Robert Treat Paine Papers, Volume 3

beta

From Perez Morton

Morton, Perez RTP

Council Chamber In Watertown Augst. 12th. 1775 Sir,

I am directed by the Honble. Council to Notify you that Tuesday the 22d. day of August current at 10 Clock A M. is assigned for the holding a General Council, at the Council Chamber In Watertown, and to request your attendance at time & place.1

Perez Morton Secr’y protemp

RC ; addressed: “To The Honble. Robert Treat Paine Esqr. Taunton”; endorsed.

RTP, who was already a member of the House of Representatives as well as the Continental Congress, noted in his diary for Aug. 24: “this day I accepted a Seat at the Board.” He would have automatically relinquished his seat in the House upon elevation to the Council, but no replacement appears to have been named.

From Apollos Leonard

Leonard, Apollos RTP

Cambridge Augt: 22, 1775 Sr.,

I am obliged to go to Roxbury this morng. & wou’d beg this favr. of you, that is, If all my millitary Strings shou’d Fail, that you wou’d Remember me In the Civil way. You are sensible there is no Justice of the peace from your House to the North Line in Taunton, a vacancy I should Like to Fill.1 Your Kind Attention (In whose power ’tis to serve) will forever oblige yr. undoubtd. Friend & very Humble Sert.

Apos. Leonard

RC : addressed: “To The Honble. Robert Treat Paine Esqr. Watertown (Mr. Hunts)”; endorsed.

Leonard’s name does not appear on the list of justices until 1783. He later held other county and local offices including that of representative to the General Court ( Sibley’s Harvard Graduates , 16:188).