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Richard Blow Papers, Special Collections Research Center, William & Mary Libraries.
Gift; 137 items, 1/26/1942; gift; 717 items, 2/18/1942; gift 12,193 items on 5/22/1946; gift 2,655 items on 5/22/1947; gift 21 items on 3/3/1948; gift 197 items on 5/29/1948; and gift 150 items on 3/20/1961; gift ALS from Hugh Nelson to Richard Blow, 20 June 1794 & ALS from William Archer to Richard Blow, 17 March 1808, on 3/11/1983.
Richard Blow (1746-1833) was a native of Southampton County, Va. He was born in 1746, the son of Samuel Blow and Martha (Drew) Blow. He married Frances Wright in 1786. He owned "Tower Hill," plantation in Sussex County, Va. and was a partner in stores operated in Virginia and North Carolina. He furnished ships to trade American goods abroad. He was the first president of the Farmers Bank of Norfolk and was president of the Dismal Swamp Canal Company. Blow died in Portsmouth, Virginia.
Papers, 1772-1872, of the Blow family. Chiefly business papers, 1772-1820, of Richard Blow of Portsmouth and "Tower Hill," Sussex County, Va. and his son George Blow, Sr. and George Blow, Jr. of 'Tower Hill' and Williamsburg, Va. Richard Blow was a partner in stores in Virginia and North Carolina (trading as Richard Blow and Co., Briggs & Blow, Baker & Blow [South Quay, Nansemond County, Va.], Blow & Barksdale [Petersburg, Va.], and Blow and Scammel). He was also a plantation owner that operated in part by labor of enslaved persons. He shipped the goods produced by the plantation by sea, often to European markets. His correspondence and papers during this period provide a model source on plantation management, sea trade, trade during the American Revolution, and trade during the War of 1812. Includes correspondence, plantation accounts, ship accounts, and legal papers.
Subjects covered in the collection include trade, tobacco, prices, Whiskey Rebellion, thoroughbred horses, banking (Bank of the United States and Farmers Bank of Norfolk), Dismal Swamp Canal, the Embargo of 1807-1809, and the War of 1812. There are letters from merchants in Great Britain and in the West Indies.
The collection is arranged chronologically.
Blow Family Papers (Mss. 65 B63), Special Collections Research Center, Swem Library, College of William and Mary; and Richard Blow Papers (PH 28), Rockefeller Library, Colonial Williamsburg Foundation.
Mss. 2008.18 Blow Family Genealogy
Re: Prices for tobacco, salt, hogs, to be bought in that are area
4 invoices for miscellaneous goods
15 invoices for miscellaneous goods
Re: Goods shipped from London
8 invoices for Miscellaneous goods
Account book kept at Sussex Court and Southampton Court (56 pp.); Cash memo book of Richard Blow (Tobacco accounts, collections, etc.)
7 invoices
Invoice
4 items
3 invoices
2 items
Letter relates to selling salt, tobacco and escaping enemy ships, etc. [Hines was the nephew of Richard Blow and in business with him. See South Quay Store references in Blow Family Papers Index]
Property adjacent Davis, [Welch ?], Cary & Edards & [Tynes?]
Property near Cedar Island on Lawn's Creek to Brantley's Landing to Welshe's spring branch
Bought of various people tobacco, cloth, china, etc.
Re: Invoices of goods sent from Glasgow
Re: 6 items
(postage)
Letter and petty account
Re: tobacco
3 items
Deed from from Williamson to Land, and deed from Land to Land
Re: Purchasing vessels at Charlestown, will bring back salt
Re: Shipment of iron
Invoice
As well as other accounts with Blow. Ships mentioned are Ranger, Grapevine, Race Horse
Re: Business dealings
Boston sales after she was wrecked[?]
Anthony Diggs, builder, £ 90.656.19.3
13 pp.
1782-1789 (16 pp)
14 silver buttons at £ 4.5.1. [Waddell was the son of Wm. Waddell of Williamsburg, a jeweller and son-in-law of James Geddy II]
Counting room, lumber house, painting, etc.
Complaints of quality of tobacco shipped to him from South Quay, Pitch Landing and Petersburg, gives problems of trading and selling to Dutch, Danish and English - gives prices current of rum, sugar, coffee, humth, hoops, salt tow, etc. Letter gives details of economy in West Indies.
Says Blow's ships Nonpareil and Jenny left for Port-au-Prince had brush with Angulla[?] privateers; Vessel Defiance, will sail shortly ; Discusses conditions for sale of Virginia Tobacco (Pitch Landing is worst in quality yet sent). Difficulties with Danish Law; difficulty in shipping and risk from English Privateers - sends what goods Baker & Blow ordered as soon as possible. (8pp)
Tobacco acccounts.
October 3rd, 7th,
re: his ships loading, etc.
Re: payment for weapons sold
Notes arrival of B & B's schooners, Polly, Conner and Flying Jenny; gives prices current there
Remarks about Tarleton[?] at York, Gloucester, etc
South Quay goods shipped on board of schooner Venus for South Quay
8 pp.
"I can inform you of the surrender of the British Army the night before last"
News of surrender
shingles and guns
2 letters
Murdock's part ownership in schooner John and goods therein. Directs when sold to give his part to Samuel Beale, Williamsburg on account. Discusses falling prices if Cornwallis should surrender and a general peace ensue
Refers to sailing of Polly and Flying Jenny
Price of tobacco is rising; every kind of good is falling. Refers to sending the sloop to St. Thomas with shingles and staves. Ship Count de Grass expected Wednesday. Will meet her at Ocracock [Ocracoke] on 20th with 100lb cannon powder and all the men. Muskets and powder to be sent from Newbern.
List of merchandise. 12 pp.
2 letters
Refers to surrender of Cornwallis at Yorktown
Letter re: his share of a schooner for sale; tobacco on hand to his account, etc
Invoice of goods shipped
Ships Experiment and Adelphi here with tobacco, staves and flour
Invoice and to whom sold
French are now in possession of whole island except Br[?]nton Hill. Capt Stogdale has taken 3 prizes before his arrival at St. Croix and several leaving St. Kitts and sent them to St. Eustatius. Refers to state of the Jenny
Refers to Brig Betty
Refers to Charming Polly
Island of St. Christopher surrendered to France - refers to lumber sales
Request for molasses
Business affairs to be settled
2 letters
Business between the two, conditions for shipping, new markets for goods, etc. (13 letters)
Re: disposal of the store business. Dick Baker, John Redwood interested, and "major part of the business will be carried on at South Quay being the seaport place" Baker's proposition as to carrying on business with Blow in the future. (6pp)
10 letters
3 items
4 items
7 items
5 items
Expenses of sloop Industry to Philadelphia
Re: shipping of goods to Blow. Proposes going into business with Blow at Richmond. "The Revd. Wm. Andrews is now at Chelsea in this neighborhood and without any employment or assistance except £ 80 per annum which is allowed by government as temporary…" (7pp)
Brig Pricilla disbursements in Cadiz; November 5th: cabin furniture, cabin stores, ship stores…"; Invoice of Schooner Venus in account, Richard Blow, Merchant, Norfolk (4 items); Portsmouth store account; Petersburg store: invoice of tobacco shipped on Venus; South Quay Store: invoice in account with Blow & Barksdale; Portsmouth store account to Blow & Barksdale
Re: voyage to Fredericksburg; repairs; voyage to Cape Charles and back
Charged to Richard Blow
Brig Pricilla: wages, contract to Cadiz; Schooner Nonpareil accounts due to Rey & Brandenbourg, Cadiz; 4 items
voyage to London; 28 items
Outfitted and cargo
Sales wages, shingles, bamboo, lumbwer, etc. Cargo, invoice to Richard Blow and others; 2 items
Invoices, sales, etc. 24 items
Sales, wages, etc
Accounts of various ships [?] to Richard Blow; Accounts of Richard Blow [?] to others: to Hathorn & Miller for painting inside of store, glazing, a corner cupboard, table; Portsmouth Store; tavern account of George Briggs [?] to Ann[?] Livingston (dinner, club, wines, and board - £ 3.11.5; 20 items
Sales at auction of the Schooner Brilliant's Cargo, New York; Tobacco shipped on Brig Nelly by Blow & Barksdale—invoice; Invoice of Richard Blow & Co. with Oxley & Hancock on ships Jolly Tar , Marlborough Dancer , Wm. Randall .
Division account of owners of schooner Nonpareil, her cargo in account with Baker & Blow.
Owners of schooner Brilliant to Blow & Barksdale, Petersburg; Account of sale of cargo of Schooner Richard in account with Baker & Blow at South Quay.
John Key 1/3 of profits made, Baker and Blow 2/3 of profits
In the amount of £ 7681.18.3; schooner Virginia, schooner St. Thomas ; Debts due to following persons….; South Quay Store £ 2240.10.2½
Capt. James Caton, Norfolk: saddlery, shoes, linens, twine, glass, etc…£ 586.3.6½
Letter re: delivery of shingles
Re: change of occupation
Re: sale of cargo of Jolly Tar and sailing hack
Re: sailing of Jolly Tar out of London
Shipping good to firm
Same as above.
Asks about ships Jolly Tar , Tartar and sloop Old from Philadelphia with much needed goods
Sending flour down
Shipping goods to him in the William . Asked for tobacco
re: ships to England
re: goods bought and desired
re: exchange of flour and tobacco for salt and blankets, etc.
re: ordering a few items
Re: goods disbursed from ships to store in Petersburg and Tower Hill; dissatisfied over trade conditions
same as above
Has engaged James Marsh as an assistant for you; salary to be £ 50 per year from time he arrives in Virginia
Letter sent by ship William , 7pp.
Asks for [mourning?] goods to be sent to him
Ship Marlborough is coming up the river to Four Mile Creek; general trade conditions
"Ship Marlborough has at last got up to 4 Mile Creek an is not discharging her load"
Re: poor credit of English & French merchants; refers his uncle Scott going blind; general business affairs
Re: goods to be delivered to Blow & Barksdale, merchants, Petersburg
His sons, George and Sammy, are in service to Richard Blow in his business. Asks that Blow continue them. He is infirm and keeps his store only to give his sons Charles some insight in business
Jolly Tar is here with your tobacco; will sail back in 3 weeks with your goods; the William left on January 3rd. Has established correspondence and credit on best footing with Birmingham and Manchester (England), Sheffield, Halifax and Leeds houses. Discusses Blow's ability with shipping business. Crew does no think Blow has experience for this in times of peace. Says only 2 trips a year can be made to England and to West Indies. Advises Blow against using [unclear?] ships in this voyage.
Re: Cargo of Jolly Tar
Asks for linens; suggests Blow have a craft or two built to go up and down river
Re: Jolly Ta r about to sail, not German goods to be had, no pewter or nails
Ironmongery hard to get; Ship Charlotte Daniel chartered with load for James River. Mentions Mr. Allen of Surry, Mr. Charles Carter of Charles City; discusses prices of American goods and demands abroad. Asks Blow to send tobacco back in the Charlotte.
Re: escaped enslaved person ("runaway slave")
Ship to go to City Point, Virginia and load with tobacco and proceed to London.
29 items
Re: Lots in Petersburg and buildings thereon too near Blow's storehouse
£ 63
Goods sent out, etc. Commission merchants problems re payment of tobacco brought over
Ship Marlborough sent to Virginia for tobacco. Probably to West Point; York River tobacco brings better prices than James River; "my commission for selling a hhd of tobacco shall be 21 shillings; brokerage is 5 shilling"
£ 350 due
Good shipped out
Announcing firm
Wishes bar iron
Refers to death of George Briggs
Refers to the Charlotte store
Wants canvas and anchor
Articles bound from Norfolk to London, agreement, names of Crew, wages, etc.
Does not want any part of ship Jolly Tar at sea
Itemized
16 pieces
For shingles, etc., shipped by boats to Portsmouth or Norfolk
Pepper, coffee, mill;
Linseed oil, etc.
New sloop of £ 850
General merchandise
Oils, locks, paints
Shot, lead, nails, window glass, glass, hats, axes, linens, copper, hardware, guns: £ 986.60 pounds
Shoes and hats
Ginger
Ginger
Sail duck
Woolens
Spoons, combs
Provisions for sloop dispatch
Invoice, to D[arton?], Petersburg
Goods at £ 256.0.11
£ 3074.10.8
Several invoices
£ 197.15.1 ¼
£ 60.16.7
2 accounts
In ship Thompson, hardware; £ 106.7.8
Oils and lampblack
For store and wharf repairs
£ 1171.15.9½
Richard Blow, Thomas Ogburn, Owners & Thomas [Angnus?], Master of Schooner Venus: Contract to West Indies; also ship's personnel with wages
3 carts of snakeroot per the Jolly Tar , London
For goods bought at Port Au Prince, Jamaica.
Re: shipping Blow's fall goods and pick up blows tobacco for foreign ports
25 items
23 items
25 items
25 items
Re: accounts
Has hired Benjamin Wythe to live with him at £ 20 instead of Fort at £ 60. Key was the operator of Tower Hill store and plantation.
Re: damage and vandalism to ship Malborough
Re: John [Cohn?] to be apprenticed to Richard Blow for 6 years
Will not keep on Benjamin Wythe (see January 4th above)
Re: bill of laden for ships Marian, Norfolk from Harvre de Grace
Re: store there
Re: they will have new neighbors soon at Sandy Hill: J. Stewart & Company. (Key operated Tower Hill Store for Richard Blow)
Re: ships for sale
Re: goods for Col. Allen and for Charles Carter
Re: blooded mares owned by Allen Cooke's estate
Re: management of store
re: mercantile business there
Re: sending Marlborough to Glasgow
Re: shipment of stones to Richard Blow
Re: ships Marlborough and Portsmouth and possible cargoes, [unclear] Jasmine
"…the men who can fight best, lye [sic!] most and swear cleverly are most in repute" here.
"back country stores have taken a great deal of the trade from this place…"
re: ships for cargo in James, York and Rappahannock Rivers - [unclear] and get Malborough full as soon as possible, refers to Blow's trip to England soon
Re: leaving lot by Barton for a lumber house near store
Re: Blow's paying his account with him
Re: death
Re: buying lot from Blow for new store
Re: arrival of ships. Bland, apparently, was manager of Blow's business in his absence
Re: corn delivered
Re: hard money, much of ship George off Smith's Island - losses…
Re: building store; arrival of foreign ships…
Re: debts due Co.
Re: debts of Blow to Company
Re: getting watch springs from London; (Geddy lived in Williamsburg near Palace; see James Geddey House History C.W.; he moved to Petersburg when Capitol left Williamsburg)
Re: sending some paper of Baker to Blow before he sets out for London. May send them to Blow in London, asks about what Blow has decided re land and who is to settle it for him; will give Blow's agent the refusal as he promised; (Zach Rowland owned a lot in Williamsburg on Waller Street (from 1782-1786); see C.W. for location of his lot—[M.A.S])
Re: Blow's trip to Europe soon, wishes some memo or form of a co-partnership, between them before Blow goes
Meal sent down
Torn
Re: Blow's debts to him
Re: Sending tobacco by Marlborough to London next week, sends lists so collections can be made there
Re: Blow's letter dated on board ship Portsmouth in Hampton Roads was received; refers to copartnership in letter of 4th (above). Approves of getting another partner from Britain to go into their firm (Barksdale & Blow). Suggests as Blow is there and will visit all trading posts in Britain, he can choose one better and will visit "all the back stores" before his return to Petersburg. McNeil has Married Youille's daughte - after a feud Youville has disowned them. Barksdale will have to settle McNeil elsewhere in back country and will settle [unclear?] in back country and will need spring goods for these small stores; asks Blow to send goods back to him in the Marlborough.
Re: send cellar window frames to him via Pierce's Sloop
Re: "trade very dull, collections same, money tight"
Re: no chances of collecting money at this time, money tight
Re: Blow's finances here while he is abroad no chance of collections until fall; workmen must be paid at all events. Ask Mr. Key or Mr. Barksdale for help if you need funds badly (Hines was Blow's nephew and manager of some of his property).
