ADS, completely in Adams’s hand, endorsed on the reverse “Adams,” one page, 7.5 x 12.5, April 14, 1774. Legal document for a suit between William McAlpine, a bookbinder, for 100 pounds, and the “Proprietors of the Presbyterian Church in Boston.” Adams writes, in part: “The proprietors…who sue Simon Elliot of Boston…Tobacconist, William McNeil…Rope Maker…William Mackay…Merchant…Robert Weir…Distiller and John McLean…Watch Maker, A committee specially chosen and appointed for that purpose in a plea of Detinue for that on the first day of last January…the said Proprietors delivered to the said William McAlpine their books called the Session Books, and also their other Books called their Books of Records, of Marriages, Baptisms, and Deaths…were to the said Proprietors of the value of Two Thousand Pounds…to be redelivered to the said Proprietors on Demand; yet the said William McAlpine, tho often requested hath never redelivered any of the said Books to the said Proprietors but unjustly with holds and detains them.” In very good condition, with professional repairs to a couple separations along intersecting folds, with several other small partial separations, scattered toning (a bit heavier along folds), small area of paper loss to top edge, and light show-through from docketing on reverse.
This document dates from just a few months before Adams would undertake his role as a representative to the First Continental Congress in September—and history-making events for the Thirteen Colonies. However, before the Continental Congresses, and well-before his eventual presidency, Adams was an attorney, having studied in the office of James Putnam, a prominent lawyer in Worcester, Massachusetts. In 1758, Adams was admitted to the bar. His most famous case occurred in 1770—the Boston Massacre—in which British soldiers killed five colonists. Although troubled that the case would damage his reputation, Adams agreed to act as legal counsel for the British soldiers—winning acquittals for six of the men! Clearly, the case caused no damage as Massachusetts sent Adams to the first and second Continental Congresses. Two decades later, the American people chose him to succeed George Washington as President. An interesting document dated so near to the events that would force the American Revolution. Pre-certified John Reznikoff/PSA/DNA and RRAuction COA.
