96 LETTERS OF JOHN ANDREWS.
Sam., who was down a few days after our deliverance, and contrary to my must sanguine expectations, came without her, nor could I prevail on him to stay and take care of the extensive charge I had on my bands, while I went and fetch'd her; notwithstanding which 1 was de- termin'd at all events to go and leave my affairs to chance, hut he urg'd the badness of the road-, the impossibility of a carriage's passing, the uncertainty as to the designs of the fleet, the melancholly appear- ance of the town, &ca., all which I esteem'd as mere trifles and of no
i sequence, but finally to answer his own purposes, and keep her as
company for his wife, whom he dont intend to bring to town for a month or two, he promis'd me it' I would make myself easy, I might depend on his bringing her the next monday, or tuesday at farthest, but now its a fortnight since, and all the satisfaction I've had, is a letter or two from him, amusing me with his intentions of coming at this and that time, when its now out of my power to go myself, as I understand a warrant is issued to seize the remaining furniture of your uncle Joe's, which I must he upon the spot to prevent, if possible. I suppose 1 -hall make myself Enemies by it, but I'll do my duty at all events.
I should have set out for Haverhill the day after the troops evac- uated the town, had not the small po\ prevented my lad from coming in, which dithetiltie still continues. By the earne-t perswasion of your uncle's friends and with the advice of the select men, I mov'd into his house, at the time the troops &ca., were preparing for embark- ation, under every difficulty you can conceive at such a time, as every day presented us with new scenes of the wantonness and destruction made by the soldiers. 1 had the care of six houses with their furni- ture and as many stores fill'd with effects for eleven months past, and at a time like this 1 underwent more fatigue and perplexity than I did through the whole siege; for I was oblig'd to take my rounds all day, without any cessation, and scarce ever fail'd of finding depredations made upon some one or other of them, that 1 was finally necessitated to procure men at the extravagant rate of two dollars a day to sleep in the several houses and stores for a fortnight before the military plunderers went oil' — for as sure as they were left alone one night, so sure they were plunder'd. Poor lien, in addition to his other misfor- tunes suffer'd in this; the fellow who took charge of his house neg- lected to sleep there the third night, being affrighted, the consequence was. a party of soldiers gol in. went into his cellar, took liquors from thence and had a revelling frolick in his parlour, carried off and de-
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