John Page letter to John Norton, 1769 May 27

Title

John Page letter to John Norton, 1769 May 27

Date

Description

John Page letter to John Norton, merchant in London, England. Page writes concerning his personal financial difficulties and the imperial crisis between England and America. Page thanks Norton for providing all the goods he requested despite his small crops and blames his difficulties on four years of short crops, a bad overseer, the costs of a growing family and the costs of running for office. Page sees the American response in the form of the Association, a voluntary agreement to boycott certain British goods until the repeal of the Townshend Acts, as a way to alleviate his personal debt. He has agreed not to import British goods and hopes this action of his and others will hurt British manufacturers and merchants and lead Parliament to repeal the odious acts. He is astonished that Lord Hillsborough is able to get Parliament to support his actions including sending troops to Boston. Page also mentions the action taken by Lord Botetourt in dissolving the House of Burgesses for their resolves against British measures. Concerning Lord Botetourt, Page writes that this action has not "lessen'd him in their Esteem, for they suppose he was obliged to do so ..."

Identifier

MS 1936.3.187
Folder 17

Source

John Norton and Sons Papers, MS 1936.3

Publisher

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

Original Format

Ink on paper

Text


Recto

Rosewell May the 27th. 1769

Dear Sir

I wrote to you some Time ago thanking you for the
Confidence you had put in me in sending me so many
Goods upon so small a Consignment, acquainting you with
my Disappointment, & shewing how far I had complied with
my Promise of paying your Son &c. I can not help
assuring you again that I should not have sent you
such an Invoice last Year, if I had known the Amount
of my Debts here, & could have foreseen the
Expences of Electioneering; for no Body hates the
Thoughts of being in Debt more than I do: but
the great Scarcity of Money here, the Shortness of
my Crops for four Years past, & the necessary
Expences of an encreasing Family joined to the
Commencement of Housekeeping in a large House,
have forced me to submit to it for a while; but I
hope it will not be long, as I have a very good
Prospect of a Crop, have engaged a Good Overseer,
have resolved not to send to England for any
thing this Year, & have entered into the Associati-
=on. I like the Association because I think it
will repeal the disagreeable Acts of Parliament,
open the Eyes of the People with you, & must certain
-ly clear us of our Debts. All North America will
join in this Scheme. How must your Manufacturers
curse the Minister who has driven the Colonies
to this. I am astonished at Ld. Hillsborough


Page 2

His Method of quelling Riots in London, & supporting the
civil Power in America, as he terms it, will render him
eternally rediculous & odious to both English & Americans. I am
amazed at the Influence he seems to have over both Houses
of Parliament; their Resolves are almost a Copy of his
Letter to Governor Bernard. Is it not shocking to think
that he not only executed that dangerour & impolitic
Scheme of sending Troops to Boston, but was able to get the
Approbation of Lds. & Commons? Is not every honest
Englishman allarm'd at their Resolves & Address?
Mentioning their Resolves & Address puts me in mind of ours; but I
suppose you will see them before you get this. Ld. Botetourt
requir'd nothing of the Assembly; but they were so pro-
voked at the Resolves of the Lords & Commons that they
enter'd the Resolves, for which his Lordship thought
proper to dissolve them. This has not lessen'd him in
their Esteem, for they suppose he was obliged to do
so; he is universally esteemed here, for his great
Assiduity in his Office, Condescension, good Nature &
true Politeness.

I hope our unhappy Differences will soon be at an
End, for I think that the Parliament must be soon
convinced that the Acts we complain of are unconstitu-
tional & anticommercial, & then will with a greatness
of Mind worthy of that August Body, repeal them,
as such.

I have given Capt. Robertson 10 Hhds. which was all
I had after paying Levies & Overseers. I shall be
obliged to you if you will Ensure them.


Page 3

I believe I have had one of the worst Overseers in
the World. My Wife joins me in best Wishes to you
yr. Lady & Family. I am yours sincerely John Page Junr.


Page 4

Virga. 27th May 1769
John Page Junr.

Receiv'd ye 25th July

Andd the 26 Augst. 1769
p Capt. Cocke

Citation

Page, John, 1744-1808, “John Page letter to John Norton, 1769 May 27,” John Norton & Sons Papers, John D. Rockefeller Jr. Library, accessed March 29, 2024, https://rocklibnorton.omeka.net/items/show/187.