David Jameson letter to John Norton, 1768 April 4

Letter from David Jameson to John Norton, merchant in London. Jameson informs Norton of the death of Mrs. Reynolds. Jameson asks Norton to take Mrs. Reynold's son into his counting house to learn the trade. Jameson and Reynold's friends wish to see him placed where parental care will be taken of him.

David Jameson was a prominent Yorktown merchant involved in the tobacco trade and importation of slaves. He held several prominent political posts in Virginia during the Revolution including serving as acting governor following Thomas Nelson's resignation.

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York Virg^a. Ap^l. 4. 1768

D^r Sir

Our old acquaintance M^rs. Reynolds
held it out under continual pain and reduced for
Months past to a mere Skeleton till Tuesday last
W Reynolds has lived with M^r. Cary ever since you
left us and promises I think to make a very clever Man
of business, as his Mother is now dead and M^r.
Cary no further employment for him he is very de=
=sirous to spend two or three years in your Counting House
I have proposed to his Friends his going into a House
at Phil^a. but they are fearfull of his not having that
parental care if I may so say taken of him as his
early age may require and indeed I must confess
my fears for him of that sort and therefore the more
earnestly join in my wishes that it may be agreable
to you to take him   I think he might be better instructed
for the Trade of America by being in a House of extensive
business at Phil^a. but we are sensible of your care and
rather wish to see him uncorrupted with a moderate
stock of knowledge in the Trade it is most likely he may

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follow than to find him an adept in that business
with tainted morals.

I am
D^r Sir
Yr mo Ob^t Serv^t
David Jameson

Favour me with your answer
as soon as possible

Address leaf

To
M^r. John Norton
Merch^t. in
London

Virg^a. 4^th Apr^l. 1768
Da. Jameson
Rec^d 31^st May 1768
p M^r. Klug
Ans^d the June 1768
p Cap^t. Young