Colonial North America: Baker Library

[On right margin] {per}Daverson Copy {per} Davies

I have had a Supply of Breads & Flour from Philadelphia for my Contract & have Drawn a Bill on you Dated 7th April N50 in {favour} {Alexander} Lunan {Esquire} of {Philadelphia} : for £420 Sterlg when it appears you will please duly to honour it & Charge to my {Account}

I am much hurried cant enlarge, we momently Expect to hear from England, we have had severall {accounts} that the Stamp Act is repealed, & I hope very soon to have a Confirmation of it.

My Best wishes attend you, I cant add but that I am Your very {Humble} {Servant} {Messieurs} Barnard & Harrison __________________________________________________________

Boston April 17th 1766 {Gentlemen}

I have already wrote you by this Conveyance since {which} say last night I am favour'd with yours by {Captain} Calef of {February} 14th note the Contents. I am very sorry the Bill I remitted you on Bourdeaux is protested, I could have wish'd you had some future time for payment & beg now you will make some attempts to that Effect, & pray you would write to Bourdeaux & use some means to obtain payment of it, as I am fearfull I shall never obtain anything unless you can help me by {your} applications {which} I Recommend to you.

I am glad Marshall was Arriv'd & hope all matters with respect to his Clearance & were settled to your mind hope soon to hear of Scott's arrivall I am very sorry for the Discouraging {Account} you give of the State of the Marketts of oyl etc I how= =ever hope they will soon take a more desirable turn, & that we may still make a good Profit thereby. As to Coming into any kind of Conversation, Connection or Concern with Mr R--h I must beg leave utterly decline even the thought of such a thing; but with Respect to Folger, Barker etc I am ready to Consult for the good of the whole, tho' I generally {choose} to Carry on my own Bussiness in my own way, but on this occasion I will Talk with those {Gentlemen} with whom I am Connected & do all I can to forward what you Recommend.---

I Note what you say in Regard to the Cargo of the Liberty I very freely made you an offer of a part of her Cargo; in Consequence of {which} you were earnest to hold 1/4 part {which} I consented to; but now find you decline that Concern from {which} Conclude that money will be lost on that Cargo, I have only to say {Gentlemen}, that I am quite Content to take the Loss on my self, but must beg Leave to say that in future I must decline leaving my Concerns at such an uncertainty, & take profits & Loss to myself as it may happen I mean exclusive of our Connec= =tions, in Vessell I imagine if money had been made by that Cargo you would not have Declin'd the Concern, but however I am Content, & Beg I may have the {Account} thereof all soon as if your Convenience will admitt.

[On right margin] {per} Daverson Copy {per Davies}

I am glad you have obtain a Freight for the {Brigantine} Industry. As soon as I can get my Shipping home I shall be fond of selling the greater part of my Concerns therein as I can see no prospect of Carrying on Bussiness to any advantage, I mean even if the Stamp Act be repeald considering the resolves we hear that the {Parliament} have come into, But I shall say no more on this Subject I can at least be at Liberty to Deter-mine for myself in all my particular Concerns. ----- I duly note your Letter Conveying to me the firms of your new House, I have the highest opinion of the Fidelity, Intergrity & Ability of your house, I will ever use my best Endeavour to promote the Interest of it,-- I am very sensible that whatever Ballance is Due from me to {your} late {Company} should be paid & I should have done it, without even a hint from you I dont always Expect to Receive Letters to the same purport with those to any Correspondent where you may think the Debt dubious, but am sorry to say I see no great Distinction. But I waver saying any more on a Subject Effects me so much- I have now to desire that immediately on {Receipt} of this you will please to order my {Account}: to be drawn out including every Concern to this day, & forward me I will directly on {Receipt} remitt you the full Ballance that my be due to you this I would be fond of doing for severall Reasons; & rather than the {Account} should not be Compleat, pray Dispose of what Effects of mine may lay unsold on {Receipt} of this at the best price you can then obtain , that I may come to an entire Close, after {which} I am determin'd to know constantly the State of my {accounts} so far at least as to prevent all future Applications for Remittances this I Beg you will not neglect, for I should be glad to Close my {Accounts} & pay the whole Ballance before I enter upon any large Concerns, that may perplex this {Settlement} now propos'd.-- I Never Expected to have Occasion to write you on this Subject again, but really {Gentlemen} it seems to me that you are rather more Strenuous with me than with many other of {your} {Correspondents} & that latterly you have Express'd very little Satis= =faction in my Transactions. I venture to say that no Man could have Built the {Brigantine} Harrison on better Terms than I did But I say no more. --I Beg you will let me have my whole {accounts}; for I shall be as fond of Remitting you the {Ballance} as you can be of Receiving it, & which I will send you on {Receipt}: of your {Account}-- I hope soon to hear from & to know the State of matters on {your} side-- My Ardent wishes attend you for every of Felicity, and I am very truly {Gentleman} your faithfull {Humble} {Servant} {Messieurs} Harrison & Bernard

