Colonial Williamsburg Digital Library

I'm as well surpriz'd as troubled att your long silence,
which has been ever since your letter (dated June. 4.) y^t gave
me an account of your arrival in Scotland: The little conversa-
tion we've had together has prepossest me with an opinion of
your being a more constant & sincere friend yⁿ whom absence or
time can work any alteration upon: then as I can't impute
your silence to unmindfullness, so I hope it may not be an ill
disposition of body which disables you.

I wrote to you some time ago, in doubt whether my letter wou'd
come to your hands or no, because y^e direction I've gott from
my Mother.

After our lucky meeting, not to enjoy your profitable company
longer & oftner I must reckon a great misfortune, seeing I have
need, & am withal desirous of a clearer account, yⁿ I att present
have (w^ch only my Mother's bare relations, as she's heard my Father talk,
gives me) both of our Original Pedegree, with y^e chief branches sprung
from y^e stock of y^e Spotswoods, & what Kindred we have now in
being. My ignorance in this point proceeds from my Father's dying
while I was very young, & from my being bred in another countrey
from among his Relations: & my Desire too of such an information
is stirr'd up lately by my meeting att Colchester w^th a Son of the
Lady Rossling, One M^r George Hay, who is a Cousin of mine, but which
way I know not very well, neither had I time to enquire of him,
his stay being no longer yⁿ till their stage-coach had shifted horses.
As I think it is requisite y^t every one (especially those who value their
family & can rather boast yⁿ be asham'd of it) shou'd have a thorogh
knowledge of their own descent & kindred; so I hope y^e necessity thereof
may plead some excuse for my desiring to put you to a trouble, whereby

My Love & service to your Lady Mother & to y^e rest of our Relations, though unknown

To
M^r John Spotswood to be left w^th
M^r Valenge [a Boor er] on y^e north side
Of y^e [Cross]
2 Novemr 1696