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Robert Treat Paine Papers, Volume 4

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From Sally Cobb Paine

6 April 1780

From Jonathan Dwight

3 May 1780
From William Stearns
Stearns, William RTP
Concord April 13th: 1780 Sir,

After Respectful Compliments, would Remind you that one of my Clerks waited on you last weeke, & public Exigencies prevented you from attending to the Contents of my letter.

I am, from the great Consequence of the affair, under a Necessity of troubling you again, & of reqg. you to attend (if Possible) to the Papers in the Case Thayer vs. Gibbs (alias Gibbs appt. vs. Thayer) in order to Determine whether the written Evidence in the Case is now Admissible. The Parole Evidence we think necessary, I suppose, is procured, excepted whether Hannah Scarlet, mentioned in one of the Depositions, is Dead, (or alive) who is there Said to have been the Midwife. But I must refer you to my former letter.

Please to send me some hints in the Case, in a line; & Releive me from some Considerable anxieties, as the this Cause is the Key to 1700 Acres of good Land whh. our client Claims.

The Bearer, Has a Cause of Great Consequence to lay before you &, to Retain you in. Please to take his money & Engage for him. The only matter, I can See, at present to be done is to obtain a Continuance the Next week, over to the next Term, in order to gain time to Consider of the Cause; it is as intricate (Perhaps) as ever was—as great a complication of Evidence.

Please to inform him whether you Shall be at Worcester the Next Term—if not, be kind enough, PleasePlease to direct a line to this Court, Certifying that you are engaged in the Cause, & can’t attend. I am so indisposed in Health, that I can’t go to Boston (I left Home with that Intent) otherwise I should have waited on you in person.

I am, Sir, with the Greatest Respect, your most Humble Sert. Wm. Stearns

RC ; addressed: “To The Honble. Robert. Treat Paine Esqr. at Boston by Mr. Saml. Shed.”