Legal Papers of John Adams, volume 1

xi

Contents

Foreword, by the Honorable Bruce Bromley ix Descriptive List of Illustrations xv Preface, by the Editor in Chief xix Introduction, by the Editors xxxi 1. Sources for this Edition xxxi. 2. The Editorial Method xxxv. 3. Practice and Procedure xxxviii. 4. John Adams the Lawyer lii. The Massachusetts Bench and Bar: A Biographical Register of John Adams' Contemporaries xcv Acknowledgments cxv Guide to Editorial Apparatus cxix 1. Textual Devices cxix. 2. Adams Family Code Names cxix. 3. Descriptive Symbols cxx. 4. Location Symbols cxx. 5. Other Abbreviations and Conventional Terms cxxi. 6. Short Titles of Works Frequently Cited cxxv. a. law study Editorial Note 1 I. Adams' Student Notes, ca. 1758 2. II. Adams' Commonplace Book, ca. 1759 4. b. adams' pleading book Editorial Note 26 The Pleadings Book, 1771–1773 31. c. torts No. 1. Bassett v. Mayhew; Mayhew v. Bassett; Mayhew v. Allen, 1762–1768 87 Editorial Note 87. I. Adams' Minutes of the Referees' Hearing 91. II. Paine's Minutes of the Referees' Hearing 101. xii No. 2. King v. Stewart, 1773–1774 106 Editorial Note 106. I. King's Petition to the General Court 108. II. King's Remonstrance 112. III. Writ of Review—Stewart et al. v. King 113. IV. Cushing's Report of the Argument 116. V. King to Silas Burbank 117. VI. Burbank's Release 120. VII. Deposition of Silas Burbank 121. VIII. Deposition of John Newbegin 123. IX. Deposition of Jonathan Wingate 125. X. Threatening Letter Sent to King 126. XI. King's Offer of Settlement 127. XII. Deposition of Jonathan Sayward 127. XIII. Adams' Minutes of the Review 128. XIV. John Adams to Abigail Adams 140. No. 3. Cotton v. Nye, 1767 141 Editorial Note 141. I. Adams' Diary 143. II. Adams' Minutes of the Trial 143. III. Paine's Minutes of the Argument 144. IV. Adams' Notes of Authorities 145. V. Adams' Minutes of the Argument 148. VI. Adams' Minutes of the Evidence 148. VII. Adams' Diary 149. No. 4. Burnam v. Mugford, 1770–1771 149 Editorial Note 149. Adams' Minutes of the Trial 150. No. 5. Gill v. Mein, 1768–1769 151 Editorial Note 151. Adams' Minutes of the Trial 154. No. 6. Gray v. Pitts, 1771 157 Editorial Note 157. I. Adams' Minutes of the Trial (Inferior Court) 158. II. Adams' Minutes of the Trial (Superior Court) 159. d. contracts No. 7. Porter v. Steel, 1770–1772 162 Editorial Note 162. I. Adams' Minutes of the Review 164. II. Wetmore's Minutes of the Review 167. e. commercial law No. 8. Alcock v. Warden, 1766 168 Editorial Note 168. Adams' Report of the Argument 171. No. 9. Apthorp v. Gardiner, 1766–1768 174 Editorial Note 174. I. Writ, Declaration and Return 176. II. Plea 180. III. Special Demurrer and Joinder 180. IV. Adams' Minutes of the Argument 183. xiii No. 10. Bancroft v. Lee, 1768–1772 188 Editorial Note 188. I. Adams' Notes of Authorities 191. II. Adams' Minutes of the Trial 192. III. Adams' Minutes of the Argument (1771) 194. IV. Adams' Minutes of the Argument (1772) 195. V. Wetmore's Minutes of the Argument 196. No. 11. Crowningshield v. Lee, 1768–1770 197 Editorial Note 197. Adams' Minutes of the Trial 198. No. 12. Longman v. Mein; Wright & Gill v. Mein, 1770–1771 199 Editorial Note 199. I. Correspondence of James Murray, John Fleeming, and Sheriff Stephen Greenleaf 216. II. Adams' Notes of Authorities 218. III. Adams' Diary Notes on the Right of Juries 228. f. property No. 13. Prout v. Minot, 1761–1766 231 Editorial Note 231. I. Prout's “Bill in Chancery” 239. II. Adams' Minutes of the Argument 241. No. 14. Keen v. Turner, 1768–1769 242 Editorial Note 242. I. Paine's Minutes of the Trial 243. II. Adams' Minutes of the Trial 243. No. 15. Clap's Will, 1767–1768 245 Editorial Note 245. Adams' Address and Minutes of the Argument 247. No. 16. Clap v. Randall, 1769 255 Editorial Note 255. Adams' Minutes of the Trial 258. No. 17. Hill v. Whiting, 1770–1772 260 Editorial Note 260. I. Adams' Minutes of the Argument 263. II. Opinion of Judge Trowbridge 265. Nos. 18 and 19. Prescott v. Keep, 1771–1776; Prescott v. Priest, 1771–1773 266 Editorial Note 266. I. Adams' Minutes of the Trial 268. II. Adams' Abstract of Title 271. III. Adams' Minutes of the Trial 272. IV. Cushing's Report of the Trial 273. Nos. 20 and 21. Wilkins v. Fuller, 1771–1772; Smith v. Fuller, 1770—1778 274 Editorial Note 274. I. Wetmore's Minutes of the Wilkins Trial 276. II. Adams' Minutes of the Referees' Hearing in Wilkins' Suit 276. III. Wetmore's Minutes of the Smith Trial 278. xiv g. domestic relations No. 22. Broadstreet v. Broadstreet, 1771–1774 280 Editorial Note 280. Adams' Notes of Authorities and Minutes of the Hearing 284. No. 23. Dougherty v. Little, 1768 286 Editorial Note 286. Adams' Minutes of the Trial 287. h. administrative law No. 24. Roxbury v. Boston, 1766 289 Editorial Note 289. Adams' Minutes of the Argument and Decision 292. No. 25. Plympton v. Middleboro, 1766 294 Editorial Note 294. I. Adams' Minutes of the Argument 295. II. Paine's Minutes of the Argument 297. No. 26. Chelsea v. Boston, 1769 297 Editorial Note 297. Adams' Petition 298. No. 27. Brookline v. Roxbury, 1767–1772 299 Editorial Note 299. I. Adams' List of Questions Presented 304. II. Adams' Notes of Authorities 306. III. Record 308. IV. Brookline's Account 313. V. Writ of Certiorari 316. VI. Fitch's Assignment of Errors 316. VII. Notification 318. No. 28. Essane v. Dotey, 1767–1768 319 Editorial Note 319. I. Jane Dotey's Examination 322. II. Record 322. III. Adams' Assignment of Errors 323. IV. Reasons for the Judgment 325. No. 29. Gage v. Headley, 1768 325 Editorial Note 325. Adams' Minutes of the Testimony 326. No. 30. Josselyne v. Harrington, 1769–1771 329 Editorial Note 329. I. Record 331. II. Fitch's Assignment of Errors 332. III. Adams' Minutes of the Testimony 333.