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Title Correspondence between David Cobb and others, regarding lumbering operations, Bingham's Maine lands, and other business matters
Archival Reference Ms. N-1000
Sub-collection David Cobb Papers  
Author Knox, Henry (1750-1806)  Cobb, David  Baring, Alexander  Wass, David  
Date 11 Jan-24 Feb 1797
Document Type Correspondence
Contents Includes:
Letter from Henry Knox (Boston) to David Cobb about the death of Knox's son Washington Knox and business matters, 11 Jan. 1797
Letter from William Bingham (Philadelphia) to David Cobb about business arrangements between Bingham and Alexander Baring for the sale of Maine lands, 14 Jan. 1797
Letter from Alexander Baring (Philadelphia) to David Cobb commending his management of William Bingham's Maine lands, 14 Jan. 1797
Letter from Donald Ross (Union River, Me.) to David Cobb inviting him to visit the lumbering operations on the Union River, 19 Jan. 1797
Letter from David Cobb (Gouldsboro, Me.) to William Bingham about the sale of land and the development of roads and lumber mills on Bingham's Maine lands, 30 Jan. 1797
Letter from David Cobb (Gouldsboro, Me.) to Thomas Davis, treasurer of Massachusetts, concerning the enumeration of the settlers on William Bingham's Maine land and their tax status and commenting on the qualifications of [Andrew] Kidstone for the post of justice of the peace in Gouldsboro, 10 Feb. 1797
Letter from David Cobb (Gouldsboro, Me.) to William Bingham about the sale of Maine land to Alexander Baring and the construction of houses in Gouldsboro, 10 Feb. 1797
Letter from Donald Ross (Union River, Me.) to David Cobb about the theft of lumber from William Bingham's Maine lands, 16 Feb. 1797
Letter from David Cobb to Samuel S. Wilde containing instructions for the management of Cobb's lands, [20 Feb. 1797] [copy]
Letter from David Wass (Columbia, Me.) to David Cobb about the theft of logs from William Bingham's Maine lands, 24 Feb. 1797
Sub-collection Information This collection consists of the papers of David Cobb primarily documenting his position as land agent for William Bingham in Maine, including papers related to the settlement of Maine, logging and the lumber trade, roads, and other subjects. Also included are papers related to his service during the American Revolution and his career as a politician and judge.

David Cobb was a Revolutionary War soldier and aide-de-camp to General George Washington, speaker of the Massachusetts House of Representatives and president of the Senate, physician, judge, member of Congress, lieutenant governor of Massachusetts, and a founder of the Society of the Cincinnati and the American Academy of Arts and Sciences.

The collection contains letters to Charles W. Hare, Bingham's Philadelphia agent, and Alexander Baring, the future Lord Ashburton and representative of London's House of Baring. Also included are legal actions, financial accounts, maps, and inventories related to land development, fishing, lumbering, census reports, lotteries, the laying out of streets, and the construction of wharves, warehouses, and sawmills in Gouldsboro, Maine, which Cobb tried to develop as a major commercial port.

The collection also contains eight fragmentary diaries kept by Cobb, 1781-1818; a manuscript notebook with sketches; lists of British ships of the line; instructions for naval officers; letters to various members of the Cobb family; and letters from William Eustis, Henry Knox, Timothy Pickering, and Israel Thorndike concerning foreign relations, state politics, and miscellaneous financial matters related to the firm of Cobb and Richards, in which Cobb was partner.
Region American East  
Subjects Death  Children and Family  Land Transaction and Property  Forestry and Logging  Taxation  Settlers and Settlement  Construction and Building  Law and Order  Commissions and Appointments  Crime  
Places Boston; Massachusetts; Philadelphia; Union River; Maine; Gouldsboro; Pennsylvania; Columbia
People Cobb, David (1748-1830)  Bingham, William (1752-1804)  Baring, Alexander (1774-1848)  Knox, Henry (1750-1806)  
Themes Business, Trade & Commerce; Land & Property
Library Massachusetts Historical Society  
Copyright Massachusetts Historical Society