474 Provincial Court Proceedings, 1674/5.




          Liber M M  recording thereof as much as the Act of Assembly allowed and the
                  said John Clemons being Sensible and well understanding the parts
                  and abilityes of him the said Edward in that Art and mastery of
                  drawing and ingrosseing writeings as aforesaid and also that the
                  said Edward was then Clerke of the said County of Dorchester and
                  did receive & take to his Owne use all ifees and proffitts to the Said
                  Office of Clerke of the said County belonging or in any wise appur
                  teining the said John the One & twentith day of June in the 42th
                  yeare of the Dominion of Caecilius &c Annoq Doth One thousand
                  six hundred Seventy three in Consideration that the said Edward
                  would write and record all such conveyances and other writings that
                  he should have Occasion for in the said County of Dorchester and
                  also doe all other writeing buisnesse that the said John Clemons
                  should have Occasion for in the said County of Dorchester from the
                  said One & twentith day of June untill the twentith day of June then
                  next following to say for One whole yeare and also dureing the
                  said time should demand no other ifees of him the said John fnr
                  any buisnesse that he should enter upon record for him as Clerke of
                  the said County the said John Clemons upon himselfe did assume
                  and to the said Edward did then and there faithfully promise that
                  he the said John at the end & expiration of the said yeare as a reward
              p.465  to the said Edward for his paines and in full satisfaction of all his
                  ifees that should accrue in the time aforesaid whether he imployed
                  him more or lesse or not at all would well & truly pay unto him the
                  said Edward or his Ordr the summe of One thousand pounds of
                  tobacco upon demand convenient in the said County And the said
                  Edward in fact Saith that the said John did imploy him the said
                  Edward in recording of the time of the births of his Children and
                  did acquaint him of divers other buisnesse he had for him to doe and
                  that he the said Edward dureing the terme aforesaid was aiwayes
                  ready to doe & performe all such writeing buisnesse as the said John
                  had to doe in the said County of Dorchester Notwithstanding which
                  the said John his promise & assumption so as aforesaid to him the
                  said Edward made not regarding but deviseing & fraudulently in
                  tending him the said Edward in this behalfe craftily and Subtilly
                  to deceive & defraud the said One thousand pounds of tobacco to
                  him the said Edward according to his promise and assumption afore
                  said hath not paid though often demanded but the same to pay hath
                  denyed & as yet doth deny to the damage of the said Edward of
                  three thousand pounds of tobacco and thereupon he bringeth his
                  suite.
                   And the said John by John Rousby his Attorny cometh & defend
                  eth the wrong & injury when &c & Saith he did not assume and
                  promise upon himselfe in such manner & forme as the said Edward
                  hath above declared against him and of this he putts himselfe upon
                  the Country and the said Edward likewise Therefore Comãnd was