Robert Treat Paine Papers, Volume 2
I reed: yours of 27th. Ulto:1 per Capt. Cobb2 & answer you with Sighs on The Loss of my late worthy Patron3 & the Friend of Mankind.
I have taken The Execution against Bagnal & shall give it to The Officer.
The Bar found no Inconvenience on account of Cold in Their Gowns over a Cloth Coat I speak by Experience for I was at Charlestown one Day Myself.4
The Bar have invited The Court to dine with 'em The first Day of the Term at Gooch's The Bunch of Grapes Tavern in K. Street,5 if you do not dissent (as Some Others have done) please to notifie it & you may be one. Strange Phænomena! are abroad; Which perhaps you may here & see more of in Time. Adieu & believe me your Friend & Sert.,
Not located.
Capt. Thomas Cobb (ca. 1705–1779), an iron manufacturer at Attleborough, moved to Taunton in 1760. He was the father of Gen. David Cobb and Sally Cobb who married RTP in 1770 (Paine, Paine Ancestry, 90–91).
Benjamin Prat, then chief justice and member of the council for New York, died in New York City, Jan. 6 (Boston News-Letter, Jan. 27, 1763).
At some time in 1762 judges and barristers of the Superior Court of Judicature were directed to wear gowns. The minute book for the August term 1762 in Suffolk County noted that RTP was one of twelve who appeared "in Barristers Habits" at that session.
The Bunch of Grapes tavern, kept by James Gooch, was on the southeast corner of Kilby Street.