Winthrop, James, 1752-1821. Papers of James Winthrop, 1765-1826. Notes about cases heard as Justice of the Peace, 1784-1795. HUM 69 Box 1, Folder 2, Harvard University Archives.

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This small paper-bound notebook contains notes Winthrop made concerning the cases he heard between 1784 and 1795 as a Justice of the Peace for Middlesex County. These notes provide insight into the nature of crimes being committed in Cambridge in the post-Revolutionary period, as well as the names and occupations of those accused and their victims. The cases involved the following individuals, among others: Samuel Bridge, Benjamin Estabrook, Joseph Jeffords, Cato Bordman, John Kidder, Spenser Goddin, Jacob Cromwell, Benjamin Stratton, Mary Flood, Bender Temple, John Willett, Joseph Hartwell, Nathaniel Stratton, Amos Washburn, Francis Moore, Thomas Malone, Thomas Cook, and Amboy Brown. The cases involved a range of offenses, and occasionally Winthrop decided that a case exceeded his jurisdiction and forwarded it to the General Court or the Supreme Judicial Court.

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8.

the defence of the said Joseph, it appears to me that the offence was committed, & the trial of the merits of the question is beyond my jurisdiction. Wherefore it is considered by me that the said Joseph Jefferds recognize in the sum of sixteen pounds lawful money of said Commonwealth with two sureties in the form of eight pounds each, for his appearance at the next Court of General Sessions of the Peace to be held at Cambridge within & for said County of Middlesex to answer to such things as shall be laid to his charge more particularly respecting said complaint, & to abide & perform such things as the Court shall order& not depart without leave & in the meantime to be of the peace & his good be

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(seq. 17)
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(seq. 17)

havior, & to stand committed till sentence be performed. But I the said Justice demanding of said Joseph whether he can find sufficient sureties, & the said Joseph declaring that he cannot, I do order him to be committed unto the Jail of County aforesaid which is situated in Cambridge aforesaid, there to be safely kept until he shall be thence delivered by due course of law. And John Kidder the complainant is recognized to appear at said Court in the sum of five pounds to appear at said Court of Sessions & prosecute his complaint.

James Winthrop Just. Peace

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10. Commonwealth of Massachusetts Middlesex [se?]. Be it remembered, that on the 22 day of February 1786 upon notice given in consequence of a complaint exhibited to me, one of the Justices assigned to keep the peace in the County of Middlesex aforesaid, by William Winthrop Esq, town clerk of the town of Cambridge in said county, by order & in behalf of the Selectmen of said Cambridge, setting forth that Spenser Goddin a poor person properly belonging to the town of Watertown of in said County has obtruded himself with his wife Margaret & children Samuel, Sarah, Spenser & William upon said town of Cambridge & are likely to become charges to that town, & thereupon praying

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that said Spenser with his wife & children aforesaid may be returned according to laws to said town of Watertown; Both Spenser Goddin & the Selectmen of Watertown aforesaid do appear & confess that said Spenser is an inhabitant of & doth properly belong to said town of Watertown & that he hath never gained a legal inhabitancy in said Cambridge: It is therefore considered by me the said Justice that said Spenser Goddin be returned according to the form of the law in that case made & provided to said town of Watertown at his own charge if able, otherwise at the charge of said town of Cambridge & that said Spenser if able pay the cost of Court otherwise that it be paid by said town of Cambridge.

James Winthrop {Justice} Peace

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(seq. 20)
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(seq. 20)

12 Cambridge vs. Jacob Cromwell a poor person from Newton in Co. Middt. Upon notice given parties appear this 22 {February} 1786, & say that he never gained a legal inhabitancy in said Newton but confess his last residence there, & say farther that he was born at Woodbridge in New Jersey; Judgment in favor of Cambridge on acco. of his last residence at Newton, that said Jacob, his wife Anna & their chidren Jacob & Anna together with Anna Faris their adopted child be returned according to law to said Newton. Cambridge to pay costs. - £0.8.0 incl. warrant

Cambridge vs {Benjamin} Stratton of sometime resident in Woburn, a poor person. Parties appear upon notice this 22d. {February} 1786, & shew that said

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