The British Colonial Office, which came by these papers through an uncertain route, dealt with matters in all the British colonies. John Singleton Copley (one of the main correspondents) was a prolific American portrait painter. Henry Pelham (the other main correspondent) was an English portrait and miniature painter, engraver, and map-maker who was Copley's half brother. A Loyalist, Pelham left Boston for London in 1776. Peter Pelham was an English engraver and portraitist who worked in Boston and Newport, Rhode Island; he married Copley's mother and was Henry's father.
From the description of Original correspondence, etc., 1739-1776. (Winterthur Library). WorldCat record id: 122573619