Delaware State journal, advertiser and star. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1832-1833, 1833-07-09
From the Cincinnati Chronicle.
THE COURTSHIP AND MARRIAGE
OF THE ELDER ADAMS.

THE COURTSHIP AND MARRIAGE
OF THE ELDER ADAMS.
Some ten years since spent college va
cation in the town of Weymouth, Norfolk
county, Massachusetts, While there I at
tended church one Sunday morning, at what
was called the old Weymouth meeting house
and heard a sermon from the venerable pas
ter the Rev, Jacob Norton. About the same
time in company with friend made Mr.
Norton visit, spent delightful hour with
him and his agreeable family, and in fact,
become much interested in the old gentle
man. I mentioned my agreeable visit to an
aged but intelligent lady of the parish, whose
acquaintance had made. This lady loved
the old church as she did her own soul; it
was the place where she had heard from in
fancy to advanced age, the words of eternal
life, 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 pas
tor, Mr.. Norton.
Weymouth, is situated twenty or thirty
miles north west of old Plymouth Rock; it
was settled not long after our forefathers
landed at the latter place; and of course this
church must be among the most ancient OF
New England churches This estimable
| old lady beguiled me of many deliahtful
hour at differnnt times, in giving the tradi-
tionary history and relating anecdotes OF the
old church and its different pastors.
| She informed me that Mr. Norton was or
dained their pastor when he was about
twenty one years of age, and that he had
been with them, at tn; time nearly forty
years. She observed that most of his pre-
| sent Pensioners could remember no other
paster; but that she could well remember
his predecessor, the Rev. Mr.. Smith, and
that he and Mr.. Norton had filled the same
pulpit for the better part of the last eight
years. 'Mr. Smith, said she, 'was very
different man from Mr. Norton-an able
man-an excellent mainland fine preach.
en-; but he had high notions of himself and
| famly--in other Words that he was some
thing of n aristocrat. One day she said to
me, To illustrate to you little the charac-
ter Of old parson Smith, will tell you an an
ecdote that relates to himself and some other
persons of distinction. Mr.. Smith had two
charming daughters-(the elder of these
a~~aN>.~~s No.: .'''- cth"y's name lhave, for
gotten)--who were me aamratlon OF an the
oeaux' ana me envy OF All .he oei'es oI ,h'
, country aronha sarlous sase anu ueeP u,s
quistiohs were naa' ny .he WISE ones ., 'h'
parish, on .he oark ques,ion, w no wouia "
the happy RAGS that snoula nhu iasor ia w
eyes oi'hese lao,es! bot "hlie hese care
iui Suafaians oi the parsons fanny wer
: hoiaihg consultation OH ,ie ssioJeG',n was
incurred tnat TWO young lawyers tn'hK oot
( OF the neighoorng Town OF quincy? Mi
r Nrahch ana WI haaHas, weIe paying lhe'
| addresses 10 .he MISS om'eh s. rs ever
[ man, woman, anu ch'i''' Vi county pans
, III NEW E"S,a"u' 10 acquainted WIN "ha'
ever saKes place III the parsons iamliy' d
: the circumstances OF the cour.sh'P soon iran
spired. Mr.. Cranch was member OF
u family OF some note, was considered youn
n man OF PROMISE ana aitogether worthy OF IN
d alliance ne sought; ne was very accepts
" bic to NIT. omith, ana was greeted oy hi
and ms ia my with great fesIect ana CO.
= diality' lie was received by the ED!
. daughter as favored loVer' ana was
y tact, a young man OF much respectabiiitV.
y lie afterwards arose to the dignity Judge
4. the court OF Common Pleas OF Massachusett
2; and was the father OF the present no
T. Judge Cranch, OF the District OF Columoia
oil Inc suitor OF the other daughter was Jon
a. Adams, VINO afterwards became Preslde
~ OF the United states. But at that time,
s. the opinion OF MIR. Smith and family, ne gay
but slender promise OF the distinction
vs. which he afterwards attained. His prete
= sions were scorned by all the family excep
an ing the young lady to whom his address
Il / were especially directed. Mr.. Smith sho'
to ed him none of the ordinary civilities Of
house; he was not asked to partake OF II
hospitaliies of the table, and it is report
up that his horse was doomed to share with
K master the neglect and modification to viii,
as he was subjected, for he was frequently Sc
a shivering in the cold, and gnawing the pr
i'll at the parsons door, OF long winter evening
as In fine, it was reported that Mr.. Smith h
,rl ntimated to him that his visits were una