Re: can furnish stores, planks, etc.
Re: Blow and Baker & Blow's overdue account with Hazlehurst, Philadelphia
Re: Just back from 6 weeks up the country, per ship Virginia . Been the round of all the stores in the Country that we have an interest in. Collections very small. Insects among tobacco has been very fatal. Business very dull. If ship Portsmouth should arrive early, I can do well this fall in trade; may be able to get Northern goods this fall; Insists upon Blow getting them a partner for Britain, perhaps in Glasgow.
Re: Refers to lots of goods sent to Blow in Virginia in the George. No sale as yet for Blow's tobacco arrived in [unclear?] due to uncertainty as to duty.
Re: demands very pressing at Portsmouth and here; out of his power to give any financial assistance.
Re: sending meal down
Re: sending framing down; get bricks for him
Re: Citron bought, etc
[torn]
Sent Blow naval stores for sale
Alex Donald, Richmond, wishes 1,081,000 barrel stones; (Donald is a partner of Donald & Burton, London)
Sends goods to Robert Rines & Co., John Hoomer & Co. and Robert Craige; asks Blow to clear these at customs and to these people for them
Sends him 2 , [unclear?] of brandy
Invoices of goods shipped in Harrison and Richmond also in your ship Portsmouth re: sales of tobacco there
Drafts on Donald & Burton, London
"Give Capt. Diamond a compass…"
On pleasure trip; business in Virginia very dull. "I find a good many houses failing in this place as well as in Philadelphia. Northern cities laden with India goods;" urges Blow to have a separate account for the Portsmouth and Petersburg stores as I have no interest in the Portsmouth store.
[torn]
Re: business conditions there and his interests in Virginia
Re: his goods from abroad have arrived. Can furnish Bland some for Blow's store in Portsmouth if needed
Has received goods by the Richmond, Jasmond, Battleton, and Harrison; Re: their credit with Donald & Burton, collection of debts owving in Virginia, etc. Thinks Blow was right not to send off goods to his Tower Hill and Portsmouth stores this fall. Reports total loss of the Jasmond off Hatteras, passengers saved, all goods lost, great damage by this storm at Norfolk and Portsmouth as tides were 10 feet higher than ever known before. John Key, the operator of the Tower Hill Store, has come for a few goods for that store.
Re: Blow just returned from four months abroad. Discusses ships and cargo
Re: Mr. Jerdon's horses and groom[?] to be sent to him at Louisa if not, to A. Donald. Directions for putting off goods at Brandon; and to York County customers.
Re: confusion of orders for goods from Barksdale & Blow; and quality of tobacco shipped to him, prices etc;
Goods not coming to him on schedule. Wishes 500 bushels salt and some rum and sugar. Have no money to purchase tobacco. Dull sales at this place, low prices of tobacco and high prices of goods, keeps off buyers at store .
Order for goods to be sent by Blow to Wilmington by Sloop Speedwell. Thinks there is an excellent opening for a business there. Virginia is overstocked with Country Stores or rather shops. Could accept H.C. produce in payments. Send the goods to Henry Urquahart or Carmical & Bogle as soon as possible.
Re: goods received
"Nothing going here in retail line but a demand to country merchants in the wholesale way..."
Letter of credit for David and Herbert Hines, his brothers. [David Hines married Elizabeth Francis, daughter of Thomas Francis, February 3rd, 1781]
Re: need for molasses and rum, sugar or coffee for his business
Goods by the Speedwell to hand (£ 381.15.10); goods sent him (saddler, corderoys, [unclear?], men's shoes) "not suitable for my trade here." I wish rum, sugar; will try to pay in North Carolina produce but that is as low in your state.
Detailed letter re economic conditions in England and the reaction to follow if Virginia General Assembly lays heavy duties on British shipping and on B[low's] goods imported in them; if this happens, a fatal blow will be given to the credit of Virginia in this country…
Re: Accounts for collection
Out of certain goods, will loose customers if Blow does not send some up.
returns invoices for damaged goods
Re: discusses effect to follow if paper currency is issued to you. It will raise your exchange very much. It is prudent for you to collect your debts before their value is reduced thereby…warns against giving too much credit…
Re: needs cloth for clothes for enslaved persons
Re: difficulty of getting spring goods from abroad
[need to check folder break-down for accuracy]
For goods [unclear?] and to be sent to Richard Blow per ship Portsmouth. Blow had sent stoves over to be sold (8 items)
Received credit for shingles, scantling, garden nails and lumber
14 petty accounts of Richard Blow with craftsmen; Accounts of Donald & Burton, London for goods; List for Richard Blow, Virginia (6 items)
Lists: "1 fine Carnelian seal with Coat of Arms crest. Neatly set in gold [unclear?] pattern £ 5.5 "N.B. the seal, pin and ring were delivered to Mr. Blow"
Fifteen accounts of Richard Blow for various needs at home and abroad; Tavern account with Mr. A. Livingston; Repairs to ship Portsmouth
Shipped by Blow & Barksdale on Jesmond for their account with Robt. Crew, Merchant, London, £ 1034.13.5
30 heads[?] of Tobacco; £ 600.17.11;
8 invoices
10 invoices for jewelry;
32 petty accounts
6 receipts Richard Blow
30 receipts
10 items
9 items
...for goods furnished to Captains of ships and other individuals; 24 items
21 items
20 items
20 items
20 items
20 items
20 items
12 items
"A Pair of Silver [unclear?] Pistols, Brass Barrels and [unclear?] locks: (£ 8.18.6)"
dress materials
30 pieces, receipts
30 pieces, receipts
Invoice; wide selection of goods
Wide selection of goods
The Jesmond is now loaded and will sail, Captain Smith is in charge
30 prices
30 prices
20 prices
20 prices
Bills for plank and lumber of all kinds, R. Blow; 12 prices
18 prices (August 1st??)
Re: loading of tobacco in ship Portsmouth at Cabin Point or Petersburg. Times hard; cannot remit now
A continuation of letter of January 1st (above)
Refers to new tax imposed by General Assembly of January 1st on tobacco. Money very hard, being [unclear?] often. Sends invoices for tobacco shipped out
Ship Portsmouth leaving for Portsmouth …
Re: glad to know ship Portsmouth is out of Cape's
Sending tobacco down in the Molly or the Termagant
In distress for cash to get French ships out—has drawn on Blow for £ 50. Gordon & Kean will send her (ship) out to sea for Grubb if I can furnish funds.
Discusses his personal business affairs—Roberts almost paid now. James River tobacco now in demand here. Refers to George Briggs, nephew of Blow, owing him; also George Nicholson and Richmond Rope Walk
Re: carpenters working on the wharf, etc.
Re: corn sent to Blow from the Plantation
Re: Blows ship in port and difficulties re manifest. Refers to Blow's marriage and send congratulations to him
Re: general news
Refers to Blow's "happy day" (wedding day / Richard Blow's Marriage); Tobacco prices looking up. Trade duller than when you were here.
The Grand Duke has brought in £ 2200. Refers to the Portsmouth, the Harrison, safe at Cadiz
Sends manifests of ship's Portsmouth cargo. She [ship]will be in England before the Harrison or the Grand Duke. Needs salt and stoneware
Gives ship's Portsmouth cargo and his needs.
…when he left South Quay he settled with Baker & Blow. Invoice of Tobacco received.
Buying lighter of Blow
Sends goods out by Grande Duke to Portsmouth and Petersburg stores. Business dealing with the two stores sends tobacco and staves back in Grand Duke .
Invoice of goods for (Richard Blow)
Invoice, harness and saddler
Tobacco shipped in the Hagard to Blow; concerned over how to pay creditors: "very stagnant times"
Wishes Blow to go up to the Charlotte store only 85 miles from Petersburg and see Mr. Youville
[Bot.?] of Bax & Ellill for "Blow"
[Bot.?] of Trinbug & Bell for Blow.
[Bot.?] of Bird, Dolby & Co. for Blow
Introducing Mr. Galloway from Jamaica who would like to be their agent there
For £ 1233.19.14
[Bot.?] of Bird, Dolby & Co. for Blow
Mr. Tyson wishes circa 200 hhds tobacco from lower James River. Recommends shipping tobacco to France
Would like business dealings with Blow; encloses list of goods available for exportation and prices
Begging for goods to be sent to him in ship Portsmouth soon
Sends invoice of goods needed
Unable to send the candlesticks you wanted for the Mason's Lodge. Pattern desired not available, very expensive to be made by silversmith; awaits Blow's decision
Re: tobacco shipments
Bond of 1784 January 1st
Re: shipping of goods to him and tobacco loaded in Portsmouth
Re: his debt to Blow
Re: sends tobacco in ship Portsmouth
Re: goods sent to Blow's store in ship Portsmouth. Barksdale not liable for that store. Settled with Blow before he went to England (in 1785) "I have no more interest in the Portsmouth Store or the ship Portsmouth than a man unborn nor never had from the beginning of our co-partnership"
7 invoices for goods for Blow in England
3 items
Various assortments, 10 items
By: Rich Barton, Henry Dickson, Donald & Burton; Taxes, Sussex County or Richard Blow: 1196 acres land, 203 acres land, 210 acres land, 28 polls, 13 levis, 10 horses, 50 cattle
from Donald & Burton, John Begg, James Williamson, Portsmouth Store, J. Barrister (10 items)
With carpenters, tailors, butcher, cabinet maker (10 items)
15 items
30 items
30 items
To M. Finkle, Jno. Thomson, [D____unclear?], Eph. Elder, Alex. Smith, E. Youngman, H. Brown, G. Nickols
various goods
Material for dresses
"London, 3 Voyages;" "Virginia, 3 voyages"
Re: bread, rum, etc
For repairs to ships of Portsmouth
For ship Industry, for store and for wharf; and for ship Dispatch (repairs)
Invoice for misc. goods.
For craftsmen. 23 items
For craftsmen. 30 items
Carpenter and builders account
For Petersburg store, South Quay store, etc.
Goods of Blow
2 items
14 pp.
5 pp.
5 pp.
13 pp.
3 pp.
6 pp.
Ships furnished, Ports listed, foreign merchants traded with, invoices (local and foreign); 200 items
Messrs. Brothers De Bacque, Dunkirk (France)
29 business letters concerning the sale of tobacco and loading on ship Portsmouth and others for foreign ports. Also their business agreements. The dates of the letters are as follows: January 12 11, 15, 26, February 2, 1, 8, March 12 26, April 4, 20, 12 30, May 16, 26, 31, 20, June 6, July 16, 13 August 10, 17, 19, 14 12 29, September 2, December 1, 13
Reports dissolution of the Partnership of Thomas Bland &Co., will continue the business under the firm name of William Edwards & Co. and settle former co-partnership
To: Wm Pritchard, Wm Corrupter, Gabriel and [Rhilgo?], James Brown, John Cranbury, John Bingham, M. Donald, John Whitley
Re: renting house (Waddell was a silversmith, formerly of Williamsburg)
Re: to James Giddy Jr., Silversmith in Petersburg, formerly of Williamsburg
Re: renting store
70 pieces
Re: about to settle in Amherst Country
Re: cargoes for Portsmouth and Grande Duke and payments
Sales of cargo of Haney reported to your credit. Sends hogshead of London wine via ship. Ship Active soliciting trade
Indian corn cargo sent by Blow to them; Enclosed invoice of prices or articles imported to this island: wheat, grain and flour always command good prices and good profit
Tobacco is a very dull sale at present. Wheat high all over Europe, Turpentine is much demand
Cargo for North Carolina, salt, rum, ship bread and 400 empty hands.
Fort was manager or operator of the Tower Hill Store for Blow, George Andrews is overseer for 1788 for £ 20
Shipments to Donald & Burton via Bowman; other shipments discussed
(fragment)
2 to 15 ships en route to Portsmouth are frozen up in Appomattox River near the bar; ice is 5 inches thick
Most woolens entirely too high for this market
Re: clothing for Col. Lewis Burwell's enslaved persons is held up for duties at Portsmouth
Re: Suits in General Court
Re: Suits in court there. Blow's debts due; payments
Asking that Blow send 2 packages that came for him from abroad. One may be a spinet.
This detailed letter about the economy discusses prices for canvas, salt, tar; compares French and English prices for same. French minister has written to Jefferson with regard to trade to tobacco. France may become a very important depot for tobacco and particularly this port as it is near to the Dutch and German Ports.
Re: sendingBoxes of James Geddy's by first vessel
Re: James Geddy's invoice of sundry goods in 3 packages misplaed; never arrived here; find they are in Norfolk at Capt. Maxwell's. Please send.
Re: suits in General Court
(care of Joshua Fort, Tower Hill) Re: [unclear?] a lot of his
Re: suits in General Court
Re: bill owed by Blow
Mr. Geddy's 3 packages of goods have arrived at last, send duties due from him
re: coming for final settlement of accounts of Baker and Blow
Re: Blow's lots in Petersburg. Legality of ownership must be cleared up. Will check deeds in Prince George County. Gill will sue you if not cleared up soon.
Re: debts
Re: shipments of tobacco
Tobacco very promising this year, prospects for 1/3 more crop. Wants horseman's trumpet for our Cavalry
General prices and tobacco sales outlook
Sending tobacco down, also bacon, hams for Mr. Gregory in Dunkirk. M. Oldner will look after them.
Re: tobacco shipments
[unclear?] of Lathian, Sharp, Wardrop & Co., Weavers
[unclear?] of Hunt & Clay, Ribbon Weaver
Re: tobacco shipments
[unclear?] of Henry & Richard Joseph, Pewterers
[unclear?] of Lancaster, Bax and Ellill and shipment in Bowman for Virginia, bird shot, seeds
[unclear?] of James Davidson, Net, Rope, Twine, Line maker
[unclear?] of Wm & Rdn Borradaile & Co.; Hats and felts
[unclear?] of Edward Collinson, Tin Plate, [Warker?]
[unclear?] of [North?] Johnson & [Frith?], turners and brush makers
Re: prices of naval stores, lumber and staves. Asks for settlement of their business for past year soon
Glad Portsmouth has gone to sea, re: Blow's lands
[unclear?] of John Freeman "cork cutter to his majesty"
Looking for Captain Oldner. Stack of Tobacco in France kept up high by late deliveries. Farmers General will buy at liberal prices to encourage commerce between the two countries. When Portsmouth arrives, will write you further.
Sending sturgeon down, wishes nails
Re: coming to Tower Hill soon; We should come to something decisive in our business. Crop up country good.
Re: shipments of staves
Re: [lands?] of Baker & Blow in western lands.
Re: repairs to shop
Execution against blow for £ 600.5, for debts owed
Needs salt for store; re: tobacco shipments
[unclear?] Gov. of Virginia for duties past due £ 80
Shipments in Portsmouth
Ship Captain: business about sailing for Blow
Will sell 1,200 acres of land in order to pay if Blow insists
Re: debt owed to Blow
Sending down tobacco
Re: suit in Southampton Co. Court
Re: Blow's debt to firm for tobacco sent him
Re: sending load of staves down by Mr. Gray
Allowed another ship to have barrel of mead as they were out; Oldner was the Captain of Ship Portsmouth
Farm conditions bad due to inclemency of weather; John Rochelle needs salt
Lawyer for Mr. Baker and Blow, Suit vs. Holland to come up at next court
Has sold Robert Rives remaining stock of goods belonging to Webb, Barksdale & Co. Accounts enclosed to amount of £ 916.8.4 sterling to go on proper account to Blow & Barksdale. It is now time to rent out the Courthouse store if no renter applies, we shall have to pay dead rent
Ship Louisa is in from Isle of May with salt. Says prices of barrel staves is too high
Is willing to be Captain of ship to ply between Holland to Portsmouth
Asks that goods come up in ship Bell Cap Bay, lying now at New Point News or in Nansemond River. May send "my ship Constitution"
Member of House of Delegates from Sussex County. General Discussion of affairs
Re: Law cases
Sale of schooner and cargo in Rotterdam; Ship Kepple to be sold in West Indies. Mr. Rosser to Fredericksburg with load of salt and dry goods. Ship Meremaid from Glasgow arrived today. Mr. Lightfoot's sloop from Antigua here [Mrs. Blow and little George were staying in Petersburg with Mr. Blow]
Re: changing from employ to Rotterdan [unclear?] to Captain of Portsmouth owned by Blow
Ships Portsmouth and other ships: staves business and red oak hogsheads for sale. Queen of France from London and Captain Blaney from St. Martins here with salt.
