Marlbo. June 24:1778. Sr.,

Being detained in this Town for three years past on acct. of the Enemy, and thrô. Fear of the small Pox, wch. I1 have been happily delivered from lately by receiving that dreaded Evil in the Method of Innoculation; I am now preparing to return to Boston, with my Family, to seek a Support for them by negotiating Business in a public Character if you and my Friends should esteem me capacitated for it. I have wrote to the Honble: Mr. Hancock, Saml. Adams & James Lovell Esqrs. on this Matter; that if a Vacancy may happen in any Office already appointed by Congress in Boston, or in any Office wch. may hereafter be constituted; that I should esteem my self greatly favored by Them, as I shall be by you if on any Appointment of Persons to transact Business in sd. Office, I may be nominated as one of the Members—and if I am so happy as to meet wth. the Consent of Congress; I shall endeavor to approve my Self to Them, as well as to answer your kind Recommendation; And as my eldest Son Jonas Clarke2 who has been a large Sufferer by the Enemys Detention of his Goods to a large Amount in Quebec is now without Business your favorable Notice of him in the Way wch. I have requested for my Self, will ever be duly regarded by us.

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I beg leave to refer you to Mr. Hancock, and Mr. Lovell who have some Knowledge of this my Son’s Character; and its with Pleasure that I can submit it to a public Scrutiny. I intend to apply to Mr. Appleton as soon as I arrive in Boston, on acct. of the Lincolnshire Compy: Affairs,3 as I hear that a lawless Crew are cutting, and carrying off the Timber belonging to the Proprietors.

With great Esteem, I am, your most obliged Friend, & very hum. Servt. Stephen Minot

RC ; addressed: “To The Honble: Robert Treat Pain Esqr. One of the Members of Congress In York Town. Favd. per Col. Palfrey”; endorsed.

1.

Stephen Minot (1711–1787), a 1730 Harvard graduate, dabbled in the law early in his career but was mostly involved in managing the family’s real estate holdings. Upon the outbreak of the Revolution, he and his wife retired to a family property in Marlborough, Mass. His efforts to find a position for himself seem to have come to naught (Sibley’s Harvard Graduates, 8:735–736).

2.

Jonas Clarke Minot (1738–1808) later became a successful merchant in Boston, was a member of the Ancient and Honorable Artillery Company, and served as inspector of the Custom House from 1789 to 1802 (Oliver Ayer Roberts, History of the Military Company of Massachusetts [Boston, 1897], 2:213; Columbian Centinel, June 22, 1808).

3.

On the Lincolnshire Company, see the letter from Nathaniel Appleton, Jr., Mar. 25, 1768, note 1, RTP 2:426.