Identifier: essayshumorpoems00brig (find matches)
Title: The essays, humor, and poems of Nathaniel Ames, father and son, of Dedham, Massachusetts, from their almanacks, 1726-1775
Year: 1891 (1890s)
Authors: Briggs, Samuel, 1841- Ames, Nathaniel, 1708-1764 Ames, Nathaniel, 1741-1822
Subjects: Essays, American Wit and humor, American Almanacs
Publisher: Cleveland, Ohio
Contributing Library: University of California Libraries
Digitizing Sponsor: Internet Archive

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The case was many years before the courts and was finally decided in favor of the Doctor; this being the first time the principle was established that the estate ascended to the father as next of kin to the son, notwithstanding the intervening life estate of Hannah, widow of Capt. Joshua Fisher.
This being a cause celebre and the Doctor being much annoyed at the law's delay, could not resist the temptation to lampoon the Court, the source of his annoyance. The following account is given in Worthington's History of Dedham, 1827, note p.92:
"The Supreme Court, (two judges dissenting) decided that it did ascend. Dr. Ames, although the successful party, expressed his dislike at the conduct of the dissenting judges, (one of which was Paul Dudley, the Chief Justice,) by causing the whole Court to be painted on the large sign-board of his tavern, sitting in great state in their large wigs, each Judge being clearly recognized. An open book was before them, underneath which was written "province laws." The dissenting judges were represented with their backs turned towards the book. The Court hearing of the sign, sent the sheriff to bring it before them. Dr. Ames heard the order given, being then in Boston, and by good luck and hard riding, had just time to pull down his sign before the sheriff arrived at Dedham.

Text Appearing After Image:
THE TAVERN SIGN. From the original sketch found among the papers of Dr. Ames.
THE TOWN OF DEDHAM.
Note. The plate on the opposite page is a copy of the original sketch made by Dr. Ames for the sign, the sketch having been found recently among his papers. The characters represented on the Tavern Sign, commencing on the left of the illustration, are:
Benjamin Lynde, appointed Judge 1745; appointed Chief Justice 1769; died 1781.
Richard Saltonstall, appointed Judge 1736; died 1756.
Paul Dudley, appointed Judge 1718; appointed Chief Justice 1745; died 1751.
Stephen Sewall, appointed Judge 1739; appointed Chief Justice 1752; died 1760.
John Cushing, appointed Judge 1747; resigned 1771; died 1775.
Upon the original sketch of the sign the following words are written:
"Sir, I wish I could have some talk on ye above subject, being the bearer waits for an answer shal only observe Mr Greenwood thinks yt can not be done under £40, old tenor."

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