Robert Treat Paine Papers, Volume 2
Having had the Honour formerly of being & known to you, I1 take the Liberty of Troubling you with a Small affair in your Part of the world. It is as follows At may Court at Worcester 1760 one David Cunningham of this Place had a Judgmt. vs Israel Peck of Some Place in your County2 & the Execution was Sent to one Jno. Lambert of Taunton3 if I remember right, who has return'd the same Satisfied, and tho I have made divers attempts to get the money out of his hands I have not yet been able. Must therefore intreat of you in by virtue of this Letter to Demand the Debt & Cost of him, and if he Delays one moment to pay it to take such measures as will be necessary to secure it. And when recieved if you dont find a more direct Conveyance you may Send it to Mr. Paine4 at Boston any Time when the Genll. Court Sits. The Debt is £2:10:0 and the Cost is £1:14:0 Cost 3 Exeons. of total £4:10:0 he received June 12th222 1761, as by his Rect. on the Exeon. in the Clerks office.5 Your particular Care as to the above will Serve your Friend & Sevt.
James Putnam (1726–1789) graduated from Harvard in 1746 and practiced law in Worcester, where John Adams (1734–1826) studied with him. Left Boston with the British troops in 1776 and proscribed as a loyalist in 1778, Putnam after several removes settled in New Brunswick, where he held the office of judge of the supreme court (Sibley's Harvard Graduates, 12:57–64).
David Cunningham of Worcester, weaver, sued Israel Peck of Rehoboth, innholder, for recovery of debt upon a note. The court awarded damages of £2.10 plus costs to Cunningham upon default by the defendant (Record Book, Worcester County Court of Common Pleas, May term 1760).
John Lambert of Taunton was one of the deputy sheriffs for Bristol County.
Timothy Paine (1730–1793), a leading citizen of Worcester, held many local and state offices including that of mandamus councillor which he was forced to resign. At this time he represented Worcester in the House of Representatives (Sibley's Harvard Graduates, 12:292–297).
For the final resolution of this case, see James Putnam to RTP, Worcester, June 24, 1763.
I came off & forgot the peices of my Banyan & eke my Gown & perhaps other things, which to a Bachelor must needs be a sore Misfortune. If Mr. Adams comes to Taunton next week as he proposes pray send 'em by him if he can bring 'em.
I am sorry at the Occason of disturbing yr. Mind with a peice of Meloncholly News, but as you may possibly hear many Reports, I write what you may depend on. Mr. Abiall Leonard1 last Week on Saturday as he was returning to Scituate to take leave of the People was seized with Distraction sometimes Dumb & inattentive, sometimes Raving. His Mother was sent for & was seen on the Rode. We had various accounts in Town, but Dr. Stockbridge2 being here I went to him, from whom I had the perticulars. He saith he has the Symptoms of long Distraction but his life in no apparent danger.
Thus we see the frailty of that life wch. some groan under the Burthen of some pray for the Continuance of, which many perplex with Care & vain persuits, as many embitter with feuds & animositys, which all desire with anxious Concern & yet for the most part lavish away in Trifles & impertinences; for what is life with
I have Recd. a letter from Cozin Edmund giving an account of the Death of Uncle & desireing yr. Company at Court &c. I just now packing up to return home. Let me hear by Mr. Adams every thing you desire relating to our intended Journey, Yr. loving Brother
PAINE
Abiel Leonard (1740–1777) recovered to become a minister of the church in Woodstock, Conn. (Sibley's Harvard Graduates, 14:450–456).
Dr. Benjamin Stockbridge (1704–1788) of Scituate had an extensive medical practice which ranged as far as Falmouth, Worcester, and Ipswich (NEHGR 135[1981]: 36–39).