We are offering a RARE hand-written bill, dated August 15, 1828, of Williams, Putnam & Co., Boston, for 3 chests of Powchong Tea sold to Silas Peirce & Co.  Silas Peirce (1793-1879) was an American grocer who from 1861 to 1863, served as Chairman of the Boston Aldermen, an arm of the Boston City Council.  We couldn't seem to find any information on Williams, Putnam & Co.  However, there have been many with the last name Putnam who had descended from the prominent and influential Salem Putnam family, who were among the first colonists of the Massachusetts Bay Colony.  History reports they were involved in the Salem witch trials.  We believe it's highly likely the Putnam of this company was a descendent.  Several people with the last name "Williams" (most likely all members of the same family), appear on lists of known participants in the Boston Tea Party.  Possibly Silas Williams was a descendent, but we are not stating this as fact, just a possibility.