[On right margin] {Per} {Captain} Davis --

Boston April 30th 1766 {Gentlemen}

The foregoing Confirm Copy of my last, since {which} have {received} your {favour} by {Captain} Jacobson & note the Contents. I hear {Captain} Scott was arriv'd at dover before Jacobson sail'd. I am very sorry to find the Marketts with you are so dull I how ever hope we may Still make a Saving {Captain} Smith in the Liberty is arriv'd here, do send one that ships {amounts} when you conveniently can, I shall Load him back as soon as I can, I am pleas'd at the {Amounts} by Jacobson with respect to the Stamp Act I hope the next Vessell will bring us the entire repeal of it, you may rest assur'd that the people in this Country will Exert themselves to show their Loyalty & {attachment} to Great Brittain.---

I have not Time to Enlarge, as this Vessell sails much sooner than I expected.

Inclos'd you have the following Bills viz+ Henry Atkins on {Messieurs} Elmes Bowden & Co in Liverpool L60 -- {Ditto} on [Le Gras? & Le Cras?] {Merchants} in London -- 35 _____ L 95-- When paid Credit my {Account} therefor, Inclos'd you have the Letters of Advice.

I shall soon write you again, hope to hear from you soon, I Expect Coffin every day, I imagine you will have Good enough to Dispatch Marshall & Scott.

My best wishes attend you for every Felicity & believe me, {Gentlemen} Your Faithfull Freind & {obliged} {Servant} {Messieurs} Barnards & Harrison __________________________________________________________

Boston May 27th 1766

{Gentlemen}

The foregoing Confirm Copy of my last, since which I am favour'd with yours by Coffin, Blake Shand & Marshall, & duly Note the Contents, & shall in all Respects Conform thereto, as soon as Folger comes up shall Determine the matter of the Ship on the best terms I can, & at all Events have her own'd among ourselves, I have all along dislik'd it, our {Brigantine} Harrison brought us the first {Account} of the Repeal of the Stamp Act, which gave us great joy, & has given a new face to things, our Rejoicings have been Conducted in a very Decent Reputable manner, & I hope now peace & Harmony will prevail, my best Influences & Endeavours to that purpose shall be us'd, & I doubt not but Colonies will make all the Gratefull Returns in their power. The Express sent off by your {Merchants} we just hear is arriv'd at Virginia, the Letters not yet come, that with the former Letter will be answer'd immediately after the {Receipt} of the

[On right side] {per} Jarvis

the Letter by the Express, {Captain} Marshall, arriv'd here in a fine passage, of 31 days from London, he is now unloading , & shall use my best En= =deavours to Get him away as soon as possible, tho' oyl is not yet Come in.

The {Brigantine} Harrison is Gone to Nantuckett, & hope he will be soon Dispatch'd. I cannot now make a particular Reply to your {favour} but will by Smith who will sail in about Fourteen days.

