00133_0001: Correspondence, 1757-1768

London 5 Feby. 1757

Edward Stabler

Esteemed Friend—

These come p the Lee Capt. Johnstoun referring thee to mine dated 8 Ult^o. p Said Conveyance & Copy sent p the Last packet. When I put my Letter in the Bags the Cap^t. had left word he would go away that, but on further enquiry found he was like to stay some time. Immediately sett about thy orders, which have compleated & Ship'd on board him. Thy goods lay just at the Top, which there will be great Convenience in (as she is a large vesell) In thy getting them sooner than others.

The Cap^t. unloads at hampton James River: have Ship'd to thy order as p Invoice and Bill Loading inclosed value with Insurance & Charges £489.12/.0.

Hope thou will receive them safe, & doubt not their giving content, being purchas'd on the Best Terms. Most of this Cargoe was Insured at Ten Guineas p c^t, which been made a good while, but when I had determin'd to Ship could get but litle done at Twelve. the rest was obliged to give fifteen Guineas for, but expect there will be some Convoy in that Cave shall receive the returns agreed upon. I have Included a Cask of [Porter?] from John Townsend value 11.18.2. And a Box of Watches value 21. 0.0. from Thomas Wagstaff. In any Bill Loading & pollicy which will save thee some Expence

The drawback on [Oyenbrigs?] & Hessens have placed to thy Credit as at the foot of the Invoice The Girth webb thou order for Chair Bottoms Could get none any thing near that price. The Tea I could not send to thy order, but have sent a pound of each for private use. There is a great penalty on the Exportation of that article unless it Regularly Enter'd. If thou want a Chest or Two I can purchase at the India Sales on the best Terms, then it is not subject to the Excise. Good [Bokeas?] 2/10 from 3/4 p lb. Cap^t. Gregory is just come up & reported at the Custom house yesterday. Shall receive the goods by him in a few days & shall then dispose of them to thy best advantage. Indigo if a good Comodity I believe will sell well. Have inclosed price Currant of Goods here for thy government & when favour'd with thy consignments shall use my utmost Indeavour in the Disposal thereof Interim I am very Respectfully

Thy assured Friend to [serve?]

London 23 March 1757 Edward Stabler Esteem'd Friend

These come p Cap^t. Gregory [& Servants Cover Copy?] 5^th Ult^o. p Capt. Johnstoun to which [?] have since that read the Letter, The Goods p the Appomatox are come to hand, [Am treating?] [....] about the Tobacco & Beleive shall Get 3^d1/2 p lb for it, but have not yet Sold it. The Ginsing is still Unsold there are very few Purveyors of that [?] It being only In the India Trade & the Gentleman who sold the [...] Way Has been So Engaged has not had an Opportunity to Look at it, To Sell it in a few days shall then forward [Acc?] Sales p first Opport

On 11^th Ult^o. Was Favour'd with thine dated 26 Nov. Advising of Two On [?] to the Amount of One hundred Seventy three Pounds thirteen for the Ballance of [Rob.] [Sheins?] Which are daily hon[...]s of [regularity?] To Acco^t., Have [ricd?] no Orders. For Insurance on the Tobacco Shall To Ship. Not having any other Letters to Answer I conclude

Thy Assured ^Freind to Serve

[Dan Wilder?]

To whom it doth or may concern--

Richard Bennehan a Young man descended of honest parentage Born & Bred in this Neighbourhood & Who has been imployed seaveral years during his Minority under Gentlemen in the Mercantile way & perticularly One of the Subscribers hereto & having as far as We have ever heard discharged his Trust with Fidelity & to the approbation of his Imployers upon signifying to as his desire of Travelling to the Remoter parts of this Colony in order to get Imploy in that way of Life Therefore in Recommending him to such Gentlemen who may be in want of a Sober, honest & well behaved person in such Business We conceived was no more than common Justice due to his Merit therein

Richmond County 20th March 1762

John Woodbridge William Glascock Jr Leroy Hammond

Dear Sir

Inclos'd is the letter I promisd to send. Pray be kind enough to go down & return it with your own Hand, & tell Wm. Parsons when you will have an Opportunity of sending out to me, I am in haste with Esteem Dear Sir

