Massachusetts lawyer (1731-1814) who served as one of the prosecutors of British soldiers during the Boston Massacre trial; he later signed the Declaration of Independence. Revolutionary War-dated ADS, signed “R. T. Paine,” one page both sides, 7.5 x 12.25, January 1780. Handwritten legal brief in a case brought against Gibbs Atkins by Paine as attorney general for Massachusetts, in part: "Be it remembered that Robert Treat Paine Esq. Attorney General for the Government and People of the Massachusetts Bay in New England and in their behalf complains against…Gibbs Atkins of Boston aforesaid since the nineteenth day of April anno domini seventeen hundred and seventy five…being an inhabitant and member of the late province now state of Massachusetts Bay, levied war and conspired to levy war against the government and people of his Province, Colony and state, and then and there adhered to the King of Great Britain his Fleets and Armies Enemies of the said Province Colony and State, and then and there did give to them aid and comfort." Professionally inlaid into a slightly larger sheet and in very good to fine condition, with a block of toning to the second page, and splitting across the entire central horizontal fold.
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