John Norton letter to John Hatley Norton, 1770 June 9

John Norton letter to John Hatley Norton, 1770 June 9

John Norton, merchant of London, England, letter to his son and partner John Hatley Norton in Yorktown, Virginia concerning their business and family news.

MS1936.3.311
Folder 29

John Norton and Sons Papers, MS 1936.3

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

Ink on paper

Page 1

London the 9^th June 1770

Dear Hatley

My last was 28^th past by Cap^t. Necks p whom forw^d.
several Acco^t. Sales &ca I have just rec^d p New York packet 2 packets
of letters from M^r. Mann Page, ordering a considerable quantity of
Goods for family use & part Wedding Apparel, which suppose must
be sent (tho' he seems to take longer strides than I can consent to) p first
conveyance which probably will be when I ship M^r. Prentis's Goods
next Month, as he desires they may be in by first of October, you'll
advise him thereof I shall also ship those order'd for the Est^a. of M^r R^t.
Page w^th. W. G.'^s and other orders p same oppyt w^ch. cou'd not be got
in time for Goosley, your letters of 1^st and 24^th March (old dates) are
just come to hand inclosing several orders via Glascow but not in time
to be answer'd particularly now, tho' shall have regard to the contents,
I have this day after a good deal of Trouble del^d. 31 hhds the remains
of my last Years Importation for Town trade, being cheifly Stem^d. w^ch makes
56 hhds that I have sold this Year in Town, on delivery many hhds
proved to be dreadfully bad indeed, quite perished thro the hhd, w^ch
obliged me to allow large damages, as well as abatement in price on some,
M^rs Snelsons hhd ES N^o. 3 p Brilliant was the worst among them,
quite rotten & smellt like dung, W^m. Churchill, W^m. Plummer T. Hayes Jun^r
&ca very little better, however upon the whole I believe I have done as
well as any of the Trade. The Sales of the remains of the Brilliants
Cargoe will be sent p first conveyance after they are made up, as also
those p the Thomas which can't be finished till the general Average is
settled, w^ch. expect will be soon, the last mentioned Tob^o will turn out much
better than I once expected, the prices sold at are from 10½ to 11¾^d for Town
and 3½ to 3¾ for Export I fully intended to have sent you p y^e Bearer
Cap^t. Barron the Acco^ts. proved which were got ready but our L^d. Mayor
was pleased to take himself into the Country and till he returns to the City
Seal cant be obtained, however I hope to send them in a short time & shall
charge the Interest to the time they are proved I shall now as the Tob^o.
is deliver'd ball^ce. the Books & take a list of D^rs. a Coppy of which shall
forward you when finished for the present have inclosed you a rough
list just for your guide, I shall also then send your own Acco^t. Curr^t. by

Page 2

which you will be able to discover if any Entries are wrong made with respect
to yours and the Remitt^a. Acco^t. which possibly may be the case as some of the
orders have not been given so clear as I cou'd wish, several English ballan^cs
rec^d by you in Virg^a. being carried to my Acco^t. of Stock in Virg^a. & I observe
by a few lines wrote by W. G. at the bottom of yours of 1^st March wherein he
says Jn^o. Goodwin has paid our English Ball^ce. of 20/10 ster^g. w^ech. was Ent^d. to
C^r. of Stock w^ch. cant be right, I have charged you with that sum as have
done the others of same Nature. I am glad to find you succeeded so well on your
Journey & that our Ships stand fare to be loaded if we get 1000 hhds it will
fully satisfie me & is sufficient for our Stock if we continue to pay down y^e
dutys of what is sold in Town & our Tradesmen ready money which is what
I have hitherto accomplished. The Articles you have order'd for yourself
and M^rs. Ambler shall be attended to, I cant get any thing of the Insurers for
Cap^t. Jn^o. Thompsons demand (for Average on his Vessell) upon the Insurers
refusal it was left to Arbitration of Cap^t. Bennet & Cap^t. Loney & they have
given their opinion nothing is due for the reasons mentioned in Cap^t. Hollands
letter to me who was the Broker & which letter I have here inclosed for his
perusal Cap^t. Thompson stands D^r. as p his Acco^t. Curr^t. herewith £164.16.4
with Interest thereon from 30^th Dec^r. 1769 till paid I shall send the Acco^t. proved
with the others but thought it necessary you shou'd have this as it may be
wanted. Your Brother Geo is just setting off, with M^r. & M^rs. Jn^o. Frere
to Suffolk we are all well except poor Harry who is much as usual, Fanny
is with us for the Holidays as is also little Walker, Jn^o. Baylor is at
Cambridge where George will see him as they intend stayiing a day or two
at that Town, All Fr^ds. join me in best Wishes to you & all Friends in
Virg^a.

I remain
Dear Hatley
yours Affectionately
John Norton

P.S. M^r. Geo: C. Smith is just
ret^d. from Ipswich and says the new
Ship is in good forwardness & will be as fine
a Vessell as ever was built there. Your Mother rec^d. a letter from you
via: Glascow dated in March. pray deliver the inclosed rec^ts. to P. Randolph

Address leaf

London 9^th. June 1770
John Norton
Rec^d. Aug^st. 20^th. 1770
Inclosing a Sketch of
English Ball^ces.

Answer'd p Cap^t. Goosley
Sep^r. 1770