Robert Treat Paine Papers, Volume 4
In the supplement to the Boston Gazette of 10 March current,1 you have exhibited divers complaints against several Persons for high crimes &c whereupon you claim their Estates in the County of York as forfeited to the sole use of the Common-Wealth of Massachusetts. Among which I observe one against Willm. Brattle Esqr. of Cambridge &c for an Estate lying partly 257 in Biddeford and partly in Arundell, bounded in part on Saco River. Now Sir as I have an undoubted claim to one half, at least, of that tract; which has never been divided between the heirs of Colo. Fitch,2 as one of whom he held, or pretended to hold it; the propriety of which claim is perhaps still liable to dispute: and as I take for granted that you have no desire to involve the innocent with the guilty, I thou’t the above information might not be amiss, in order to prevent it. I am Sir, with Friendship & Respect
As noted in Timothy Frost to RTP, Jan. 12, 1783 (above).
Col. Thomas Fitch (1668/9–1736) had six children including Mary (1706–1775), the wife of Andrew Oliver, and Martha (1704–1763), who married first James Allen and second William Brattle.