Abiel Abbot Class of 1785

Beverly April 26, 1808

Honored & dear Sir,

I presume there is some degree of ansiety at Andover to hear from Mrs. Abbot, whose delicate situation was known to you. After a season of considerable concern & solicitude, she was put to bed on Tuesday evening with a fine daughter. A few of the first days of her confinement were as comfortable as could be expected. But on Saturday she was less well; and on the sabbath morning has a turn of ague & shivering, which very much alarmed us; she seemed threatned with a nervious fever. But thro the great goodness of God & the excellent care of the nurse & Doctor, the symptoms soon abated; and we have now hope that she will escape a fever & have a comfortable getting up. On the sabbath, the child was christened with the name of Anne Wales, and appears a strong, healthy, & as the ladies say, a very forward child. We cannot be sufficiently grateful for the mercies of a kind providence on this occation, it is my hope & preayer that a deep sense of them may long remain upon our minds. In naming the child, it would have been very agreable to call her Abigail, after our most dear & venerable mother; & that she should resemble her in the superior qualities of her mind & heart, especially in her most exemplary piety, would fulfil the hightest wish of our hearts. But as my three sisters

have anticipated me in the name, we thought that some inconveniences would result from again repeating it in the family.

You will please to send in this letter for the information & relief of our brother & sister, who I know take a very lively & tender interest in our happiness.

With great repect & affection, I am your dutiful son

Abiel Abbot

Capt John Abbot

Capt John Abbot

Andover

Cambridge December th10 1788.

Dear Brother,

An opportunity offers, (tho' [scarcity?] of time would fain prevent) to give you a testimony of friendship & affection, created by consanguinity, & improved by a long, happy acquaintance, & which absence, far from erasing, but increases & inflames. I have long waited impatient for your promised letter, neglecting to write, thro' fear of giving offence by first commencing a correspondence - but, encouraged by your neglect, I have boldly dared the task, thinking at least to gain a reprimand for my insolence, which would be better than silence. But, perhaps inflamed with jealous anguish at the good fortune of Mr Porter, you are laying deep schemes of policy to rob him of his fair prize, which consume your hours of leisure & meditation; - if this be the case your silence

is excusable. But, perhaps I may inform you of something which may prove a healing balm to your wounded mind, & ease you of your troublesome schemes in their embryo - I was informed in Medford, that it was improbable that he would repeat his wooing visits as he prefered liberty & contentment to the galling shackels of matrimony -. If this be the truth of the matter, defer no longer, strike while the iron is hot, possess yourself of the beauteous prize, secure to your self that magnet, in which [?] center all the virtues which render a female pleasing & agreeable, lest a repentant P-t-r, or some other fatal rival should chance to blast your hopes forever. Besides, consider you are upon they very brink of old bachelor-hood - but this also [proves?] [themselves?], which shall deny you sleep & rest, till This great business of life, To marry a wife, be consummated in mutual happiness & love. - If this is not sufficient to extort a speedy repartee I will soon repeat the stroke.