Martha Goosley letter to John Norton, 1770 April 2

Martha Goosley letter to John Norton, 1770 April 2

Martha Goosley letter to John Norton, merchant of London, concerning the disposition of clothing, lightning striking Colonel Tucker's store, the death at sea of George Hubbard, Norton's efforts on behalf of her son, tobacco, Mrs. Norton's health, the benefits of drinking porter, the death of several older women including one that caused Dr. Pope to celebrate with punch, the impending marriage of Sucky Reynolds and Savages Reason despite the disparity in their ages and John Hatley Norton's relationship with Sarah Ann Nicholas, daughter of Robert Carter Nicholas.

MS 1936.3.292
Folder 27

John Norton and Sons Papers, MS 1936.3

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

Ink on paper

Page 1

1770 York Virginia Apr^r 2

Dear Sir

Your kind favour of the 13 Dec^r
came Safe to hand had heard with concern
Some time before of your ill Health
women you know always write without
Method I ought to have informed you
that the old Ladys Cloaths after her Death
were all carried to Norfolk for what
Purpose cant tell and Put into a
Store of Col^o Tuckers which Store was
Struck with Lightning and burnt Down
and this trunk it Seem was Saved
from the fire and Sent here by M^r
John Tucker : according to your Desire
have Divided these Cloaths as equally as
Possible M^rs Baylor and Burwell Sent
Down for theirs and will Send M^rs
Nortons by Cap^t Esten was very glad
to hear Cap^t Robertson got home Safe

Page 2

alas Poor Geo Hubbard who would have
thought after So many voyages that the
Sea would be his grave

am much oblig'd to you for your kind
ententions in behalf of my Son and
Doubt not his endeavours to Merit your
favour it will be Some Disadvantage to
him being in James River as all his
friends are here but will Do the best
we can for him there is a great quantity
of Tob^o made and very good

am very glad to hear my friend M^rs
Norton is grown so fat if you had not
told me it was by Drinking Porter Should
have Suspected it was oweing to Some
other cause which commonly had that
effect upon her in virginia I wish I
could get Some Porter would try the effects
upon My thin carcase it Might Perhaps
Plump my face a little which at Present

Page 3

is almost as Sharp as a Hatchet am
very careful of My Self for this Spring
has been as fatal to old women as old
Cows there is four gone off within these
Six weeks namely M^rs Hornsby M^rs
Burwell of our Town Poor old M^rs Waters
and M^rs Brewer your old tennant: Doc^t
Pope was so Pleased at her Death that
he treated with arrack Punch

Miss Sucky Reynolds is to be Married
next thursday to a Nephew of M^r
Savages Reason by name who is not
twenty two near Six feet high and weighs
two hundred and forty great Disparity
of age and Size you will Say : they
are to live at George town Maryland
the affair you had so much at heart
lately is happily got over your ---
is returned to york quite cheerfull

Page 4

and determined to give you no further
concern in that way and all is again upon
a friendly footing will trespass no further
upon your good nature than to remember
Me to Dear M^rs Norton thank her for
her Kind letter which will answer by
Esten and to assure you that I am
your affe^t &
M Goosley

Virg. 2^d April 1770
Martha Goosley
R^d. 25^th May 1770
Ans^d. 26^t. May 1770
p Necks