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It was customary in the 18th century for a young man to ask the parents or guardian of the girl he wished to marry for permission to continue his courtship. Samuel Field (1743-1800) of Deerfield, Massachusetts, was the uncle and guardian ("since her kind and dutifull behaviour towards me and my Family, has much endeared her to me, so that she seems more like a Child than a Niece") of Hannah Taylor (born 1722). The letter responds to the request by Elihu Hoyt (1771-1833) to marry Hannah. Field admits that he does not pretend to control Hannah, but he feels the match would be a good one and he extends to Mr. Hoyt his best wishes for success in courting her.

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