Robert Treat Paine Papers, Volume 2
I1 am informed by my Tennant John Hathway, that one John Briggs of Barclay, has been cutteing Wood on my Farm at Freetown, and that tis thought he has for a longtime been trespassing on me, but could never before gett Sufficient proof, which Hathaway now thinks, there is, I should therefore be oblig'd to you if you'll prosecute him for Cutteing Wood off my Land. Hathaway will inform you what Evidence he has, & will follow what directions you may give him, whatever the Charge may be shall Chearfully pay you, when I may have the pleasure of seeing you, I am Sir Yor. most hume. Servant
John Borland (1729–1775), a wealthy Boston merchant who sold his commercial interests early and retired to estates in Cambridge and Braintree. During the Revolution, his property was seized and sold with Richard Cranch acting as the agent, although much was restored to the heirs after the Revolution. The Braintree home was among property later recovered by the family and was sold in 1787 to John Adams. It is now the Adams National Historical Site. RTP purchased Borland's Boston house for his own residence (Sibley's Harvard Graduates, 12:243–244).