Nov. 1782 Hon. Sr.,

Knowing you are at all Times hurried beyond Measure, I ought to apologize for this Intrusion, which I shou’d not have dar’d to have made, were I not will acquainted with Your natural Goodness & Benevolence.

I beg leave to inform you Sr., that I have lately been inform’d that the Justices of the Supreme Judicial Court have not, yet, appointed a Clerk to succeed Mr. Henshaw, if that is the Case, & you shou’d think me equal to the Place, as I am in no Stated Business for a livelihood, I shou’d be glad to accept it, if I cou’d, at the same Time serve myself & the Public.1 I don’t mean that I am destitute of a livelihood, for I have a small Farm in Newbury, which, with the public Business I do, affords me a snug Support; However, I had much rather be in some regular Way; If therefore, upon the whole, the Court is yet unprovided, & you think you cou’d serve the Public by giving me your Influence, allowing my family still to reside at Newbury Port; In doing it you wou’d oblige him who is with profound Esteem

& Respect, Honble. Sr., your Honor’s most obedt., & very hble. Servt., Nicolas Pike

RC ; addressed: “Hon. Robert T. Pain Esq: Boston”; postal endorsement: “NP. paid 1:8.”; endorsed, with notation: “out of pocket Jany. 10th 1783.”

1.

Andrew Henshaw’s successor as clerk of the courts in Suffolk County was John Tucker (1753–1825), appointed in 1783. Tucker, a 1774 Harvard graduate, also succeeded Henshaw in the marital bed when he married the widow Sally (Prince) Henshaw in 1785 (Sibley’s Harvard Graduates, 18:520–522).

Pownalboro’ Novr. 1. 1782 Sir,

At our last Court Major Lithgow, whom I told you would appear for the State vs. Absentees, and upon whom I depended, absolutely refused to be concerned. I was therefore obliged to get all those Causes continued to next Term, when it will be necessary that you should attend in Person, as the Gentlemen of the Law this Way do not incline to be concerned for 235 Government. John Tyng Esq and the Heirs of Eleazr. Tyng Esq. decd. have fil’d Claims, each for 1/8 of the Estates of Gardiner Apthorp and Vassal. I have not yet been able to obtain the bounds of Carlton’s Land nor of Waterhouse’s, but expect to accomplish it soon, and shall then compleat the Libels and send you the Notification. The Libel vs. Waldo must be omitted for the present, unless you can furnish me with a List of his Lands. The Blank you designed for him I have filled up vs. Doctor Gardiner, for some Lands which were omitted in the former Libel.

I am, sir, Your very hble. Servt. Jona. Bowman

RC ; internal address: “Hon. Robert Treat Paine Esq.”