John Norton letter to John Hatley Norton, 1769 January 25

John Norton letter to John Hatley Norton, 1769 January 25

John Norton, merchant of London, England, letter to his son and partner, John Hatley Norton in Yorktown, Virginia. Norton writes concerning a number of accounts and the financial state of his business. He is concerned that over £11,000 is owed to him in foreign debts as well as a considerable sum on his store accounts in Virginia. Because of these outstanding debts, Norton cautions his son to be cautious in extending credit. Norton also mentions his intention to employ George Goosley.

MS 1936.3.171
Folder 16

John Norton and Sons Papers, MS 1936.3

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

Ink on paper

Recto

London Jan^y. 25^th 1769

Dear Hatley

My last to you was a long Letter of 31^st
Dec^r. p y^e. Theodorick Cap^t. Wilye since which I have not rec^d.
any from you, tho heard by Cap^t. M^c.Nab (who left Hampton
y^e. 1^st Dec^r. & arrived here ab^t. a Fortnight ago) that you were got
pretty well again, I find I omitted to Inclose the sketch of
M^r. John Smiths Acco^t. Current which I now do, ballance in
my favour £352.17.1 w^ch. will be transfer'd as it now stands
in the new Books, if any alteration to be made must be done
hereafter, Mess^rs. Smith of Bristol have lately demanded y^e.
N^t. proceed of y^e. 7 hhds Tob^o. He sent by Robertson, but dont
mention the 8 p Esten Jun^r. & as to Sutton have never heard
from Him about his Debt due from M^r. Smith. I have just
finished the Ball^ce. of my Books & to my great surprize after
charging a very reasonable Interest to those Indebted the
Forreign Debts amount to £11064.12.6 besides many hundreds
for Bills of Exch^a. drawn & not due at the Time of taking the List & near £500 Goods shipt
in Esten w^ch. will be debited the Drawers in our partnership
Books, this enormous Sum when added to my Debts due in
Virg^a. on my Store Acco^t. greatly alarms me, & shou'd induce
you to be cautius to whom you advance, for your Regulation
Inclosed you have the List of Debts due to me the 31^st of Dec^r.
w^ch. will be Transfer'd into our partnership Books, the Acco^t.
Currents will be sent by the Brilliant which will sail by the
1^st day of March, tomorro I shall begin to write my Letters
the orders for goods are given out, I have not determined on any
thing yet for M^r. Goosley, I will endeavour if I can to put
him in (for this Year) w^th some Cap^s., & take part of a Ship

Page 2

perhaps 200 or 250 hhds but shall advise you of this more
particularly hereafter, I have about 400 hhds of Tob^o. on hand
which is near double the Quantity any Merch^t. has in Town,
have sold but little lately, there being no great demand at
present for either Exportation or Town Trade, however I think
things must be better in the Spring as there is no great
quantity of Virg^a. Tob^o. in Town, my near Neighbours have
sold, I beleive, & so indeed have most of the Merch^ts. This is
intended you by the Randolph Cap^t. Walker if any thing
further offers I shall give it you p Postcrip. All Fr^ds. join
me in Love &ca to you & all Fr^ds. in Virg^a. I remain &ca

Y^rs. Affectionately
John Norton

P.S. On looking over a Letter
dated 24^th Aug^st 1768 rec^d. from
M^r. Ben Temple he says He
had ddl a Bill of Exch^a. to you for
£7.2 on Mess^rs. R^d. & Jn^o Day to remit me w^ch. you never sent
me. M^r. Day has lately failed and among His papers there is
a Bill w^ch. He says was Inclosed from Virg^a. to Him in a Letter Blank from Mary Livingston for about that sum tis drawn by M^rs. Mary Livingston
Exec^x. to Her Husband pay^a. to Benjamin Temple & no Endorser on the back you best can tell how this matter
has been transacted as I have never rec^d. the Bill, this may probably
be the same. I have rec^d. 6 pots of Sweetmeats from Cap^t.
M^c.Nab & have p^d. your order Draft to M^r. Lux supposed value thereof
£7.2.4 Inclos^d y^e have F Stubbs's Acc^t. Curr^t. to Dec^r. last ball^e.
in my favour £236.18.8

Address leaf

To
M^r. Jn^o Hatley Norton
Merch^t
York Town
Virginia
p the Randolph
Cap^t Walker

London 26 Jan^y. 1769
John Norton
answ^d.
respects Stubbs Acc^t
which J.H.N. says
is £

London 25^th. Jan^y 1769
Jn^o. Norton
Rec^d. April 1769
Answ^d. p Cap^t. Clarke April
1769