News of General Assembly in session. Briggs was representative from Sussex County. John Pride was speaker of Senate, defeated Charles Carter. Briggs thinks Pride better for office as he is "more of a republican;" [theater] plays to start here soon, place very gay.
Re: case Baker and Blow versus Applewhaite
Re: package lost
Re: suits and loss of legal papers
13 items
Suits in court
140 items
19 items pertaining to sloop
100 items
50 items
See alsoBox 11A: Financial Records, 1787-1789.
Have sent Blow 12 hogsheads tobacco and 10 [unclear?] pork; no peas to be had.
Sending load of tar
Re: sending navel stores for A. Donald
Re: Wishes to rent Blow's house in Petersburg for Mr. Rose; let him hear your wishes.
Sending load of tar
Re: Blow's judgment against him
Re: suits in Brunswick County Court vs. Blow & Baker
Prices of staves, shingles, scantling, sugar, molasses, coffee, tobacco, fish
Tar sent to A. Donald, sending 4 [bbls?] of turpentine to you
Re: selling enslaved person; Col. Baker's estate
Ship Powhatan thought lost
Burgess had a school in Southampton. Reference to payments to Blow
Has received Indian corn shipment for the account of James Brown of Richmond, Virginia. American grain is much in favor here, tho' [am?] crops of wheat, rye and barley are good
Sends flour and corn down for foreign trade
Re: Baker estate and suits in Brunswick County Court
Discusses financial conditions, tariff changes and effects on American goods
Sends manifests for 55 hogeheads by Portsmouth; Also, others. Brother (James) is at Bermuda Hundred on business
Re: suits in Brunswick County Court, of Blows
Sends bar iron for sale
Wishes quantity of peas to fill ship to be sent to Madeira before Christmas
Sent 2,800 bushels of wheat in ship Nancy for Philadelphia. Will Blow get bills of lading for it for Manson?
Cannot pay his account to Blow
Sending down 100 [unclear?] of flour and a parcel of back eyes peas (12 to 1,500 bushels) for Madeira
Lists tobacco sent down for Blow, needs Liverpool salt
Repairs, wages, food, ports, etc.
Repairs, bread, rum, cordage, naval stores and general petty accounts for misc. articles
Bills of laden and accounts of sloops Portsmouth, Elizabeth, Betsey, Acorn and others; and petty accounts for ships
12 items
circa 100 items
circa 71 items
Answer of Richard Blow, partner of Baker & Blow and of Richard Blow & Company to bill of complaint against them in court of Brunswick County
Answer of Richard Blow partner of Baker and Blow and of Richard Blow and Company to bill of complaint against them in court of Brunswick County
26 items
3 items
20 items
20 items
20 items
20 items
20 items
20 items
20 items
10 items
20 items
To ship on board the Portsmouth for Havre De Grass: Smithfield, Low Point, Hoods, Davis's, B. Brooke, Byrds, Lowpoint
"Richard Blow for the ships" account of repairs Blacksmith account-ship Gloucester to Richard Blow
20 items
20 items
Work on ship Portsmouth
20 items
20 items
13 items and one item related to freight
1 item
14 items
23 items
4 items
Re: Tobacco saved from wreck of the schooner Nelly in November 1783. Asks for settlement, may enter suit
Has corn and cask of ginger for Mr. Blow, by ship Charlie
Re: shipping tobacco via City Point, 60 [unclear?] corn at 4-Mile-Creek, little wheat
Sending 33 hogsheads of tobacco to Blow, for shipment on Portsmouth for Donald & Burton, London
Re: rent of Blow's warehouse
Owes blow; he is out of work, can't pay now (ship captain?)
Problems regarding ship and loading
Sending down brandy, nuts, apples by cart. "people" (referring to enslaved persons) need shoes
Has been to France, 3 days at Dunkirk at Messrs. De Bacque. They seem agreeable to do business but due to the critical condition of affairs in France, the exchange is above par. Will go to Liverpool to look situation over. "Expect to get the scheme completed to the fullest extent and the goods shipped…"
Sends invoice of goods and corn delivered to Capt. Binghame
Has sent 3000 [unclear?] of turpentine for account of Mr. Donald
re: Blow & Barksdale (2)
Send him rum for corn he sent to Blow
Wishes turpentine
Sends turpentine (600??) would want $3 per (??)
Re: loading corn and sending down
Re: sending corn for shipment
Re: sale of boards, shingles, scantling to merchants here. Will have 600 bushels of salt for Captain Cox and flour and fish. Hope to sail back by August
Demand for Virginia. Coal is very slow due to quantity of British coal on market. Corn prices low, Captain Fineash has employed Willing, Morris & Co. to buy his bricks. Wheat and flour prices good.
Sends down turpentine
Sailing on Bowman on 20th; dissapointed that Blow has done nothing to fit up his store in Petersburg for the reception of goods
Sloop Peggy left Lyon's Creek with corn
Accounts for sale of cargo and prices received
Re: Capt Fineash's business affairs
Re: Blow's accounts there
Re: sending tobacco and turpentine
Re: Brunswick County Suits
30 items: The dates are as follows: January 13 February 24, March 9, 13 April 14 21, 28, May 14 7, 10, 5, 26, 21, 24, 31, June 7, 23, July 1, August 13 14 September 12 20, 25, October 2, 2, 20, 19, 22, 25
35 items: Brown's loading of tobacco and corn on the Portsmouth, Clermont, Polly, Phoenix, Harrison, Grand Duke to be delivered to Blow for foreign sale. Brown wished Blow to send him turpentine, salt, dry goods , rum, sugar, coffee, etc. Brown was a big merchant in Richmond. The dates are as follows: August 2, 2, 6, 11, 17, 16, 16, 17, 17, 18, 13 28, 30, September 1, 8, 12 12 13 17, 20, 24, 27, October 6, 4, 4, November 1, 3, 8, 10, 19, 23, December 2, 14 28, 30, 30
General condition of market, shipping, etc. The dates are as follows: March 9, 18, 24, 24, 27, 30; April 1, 9, 10, 15, 16, 21, 28, 24, 26, 28, 27, 29; May 1, 3, 19, 30, 19, 21, 22, 21, 26, 28; June 1, 2, 7, 9, 11, 25, 25, 28, 30; July 2, 5, 9, 19, 19, 22, 29, 29; December 9.
James Brown, Richmond merchant, accounts with Richard Blow; Brown's sale to various foreign merchants and delivered to ship Captains sailing, etc.; flour, corn, tobacco. 25 pieces
20 misc. petty accounts
Cargo sales, voyage #10: wages, repairs, fitting out food, etc.
38 items
41 items
77 items
3 items
75 items regarding repairs, fittings etc.
54 pieces
Expenses of Corn shipped on the Birch, Cleopatra, Mary. Naval stores statement . 20 pieces
Accounts of ships with Richard Blow; ships Bowman, Cleopatra, Portsmouth, Phoenix, Grande Duke , Endeavor. Sales of turpentine, tar, staves, rum, molasses, corn, repair work done, etc.
Has received flour and black-eyed peas from Blow; will send wines to Blow; gives current prices of wheat, corn, rice, flour, beans, beef, pork, bees wax and staves
Thanks Blow for present of 4 red birds sent to him. Three arrived safely. I gave two to female friends and one to Mr. Donald.
Low Point, Milners, Smithfield, Suffolk, G-Creek,Hampton, Petersburg, Tower Hill
Re: Blow's Tobacco sent to him
In French.
Bill for joiners work
Relating to Portsmouth, George, Industry, Nancy, Grand Duke , Bowman, Harriet, Castor, Union, Molly, Harrison
By master shipwrights, Captain John Cox, commander of Portsmouth
As result of damage received on the Bognor Rocks £ 633 [Bognor Rocks, Sussex County
58 pieces: Repairs, wages, food, etc
Over 200 items
Re: debts now due and insaluable; rent for Princeton (house near Sussex County house); about Wm. Bland's inability to pay for horse Aristotle
Thank for red birds sent to him. Sned more
Re: sending oranges and hives
"France is at war with the Emperor of Prussia; gives effect of current prices"
Red birds died on voyage; Captain Pollack of ship Grand Duke will bring others for me, I hope
Wishes cargo of staves—has shipped brandy to Blow. Also wishes Oak timbers and cedar boards for whale boats and harpoon. Situation of political affairs will influence the exchange. The success of our war against the Emperor and the King of Prussia has made prices fall already. Our success in several battles has recovered from the Emperor the whole Belgick [Belgique] or Flanders, besides the whole kingdom of Savoy.
In French.
Is establishing a House of Commerce in Bordeaux; asks business of Blow
3 items
Accounts, disbursements, (32 items)
Repairs, bills, after hurricane from St. Eustatias to Virginia
David and George , Grande Duke , Ballie De Sulpier ; Captain Timothy Congers was captain of the Ballie de Sulpier. In his account to Richard Blow under July 9, 1792 there is this item: "Cash paid expenses to Williamsburg to see the judge (2.14.3 ½)" and on July 29, 1792 "Cash at Maupin's (5.18.1) on July 11 1792 Captain [Conears?] to Gabriel Maupin.."[unclear?] for dinner, club, wine, lodging, grog are listed by Maupin as paid on July 12th. Maupin kept an ordinary in Williamsburg; [see: House History at Research department C.W. (M.A. Stephenson, March 1968)]
40 items
21 items
21 items
12 items
55 items
50 items
21 items
12 items
55 items: Foreign agents, local suit, ship captains accounts, invoices of sloop Industry and David and George, Portsmouth, repairs to ships (nail maker, blackmaker, iron work), invoices for lumber, scantling, shingles, food furnished ships (ship bread, rum, beef, etc.)
(Captain John Cox)
Arrival of your ship Portsmouth. Wishes staves, cedar hoards, oak timbers for the whole boats and tarpons. Wishes tobacco; Brandy or gin will not be allowed to go into your country but in casks upward of 90 gallons. Which type of brandy and cognac will Blow like? Will send price current from time to time.
Over 50 items.
"A committee of the inhabitants of Petersburg assembled on Wednesday to devise some measure to prevent the communication of the Small Pox from Richmond, and they have resolved on planning a smoke house at Pocahontas to have every person from Richmond smoked before they are admitted into town.." Gives prices current.
Discusses war with Portugal and Spain and consequent fall in prices
Re: tobacco delivered to Port-au-Prince
Re: shipping Blow tobacco at Kemp's Warehouse on the Piankatank
List of 15 hogsheads of tobacco for sloop Experience
Ships Blow hering, shad and tar
Sends 32 hhds tobacco
Gives prices current in list for tobacco and turpentine, deerskins, tar and rice
Re: Buying ship with Blow; son going to Virginia to be in business there, gives current prices of tobacco, turpentine, etc. Tobacco sales down 1/3 in France by National Assembly orders.
States that Donald & Burton have failed. He and Mr. Lamb, book keeper for Donald & Burton, will form a joint business. Asks for Blow's business with them. Lamb & Younger are insurance workers, also.
Bills of laden (12), wages
"…There never was such distress in this kingdom amongst the commercial people as at this time prevails…I think very few will be able to ship goods the coming fall for their correspondents. Tobacco is very low and hardly any sale. A cargo of (??) Virginia Tobacco has lately been sold at 1¾, wheat 6/6, tar 21/[unclear], turpentine 12/ct"
Offers to collect debts for Blow
Gives London exhange and needs
Gives prices current in Cadiz and exchange in London, Amsterdam and Paris; gives money valuations also
Discusses prices and general trade conditions
Sends bill for goods desired
Virginia Coffee House
Letter and copy
50 miscellaneous bills.
89 items.
Re: Collections for Blow
Re: Price current for Antigua Rum
Re: cask of chewing tobacco sent him for sale
"The embargo will cease after the 25th of this month. The resolution to continue it after that time was rejected by a large majority yesterday.."
Re: Blow & Baker's judgment vs. Henry Banks
Suits of Baker & Blow, judgments, etc.
"…M. Lee has rented your old store house to a M. Dudgin, a baker is building a very large oven in the back yard adjoining the old kitchen on the [run?]. Your carriage is now all ready, it is a nice one and I hope will please Mrs. Blow
Re: Relationship between J. Boyce and T. Thompson Jr., dissolving partnership
Orders 40 lb. of West India Cotton and some salt
Sending corn from Tower Hill , to Blow via Cabin Point and River
87 pieces.
111 pieces.
Re: Lot in Petersburg of Blow's
Gives current prices
Gives current prices
Note the N.B.
Gives current prices
Re: his debts to Blow under firm name of "Fort & Nicholson"
Prices current
Prices current
Prices current
Bill of Laden and earthenware
Re: Merchant, Mr. Smith, who is coming to Virginia to settle
Re: Thomas Thompson has died; Re: Blow's business with Thompson
"The troop of Cavalry of Petersburg, marched on Saturday and about 160 militia and now going on daily from the different countries that come through here, the result of this business is very much to be feared will end in some thing that will be shocking to human nature…"
Order for goods (dress materials)
Returning to England
Re: Th. Thompson's estate
Mr. Thompson, Jr., arrived safely; Executors of T. Thompson, Jr. will give up the trade entirely, so partnership between him and you will be closed as early as possible
Re: T. Thompson's estate
Says great Britain will pay for all injustices which Americans have suffered by the West Indies cruisers: make your just claim for loss suffered by the capture of your vessels. Do not doubt but that you'll be reimbursed for loss; discusses his and Blow's business connections and Thompson's son's business affairs in Virginia
Invoices of Richard Blow's. 50 items
Refers to French American difficulties at present; Thompson's estate affairs not favorable; great demand for middle grade tobacco
J. Strange, Manchester to Richard Blow, Portsmouth
Price current list
Prices current listed
"Captain Harrison of the Fort was shot last night by Lt. Willson in a duel"
Prices current given
Prices current given
British cruisers have orders to bring in every ship of whatever nation loaded with Provisions bound to France;... a great number of Americans are amongst but Commissioners appointed to purchase and to pay for the same instantly…
On sea 38 days, cargo damaged
Gives genealogy of kinship of Drews, Hines and Blows.
Repairs for Portsmouth dwelling
Repairs for Portsmouth dwelling
13 pieces
Invoices and receipts paid by Richard Blow to Lamb & Younger, London, and to local tradesmen in Norfolk (50 pieces) see: Jacob Andrews, Norfolk, silversmith, for ½ dozen, tea spoons and a tea canister
43 pieces.
Benjamin Waller, Williamsburg, agent, for firm Abram Newman of London and John Grayson of Petersburg, Virginia, representing the firm of Davison & Newman, London, Executors of Benj. Waller, paid to attorneys for firm £ 1325 pounds and £2587.18 pounds - Va. currency in April 1779
Re: Henry Carleton's debt to Blow & Barksdale, Pitch Landing, 1781; [Anderson was bookkeeper for firm then]
Sent salt, lemons, china and oranges to Blow
Is sending over in the Rebecca a very famous horse, Dare Devil , property of John Hoomer of Virginia
Dare Devil , Hoomer's horse, arrived safe in Virginia
" I hear you have married Miss Wright.."
General conditions
3 horses sent by Lamb & Younger to his father on Eliza; give M. Lawson of Williamsburg and father information about this
Tobacco very high here
Current prices
Re: a fire which destroyed storehouse of Blow's, which Nash had rented. Mrs. Marks occupies the remaining house left of Blow's; wishes to continue renting it
Gives current prices
Re: Blow's and Barksdale's foreign business, collections, etc.
