John Page letter to John Norton, 1771 October 11

John Page letter to John Norton, 1771 October 11

John Page, planter of Gloucester County, Virginia, letter to John Norton, merchant of London, England. Page writes about Norton's ship, the Virginia, and his plan to acquire land in Frederick County, Virginia where he plans to send several slaves from his Cheescake Quarter. Page also writes that he plans to sell slaves in the future and notes that he has sent an invoice of goods including items to repair his house.

MS1936.3.535
Folder 48

John Norton and Sons Papers, MS 1936.3

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

Ink on paper

Page 1

Rosewell Oct^r. y^e 11^th.1771 -

Dear Sir

I am much obliged to you for your
Invitation to us to visit the Virginia, but it has
happened so that this was not in our Power, &
we were from Home when she went up the River
& it was late in the Evening when she went down:
so that I had but just a Glimpse of her. However
if she does not sail in two or three Days, I will
go to York & see her. She is by all Accounts the
most elegant, & best Ship we have had in the
Trade to Virginia.

I shall see my Father in a few Days when I will again
apply to him for his Gloster Quarters, & also call
on Col. Burwell for Assistance : but I despair of getting
any thing from either of them yet. When I wrote last
to you, I told you, that if I should fail of Success in
this Application, I should think myself bound to
sell some of my Negros. I mentioned this & my Resolution
to do so, to some of my Friends; when they advised me to rent some
Land in Frederick (where exceeding fine Land may be rented
on very good Terms). break up my Cheescake Quarter, lease it
out, send the Hands to Frederick, & draught about 10 or 12 from
Rosewell (where there are 27 in the Crop) & send them up
which would make up a Gang of 16 or 17, which Gang say
they will produce you from 30 to 40 Hhds. p^r. An^m; & you may
make within 3 or 4 Hh^ds., as much Tob^o. in Gloster as you do now;
for I Never made but 3 Hhd^s. at Cheescake, nor more than 15
at Rosewell. The Scheme is flattering, but I believe not
extravagant, as the Gentⁿ. who have moved from, Gloster
to Frederick make near 5 times as much there as they did

Page 2

down here. As I am sensible this Plan would be of great
Service to my Family, that I should be able to ship you
at least double the Quantity of Ob^o. I do now; & that I shall
be better able to sell Negros a few Years hence, if there
should be Occasion for it then, when a great Num=
=ber of young ones will be grown up, than I am now,
I am determined to adopt this Plan. And must beg
your further Indulgence; & hope you will not think that
any less Substantial Scheme would have prevented
me from selling my Negros.

As my House is very much out of Repair, I have engaged
a Man to put it in a saving Condition next Spring. I shall
therefore be much obliged to you, if you will send
me the Articles mentioned in the inclosed Invoice
early in the Spring; & the Trusses & Books by the first
Ship to York River. My Wife joins me in Comp^ts.
&c. I am D^r. Sir Your much obliged Friend & h^ble.
Servant John Page Jun^r

P.S. My Wife has sent a Piece of Sathin to be died, &
we shall be much obliged to you if you will order it
there to be done according to her Directions. J. P.

Page 3

To Mess^rs. John Norton & Son
in
London

By the Virginia
Capt. Robertson

Page 4

Virginia Oct^o. 11. 1771John Page Jun^r.
Red^d: 17 December

Goods ent^d: pa: 51~
Ans^d the 22^d Feb^y.
P Goosley
wrote again the March
p Robertson