Boston March 31st. 1766 Sr.,

I have only time to let you know that I shall Embarke in a few hours for London, that I have appointed Mr. Edwd. Payne1 Merchant here my attorney & whatever Instructions &c you may stand in need of in the Conducting my Affairs you'l please to apply to him about. This accompanys Mr: Coldwell's Letters Accots. of Lumber I bout. of other364people &c. I can prove by Mr. Henry Leadbetter, Jacob Rhoads & Benj. Hood (all Ship Carpenters) that the sd: Adams, McWhorter, Davis & Coldwell deliver'd them the plank &c. to Hew agreeable to my first agreement and to pick out such only as they thought fit for outside plank & fit to Ship to Europe. I wish them (sd. Carpenters) my agreemt. wth. the Persons above mentiond who were to furnish the Lumber, what Sort Stuff? I was to have of them &c. I hope if you loose the case at Inferiour Court, youl stop its going forwd: till my Return, as I can prove Coldwell has greatly overch'd me in Price if nothing more. Inclos'd is an order on my Bror. Lewis,2 wch. he has accepted, & will pay off punctually at the time or sooner if much wanted, pray get the Execution against Fossey Discharged and accept the paymt. of the Inclose Order in favr. my Bror. wch. you may Deliver to him when you come to Town. I am in very great haste Sr. Your much obligd hble Servt.

GILBERT DEBLOIS

Ps. the Order on my Bror. is Dated 2d March but he is not to pay the money till 3 mo. from this time—31st March 1766.

PS. my Bror. Lewis has signd a Bale Bond wth. me for my appearance & you must Carry the Case to Supperiour Court if its not Settled in my favour before.

RC ; addressed: "To Robt. Treat Payne Esqr. at Taunton"; endorsed.

1.

Edward Payne (d. 1788) was a prominent Boston merchant allied with the Amory family through his marriage to Rebecca Amory in 1756. He was wounded during the Boston Massacre in 1770. In 1784 he was one of the incorporators of the Massachusetts Bank (Thwing Index).

2.

Lewis Deblois (1727–1799) was in partnership with his brother Gilbert in the importing and sales of hardware and other foreign goods. Like his brother, he left Boston with General Howe's fleet in 1776 and settled in London (NEHGR 67[1913]:12).

Attleboro Aprill 4. 1766 Sr.,

I1 congratulate You & my Countrymen upon the repeal of the Stamp Act the news of which I am told is forwarded this Week from Philadelphia to Boston by the sons of Liberty &c:2

Mr. Billington3 is with me urging forbearance 'till Next Fall offering with Sufficient Suretys, to Secure me the payment of the money & Interest365at that Time & in Such manner as shall be recoverable before a single Justice.

I want the money but have no mind to hurt the Man & therfore consent that upon his paying You the whole Cost heithertoo Arisen, You may exchange The Bond in Your hands for Sufficient Security upon the beforemention'd Plann.

And so drop the Suit commenced. In the mean time I am Yr. Respectfully in haste,

P. THACHER

N.B.

RC ; addressed: "To Robert-Treat Pain Esqr. at Taunton"; endorsed.

1.

Peter Thacher (176–1785), minister of the East Parish of Attleboro and descendant of a long line of clerics (Sibley's Harvard Graduates, 10:245–249).

2.

News of the repeal of the Stamp Act reached Boston on May 19. The day was celebrated with fire works and general rejoicing (Rowe, Letters and Diary, 95). RTP was at Plymouth for a session of the superior court. He recorded in his diary on the 19th: 'This day spent in rejoicing for the repeal of the Stamp Acts, a Procession at Plymo. of all orders everyone carrying a Badge of their business & a standard before them with this Inscription, Stamp Act repeald Liberty restored, all Trades flourishing, GOD save the King & Bless the Parliament, in the Evening a fine Ball."

3.

Ichabod Billington of Plymouth.