Robert Treat Paine Papers, Volume 2
Inclosed I1 have Sent you an Account of Henry Collins Flagg of this Town Merchant agt. One Thomas Gilbert of Freetown in the County of Bristol in the Province of the Massts. Bay etc. Labourer (I beleive is the only addition he can legally have). You'l be kind enough to put it in Suit as soon as possible, and when you have effected any Thing in my Friends Behalf let me know it by Letter, or acquaint him therewith. I give you Joy of the Spirit of Liberty that has diffused itself thro' all Ranks of Men. There and then it is true we have an Esau; but I beleive there never was so large a Number of People especially so extended in their Settlements so unanimous, so resolutely bent upon standing up for those Liberties wherewith Our Glorious Constitution, and God himself hath made us free; May they be manly supported and gloriously handed down by us to latest Posterity. Our Court Met last Month and adjourns to the first Week in January. This has been very disgustful to Our sovereign Lords the People and as the Court at Providence has proceeded as usual, I believe Our Court at their next Meeting will pass by all Ceremony with the Stamp Act. I seem to be under some little Difficulty about the Matter; but the Spirit I profess agt. Oppression; and Considering how much easier it is to sail with the Currant, than to stem the Torrent, will prevail over those Difficultys and I think to fall in. Should be glad however of your Sentiments2 upon this occasion, and of the Opinion with
of the Faculty of the Province. My Regards attend on my Friends within your Knowledge and I am with truth your sincere Friend & Brother in the Faculty,
Henry Marchant (1741–1796) was born on Martha's Vineyard but moved at an early age to Newport, R.I. He studied law under Edmund Trowbridge of Cambridge, became a Son of Liberty, and later a delegate to the Continental Congress, 1777–1779. Distinguished as a lawyer, he was appointed by President Washington a judge of the United States district court in July 1790 (DAB).
RTP's diary entry for Nov. 1, 1765, reads: "The Dawn was overcast with Dark destructive Fogs and Nature seem'd to Mourn the Arrival of this ill boded dreaded never to be forgotten first of Nov. PM Eunice visited me single horse from Abington: NB Stamp Act takes place this day."
I wrote you last week by Capt. Cobb to wch. beg leave to Reffer. I have not recd. any your favrs. since you left this place.
The Bearer Mr. Hellon just Call'd on me abt. his affairs, & tells me he supposes the £200 Security by way of Capt. Crook is settled, as you had drawn a proper note of hand1 for the same for sd: Crook to sign, wch. he had forwarded to him & doubts not its sign'd, shd. be glad soon as you receive it, that you wd. bring it with you the first time you come here, unless can send it sooner by some safe Conveyance under Cover. I wd. have you Examin the sd: note thoroughly before you give up the three Vessells for I have so bad an Opinion of Hellon that believe he wd. stick at no sort villaney & therefore might make some Eracoments in the note in order to Invalidate the goodness thereof, and make it Disputable at least. His Evidence in Capt. Fossey & Williams Case has given me his true Charactor, therefore shd. be unwilling to trust him in any shape.
Mr. Hellon tells me can make out about £200 LMy. more in Iron hollow ware, at £13.6.8 per Ton, Deliver'd there within Fifteen months, (I think he says 5 Ton wd. be ready to Deliver in three or four months) but on further Consideration abt. it, I Conclude not to have any Concern wth. sd: Iron ware, therefore he must find out some other Security. I am willing to take a good obligation for the Money payable in two Years wth. Intt. till paid am willing to give up the Land at Eastown on his geting me two hundred pds. more Security towards the £700., but cannot concern my self with the Hollow ware. I shd. think he might get some good Safe person at Taunton to give an obligation for sd. £200 on Condition that he will put sd. Hollow ware in his hands as Security therefor, he must contrive some such way, as my affairs will not admitt any further loss by360him, & am certain I could not sell sd. ware here for Money at above £10 per Ton, besides a great deal of Trouble, & Expence of Cartage here wch. wd. be near three pounds per Ton so there wd: be above fifty per Ct. loss on the sale of it.
Mr. Hellon determins to Sue N. Rogers soon as the Courts of Justice are open'd, on accot. of the Brig Capt. Osborn went it, I have advis'd him to provicate that affair soon as possible, as doubt not Three or Four hundred pounds L my. may be recoverd, wch. will be ready money & sufficient to Compleat my Demand of £700. & save the Ship Yard for himself. I desired him to let you see the Receipts Mr. Rogers & his young man gave him at the time he Deliverd them the Bills of Sale of sd: Brig Fancy. Likewise to Inform you of every Step that has been taken by sd: Rogers, what past at the time he was at his House wth. Capt. Crook when Confin'd, & lastly what Witnesses he can produce in the affair, so that you may have time to Consider thoroughly on the matter, & in case he is likely to Recover of sd: Rogers, & wd. have you be prepairing accordingly, & I will joyn some person you may approve off, to assist you when the Tryall comes on. I wd. have you tell Mr. Hellon plainly that he must not pretend to play the D—l with us, as he did in Seth William's case, that you desire to know nothing but what can be proved, & to shew you all Letters papers &c. that have passed between Mr. Rogers & him, for they may possibly have come into some private agreement together about sending the Brig: away wch. will set aside any thing we may attempt against sd: Rogers. Pray let me hear from you on that affair Soon as possible.
This accompanys a News Letter, wch. may be acceptable these Dull times & long Evenings. I rest with Esteem Sr. your Most hble. Servt.
PS. Mr. Hellon mention'd that Capt. Smith could soon sell the Hollow ware if was put into his hands, perhaps Capt. Smith wd. give his note hand to pay £200 in two years & take the Iron ware for Security, if Capt. Smith is a Safe man for that Sum, am Content to take him, or any other you may propose.
On the reverse of a letter from Robert Crooke to Ratcliffe Hellon, Newport, Dec. 3, 1765, in the RTP Papers, RTP drafted the following note:
361for value recieved I promise to pay to Gilbert Deblois or Order Two hundred pounds lawful money of the Province of the Masschusetts Bay to be paid in twelve months from the date hereof with lawful Interest for the same till paid & if sd. sum be not paid at the End of twelve months from date hereof unless at the End of sd. Twelve months I give the sd. Gilbert Deblois on his order such further security for said sum of £200 as Messrs. Channing & Wickam shall allow to be good payable in twelve months after that time with lawful Interest.