Adams Papers
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To John Adams from Caleb Davis, 10 September 1777

From Caleb Davis

Boston Septr. 10th. 1777

Honabl. Sir

I ask pardon for giveing you this Trouble, Amidst your More Important Concerns, but being requested to forward the Inclosed,1 I beg Leave to Recomend the Person from whoom it Comes as Suitable, for a 1t. or 2d. Leiut. on Board one of the Continental Frigates, and Should you procure Such an appointment for him I doubt, Not, he will do Honour to himself, and his Country. I Presume you have a Personal Knowledge of Mr. Cunningham, and therefore Need Say Nothing of his good Sense Spirit and Attachment, to the Cause of Amirica, and as a Seaman I belive him Inferiour to Very few on the Continent. Had thare bin any Vacansies, in the Little Navy of this State, Better than that of a Master,2 Mr. Cunningham Doubtless would have had it. But Rather than, be Idle he hes Accepted that Berth for a Short Cruize, which I think Much Below his Merit. I have the Honour to be with the gratest Respect your Honours Most Obedt. Humbl. Servant

Caleb Davis3

RC (Adams Papers); docketed: “Caleb Davis Sept 13th, 1777.”

1. A letter from Peter Cunningham, son of Elizabeth Cunningham, sister of JA’s mother. He sought JA’s influence in getting him a position. His letter is in Adams Family Correspondence description begins Adams Family Correspondence, ed. L. H. Butterfield and others, Cambridge, 1963-. description ends , 2:341–342.

2. A ship’s officer next in rank below a lieutenant who was responsible for navigation (OED description begins The Oxford English Dictionary, Oxford, 1933; 12 vols. and supplement. description ends ).

3. One of Boston’s representatives to the General Court (Mass., Province Laws description begins The Acts and Resolves, Public and Private, of the Province of the Massachusetts Bay, Boston, 1869–1922; 21 vols. description ends , 20:4).

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    Source Project
    Adams Papers
    Title
    To John Adams from Caleb Davis, 10 September 1777
    Author
    Davis, Caleb
    Recipient
    Adams, John
    Date
    10 September 1777

    Reference

    Cite as
    “To John Adams from Caleb Davis, 10 September 1777,” Founders Online, National Archives, https://founders.archives.gov/documents/Adams/06-05-02-0171. [Original source: The Adams Papers, Papers of John Adams, vol. 5, August 1776 – March 1778, ed. Robert J. Taylor. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press, 2006, p. 286.]