Adams Papers Digital Edition

Papers of John Adams, volume 5

To John Avery

To James Warren
80 Enclosure: Letter of Resignation from Superior Court, 10 February 1777 JA Massachusetts Council Enclosure: Letter of Resignation from Superior Court, 10 February 1777 Adams, John Massachusetts Council
Enclosure: Letter of Resignation from Superior Court
Baltimore Feby. 10. 1777

To the Honourable the Council of the State of Massachusetts Bay.

May it please your Honours

I find myself under a Necessity of resigning my Appointment to a Seat in the Superior Court;1 and I do accordingly hereby resign it, and request that Some other Gentleman may be forthwith appointed to that most honourable and important Station. I am your Honours most obliged and obedient humble Servant

John Adams

LbC (Adams Papers); notation: “Sent by Mr. Hall. the day of the date.”

1.

JA had considered resigning earlier but had delayed his decision (vol. 4:152, 183). Perhaps the continuing opposition of the two western counties to a reopening of the courts convinced JA that the superior court needed the strength that an absent chief justice could not supply, but see his letter of 21 March to John Avery (below).