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Browsing: Diary of John Adams, Volume 1
Docno: ADMS-01-01-02-0010-0007-0003
Date: 1766-08-07
Date: 1766-08-14
Thurdsday Aug. [7 or 14] 1766.
In the Morning rode a single Horse, in Company with Mrs. Cranch and Mrs. Adams in
a Chaise, to Marblehead. The Road from Salem to Marblehead, 4 miles, is pleasant indeed.
The Grass Plotts and Fields are delightfull. But Marblehead differs from Salem. The
Streets { 319 } are narrow, and rugged and dirty—but there are some very grand Buildings. Returned
and din’d at Cranch’s—after dinner walked to Witchcraft Hill—An Hill about 1/2 Mile
from Cranches where the famous Persons formerly executed for Witches were buried.
Somebody within a few Years has planted a Number of Locust Trees over the Graves,
as a Memorial of that memorable Victory over the Prince of the Power of the Air. This
Hill is in a large Common belonging to the Proprietors of Salem &c. From it you have
a fair View of the Town, of the River, the North and South Fields—of Marble Head—of
Judge Lynde’s Pleasure House and of Salem Village &c.
Docno: ADMS-01-01-02-0010-0007-0004
Date: 1766-08-18
Monday Aug. 18th.
Went to Taunton. Lodged at McWhorters.
Docno: ADMS-01-01-02-0010-0007-0005
Date: 1766-08-19
Tuesday [19 August].
Dined at Captn. Cobbs with Coll. G. Leonard, Paine, Leonard, young Cobb &C.1
1. John Rowe made a much fuller entry of the events of this day at Taunton court in his
diary:
“19 August Tuesday Rose Very Early this morng. Reachd Taunton at Noon dind there with
the Judges. Colo. Geo Leonard, Colo. Ephraim Leonard, Mr. Justice Williams and Mr.
Justice Elisha Toby who was this [day] Swore into his Office also Mr. Justice Fales
who is Clerk of this Court—had some Conversation with Colo. White and Mr. Adams on
the Affairs of Ebenezer Stedson with B and Edwd. Davis and Gave Mr. Adams A Guinea
as A fee. Spent the Evening at Mr. McQuarters with Mr. Adams, Mr. Leonard, Mr. Calef
Mr. Amiel Mr. Wm. Speakman and young Mr. Cobb" (MS, MHi; this entry is partially printed under the erroneous date of 12 Aug. in Rowe, Letters and Diary, p. 106–107).
The case in which JA and Col. Samuel White of Taunton were serving as Rowe’s counsel was that of “Benja.
Davis and als. vs. Ebenezer Stetson. Coll. White appld. this. posted to Mr. Rowe”
(JA’s annotated list of actions in Taunton, Plymouth, and Barnstable courts, 1764–1767,
Adams Papers, Microfilms, Reel No. 184).
Docno: ADMS-01-01-02-0010-0007-0006
Date: 1766-08-20
Wednesday [20 August].
Spent Evening at Lodgings with Charles Cushing, and Daniel Oliver of Middleborough,1 Paine and Leonard—socially.
Docno: ADMS-01-01-02-0010-0007-0007
Date: 1766-08-21
Thurdsday Morning [21 August].
Fine Weather—feel well.
Docno: ADMS-01-01-02-0010-0008-0001
Date: 1766-11-03
1766 Novr. 3d. Monday.1
Sett off, with my Wife for Salem. Stopped 1/2 Hour att Boston, { 320 } cross’d the Ferry, and at 3 O Clock arrived at Hill’s the Tavern in Malden, the Sign
of the rising Eagle, at the Brook, near Mr. Emmersons [Emerson’s] Meeting House, 5 Miles from Norwoods, where vizt. at Hills we dined. Here we fell
in Company with Kent and Sewal. We all oated at Martins, where we found the new Sherriff
of Essex Coll. Saltonstal. We all rode into Town together. Arrived at my dear Brother
Cranches, about 8 and drank Tea, and are all very happy. Sat and heard the Ladies
talk about Ribbon, Catgut and Paris net, Riding hoods, Cloth, Silk and Lace.—Brother
Cranch came Home, and a very happy Evening we had. Cranch is now in a good Situation
for Business near the Court House and Mr. Bernards [Barnard’s] Meeting house and on the Road to Marblehead—his House fronting the Wharffs, the Harbour,
and Shipping, has a fine Prospect before it.
1. Court records, together with notes among JA’s own papers, show that in the interval since the last entry in his Diary he had
attended Suffolk Superior Court in Boston when its long-delayed session began on 26
Aug., Worcester Superior Court in September, and Plymouth Inferior Court and Bristol
Superior Court (Taunton) in October before starting for the November session of the
Essex Superior Court at salem. This may not be a complete list.
Cite web page as: Founding Families: Digital Editions of the Papers of the Winthrops and the Adamses, ed.C. James Taylor. Boston: Massachusetts Historical Society, 2015.
http://www.masshist.org/apde2/
http://www.masshist.org/apde2/