William Smith documents and John Tabor Kempe draft letter

1734-1766

William Smith (1697-1769) was a New York City lawyer and a Justice of the New York Supreme Court of Judicature. He was the father of American Loyalist William Smith Jr. (1728-1793). The collection consists of three documents signed by William Smith (1697-1769), 1734-1766, and a rough draft of a letter addressed to Smith by the Province's Attorney General, John Tabor Kempe, 1766 April 18. Documents comprise a receipt for a loaned legal document, 1734 March 25; John W. De Peyster's declaration, signed by De Peyster, Smith and others, that he was acting in trust for Smith in signing a land grant petition, 1754 September 30; and Smith's attestation for a land deed, 1766 July 30. Kempe's letter expresses displeasure over Smith's recent remarks to him concerning a case under Smith's adjudication. Declaration of trust, 1754 was transferred from the George Peabody Wetmore papers relating to William Smith Jr.; Smith attestation, 1766, was transferred from William Smith Jr. letters and documents.