Robert Treat Paine Papers, Volume 4
beta
Commonwealth vs. Thomas Hastings
Thomas TrotThos. Hastings persuaded me to swear before Esqr. Hastings to swear Paysons Wife got into the Well herself
Phineas ChildHastings swore that Trot was on the Island & set him to
Asa PaysonDecr. 1779. Hastings brag’d that he had Trot a fortnight to tell him his Story yet the fool told a poor one & he wd. sue him for the
John Pond& Pond was a devilish mean fellow for telling of it, he sd. the Hog was measly—he sd. he sold the two Legs
Seth Pond3d. Sept. last John Ponds Hog fell down dead, Uncle Stuck him he did not bleed, he was going to get the Soap Greaze Hastings came back & offered to buy him, Uncle told him the whole of the Story & sd. he wd. sell him, if Hastings would not sell him again. Hastings promised he wd. not, but bought him to Soap Greaze he was a spring pigg after he sd. he sold half of it. he was to give 6½ D. he sd. he bt. a Sow last Winter of James Richards of Newton for 4.2.0 cut off her Ears & tail she froze to death & he carried her to market & did well by her he sd. the next time he hired Hasting we wd. hire him to stay away.
Aaron Healeysick Septr. same day he bt. the Hog he sd. he bt. it Pond gave 6½ D. wch. weigh over 10 score: he sd. he salted it down. then he borowed my Panniers to carry it to Market he sd. he carrid down Leg hands Some of the Pork to make 4½ D., he sold it 6d. pr. lb. he sd. wt. Pond sd. it was choaked with an Apple he said he sold it to the French
James RichardsI sold Mr. Hasting a Hog for 4½ D. last Decr. the Sow had been poorly a good while. She wd. weigh 6 Score, he bt. her Sick he sd. he could cure her—he sd. he cut her Ears & Tail & next morning she was dead—he sd. he salted her down.
William Smith of ProvidenceThs. Hastings came to me Monday after Thanksgiving last to dress a Sow, he sd. he bt. it the night before had cut of Ears & tayl & it bled to death. it did not look as if it bled at all he sd. he stuck it after it was dead wn. we opened it the Liver was defective Stunck like carrion—he sd. he did not intend to Eat it himself he wd. carry it to market he sd. it wd. do well eno’ for Boston People. he sd. he sold it for 4d. pr. lb. in Boston poor as it was—after it came to be warm it bled near a quart; day before yesterday he told me if I wd. not come here he wd. give me as many Dolls. as I could lay singly on my hand
Ephraim WilsonHasting’s swore Trot was on the Island; riding by Trot he sd. he did not know he was on the Island—he sd. I never will hire him to swear for him again.
Nathl. TalbutHastings swore Trot was on the Island
John Pond. 3d. Septr. last. I had a Hog dyed, I stuck him he wd. not bleed sold him to Hastings told him how he died very meazly, heart large he gave me 6½. 12 Septr. he said he had Carried the Hog to Market & had got abt. ¼ his money: told the Story of the Sow Hastings said he had kept many days to leave him the Stores & the Damn’d Fool could not tell as far as he had learned
Caleb Childhe swore before the Justice that Trot was on Cow Island
The Grand Jury met in Boston from Nov. 19 to 25. This case was heard before the Supreme Judicial Court in Feb. 1784, see below.