Robert Burwell letter to John Norton & Son, 1770 May 9

Robert Burwell letter to John Norton & Son, 1770 May 9

Robert Burwell letter to John Norton & Son concerning the death of his wife, Sarah Nelson Burwell, his numerous debts and desire to sell off all his holdings and live in the mountains with his son and his family.

MS1936.3.303
Folder 28

John Norton and Sons Papers, MS 1936.3

Special Collections, John D. Rockefeller Jr. Library, Colonial Williamsburg Foundation

Ink on paper

Page 1

York Virginia May 9^th: 1770

D^r. Sir

The death of my D^r M^rs Burwell who was carryed
of the sixth of March last with a paralytick disorder, has
brought me to a resolution, to dispose of my whole Estate
here and move up to the Mountains with my Son & his
family, I think the Lands on Roanoak the Islewight
Estate & my Houses & lots here will nett me six thous^d.
pounds cur^t: money, or more if we cou'd give three years
credit, so as to have one third of the money paid yearly, but
this cannot be done without the Assistance of some friend,
to pay of the debts of the whole Estate; I wish it were possible
to borrow four thousand pounds to pay my whole debts, then
we shoud have in three years money beforehand, and an
Estate of 12500 Acres of fine Mountain Lands & a hundred
and twenty working slaves besides eighty young ones to fill
up any Vacancy that may happen ; If I had had the smallpox

Page 2

you shoud certainly see me this fall ; I am sorry it is
not in my power to do the Justice I wish as yet, but
you may depend on my doing it as soon as it is, the
Balance of Carys Acc^t: 1900.. Hanburys balance about
six hundred, Athawes about three hundred these are
all the sterling debts, the Virginia debts may be paid
by degrees as the Crops are shiped, I wish you coud make
a friend for me to get the Money, it shall be all paid in
three or four years at farthist, & the crops shiped to you
& the money remited to you as fast as it is received here;
I make this offer to you as it is clear to me that we shall
make one year with the other, from one hundred & Twenty
to two hundred hogsheads p^r year, and a large Quantity
of wheat, my best wishes attend you & yours & am

D^r Sir your Hble Serv^t.
Robert Burwell

Address leaf

To
M^r John Norton & son
Merch^ts. in
London

Virg^a. 9^th May 1770
Robert Burwell
Rec'd 18 June p Dixon

Ans^d the 12^th July 1770
p Wyler

no Memorandum from this