Boston Febr. 9th 1765 Sir,

For Some Certain Reasons I Shall Take it as a favor If you Would Send me your Judgmt. In writing what an Hundred acres of Captn. Cobbs Land In Taunton and one Hundred acres of his Land In Attleborough with the buildings Thereon are Bona fide Worth according to the Common Estimate of Apprizement there of and I Want to Know wheither you320Think Captn. Nathan Hodges Capt George Morey or Thos Morey Esqr. of Some of them are not Sutable men to apprise the Same. I am Sir your Humble Sert.

JAMES OTIS

PS I want to Know wt. pr. Cent Lands Sett of By Execution In your neighbourhood Bring In.

JO

RC ; addressed: "For Esqr. Robert Treet Paine In Taunton These"; endorsed. Numerical tallies and a long undeciphered note in RTP's shorthand appear on the address leaf.

Boston Feby. 15 1765 Dear Sir,

The Supr. Court for the County of Suffolk is to be the Second Tuesday of March next. Our Infr. Courts at Taunton are to be the First Tuesday of May Third Tuesday of Augt. 3d. Tuesday of Nov. & 3rd Tuesday of Febry. So March Court is to Take place at May & no March Court to be held. I1 have been under great indisposition but am got much better. We have no news remarkable. I am in hopes the General Court will rise the Last of next week. I am yr. Huml. Servt.

SAML. WHITE

RC ; addressed: "To Robert Treat Paine Esqr. In Taunton per Mr. Crosman"; endorsed.

1.

Samuel White (1710–1769), the only lawyer at Taunton for twenty years until RTP settled there. He served in the House of Representatives for Taunton frequently. He was speaker of the House, 1764–1766, and was then elevated to the Council. He was also active as a colonel of the militia (Sibley's Harvard Graduates, 9:110–112).

Boston Febry. 18th: 1765. Sr.,

Yours1relating to Mr: Johonnots Affairs I received & for him Inform you that he would have his Suit against Mr. Cobb entred. The other against Hellon2 there is some doubt about. He has been informed that some others attached in Hellons hands prior to him & for as much or321more than Hellon Owes to Mr. Wheelwright & that it is most probable that Hellon is not able to pay what he Owes Wheelwright. These matters as you are on the Spot can better be enquired into by you than anyone here therefore if you will be kind eno' to take that trouble on yourself Mr. Johonnot will be obliged to you. If you find either of sd. Informations so well grounded as to make the prosecution agst. Hellon very precarious & that there are no reasonable hopes of Mr. Johonnots being bettered by the same but on the contrary be subjected to Costs you will then drop it. If on Enquiry you find the Case otherwise you will then pursue. This matter must be entirely left to your discretion. I am with respect yr. hume. Servant,

ROBT. AUCHMUTY

RC ; addressed: "To Robert Treat Paine Esqr."; endorsed.

1.

Not located.

2.

Ratcliff Hellon, a Taunton merchant, had occasional legal dealings with RTP from at least Apr. 1, 1761, when Helton assigned his power of attorney to RTP. RTP, John Adam, and George Williams, all of Taunton, were appointed trustees of Hellon's indebted estate, July 10, 1766 (Mass., Province Laws, 4:797). Hellon was listed in the 1771 tax valuation list at Taunton with two rateable polls but no other estate (Pruitt, Massachusetts Tax Valuation List of 1771, 616).