Taunton Feb: 26. 1776 Dear Brother,

We are rejoicing at receiving a letter from you dated 29 Jan:1 hope long before this time you are Convinc’d that we are not so tardy as we appear’d to be when you wrote. Really we have not been able to send to Providence since the week after we sent letters dated about 20th Jan: if you have receiv’d that packet you see I strove to be very good and sent quaintity to compensate for the difficiencys in quallity. I’ve lost all the little faculty I once had of letter writing, but in such absence as yours I judge a simple narration of what and how we do will be an ease to your anxious breast. I think to continue as I set out in my last.

The fifth inst. Mr. Greenleaf left your hospitable roof had some post office business to attend at Watertown and he writes me shall set out next week for Brookfield. I wish he may be successful in his plan to serve his country and get bread for his family. If he don’t meet with great disapointments we think of carrying our family there, but at present every thing is so uncertain I dare not look forward, nor have any depandance upon any sheme however promising soever the present aspect. We are amiss with a talk of attacking Boston before the first of April. The prospect causes us poor females many palpatations. We look forward to the spring with dread but endeavour to enjoy the present security depending upon 166protection from harm from him who governs all events. My faith is very strong that somthing diffiret from the prsent prospect will turn up. I read accounts from England very carefully and rejoice at increasing divisions among them. But this is all out of my plan. I’ll return to naration.

Last sunday seven’ht Mrs. Leonard sent me word that Naby was ill. Sister sent me to her. I found her so and on fryday brought her to your house and sent for the docto. She is now much better but not able to write. There is a bad cankor fever at Rainham that proves mortal, which allarm’d the family but she is suffering her old disorder. It has been a very health time but the sudden changes in the weather, tis fear’d will bring on fevers. We have had many snow storms but it turns to rain and south winds so that half the time our roads are like breaking up of winter then a suden frost chills all nature, thus the winter has spent only a few days sleding at christmas consequently colds have been a universal complaint. Sister Paine has had her share but is better tho; her health not so good as I cou’d wish the children are well, and under very good regulation and I think forward in learning. I long for your return that you may see and rejoice in them. I don’t know enough of military affairs to send you an account of the new commissions only that Coll: George Williams is cheif Coll: & Zeph. Leonard Esqr. Lieut. Coll: in the militia. Mr. Barnum is going with the consent of his people, down to the Army a chaplain for a year. I han’t heard who is to supply his place here, but tis talk’d that Mr. Read of Titicut’s son2 has engag’d. In my last I desir’d the favour of you to bring a peice of linnin for Tommy but by a mistake directed for a finer cloth than I desire fine enough to wear well is sufficient and shall be glad of less if a whole peice will be too great a burden. We are greatly oppress’d by the extravagant price and scarcety of every sort of cloathing and material to make them.

Naby & Eunice send their duty to you are longing for your return. We want a further description of the country and people through which you journey’d. I imagine you were highly gratified. I’ve wore out my pen and tir’d my eyes and almost fill’d my paper so conclude wishing you every needed Blessing. Your oblig’d Friend & Sister

Abigail Greenleaf

RC ; endorsed.

1.

Not located.

167 2.

Solomon Reed (1719–1785), a 1739 graduate of Harvard, was minister of the Third Parish of Middleboro (now the North Titicut Congregational Church) ( Sibley’s Harvard Graduates , 10:398–400). Three of his sons eventually became ministers. This reference is probably to either John (1751–1831), a 1772 Yale graduate, or his brother Solomon (1753–1808), a 1775 graduate of the same college (Dexter, Yale Biographies, 3:453–455, 585–586).