Your often obligd Friend & very Hum Servt

William Potter

5 Decemer 1766.

Mr. Richard Bennehan

Mercht

Petersburg

Favour of [illegible]

3 Closet Locks 11 yds Bed Tyck

ask if all Mr Lewis's Tab. is pass'd

Blue or Dark Greenns Chintz for Mrs Taylor at 40/. or 50/. Some Sewing Needles

Pay Mr Gordon [illegible]

Pay Mr Gordon for my note to Mr Lamarrough 16. 3

Dear Sir:

The Bearer hereof will deliver you apiece of Linen & a remmant of Cambrick which you'll please Trouble your self so much as to carry down to Miss [Parsons] with my Compliments, to make up in shirts. I must likewise Trouble you [?] much as to Buy me some thread and tell Miss [Parsons] 4 Ruffled and the Rest plain and let her know I shall be down about the 18th or 20 April.

I wrote you by Mr Taylor but have received no answer Please to ask the Bolling brook Inspector for the notes of all my Tobacco, & [20th] of Leonard Simms's and Inclose them to me by this man, and write me all the Domestick news I am Dear [?]

Your assured Friend & Srvt.

William Potter

11th March 1767.

To

Mr Richard Bennehan

at W Stablers

in

Petersburg

Richmond County Decr. 6.1765

My friend,

Mr Thomas Williams /as he tells me/ lodged with one of your Town's Jewellers /but who I don't know/ a Watch of mine, cost £6.6.0 Sterling, which I shall be glad to receive again and in order for wearing, would you give yourself the trouble to make enquiry after the said Watch and receive her and bring her to me when you come in to the insuing Christmas, when I shall hope to see you, you will very greatly oblige me and the damages shall be paid, and the favour greatfully acknowledged by

Your mos. hble Servt.

J Glaswick

To

Mr Richard Bennehan

Favr. Mr [Mial Sanlock] Petersburg

Richmond, Octr. 11th 1766

Dear Dickey

Haveing an opportunity of Conveying a few lines to you, to let you know that I never got your Letter; that you Sent by Mr Richd. Johnson tho he Lodged it at Martins Ordinary, and I went that way about Four Days after & it was gone So that I am at a Loss to know what was in it, Therefore Beg you'll be so kind as to Send me Another & Direct it to the Same place as you did the Other and the favour will be Acknowledged by

Dear Sir

Your well Wisher etc etc

John Dollard

P.S. I intend over about Christmas. . . . .

To

Mr Richard Bennehan

Petersburg

Norfolk February 10th 1766

Dear Sir

The Bearer hereof has in his Vessel 250 Sacks of Salt for me, which as I cannot be at home time enough, I should be glad you would get stow'd for me in my Store, & what it at present contains, should be oblig'd to you to remove into Room adjoining, in order to make way for the said Salt. . . . . . If it will not hold it, the Overplus you may dispose of in the following manner . . . . It cost me 9/6 deliver'd free at Petersburg, & if you will observe the quality of the sacking, you will find it deserving of that Price; therefore what the Room will not well hold, you may sell to Anthony Gordon (in my Name) at 10/ and if you will but convince him of the Goodness of the Sacking, I am in hopes he will not object giving it. -- I know he is in want of it. ---- I shall leave the Matter wholly to yourself (as Mr Stabler is absent) & shall esteem it a very singular Favour if you will do the needful in't till my return. . . . . I think I can sell greatest part of it at 11/ & 12/ being of the best Liverpool kind. --- The expences attending it, such as Drayage, or Cartage, Porterage &c, I will repay you when see you, which I imagine will be in abt a Week. ----

The Report of an Embargo being laid upon Shippg is entirely fallacious, propagated I suppose, by some Incendiary's, or stirrers of Strife, in order to inflame the minds of the People, & to bring abt. other Effects, which I have not Time to recount. ---

I am with great Esteem yr Sincere Friend

Rob.t Dean

P.S. You have got the Keys of the Store &c, which I doubt not but you will take Care of. RD.

(Pray my Respects to Taffy.)

