Robert Treat Paine Papers, Volume 2
Inclosed you have a copy1 of my fathers2 demands against one Josiah Winslow3 of Freetown who has treated my father very ungratefully. My father found him in England, friendless and money-less, took pity upon him cloathed & equip'd him like a gentleman & procured an ensigns commission for him in the regular service, for which he drew the bill of exchange which on my fathers return from England, was presented to Mr. James Winslow4 for his acceptance & payment, but he refused to do either, and out of tenderness the bill never was offered to a notary519 public to be protested & not a farthing of it ever paid. I am informed he is lately returned home, but in what circumstances I know not, should be glad you wou'd enquire and if possible secure this money, in doing which you will greatly oblige, not only my father, but also your friend & hume. Servant,
Not located.
Gen. John Winslow (1703–1774) served in the British army in Nova Scotia and Newfoundland, and in 1754 was appointed major general of the Massachusetts militia by Governor Shirley. The following year he was promoted to lieutenant colonel of a regiment raised to assist Lt. Gov. Charles Lawrence of Nova Scotia in removing French influence in that province. Winslow was placed in charge of removing the Acadian population to other British colonies and remained in military service until 1757 when he returned to Massachusetts (DCB, 4:774–775).
Probably the Josiah Winslow, son of Edward Winslow of Freetown, Mass., and nephew of Col. James Winslow (below).
Col. James Winslow (1712–1777) served Freetown as town treasurer, selectman, and justice of the peace. In 1771 he was appointed captain of the 2d Regiment of Militia of Bristol Co. (David P. and Frances Holton, Winslow Memorial: Family Records of Winslows and Their Descendants in America, with the English Ancestry as far as known, 2 vols. New York, 1877–1888, 1:139–140).
Made the following Report, the Inhabitants of the Town of Taunton having Read (the above Letters & Pamphlets) are of Opinion that the Rights Privalidges & immunitys of the Colonists and the violations infringments & violations of the same are in general well Stated by the Inhabitants of the town of Boston in their meeting in Novr. 1772 & transmitted by them to this Town sometime past, but as so many of the towns in this Province have expressed their minds largely on this Subject we do not think it will be expected of us at this Period to enter largely perticularly upon the Subjects it, Yet we cannot but express our great Uneasiness to find from long Observation that our Libertys have been so repeatedly violated & infringed & that so many Plans have been laid & so many measures taken and are still in Operation to undermine the foundation of our Libertys them.
It gives us great Pleasure to find that the Metropolis of this Province the Centre of Communication instead of Conniving at or assisting in these520measures by which they the opulent & powerful might avail themselves of Public Calamitys, have been so attentive to & searched out the designs of our Enemy, & transmitted the earliest accounts of the same to the interiour Parts of the Government. It also gives us pleasure that the Representatives of the Province have from time so firmly Adhered to the Libertys of their Country & as they have Considered & acted upon many of the matters now laid before their Town we think it needless to express our minds any further than that we acquiesce in their wise Conduct & hope that by the
Patriotic conduct & persevering Efforts of our Representative Body we shall will be instrumental of relieving us from the Greivances under which we Labour & of restoring that Harmony between G. Britain & the Colonys so necessary to the happiness of both.
At a Boston town meeting held on Oct. 28, 1772, and continued by adjournment to Nov. 2, a Committee of Correspondence was appointed "to state the Rights of the colonists, and of this Province in particular, as men, as Christians, and as Subjects,; to Communicate and Publish the same to the several towns in this Province, and to the World, as the Sense of this Town, with the Infringements and Violations thereof that have been, or from Time to Time may be made; also requesting of each Town a free Communication of their Sentiments on this Subject." The report was read and amended at the Boston town meeting of Nov. 20, 1772, ordered to be printed and distributed to the selectmen of the towns in the province (The Votes and Proceedings of the Freeholders and other Inhabitants of the Town of Boston, In Town Meeting assembled, According to Law. [Published by Order of the town.] to which is prefixed, as Introductory, an attested copy of a Vote of the town at a preceeding meeting. Boston: Printed by Edes and Gill, [1772]).
At a Taunton town meeting held on Aug. 28, 1773, a committee consisting of RTP (as chairman), George Godfrey, Benjamin Williams and Daniel Leonard, Esqrs., and Mr. Nathaniel Carver was appointed to consider the Boston letter as well as other pamphlets sent to the town and to draw such votes "as shall be expedient for said Town to pass and to Report to said Town at the Adjournment of their meeting" (RTP Papers).