The full content of this document is only available to subscribing institutions. More information can be found via www.amdigital.co.uk

Title Correspondence between David Cobb and others, including mention of the death of William Bingham
Archival Reference Ms. N-1000
Sub-collection David Cobb Papers  
Author Dutton, Samuel E.  Cobb, Thomas  Cobb, David  Thorndike, Israel  
Date 10 Jan-13 Apr 1804
Document Type Correspondence
Contents Includes:
Letter from Samuel E. Dutton (Bangor, Me.) to David Cobb about the sale of land, road building, a bridge proposed by Robert Lapish, political affairs, and the Massachusetts militia, 10 Jan. 1804
Letter from Thomas Cobb (Castine, Me.) to David Cobb about family matters, 28 Jan. 1804
Letter from Benjamin Talmadge (Litchfield, Conn.) to David Cobb requesting his assistance in recovering money Talmadge lost to "swindler" Joseph Hart, 28 Jan. 1804
Letter from David Cobb (Boston) to Charles W. Hare about the death of William Bingham and the effect it will have on business matters, 12 Mar. 1804
Letter from C[harles] W. Hare (Philadelphia) to David Cobb informing him of the death of William Bingham and requesting information for settling Bingham's estate, 20 Mar. 1804
Letter from Israel Thorndike (Beverly) to David Cobb about the amount due in a judgment against William Bingham in the suit brought by the Cabot family, 10 Apr. 1804
Letter from David Cobb (Boston) to Charles W. Hare about the demand of Israel Thorndike against the estate of William Bingham, 13 Apr. 1804
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 Government and Politics  Construction and Building  Crime  Death  Law and Order  Children and Family  Land Transaction and Property  Lawsuit  
Places Bangor; Maine; Boston; Massachusetts; Philadelphia; Litchfield; Connecticut
People Cobb, David (1748-1830)  Bingham, William (1752-1804)  Cobb, Thomas (1772-1849)  Thorndike, Israel (1755-1832)  Hare, Charles W. (fl. 1802-1807)  
Themes Government & Politics; Land & Property
Library Massachusetts Historical Society  
Copyright Massachusetts Historical Society