Newbury-port Octo. 3, 1781 Sir,

I observe in the public prints an information filed against the estate of one Joseph Thompson1 of Medford an Absentee, & which I suppose stands continued to Cambrige inferior Court in next December; I take leave to inform that I am the principal creditor to that estate, it owing me about £280 LMy. besides which the Agent Mr. Richard Hall of Medford with Two of his Brothers have advanced & lent to Governmt. about £80;—By a late law you are sensible, that after the Judgmt. of Confiscation these estates may be appraised & sold at private sale to the persons who have so advanced money, by the County Committee who are to dis count suchsuch the sums (solent) to the purchaser & the residue pay to the other creditors & into the treasury. These Gentlemen stand ready to have the estate appraised & to purchase it as soon as it is confiscated. I should therefore esteem it as a particular favour, if you should not attend that court in person, that you would engage some Gentleman that does attend, to obtain a Judgment of confiscation against which I suppose there will be no oppisition. Excuse my giving you this trouble.

I am Sir your with much Regard, your very humle. Servant Theop Bradbury

RC ; addressed: “Hon Robt. Treat Paine Esq Attorney General of the Common Wealth Massachusetts Boston”; endorsed.

1.

Joseph Thompson (1734–1781) was a merchant in Medford who sought to assist British troops in Boston by providing building materials for barracks and as a result was forced to flee into Boston. Later, he attempted to obtain provisions from Rhode Island for the troops but was arrested. He was eventually given permission to sail for Surinam but was again arrested before finally reaching London, where he died (Jones, Loyalists of Massachusetts, 276–277).