Autographs
Declaration Signer Robert Treat Paine Confiscates Land
ROBERT TREAT PAINE (1731-1814). Signer of the Declaration of Independence, Massachusetts Lawyer who also served as one of the Boston Massacre Trial Prosecutors of the British Soldiers involved.
August 27, 1781-Dated Revolutionary War, Partially Printed Document Signed, "Robt Treat Paine," 1 page with verso docketing, measuring 11" x 17.5", Boston, Mass, Very Fine. This extremely large size legal judgment is rendered by Robert Treat Paine in his capacity as Attorney-General for the new Commonwealth of Massachusetts. The defendant, one Robert Jarvis, remained true to King George and fled to London in 1776. His real estate remained, and is being legally confiscated by a victorious patriot court. Some trivial splits along the folds, bold brown 3.25” long signature and fully legible. This impressive, historic signed document would be well-suited to framing and display.
Robert Treat Paine was born in Boston, Massachusetts, on March 11, 1731. He was one of five children of the Rev. Thomas Paine, Harvard College 1717, who was pastor of Franklin Road Baptist Church at Weymouth, Massachusetts until 1734 but moved his family to Boston in 1730 and subsequently became a merchant there; and Eunice Treat, the daughter of Rev. Samuel Treat, Harvard College 1669, and Abigail Willard. Rev. Samuel Treat and his father Robert Treat, were the principle founders of Newark, New Jersey.