John Norton letter to John Hatley Norton, 1768 September 3

John Norton letter to John Hatley Norton, 1768 September 3

John Norton letter to his son and business partner, John Hatley Norton, in Yorktown, Virginia. Norton writes concerning his business interests with numerous Virginia tobacco growers; the ham he received from Martha Goosley; the rotted leather sent to Williamsburg printers Purdie and Dixon; John Frere's failure to receive the birds sent him; Mr. Powell's illness and unwillingness to ship on a vessel carrying convicts bound for Maryland and Mr. Montagu's promise that Mr. Moore's Act of Assembly will be considered.

MS 1936.3.141
Folder 13

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

Ink on paper

Page 1

London y^e. 3 Sep^t. 1768

Dear Hatley

My Last was dated 15^th August p Cap^t Woodford
which acknowledged the Receipt of your's of 26^th June & advis'd
Cap^t Robertson's safe Arrival in Virginia. I forwarded the
Sales of all the Tobacco except M^r Tinsley's hh'd which is
sold a 4^d p h & will be deliver'd in a few days. I also wrote a
few circular Letters mostly to lowland Friends p Lord Botte=
=tourt dated 18^th August. His Lordship I see by the papers embark'd
onboard the Rippon on Monday & sailed the same day, have
since rec'd your's of 6^th July p Cap^t Esten, am glad to find tho' the
Crop is short that there is a probability of 600 Hh'ds consigned
& mostly good Tobacco, I see no prospect at present (tho' tis said
there will be a good deal of tobacco left after the Ships are loaded
& promising Crop on the ground) but that the Price may be
kept up if we are but staunch to one another. Cap^t Esten has
deliver'd me a Couple of hams which M^rs Goosley was kind
enough to send, but the millions of worms &c. had a large
share, suppose by the hot weather as to the Birds they every
one made their exit by which M^r Frere is disappointed

I saw him Yesterday he setts off with his Lady & M^r William=
=son in a few days for Norfolk to which place M^r Turner
& my Sister are already gone. If I can spare a few days before
the Brilliant makes her Appearance I may take a trip &
just look at them, am glad the ship deliver'd a dry Cargo
I have just rec'd many Letters p Cap^t Esten from Mess^rs. Nelson
Page, W^m Digges, Nicholas. T. Moore, J. Balfour, W^m. Cary,

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PW^d. Claiborne, M^rs. Sauvaire, J N Cooke, N Burwell Jun.^r,
Seymour Powell, N. Lⁿ. Savage, Jos. Davenport, J.M.Fontaine
G Wilson, the Secretary, Cole Digges Sen^r., Cap^t Robertson,
&c, &c. & shall have due regard to the Contents thereof. I have
order'd the sev^l. Insurances to be made that I was directed
to make on the Farmer Cap^t Esten, Randolph Cap^t Walker,
& shall open a policy for the Brilliant I have rec'd a Letter
from Mess^rs. Purdie & Dixon dated 13^th July p Cap^t Esten
by which I find they have thoughts of returning the Skins
I ship'd to M^r. Nicholas p his Order in Cap^t Robertson
which were purchased of Paul Hardy, tho' M^r Nicholas
takes no notice of it to me in any of his Letters of as late a
date as their's I am sorry they don't answer but what can be
done with them if ret^d I know not for there will be a duty
demanded on the landing, besides Hardy has since failed
I paid him his Money as soon as they were ship'd p Agree=
ment. I confess my self entirely ignorant of the bookbinder's business
& wish those Gentlemen had recommended a Leather Seller to me
whom they approved for want of which I applied to M^r.
Rivington in S^t Paul's Church Yard who must be thought a
proper Person, whilst I was with him he sent for Hardy
whom he told me had lived for 26 years in Pater Noster
Row & carried on his Business with Credit & whom he dealt
with for large Sums of Money, upon his recommendation & say:^g
as Leather was risen he tho^t his Prizes very reasonable &
more so than another Person /he also rec'd proposals from on
my behalf/ a Dealer in the same way. I therefore contracted

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with Hardy & if he has acted the part of a dishonest Man tis
out of my power to help it now, for it will not be worthwhile to
bring Suit against the Assignees. I have given out Orders for
Goods for M^r Page The Secretary G Wilson & sev^l of the above persons which shall
be ship'd p first good Conveyance, not approving of this by
any means could they be ready being a Vessel bound to Mary=
=Land with Convicts which deter'd M^r Powell from taking
his Passage tho' if he had his late indisposition must have
prevented him which was a Stranguary & Inflammation
in his Bladder which caused him to lose 30 oz^s of Blood. how=
=ever he is getting well of his Complaint, tell M^r Moore I have
M^r. Montagu's promise that his Act of Assembly will be
taken in hand as soon as S^r. Mathew Lambe comes to Town
& the Board proceeds to Business of that sort I have the Papers
of that sort from M^r. Day who did not seem much acquainted
with that sort of business, he agrees to pay me the Ball.^ce of M^r.
Moore's Acco^t. Harry has I think found some relief from
the Medicine of Rooks, 'tis certain his Fitts are not so fre=
=quent as heretofore God only knows whether a Cure will
ensue or not All the rest of us are well & join in best wishes
to you & all Friends in Virg^a.

I remain
My dear Hatley's affectionate
John Norton

PS.
Remember the Bill you have
of M^r Russel's to be renew'd, also
send me a distinct Acco^t of all Money you have rec'd & paid
on my Acco.^t in Virg.^a that I may have every thing regular to
carry into a new Set of Books. I am much obliged to M^r Nicholas

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for his handsome intended Consignment, tell him so & that
I have engaged to pay Mess.^rs Frank & Bickerton for what
paper they have shiped at the time it is due which is very
shortly, also to pay for the remainder when tis shiped &
likewise becomes due which is to their Satisfaction. I think
the Credit was 6 Months. I have accepted your Cousin M.^r Nat.
Burwell Jun^rs. Bill pay.^a to Alex^r. Craig for £30 if you see
him pray inform him of it

To
M^r. J H Norton
[1 word illegible]
p Cap^t. Clark

Sep^r. 3^d. 1768
Rec^d from John Norton Oct^o.
1768Answered Dec^r. 1768