Boston May 14. 1770 Sir,

I recd. your Favor of 5th Inst.1 and really I can't take upon me to say that Mr. Adam absolutely promised to mortgage double the Value of the Debt; 'tis true he proposed giving security, and mentioned his Ship Yard as well the Lands all which he valued at double the Sum of the note, and I tho't was willing to mortgage the whole, but however if he will did not intend it, and as it will not destroy the Force of the note, I am content to take only the Land as Security, and that I expect be properly mortgaged 'till he makes Sale of his Vessell and discharges the note. Your getting it effected will oblige Yr. hum. Servt.

THOMAS GRAY

RC ; addressed: "To R T Payne Esqr. Attorney at Law In Taunton"; endorsed.

1.

Not located.

Plymouth May 17th. 1770 Dear Eunice,

I have just time to inform you that last Monday 5 oClock P.M. my Sally brought forth a remarkable fine Boy having Endured a natural Regular uncommonly tedious & painful Travail for 21 hours. The poor Girl endured beyond description. I left her very comfortable being obliged to come here to Court, & yesterday heard she was well, but I have not yet recovered from the distress of my Anxiety. The Boy weigh'd between 12 & 14 lbs. Pray give my Love to Mrs. Cranch & Mrs. Adams & inform 'em of this matter. Hoping yr. Welfare I am yr. married father Brother

R. T. PAINE

RC ; addressed: "To Miss Eunice Paine at Boston"; endorsed.

1.

RTP records in his diary on May 14, 1770, that at 5 o'clock PM his wife Sally was delivered of his first child, weight 10 pounds.

Robert Paine (1770–1798) graduated from Harvard in 1789 and went into his father's office to study law. When RTP was made a justice of the Supreme Judicial Court in 1790, the son continued as a student in the office of the new attorney general, James Sullivan.470He was admitted to the bar in 1792 and practiced in Boston until his sudden death from yellow fever in 1798 (MHS Proceedings, 19[1881–1882]: 164–166).