March 1747/8

2. Mary Doddridge, [Worcester], to her mother, Mrs. Mercy Doddridge, Northampton, March 1747[8]. [f. 52]

Hon^rd Mama,

I receiv’d your Letter and likewise your kind Present for which I return you thanks. I should have wrote to you before only I had often the pleasure of hearing you and my pappa was well and being but an indifferent Scribe I was willing to mend my Hand first I had the misfortune to have a Dog tear the Ruffles when they were almost finishd but my Governess [Ann Linton] says the greatest loss will be the work and as I have sometime since began another pair & I hope you’ll not be angry, and for the future I’ll take more care of my work and endeavour to improve in every thing I learn so as to Answer your expectation. Pray give my Duty to my Pappa and Love to my Brother and Sisters and be pleased to accept the Humble Duty of

Your most obedient

and Dutiful

Daughter

Mary Doddridge

PS. I have just received a Letter by Miss Hankins¹ and I’ll have due regard to your commands. I am very much obliged to you and Miss Rappit for the presents and wish I deserved it better plese to give my service to Miss Rappit and Miss Blice [Bliss]

Address: To | M^rs Doddridge in | Northampton

Postmark: none

Note on address page: D^r polly March 1747 [in Mercy Doddridge's hand]

¹ Mercy Doddridge was related to the Hankin family, so this is possibly a distant cousin of young Mary Doddridge.