Medford Historical Society Papers, Volume 11.

[p. 18] of Health and situation and can give you an account of my Dear Motherless Grand Children who he has seen and for whose Mother you always express'd so great an esteem and regard and Mary the second Daughter looks very much like her tho they are all very healthy fine promising Children as you would wish to see in a Thousand my Heart I confess is too much bound up in them tho I think they at present bid fair to deserve every esteem and regard I can possibly express for them by their sweetness of Temper and good Behavior that if you was to see them you would think so too but of this Capt. Salter can tell you more than I have time to write. In my former Letter I acquainted you that at the commencement of these troubles my Business call'd me to the West Indies to settle my affairs there and to look after that little Estate I had there and if I could to sell it and accordingly I bespoke my passage for myself and my nephew Doct. Charles Russell who offer'd to accompany me and to do some Business for his Mother in Law my Sister Vassall on board Capt. Mackay a Vessell belonging to Mr. Bileston I pack'd up my Sea Stores and Cloaths for the passage and came to Boston after attending the Public Worship on the Lord's Day Evening before the Battle of Lexington to take leave of my Children and Friends intending to have gone from thence to Salem to embark for Antiguas but unfortunately staid at Boston Two or Three Days and din'd with The Honble Capt. Erving the very Day the Battle happen'd after which it was impossible to get out of Town for Genl Gage had issued Orders to prevent any one coming in or going out upon which I thought it most prudent as my affairs call'd me to the West Indies and a good opportunity offering I went to Halifax expecting there to meet with a Vessell bound to Antigua but was disappointed I remain'd in Nova Scotia upwards of a Year the greatest part of the time in the Township of Windsor without meeting with a favorable opportunity till then for Antigua as the Small Pox being in Halifax prevented my going into that Town