Phillips Family Papers

Hollis Hall 5 July 1768 Honoured Parents

I have many things to write unto you, but as my Eyes are dim & time short, I can but just give a Sketch of Affairs, which will apologize for the Badness of the Scrawl.

About 4 o’Clock last Saturday P.M. a thunder Shower arose here, from it, beginning to illegible the Lightning to be very Severe, when the Cloud got about over us [illegible] Ward observed the Cloud to be but about 400 [illegible] from the Grounds, was well satisfied that it would strike & told French that if the Points were melted he expected to be destroyed, therefore placed himself in the middle of the Room. The Severity of the Lightning encreased as the Cloud approached, about 4,35 a flash began at the North east Corner of Hollis with the Chimney proceeded round the College on the upper Streak of Lead, & where the Lead was discontinued it made a little Breach in the wall, and did most Damage at each Corner, it went in a Straight Direction from the North East Corner to the East Entry Door & tore the Window as it went it being attracted by the Iron weights in the Windows, the East Entry Door it tore considerably, then the Iron Bar of the west great Door attacked it acrost the great Entry by my Door where it left a visible Mark it tore several other Places, in short it was unversal & struck every Thing in this College so much as a Study Hinge, all in this College but one or two were [illegible] very much.

Honoured Parents PS I have this Day sent for the Table you informed me you had bought, but have not seen it, Should be glad you would send a green Cloth suitable

Your dutiful Son Sam Phillips

Mrs. Elizabeth Phillips In Andover.

Dear Mam, Byfield, June 29, 1765

I with Pleasure inform you that I am well, hoping that these lines will find you in the like circumstances. The Boils have left me. The horse is very quiet, I have been looking out for Oliver, but am disappointed, I should have sent home by Jonathan Gage, the Boy that came with Saml. Osgood, but he semmed to decline, as he ((illegible)) in the Chair, & I have had no Opportunity since. I should have brought him home either last Saturday, or this but I asked you if Oliver did not come, wheather I should Ride him home a Saturday, but you Said no, & that I ned not concern myself any thing about it. When I was at Home last, I was very Desirous to have you come Down to Byfield before. Commencement. if you come Before, you will hear (what good Judges call) very Superior Singing, but if you don do not Please to turn over

come till afterward, you will not hear any at all, so I shall depend uppon Seeing you here next week. I have asked Mr. Moody wheather he will take me, but he is not determined yet. if you Come Before Commincement, I am most certain of getting in, but if you do not come till after, I do not think I shall get in. one of my Best Friends, that lives with Mr. Moody thinks so. if you can [not?] visit Mr Tucker & Friends this time ((illegible)) if you set away very Early in the Morning you may make a very handsome visit & return the same Day or the next. it is but about 14 Miles, so I can take no Denyall. if I am disappointed the Disappointment will be exceeding great so must intreat of you to Come as sone in the Week as you can and shall depend uppon it.

I remain

Your Dutiful Son

Samuel Phillips 3d.

I Remain well contented Give duty and love As Due.

PS Pray don’t fail of coming

Byfield, April 5, 1765

Dear Mam,

I Embrace this opportunity by Osgood to inform you that I am well, hoping that these Lines will find you so. I have nothing in particular to inform you about, only that & I with great Pleasure the School is in a very florishing State, and I with great Pleasure inform you, that I Mr Moody has plased Osgood has in a Clase me with me, to learn with me. Mr Moody. Capt Hale, Mrs Hale and Joseph & Joseph & all still (in short) all, still Remain very kind. I should be very glad, if you would send me by Samuel Osgood, some Quils, some writing Paper and some Silk ferret to ty my Hair with, & some Money. when I was at Home last, you were determined, that when I come home, I should wear my home my Black Cloaths, & bring Home my tother, but if a Boy comes for me, I dont know how I can bring them behind me. I should be glad if you would Please to turn Over

send by the Boy, how I shall bring them, & what other things, I should bring. You informed me that my Grandmother was very loe loe loe, when which I am very Sorry to hear, but tho no more than we have expected this some great while. when I first came to Byfield, My Father forbad my pricking any tunes in my Singing Book. I should be exceding glad if you would know whether I may not get some Tun] Tunes pricked in it, & send word by Osgood. I should be glad if you would desire cousin Par Hannah to make some pomatum, & send it by Osgood. I should be glad if you she would not run it, as she did that, she sent by cousin Parker. I I should be very glad if you would write as often as you Can.

in Haste

from your Dutiful Son

Samuel Phillips 3d

To

Mrs Elizabeth Phillips

In

Andover.

Byfield October 1767

Honoured Parents

I take this opportunity to inform you that I am well, & much contented, hoping these lines will find you so, my [sphere?] keeps running, I have no boyls at present. I hear that there is to be an ordination at Bradford the 20 Day of November; Osgood & Kitteredge are a going & Kitteredges folks are a going to send for him, and as Mr. Moody is very willing, I should be willing to go, tho am not at all sett, I am very willing to leave it to your wisdom & Discretion [ ? ] shall depend uppon being sent for at or about the Time Thanksgiving used to be. I should be glad whenever you send for me that you would write [them?] everything.

Please turn over

that I should bring Home. I believe I hat had better bring Home one of my Hatts, & keep it at Home to wear

so no More at Present

only that I remain your

Dutiful Son

Samuel Phillips 3d.

Pray give Duty & Love as Due

Pray give forgive this Letter, & my writing as I was in a great Hurry

Thursday Eve 14th: of Dec: 1775

I was not a little mortified, this afternoon when call’d upon for a reply to your agreable favor of the 11th: but I was unappris’d before of the Conveyance, and it was then too late; but I will be sure to be early enough for the next, to congratulate you on the Events, which you there acquaint me of;— I do it, Sir, most Heartily by, not only, that your Avenues to Pleasure are increasing, that the Sources of Comfort to the Family are multiplying & that your Sphere of Serviceables to mankind is enlargeing, but that you enjoy this Prosperity in a Consistency with the Presercvation and Safety of that Friend who, communicates so much Happiness to all her Connections, and mustwho to you must be a P[?] of great indeed precious. But in the Heighth of Prosperity, let us should not we rejoice with Trembling”— We certainly hold the dearest En- joyment by a very uncertain tenure.