To Mr Rich. Benian

at Mr Edward Stabler's

in

Petersburg

with 250 Sacks of Salt for R. Dean

June 14th 1766

Dear Sir,

I being Informed you Sometime ago Lodged an Order on me in the hands of Mr Thomas Morton, tho the Order has never been Presented to me yet, but you may Assure yourself it Shall be Honestly paid. I shall be Greatly Oblige to you if You'd be so kind as to Acqt. my Creditors, as I immagine you know pretty well who they are, that I will come over as Soon as Possible I can and Settle with them all I hope to their Sattisfaction and hope they will content themselves awhile Longer; but if it was in my Power to Discharge my Debts now there Shou'd be none more Ready to do it, but it is not, but I flatter myself I shall be able one day or Other to do it with Honour. If they will forbear with Patience, and hope the Next Year to get good Business again as I have Very fair Promises for it, & Regain my lost Charector I also shall be much obliged to You if You'll be so good as to favr. me with a few lines as soon as oppertunity Permits, & let me know how affairs stand, & how Cap. Robertson & Mr. Younger has made it. I hope You'll be so kind as do the Above, I conclude in Haste Dr. Sir

Your well wisher & hum Sert

John Dollard

NB please to Direct Your Letter if You send One to Martins Ordinary.

Yrs &c JD

God my Helpr

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Prety Maids

James B

Help

Thomas Arbuthnot Thomas Bates

Jon^o Lathrop Cumberland Cumberland

Lathrop Cumberland

Sir Please to send me per Bearer

D Sir

John Dollard

June 14th 1766

Dear Sir

To

Mr Richard Bennehan

Petersburg

[sums scribbled below fold]

Norfolk June 6th 1767

Mr Bennehan

Sir,

the Inclosed is a Bill of [parcel] of the Cloth and [Trimming?] that you order'd hope it will come [illegible] it is the spring Coller and the Verey best I could get for that price the Gentelman I Bought it of Declard to me that he never sold any of the Same for less than Seventeen Shillings per yard I am very sorry that it is my orders to lay at Norfolk for I shant have the pleasure of seeing my Friend up the Country this Voyage but hope to be up the next time I Come In I am Sir with Great Esteem Your Most Obedent Humb. Servt. J[?] Sampson

for

Mr Richd. Bennehan

@ Mr. Stablers

with 2 Parcels

Petersburgh

Petersburg Novembert 11th 1768

D Sir

Your kind Favour dated 3. Inst. is now before me the contents of which have been duly Consider'd. Mr Stabler & the Rest of my friends have been Consulted upon the Subject of The Same. For answer I think your proposals rather Too hard. I am willing to become a partner in your Store at Littleriver upon conditions it would be agreeable To you to Let me be one half Concern'd in that Trade I could Lay in about £200. Sterling worth of Goods will Bought in about 6 mos. if you mean for me only to have A third part of that trade without being allow'd a Considera: For Transacting the Buisness I think I Could not leave My present Employment which brings me in near £100 a year. However you are the best Judge of what a third part of that Store might be, and as I am persuaded you have no [?] views in making me this offer For which youl be pleas'd to accept my warmest thanks This much I do aver that if I enter into the Trade There shall be nothing Lacking in my power to Render Its being profitable & agreeable to both parties. I Could Come out and Enter into Articles Immediately after the December Court at Wmsburg & not Conveniently Before, therefore think it woudl be most Advisable to [Emp. a young man Capable of managing the Store & Buisness-- I Refer the above to your Consideration and should beg to Have your Sentiments thereon the very first oppertunity

Turnover--

I Could by no means prevail with David Lowe to Take up your Bale of [Wolens?]. Mr Stabler has a fine assortment of Hard Ware free from any unsalable articles as also a Large Cargo of most Kind of Goods if you are in Want.

I am with an offer of my best Services Sir, your

Oblig'd Gratefull Hble Servant

Richard Bennehan

Pray what Quantity of Goods Could there be disposed of at Littleriver among Good Hands & also what rc'd Johnston & Bruce Clearley their Last years Trade.

To

Mr. William Johnston

Mercht. in

Hillsborough

Via favour of David Lowe

To

Mr. William Johnston

Mercht. in

Hillsborough

Via favour of David Lowe