranch

Please to give my kindest Regards to your dear Wife and amiable Daughter.

Many Friends will write to you and Sister by this Conveyance. We have just heard of the arrival of Mr. Chs. Storer and his Sister5 &c. at N: York on the 8th. Instant all well. The Letters by him are not yet arrived.

RC (Adams Papers).

The enclosed letters cannot be identified, but any of the following, written in Massachusetts between 18 and 24 Oct., directed to JA in London, and lacking an ad-459dress, could have been included with Richard Cranch's letters of 10 Nov. (Adams Papers, with elaborate address), and 19 Nov. (without address): Tristram Dalton to JA, 18 Oct., James Sullivan to JA, 23, and 24 Oct., and Jonathan Jackson, 24 Oct. (all Adams Papers).

With Richard Cranch to JA, 13 Oct. (Adams Papers).

Richard Cranch to JA, 10 Nov. (Adams Papers), states that Cranch is sending along “a little Bundle containing something that Mrs. Cranch sent to her Sister,” probably the chocolate mentioned in Mary Cranch to AA, 8 Nov., above, and recent newspapers and “A Register for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts,” in A Pocket Almanack . . . 1786, T. & J. Fleet, Boston.

Cranch had nominated Peter Boylston Adams to Gov. Bowdoin on 5 Sept. (MHi: C. P. Cranch Papers). It was Mary Cranch who actually presented the commission to P. B. Adams, presumably in December (Mary Cranch to AA, 18 Dec., below).

Elizabeth Storer Atkinson.