THOMAS HUBBARD (1702-1773). Prominent in pre-Revolutionary Massachusetts, Boston merchant, representative to the General Court, Speaker Massachusetts House of Representatives (1750-1759), Member of the Governor's Council (1759-1772), Province Commissary General (1759-1771), and Treasurer of Harvard College (1752-1773), he brought financial improvement, succeeded by John Hancock.
November 13, 1773-Dated Pre-Revolutionary War, Manuscript Document Will Accounting, 1 page, measuring 7 x 10 inches, headed, "Account of Sundry parcells money left by the Hon.ble Tho. Hubbard Esqr. in his Mansion house at his Decease, and divided this day by William Blair Townsend & Tho. Fayerweather Executors to the last Will of the deceas'd, November 13, 1773," Choice Very Fine.

The money account itemizes four sums totaling £152.9.2, including a bag related to a 1771 balance of "old guns," a bag "called Dana's" from January 1773, and a sum "called Rev. Mr. Kirkland's money," received of a Mr. Hyslop by order of Dr. Mather. The total is divided evenly between the two executors, each receiving £76.4.7, with both men signing a receipt acknowledgment below, dated Boston, November 13, 1773, and signed "Thomas Fayerweather" and "Willm Blair Townsend." The verso carries a contemporary docket titled "Acct. Sundry parcells Money left by Thos. Hubbard Esqr. Divid. by his Execut. Novr. 13th 1773." Docket on the blank reverse reads: “Acctt. sundry parcells Mony left by Thos. Hubbard Esqr. & divid. by his Executr. Novr. 13th 1773.” All well written, signed, and easily readable on very clean fine quality “W D” watermarked laid paper clearly in rich brown ink. An important Boston merchant, educator, financial and Colonial political leader.


Thomas Hubbard (1702-1773) was one of the most prominent men in pre-Revolutionary Massachusetts. A wealthy Boston merchant, he served as a representative to the General Court, as Speaker of the Massachusetts House of Representatives from 1750 to 1759, as a member of the Governor's Council from 1759 to 1772, as Commissary General of the Province from 1759 to 1771, and as Treasurer of Harvard College from 1752 until his death, a post to which he brought marked financial improvement and in which he was succeeded, immediately following this settlement, by John Hancock.

Hubbard fell ill in the spring of 1773, moved to Waltham in hope of recovering his health, and died there on July 14, 1773; this account, dated exactly four months later, documents the settlement of cash found in his mansion house among his heirs. His executor and son-in-law, Thomas Fayerweather, had married Hubbard's daughter Sarah in 1754 and went on to build an extensive mercantile trading business of his own.

The reference to "Rev. Mr. Kirkland's money" likely reflects Hubbard's long involvement organizing the Society for Propagating Christian Knowledge among the Indians, for which he helped administer missionary funds during his lifetime.