Bos. Augt. 15th 1765 Sr.,

This you'l receive by Mr. Adam Incloseing Sundry Papers relative to the Case between Williams & Fossey.1 I fear as Mrs. Deblois2 is Confin'd to her bed that the Situation of my Family will not admitt of seeing you next week, & fearing I shd. have no other oppy. thought best to forward such proof as could now procure, tomorrow I shall be able to get more & if can find oppy. will send it you.

Mr. Wm. Smith's Deposition seald, you'l deliver or open at Court, a Copy of it you have here Inclos'd. Mr. Robinson:s I believe will be rather more particular in his accot. of the matter wch. will be done tomorrow as to Henry Leadbetter he is now at work at Dighton for Eb: Stetson, if you could see him to take his Deposition, or Summon'd to attend the Tryal, t'wd. help us, may shew him what Wm. Smith has declar'd &c. Capt. Fossey declairs that Mr. Hellon Engaged for the Pay for Richardson & Son wth. Mr. Roads a Deposition from one of them I will Send you. As to the Cartg. of pitch & Oacum I paid for it as I agreed with sd. Williams to do when the work was done. You'l observe sd. Williams mentions at Bottom of the Accot: that the above sd. men work't a Board of Mr. Hellons Ship, the ship was Mr. Hellon's till Compleated & therefore seems to speak for itself, that the sd. Workmen:s boards shd. be pd. by sd. Hellon, its very Clear to me not if sd: Williams Expected all the while the sd: men where at Board in his house, that Cap Fossey was to pay for it, that he wd. have certainly Demanded the money of him while he was in349that neighbourhood, & at the time when he paid him off the two accots. here Inclos'd, (wch. was for Men that sd: Fossey did Engaged in wth. sd. Williams for their Board &c:) he wd. then have Demanded paymt. for sd: Smith, Leadbetter, Robinson, Richardson & Son & H. J. Roads Expences. I have not time to be Correct but if the matter is not Settled in Capt. Fossey's Favour, Carry it to the Sup. Court. I am yrs. &c.

G. DEBLOIS

RC ; endorsed.

1.

The case of Thomas Fossey (represented by RTP and Hovey) v. Seth Williams (represented by White and Trowbridge) was heard before the Oct. 1765 session of the Superior Court at Bristol County. The jury found for Williams and awarded him damages and costs (Minute Book, Superior Court of Judicature, Bristol Co.).

2.

Ann (Coffin) Deblois (1730–1808) had given birth to her tenth child (of 16) on Aug. 10 (NEHGR 67[1913]: 9, 11).

Boston Augt. 16. 1765 Sr.,

I wrote you a few Lines yesterday by Mr. Adam, wch. Inclos'd some papers respecting the action between Williams & Fossey wch. hope you'l receive Safe this Evening. I here Inclose some other Proof &c. that you may be able to Smoke sd. Williams & his wife, as they have not the least Colour or Shaddow of a Demand on Capt. Fossey, wch. I think will plainly appear to the Court. I hope youl make sd: Williams produce his first Entry Book, wch. beg you'l Examin all through the month of March 1764. but wether any thing appears there or not, I think the Accot. Mr. Robinson gives is full & Sufficient to prove that Hellon was to be pay master. Capt. Fossey tells me that there was one Mr. Edwd. Bobbett, who lives near Dighton and can give some accot. of this affair—that there was one Newell who Mr. Hellon Employ'd to work on sd. ship, that he Boarded at sd. Williams wth: the rest of the workmen. Vizt. Smith Lead-better, Robinson, Richardson &c., & that both Bobbett & Newell has offan heard Mr. & Mrs. Williams says that Mr. Hellon was to pay for all their Board & c. I am Your Frd. & c.

GT. DEBLOIS

RC ; addressed: "To Robt. Treat Paine Esqr. Attorney at Law In Taunton per Liscomb"; endorsed. Note by RTP on letter text: "Henry Leadbetter."