Robert Treat Paine Papers, Volume 2
These with my Compliments unto your selves and are to Enform you that the affair for which I feed you Respecting Elisabeth Ridley the wife of Thomas Ridley Junr. is not settled and words are given out that I Dare not put her to the law but however the over bareing powers are very still and are in hopes that I will let it Dye and go no further and would have me acknowledge something tho never so small a matter will give them satisfaction for they I find out can prove nothing to purpose. I hope the writ will be so well laid as to suffer no nonsuit for I can prove any thing and every thing she has let her Tongue Run to so great a Degree. Mr. Paines letter I did not give to Mr. Upham for advising with some of my best freinds found it would not Do for it Touched upon the very thing that they wanted that is to seek for Relief to the church and then the woman shall be not only an accuser but all the strong Evidence for my conviction so I must go into the law and I hope you will stand to maintain my cause as far as justice appertains and you shall not find fault I hope for your fees yet to come send a supeana for witnesses and please to give Direction concerning them whither they can be sworn here or whither they must face her in Court for there are some women that have young children and some with child and some old people which will be Difficult for them to go to court. Please to give direction in the whole affair: further whither or not it would not be best for Esqr. Winslow to be present at Taking Evidence if any be Taken out of court. Thomas Ridley is gone to Canada River a whaling so that he cannot be Taken with the writ if he must be named there in. Enquire of Daniel Paine as to all Circumstances in the affair. Major Gorham had a letter sent up to him last court which I should be Glad one or both of you would Enquire into to se how it bares and who is the signer for I have some reason to333susspect it. Upon the whole do for me under all circumstances as if it were for your selves. I Remain your humble Clyant
Although dated and docketed as 1764, this letter is clearly a follow-up to RTP's letter of Apr. 5 to Rev. Caleb Upham (printed above). The fee mentioned by Barnabas Paine was noted in RTP's cashbook on Apr. 3, 1765 under business for Barnstable Court: "Barnabas Paine Esqr. 12/."