Taunton February 8th: 1779 Dear Sir,

Yours of the 2d. Instant1 I Recd. with the $282 Dollors Returned & the Treasrs. Note, therein you Inform that the Bord of War was Not Disposed to Take the Bills of the Two Emetions & that you Could not Say the whole of the money was for the Guns I Sold, (that Came to me unasked for) that Cash has ben in my house part three months and part more than 80 Twelve which was for those very Guns Saveing 93 Dollors that I Sent you by my son, had I Ever Suspected Such usage while performing my dutey as a public offier appointed to Receive & Dispose of Said Guns, at the Time of there being Sent, I Never would Recd: them & Supplyed Each Town theire proper proportion (Saveing one), Eighty five of those Very Guns I Lent Genl: Spencer on his Requesition uppon the Secret Expedetion2 Som was ruened Som Returned & Som now in His possession or his officrs, I have Spent in Expence & Time more than fifty Dollors to reposess the Same, as yet I have failed, perhaps the Queston may be asked Why I had not Sent the money before, a Good reason is at hand. Two Towns at this day are Indebted about 140 £ for sd. Guns. My Designe was to Collect that before I Sent the other, I Should Take it as a marke of freindship Should you Inform them of the contents of the above & urge them once more to Receive the Cash I Sent by you I Shall DD Mrs: Paine your Reciete as Requested.

Sur If it is Requested necessary for So Short Service that a Staff role must be made up & Sent to providence to the paymaster & then be Turned of to Hispanolia & wate there on Expence Two years I had at Good rest—Satisfyed with bareing my owne Expence. I have no Doubte of your Benevolence in the premises, yr: Honour will Consider that when officers have Exerted them Selves in the Common Cause to have no Compensation is Very Discouredging, I have Enclosed a Short memorial as you Desired, it may be a refined Taste will not receive the Same, if aney other way Should be thought more proper you have my approbation to Signe my Name for that purpose, be pleased at your Leasure Howers to Send me further Inteligence.

With Great Esteem, I am yr: Honours moste obedient & Hbl. Serv: George Godfrey

PS: Yr: famely is well, Leut: Thayor3 is Decesed his widow now Down with the Small pox,

G:G

RC ; adressed: “To Honbl: Robr: T Paine Esqr: Boston”; endorsed.

1.

Not located.

2.

A “secret expedition” to attack British forces in Rhode Island marched from Taunton on Sept. 29, 1777, under Col. George Williams and the command of Gen. Joseph Spencer, but Spencer canceled the expedition, leading to congressional pressure to mount an inquiry. Although he was exonerated, Spencer resigned his commission (American National Biography).

3.

Lt. William Thayer of Taunton died of smallpox on Feb. 2; his widow apparently survived the disease (Vital Records of Taunton, Massachusetts [Boston, 1929], 3:196).