Jeffersonian Republican. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1840-1853, 1844-05-02
From the Cincinnati Chronicle
CourtShip of the Elder Adams

Some ten years since spent college va
Mass. While there attended church one
Sunday morning at what was called the old
Weymouth meeting house, and heard a sermon
from the venerable pastor, The Rev. Jacob Nor
ton. About the same time made Norton a
visit, and became much Interested in the old
gentleman. | menisned my agreeable visits
TO an aged lady of the parish, whose acquaint-
ance | had made. She Informed me that Mr..
Norton was ordained their pastor when he was
about 81 years of age, and thai he had been
| with them nearly 40 years. She observed tha,
most of his present parlshlonsrs could remem-
Der no other pastor; but that she could well re-
member his predecessor, the Rev. Mr.. Smith,
and lha, he and Mr.. Norton had filled the same
pulpit for The better part Of the last eighty
years.
| Mr.. Smith, said she, was an excellent man
and very fine preacher; but he had high no.
lion Of himself and family--.in other words, he
was something OF an arislocrat.' One day, said
she 10 me, 80 illustrate TO you lille the char.
acter of old parson Smith, will tell you an an
ecdole that relates TO himself and some Other
persons Of distinction. Mr.. Smith had two char
ming daughIers---0hc eldest of these daughter.
was Mary, the others name have forgotten
---who were the admiration of all the beaux
and the envy Of all the bellies of The country
around. But while The careful guardians of Ihs
parsons family were holding CONSULTATION on III,
subject, il WAS rumored that two young lawyer,
Il think both Of The neighboring Town Of (Quin
cy.) Mr.. Cranch and Mr. Adams, were pay
ing their addresses 10 The Miss Smiths. A,
every man, woman and child Of a country par
ish IN New Ensl land, is acquainted with what
ever takes place in the parsons family, all III,
circumstances Of The courtship soon transpired
Mr.. Cranch was Of respectable family of some
note, was considered young man OF promise
and altogether worthy ol tbs alliance he soug hi
He was very acceptable to Mr.. Smith, and wa
greeted by him and his family with great re
specl and cordialily. He was received by th
eldest daughter as lover: and was in fact
young man of much respecrablIly. He after
wards rose to the dgnl'y Of judge of The cour
Of Common Pleas of Massachusetts, and wa
the father of the present Hon. Judge Cranch
OF the District of Columbia.
The sui,or of The other daughter was job
Adams, who afterwards became President c
the United States. But at that tine in III
opinion of Mir. Smith and family he gave br
slender promise Of lhe distraction 10 which b
aiier~ ards arrived. His Preiensions wer
scorned by ali lhe family, excepting he your
lady 10 whom his addresses were especially ii
recled. Mr.. Smith showed him none Of The ol
dinary clvililies Of his house he was mol aske
10 panake Of The hespisllies Of The table an
il is reported that his horse was doomed /
share with his master the neglect and norif
cation TO which he was subjected, for he wa
frequently seen shiyenng in the cold, and gnaw
ling the posi- at the parsons door, of long wiz
Ter evenings. In fine il was reported that NJ
Smith had minated 10 him that has yisils wei
unacceptable, and hs would do him favor b
disseminating 'hem he told his daughter III;
John Adams was uot worthy Of her; that h