I am to desire you will please to make {Insurance} for me Viz+ on Ship Liberty Henry Smith Master at & from Boston to London.-- L1000. Sterlg on Tar oyl & Pott Ashes Turpentine & Logwood--------------- 1000 ___________ L2000

This you will do at the Lowest {Premium}. I shall order Smith to be sold I am much oblig'd for your Civilities to my Freind Bowes, I should be Glad of your Advice to him in all Respects, I think it best Embrace the first good {opportunity} to Return. I am much hurried you may depend on every Service in my power to promote the Interest of your House to which I am greatly attach'd, & you will freely Command any Services, in my power. I shall write you fully by Smith {Interim} Remain with unfeigned Esteem. {Gentlemen} Your Real Freind & Oblige'd {Humble}{Servant} {Messieurs} Harrison & Barnard---- __________________________________________________________ [On right margin} {Per} Smith

Boston June 6th 1766

{Gentlemen}

I Wrote you by Jarvis, when I acknowledg'd the {Receipt} of your {favours} by Coffin, Blake Shand & Marshall since {which} have none of {your} {favours}, I must beg your further Excuse, as I cannot by this Ship make a particular reply to {your} Letters, being very much Engag'd, I duly observe the Contents, & with regard to the Boston Packett shall as soon as I hear from Folger Determine that matter as you desire of {which} shall write.

This I hope you will {Receive} by the ship Liberty Henry Smith {Master} who I have Loaded on my own {Account} and now Inclose you {Invoice} & Bill Lading of Cargo on board the Liberty for my {Account} Say oyl, Tarr Turpentine, Pott ashes, Logweed & Staves to your address {which} I wish may arrive as & meet a tolerable Markett, I doubt not your best Endeavours to obtain the best prices, & Recommend your Disposing of it as soon as you can on the best Terms that you may be in Cash, the {Net} pro= ceeds of {which} you will please to pay to my Credit with B & H unless you have Settle'd that {Account} & {carried} that Ballance to your {account}, & pray you will as soon as you can send me Sales of this Cargo with all Charges attending the Ship, & also send the {account{ of the Libertys the former Voyage----

The Pottash on Board Smith I take to be good you will please to let it be carefully weigh'd as usual, I Recommend an immediate Sale of it, & pray dispose of it at the smallest Fare, you have Enclos'd a {Certificate} from the Custom house for the Pottash-- I also Inclose a naval Store Bill. There is on board Smith some Articles on {Freight}, state of {which} is at Bottom {which} you will please to note--

This Ship Liberty I should be fond of selling, & Recommend to you to use your best Endeavours for that purpose, I would not give her away, but if she will fetch £1000 Sterlg I should be glad to part with her, & she is Really worth that, upon the whole I Leave her with you to do what you Judge most for my In=terest, I should prefer Disposing of her at any tolerable price If sold there are many Articles {which} may as well be taken out as not, say, the New sails & many other things you will make all the savings you can for me, do consult Smith on this subject, The produce of sale of the ship with whatever articles you may save out, you will please to pass to my Credit, & forward me {Account} thereof as soon as you can, But if upon the whole you cannot, dispose of the ship (the sale of {which} I must strongly Recommend) I pray the {favour} you will Endeavour to obtain some Employ for her, & if after strict Enquiry nothing better offers, & a Freight to Lisbon can be had, you will please to order her to that place, & then take in a Load of salt for this place, tho' I should much rather the Ship was sold, & I must renew my desires to you on that head-- In Case the Ship be sold I pray the {favour} of you to Consult with {Captain} Smith as to the Seamen on board, some of whom were Shipt to return, & settle with them on the best terms you can, allowing them what you Judge necessary to satisfy them this I leave with you to Do on the best Terms you can,

I have Drawn on you of this date Nos/ in {favour} Mrs Abigail Whitney & Daughter for £300 Sterlg {which} you will please to honour & Charge to my {Account} My Bills are under the same directions to your late {Company} I have been so hurried have not alter'd them yet this you will Excuse.

I should be very glad if not already done, that you will please to Close my {Accounts} with the late {Company} of Barnards & Harrison, & that the {Ballance} eitherway be carried to {Account} with you, & pray Include all remittances---

I cannot determine when I shall Get Marshall away. Oyl is not yet at Markett, but you may depend I shall use the greatest Dispatch in Loading him, I am not able to say anything as to the price of oyl at present, but I fear it will be rather high, but what I purchase shall be on the best Terms. & shall Endeavour that the price be as low as possible. I duly Note what you say of Whale Bone, & shall be mindfull to purchase what I can that is good, & shall advise you I go on

[On right margin] By Smith By Blake

The Ship Adventure {Captain} Edwards is {Loading} with Naval Stores at So. Carolina, & I imagine is by this near sailing to your place, you will take care of Insurance, There was no possibility of Getting a freight, & this was the Best could be done, Mr Lewis Deblors Tells me he has Four Ships that he daily looks for here, that have {missed} Freights there, this is very unlucky for him--

