LETTER OF 1784 NOW IN COLLEGE FILES

A letter of some historical and antiquarian interest has recently come into the college files and is reprinted below.

Dartmouth College 6th March, 1784.

My dear Sir,

This is to request you, as you have a power of attorney from me, in my name and behalf, and as my lawful attorney, to Lease and Lett all my right and property in the house in which my aunts Mehetabel & Lydia Sawyer live & have for several years last past lived, and all my right and property in the land on which said house stands, and the land adjoining or that ever did belong lawfully to the heirs of my Hond Grandfather John Sawyer of Newbury deceased, or of my Grandmother Abigail Sawyer also now deceased; I say, I request you would, by a proper instrument, and in my namd and behalf, and as my lawful attorney, Lease and Lett all my aforesaid rights & property to my said aunts Mehetabel and Lydia Sawyer for their sole benefit, use and behoof equally divided between them, during their natural life; and in case of the demise of either of them, that the other who shall survive, shall have and enjoy the sole use, benefit & behoof thereof during her natural life—and that then the abovementioned right & property revert and return to me, my heirs & assigns for my and their proper use & benefit forever—

I Leave the particular form & mode of this conveyance to your own prudence & discretion. It is my purpose, at present, if my said aunts shall stand in need of the aforesaid interest for their support, to make them wellcome to the principal. But now I would only give them a Lease as suggested above.

With perfect respect for you and your Lady, I am, my dear Sir, Your most obedient and very humble servt.

JOHN SMITH.

P.S. If my aunts choose it, I would have you sell my right & property aforesaid, & appropriate the avails & income of it, to my abovenamed aunts, during their natural lives, as above—

John Smith

Captain Poor Revnd John Smith's directions Respecting his ants.

Captain Joseph Poor Byfield or Rowley Massachusetts

Ford, by Mr. Oliver Reed, ye 12 =of march 1784