Administrative Information

Access

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Publication Rights/ Restrictions on Use

Before publishing quotations or excerpts from any materials, permission must be obtained from the Special Collections Librarian/ Associate Curator of Rare Books and Manuscripts, and the holder of the copyright, if not the Rockefeller Library at Colonial Williamsburg.

Preferred Citation

John Catlett's Letter to Thomas Catlett, 1664 Apr 1, Manuscript # 1931.16, John D. Rockefeller, Jr. Library, Colonial Williamsburg Foundation

Acquisition Information

Gift, 1931.

Alternative Form

Transcript, Microfilm available.

Scope and Content Information

Catlett writes to his cousin about status of a personal debt, about the poor crop yields (including tobacco) and about problems with neighboring Indians: the Potomac Indians have killed some Englishmen and blamed other Indians. Actual murderers were captured but were set free at their trial by Governor Berkeley. Catlett has decided not to seek the "west sea" at this time. He has written an almanac and given copies to Berkeley and Secretary Thomas Ludwell. Includes cipher to say that he has been made "President of the Court." Concludes with family news and comments on the state of the Church in England. Advises that letters be sent only in certain ships that go directly to the Rappahannock River.

Index Terms

Persons:

• Berkeley, William, Sir, 1608-1677.
• Catlett, Thomas.
• Ludwell, Thomas, 1628- 1678.

Subjects:

• Church of England -- Virginia.
• Ciphers.
• Crop yields.
• Indentured servants --Revolutions.
• Indians of North America --Virginia.
• Potomac Indians.
• Ships.
• Slave insurrections --United States.
• Tobacco.
• Wheat.

Geographical Names:

• Rappahannock County (Va.)