Robert Treat Paine Papers, Volume 2
In answer to yours from Plymouth I wd: inform you that yours1 inclosing The Notes &c & directg. The Entry of Sundry actions, I did not receive 'till Thursday after The Day of Entry, But by an application to the Court was permitted to enter The Actions vs Bagnal & Jenks vs Andrews both of which are defaulted. That agst: Mason was entered before by Mr. Otis.2
As to news The great affair of Peace is at Length near a Conclusion & I hope on Such Terms as will be lasting & honorable.3 So much for Politicks.
Private affairs. Last night or rather This morng: a Fire broke out in Mr. Story's Kitchen but no more Damage than a few Pounds out of his Pocket &c. &c. &c. Yours in great Haste.
P:S: If Mr. Blanchard's young man comes to you with This and asks your Direction respecting The Service of a Writ, please to advise him.
Excuse the Interlineations which indicate Haste, and be assured of a longer next.
Neither located.
These several cases probably refer to the February term 1763 of the Superior Court at Suffolk County, which RTP attended on Feb. 22. Neither of the defaulted cases appears in the court minute books although RTP noted in his cash book on Feb. 8, cash expended "By Exns. vs. Andrews & Bagnal." On July 26 he received £1.19 for "Costs Exn. Maybury vs. Bagnal." The case which James Otis entered that session was "John Huillet aplt. v. Benja. Mason aplee." with Otis representing the appellee. The jury found for the appellant (Superior Court of Judicature, Suffolk Co., Minute Book).
The preliminary articles of peace between England and France were signed at Fontainbleau, Nov. 3, 1762, but not reported in the Boston News-Letter until Jan. 11, 1763. The final Peace of Paris ending the Seven Years' War was signed on Feb. 10.
I1 am now return'd to Abington where I shall remain 'till March next, As to my Affair with Mr. Winslow I would have you settle it upon the best terms you can, & I'll satisfy you for your trouble. What I owe you, I shall be Glad to be Excused paying 'till next fall, at which time the debt shall be discharged wth. honour & Interest; I Expect then to resettle in Abington; Interim I am Sr. your humble. Servt.,
Mr. Jackson give's me leave to write a p. s. In my last I inform'd you of your Sisters2 Illness, I have now the pleasure to tell you that after bleading twice & taking of severall Medicines she is about house again, but a perfect Invalede. We are otherwise well, as is also, Sister Eunice all things Considere'd I am Sr. yr. friend & brother,
Edmund Jackson, Jr. (b. 1720/1), gentleman of Abington, was involved in an ongoing case of trespass on a debt with Isaac Winslow of Roxbury, touched upon in earlier letters to RTP on Nov. 27, 1758, and Dec. 29, 1760 (Plymouth Court Records, 7:392–393). Another letter (Feb. 7, 1761) from Jackson to RTP not included in this edition concerned a suit against him by Adam Cushing.
Abigail Paine Greenleaf.