Martha Goosley letter to John Norton, 1771 October 18

Martha Goosley letter to John Norton, 1771 October 18

Martha Goosley letter to John Norton, merchant of London, England. Goosley writes concerning her sons health and the debts owed him in Virginia. She also writes about John Hatley Norton's relationship with Sarah Ann Nicholas and William Reynolds interest in Miss Grymes.

MS1936.3.543
Folder 49

John Norton and Sons Papers, MS 1936.3

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

Ink on paper

Page 1

Virginia Oct^r 18 1771

Dear Sir

By Catp^t. Mc Cunn I recieved your
kind favour of the 18 of July am greatly
obligd to you for your kindness to My
Son which he mentions in his letter
to me with gratitude he tell me his
reason for lodging where he does was
because it was airy he is Subject
to a Cough and complaint in his
breast all the winter Months I could
wish he would be as little a while
in London as Possible we have not
been able to make so good a collection
of his Debts as I could wish however
will Do the best we can for him this
Court out of a thousand Pounds I
Doubt whether we shall recieve more
than one half & Dont know any body
that can collect with certainty but him
self and have advised him to hasten
home I hope My Dear George is

Page 2

Safe with you long before this time
am Sorry to tell you your Son has been
complaining again he went to Hanover
the first of August as well as ever
I Saw him he was there taken with
an ague and fever which Terminated
in a Slow constant fever he returned
home about a fortnight Since much
reduced but with Doc^tr. Riddells assistance
he has got rid of the fever and if
I can Prevail with him to stay at
home a while Doubt not his [torn, illegible]
quite will believe Me My Dear [torn, illegible]
I have left nothing unsaid in My Power
to Persuade him to return to England
for eighteen Monhts Past & it was by
My Desire your friend the President
wrote you upon the Subject but I
find him Still averse to it as he thinks
your business requires his Stay but
assures Me he will return as Soon as
he can in the Mean time assure your

Page 3

self I shall from time to time remind
him of his Promise to you : I wish Miss
was Married am of opinion that would
Determine his return however I with
truth assure you they have not Spoke
to each other these two years I remited
you for the Tea you was so kind as to
send me by George Goosley if he should
have forgot it Please to Mention it to
him young Thruston soon took him a
wife after his return and My friend
M^r. Reynolds thinks he is violently
Smitten with a Miss Grymes but
begs I would not write M^rs Norton
the news so you May tell her if you
Please & I shall keep my word Shall
write My friend M^rs Norton by this opportuni
ty so shall only add that I am

Dear M^r Norton affe^t
M Goosley

Page 4

To
M^r. John Norton
Merch^t
London

P Cap^t. Cribbage -
-Fall-

Virginia Octo:^o 18. 1771
M. Goosley
Rec:^d 17 December

Ex^dwrote her 22 Feb^y
P Goosley