Robert Treat Paine Papers, Volume 2
Inclosed you have a Copy of a Note. Pray on the receipt thereof instantly make out a process on the absconding act agst. Thomas Cobb of Attleborough as trustee to Mr. Nathl. Wheelwright.1Dispatch in these cases often prove of Service. Mr. Johonnot2 is like to be a very great Sufferer & is my friend therefor if you can Serve him either in Attaching in Cobbs hands or in any other persons you will very much oblige Yr. hume. Servant
I take the liberty to add to the above that if any thing can be savd. it will be serving a number orphans who are greatly concern'd. Have but a moments time can only add that the Town is in the utmost Confusion. This note is but little more than half the Debt. Your most humbl. Servt.
Nathaniel Wheelwright (1721–1766), a prominent Boston merchant, was in severe financial trouble at this time. In January 1765 he disposed of all his heavily-mortgaged Boston properties to his brother-in-law Charles Ward Apthorp. In February his creditors petitioned the General Court to protect Wheelwright from any civil suits for six months until he could reorder his affairs, but that bill was not passed. Over the next few months, several law suits were commenced against Wheelwright's estate of which Cobb was apparently appointed a trustee. Wheelwright himself left town, and the Boston Gazette (June 9, 1766) noted his death at Guadeloupe, calling him "late a considerable merchant at Boston" (Thwing Index; Journals of the House of Representatives, 41:216, 220, 223).
Francis Johonnot (1709–1775), a Boston merchant and distiller, later a member of the Sons of Liberty (NEHGR 7[1853]:143).