David Jameson letter to John Norton, 1768 August 23

David Jameson letter to John Norton, merchant in London, England. Jameson writes to Norton concerning William Reynolds, an orphan of Yorktown, Virginia, seeking a place in Norton's counting house. Jameson sent Norton a letter earlier to inform him that the people around Reynolds wished to see him placed with Norton. Reynolds also discusses his dealings with settling the estate of the orphan's mother noting that he has sold the household goods and slaves and has requested that all debts owed the estate be paid. Jameson notes that he will be unable to open a store, has sent tobacco and thanks Norton for the herring.

David Jameson was a prominent Yorktown merchant involved in the tobacco trade and importation of slaves. He held several prominent political posts in Virginia during the Revolution including serving as acting governor following Thomas Nelson's resignation.

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York Vir^a. Aug. 23^d. 1768

D^r. Sir

This will be del^d. to you by M^r. W^m. Reynolds
who is very desirous of getting into your Counting House and
as I think he will be very attentive to business I hope it will be
agreable to you You will no doubt remember it is part of his Fathers
request to us in his Will that we have him bro^t. up in the Mer-
cantile Way As you have the direction as well as myself of
everything that relates to him I leave the regulation of his
expence to you who are so much a better judge and I do not
doubt but you will by your example and advice make it as mode-
rate as it should be having regard to his income which I shall
send you state of as soon as I can reduce the whole to a small
compas and certainty. Immediately after his Mothers death
I sold the Household Goods and most of the Slaves and shall
sell everything as it comes into my possession & I have given
notice to those who borrowed the Estates money that they must
pay it in in order to make a distribution according to Cap^t
Reynold's Will You will be pleased to let me know what
Sum will be necessary for WR's Expence which I will remitt
to you as you shall direct I wrote to you soon after the old
Ladys death & ment^d. Billy's going to you and although I
have not your answer (as he is doing nothing here) I thought
it best that he should go now He will acquaint you in what
manner his Mother left her affairs & among other things that
the Trust is to me a task I was very unwilling to take upon me
but as you was at so great distance and as she declared she had
no other person to confide it I was induced to promise her
As I imagine it will be full as agreable to you to pay me the
three hundred pounds Curr^y. you owe her Est^a. as to keep it longer
I shall be glad to be favoured with a line by the very first opporty
about it, and at the same time let me know whether you

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incline to pay it here or in England. I received the goods you sent
her by the Brilliant out of which deduct twelve pounds Ster^l. for
the Interest due in June last and charge the Ball^a. Viz Eight
pounds sixteen Shill^s. & three pence Ster^l. to me. I observe you mention
in your Letter some money due to you from her for Goods before
but they have been all settled for with M^r. Cary or your Son and the
Interest of your Note at the same time all which W:R can explain
to you. I duely received your favour of the 31^st. of March by your
Ship and although I have declined keeping a Store I have to continue
our correspondence ship'd four hogds Tob^o. which I hope are good The
Inspectors made a mistake and put my own hhd aboard another Ship
I am much afraid the purchasers here are all wrong I was obliged to
give 21/6 p ct & many in this Neighbourhood got 22/6 w^ch. I think your
Market will not afford however I hope I may be mistaken. you will
observe three of the hogd^s. are stem'd & the other mixt I could have
sold the whole at 22/6. I shall not now trouble you further than
to assure you

I am Sir Your mo hb Serv^t.
David Jameson

I am much obliged to you for your kind
present of Herrings they proved very good

Address leaf

To
M^r. John Norton
Merch^t. in
London
by M^r. W^m. Reynolds

Virg^a. 23^d Aug^st. 1768
Da. Jameson

R^d. the 18 Oct^r. 1768
p Briliant

Ans^d. y^e March 1769
p Briliant