To Alexander Hamilton from Thomas Cooper, 5 January 1799
From Thomas Cooper1
[New York] January 5, 1799. “Inclosed I send you the Dr. of a Deed, already executed by myself & Mr & Mrs Livingston to a Mr John Brown of Providence, Rhode Island.2 Mr Bogart,3 Mr Brown’s Counsel has perused the original and approves it but as you have been associated as Counsel with him for Mr Brown, he is desirous that you should also peruse the Deed.…”4
ALS, Hamilton Papers, Library of Congress.
1. Thomas Cooper was a New York City lawyer.
2. The indenture, dated December 29, 1798, was “Between Thomas Cooper, Master in Chancery for the State of new york of the first Part, Philip Livingston of the City of new york in the State aforesaid, Esquire and Cornelia his wife of the second Part and John Brown of Providence in the State of Rhode Island Merchant of the third Part” (AD, Hamilton Papers, Library of Congress). According to this indenture, James Greenleaf in 1795 mortgaged property in New York City to Philip Livingston, who in turn mortgaged it to John Brown and others. When the money was not paid six months after the due date of June 4, 1798, Cooper put the mortgaged premises at public auction. At this time Brown bought the property for thirty-three thousand dollars.
3. Cornelius Bogert.
4. In Hamilton’s Cash Book, 1795–1804, between the dates of March 21 and March 29, 1799, there is the following entry: “received of Brown for opinion $40” (AD, Hamilton Papers, Library of Congress).