Received 5 hogsheads of tobacco from Tower Hill overseer, entire crop
Writes for red birds; sends silk to Mrs. Blow
"America must be reaping immense advantage from the war that is going on in Europe"
Current prices
Re: purchase of a good vessel; condition uncertain due to war. Does not think good time to increase foreign trade
Ship Louise bringing cargo of salt to City Point in exchange for tobacco
Business [unclear?]
116 pieces.
Scammel was part owner with Blow of a store at Tower Hill [ see Blow Family Papers, W&M Library, Special Collections Research Center]
230 pieces
Re: settlement of Carolina business and also those for conveyance of the lot to John Baird and Jamestown
Re: collecting for Blow rent on Petersburg Storehouse and house, and recovering debts owed to Blow; current prices listed
Re: debt he owes for rent
Re: estate of Thompson
Re: purchase of ship Moses Myers by Strange & Blow
Re: rent of Blow's houses in Petersburg
Re: Brig Moses Myers
Re: Deed from Blow for Petersburg lots and houses
Re: Collection for Blow & Barksdale business
Edwin Fort, Petersburg, to Richard Blow, Portsmouth
Edwin Fort, Petersburg, to Richard Blow, Portsmouth
Re: Th. Thompson's Estate
Discusses foreign wars and politics in France; not in favor of the Moses Myers brig sent out to Dunkirk now; perilous situation
"..enclosed you have a Deed of trust from M. John Baird Jr. to you which he wishes to execute to secure the payment of his bond to you.."
…would like to have the name pedigree of Mr. Burwells horse
Wishes stud horses sent to his place, Chalmeria, Dinwiddie County, by way of Suffolk and Petersburg, understands a groom and ferrier are with the house; avoid all ferries
Wish Blow to get him the pedigree of horse Traveller and also name and pedigree of Mr. Burwell's horse
A vessel has arrived from London at Norfolk and has brought two stud horses shipped by Mr. Barksdale for M. Strange
Re: Thompsons settlement of estate
To collect debt owed by Anderson since 1795
Baird buys lots from Blow in Petersburg on Brick House Run
12 pieces
Brig Moses Myers , Sloop Industry, Sloop Rebecca; German Ships; 50 pieces)
54 pieces
Over 100 pieces
Naval stores
Refers to war conditions and settlements abroad
Gives current prices
Bad news from abroad
Has rented Blow's orchards
Re: settlement of Father's debts
Re: Baker and Blow's business—debts owed them and bonds given
"…I have at last made sale of Blow & Barksdale's land in Charlotte for £ 1000 pounds
Has sold Brig Moses Myers to Freeland
Re: execution papers re Nicholson of Cabin Point for Blow
Re: sale of his tobacco
Re: damaged tobacco
Thomas, Industry, Moses Myers , Galliat-a-Maria , Fox, Stafford, Mill River
Henry Urquhart, Wilmington North Carolina to Wm. Barksdale+1719:1724
List of 24 hogsheads of tobacco on board of the Harmony for Norfolk to Blow
Re: San Domingo Business
Sending naval stores
Shipping garden seeds to Blow
Captain of ship bound to Port-au-Prince
Re: buying salt
Re: buying salt
Re: salt from Isle of May and his warehouse for storing the salt is good
Re: order from Blow for a rolling mill for a Goldsmith's work; will send later; other business between them
Re: sale of David & George (ship), Bills of lading sent; have sold tobacco and beeswax of Blow's; poor market; Georgia cotton is high and sugar and coffee equally as high
Industry arrived at Falmouth-sent her to Hull
Fort & Barksdale will send cargo of tobacco, flour, etc. to San Domingo; asks Blow to secure proper vessel for them
Sending 1 bale of woolens (£ 133.2) for Norfolk
Newspapers being sent to Blow. "You will find much news and the state of Public Affairs in Europe; great events is looked for shortly"
Re: Blow's insurance on buildings; request a copy of Blow's policy "Tobacco market perfectly flat"
Business with Blow; for tobacco and brandy
List of good shipped to Blow aboard Jennie; cargo for West Indies
Cargo of $7000 sent aboard Jennie for West Indies; invoice listed
Re: settlement with Blow for damaged tobacco and hominy
Re: estate settlement of Moore's
A list of bonds, notes, and securities due to the Estate of Th. Thompson put into the hands of Mr. Copeland
Sending invoices and bills of lading for woolens, etc. Could not ship guns without permission of this Government which could have cost more than the value; sending earthenware
Would like to rent rooms belonging to Blow's store, "for the accommodation of about half a dozen particular acquaintances." Would like Blow's "young gentlemen" to board with her
Account of sales for tobacco and beeswax
Accounts for cotton
Re: wines
Re: salt
Re: debts due Blow
Has man who wishes to buy Blow's 100 acres near Petersburg called "Chicken Quarter" will give £ 55; invoice of timber sent
Blow elected Director of the Bank of U.S., Norfolk office
Re: settlement of father's estate
Current price list
Dudley was nephew of Mrs. Lee Hall
Re: suspicion that his aunt was poisoned
List of articles sent by sloop for Mr. Barksdale's trip abroad 11 packages in all.
Son has sailed for England
Wm. West is to build a house at Old Place (Blow's father's home in Southampton) for Richard Blow, how large must it be?
"All of Mr. Barksdale's furniture and etc. was sold off by Haxall on Thursday last; and at prices enormously high; the sales will exceed the original cost of the property"
"..our sales in September amounts to 124 pounds, 30 pounds cash"
"..Ship Moses Myers has been taken on her return from Madeira, retaken and carried into St. Kitts which has entirely frustrated the views that were entered into for her immediately going back with an assorted cargo…and I regret you will be disappointed of the fine old wines.."
Son John has returned from London; 37 day passage
Opinion of political situation between France, Austria, England, and Denmark and business repercussions as result. Reported that Blow's Ship Portsmouth has been detained in England.
Is renting warehouse to Mr. [John] Halt.
Discusses international situation; England's problems, etc. Is moving his store to Bolling Brook Street; gives current prices for tobacco and etc.
Re: his father's estate and collections
Discusses uprising of enslaved person Gabriel ("slave insurrection")
Refers to setting up business at Surry; will get Mr. McIntosh's building
"Late news from abroad; England and Denmark will not [rupture?]; will send ship Louisa out soon.."
Brand and corn meal being sent to Blow on the Hannah and Enterprize also tobacco
Importations this year very large
On way to canal to get shingles
Importation considerable; back country merchants will not buy anything of any consequence; desires salt, now worth 22/6 a sack and 4/3 loose per bushel
Gives prices current
Had shipment of gloves valued; sending some to Blow; doubts if they can sell well; discusses salt market.
Re; Salt and spices
Sending tobacco for sale in Clarissa; wishes wine bought for him
Schooner Eira from Norfolk brought news of death of his father; schooner Augusta brought letter from Blow. Thinks M. Goodwin very improper person to administer father's estate. Brother William may wind up estate in Virginia, if not, asks Blow to administer. Remit all collections to mother; George Leckie, London, sending turtle andBox of oranges to Blow as present
Ship Mississippi brought salt from Liverpool; Is shipping tobacco to Blow by sloop Mill River
Re: shipping him flour and staves
Re: shipping of tobacco ahead; gloves he has are hard to unload on merchants; William Barksdale in England
Accounts current (Blow & Barksdale, June 23, 1800) and others, Bonds for duties on ships, Prom. Notes, bills of lading, receipts
see Folder 2 also
Foreign mostly
Dudley was a nephew of Dr. Hall. Had a small grocery store
Re: seizure of the Charles Carter by French privateer and uncertainty of the Mary Hilton
Wishes his 350 or 400 hogheads of Indian meal shipped to England as a better market than western ports. Was priced at 12/6 [Stg?] per bushel and flour quoted at 120 per Bushel. Tobacco very dull here. "I have no doubt that France will capture all neutral vessels they can that are loaded with provisions for England." Gives current prices of flour, bacon, hogs.
Wishes salt for the Indian meal he has sent to Blow for sale
Re: Bankrupt, Jesse Brown - Refers to "Master George (Blow) at Bellfield (Academy)" [Bellfield is now Emporia. There was a school there which George Blow attended. See Blow Family Papers Index, M. Stephenson]
Is building a schooner for the West Indies
Conditions of markets local and abroad
Using Blow's Brig Almira to send his tobacco to Falmouth and Dunkirk or Havre (both in France); Wishes brig to come to City Point to load; gives current prices
Wishes to go to Scotland; asks Blow about passage
Ship Washington loading at Harrison's Bar near here
Contract for ship Washington for load for Falmouth
Good news from Europe related to war there; Mr. Barksdale in England gives condition of market for tobacco there, in France and Holland.
Sales in April amounted to £ 140, £ 36 cash
Loading Almira for Dunkirk or Havre, or Rotterdam, on Blow's terms, all load to go to Mr. Barksdale for sale
Re: shipments of tobacco abroad, current prices noted
Tobacco accounts
Tobacco accounts
Re: 2 horses and a mare sent from abroad to Hoomes in care of Blow, Horses to arrive in the Chesapeake
Exchange at par; tobacco prices dull
"We have this moment received intelligence that preliminaries of peace between this country and France were signed on the 1st. Inst. What will be the effects with the commercial world we are not prepared to say.."
Several arrivals of foreign ships at City Point
Exchange only 1 per cent under par in New York and really as high in Philadelphia and Baltimore
Invoice of 24 hogshead of tobacco from Dixon's warehouse
Sending Blow 16 hogshead of tobacco on Neptune on account of Col. Burwell (Carter's Grove). Send the German linens on board the Nancy to Col. Burwell
Re: Col Nathaniel Burwell's tobacco. "The remainder of the tobacco shall be sent you from the College W. House as soon as a craft can be obtained." "N.B. I send you four hogshead of tobacco marked and [unclear?] as [unclear?] the property of Matthew Anderson of Williamsburg which he wishes shipped to Messrs Davis Stephenson & Co. (London)…if not to Messrs Lamb & Young.."
Re: debt owed by Godwin to Leckie
Introducing Mr. Somerville of Somerville & Halliday, New York
Mr. Galigo wishes to charter ship Washington if you have not disposed of her
Sending tobacco to go to London via ship Washington
Thinking of returning to England as has closed all business in Richmond; flour market here good; let me hear of the flour shipped
Shipping tobacco on ship Mill Run to be sent to Liverpool: will you attend to this?
Is collecting debts owed to Blow, Tobacco very dull here at 27/meal and flour at high prices
Hear brig Betsy en route to Jamaica; would like Blow to ship his flour to Kingston?
Re: shipping of tobacco on brig Polly, schooner William for London
Re: attempt to sell his ship at anchor at Blow's warehouse in Norfolk
Re: Blow's taking over Brown, Rives & Co.'s ships for Leeth and other ports
Re: Blow's help in getting cargo for England, current prices
Enclosed bill of lading for 58 hogsheads of tobacco per schooner William
Re: collecting Blow's acts for him
Enclosed bill of lading for 79 hogheads of tobacco for Leeth
Re: conditions in New York for discounting notes
Re: shoe leather and flour barrels needed
Listing ships carrying 310 hogheads tobacco abroad for firm: Mary Hatton, Hooper, Harriet, William.
Asking Blow to send his tobacco to Lamb & Younger, London
November sales at store amounted to 354 pounds £74 cash. Out of sugar; Mr. West (overseer) wishes to be paid for his last year's wages; says T. Gray is pushing him for payment for land
Re: London goods shipped to Taliaferro via Blow
Announcing loss of the ship Charlotte Walton in Dunkirk harbor; all perrished. Mr. Barksdale had written him of this; gives prices of flour and tobacco
Tobacco sent for Lamb & Younger to Blow; the brig Delight has also hogsgead of corn, meal, [beans?]; I need 44 new flour barrels of you
Prices higher because of state of things in Europe, Inflation may increase if seasons are not good
Current business statement
Re: tobacco to be shipped abroad
Re: seizure of brig Morris Myers in Nova Scotia; asks Blow's advice about insurance of cargo (London?); cargo was sold; should we prosecute the Appeals?
Re: estate of his father, wishes family bible
Expecting ship from Ireland soon; wishes cargo for it, vessel about 250 tons
Current prices
Re: sale of tar and turpentine
Has purchased a pair of mill stones for my friend Gen. Henry See, shipped on board a vessel of Mr. David Anderson of Petersburg. Please send them up the Potomac to Gen. See, Westmoreland County.
Has canvas, tar and turpentine for sale
Bills of lading for wines
Wishes to sell pork made by John D. White of Carolina, inspected in full salt but not pickled; 600 + land
Re: his tobacco lost by sinking ship
Re: sale of his skins
Re: rum
Can't sell gloves
Business in shipping and current prices
Gen. Lee wishes the Mill stones to be landed at Stratford three miles above Blackstones Island. Taylor has stone steps from city of Washington being sent down to him via Blow's vessel.
Asks Blow to ship a couple dozen hams to London, 1 dozen for Mr. Barksdale and 1 dozen for Mr. A. Donald, an old friend. Wishes bacon and hams for personal use.
Is financially ruined and will have to take bankruptcy; asks advice of Blow
Wishes to sell 15,000 lbs (pounds) of cured bacon and hams which are salpetered
Tobacco [unclear?] may get up to 5 ½ or 6 dollars
Re: his shipments abroad
Asks about price of beeswax and cheese
Re: sale of his schooners to pay his debts
Brown, Rives, & Co., Richmond, to Richard Blow, Portsmouth
Flour has fallen; tobacco [transient?]
Cannot sell gloves which Blow sent him; might try Charleston, but New York would be better market
Store sales in February were £ 120 pounds, £ 30 cash
Re: tobacco shipments abroad
Thanks him for sending hams to London for him, also for flour and corn forwarded to him
Old Tobacco is worth $ 7 or $ 8; send Lees to Philadelphia; other to go to England; better to send in 2 ships as risk is less.; fill in with corn and Indian meal.
Re: vast acreage of land in Nansemond County surveyed in 1791 and entered in Surveyor's book, Norfolk, in name of James Murdough and Daniel Fisher (20,000 acres). Entry was first made in 1783 with Andrew Stewart, and later Col. Charles Connor; asks Blow to "have inventory made in the names of Thomas Edmonds and John T. Blow who are the right and only owners of these warrants"
Re: collection for Blow
Bought sloop Alexander to save debt of Francis Jones
Orders for shipments of tobacco to England
Great demand for grain and flour; have had no sales for gloves
Have shipped by brig Betsy 416 [hbls?] flour to Blow; also have sent 58 [hbls?] by brig Independence . Gives current price list.
Received cheese; wishes price of corn and bacon. Little peach brandy in this neighborhood this year; sales at store were £ 162, £ 54 cash
Gloves (380 dozen) sent to Philadelphia for possible sale; would like coffee, sugar and salt in barter for Indian corn. Send prices for tobacco, flour, mead, corn, rum, brandy, coffee, and sugar. Wishes payment for Barksdale's debt to him for tobacco.
Re: note of Mr. Jones
Sent set of springs for a gigg for Mr. Fort on sloop Sincerity
Is there any demand for Russian goods with you? Expect a ship from the Baltics soon
Re: flour to be exported
Re: sending tobacco to Blow for export
Sending tobacco for shipment on brig Washington to London
Sorry to hear of the loss of brigs Carter and Mary Hylton , hope to go to London soon, peace seems near.
