of all to his wife, who governed him and his with a heavy hand. His eldest son, by this means, will have nothing, and his second son, and his daughter by his first wife, but what she thinks fit to give them.
Both Frank and John are carpenters, as good trades as any in this wooden country. Frank has been some years in disgrace, upon account of disobliging his step-dame, and never received one farthing but what his master obliged my brother to do for him by contract. Frank has been free about six years, and is married and has had three children, the eldest of which is dead. He lives at the town of New Berne, in North Carolina, where he and a fellow-apprentice of his, who is married to his wife's sister, have all the carpenter's business between them. His master has been to see them, and has been here this week. He gave me a very agreeable account of their behavior and circumstances. He is apprised that his father hath left him nothing, and hath sent a kind invitation to his brother to join him. With the blessing of God, I doubt not he will make a thriving man, he being honest and of good principles. I do not like the place, and dissuaded him from going thither; but he is capable of serving God in his family, and does so, I understand, and is very diligent and active. They are much beloved, and thrive fast, for even knaves choose rather to deal with such men, than their like.
As to Molly, she has been well brought up, so that if she can but light of a good match, her personal qualities alone may prove better than an ordinary portion. She is a very pretty girl, much resembling our dear deceased sister, whom you have seen, but of a more hardy constitution. She is now about twenty years of age.
