To John Adams from William Smith, 14 December 1789
From William Smith
Boston. 14th Decr. 1789.—
Sr.
By direction of the Boston Marine Society, I have the honor to forward you by the Honble. Mr. Otis a Certificate of your admission as a Member of that Society the 6th of November 1768.—1
I am with Respect / Yr H Sert.
Wm. Smith.
RC (Adams Papers); internal address: “His Exy. John Adams Esqr.”
1. Boston merchant William Smith’s enclosure has not been found. Established in June 1742 and incorporated on 2 Feb. 1754, the Boston Marine Society was mainly made up of ship captains who provided aid to indigent colleagues, shared reports on coastal trade, and sought to improve knowledge of navigation. According to the organization’s minute books, JA did not attend any meetings but remained a member until his death (vol. 19:468; Nathaniel Spooner, comp., Gleanings from the Records of the Boston Marine Society, Boston, 1879, p. 3, 7, 8, 11–12, 34, 104, 105, 190–191).