Robert Treat Paine Papers, Volume 2
Your Friendly Letter1 I2 have recieved. My deplorable Blank I do as heartily regret as any Occurrence of my past Life. Miss Porter's Weight (as you justly observe) is increasing, and for this very Reason Mine would decrease should there be a Conjunction of our Corporeal Force in145the Matrimonial Way. I rejoice at your Southern Intelligence, for had I been Noticed at all I fear it would have disserved rather than promoted my Moral Character.
In our Dearth of News we greedily recieve a Fisherman's Report, that a French 74 Gun Ship is taken, and carried into Louisbourg Harbour. Nothing as yet from Canada. You have undoubtedly heard of a Ship siezed in this Harbour, and Condemned; bound from Oporto with Wine & Fruit and designed to join Admiral Saunder's Fleet, being owned by some Gentlemen with him; the Master of the Ship had the Admiral's Certificate for his Illicit Trade. She is said to be Worth 4000£ Sterling.
Let me depend upon your Epistolary, and most Exhilerating Correspondence. I am with great Sincerity your Friend and Servant,
Not located.
John Brown (1724–1791), a 1741 graduate of Harvard and minister of the First Congregational Society of Cohasset, served as a chaplain of a provincial regiment at Halifax, Mar. to Nov. 1759. For a time he signed his name "Browne" (Sibley's Harvard Graduates, 11:12–17).
I've a Scheme to communicate to you which providence has thrown in my Way, I, would have done it verbally but my Attention to hay & English harvest prevents my Coming to Town at present. My Intention is to Carry on the potters Business in Abington which may be done to great profit. Joseph Bender1 is near out of his Time & offers to settle here under my Auspices. He'll pay for buildg. a Kiln Pay rent for a Shop & make an Assortment of Ware for me for twelve pence old Tenr. per Vessell. I must find Wood Clay & Glaizing. Mr. Palmer Imployed Bender in the same Way bought Clay & Wood at four times the price I must give & Clear'd (Eunice says) an hundred pounds old Tenr. per Kiln at Whole Sale price.
I must take all off for the Term of two three or four years as we agree he having no priviledge to sell a Single Vessell. We can burn about Ten Kilns per Annum. The demand here is Considerable for this kind of Ware146& is very Likely to bring me Custom for other things. I shall want the assistance of a friend the first year; Ten pounds Lawfull money & abt. as much goods will set me agoing.
Pray do something abt. the Distill-house wth. Dwight2 or somebody Else. Fulton3 will take the Land & pay cash. Do.
P.S. Yr. advice in the Potter-affair is what I want much & is the Chief reason of my Writing now so hope for yr. Answr.
To be left at Mr. Wm. Greenleaf's South End."
Possibly John Henry Benner (ca. 1727–1796), one of the Germans brought to Braintree to work in the glassworks at Germantown, of which Palmer and Cranch were among the partners. After the collapse of the glassworks scheme Benner went to Abington and worked as a potter (Abington and the Revolution and Earlier Wars, 82–85).
Not further identified. Possibly Nathaniel Dwight, an innkeeper.
Robert Fulton, a laborer and later a distiller, with whom Greenleaf had land dealings in 1754 (Thwing 1ndex).