You must Excuse my adding, as I am much Engag'd, shall write you further by Binny who will sail in 10 days. I have not heard from Nantuckett as to the Harrison but imagine she is Loading, as soon as I hear shall advise you, I hope you have been able to dispose of the Pott ash that went in Scott, I am very sorry for any complaints, pray dispose of it on the best Terms you can; I shall soon send you my orders for all goods. I hope our Trade will be indulg'd, No {Account} of the Express your {Merchants} sent out I fear she is lost, what I mention'd of her being arriv'd at Virginia prov'd a mistake. --

I must close & defer what I have further to say to next {opportunity}

My best wishes attend for every kind of Felicity & believe me with great truth & affection {Gentlemen} Your Most {Obedient}{Servant}

The following is on board Smith on {Freight} which you will please to note Viz+ 75 Cask of Pott ashes ) 6 Bundles of Bone ) {Freight} 50/1 {per} Ton according to weight2 Cask of {Furs} ) 7 Box - {ditto} ) {Messieurs} Harrison & Barnard ___________________________________________________________

Boston June 30th 1766

{Gentlemen}

The foregoing Confirm Copy of my last since {which} {Captain} Hunter is arriv'd, but not a line from you, The {Brigantine} Harrison is Loading at Nantuckett, but {Messieurs} Barker & Co. are not able to advise when she will sail, as oyl is so very scarce & what little has come in is at so Extravagant a price, no prudent person would attempt to purchase, some strangers here from your side are in want of a little, & offer a high price, & I am determind they shall give high for it, when they are sup= =plied it must fall.--For my own part I have come to a Resolution with respect to Marshall, & hope you will ap= =prove it, considering all Circumstances & the certain Loss we sub= ject ourselves to by Loading him now with oyl, I have De= =termind to keep Marshall here till {September} when we can have a Choice of oyl, & on much better Terms than now, & will be a means of his departing from London early in the Spring, and----

[On left margin] By Calef By Blake

and will Establish him in a proper Channell, oyl is now so excessive high that it would not be prudent to purchase at present, I have no {account} of Scott, hope he will be here in a few days, I have some oyl by me & a quantity of every good Pott ashes, that as soon as Scott arrives & is unloaded I shall use the utmost dispatch in Loading him, & send him to you, that you may depend Scott will be with you & be ready for your Fall Goods.--This upon Mature Consideration I thought best to Determine & hope for your approbation.___

Inclos'd you have my Invoice for a Supply of Fall Goods, which you will please to let be best of their kinds, well-- pack'd, & Charg'd at the lowest Rates, & ship them either in the Harrison or the Lydia Mark as usual & Insure them, You have also Inclos'd a small {Memo} for Fall Goods under the Mark [P?], which you will also please to send with mine, & let them be best of their kinds etc & Charge to my {Account}

The Letters from your {Merchants} I have duly {received}(The Ex= =press sent out has never been heard of but {received} a Copy of that Letter) and call'd a meeting of our {Merchants} when I laid the Letters before them for their Consideration, we are much {oblig'd} to you for your Exertions & Endeavours to remove our grievances, & doubt not but the Colonies will ever shew great Gratitude to their Benefactor's, such certainly is the Dispostion of the people of this province.

I can't now add, but must refer to my next {which} will be in a few days. I am with much Esteem {Gentlemen} Your Most {Humble}{Servant} {Messieurs} Harrison & Barnard __________________________________________________________ [On left margin] By Calef Boston July 19th 1766 {Gentlemen}

The foregoing Confirm Copy of my last, since {which} have none of your {favours} to reply to. I have a Letter from Josiah Barker & {Company} advising the {Brigantine} Harrison is ready to sail, & imagine she is now on her passage, they desire me to write for Insurance on her {which} you will please to do viz+: on {Brigantine} Harrison Shubal Coffin {Master} at & from Nantuckett to London L1000 Sterlg on oyl & Tarr 1000 _______ L2000 In thirds with yourselves, Josiah Barker & {Company} & myself you will act {your} pleasure as to your third but you will please to Insure {one} third of above Sum for me, & one third for Barker & {Company}-

