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bucknell
paine_robert_treat_0_0_0.xml
Document
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?><?xml-model href="http://www.tei-c.org/release/xml/tei/custom/schema/relaxng/tei_all.rng" type="application/xml" schematypens="http://relaxng.org/ns/structure/1.0"?><?xml-stylesheet type="text/css" href="https://raw.githubusercontent.com/LEAF-VRE/code_snippets/refs/heads/main/CSS/leaf.css"?><TEI xmlns="http://www.tei-c.org/ns/1.0" xmlns:rdf="http://www.w3.org/1999/02/22-rdf-syntax-ns#"> <teiHeader> <fileDesc> <titleStmt> <title>Robert Treat Paine</title> <author>William Plumer</author> </titleStmt> <publicationStmt> <p>The Plumer Project</p> </publicationStmt> <sourceDesc> <p>Information about the source</p> </sourceDesc> </fileDesc> <xenoData><rdf:RDF xmlns:rdf="http://www.w3.org/1999/02/22-rdf-syntax-ns#" xmlns:rdfs="http://www.w3.org/2000/01/rdf-schema#" xmlns:as="http://www.w3.org/ns/activitystreams#" xmlns:cwrc="http://sparql.cwrc.ca/ontologies/cwrc#" xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/" xmlns:dcterms="http://purl.org/dc/terms/" xmlns:foaf="http://xmlns.com/foaf/0.1/" xmlns:geo="http://www.geonames.org/ontology#" xmlns:oa="http://www.w3.org/ns/oa#" xmlns:schema="http://schema.org/" xmlns:xsd="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema#" xmlns:fabio="https://purl.org/spar/fabio#" xmlns:bf="http://www.openlinksw.com/schemas/bif#" xmlns:cito="https://sparontologies.github.io/cito/current/cito.html#" xmlns:org="http://www.w3.org/ns/org#"/></xenoData></teiHeader> <text> <body> <pb facs="/sites/default/files/2024-12/plumer_vol5_001.jpg" n="1"/> <head>Robert Treat Paine</head> <p><lb/>Was born at Boston, Massachusetts, on the 11th of March 1731. His <lb/>father for a few years was pastor of a church at Weymouth, but the delicate <lb/>& feeble state of his health induced him to seperate from his people, & <lb/>remove to Boston, where he engaged in business as a merchant, in which <lb/>he was unfortunate. His mother was the grand-daughter of governor <lb/>Treat of Connecticut, from whom he derived his second name.</p> <p><lb/>The early preparatory & classical education of the son, was under the, <lb/>direction of the celebrated Mr Level, an instructor of youth in Boston. <lb/>In the year 1745, being about fourteen years of age, he entered as a stu= <lb/>=dent at Harvard University; & in 1749 graduated there.</p> <p><lb/>For several years after he left college, his pursuits appear to have been of a <lb/>miscellancous nature. For some time he was employed in teaching a <lb/>public school in a country town. He devoted a portion of his time to <lb/>the study of theology; & on that subject formed opinions that were liberal <lb/>& rational. In 1755 he was a few months with the troops of Massachusetts; <lb/>& occasionally preached in the pulpits of the regular clergy in Boston. He <lb/>made a voyage to Europe, to which he was induced by a desire to acquire <lb/>means to assist his father & family, who were in reduced circumstan= <lb/>=ces, & some of whom were of a very infirm & sickly constitution. His <lb/>conduct in this respect, was highly credible to him; & he continued to <lb/>afford support to a maiden sister till her death, which was not till <lb/>she was far advanced in years. He never suffered her to want.</p> <p><lb/>tho he had a large family to maintain, & no estate but such as he <lb/>acquired by his own industry & prudence. He also contributed to the sup= <lb/>=port of his father for several years in the latter part of his life, who <lb/>had been unsuccessful in business; & the attention & respect which he <lb/>always shewed to an unfortunate, but worthy parent, merits <lb/>commendation.</p> <p><lb/>After his return from Europe, he engaged in the study of law, with <lb/>Benjamin Pratt an eminent lawyer, who afterwards was chief justice of <fw type="catch">[Feby 9, 1830]</fw> <pb facs="/sites/default/files/2024-12/plumer_vol5_002.jpg" n="2"/> <fw type="header"><date when-iso="1814">1814</date>. <persName>Robert Treat Paine</persName>.</fw> <lb/>New York. But having no pecuniary assistance from his father, he was <lb/>obliged, during this period, to resort again to the profession of a school <lb/>=master for his support; which prevented him from finishing his <lb/>professional studies, & entering into the practise of the law as soon as <lb/>otherwise, he would have done; but he came to the courts with more <lb/>weight of character, maturity of judgment, & knowledge of men and <lb/>things then most of his contemporaries.