Boston 14th Febry. 1769. Sir,

We wrote you a few Days past per Mr. Hellon by whom we sent you our acco. against Mr. Leonard1 to be filled in Court,2 which hope you have recd. since which have received your favor of the 4th Instant3 & note the Contents. We are quit willing to have our Dispute settled by a Rule of Court & as such do accept of either Mr. Avery Greenleaf or443Cushing persons mentioned by him. If he intends to have it thus settled it will be quit Needless for either of us to be at the Trouble of Comeing to Taunton for the Referees will be the Judges of the Necessity of Capt. Sheppards Evedence you may lett him know that we are Desirous of haveing it soon Closed as such when we come together we will do every thing on our parts that shall be thot by them to be Resonable as we do not want any advantage of him by keeping him out of his money. Our Familys are so situated as Renders it impossible to come up to Taunton. You must do the best you can for us & if he will not leave it to a Rule Court & you cannot gett it Continued for Capt. Sheppards Return perhaps it may go up to the Supr. Court by Cons If not you must appeal for us. We are with Esteem Sir your most ob. Serts.

BENJA. & ED. DAVIS

RC .

1.

George Leonard (1729–1819).

2.

RTP noted in his cash book under Jan. 24, 1769: "Benja. & Edwd. Davis vs. Geo. Leonard 3d—28/." This case was not filed at the Bristol County Court of Common Pleas and was presumably settled out of court.

3.

Not located.

Barnstable March 9th 1769 Sir,

At the Request of Mr. John Gibbs of Sandwich I write to desire this favor of you as it will not only Serve him & me too viz to Take Justice Godfrees1 Bond for the Debt & Costs on the Judgtm. & Execution that John Lambert is now In Goal on giveing him Six or Twelve months Time on Interist from the Date of the Judgment only Lambert Should Be Credited four Pounds Sixteen that he Paid Gibbs and I Suppose has a Recept for. Your Care will much oblige your Humble Servtn.

JAMES OTIS

RC ; addressed: "For Esqr. Robert Treet Pain In Taunton"; endorsed.

1.

George Godfrey of Taunton (1720/1–1793) served as a justice of the peace for Bristol Co. from 1760. During the Revolution he was Taunton's representative to the General Court and brigadier general of the Bristol County militia (Whitmore, Mass. Civil List, 144; Mass. Soldiers & Sailors, 6:526).