Sir William Pepperel (1696-1759, Massachusetts/Maine merchant, jurist, and militia officer, named the 1st American-born baronet for the capture of Ft. Louisburg in 1745) autograph letter, signed, (the retained 1st draft, with corrections), dated at Kittery, July 3, 1738, to Joseph Richardson; 1 p., small 4to, 7 1/8 x 5 7/8 in.; informs Richardson that he and several others have been appointed referees to settle disputes between Thomas Westbrook and Samuel Waldo, and asks to arrange a meeting at Falmouth (now Portland) in early August. Westbrook (1675-1744) and Waldo (1695-1759) were land speculators and engaged in a partnership to identify and secure suitable trees for ships' masts for the Royal Navy. Their alliance was disintegrating, as indicated in this letter, and in 1743 Waldo would succeed in foreclosing on Westbrook, taking all his land and money.

Some toning and intersecting folds; glue and bits of paper adhering to the back