Robert Treat Paine Papers, Volume 2
I1 am inform'd that the Executor of the Estate, of the late Tenant, of part of the Land at Dighton, which belongs to the Estate of my late Husband, have advertiz'd for sale the land which he ocupy'd. To prevent any difficultys from arising by their improper conduct herein, I desire you will be so good as to take a proper method of opposing the sale by a public notification or otherways as may be suitable. Your humble servant
Grizzell (Eastwicke) Apthorp (1709–1796), widow of Charles Apthorp (1698–1758). She was489 born in Jamaica into a strongly royalist family and became the mother of eighteen children, including Charles Ward Apthorp (Thwing Index).
Mr. Liscombe has been with me this morning & offers me Iron in payment for my part of the House &c. I have no use for it & have made him this offer which he accepts vizt. to take his bond of this date for £60 payable six months after date with interest from the date, without any consideration for past interest or rent. He says he shall have the money for his Iron at that period. You will be so good as to negotiate this business as above, taking collateral security with the bond.1 I am with much esteem Sir your very obed & Hble. Servt.
See Gregory Townsend to RTP, Feb. 1, 1771.
Mr. Brattle1 presents His Complements to Robt. Treat Pain Esqr. informing Him that upon His motion the Committee have altered the time of going to Dighton from the fourtenth of May next to Tuesday the seventh of the same may. Mr. Brattles health & weather permitting, will be at Taunton half after one of the same day.2
William Brattle (1706–1776) practiced law, served as a justice of the peace, and often represented his native Cambridge in the House of Representatives. Active in military affairs, he was appointed major general of the provincial troops in 1773, but upon the evacuation of Boston he left with the British troops and settled in Halifax (Sibley's Harvard Graduates, 7:10–23).
RTP appeared before the General Court at Cambridge on Apr. 16 as agent for the town of Dighton in answer to a petition by Sylvester Richmond et al. On May 7, he noted in his diary: "PM went to Dighton as their agent before Maj. Genral Brattle Capt. Dix & Capt. Heath a Cmttee. of Genral Court on the Petn. of Col. Richmond & al."
The dispute concerned the erection of a second parish within Dighton and the collection of ministerial rates. The legislature resolved to exempt the petitioners, who were supporting the new490parish, from future Dighton taxes but continued their obligation to pay debts on the new town meetinghouse and for the support of Rev. Nathaniel Fisher, "their aged and venerable Pastor" (Journals of the House of Representatives, 48:81).