William Rotch, Sr. letter to Thomas Rotch, 5th mo 15th 1790

               
  B-163-9
                                         
                              Boston 5th mo 15th 1790
  Dear Son Thomas  
  I duly red thine of the 7th inst with Williams 
  addition; I am pleas'd to hear that your marriage was conducted 
  to your own and yr friends satisfaction; and as by this means a
  beloved daughter is added to our family, I hope she will find in us
  that parental affection that is not only her due, but our duty 
  as well as inclination to extend;  I think it may be almost acrimo=
  =nious to say any thing that may appear like an invitation, 
  believing you are fully sensible that your company in our 
  family as soon as you can make it convenient, will be
  truly acceptable.  as you are now entered as it were upon 
  the Theatre of life, I can find no language of my own so 
  full to my wishes as that excellent advice recorded in holy 
  writ "seek first the Kingdom of Heaven and the right
  =eousness thereof and all the other things (necessary" shall be added" 
  (or words similar this I wish may be your concern, and more
  my own in younger days.  Wm reachd here this afternoon 
  was taken with the prevailing Epidemic (The Influenza) soon after he 
  got home, but by sweating & laying by one day was enabled to set out    
  on 6th day & now seems pretty well except the remains of the disorder
  which appears wearing of, it still prevails here in the Towns around,