Papers of John Adams, volume 1

Petition to Have Boston Accept Pleasant Street, 5 May 1773 JA Boston Town Meeting

1773-05-05

Petition to Have Boston Accept Pleasant Street, 5 May 1773 Adams, John Boston Town Meeting
Petition to Have Boston Accept Pleasant Street

Boston, ante 5 May 1773. MS (MB). John Adams was among the 52 signers who sought to have Pleasant Street “Accepted of and recorded as a Town street as is Usual.” The petition was approved by the Boston town meeting on 5 May 1773 (Boston Record Commissioners, 18th Report , p. 134). Pleasant Street ran south and southeastward from the southwest corner of the Common to join Orange Street, the main road 350leading to the Neck (Lester J. Cappon, Barbara Bartz Petchenik, and John Hamilton Long, eds., Atlas of Early American History, Princeton, 1976, p. 9).

MS (MB).

Elected Council Members Negatived by Governor Thomas Hutchinson, 26 May 1773 Hutchinson, Thomas Massachusetts, Governor of

1773-05-26

Elected Council Members Negatived by Governor Thomas Hutchinson, 26 May 1773 Hutchinson, Thomas Massachusetts, Governor of
Elected Council Members Negatived by Governor Thomas Hutchinson

Boston, 26 May 1773. MS (M-Ar:vol. 50:449–450. Of the 24 elected by joint ballot of the House of Representatives and outgoing Council, John Adams was one of three rejected by Hutchinson. The others were Jerathmeel Bowers and William Phillips.

MS (M-Ar:vol. 50:449–450).

From Joseph Hawley, 30 June 1773 Hawley, Joseph JA

1773-06-30

From Joseph Hawley, 30 June 1773 Hawley, Joseph Adams, John
From Joseph Hawley
Dear Sir Northampton June 30th. 1773

The letter inclosed herewith contains My Answer to the young Gentn. you was pleased recommend Me to as an Assistant in his Study of the Law and it is in the affirmative.1

I have heard Nothing of our Publick Affairs since I left Boston.2 I have only to intreat, That, as I know you Sir can do Much to influence them Nothing be done through Strife or vain glory—and that in all cases which will possibly admit of it, great Consideration and thorough discussion precede action i.e. in other Words that We look before We leap.

I am Sir with the Sincerest respect and greatest esteem Yr. Most Obedt. Humble Sert, Joseph Hawley

RC (Adams Papers); addressed: “Mr. Adams.” Docketed in an unidentified hand, incorporating the address: “Major Hawley to Mr. Adams August 30. 1773 consenting to take Levy Lincoln into his office.”

1.

Hawley's enclosed letter to Levi Lincoln of Hingham (1749–1820) has not been found. Lincoln, Harvard 1772, spent a year as clerk in the office of Daniel Farnham of Newburyport before applying to Hawley. Later in his distinguished career, Lincoln became Attorney General of the United States ( DAB ; Waldo Lincoln, History of the Lincoln Family, Worcester, Mass., 1923, p. 157).

2.

Hawley represented Northampton in the House in 1773–1774. Although the first session was prorogued on 29 June 1773, Hawley's last committee appointment was recorded on 18 June, and it is likely he did not attend much later than that date (Mass., House Jour. , 1773–1774, p. 66).

Chrispus Attucks to Thomas Hutchinson, 19 July 1773; 26 July 1773 JA Attucks, Chrispus Thomas, Hutchinson

1773-07-19

1773-07-26

Chrispus Attucks to Thomas Hutchinson, 19 July 1773; 26 July 1773 Adams, John Attucks, Chrispus Thomas, Hutchinson
Chrispus Attucks to Thomas Hutchinson

Boston, 19 or 26 July 1773. Printed: JA, Diary and Autobiography , 2:84–85. Unpublished newspaper contribution.

Printed (JA, Diary and Autobiography , 2:84–85).

351