Boston July l0th. 1758 Sr.,

I recd. yr. favr. by Capt. Jenkins, & am surpriz'd that Mr. Ferguson at the difficulty you represent. As to the house being my Sisters there is Nothing in it. My Father during his Sickness at Halifax did execute something to her but it was imperfectly drafted & never acknowledged or put on record so that no handle can be made of that & as the Estate is insolvent the whole Estate must go to the Creditors. I heartily wish that the Estate was hers. As to Mr. Freemans Expences upon it that surely cant hinder my having Possession of it & the Rent, for if he be allow'd the whole he laid out it won't pay what he owes the Estate. I should be very glad to be rightly inform'd what is the value of what Freeman built on the Estate, as also what you think the Estate will rent for & what will be the best manner of managing it for Estates there are very precarious. If my business would any ways permitt I would come down but I fear it will not & therefore pray you to do yr. best. I have wrote Mrs. Freeman to deliver you the Deed. I suppose the Tenants will deliver101you possession & come in Tenants under you by paying you the Rent for the future. I should be glad to know who has recd. the Rent since May last. Pray Sr. favr. me with a line relating to these matters or soon as you can & in perticular what Repair the Estate is in & what it will probably fetch per annum. I hope this affair will give you no great trouble, but the difficulty now seems to be set out. I think of Nothing further but subscribe yr. most hble. Servt.,

RTP

LbC ; addressed: "To Mr. John Burbidge Mercht. at Halifax."

Boston July 10 1758 Madam,

I recd. yrs. by Capt. Jenkins & am very sorry to find you so full of trouble, but I hope you will be more wise than to multiply yr. troubles by unnecessary mournings & Lamentations. As for the Concerns that I have with you as yr. husbands Administratrix, you may depend it is not my inclination to distress you. I make conscience of paying a perticular regard to all Widows & fatherless, especialy those of so near & so dear a Relation as Mr. Freeman was to me. However you'll please to consider that my hands are in some measure tyd with regard to my dealing with you. My Fathers Estate being insolvent puts it out of my power to do as I otherwise might do. As to the house I do not see any difficulty in the way Mr. Freeman proposed to me in a Letter of his to deliver it up the last May, & I am extreemly sorry he was at so great an expence in building seeing he purposed to dismiss the house so soon. But as it has happned it can't now be help'd, & you may depend that if you will act the Generous part & not perplex any affairs down there more than needs must that I will contrive the thing as much for yr. advantage as I can. I am sorry you urge me so much to come down there, not because I am unwilling but because my affairs will not admitt of it without suffering much in my Interest & I hope matters may be Settled without. You write me that Mr. Leigh's note had an Endorsment of 15£ on the back of it. I know nothing of it's being paid unless it was paid to yr. husband. Pray enquire that matter out & also wt. goods were sold at Vendue for I am accountable for all of them. I understand Mr. Ferguson is assisting you &102I doubt not he will give you as good advice as I could do if present. If Mr. Burbidge has not got the deed of the House I pray you to deliver it to him as you have no claim in the house & I demand it as Executor to my Father; & please to collect all the charges of this new building together with the whole of yr. acct. that I may see how it stands & send by the first Opportunity. Yrs. &c.,

RTP

LbC ; addressed: "To the Widow Elizabeth Freeman at Halifax."