Martha Goosley letter to John Norton, 1770 September 1

Title

Martha Goosley letter to John Norton, 1770 September 1

Date

Description

Martha Goosley letter to John Norton, merchant of London, England. Goosley writes about the social life of Yorktown, Virginia, including Colonel Burwell's attempted courtship, John Hatley Norton's health and Secretary Thomas Nelson's constructing outhouses which blocked the view from her windows. She also writes about her sons noting that one has need of a good first mate because the current one is a "fool." She also expresses her desire that he won't be involved with transporting such a cargo (slaves) again.

Identifier

MS1936.3.363
Folder 33
(Oversize)

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

Page 1

York Virginia Sept 1 1770

Dear Sir

Am now to acknowledge your favour of the 26
of May. Poor old George am sorry to rob him of
his Place but there will be ins and outs : however
the old Gentleman is endeavoureing to comfort his heart
with the Queens of Sheba his Geese had been fattening
near a Month before her Arrival and we are to have
a Monstrerous Goose Pye. Bonny was sent to Hampton
to bring her Majesty up but unfortunately founderd
very unlucky you will say for Poor Bonny and her
Master I believe are much of an age the old Man
is not quite Discouraged by this accident I understand
but only waits till the widow recovers the fatigue of
her voyage to make an attack in form.

My Son thank God had a very good Passage in
but hope he will never engage with such another
Cargo he has aquited himself to your Sons Satisfaction
here and Doubt not he will to yours Must beg
the favour of you to recommend to him another year
to get a good Mate the one he has at Present is
very little better than a fool

Mr Norton has been roughly handled Since My last
by the Ague and fever but we have got him abroad
again & he has Promised to take more care for the
future Shall often remind him of his Promise
My son Billy is hourly expected from the West Indies
he is greatly obligd to you for Sending the Goods Doubt
not he will be Punctual in remiting and give you no
reason to repent your Kindness to him,

Page 2

your friend Colo Burwell of our Town
has met with a repulse from the younger widow
Lightfoot which has had a bad effect upon
his Spirits he has been confined with a Slow
nervious fever ever Since   the Secretary has quite
Sloped us up in front we have no view but
his Backsd  I was going to say yt. all his out
Houses are Placed Just before our windows   have
a great Mind to Set up a Coffee House before
his front Door &nbps; he is at Present laid up hand
and foot with the Gout Doing Pennance for Past
folly   am much oblig'd to you for your kind
invitation over with My Son Shall Surprize
you Some Day or other   Pray have the Mill
got in order that grinds old women young for
i entend in about Seven years to Set up again
Shall have all My Boys Settled by that time
Must beg the favour of a line as often as Possible
while George is in England and that My letters
May not be Sealed up with Mr Nortons as he is
Sometimes absent a Month together and I have
a womans inpatience besides a good Share of curiosity
I have got Some homeny & Peas to send you if
I can Persuade Esten or Lilly to take them   cant
contrive them on Board My Son   compliments to Mr
G F N and W R am Sincerely your
affet & oblig'd &c
Martha Goosley

Page 3

To
Mr John Norton
Merchant in
London

p the Golden Fleece
Cap. Geo. Goosley
W.G.P.

Virginia Septr. 1st 1770
Martha Goosley
recd. Novr. 7th p Capt. Goosley Exd.

Ansd the 9th March 1771

P Goosley

Citation

Goosley, Martha, -approximately 1779, “Martha Goosley letter to John Norton, 1770 September 1,” John Norton & Sons Papers, John D. Rockefeller Jr. Library, accessed March 29, 2024, https://rocklibnorton.omeka.net/items/show/363.