Re: tobacco shipments
Orders for tobacco sent down to go to Cowes, Havre, Dunkirk (France), and Rotterdam via the brig Almira
Re: tobacco for London
Need French brandy and rum; Crops poor, trade dull
Going to London via ship Washington; sending tobacco to Blow
Re: tobacco for ships Nancy and Almira
Tobacco for ship Almira
Re: tobacco for Almira and meal—Blow's plantation tobacco sent to Fort was refused
Wishes permission to send away ship which Blow may charter to Great Britain or Ireland if necessary
Re: problems about his sailing for England
Tobacco business and shipping
Re: illness of his mother (a sister of Richard Blow) Nancy is Rob Hines wife and child, George
Re: trip abroad and tobacco sent for shipment
Re: Ships' cargoes for Europe
Re: Cargoes for Europe
Every cellar full of water due to late rains
273 hhds by ship Almira already shipped
Wishes 100 hhds herrings
Tobacco by sloop Ranger for Almira
Tobacco by Ranger for Almira gloves for your store
Refers to Davis warehouse, Petersburg; sending tobacco for shipment
Tobacco bound for Orient via ship Antelope
Get passage to London for Thomas Leckie; wishes hams sent to friends Lamb & Younger, London
"Our ship Venus arriving; will you get cargo for Ireland, England or France. Prefer Liverpool; can take staves."
"Our ship Venus is a ship of 250 tons, 5 years old, has accommodations for passengers and sails well"
Sloop Dispatch, Capt. Ash, bringing 26 hhds tobacco which Blow will ship according to manifest; detailed directions with tobacco marks ES, EF, W, RB
Re: tobacco shipments
Wishes 5 tons of logwood and 2 tons of lignum vitae to City Point, wishes logwood for ship Louisa, also.
Re: ship Almira whereabouts; lemons sent to Tower Hil l. Tobacco, wheat and flour market very dull
Orders coffee, sugar, rum, oil, molasses
Barksdale wishes logwood by ship Louisa; Mr. Blow at Tower Hill
Takes out insurance for Blow at Phoenix Fire Insurance Office; surprised that Blow does not pay his overdue debt to them.
"The Coopers left Tower Hill some days ago; they have some barrels to make at the old place, then they set off for Norfolk"
Sending 22 hogsheads…
Hope Col. Carter's crop from York River has reached you. Hope Col. Burwell's from Rappahannock as well as the tobaccos from Carter's Grove are down. Buy pipes of wine for us.
Ship Nancy in from London
Hear his horses have arrived
Re: collection of debts due him
Re: Ships Almira and Venus belonging to Hathaway, Howes & Russell enroute to [unclear?] and Dunkirk
Blow owes them £ 1216.19.0; no insurance has been received from Blow's ship David & George
Account: £ 3593.8.0 ¾ (1800-1802)
Itemized lists of goods furnished £ 205.3.9 ¾
9 items
Desires Blow's foreign accounts shared by him
Accounts due Richard Blow
List of tobacco consigned to Blow, Norfolk
Struck by lightening from France to Virginia; repairs necessary listed
Repairs and disbursements
Sending Blow barrel staves by brig, about 250,000.
[Burwell had lived at Carter's Gove near Williamsburg before moving to Carter Hall]
Asks Blow to send up a cargo of logwood and [2 bbhs?] Rum
Latest letter from Europe gives a very unfavorable account of tobacco, prices here have fallen
Danish ship Ferendchaff[?] arrived at City Point yesterday from Dunkirk (France); will take logwood in cargo, tobacco prices low in France
Re: an unsettled account between Hussey and A. Wiscort & Aug. Derenville, merchants in New Castle, New Kent County [Derenville was a Merchant in Williamsburg: see also: CWF research department]
Hines gives consent to have her [daighter Patsy] inocculated for small pox. [Background information: Hines was a nephew of Blow. Hine's daughter, Patsy was living with Blow and going to school there.]
Gives list of current prices there; wishes Blow to give him letters of introduction to merchants in different parts of France, Spain, England and Holland. Armistead is sending his ship over there in trade
Re: store and plantation affairs
Re: tobacco sold Blow
Re: accounts for logwood and tobacco
Re: freight rates to Dunkirk and other ports
Part owner of ship Washington; wishes Blow to get cargo for ship to foreign ports
Sending Blow 4000 staves
SendingBox of books, send to Suffolk
Re: his problems with shipping
Re: ships Charles Carter and [ Friendchoff?]
62 hhds tobacco aboard ship Washington
Cotton and wheat crop destroyed by hail storm
Many accounts owing to store cannot pay anything to Blow at present. We owe about $300 for pork we bought last winter
Orders from Blow for furniture to be made: mahogany enough for chairs and a sofa
Has just heard that a declaration of war has taken place between Great Britain and France; it appears that Louisiana and all the country west is ceded to the U.S. (Mailed from Baltimore)
Re: Hall Suit
Re: cargo of the Washington
Re: sale of tobacco
Math. Anderson of Williamsburg has sent down 4 hhds of tobacco for your care, please ship to London in British Vessel
Ships Martha Bland and the Lovely Lass are now loaded at City Point and bound for England via Norfolk, business very dull here
Sending Blow 194 pieces of bacon and 200 + 2 hhds of Indian meal and 1 [unclear?] flour. Send me store ware, mostly butter pots, also a set of bedstead screens
Crops injured by wet weather; Mr. West (overseer) needs about fifteen [unclear?]; trade dull; our sales for 3 months only £ 500 out of which there was only about £ 90 cash. Refers to "Old Place" in Southampton County [owned by Blow's father, Scammel, and now property of Blow]
Re: various ships available for shipping and tobacco abroad
Sailing for Nassau in ten days
Sending tombstone which I ask to be put over my father's grave; I sail for Halifax and England soon
Send shoe makers and oil to grease leather, tacks, hammer awls, etc., and cotton and wool cards
Wishes aid in taking his ship Almira to sea bound for Livernick, Ireland
Wishes barrel staves
Refers to "Aunt Hall" and calls Hall "Uncle"
Going to west Indies with 100 hbls of corn
Re: debt which Talbot Godwin owes Blow
Wishes Blow to sell his ship for him at $600
Receipts, bills for staves, tobacco, salt, harness, naval stores; Invoices; Legal Summons; Bills of Lading; Tower Hill Store Account (1801-1802) £ 5036.17.9 ¼
Receipts, bills for staves, tobacco, salt, harness, naval stores; Invoices; Legal Summons; Bills of Lading; Tower Hill Store Account (1801-1802) £ 5036.17.9 ¼
3 pieces
Tobacco Warehouse listings; Stud horse desired from England, Ship accounts.
Have received 10,000 lb of pork this season and only 1 hhd of tobacco; no cash worth sending
Re: insurance of ship Dauphin and other insurance
Re: escape of an enslaved person ("escaped negro")
acknowledges payment of $10.00
Re: debts and notes owed him and hopes that Blow can lend him money
May be willing to buy Blow's stack of goods which he had offered him a while back; Mr Lee will look them over and determine value etc.
Re: bargaining of above terms, etc.
Announcing Benson, Cropper & Benson, Corn Merchants
Discussion of visit to Brandon
E: Market conditions in France: Indigo is in demand, market favorable; tobacco market good; no demand for wood, pitch or tar
Goods, invoice; Shoes £ 246.17
Willing to give mortgages on goods in store for security
Re: his credit
Assembly extended the market land to be leased for 99 years
A candidate for House in Virginia Assembly
Re: bond for enslaved persons ("negroes")
Re: provisions asked for ship Parkman
Letter regarding the 'sale' of enslaved people.
Sailing soon with 15,000 bu. wheat. Wishes Harris, the baker, to furnish ship bread.
Wishes to be appointed insurance inspector for ship coming into port, asks Blow's support
Wishes ship for conveying 2,500 bushels of wheat at once
The Eliza has arrived; tobacco market good as [scarce?]
Re: cargo of corn and a ship furnished by Blow for Bahamas. Return cargo to be cane, apples and turtle (?)
Brother wishes to go to West Indies. He wishes pay for staves and tobacco if sold.
Re: collections to be made for him by Blow [Swain was a Quaker]
Trade slow, collections poor
Re: price for 15,000 barrel staves sent to Blow for sale; wishes current prices on tobacco and staves, white hominy corn and other corn
Sends his wheat from Dunkirk (N.C.) to Walker Town, about 10 or 12 miles) by land and little more by water. Is satisfied with this mode of conveyance.
Explains navigation up river as far as Walker Town for vessels of 100 or 150 tons; wishes Blow to send ship for his wheat; has the Ann arrived in London?
Has 4 enslaved carpenters ( "valuable negro carpenters") for 'sale' ($500 each)
Discusses prospect of buying horse Diamond, is disappointed in Pegasus, he is a bad foal getter and not much thought of in England. Heard a horse called [ Pipaten?], mother to Trumpeter, has produced successful horses lately; also [ Warten?] or [ Sementan?] can be purchased for a moderate sum according to M. Crews to Mr. Drew. Get in touch with Mr. Barksdale (in London). I wish a horse of good size and very beautiful.
Received account sales of 2 hhds tobacco sold you from 41.17.7 pounds, Norfolk Store is debited with---problem of Collections suits?
Will send ship of assorted cargo to Tobego; corn plentiful on the Roanoke (river)
5 hhds tobacco received from James Scammel; sending down
Wishes ship for West Indies voyage
Leaving for voyage
Captain Thomas Bonner sailing in Joseph of Edenton for Tobago; Assorted cargo
Re: sale of naval stores
Sending brig of 150 tons for loading with barrel staves for Ireland or Liverpool
Unsettled state of Europe makes uncertain and dull market. Current price list given (wheat, flour, tobacco, tar, turpentine, staves, wool, and logwood)
Suit against Leonard at next Southampton Court. Paid Col. Maclin for young George Blow's schooling £ 20.10; charged to Norfolk Store
Wine for him from Madeira by ship Virginia, asks Blow to send to Alexandria; send bill to him.
Have parcel of Gray's Creek tobacco; price at Norfolk? Lists pounds of tobacco at Gray's Creek and Low Point. Asks price of brown sugar, coffee, molasses, and [unclear?] sugar
Have red oak staves, white oak [unclear?] and 12,000 shingles on way to Blow. Wishes peach brandy and price of apple cider and molasses
Has received counterfeit bank notes, information as to what to do
Re: 3 French enslaved people ("Negroes") brought from Hispaniola against law and now in jail at Norfolk; to be returned at expense of French who claim them
Indenture between Louis Marshall of 1st part, Jeremiah Andrews of 2nd part and Richard Blow of 3rd part and trustee for the other parties. Deed of Trust by Marshall of price of property leased from Anthony Walke in 1793, to Blow
[Blow was Dudley's uncle; Battery may be in Matthews County]
Re: current prices
Re: staves
Re: rent for his house and enslaved person ("Negro") for year
Re: delivery of staves
[See: Page's letter of July 9, re: French enslaved persons from Hispanola]
Re: brandy made and barrels for same
Sending Ship Fortitude to Blow, wishes Blow to get cargo of flour or tobacco for England and Ireland for her. Wishes ship to go at once, gives agents names at each British Port to which his cargo should be consigned
Re: injunction of B & B
Announcing his commission business and offering services
Wishes vessel for Falmouth
Re: arrival of his imported horse; [See letter of April 25, 1803 about horse]
"Agreement with Thomas Wallace relative to bringing horses from England in 1803." Names of horses were Citizen and Clown, Wallace was the groom.
[Nephew of Blow]
Re: Blow's renewal of insurance policy at Phoenix office, Premium of £ 18.15.
Re: Mrs. Boothe, widow's dower and [div.?] of enslaved persons ("Negroes") between Hutchings and Edwards, commissioners appointed formerly, who neglected to allot dower: one is now dead and two have left the state. Please have commissioners appointed for my guardian; suggests Wm. E. Brodnax & Sterling Ruffin & Hutchings will appoint two for himself. Dr. John Claiborne and Tho. [unclear?], Jr. may be chosen if H. has no objections.
Re: cargoes
Re: land in Dismal Swamps alleged to be property of Robt. Craig of Manchester (England), adjacent Col. Newton's
"The canal road is in such order as you may ride to the end of [unclear?] Contract"
Re: opening of canal road
Re: hiring additional enslaved persons ("negroes") so that the Canal and road can be opened with ease this summer
Re: idea of taking on cargo of staves for Falmouth and possibly England. Wishes Blow to furnish beef, pork and bread for his ship
Cannot furnish pitch; resin is priced at 30/
Re: his ships off for Falmouth and Cork; what can Blow offer in way of ships?
Re: cargo of ship Kingston and prospects of his ship out of New York taking in tobacco at Norfolk
Wishes Blow to charter a vessel at once for Cork, they will send down tobacco, pitch, resin, white oak staves for cargo
Re: A horse arrived for Messrs [Caine?] & Ray; how to care for it and where to deliver
Refers to yellow fever raging in New York
Re: horse bought for him by Mr. Barksdale in England and problem of payments for it
Asks about cargo for sea, wishes tobacco and staves
Has 300 [unclear?] of pork for sale; grain crop on the Roanoke very good. Tar and Turpentine plentiful. Ship Mariah Jones at Barbados will return with salt by November. Then to load up with grain and staves for foreign ports.
Asks Blow to ship his tobacco to Barksdale in England
Re: price of a saddle sent to Blow
Re: cargo of staves on Little William
Send personal items of late Leckie to son
Sales account current: "Mr. Adams will finish stilling room, only 10 bbls of Brandy made this year. It takes 10 bbls cider to make 1 bbl brandy. Hands [workers] are getting in fodder and making bricks. Have paid Wm West [overseer] $100, debited to Norfolk Store
Re: Collecting debt owed him by Dudley
Wishes $ 90 in U.S. notes sent by Mrs. Gray
Re: Horse Clown bought from abroad to be sent for by Statt, groom and Peter to take care of horse in travel
Re: cargo of staves and price for Ireland
Re: settling of account of Talbot Godwin
Re: horse Citizen which he bought for Gen. Carney; hope it has landed and is on its way to Carolina as I shipped on board the Gosport to your wharf; "I am glad to hear George (Blow) is doing so well at the Williamsburg Colledge [College of William & Mary]. I always admired the Colledge as all the young men brought (out) there of late years, leave the Colledge new firebrands in politics"
Re: note of Ambrose Dudley
Invoice of shoes for Grillet & Bell to Richard Blow, Norfolk
Wishes sacks, molasses, sugar, and coffee in exchange for lampblack and butter
Re: business difficulties of Lamb & Younger; has sent a horse names Citizen for Gen. Carney to Blow
Look out for Mr. Strange's furniture; he leaves Liverpool around 10 August in The Fame; send on to Petersburg c/o Mr. Pallak
Lamb & Younger, London, ceased business
Re: Ships Kingston and Nansuch and trade
Sending naval stores wanted to City Point
Will sell his 2 lots in Gosport to pay his debt but wants $3000 for them. Willing to sell his military lands also; signed note for George Wilson for brother's debt.
Wish to wagon by bacon from here to Suffolk and thence by water to Norfolk. Will put up hams, shoulders and midlings; Baltimore may be a good market or Alexandria. Expect Blow to take consignments
Letter for trustees of Lamb & Younger, London, or their trustees if they are dissolved; would like wine, sherry and bbl whiskey
Hope to pay Blow what they owe him
Re: trip to Georgia, would like to take some enslaved persons ("slaves") to help pay expenses. Refers to Mrs. Blow as his aunt
Invoice of goods sent us from Norfolk Store, £ 109.0.10. Newspapers come regularly once a week; tobacco market poor. Will go to the Old Plac e [Southampton] soon to see how things go there.
Current prices
Re: Business difficulties
Applying for position in office of Discount and Deposit, Norfolk
Re: A horse which he wishes Mr. Barksdale [London] to buy for him
Wishes consignments of tobacco and cotton from Blow
Refers to Mr. West [overseer at Old Place ] and Mr. Adams [overseer at Tower Hill ] their crops and prospects, etc. Burning bricks
Current prices
Has 300 or more barrels for sale
Little in shipping due to uncertainty of invasion of England
Wishes wines; the Antelope has been chartered for continent would you like space for cargo?
Corn crop in; bricks burning; trade dull
Re: business of barrel staves
Has crab cider for sale, what price will Blow pay? Also, gives prices for brandy, new corn, peas and tobacco.