I Wrote you that under the present Circumstances of oyl Etc I thought best to lay Marshall up till the Fall {which} hope you will approve, I am now Loading the Lydia I hope she will sail in Eight Days you will please to make Insurance on her viz + - on {Brigantine} Lydia James Scott {Master} at & from Boston to London L800-----Sterlg on Tarr, oyl Etc 800 ------------- L1600 --------------- 9/16 on your {Account} & 7/16 on my {Account}

Markett, but hope to hear more favourable {Account} I shall obtain a Load for Marshall as soon as I can & on the best Terms, & shall purchase what WhaleBone I can, tho' at present none at Markett.

This I hope you will receive by the {Brigantine} Lydia James Scott {Master} who I have Loaded in the best manner I could & Inclos'd you have Bill {Lading} & {Invoice} of her Cargo (except the Pott ashes {which} is on J.H. own {Account}) to {your} address 9/16 on your {Account} & 7/16 on my own {Account} I hope she will arrive safe & meet a good Markett. There is a small Parcell of WhaleBone on board {which} I have Shipt just as I purchas'd it & as we always Purchase, I have not Trimm'd nor pack'd it by {which} you will see what a loss there must be on that article; I the rather Ship it in this man= =ner for your Information, as to what you mentioned of its falling short, & should be Glad to know if you think it best to send it always in this manner, if you can Dispose of it at less loss than by Trimming it here I should think it best. You have also Inclos'd Two naval Store Bills.

You have likewise Inclos'd Bill Lading of 293 Cask of Pott ashes shipt for my own {Account} on board the Lydia to {your} address, {which} you will please to Dispose of to the best advantage, & credit my {account{ with the {net} produce thereof. I Recommend that this Pott ashes be care= =fully weigh'd, & pray Dispose of it at the smallest Fare, Inclos'd you have a {Certificate} from the Custom House of its being Plantation Manufacture. I am very sorry to hear any Complaints of our Pott ashes, our assembly have Taken it into to Consideration, & I hope by & by something Effectual will be done to prevent all Frauds in that article The whole of this on board Scott I believe is as good as ever was Imported into England, & will be found so on Inspection pray obtain the highest price for it, should any of it fail pray send me the particular Marks, I mean the marks on the heads {with} Ink.

Inclos'd you have my Bill on Matthew Woodford [Esquire} for L310.18.7/2 when paid Credit my {Account} for the same.

The few Articles in the Inclos'd {Invoice} [P?] you will please to add to the {Invoice} already sent you.

Imagine the {Brigantine} Harrison has {sailed} some time from Nantuckett. I hope this will meet her safe with you, & that we may make a saving by her Cargo.

By next {opportunity} shall send the Cost of this Cargo, as I have not Time to Do it by this, I had great Difficulty to obtain even the little parcel of oyl on board Scott, I never knew so little Oyl at Markett at this Season I have Six Whalemen out, have no {account} from them, am in hopes they will be successfull.

I have Drawn a few Bills on you as at Bottom hereof, I could not avoid it, you will please to honour & Charge to my {Account}

I shall hope soon to {Receive} my {Account} {Current} I know not how my {Account} stands with {your} late {Company} I want to have that {Account} Settled.

I hope by this my Ship Liberty is safe with you, I wish you may be able to Dispose of her to my advantage pray do the best you can for me. You must Excuse my adding being very unwell, &

[Left margin] {Per Scott} By Jacobson

& Scott waits only for my Dispatches, that I must Close, shall Soon write you again.

My best wishes attend you for every Felicity, & I am with perfect Esteem {Gentlemen} Your Most {Obedient} {Humble} {Servant}

Bills Drawn Viz+ To a Whitney & daughter N52 26th July L300 {Joseph} & {Daniel} Waldo 53 {ditto} 300 for Pott ash [60+?] of them {John} Cunningham -- 54 28th July -- 200 Wharton & Bowes -- 55 {ditto} -- 170 {ditto} -- 56 {ditto} -- 105 Clement Jackson -- 57 {ditto} -- 400 ______ L 1475 ________ I could not avoid, as I must keep some money by me ready for Bone & oyl as it comes in.

