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."

Boston July l0th 1758 Sr.,

I wrote you a while ago Inclosing a Power. I doubt not your freindly assistance. The Occasion of this present is, Mrs. Freeman writes me word that there was an indorsmt. on the back of the Note of £15. Pray be kind enough to enquire out that matter for I know Nothing of it, whose hand writing it was, who it was paid to; & when paid. I am sory to trouble you well knowing yr. hurry of Business & the strong attraction you have this way. Your Ribb1 is pretty tollerable considering all things. I wishing you ample success & a speedy return. I subscribe yr. Obliged hble. servt.,

RTP

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

1.

Hurd's wife was presumably in Boston at the time.

Lancaster July the 17 1758 Sr.,

I have Inclosed three writs two of which are to go to Essex County & one to be served on the Little Majr. if to be found, be so good as to send the Essex writs as quick as possible for the Time is but short. I have also Inclosed a Decree of the Judge Danforth1 Cencerning Jenesons Estate & he that the Judge Decreed to pay the Heirs has not done it. I suppose the Bonds must be Sued the he gave the Judge & I should be glad you would get Liberty of the Judge to Sue them it I would have you sue the Bondsmen as well as the principal to Concord Court & I will103do as much for you. Be so good as to get a Copy of Settlement of one Sollindines Estate2 at the same Time out of Je. Danforth office & also a Copy (out of the Same office) of the Inventory limo. Fitch exhibited of his Fathers Estate3 & when it was exhibited. The Reason of my troubling you with this business is because I suppose you will be at Commencement' & can see the Register & he can at any time send them to you & I should be glad you would Send them up to me as soon as you can. I dont know what Sollindines Christian Name was but he belonged to Groton. I dont know that there ever was another of that Name in this Country so I believe they will be in no danger of a Mistake. Be so good as to view the Inclosed writs & correct them if necessary for I have not time to peruse them. Business comes in tolerably considering how many men are gone into the Service. Give us a history of your Connecticut voyage & also of Commencement by Levi if have time. Your very good Friend.

ABEL WILLARD

RC ; addressed: "To Mr. Robert Treat Paine Atty. at Law in Boston"; endorsed.

1.

Samuel Danforth (1696–1777) was judge of probate for Middlesex County from 1745, had previously been register since 1731, and was a judge of the county court of common pleas from 1741 (Whitmore, Mass. Civil List, 90; Sibley's Harvard Graduates, 6:80–86).

2.

A John Sollindine or Solindine was married at Groton in 1751, but there is no probate record for that surname in Middlesex County.

3.

Timothy Fitch (1725–1790), a Boston merchant, was executor to the estate of his father, Joseph Fitch of Reading (1695/6–1754) (Middlesex Co. Probate, file 7705).

4.

RTP records in his diary attending the Harvard commencement on July 19.