Reed (groom), has brought horse Archduke; arrived at Blow's from abroad. Reed wishes Blow to employ him to go to England and bring back horses. Write at once your decision; prices of horses have risen as of late in England
Have 7000+ lbs. of pork, no tobacco
[Administrator of father's estate]
Re: payment for Citizen, the horse imported from England for him through Blow & Barksdale; Citizen is highly praised and valued by many: "He is as springy as any lady on a dancing room and cutts as many capers." Hopes Mr. Barksdale will send him a mare from which he can breed racers for his children.
Re: payment of debt and security for his friends
Sending 78 hhds of tobacco to Blow
Sending staves and peas for sale—wish salt and sugar
Received from Richard Blow [Adm. of Alex. Leckie Sr.'s estate], personal articles, etc.
[Richard Blow, Agent]
Description of cargo, ports of call in US and Europe
Cargo of tobacco for France
Cargo of flour to London
Cargo of tobacco to Falmouth, England and Hamburg
Cargo of tobacco to Falmouth
On board ships [Inn___?] and Dundas for Virginia; Personal effects
Cargo for Ireland
Adjustment for loss of David & George
Account with Richard Blow $16,966.34
3056.19.5 ¾ [John Patterson, surviving partner after Capt. Brown's death]
…at time of Captain Brown's Death £ 4918.19.3
1790-1796….£ 3585.10.8 ½; Balance due the G. Store… £ 7577.5.11
Re: Privateer Moses Myers taken and carried to Halifax, Nova Scotia. Vice Adm. Court has been reversed here, money in hands of owners in Nova Scotia. Division of money of those entitled now uncertain. "If brought into court here, I'll pay attention to your interest in the business." Flour cheaper here than in Virginia, tobacco holds same price
Refers to the "bank at this time [seems] to engross and interest the citizens of our Town; we expect it to operate in about ten days
Has received 17 hhds tobacco of N. Burwell's on board the Almira; Insurance taken out
Re: his business arrangements; will not be a partner to [Brown?] or affiliate with Pallak; promise of his business good
Re: Younger's [unclear?] with Brown
"We are happy to inform you that our house goes on as before"
Re: Blow's desire to pay a large debt which he owes to Donald & Burton. Funds in London on account there; Advise.
"…I like America but as yet I am quite at a loss where to fix...The Baptist's cause here is not very strong although there are two meetings"
Has prospect of ship proper for shipping tobacco; would Blow be interested in a cargo?
Re: problems arriving from Love's failure to comply with rules for Book of Claims and Barksdale's attempt to clear it for him
Lamb & Younger, London, has shipped guns for our stores, please deliver them to us
Re: Charter for Snow Concord for London; can fill her cargo
Re: coming to Portsmouth, to establish a tannery. Wishes Blow to assist him and his friend, Crossthwaits, from Keswich, England. Has worked for Mr. Wm. Plume tanner, a short time. [Plume had been in Williamsburg for years prior to going to Portsmouth] Barron knows of a new process for tanning which shortens time; also knows great deal about skinning sheep, etc. [Letter provides great detail on tanning]
Re: claims made by Blow to board of Clairs, London
Re: recovering insurance on building burned in Portsmouth
Discusses how to pay Donald & Burton, London; has £ 1900 also has £ 500 [Stg?]; payment from Phoenix Ins. Co. which he can add to above sum
Re: sale of his pork
Trade poor, collections poor, wheat sold, bricks being made
Business dull, current prices
Banking arrangements for Blow to pay Donald & Burton through Dan. Call.
Has received bill of exchange of Macmurdo & Fisher for £ 1831.5 Stg. on Wm. Barksdale in town of assignees of Donald & Burton
Re: brick making and crops
Re: [bbls.?] of turpentine in [cypress bbls.?]; bound with white oak, should demand good prices
Re: tobacco shipped
Re: shipment of turpentine and horse Buzzard
Re: pork sent to Blow for sale
Our ship Samuel Jackson with part cargo of staves and bound for Cadiz will come into Hampton Roads for further cargo; will Blow notify him when it arrives and leaves
Flour has advanced and is in demand here, salt and tobacco good. Gives list of hhds of tobacco stored with Richard Blow in Campbell and Wheeley Fire Proof Warehouse
Introducing William Carter, son to Mr. Cater of Shirley, goes to Norfolk to procure passage to a port in France. Mr. Carter has $ 200 which may not be enough for his passage,. if not, will you supply the difference. [This may be the William Carter who attended the College of William & Mary in 1801]
Re: buying insurance and bank shares
Re: ship Samuel Jackson leaving Ocracock [Ocracoke] Bar for Hampton Roads laden with cargo for Cadiz, Spain
General Affairs at store and conditions of crops
Re: insurance on cargo to Dunkirk
Re: tobacco in storage and prospect of cargo
Could send soon 30 hhds if you ship to London
Asks current price of tobacco
Re: pipe staves on hand for sale
Consign tobacco to Samuel Buchanan of London
Mr. Adams, overseer, has gotten in ¼ of crops of corn and all of hogs; enslaved persons ("slaves") sick
Gives Blow's balance and what borrowed
Will Blow get Gaskins to make him ½ dozen table and ½ dozen tea spoons as he made for you with G.M.D. in a cypher on them; refers to "Aunt Hall"
"Copy of papers sent to London, to recover insurance on my houses burned in Norfolk on "Marketstreet:" 3 Story Brick house and store burned, warehouse and offices, also. Littleton Tazewell, Notary Public. Home was 35' in length and 29' in breadth, brick, 3 story's high, besides cellars and ganet. Lower store was occupied as a Day Goods Store with mahogany counters; passage below and 4 rooms on 2 story were never completely finished and were strucco (?) and whole house plastered; counting room in read of sd. House was 16' square, 2 stories high with cellar and chimney of brick and completely finished Kitchen in rear of wood, 2 stories high and chimney of brick 20' x '16; smoke (house) 12' square with stove and warehouse shelved and laid out for wholesale store was 30' long and 21' broad, 2 stoves of wood. Value of building prior to fire was $8,939.60 Itemized Estimate of House of Offices to be built given: "Bricks and Stone Work: $2750" Scantling, plank and shingles: $1540 Glass, nails, locks: $684 Carpenters Bill: $2770.60 Plastering $926 Painting Bill: $265.00 Total: $8939.60
£ 4030.12 "amo goods on hand £ 620.6.11 ¾ 90 pct advance £ 558.6.3 1/7 Amo currency articles:£ 425.1.4 Total: £ 5634.6.8 ¼ "
Bill of measuring the ruins of my buildings $19.12, receipt in full
Bill of house frame and plank [unclear?] of Major John Armstrong for my dwelling and warehouse in Norfolk...$256.75
Wm. Wark, power of attorney for heirs
Petersburg, to New York, $ 80.46; Marine Insurance Office, Norfolk
Sundry Entries
Over 100 items: Bills of lading; Bills of lumber, staves, tar, turpentine; Petty accounts; accounts of ship's captains
Over 100 items: Bills of lading; Bills of lumber, staves, tar, turpentine; Petty accounts; accounts of ship's captains
Over 15 items: Bills of lading; Bills of lumber, staves, tar, turpentine; Petty accounts; accounts of ship's captains
Box 30 has been divided into boxes box 30 A and 30 B.
6 items
33 items
4 items
12 pieces
Includes names of debtors; 7 pieces
over 100 items
109 items
50 items
Box 30 has been divided into boxes box 30 A and 30 B.
Wishes to purchase the horse Buzzard in England thru Mr. Barksdale if possible. Sending 736 [unclear?] of turpentine to pay for him
Sent stud book and sporting magazine for A. Walke by Captain Baird; heard you have had a very severe winter, worst in 25 years
Think I can get horse for your friend in Carolina for about 500 guineas. Oscar is [unclear?] and going to Virginia for Col. Lightfoot; Nat as good a horse as Sir Harry or several others
Asking Blow to send him scrip at once so he can make payment of some shares.
2 enslaved persons ("slaves") have escaped
Wishes to buy 700 bu. of salt
Re: collection of debt for Blow (John Nicholas, debtor)
Sundries deliv. by Blow for ship Cracker
Re: to "Aunt Hall;" will leave Mathews as soon as land is sold; have advertised in Richmond Enquirer
"Uncle Wm. Drew suggested that I write you about employment"
Refers to forwarding papers to M. Madison in Washington, necessary for [past?] port to Dublin. Will ship be able to wait for me 6 or 7 days?
Sending staves
Re: sale of his tobacco and corn
Sending 10 hhds tobacco by sloop Sophia to Blow
[Nears?] staves to fill up his ship when it calls at Norfolk
Cannot supply tobacco for Blow's ship now
Sends bill of laden for 15 hhds tobacco, through Blow to London
Ship America will not come to Norfolk now; for Europe
Tobacco problems
14 hhds tobacco
Refers to debt he owes Dr. Hall, will collect money from Carter Braxton and send to him
Discusses insurance on Blow's houses burned in Norfolk; Mr. Buchanan's displeasure at Blow buying the old ship William, horse Benenborough is for sale at 1000 guineas, inform General (Carney); must have cash before I can buy
Will send turpentine as soon as boat can be found to take it down the river to Plymouth. Have 240 [unclear?]. In looking over racing calendar and stud book see a mare, Penelope got by Trumpetor bred by the Duke of Grattan , foaled in 1798; get Barksdale to purchase her for me; if not, get one of Hutchinson's family of horses, the man that bred Beninborough
Has received Gen. Carney's turpentine on America, do not think he can get either of the horses the General wants
Bill of lading for goods shipped for Col. Hoomes of Bowling Green
Col Hoomes wishes 20 or 30 bbls herrings
Received staves sold for 28 pounds per [hd?] and 14 pounds per bbls, "Our good friends the English are taking all vessels that are not bound direct to their parts."
Has ship; wishes to come to Virginia for freight; ship is new; Advise me.
258 bbls of herrings shipped to Blow
Re: wine to be shipped to him
Will ship turpentine to Blow as soon as weather opens
Re: possible loss of ferry if legislature decides to allow a new ferry to be operated
Re: his debts
"The money for the capture of the brig Richmond has all been paid." Advise who has money
Re: debt he owes, must sell property in Blow's hands
Re: settlements and credits for turpentine and tobacco sold, no chance of getting the two horses, General Carney wants
Bill of Lading for James Strange
Re: legal case against his brother Alex Leckie now in Virginia. Refers to his attorneys in Georgia and Rode Island.
Wishes ½ ton iron, bellows and German [Steel?]
The original Box 31 has been expanded into two boxes as currently described in the finding aid: Box 31 and Box 31 A.
For corn "being the price per season for the said Waller's young mare being covered by Col. Cary's Horse Daredevil [Williamsburg Data?]
Re: Division of property and debts of Baker & Blow…
For goods sold him
Asking father to pay Leroy Anderson $60.00
$270 port payment in suit against Blow, Adm. of estate of John Redwood, also a note for $830.33
Wm. Redwood with appear at Raleigh Tavern in Williamsburg for purpose of collecting funds due by suit from Blow
Advises against buying big stock due to world conditions; will send George up to help take inventory; he is in Williamsburg now
1130.51
$ 1838.9.7 ¼ Itemized list of those who owe firm
$ 16010.65 ½
Col Noth Burmell; Robert. C. Burwell; Ph. Burwell; Math. Pape; Robt. Page $196.12.½
Proceed to England and other countries
Proceed to the Baltics
Proceed to Portugal
Father and Son, London, July 9, 1806 (2Boxes of cheese for Lucy Paradise, Williamsburg) Iris Madeira, April 3, 1806 (wines) Jolly Sails, Plymouth NC, June 2, 1806 (shad) Sally Nun, Plymouth NC, June 3, 1806 (shad) Laura, Liverpool (England), July 18, 1806 (merchandise) Dispatch, New York, August 19, 1806 (merchandise) Antelope, Windsor NC, March 13 1806 (tar) John and Avice, River Thames, August 1806 (Merchandise) Eagle, Edenton, October 17, 1806 (sugar, white, oak stoves) Dunfries, London, February 24, 1806 (goods, treasures?) Fairplay, Plymouth NC, April 19, 1806 (hhls, hinings) Antelope, Windsor, NC, March 13 1806 (tar) Anne, Windsor NC, October 28, 1806 (staves and turpentine) Judith, Windsor NC, October 16, 1806 General Green, May 31, 1806 (oak staves) Jenny and Sheperdern, Manchester (England), June 2, 1806, (hhds of tobacco) Sally, Salmon Creek, May 1, 1806 (herrings) Insurance on Sally Ann Neptune, Richmond, March 1, 1806 (tobacco) Commerce, February 1806 (salt and c) America, October 9, 1806 (ship, break, flour) John, Richmond, November 1, 1806 (tobacco) Arnick, July 15, 1806 (staves) Lydia, New Bedford, June 3, 1806 Ontario, June 4, 1806 America, Norfolk, October 10, 1806, $1041.59 Bell Savage, June 8, 1806 (accounts) Robt. Barclay, September 1806 (accounts) Commerce, April 26, 1806 (accounts) Mt. Vernon, Rotterdam, September 24, 1806 (insurance) Atlantic, London, August 1806 (tobacco) Regulator, Plymouth NC, March 28, 1806 (turpentine, tar, sugar) April 16, 1816 (rum) Judith, Windsor NC, March 31, 1806 Commerce, New Bedford, February 22, 1806 (staves) Army, Plymouth, March 5, 1806 Mary, Richmond, April 19, 1806 Mt. Vernon, December 22, 1806 (freight account) Mt Vernon, December16, 1806 (cider, food) Mt. Vernon, December 16, 1806 (oil, beef, etc) Mt. Vernon, October 11, 1806 (navy, bread) Brig George, November 19, 1806 Averick, August 6, 1806 (general account) Fredice, May 1795 (pitch) Sally, Petersburg, June 16, 1795 (tobacco) Flora and Betsy, July 1, 1806 (tobacco) Grey Hound, Plymouth NC, May 7 1806, (pork and turpentine) James Smith, John Coke, Carterise December 5, 1806 (pipe staves inspected from and consigned to Richard Blow) Neptune: October 13 1806 Oak Boards, inspected
Ship Antelope 's cargo much damaged, public sale will be had at Calais, and results sent to Mr. Barksdale towards claim and insurance. Blow's tobacco was on Antelope
Discusses current prices of cotton, coffee, tobacco; claims of cargo of Antelope further discussed
Re: settlement of property of Baird's; see also:Box 30
Trade dull: Received bills of lading for Blow's tobacco
Re: turpentine of General Carney's shipped to him, can't buy a horse for Carney as price is 1,000 guineas for either horse he wants. Await Carney's orders; sent him books he wished by Captain Baird; have sent Blow average for loses on Antelope. Son, William, is at school in Reading.
