Abington Sept. 30th 1762 Sr.,

By This time I suppose you have heard of my difficultys altho' I've had no Opertunity of Informing you myself. I have been Such and Ill treated by several persons and how the Matter will Terminate I know not. I want Exceedingly to see you & have your advice. Mr. Wheelwright1 is my close friend & offers me large assistance & this day I am to wait upon him in Boston. If he does as he promises my difficultys will be short & I doubt not of his veracity.

I am Sued by Mr. Hovey's brother Jackson for £13,6,8 without a dunn the debt was due to his Mother in Law (decd.) from whome I had a Letter not long since desiring me to pay the money if I could without Streightning myself. 2

Torrey threw the Summons at the door as Caleb was shuting at it & it fell in the Yard. I was not at home. Query; is it a good Service?

If I finish my business in Boston before Plymouth Court is over I will come down. If not please to tell Jackson if he will drop the Action I will pay him in English goods or Barr Iron on demand for I have more than a Thousand pounds worth by me. I will also pay the Charge. If he refuses, I must demurr. If I should not come please to manage the affair for me as you think best. I should be glad also if you would take out the Rule of Court in Lambarts Case,3 & renew my Licence for me.4 Mr. Norton will give you the Excise master's rect. & I'll pay you The Cash you advance. I hope to save you this Trouble by being present myself as I shall be if my Boston affairs admitt.

The Family are in Tolerable Health.

How does Eunice do? If I don't see you at Plymouth I shall fetch her I believe in about ten days if she is at Taunton. I am Sr. yr. Loving brother &c.,

JOS. GREENLEAF

RC ; addressed: "To Mr. Robt. Treat Paine Attorney att Plymouth"; endorsed.

1.

Perhaps John Wheelwright, Jr. (d. 1786), the Boston merchant (Thwing Index).

2.

Samuel Jackson of Plymouth, as administrator to the estate of his mother-in-law Experience Atwood of Plymouth, sued Joseph Greenleaf for default on a 12-month note for £13.6.8 plus interest. The judgment for the plaintiff was upheld on appeal (Common Pleas, Oct. 1762, in Plymouth Court Records, 8:68, 73). James Hovey, the Plymouth attorney, was married to the elder half-sister of Jackson's wife (William T. Davis, Ancient Landmarks of Plymouth [Boston, 1873], pt. 2, p. 7).

237 3.

Greenleaf attached Luke Lambard, bricklayer of Braintree, for default on a debt, July 1762. The case was referred to referees and decided in favor of Greenleaf to the amount of £2.13.4, plus costs of £4.4.10, at the Jan. 1763 court (Common Pleas, Jan. 1763, Plymouth Court Records, 8:75).

4.

Greenleaf s license as a retailer was renewed by the Court of General Sessions, Oct. 1762 (Plymouth Court Records, 3:173).