The Northern star, and farmers' and mechanics' advocate. [volume] (Warren, R.I.) 1830-1834, 1833-07-27
THE COURTSHIP AND MAR.
RIAGE OF THE ELDER JOHN
ADAMS.

RlAGE Ot IHE ELDER JOHN
ADAMS.
FROM THE CINCINNATI CHRONICLE.
Some years since l spent college va
cation in the town Of Weymouth, NUnc Tx
county, Massachusetts. While there,
attended church one Sunday morning, at
what is called the old Weymouth meet.
ing house, and heard sermon from the
venerable pastor, the Rev. Jacob Norton.
About the same time, in company with a
friend, made Mr.. Norton visit, spent
delightful hour with him and his agree
able family ,and in fact became much inter-
ested in the old gentleman. l mentioned
my agreeable visit to an aged but intelli-
gent lady of the parish, whose acquaint-
ance l had made. The lady loved the
church as she did her own soul it was
the place where She had heard from in
fancy to advanced age, the words Of eter-
nal lie, and it was literally to her the
very gate of Heaven. Next to the church
itself, in the scale of her regards, was her
reverend pastor, MIR. Norton.
Weymouth is situated twenty or thirty
miles northwest of old.PIymouth Rock il
was settled not long after our forefathers
landed at the latter place and of course
this church must be among the most an
cient of New England Churches. This
estimable old lady beguiled me of many a
delightful hour at different times, in CIV
ing me the tradtionary history and rela-
ting anecdotes Of the old church and its
different pastors.
She informed me that Mr.. Norton '~d
ordained their pastor when about twenty
one years of age, and that he had been
with them, at that time NEARLY forty years.
She observed tina most Of The present pa
rshioners could remember no other pastor;
but that she could well remember his pred
eces sor, the Rev. Mr.. Smith, and that he
and Mr.. Norton had filed the pulpit for
the better part of the last eighty years.
"Mr. Smith," said she, "was very diff
fercnt man from MIR. Norton-an able
man-an excellent man-aId d fine
pres cher but he Had high notions OF him
self and family--in other words, that he
was something ofan aristocrat." One day
she said to me, TO illustrate to you the
character of old parson Smith, will tell
you an anecdode that relates to himself
and some other persons of Distinction
MIR. Smith had two charming daughters
(the elder Of these daughters was Mary,
The other name have forgotten who
we're the admiration of all the beaux, and
the envy of all the bellies of the country
around. Various sage and deep squisi-
tons were had, by the wise ones of .he
parish, on the dark question, who would
be the happy lads that should fnt favor in
the eyes of these ladiesi But while these
careful guardians of tie parsons family
were holding consultation on the subject,
it was rumored that two yonfig lawyers,
(fehink both of the neighboring town of
Quincy,) Mr.. Cranch and Mr.. Ad-
ans, were paying their addresses to the
Miss Smiths. AS every man, woman,
and child, Of country parish in New
England, is acquainted with whatever
takes place in parsons family, and the
circumstances of the courtship soon tran
spired. Mr.. Cranch was member of a
family of some note, was considered a
young man Of promise, and altogether
worthy of the alliance he sought. He
was very acceptable to MIR. Smith, and
was greeted by him and his family with
great respect and cordiality. He was
received by the elder daughter as favor
te lover, and was, in fact, young man
of much respcctability. lie afterwards
rose to the dignity of Judge of the Court
of Common Pleas of Massachusetts, and
was the father ofthe Hon. Judge Cranch
of the Distric. Of Columbia.
The suitor of the other daughter was
John Adams, who afterwards became
President of the United States. But at
that time, in the opinion of Mr.. Smith
and family, he gave but slender promise
of the distinction to which he afterwards
attained. His pretensons were scorned
by the family, excepting the young lady to
whom his addresses were especially di-
rected. MIR. Smith showed him none Of
the ordinary cvilities of his house he
was not asked to partake of the hospitali-
ties of the table and il is reported that
his horse was doomed TO share with his
master the neglect and modification 10
which he was subjected, for he was lre-
quently seen shivering 10 the cold, and
gnawing the post at the parsons door OF
long winter evenings. In fine, il was
reported that Mr.. Smith had intimatcd to
him that his visits were unacceptable, and
he would do him favor by disseminating
them he told his daughter that John Ad-
ans was not worthy Of her that his ia
thcr was an honest trndcsmun and farmer.
who tried to initiate John in the arts of
husbandry and shoe-makiDg, but without,
success and tha, he had sent him to col
lege as last resort. He, in fine, beg
ged ofhis daughter not to think Of an al
lance so much beneath her.