Partners in House of Lamb & Younger were James Brown, Richmond, Virginia and John Lamb & John Younger, London; upon death of Mr. Lamb, survivors have admitted J. C. Wardrop as a partner
Re: mistake in shipment of tobacco
Sent 16 quarters [unclear?] 1736 of beef for sale
Re: cargo for ship Globe
Re: pork sent Blow for sale
Tobacco manifests sent for ship Industry for Liverpool and 2 parcels of newspapers for John Hunter
Ship Globe now loading
Re: his debts and how to collect from C. Braxton
Act bills of lading for tobacco, gives current prices of wheat and flour per barrel
Prices current
Discusses dropping prices for turpentine, flour, tobacco better
Re: collection due him
Re: bills of lading for London firms, tobacco sales
Re: tar shipped to Blow; wishes flour in return
Re: cost of ship to take tobacco to France
Re: collections-wishes rum sent to him
Re: suit Ladd v. Strange
Re: debt owed to him by Captain Micks
Re: pork shipped to Blow
Has leased for 10 years furnished place 5 miles from Rayall Exchange, sending Mrs. Blow shoes
Re: loading of Mount Vernon
Bill of lading for fish sent, to Richard Blow, Portsmouth
Printed; business conditions, current prices of cotton, turpentine, tobacco, flour, rice, staves there
$ 100 Virginia currency
Damages to anchors of his ship
Re: cargo of tobacco and possibly flour for the ship General Green
Pork and turpentine to be shipped to Blow aboard the ship Grey Hound for General Carney's account
Bills of lading for tobacco aboard ships Betsy and Nancy
Re: cargo of tobacco for Bell Savage
Re: a ship for Rotterdam
Inquiry about father and letters to him
Has received letters from his father. Was on a Prussian ship carried into Portsmouth and condemned because he came out of a French Port that was blockaded
Discusses business with Blow; amounts due him for merchandise and amounts due Blow for tobacco sent to Calais and Dunkirk (France) per ship Antelope
Tar and turpentine sent on ship The Planter have been sold. Inform General Carney that neither of the horses he wants he can get now. Gives names of other horses which he thinks he can buy once the season is over here: Whiskey, Coreador, Beningborough, and Citizen
Sending down tobacco for ship Flora, Portsmouth
Re: shipment from Virginia, of salt, current prices there
Re: to money he had received due Dr. Hall from Carter Braxton
Re: cargo of staves
"at the request of Col. Nathaniel Burwell I have shipped on Sloop George 3 trunks, 1Box, and 1 bundle to your care which you will please keep until they are called for by the Reverend John V. Wylie."
Ship America, in port will send down to you, she is 287 ton [burden?], can carry 350 hhds and storage of staves to any port in Great Britain
Where is his tobacco? Has price in London fallen?
Ship Mary E. Wright , has been carried into Germany and condemned as prize; ask H. to get $ 9000 insured on her, world conditions affecting prices of product sent over
Wishes 50 sacks of salt
Re: shipment of herrings
Gives ship America 's account held in high regard by the ship owners here; discusses conditions between Russia and France, not good
Have to go down tomorrow to the wreck of ship The Shepherdess. Do you have any goods aboard?
Wish 4 bbls of crab cider
Expect ship General Greene owned by Tobias Lard & Co. of Kennebunk from Liverpool; could a cargo of staves be procured at your place for return voyage
Re: letters he should have received
Re: payments for staves and sugar
Re: change in ownership and management of the 8 ferries, opposed to incorporating; will you influence Richmond legislators to this effect?
Discusses trade and changes for selling Petersburg and Richmond goods, gives estimate of general market for tobacco, sugar, cotton, etc.
Business settlements with Blow
76 items
22 items
25 and 150 items
50 items
1 item
Order for salt
Re: tar sold to Blow
Announces conclusion of a treaty of amity, navigation, and commerce between this country and the USA signed on the 31 [ulto?]
Re: his recent settling in Georgia, prospects, etc.
Re: Blow's suit vs. Gill for debt accrued since 1786
Re: George Blow's marriage and placing him with Tazewell and Jon Cowper to study law; Discusses tobacco business, etc.
Re: damaged flour on ship Alexander
Enclosed copy of condemnation of ship Mary T. Wright
Give freight rates at Norfolk for landing salt from Liverpool (England), also tobacco freight rates
Re: Ships William & Mary and Paulina and letters due him
Need 1 or 2 small vessels to load at Bermuda Hundred for Falmouth; have 180 hhds tobacco for ship Averick
Re: loading tobacco on ship Niagara
Bill of lading for herrings enclosed
Re: ship Washington' s loading; also ship Russell, a very fine, fast sailing copper bottomed ship of 300 tons
Describes splendid entertainment by citizens to the Cavalry and Militia which went from here. I enclose a copy of the toasts, was mortified by his furlough. Tell young George that I hope he will merit the promotion I bestowed on him.
Re: settlement of co-partnership with J. Waldone & Co.; Blow one of bondsmen
Left British book on Cavalry discipline at Blow's House
Re: Cargo of ship Niagara to Great Britain
Discussion of ship's journey down James to Norfolk [Caffin was mate for ship Albright]
Re: recovering money from Carter Braxton
Writes of wife, Mary's death
Refers to Dudley's wife's death [Mrs. Hall is Lucy]. Says Portsmouth has been upset over aggressions of British Ships of war; an army in our streets, houses, etc. Business is stagnated
Re: cargo of salt or tobacco
Wishes freight for London, or Liverpool
Wishes his Gosport property sold
Wishes to know prices
Re: cargo of staves
Re: cargo of salt from Liverpool and prospect of tobacco on return
Hopes Blow has sold fish for him
Captain Barney of ship Argus sailed for Hobbs Hole, Virginia, for tobacco
Re: cargo of ship Washington
Prices current given in detail
Re: problems of cargo and men for ships
Re: how to pay his debts
Ships Neptune and Reward here
Terms for ship May en route to Continent
Wishes freight for ship Russell
Wishes 100 lbs of bacon, hams and candles sent to him. There is an opening for a retail store on York River
Freight received from Blow via sloop Little Jim; salt
Re: Sale of fish
Ship Averick , tobacco cargo lost, no insurance on ship. Eight of the hams which Mrs. Blow sent, saved. Thinks there will be no war between England and U.S.
Gives dimensions of Dismal Swamp Canal lock[?]. Detailed letter.
Re: Shipment of tobacco to Blow
Asking for position of book keeper in U.S. Bank
Wishes oder of general merchandise sent
Re: Fish he sold; large grain crops here and quantity of lumber of every kind
Having sale on 22nd
Re: Pitch stored with Blow
Introducing Col. Wm. Fontaine of Hanover, who has a considerable interest in the Dismal Swamp Canal.
Order for general goods.
Notifying re: suit filed
Personal Letter; sends love to "Aunt"
Cash scarce; trade dull
£ 802.3.-
£ 883.4.8 3/4
£ 7269.13.5 "Debts due from the Store: Norfolk Store; Littleton Lamir; James Dunlop & Co.; Butts Birds[srpey?]; Isaac Andrews; Allen Hines; John Berryman; £ 4898. - 9 1/2 / £ 2371.12.7 1/2
165 items
Re: Letters he had asked Blow to forward to England to Mr. Rennolds
Sending $ 54.50 in [unlcear?]loans for payment for flour, etc.
Order for garden seeds
Re: Commission merchants, Treble, Spe[unclear?] & Co., of [Nantz?]
Re: Deed of trust to secure[?] Blow
Wishes to pay General Thomas Blount, Member of Congress, some money; wishes Blow to [unclear?]
Introducing F. Le Roy of Nantz
Re: Cargo of corn and effects of cargo on its outcome
Re: Whiskey and brandy to go to Charles Carter of Shirley Plantation
Re: problems of present embargo on his corn
Re: Money he owes Blow
Re: Prospects of freight should embargo be lifted
Wishes ship B elle Savage for cargo, for Liverpool
Re: Political Situation in Spain & France [Refers to the Napoleonic Wars]
Sending down corn & tobacco for shipment
Wishes Blow to sell enslaved persons for Drew, even at $ 30.00; needs money at once
64 items
Hopes beef and candles sent to Blow can be disposed of as embargo is partially repealed.
Sending ship down to be loaded with cargo for anywhere except to North of Europe. Ship American built. Ship bringing down building stone.
Send salt to him at once
Re: shipment of corn and tobacco
Re: Need salt at once
Re: Salt
Re: Ship Washington en route to Norfolk for corn and flour
Re: Bills owned them
Gives current prices of tobacco
General conditions discussed
Re: Cargo of ship Columbia
Re: Staves
Discusses affairs abroad. Wishes Blow to sell salt at City Point.
Re: Wine from Madeira
Re: Freight desired for ship Columbia to England
Wishes ship for his tobacco. Address him at White Chimney 's, Caroline County
Tobacco bringing good prices here
Wishes Blow to advertise his ship Mary Ann for freight for Europe. Must avoid Amsterdam or any place under French domination. Ship able to take tobacco, cotton, or hogsheads.
Have ship ready in a few weeks for freight to Europe. Can Blow secure freights?
Problem as to ship. Has tobacco ready for Europe
Can fill up another ship with flour
Re: Sale of his Gosport lots by Blow & his debts.
Refers to his cargo of lour, etc. now ready
Has hogshead staves instead of barrel staves at landing
Have bt. 10,000 barrel staves and leave at once; will send rough staves down on another lighter. This will complete my contract with you
Sent 5000 barrel staves per the lightman
Sending Blow rough hhds. staves
Awaiting craft to send 7 hhds of tobacco down. Hope you have shipped out the 15hhds with you aboard the Pocahontas
Wish to have price of bacon and brandy
Re: Ship for Dublin and freight cost
Send candles to me at Washington
Re: Freight for ship Washington out of Norfolk
Enc. Charter Party for ship Nancy
Is concerned about vice around his residence , etc. Wishes Blow to have law change this situation
Re: Barrel staves
Ship Columbia from Tappahannock to Liverpool with freight of staves or tobacco. Ship Mary Ann sailed ysterday for Charleston for freight
Re: Staves and undressed wood
Re: Tobacco freight
Tobacco on ship Alexander for Falmouth and England or Ireland
Barrell staves on board brig Catherine
Passage wanted to Cork, Ireland or England
Business accounts of ship Alexander
Sends letters for Richard Blow (her father-in-law) to send to her mother, Mrs. Waller, in Williamsburg
Wishes small vessel for his freight
Ship Union , belonging to us expected from Cadiz (Spain). Wish freight for her.
Will take inventory of store goods by September 1st and balance books.
Discusses current prices of hemp and accounts of ship Columbia
Re: President's proclamation. Gives current prices of tobacco and flour.
Has white oak hhds and red oak hhds and 150 lbs. bee's wax to sell
Has contracted for small ships to take his tobacco to port north of Gothenburg (Sweden) or to the south of Lisbon (Portugal). Blow's rate of freight too high. Need Blow's advice about proper paper for clearing ship, etc.
Wishes advice of Blow for marketing goods in New York
Re: Small debts and lack of news as to her son's whereabouts
Re: Shipment of hemp
Cargo of tobacco is intended for continent. Blow will get French consul's certif. for Hatcher
Re: Suit
Notice of board meeting to be held in 12th.
For 12 different ships
6 items
50 items
Details an agreement between Hatcher and Blow for freight on ship Mary Ann , to discharge cargo in British Isles, Spain, Portugal, Canary or Western Islands. To be allowed 50 days to load and discharge and call for orders. Tobacco freight.
Duty Bonds not paid in bank, by law, will be put in suit. Request merchants of Norfolk to have their bonds adjusted in bank
Re: discusses loading of the ship Mary Ann and bills of lading.
Continuation of business of loading ship Mary Ann
Discussing Hatcher's business ventures abroad: Hatcher's shipping of tobacco abroad. Details of necessary papers to be taken by the ship and to be used to different countries.
Acknowledges proposals of Brown & Rives
Re: Ship Mary Ann
Discussing shipment of good to Europe: Freight for ships Columbia and Mary Ann
Discussing the election of Richard Blow as director of the Bank of the United States for a one-year term [Oliphant was chashier of bank]
Certificate for $ 2794.51 for 30 hhds tobacco [unclear?] by Blow
Re: concerning political actions of the U.S. Congress: refers to "ultimate fate of Mason's resolutions" in Congress
Re: business of ships abroad, Mary Ann and Columbia
Re: tobacco aboard the ship Mary Ann
Re: Mary Ann cargo and departure
Discussing the positions of the French: French near border of Portugal now
Loads of tobacco of the ship Mary Ann
Current price of tobacco. Refers to "Mr. Masons bill passing in the Senate and small vessels will immediately be wanted for Britain and Ireland"
Discusses ships' destinations and cargos: problems of loading the Mary Ann ; disagreement between Hatcher and Blow
Mary Ann destinations, cargo, etc.
Re: Furniture sent to Blow for sale in 1809. Please return if not sold
Agreement between Blow & Hatcher for ship Mary Ann's cargo
Need small vessel for overseas trade
Barksdale's son is en route to Norfolk from London, to study in the U.S. Has chosen Law as his profession, wishes Blow to encourage and supervise William. Mr. Hill's [unclear] has returned here and demands pay for training Hill's horses ("fillies")
Wishes Blow to get vessel for his tobacco
Discusses sailing across the Atlantic, heavily armed: "on April 1st was boarded by a French Privateer and plundered of all our clothes, money, everything moveable. Was Brig 20 guns, 150 men"
30 hhds. of tobacco for Juno
Re: tobacco for ships Juno and Washington.
Corn sent to Blow by ship Sisters
Her [unclear?] son estate in Virginia [largely illegible]
Sending 225 bhls. of tar to Blow for sale; asks prize of staves (white oak or red oak)
Ship delayed; will send in 3 weeks
Shipping tobacco
His ship Industry en route to Blow for freight; prefer a freight to Lisbon (Portugal) or Cadiz (Spain); Insurance to England very high for small vessel; maybe West Indies would be wiser.
Distressed at no news from his ships or from William [Drew]. Addresses Blow as "kind relative"
Sending ship Mary Ann to New York for freight as cheaper rate than Norfolk
Requests Blow to return invoice of furniture to him as he is loading for So[uth?] America
Asks for his account and prices for freights at Alexandria, Norfolk, etc.
Re: fish sent to Blow for sale
Re: African-Americans in prison there and prices for wheat, corn.
Still concerned over fate of her son Thomas
Reports death of John Rogers. His son-in-law, Samuel Nightingale, is admin. of estate
Vessels [unclear?] here
[Blow had been guardian of Davis]
Inquiring if M. Triplett, lately from Cadiz (Spain) is there to purchase flour for the British Army in Spain
Re: Account of Nathaniel Burwell
Re: Estate of his father-in-law, John Rogers
Dissatisfied with Mr. Foster who has delayed building a ship for him. Asks Blow to see about it for him
Re: Burwell's salt order
Re: newspaper subscription of The Herald
Asks settlement for turpentine
Has not received his letter
Has two ships ready by November and December
Sending load of staves to Blow
Hear Napoleon Bonaparte has rescinded his decree and ordered the release of all American property under adjudication in his dominion (goods and prisoners?).
Recommends Thomas J. Allen, Commission Merchant, Baltimore to Blow's attention
Re: Discussing the detention of vessels in Cadiz Bay
Re: Blow's payments due
Sale of fish to Blow
Sending 86 hams and 3 bhls. Turpentine for sale. Would like [unclear?] of salt
Directions for goods to be sent to him
Inquiring about the price of Liverpool salt and Spanish brandy
Remittance and sale of salt
Sloop Exchange bringing 12 [unclear?] white oak staves to Blow
Little chance of flour cargo; same (some?) tobacco
Cargo of ship Hunter in Virginia waters, now desiring wheat and flour
Tobacco shipment is ready for sending to Bordeaux or port in Bay of Biscay (France)
Wishes news of departure of ship Mary Ann for Europe. Are bonnets all sold and what prospect is there for the Columbia 's salt? Expecting ship Nancy soon.
55 hhds. tobacco shipped to Blow
Re: valuations of ships and averages charged at Greenock
Has not sold Blow's Spanish [Brown?] yet.
Sending load of staves
Ship Averick loading tobacco and cotton for London
Re: payments due from Blow
Acknowledges hams sent to him; wishes news of his son, William, who went to Virginia recently
Re: Bow's ship Nancy in France, insurance etc.
Ship Nancy has arrived. Discussing the "present officers decline all [risquer?] to France: A few days will determine England's steps…"
Wishes price of ground allum salt; also price of flour and old whisky
Wishes vessel of 180 to 250 hhds to load for Liverpool direct.
Staves hard to get right now
Have 400 ton ship and wish cargo from Norfolk
Contract for outgoing ship to Europe
Glad Blow secured vessel for cargo aboard
Re: fish sold to Blow; also admin. of his bother's estate
Insurance of ship; wishes price of [unclear?] goods incl. bristles
For ships Catherine, Freyheit, Pindur, Fredonia, Juno, and the Columbia.
For ships Washington, Rachel and Mary , Mary Ann , Jersey Blue , Sally , Planter , and the Nancy with tobacco accounts.
