March 1780

Paine, Robert T., 1731-1814

Printed document signed

Title: [Confiscating the property of John Troutbeck, a Tory from Massachusetts]

Partially form filled in and signed by Paine, the Attorney General of Massachusetts. States that because Troutbeck removed to British territory (during the American Revolution" his property in Waltham, Massachusetts was being confiscated in accordance with "An Act for confiscating the Estates of certain Person commonly called Absentees." Extensive autograph fill-ins and some alterations of the printed portion. Docket reads "Government & People vs. John Troutbeck."

GLC03412

May 1786

Paine, Robert T., 1731-1814

Autograph document signed

Title: [Indictment of Uriah Goodman for forgery]

Countersigned by Israel Chapin. Charges Goodwin with forgery and counterfeiting. Endorsement signed by John Tucker as clerk and dated September term, 1787 states that Goodwin pleaded not guilty. He was convicted and sentenced to stand in the pillory at Springfield for one hour, and another hour in the pillory at North Hampton. Written as Massachusetts Attorney General.

GLC03373

29 August 1780

Paine, Robert T., 1731-1814

Autograph document signed

Title: [Indictment of William Samson for counterfeiting currency]

Signed by Paine as an attorney and also signed by John Bathes, Caleb Swan, and a Mr. Greenleaf as witnesses, and by Samuel Welles as foreman. Gives the details of the counterfeiting case against Samson. Paine is listed as an attorney.

GLC03952

26 August 1777

Paine, Robert T., 1731-1814

Autograph document signed

Title: [Indictment of Nathaniel Davis, printer, for counterfeiting money]

Signed by Paine as prosecutor for the state of Massachusetts. Countersigned by Daniel Parker as the jury foreman and five witnesses. Specifies the jury's charges against Davis in detail. Dated the "Last Tuesday of August." Names penned by Paine, including that of Benjamin Edes, the printer of the June 18, 1776 Massachusetts issue, the one probably forged.

GLC00277

July 4, 1776

Paine, Robert T., 1731-1814

Broadside signed

Title: [Oath of allegiance to the independence of the United States]

Signed by 12 men, including two signers of the Declaration of Independence, Robert Treat Paine and Matthew Thornton. Paine's signature is unusual because he is from Massachusetts. Certifies that the signers, "Do solemnly swear, that I do renounce, refuse, and abjure, any Allegiance, or Obedience to George the III, King of Great Britain: and that I will to the utmost of my Power, support, maintain and defend the Independence of all the United States of America." Goes on to state that the signers also swear an oath of allegiance to the state of New Hampshire. Other political leaders that…

GLC00170

26 May 1768

Paine, Robert T., 1731-1814

Autograph document signed

Title: re: appointment of Daniel Leonard

[Title continued] of Taunton (Bristol County) as attorney for John White of Falmouth (Cumberland County). Signed by Paine as Justice of the Peace.

GLC00184.37

February 5, 1780

Paine, Robert T., 1731-1814

Autograph document signed

Title: [Legal document pertaining to the confiscation of William Walter's property]

On behalf of the states of Massachusetts, Treat, the state attorney general, writes to the Justices of the Superior Court to argue the case for confiscating a tory's property in Boston. Claims Walter "levied War and Conspired to levy War against the government and People of this Province Colony and State." Describes him as an absentee loyalists whose messuage and land in Boston were confiscated on 20 April 1775 according to "An Act for Confiscating the Estates of certain persons Commonly called absentees." Argues that the property should "accrue to the sole use and benefit of the…

GLC00133

16 July 1776

Paine, Robert T., 1731-1814

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Informs Knox that the British approach necessitates a change in location for casting brass cannons and indicates that an air furnace will be set up in Pennsylvania. Congress will still offer to employ Mr. Byers for the job if it can be done at a reasonable cost. Inquires if brass cannons can be cast without sea coal and expresses concerns about the weight of the cannons to be cast. Reports that Congress has written Byers a letter and urges Knox to send it to him and have him reply expeditiously. Mentions that Knox has new visitors and asks him to "treat them in a very polite manner,"…

GLC02437.00379

20 June 1776

Paine, Robert T., 1731-1814

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Asks Knox for a response to a separate letter. Informs Knox that "Congress has ordered some Iron field pieces to be cast." Wishes to know the "state of our furnace at N York," so he can decide if the cannon should be cast there. Also wishes Knox good luck in battle. Refer to GLC02437.00365 for Knox's reply.

GLC02437.00506

July 11 1780

Paine, Robert T., 1731-1814

Document signed

Title: [Gov and people vs. Henry Laughton]

As Massachusetts Attorney General, authorizes the seizure of properties belonging to an absentee Tory, Henry Laughton, "late of Boston."

GLC09293

6 June 1791

Paine, Robert T., 1731-1814

Letter signed

Title: to Governor John Hancock

Regarding adjournment of the Massachusetts General Court. "...the Justices of the Court... will scarcely have time sufficient to recover from the fatigue, which they must necessarily undergo, in so long a Circuit, in the hottest season of the year, & prepare for the other business of the Government, which will not be closed until the middle of November. We fear from the arduousness of the Judicial business in this Govenrment, that our health & our lives may be endangered, as is now the unhappy situation of our Chief Justice."

GLC09105

September 1785

Paine, Robert T., 1731-1814

Document signed

Title: [Indictment of Joseph Harris as a counterfeiter]

Countersigned by Nathan Rowley. Charging Harris with defrauding and injuring the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in May 1785 by making 800 pieces of counterfeit money in mixed metals. Paine was Attorney General of Massachusetts 1777-1796.

GLC08206