Alexander Hamilton Papers
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From Alexander Hamilton to Elihu Marshall and James Bingham, [19 April 1786]

To Elihu Marshall and James Bingham1

[New York, April 19, 1786. Sends a notice for trial in the New York Supreme Court in the case of Robert McWilliams2 v Elihu Marshall and James Bingham.3 Document not found.]

1ADS, sold by American Art Association-Anderson Galleries, New York City, February 1, 1921.

Marshall was a mariner in New York City; Bingham was a gauger in New York City.

2McWilliams was a New York City grocer.

3H’s law agenda for 1785 states that a narrative of the case was filed and that bail was demanded for Marshall and Bingham (AD, Agenda No. 2 for October Vacation [1785], Hamilton Papers, Library of Congress).

H had been McWilliams’s attorney in other cases. See H’s “Cash Book,” March 1, 1782–1791 (PAH description begins Harold C. Syrett, ed., The Papers of Alexander Hamilton (New York and London, 1961– ). description ends , III, 61, 66, 67).

This case was an action to recover a debt of £250. The defendants did not appear and did not enter a plea. The court ordered that an inquiry to assess the amount of the damages be made (MS Minutes of the New York Supreme Court, 1786, under the dates of January 28, May 6, 1786 [Hall of Records, New York City]; Pleadings, 1754–1837, M-168 [Hall of Records, New York City]). On April 28, 1786, the sheriff returned the writ of inquiry with an inquisition by which the jury assessed the plaintiff’s damages at £210.13.11 and costs (DS, in H’s handwriting, Hall of Records, New York City). On May 25, 1786, the court ordered judgment for the plaintiff for the damages and £21.15.1 for costs and charges (Judgment Roll, Parchment 112-A-7 [Hall of Records, New York City]).

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