Moses Robertson letter to John Norton, 1771 September 6

Moses Robertson letter to John Norton, 1771 September 6

Captain Moses Robertson letter to John Norton & Son, merchants of London, England and Yorktown, Virginia. Moses writes concerning the loading of the ship with tobacco; Govan and Colonel Hill's desire for freight; John Hatley Norton's illness; the praise of the new ship (the Virginia); his desire to have property insured; hopes his relation John Thruston will pay for Norton’s credit to him; C.M. Thruston down and asked for packet and reports on Colonel Baylor’s death which Colonel Pendleton’s brother denies.

MS1936.3.507
Folder 46

John Norton and Sons Papers, MS 1936.3

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

Ink on paper

Page 1

York Town Virginia
6^th. of August September 1771 -

Dear Sir,

By Cap^t. Cheesman who will Sail in
A few days have the Sattisfaction to Inform
you that we Load Away as fast as we can stow
Away the Tobacco that I left the Ship the Day
before yesterday on my way down to Gloster
Court, at which time she had on board & along
-side 300 hhds & was in a very tight good
Condition & Ships Crew all well & that I make
No Doubt of bringing home in her 600 hhds
that at this time She might be Easily Loaded
if She Coud Stow 1000. hhds as I never Saw Tob.^o so
Plenty Before Since I Knew the Trade, though
it is generally Allow^d that there will not be
Made more then 1/2 a Crop this next year as the whole
Month of August has been very dry. I think
I may venture to Say Safely that we shall sail
by the Latter part of this Month. I wish Cap^t.
M^c.Cunn may Arrive time Enough to take
in the Tob^o. we Leave out, as I was in Company
with M^r. Govan his Owner a few days since
& he has thoughts of Loading him Again for
London if a freight Offers, which there Certainly
Will, Coll^o. Hill wanting Liberty for Some to M^r.
Arnold, I was with M^r. J.H. Norton About a week
Since at Coll^o. Snellsons he was then Much recover^d
frorm his late Illness & rode about the Neighbourhood
& did Intend down to dine on board with Some
Gentlemen from Pages Warehouse but a relapse

Page 2

of his Disorder prevented him so that he has not as
yet seen the Ship they Pass high Encomiums on her
Every One Allowing her to be the Compleatest Ship that
Has been in this river, for some Years past, I wrote to You
When I first Arrived by Cap^ts. Dunsly & Clark & am now to
Desire the Favour of you to have me being Insured home
on my Lumber Wages Apparrell & Priviledges
Two Hundred Pounds Stirling to be recover^d Clear
of all deductions, & as I shall Certainly Sail Early
in October Shoud I be out Longer then 7 Weeks from
the first of that Month, please to Add 50 or 100 PoundsL
on to my Insurance on the Above Articles to which you
May Add, if you shoud think it proper Some part of the
Cabbin furniture which are mine, Such as Silver Spoons
& Curtains Table Linnen &^c. I am in hopes that what you
Have Advance^d for my relation M^r. Jn^o. Thruston is very
Safe & that he will make you a Speedy remitance but
I am Sorry to Say that he Does not Seem So Sensible of your
Great Kindness to him in so doing, as such kindness desirves
Makeing very light of it by saying that any Merch^t. woud
have done the Same, in Short my Countrymen on this side
of the Water do not Appear the Same people they are
in England, at least not so to me, M^r C.M. Thruston is
Down & Seems much Surpriz^d. that You have not wrote to
him his pacquet of Magazines I have deliver^D. to him.
There has been a report that Coll^o. Baylor was dead but
I saw a Broth^r of Coll^o. Pendletons Yesterday Yesterday
who Inform.^d me that he is alive & very well but
has been Dangerously Ill. I have not farther to Add but
that I am Sir Your Obligd & very Hble Serv^t
Moses Robertson

Address leaf

To
Mess^rs. John Norton & son
Merchants in
London

P Favour of
Cap^t. Cheesman

Virginia Sep^t. 6^th. 1771
Moses Robertson