Robert Treat Paine Papers, Volume 1
I have waited long for an Oppertunity of writing to you & am uncertain how I shall send this. I make bold to write to you as being more known than the Persons with whom I have business yr. way. I should be glad if you would tell Mr. Cleaveland that Lassell never did pay my Father2 the Remainder of that Bond Nor did my father Ever release it to him for he had only two small pieces of Land of him & therefore he must get the money of Lassell for Lassell can show no Reciept from Father & therefore his promise is good yet. Be that as it will Mr. Cleaveland promised to pay what he had Recd. I expected to have heard from him before Now as he promised tis not reasonable the matter should lay at such a Loose. Please to tell Mr. Fairbanks that Mr. Palmer grows uneasy about his Money & that he has not kept his Promise of coming down this fall, & that according to his promise I expected before this Time to have recd. mine. As for Robt. Washburn I conclude by this time you may have found out who he is & should be glad as you have the Note you would get the Money; for it is very inconvenient to have money scattered abroad so. If any of the above persons come to Boston & want to see me, I live six doors above the mill Bridge at Mrs. Clarks.
John Dyer (d. 1779), of Canterbury, Conn., served as a judge of the Windham County Court and was a deputy to the Connecticut General Assembly at various times (Ellen D. Lamed, History of Windham County, Connecticut, 2 vols. [Worcester, Mass., 1874], 2:304).
RTP spent considerable time trying to collect debts owed his father both before and after the latter's death on May 31, 1757. His letterbook contains copies of many of the dunning letters he wrote, only a few of which are printed in this edition.
I've but one moment Pray being on the wing. Should be glad you'd let me know whether Pemberton has accepted what was sett off of the house to Satisfy the Execution, & must pray you to Hurry Sprague abt. the money.
382Have sent £23.10. for Mr. Coffin. Tell him I've had no safe opertunity 'till now to send it, have also sent a Guiney for Mr. Foster, desire him to send me a Qr. Ct. best brown Sugar 2cw Raisons & Qtr. Oatmeal & 3 Galls. Molassess. Have also Sent £11.5.0 & pray you to get us a PA load flour for we shall soon have no bread. Cato is the Bearer & with yr. direction will get the things underwritten from the Distill-house.
Eunice is very Ill scarce able to walk about Chamber & pray's yould send her some Lemons Cost what they will (Tufts say's they must be had) she also wants two Qts. Wine and a pound of Figgs or Prunes & doz. Biskett. Yr. Father grows weeker & more Childish every howr. And if Crooked Fingers dont mean Steeling or Something worse pray you wd. ship the work house Lady by this Opertunity. If there be any of the Flour money Left add it to Mr. Fosters Guiney & pray him to send me word how the accot. stands.
The memo. is over Leaf. Yrs. in hast
Black Sand, Lampblack, Spermaceti, Bed Laths Curtains Rodds, Rum Hhd. & Sugar Hhd. Some Cotton & Linnen for your Fathers Briches quite necessary. Sled, Wheel-barrow. Pitchfork, Window Lead 7 cw. Box of Sheets &c. for yr. Sister wants her Share. You must, hire a Cart or Sled and if there by any thing unmention'd belonging this way you had as good fill the Cart for the Cost will be the same both for the Cartg. & boating. Tell Cato to Call at Dixon's for my Brother.