Robert Treat Paine Papers, Volume 2
I have just received yrs. of the 21st. ult. & as it contains an enquiry relating to business I set me down to answer it immediately, All I can say abt. the Person You enquire abt. is that I dont know of any250Estate he has here to support such Credit as you mention. I am sorry you enquired of me, for no other reason than because I'm unwilling to say any thing to the dissadvantage of a man in a strange place & am satisfy'd you will not improve it to his disadvantage or mine. You may nevertheless be safe for ought any thing I know, as I am not acquainted with any of his affairs but just as have passed through the Courts. Kind Sr. I mean hereby to give you such an acct. as is consistent with a due regard to credit on one side & Interest on the other. I acknowledge yr. kindness in Answring my Quæres; tho' you mistook the design of them, wch. was not to get money of the man but to procure Sufficient Evidence of his first marriage to obtain a Divorce in Order for wch. it is necessary to prove the first marriage with JW & very unlucky it happens for the Worthy Mrs. Rachel here, that tho' she never was his Wife in strict Law yet she is not able to prove it & So is not look'd upon by us as a Candidate for an honorable Marriage. It is possible those Witnesses may return, the man especially. If any thing Should offer in this affair that may help an injured Woman, you will serve her much to let me hear of it. Mean While I Subscribe yr. obliged Freind & hble. sert.,
I Reced thine of 13th Ultim. & note the Contents. I am Sorry I have no Better Acct. of White. I hant heard one Word of him since what I wrote thee Last tho' I have Been Expecting to See him here for Some time Past, But for fear he Should not find the Way here again I now Inclose thee my Acct. Against White Properly Attested Before a Magistrate here with my Letter of Attorney that If Should come there wth. his Vessell, or lf any other way to Secure me My Money, As I did it only to Serve him it is hard I should Suffer. One of the Evidences is Tisdale the Other is Capt. Anthony a Liver in Newport, that so thou may Prove the Power of Attorney with you, And Beg thou will Serve me the Best in thy Power to Secure my Self I Dont by any means want to Distress an Honest Person. If thou Cant Act for me in this Matter I Leave it with thee to Imploy Any Suitable Person, I think it Best to be Private in this Matter, As a Noise Can be off no Use. If any Matter is not Sufficy.251Authenticated Lett me know by a Line, through Jno. G. Wanton of Newport or Via Boston.
I Expect one of the Evidences in town Shortly that Saw John Wormley Married. If She Comes will Endeavour to gett a Coppy of the Marriage from the Parsons Books Prov'd by her If she Comes & send thee, or should the Man Appear I will do the Same But as he is a Seafaring Man & no Liver here it's Quite Uncertain I Shall do all in my Power to Relieve Poor Rachal Doane, who Deserves Pitty & assistance as well as his first Wife here Who is a Worthy Body. I am they Friend
Should thou gett the money for me of White I will Send thee his Bond for the 170£ the other is Cash advanced for Insuring his Vessell att his Desire. I have his Written Orders for it.