</p> <p><lb/>He was admitted to the Bar, & took up his residence in Boston, where <lb/>he remained a short time, & then removed to Taunton in the county of <lb/>Bristol, where he continued for many years; & there married a lady <lb/>who survived him. While he remained at Taunton he fequently <lb/>attended courts in other counties. As a lawyer he was learned, as an ad- <lb/>=vocate argumentative, discriminating, prompt, & satirical. He was <lb/>thoroughly acquainted with the great principles of common law, with decisions & <lb/>precedents of courts; & ever ready to reply to his opponents with pertinence & <lb/>effect, or to fixe the attention of the jury by just & appropriate remarks. <lb/>He was attentive to every thing he undertook, & rapidly acquired busi= <lb/>=ness & confidence; & stood high in the profession.</p> <p><lb/>He was devoted to the interest of his country, & early opposed the encroach= <lb/>=ments of the British government; & was a constant, firm, & zealous <lb/>advocate for the American revolution. About the year 1769 he was a re= <lb/>presentative in the provincial legislature. In 1773 he was a representative, <lb/>& member of the committee who reported an address to Lord Dartmouth <lb/>upon the oppressive acts of the British administration; & one of the <lb/>committee to manage the impeachment against Peter Oliver chief justice <lb/>of the Supreme court. He was also chairman of the committee of Taunton <lb/>upon the subject of American grievances, & took a decided part in= <lb/>=dicating the rights of the colonies. In 1774 he was again a representative <lb/>in the legislature, & was an active influential member; & one of the com= <lb/>=mittee who recommended the calling of a general congress.</p> <p><lb/>In 1774 the Massachusetts house of representatives elected him a member of <lb/>the continental congress; & by annual elections he held that place till the <lb/>close of the year 1778. In 1796 he signed the declaration of independence. <lb/>As a member of congress he was firm, resolute, & determined active and <lb/>efficient. He was a member of several important committees, & one <lb/>the general committee from the northern States, to regulate the price of <lb/>labor, provisions, manufactures etc. In congress, & in committees, he displayed <lb/>sound discriminating judgment, & practical wisdom; yet with these qualities <lb/>he had a frankness & severity which produced enemies to him, & obstructed <lb/>his usefulness. He had a voice whose tones were a deep base, & a serious <fw type="catch">[<date when-iso="1830-02-09">Feby 9, 1830</date>]</fw> <pb facs="/sites/default/files/2024-12/plumer_vol5_003.jpg" n="3"/> <fw type="header"><date when-iso="1814">1814</date>. <persName>Robert Treat Paine</persName>.</fw> <lb/>if not stern expression of countenance, which gave him an appearance of <lb/>greater severity than he possessed. Yet he had kind feelings, & a <lb/>strong relish of humor, <lb/>tho with this peculiarty, that his perception of it was not quick, & the <lb/>report of his laugh was sometimes not heard, till the flash of the jest had <lb/>entirely vanished. But his talents, integrity, & great decision of character <lb/>commanded respect - indeed few men contributed more than he did <lb/>to the support of the revolution.</p> <p><lb/>In 1774 & 1775 he was a member of the Massachusetts provincial con= <lb/>=gress. In 1777 was a representative in the legislature of that State, and <lb/>part of the time speaker of the house; in 1778 he was also a representative, <lb/>& a member of the committee who drafted a constitution for that State; <lb/>but the people did not approve of it. In 1779 he was a member of <lb/>the Massachusetts convention, & of the committee who drew the constitution, <lb/>which the people in 1780 adopted. In 1775 & 1779 he was a mem <lb/>=ber of the executive council. There appointments occupied nearly the whole <lb/>of his time in public service.</p> <p><lb/>In 1778 he was appointed attorney general of Massachusetts; & in October <lb/>1780, as soon as the government was organized under the constitution, <lb/>he was again appointed the attorney general of the commonwealth <lb/>& held & executed that office with great fidelity till 1790. To those <lb/>who were habitually vicious & dissolute, he was severe & indignant. <lb/>In 1775 he was appointed a judge of the supreme court under the Massa <lb/>=chusetts provincial congress, but it being incompatible with his <lb/>duty as a member of the continental congress, he declined the appoint= <lb/>=ment. In January 1790 he was again appointed a judge of that court; <lb/>accepted & held that office till 1804, when he had attained the age of seven= <lb/>=ty three