The Literary echo, and Pawcatuck advertiser. [volume] (Westerly, R.I.) 1851-1854, 1853-11-17
WHOLE NUMBER 1873
COurtship Of John Adams.

Some ten years since, | spent a col.
legc vacation in the town of Weymouth,
Norfolk county, Mass. While there, 1
attended church one Sunday mornln-,
at what was called the Old Weymouth
Meeting House, and heard sermlu
from the venerable pastor, Rev. Jacob
Norton ] also made the acquaintance
Of very agreeable old lady who related
the substance of the following anccdote
of Mr.. Smith, their former pastor.
"Mr. Smith," said she, "was an ex-
cellent man, ard a very fine preacher,
but he had high notions of himself and
tamiIy-in other words, he was soma-
thing Of an aristocrat. l."
Mr.. Smith had two charming daugh-
ters. Mary was the name Of the elder,
the others name | have forgotten.
They were admired by the beaux, and
envied by the bellies of the country
round But while the careful guardians
of the parsons family were holding con-
sultation on the subject, it was rumored
that two young lawyers think both Of
the neighboring town of Quincy Mr..
Cranch and a Mr.. Adams-were paying
their addresses to the Misses Smith.
As every man, woman, and child, Of
country parish in New England, is ac-
quaintcd with whatever occurs in the
parsons family, all the circumstances Of
the courtship soon transpired.
"Mr. Cranch was of a respectable
family Of some note, was considered
young man Of promise, and altogether
worthy Of the alliance he sought. He
was very acceptable to Mr.. Smith, and
was greeted by himself and his family
with great respect and cordiality. Ho
was received by the eldest daughter as
a lover, and was in fact young man Of
great responsibility. He afterwards
rose to the dignity Of Judge Of the Court
Of Common Pleas Of Massachusetts, and
was father Of the present Judge Cranch,
Of the District of Columbia
"The suitor Of the other daughter
was John Adams, who afterwards be-
came 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 arrived His pretensions
were scorned By all the family, except
ing the young lady to whom his address
es were especially directed. Mr.. Smith
showed him none Of the ordinary ciyiIi-
ties of the house he was not asked 10
partake Of the hospitalites Of the table
and it was reported that his horse vas
doomed to share with his master tho
neglect and modification to which no
vas subject, for he was frequently seen
hivering in the cold, and gnawing tie
,ost at the parsons door, on the long
winter evenings. In short, it was re-
,orted that the parson had intimated to
lim that his visits were unacceptable,
nd that he would confer favor By dis
them. lie told his daughter
hat John Adams was UNIV orthy Of her
that his father was an an honest man
nd tradesman, who had tried to initi-
tie John into the arts of husbandry and
hoemakng but without success and
hat he had sent him to college, as a last
esort. He begged his daughter not to
hink of making an alliance with one 50
luch beneath her.
Miss Smith was one Of the mos. du-
full of daughters, but she saw Mr..
dams through medium very different
om that in which her father viewed
i'm. She would not offend or disobey
er father in anything reasonable but
i'll John saw something in her manner,
hich seemed to say, Per~rsrs and
a that hint he acted.
{" Mr.. Smith, like a good parson and
I'D affectionate father, had told bis
,ughters, that, he would preach them
sermon on the Sunday after the joyful
'casion and that they should have the
'ivilege of choosing the text.
+" The espousal OF the older daughter,
ary, arrived, and she was united TO
r. Cranch in tho matrimonial bonds,
th the approval, the blessings, and the
,nedistions of har naroots .nl ha,