1Editorial Note (Adams Papers)
The two documents which follow are virtually all that have survived pertinent to Adams’ early law...
2Adams’ Student Notes: Ca. 1758 (Adams Papers)
Nunquam prospere succedunt Res humanae, ubi negliguntur divinae. Sex horas somno, totidem des...
3Adams’ Commonplace Book: Ca. 1759 (Adams Papers)
Assumpsit. Sometimes signifies not only a Promise but an Actual Undertaking of the Business, an...
4Editorial Note (Adams Papers)
In common with most lawyers John Adams maintained a collection of pleading forms to help in...
5The Pleadings Book: 1771–1773 (Adams Papers)
Case on a Bill of Lading vs. Master for not delivering the Plaintiff’s Goods freighted on Board...
6Editorial Note (Adams Papers)
This complex litigation, a landmark in the history of Martha’s Vineyard, arose out of an unhappy...
Hovey . Justifies by Warrant. Generality. Turning Point, legality of Warrant. Void in itself....
1762. 1762. June 1. C. Basset complains of Jerus ha Beth i a h junr. Lucinda Mahew and Mercy...
9Editorial Note (Adams Papers)
This case, an early instance of patriotic violence which disturbed Adams deeply, arose on the...
10King’s Petition to the General Court: 4 January 1768 (Adams Papers)
Province of the Massachusetts Bay To His Excellency the Governor The Hon orab le His Majestys...
To The Honle. His Majesty’s Justices of the Supr. Court of Judicature Court of Assize &c. Now...
12Writ of Review—Stewart et al. v. King: Cumberland Superior Court, Falmouth, June 1774 (Adams Papers)
To the Sheriff of our county of Cumberland his under-Sheriff or Deputy, Greeting. We command You...
Richard King v. Jno. Stewart & al This was an action of trespass—and on motion of Mr. Bradbury...
14King to Silas Burbank, 31 May 1773 (Adams Papers)
I receved Yours of the 17th. Current, and a Second that appears to have ben wrote Since. In your...
15Burbank’s Release: 28 June 1773 (Adams Papers)
Whereas Richard King Esq. hath released me from Gaol where I have been sometime confined by...
16Deposition of Silas Burbank: 28 June 1773 (Adams Papers)
I Silas Burbanks of lawful age testify and say, that in the spring of the Year 1766, a few days...
17Deposition of John Newbegin: 19 January 1773 (Adams Papers)
I John Newbegin of Lawful Age testify and say that the Evening of the 18th Day of March 1766...
18Deposition of Jonathan Wingate: 16 June 1773 (Adams Papers)
I Jonathan Wingate of lawful age testify and say that about eight or ten days before Mr. Richard...
19Threatening Letter Sent to King: ca. April 1766 (Adams Papers)
In Considiration whar of a number of the Suns of liburty have Shun a mordrit resment i.e....
20King’s Offer of Settlement: 27 May 1774 (Adams Papers)
Richard King To those Imediately Consirned in his action of review against them Depending &c. and...
21Deposition of Jonathan Sayward: 29 June 1774 (Adams Papers)
Jonathan Sayward of York in Said County of York, Esqr. Testifys and Says that He very well knew...
Scurlogging. 3 Stewarts defaulted. 3 Andrews appear. By the Sullivans. Bradbury . Silas Burbank ....
23John Adams to Abigail Adams: Falmouth, 7 July 1774 (Adams Papers)
I am engaged in a famous Cause: The Cause of King, of Scarborough vs. a Mob, that broke into his...
24Editorial Note (Adams Papers)
This suit, as Adams noted in his diary, “arose from Ambition” and (apparently) from competition...
25Adams’ Diary: 4 April 1767 (Adams Papers)
Poor Nye of Sandwich, seems dejected. I should suspect by his Concern that Cotton gained Ground...
26Adams’ Minutes of the Trial: Barnstable Inferior Court, April 1767 (Adams Papers)
Hovey . Certificate. Benja. Fessenden . Bassetts Shop. Lying Papers. Set their Names to it. D...
Defendant It may be part of a great plan to get Representat ion over that Paper. It is true he...
28Adams’ Notes of Authorities: Barnstable Superior Court, May 1767 (Adams Papers)
4. Bac. 485. “All Words are actionable which import the Charge of such a Forgery, as is within...
29Adams’ Minutes of the Argument: Barnstable Superior Court, May 1767 (Adams Papers)
Otis . Certificate of General Assembly. Law very much altered of late Times. To prevent Gothic...
30Adams’ Minutes of the Evidence: Barnstable Superior Court, May 1767 (Adams Papers)
Certificate Mr. Fessenden. A Lye of his own making, and he had set their Names to it. Jennings....
31Adams’ Diary: 16 May 1767 (Adams Papers)
The Court was fixed in the Sandwich Case. Cotton is not only a Tory but a Relation of some of the...
32Editorial Note (Adams Papers)
In the spring of 1770 the schooner Hitty , John Burnam, master, sailed from her home port of...
Jno. Melzond . Was on board the Vessell with Captn. Burnam and Mr. Mugford. Burnam took an...
34Editorial Note (Adams Papers)
In the bitter verbal battling which rumbled beneath the physical violence of the...
News Paper. Jacobite Party. Kent . Odd that Edes and Gill should desire him to be of no Party....
36Editorial Note (Adams Papers)
This was an action brought by John Gray for injuries inflicted upon him by Lendall (or Lindall)...
James Melvin . Saw Pitts push Gray off with one Hand and give him a stroke with his Stick. G. no...
J. Quincy . We had done nothing but what was justifiable by the Laws of our Country. J. Whitworth...
39Editorial Note (Adams Papers)
This action was the climax of a series of clashes between James Steel of Haverhill,...
J ohn L owell . Receipt. Wm. Wingate. Serjeant. Mr. Webster. P orter said S teel owed him. Sued...
Porter and Steel. Case for money received and promise to pay it. Plea no promise. Proof. Produced...
42Editorial Note (Adams Papers)
In June 1765 at Boston, James Warden endorsed two bills of exchange drawn on a New York...
On a Bill of Exchange, drawn on N. York, protested. Q. made was whether Bill on N. York was a...
44Editorial Note (Adams Papers)
This case throws some light on the conduct of business in Boston in the middle 1760’s, but it is...
To the Sheriff of our county of Suffolk his Undersheriff or Deputy Greeting. We command you to...
46Plea: Suffolk Inferior Court, Boston, July 1767 (Adams Papers)
And the said James comes and defends &c., and saith that the said William hath not been damnified...
And the said William says that the plea aforsaid pleaded by the said James in manner and form...
Covenant Broken. Plea. Special Demurrer. 1. 2. 3. 4. Joinder in Demurrer. Auchmuty. 2 Breaches...
49Editorial Note (Adams Papers)
On 22 November 1762, Jeremiah Lee, prominent Marblehead ship owner and merchant, obtained a...
Bac. 3. 599. Tit. Merchant. “Where a Policy is a perfect Cheat as where a Person, having certain...