Essex County (Mass.). Court of General Sessions. Sentence for theft, 1773-1774. Small Manuscript Collection, Harvard Law School Library.

LAW OFFICES OF Herbert Parker Louis A. Frothingham (Estate) Robert Walcott Edward A. Counihan, Jr. Everett B. Horn Erastus H. Hewit George A. McLaughlin George A. Parker

910-919 Barristers Hall Boston November 29, 1935

Eldon R. James, Esq., Harvard College, Cambridge, Mass.

Dear Professor James:

I enclose herewith the original record of the Essex Court of General Sessions held at Salem in July 1773 showing the punishment ordered to be imposed on John Corney "that he be whipped on the naked back at the public whipping post in Salem 20 stripes and that he pay three times the value of the goods stolen, also costs. Attest: By Joseph Blaney, Clerk." Further that Timothy Wyer prosecutor agrees to release his damages (presumably because the stolen goods had been returned) and a receipt by Richard Saltonstall (sheriff) for L3.19.0 costs which were paid by the County Treasurer.

This Richard Saltonstall, Harvard A.B. 1751, was the Loyalist of the family, his estate was confiscated and he died 1785. This was a period of high consideration for the Saltonstalls. In that class of 35 he was ranked second to Joseph Dudley, son of the Governor, his brtoher Nathaniel Saltonstall, Harvard A.B. 1776, who died in 1815, was similarly ranked second in a class of 40, William Pepperell, son of the Governor and later made Baronet, died 1816, being number one. Also the third brother, Gilbert, Harvard A.B. 1770 of a class of 34 was ranked second, number one, William Sanford Hutchinson, who died 1780 and number three was William Winthrop, died 1825, and number four John Winthrop, died 1780.

If you would care to have this original for the College Library you are welcome to it, otherwise I will have it send back the Clerk's Office in Salem from which I presume it was taken by mistake. In any case I have a photostat for Professor Beale thinking it may be of interest to him in his researches in Colonial Courts and either the original and a second photostat, or the latter alone, for the College Library.

Your sincerely,

Robert Wolcott