years. Being too infirm to travel the circuit of the court, <lb/>which was a journey of several hundred miles; & his deafness in a <lb/>great measure disqualified him for the trust; & after having performed <lb/>the duties of that important office fourteen years, he resigned. During <lb/>the time he was on the bench, he used his official authority & influ= <lb/>=ence in favor of literary & religious institutions; which he considered <lb/>essential to the support of morals & rational freedom. He constantly <lb/>urged upon grand jurors the importance of seeing the laws duly <lb/>executed, for the maintainance of schools & a learned ministry, <lb/>in all the towns. But with all his good qualities, as a judge he <lb/>was too severe against offenders, too prone to convict, and too <lb/>ready to punish. <fw type="footer">[<date when-iso="1830-02-09">Feby 9. 1830</date>]</fw></p> <pb facs="/sites/default/files/2024-12/plumer_vol5_004.jpg" n="4"/> <fw type="header"><date when-iso="1814">1814</date>. <persName>Robert Treat Paine</persName>.</fw> <p><lb/>He was a decided friend to the constitution of the United States, which <lb/>he supported both by his writings & conversations. He employed his <lb/>influence in favor of the administrations of Washington & the older <lb/>Adams; & during the initial periods of 1794 & 1779 he advocated the <lb/>measures of government, with great zeal, energy, & ability; believing <lb/>those measures essential to the interest of his country.</p> <p><lb/>He was a patron of useful learning, & held a high rank among the <lb/>literary men our country. He was one of the founders of the Ameri= <lb/>=can Academy of Arts & Sciences & one of its councillors from its <lb/>establishment in 1780 till his death. In 1806, Harvard University <lb/>conferred on him the degree of doctor of laws. He read much & thot <lb/>much. His knowledge was extensive & well digested. His memory <lb/>retentive & ready & his measures practical & operative. <lb/>He possessed much of the peculiar spirit of the early settlers of New <lb/>England. He was a firm decided believer in christianity; but laid <lb/>little stress on speculative opinions, which have been so often, <lb/>unhappily, the occasion of bitter & disreputable contentions among <lb/>professors of religion. He was the friend of christians, & the patron of <lb/>their ministers.</p> <p><lb/>He was literally a man of decision, & of strong passions, but was <lb/>upright & strictly honest. His language was plain & blunt, & his <lb/>manner partook more of roughness than of the polish of the polite <lb/>world. For a man of such strong passions, his habits were regular <lb/>& mild, & his temper cheerful.</p> <p><lb/>Tho he devoted much of his time to the public, he was much with <lb/>family; & as a companion & father was affectionate, provident, ex= <lb/>emplary, & endeared. He was domestic in his habits, & his family <lb/>circle was the scene of unrestrained freedom & enjoyment. His <lb/>children were well educated, & every effort was made, on his <lb/>part, to make them useful & respectable in society. But he did not <lb/>allow his fondness for them, to countenance any extravagance which <lb/>his pecuniary circumstances would not warrant, without being <lb/>unjust to others. His attachments, public & private, were warm & <lb/>sincere. Of a most active mind, & social dispositions, he cheered <lb/>the circle of kindred, friendship, & neighbourhood.</p> <p><lb/>Soon after he resigned the office of judge, he was elected a mem= <lb/>=ber of the executive council in the commonwealth for the year <lb/>1805; but declined a re-election, & resolutely withdrew from pub= <lb/>=lic life. After that period, & till his death, he retained his mental <fw type="footer">[<date when-iso="1830-02-09">Feby 9, 1830</date>]</fw> <pb facs="/sites/default/files/2024-12/plumer_vol5_005.jpg" n="5"/> <fw type="header"><date when-iso="1814">1814</date>. <persName>Robert Treat Paine</persName>.</fw> <lb/>faculties in great vigor. He was intelligent, inquisitive, & <lb/>judicious. His memory was strong-he would relate, with <lb/>much satisfaction, the scenes thro which he had passed, con= <lb/>=nected with the danger & prosperity of his country. In conversa= <lb/>=tion with old & young, he was sprightly, communicative, <lb/>& instructive. He was prone to indulge in repartee & wit. And <lb/>while he allowed himself in playful severity towards others, <lb/>he was not offended in being the subject of similar raillery. <lb/>Many of his last years were spent in Boston; & then he <lb/>died on the 11th day of May 1814 in the 84th year of his age.</p> </body> </text> </TEI>
