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Robert Treat Paine Papers

Robert Treat Paine Papers, Volume 3

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From Sally Cobb Paine

8 July 1777

To the Maritime Court of Massachusetts

11 August 1777
From Joseph Nourse
Nourse, Joseph RTP
Sir, War Office 8th. August 1777

I1 am directed by the Board of War to enclose you a Copy of the Resolve of Congress dissolving the late Cannon Committee, & vesting the Board of War with their Powers & placing the Business entirely under their Direction. Mr. Hayward2 is the only Member now in this City that belong’d to the Cannon Committee, to on whom I was directed to call for all the Contracts enter’d into by the Committee together wth: an account of the advances made, and the Cannon received in consequence of such Contracts. Mr. Hayward referr’d me to you. I am to request Sir, you’ll transmit to the Board all such Papers & Contracts by the first good Conveyance. They will likewise be obliged to you for every Information, & whatever Lights you can throw in to enable ’em, to execute the Business of their new Department. With all due Respect I am Sir, Your most obt: hum: Servt.,

Joseph Nourse DS.

RC ; addressed: “On public Service Hono. Robert Treate Paine Boston per Favr. Capt Croffts”; internal address: “Hon: Ralph Treate Paine Esqr.”

1.

Joseph Nourse (1754–1841), a native of England, joined the American Revolution as secretary to Gen. Charles Lee. He was clerk and auditor of the Board of War from 1777 until appointed assistant auditor-general in 1781. Later, he served as register of the U.S. Treasury from 1789 until 1829 (Charles Lanman, Biographical Annals of the Civil Government of the United States [1876; Detroit, 1976], 314).

 2.

Thomas Heyward (1746–1809), a South Carolina lawyer, served in the Continental Congress from early 1776 until late 1778 and had been appointed to the Cannon Committee on July 18, 1776. After his congressional service, Heyward returned to various military and political roles in South Carolina ( ANB ).