Robert Treat Paine Papers, Volume 2
I receiv'd your favour per Cap. Jenkins also your power to take into my possesion your House where the late Mr. James Freeman lived. But Mr. Ferguson1 who assists Mrs. Freeman in settling her affairs, Disputes your Right to the Estate, and soposees it belongs to your Sister, and also that Mr. Freeman had in his lifetime been at considerable Expence building Teniments on the Estate by order or Leave of your father, and Therefore soposes the widdow is to have some satisfaction for such Expences. But I donot here of any written Lease or Agreement. Youl Therefore please to give me your further Instructions about the primises and I shall act Agreeable thereto. In the mean while I am Your most Huml. Servt.
Henry Ferguson (d. 1777) was a baker and merchant by trade, a deacon of St. Matthew's Church in Halifax, served in the legislative assembly, 1758–1759, and was later a justice of the peace (A Directory of the Members of the Legislative Assembly of Nova Scotia [Halifax, 1958], 116).
I Recd. your favour of the 18th of May by Jenkins And Am verey glad to hear that you are in Health. My Dificgulty in Los of so Dear a husband is verey grat which never will be Repaird to me. God grant grace to submit to his will. My Afairs is very unsetled. I have Administred but Canot get my Debts in. Peopl seems to trifel with me and Having No Relations beer to help me I Canot tell what to do. As for your Acounts I Recd. them And I know not what to do. My Dear husbant told me to write for you And Said he hoped you would Do by him And his family as he had Don by yours. I have thre children And my old mother which non can help themselves And if I could Get Aney way to Live in New England and mentain my family I should be Glad to Com but can Do nothing till I hear from you. As for the hous that you sent to Mr. Burbag About I know my husbant Laid out Near forty pound on Building on that Estat. I know not on what terms only I Am Confident that you will not96Let my family suffer on that Acount. I have got A man to Look over my Husbants Books And we Canot find Knox but found Mr. Lees1 which there is Indosed 15 pound on the Back of it paid to Mr. Pain. Pray write to me the first opertunity. There is a box with Gloves and one with Books which I have heer of Uncel Pains. If you Desier it I will send to you. Dear Cusn Robert Dont faill to write me your Advis if you Cant Come And I will Endavour to folow your Direction As far fare as posable. Sir, as I cant writ myself but obleged to Another I Cant tell you all I would say. Your cousn James is a fine boy. I Give my self the Liberty to subscribe my self your Afectionat cousn
Leigh's.