Robert Treat Paine Papers, Volume 2
The Province Treasurer1 has Sued at the present Court one of my bonds. I2 beg the favour of you to obtain a continuance of the Action; as both Mr. Adams3 and Mr. Hancock give me to think for special reasons given in a Petition I am presenting to the Genl. Assembly that they will stop the process & give me time to discharge the same.4 And as the Treasurer has been very kind I believe he will not oppose the Motion. Yr. Obliged hum. Servt.,
PS. I will satisfy you for your Trouble.
Harrison Gray (1711–1794) was appointed provincial treasurer in 1753 and held office until the Revolution when he left as a loyalist refugee (Whitmore, Mass. Civil List, 45).
Thomas Fletcher (b. 1729/30), a Boston merchant, served as collector of the excise tax and later lived in St. Croix (Thwing Index).
Samuel Adams.
Fletcher's petition "praying that a farther Time may be allowed him to make Payment of a Sum of Money due from him to the Province," was presented to the House on June 24. The petition was committed to John Hancock, Col. Joseph Gerrish, and Col. Thomas Gilbert for consideration. Upon hearing their report, the House resolved to direct the treasurer to drop his suit and stay proceedings for two years (Journals of the House of Representatives, 50:78, 83).