Inclos'd you have Duplicate of {Invoice} for all Goods. {Messieurs} Harrison & Barnard. ____________________________________________________________

Boston {September 3{rd} 1766 Sir

The foregoing Confirm Copy of my last {Invoice} which I have {received} two Victualling Lists {which} I now Inclose you Viz+

1 List 12 May to 8 June -- 5873 1 {Ditto} 9 June to 6 July -- 5607 ______ 11480 Rations {which} a 4 1/2 {Amount} to L215.5/, Sterlg for which Sum I have Drawn a Sett of Bills on you in {favour}, {Messieurs} Harrison & Barnard {which} you will please duly to honour.

By a Vessell will sail in a few days I shall write you fully on the Subject of your Contract & am sorry to find you express so little Satisfaction in the Conducting it, I am sure it was for my Interest to have the Deficiences of Numbers made up at Halifax, & I could wish it had been practicable, it was in my power to have better Executed it, and unless the affair can be Conducted to mutual Satisfaction, & advantage {which} under the present perplex'd Circumstances of it it cannot, I should rather {choose} to decline the Continuance of it after June next, but I will in my next write you fully upon it, & give you a Satisfactory an answer to {your} Letters as I can, as I am not able now to do it waiting for a particular State of Matters from Mr Gerrish, {which} I shall Soon receive.

I am Sir, Your most {Obedient} {Humble} {Servant} To Matthew Woodford {Esquire}

[right margin] By Jacobson By Davidson ________________________________________________________ Boston {September} 3{rd} 1766 {Gentlemen}

The forgoing Confirm Copy of my last since which have none of none of your {favours} to reply to. Inclos'd

Inclos'd you have the following Bills Viz+

{Benjamin} Gerrish on Chancy Townsend {Esquire} in my {favour} ) L248.2.6 Dated Boston {September} 1st 1766-----) My Bill on Matthew Woodford in your {favour} 215. 5 _______ L463.7.6

when paid you will please to pass to my Credit with you, I Hope {Captains} Smith Coffin & Scott are safe with you I cannot Determine when Marshall will sail tho' am in hopes to get him away in the Course of a month. Our Whale Fishery has hitherto prov'd very unsuccessfull, no oyl at Markett at Markett now, & what little has arriv'd, has been sold here at the following amazing high prices Viz+

Whale oyl a L15.10/1 Sterlg {per} Ton White Sperm oyl L20 Sterlg {per} Ton

What Whale Bone is at Markett they ask 3/1 Sterlg {per} {ton} that at present I have not purchas'd any & am waiting to hear further from the Whalemen before I purchase oyl, as I am in hopes they may be Successfull on the Banks.

By next opportunity shall send you the Cost of Scotts Cargo, and shall write you Respecting some mistakes in the last Goods, being now particularly Engag'd that I cant add but that I am with perfect Esteem {Gentlemen} Your Most {Obedient} {Servant} {Messieurs} Harrison & Barnard

[Left margin] By Jacobson By Daverson __________________________________________________________

Boston {October} 7th 1766 {Gentlemen}

Since my last to you I have {received} severall of your {favours} & note the Contents - The {Memo} you Inclos'd me of a Cargo to be provided for the Ship Thames I shall attend to & have ready on her arrivall. I have no Objection to hold a small part of her as on the plan you mention I think we may make money--

I observe what you Say of my Ship Liberty & Cargo, & am surprized at the Complaints of the oyl, I should be Glad you would be cautious who inspects my oyl, I am apt to think the Complaints arise either from a want of Judgement or a Design to keep down the price, I do not think there was Cause of any Complaint, how ever I can't help it--I Hope you will be able either to Sell the Liberty immediately or Get her a freight, tho' I should be Glad to be quit of her.

I shall Dispatch Marshall in Six or eight days with a Load of oyl-- you will please to Insure on her Viz+

On Ship Boston Packett {John} Marshall {Commander} ) L1000 at & from Boston to London ) on oyl, Tarr {Turpentine} & Whalefins etc on board her 2000 _______

The Cargo by Marshall I shall Ship in equal halves with you & myself, as I have not heard a word from Folger for some months, nor has he furnish'd me with a Cask of oyl, & as to {ye} Ship as soon as I see him I will Settle the Matter with him.

[Left margin] By Deverson By Hall