Sending Blow a load of staves
Tobacco ready for ship Betsy
Tobacco shipment ready for ship Unity
Shipment of sperm (whale) oil and problems about it
Re: discussing a shipment of tobacco for the Betsy
Introducing Capt. Joel Thorp to Blow
Re: Sale of fish
Introducing J. K. Townsend of Townsend & White, New York
Re: flour from Lisbon (Portugal)
Blow appointed agent of the Trustees of the [late?] Bank of the United States
Have new ship of 300 tns ready in 6 weeks and would like freight in Virginia for her.
4 hhds. of tobacco on board of ship Aberdeen
Draft on Blow, etc.
Has about 300 bhls. flour for sale. Advise.
Directions to Cat. Russell from Liverpoole in case Non-Intercourse Act going into effect. Discusses U.S. Government problems about foreign trade
Current prices of tobacco and flour given
Discusses financial transactions: transfers 2 shares of stock into Bank of Virginia to Blow
Ship has arrived and experiencing government entanglements: ship Mary Ann here now and whether she can clear after February orders by Government. Keep him posted as to chance of freight to any port of Europe in case of U.S. change of orders
Requests remittance for wines ordered by Messrs. Burwell & Pages.
Has candles and twisted horse manes suitable for matresses for sale. Like to know where ship St. Chuthbert is.
Discusses political entanglement and shipping: "Non-Intercourse laws have vanished and all our expectations now is that Congress will adjourn in 10 or 12 days…." How are vessels there now?
Has about 300 bhls. Herring fish for sale
Shipping business: Capt. Allen of schooner Hero looking for business there
Flour for sale and price he is willing to take for it.
Current prices for tobacco and flour.
12 bags horse manes sent to Blow for sale.
Re: his order for Madeira wines
Has a vessel for sale; gives minute detailes and description of her and price asked.
Can furnish red oak staves at $ 18 per M.
Gives Golsborough family genealogy
Re: Ship Nancy
Sending his son home.
Has new ship of 360 tons available to Bow. Expects ship Ann Alexander soon and wishes business for her
Re: business with Wm. Barksdale for son's money.
Re: flour shipped to London and insurance for it
Re: Rogers estate; ship Mary Ann waits for cargo from Bow; Dull times in foreign freights
Business dull for all kinds of vessels.
Death of Mr. Pallak; he left no will; Estate of $ 35,000 or $ 45,000 goes to his brother Allan.
Suit between him and George Keckie. Refers to Mr. Wickham as counsel
Business payments discussed
Pallack estate and payments
Has St. Petersburg Russian hemp for sale. Can Blow use any?
Business between the two.
Asks Blow to give ship Tracta[?] 10 or 15 bhls. of their tobacco in storage.
Payments and shipping matters: sends bill for still sent to Bow
Roger's estate payments due from Blow. Wishes freight of corn for ship Mary Ann.
Capt. Robinson needs help to obtain a consular certificate
Payment for 12 bales of hair.
Invoice for hats.
Step-daughter married Robert Goldsborogh; Divorced in 1804, child, a male, living on Eastern Shore with grandmother now. Problems of guardianship. Re: will, if there was one etc.
Wishes 80 bhls of herrings
Wishes Blow to collect from Josiah Hunter's estate of Great Bridge, Virginia; Mrs. Elizabeth Hunter, Admin.
Sending new ship down. Wishes freight, Ann Alexander , has not arrived yet. Will send her to Blow at once
Ship Augustus sent to Blow for freight; gives curent prices of corn, tobacco, hemp
Mary Ann dispatched to you for freight to Lisbon (Portufal), Ireland or Liverpool (England)
Please remit for tobaco sold Blow
Freight for ship Augustus near ready, will send drum to Blow for Liverpool.
Ship Augustus will carry 550 hhds tobacco. Staves are plentiful now; Have plans for loading ship Mary Ann with flour for Liverpool.
Ship Augustus and ship Mary Ann loading
No offer for ship Independence as yet. Lays idle here. What do you think of freight for Cadiz (Spain) or Lisbon (Portugal) of flour? Ship Silver Grey has loaded for these ports; ship Powhatan bound for London left City Point.
Cannot dispense of barrel staves you bought of Lewis at the Bridge
Four ships availabe, except to Spain and Portugal
Ship Euphratis owned by C. Grinnell, James Howland and myself: no prospect of freigh; Will send to you if desired; about 2 years old and 365 tons.
Wish business for new ship
Remit for staves
Cargo to Ireland, Liverpool (England), etc.
[Belfield & Hicksf[?]d men same as Emporia, Virginia in 19th and 20th century]
Shipping questions about transportation abilities of ships: What prospects will ship Mary Ann have for freight at Norfolk? She can carry 300 hhds of tobacco
Wishes to sell circa 400 bhls of pork; willing to barter with debtors in Fredericksbug, Port Royal, Tappahannock, Dunkirk, etc.
Since arriving I find that dispute with Great Britain will be amicably settled.
Shipping and economic conditions in Europe: No trade here, ice in harbor, will leave at once on ship Euphratis ; Questions advisability of freight of staves for West Indies on account of worms; as to timber, for England, after duty and other expenses, little profit; but agrees for Blow to load Euphratis with timber for England if ship is filled. Prefers freight of tobacco at £ 4.5 for England or Ireland, or corn flour at 9 per bbl for Cadiz, Lisbon or Gibraltar (Spain and Portugal)
Cancel wine order
Shipping conditions and goods: Ships The Powhatan and Fingal? are up for freight; only half a cargo; further discussions about cargo; give current prices for tobacco and flour
Will Blow purchase [unclear?] staves for brig Ann ?
Shipping to Europe: Ship Powhatan up for London needs further cargo. Nothing offered for ships Independence or Ann Alexander .
Buy 500 lbs of cable j[?]k for ship Independence at City Point. Give prospects for a cargo.
Re: staves
Ship Fame available
Goods on ship Averick en route to Blow for British port
[Curell was the Captain of the Polly, bound for Norfolk] Bill of Lading; bringing 92 bhls flour from John Hoomer, assigned to Richard Blow with freight at 25 cent per bbl.
Has ship coming soon from England. Wishes cargo.
Need freight and charter for ships Ann Alexander and Independence. Advise.
Re: loading of ship Ann Alexander with staves
Re: cargo of ships Independence and Ann Alexander
Discusses difficult atmosphere in trade, fear of a war if British actions don't change: no prospect as yet for employment for Ann Alexander , Euphrates or Independence. General feeling here that war will ensue if British orders in Council are not soon rescinded
[approximately 100 items]
Schooner Prospect sailing for Norfolk; asks Blow to give any assistance she may need.
Decided to send ship Euphrates to Liverpool (England) with tobacco
Business arrangements for payments, etc.
Sends few goods and a hobby horse Blow had ordered (cost $ 15)
Re: drafts given etc.
Delay in getting cargoes for ships Ann Alexander and Independence, no cotton or tobacco available for ship Euphrates now. Good apple brandy scarce here, gives current prices of tobacco in Richmond
Sending down garden seeds, potatoes and oats for Mrs. Blow for planting, and oats for son George
Re: flour sent
Needs vessel to carry 14 to 18 hundred barrels of flour for Spain; what would a vessel cost? Can money be had of you for bills on London and at what exchange?
Cargo of Betsy & Mary
As executor of Edw. Cowper estate gives legal details to collect and pay Blow
Check sent for payments due
Letter from John Randolph [in Congress] that an Embargo would be immediately laid. Get off any flour[?] to foreign port at once
Problems if embargo goes into effect
Discusses actions of the U.S. Congress, the trade embargo and their response: a law laying an embargo of 90 days has passed both Houses of Congress. Trust the ship John & Adam has put out to sea and that you have got rid of any flour
Shipment by Blow of a carriage to him
Re: payments
Problems of flour certificates as schooner Richmond put in to Wilmington, North Carolina, after Lisbon (Portugal) and Cadiz (Spain).
Sends premium for cargo on schooner Richmond and discusses problem of stops at several ports
Re: payments
Re: stock shares taken in Farmers Bank
Has ham and midlings for sale
Commission merchant asking for business
Concerning the account of the ship Ann Alexander
Re: discusses a canal from head of Pasquotank River in North Carolina to head of Elizabeth River and Virginia
Declines to help Blow buy a privateer
Asks for place at bank
Applies for a teller position at the bank
Officers of Farmers Bank, Richard Blow, President
Detailed letter: Terms if Farmers wishes to rent his house as a banking place.
Has set of India Table China which he wishes to sell. You and Capt. Parker have one like it imported at some time. What did he cost you?
Re: deed sent to Robertson in Petersburg
Asks for meeting of Board of Directors for Farmers Bank
Re: note against Benj. P. Hoomes of King & Queen County, Virginia
Re: sale of cargo of oil
Suggested notice of opening of the branch of Farmers Bank at Norfolk
Has ships empty and ready for cargoes. What prospects in Virginia?
Banking matters: Delays in getting necessary discounts for Bank to begin
Re: shipment of goods and prices: Schooner Richmond at Newbern, North Carolina. Asks Blow to insure her cargo of salt and [unclear?] at $ 5000. Blow valued ship at $ 3000 and cargo at $ 8300. [Blow as president of Marine Insurance Office]
Norfolk: Re: insurance premium for Richmond
Problem of his debt to U.S. Bank and Mr Allmond's endorsements; a suit in [unclear?], to save his two warehouses on Commerce St. and two dwellings on B[unclear?] Street; he asks for loan from Blow. If not, he will be financially ruined.
Ship Richmond has not left here yet
Ship Bedford was damaged in Lynn Haven Bay; asks for assistance for sale and repairs
Continuation and letter of November 22.
Re: ship Bedford See letter of November 22nd.
Cargo of a ship Ann Alexander
Subscribing for shares in Farmers Bank
Applying for cashier's position at the bank
Applying for gr[and?] son, Benj. Pollard, as notary
Applying for position of watchman at bank
Applying for notary at Bank
Applying for job of porter at the bank
Applying for notary at Bank
Job application for watchman
Job application for watchman
Job application for book keeper or discount clerk
Job application
Job application for cashier
Job application
Job application
Job application
Job application
Job application
Job application
Job application
Job applications , 21 letters
Job application for discount clerk
Job application
Recommends Benjamin Pollard for notary
Recommends T. J. Parker for notary
Job application for runner
Job application for porter
Job application for work
Job application as clerk
sold house to Farmer's Bank
Job application for book keeper
Job application for discount clerk
Job application for cashier
Job application
Job application discount clerk
Job application teller
Job application discount clerk
Job application discount clerk
Job application as runner
Job application as runner
Job application as runner
Purchase of shares in Bank
Discusses trouble with British confiscation of vessels at sea: Orders about ship Debby & Eliza 's cargo "British licenses have risen here very much and cannot be had under $ 1500 and there is great alarm here that the British cruisers will take our vessels that are bound to Southern parts…Insurance for voyage to Lisbon is 17.5 p.c. …" [War of 1812]
Crates sent to Blow in ship Richmond
Whale cargo of the ship Debby & Eliza engaged
Duty of oil to be before Congress
Banking and movement of money: advisability of removing specie from Bank out of town. The Virginia Bank has done this already.
Debby & Eliza chartered for Lisbon if Blow has not chartered her already
[In handwriting of] Blow: Detailed memo of his correspondence with Bridges & Robertson regarding cargo of Debby & Eliza and problems encountered by blockades, etc. from 1813 February 5 to 1815 May 20
Discusses politics, shipping difficulties: Re: past cargo of flour for Debby & Eliza "considerable fervor pervades our city especially the Legislature = who are this instant organizing a plan of defense for your Borough and will probably order out 3000 men forthwith"
Has flour for available
Difficulties of getting flour down to Blow
Re: problems getting flour to Blow; "excitement of arrival of troops for Richmond and Manchester on way to Norfolk for your protection"
Re: his chartering of ships Debby & Eliza , Z[unclear] ; ship Algernon, lost at Cape Hatteras, was insured fully
Ship Two Marys entering Chesapeake Bay was met (stopped and boarded) by British fleet under Admiral Warren, had her register and declare different ports…uncertainty about vessels being permitted to go out and impediment re ingress of vessels.
Blockade and how long it will last
Sending flour for ship D ebby & Eliza via ship Catherine
Continuation of problems of getting flour cargo down for Debby & Eliza
"The blockade has had a serious effects here. Flour has fallen 2
Sending 200 bhls flour by Martha Ann for Debby & Eliza cargo
Do not send Debby & Eliza out of port until blockade is lifted or assurance from British that licensed vessels will be permitted to proceed
Thinks blockade will soon be lifted and ship Debby & Eliza can get out
Sending flour for ship Debby & Eliza
Re: discussing the British blockage, the embargo and cargo for his vessels
Nat. Clanton, Wm. Peter, Wm. Comm[unclear?] $ 150.15 [unclear?] of Virginia; land formerly property of Walter Gilliam deceased of 1272/3 acres
Gives Blow permission to appoint Director of Farmer's Bank in his place
Power given to Blow to sell cargo of May Ann (800 bu. salt). Wishes 270 bhls flour sent to him
James Geddy signed acknowledged loan of $ 30 from Baron.
Problems of blockade, etc.; Bills of Lading
Concerning the removal of R. Blow as president of Farmers Bank, and five letters concerning Farmers Bank.
Wishes herings sent by packet to Williamsburg
Discusses ship Powhatan's departure from City Point: please furnish Captain with what he needs
Citizen's of Portsmouth sent $ 700.81 for relief of sufferers by the late fire; note of thanks
Returns his 5 volumes of Helvetius
Charter of ship Victory
Cargoes of ships Debby & Eliza and Richmond
Blow was agent for ship Victory of New Bedford - to receive load of tobacco at City Point
Re: ships and tobacco shipments: Debby & Eliza to Rhoads with tobacco and cotton; ship Augustus; ship Richmond; ship Edward Bartin
Re: ship the Victory; many British vessels at City Point and Bermuda Hundred
Discusses losses due to late war.
Re: commission business
Sent 1600 staves to Blow
Purchase of boat
Re: Debby & Eliza ; rates of exchange
Ship Augustus cargo full
Re: ship Richmond cargo of tobacco for Richmond
Primarily concerning his shipping trade
Re: concerning various ships owned by Blow: Debby & Eliza , Richmond, cargoes; Ship Powhatan
Ship Richmond 's account
Wishes shingles
Re: ship Richmond
Re: ship Richmond cargo of tobacco and staves
Re: staves and flour
Fire in Petersburg destroyed half the town, about 300 houses. His counting house was saved
Ship Augustus cargo
Re: Blow's debt to Bank
For building the [unclear?]
Primarily concerns his sea shipping trade
Re: ship Edward Barten 's cargo
Re: Shipment in Edw. Bardin
Re: furnishing brig Charles Fourcett en route to Bermuda Hundred for tobacco and staves
Ship Ceres has not arrived at City Point
Re: cargo of Ceres, Edward Bordi n, and Alexander for City Point
Re: Edward Bardin , Ceres, Debby & Eliza
Re: shipped of fish thru the Canal to you, will ship shad [type of fish] for family use the last of this month
(see April 12 letter)
Re: ship Augustus
Re: Humph Hathaway and his cargo
Re: Ship Ceres from City Point to Rotterdam with tobacco; Re: ship Debby & Eliza ; Re: ship Edward Bordin
Re: Edward Bordin to Liverpool with tobacco
Re: ship Victoria for Europe
Primarily concerns his shipping trade
Re: freight rates
Re: falling freight rates
Re: Ship Debby & Eliza 's flour cargo
Re: Cargo ofships Debby & Eliza and Baltie for Liverpool (England), Scotland and Ireland, freight rates a problem. Mr. Dunlop wished possibly to charter the ship Ceres for Leith.
Re: Mr. Dunlop did not accept ship Ceres as expected. Freight is down, problem of getting ships to take out cargoes.
No sale for Blow's salt
Re:Ship Ceres for Rotterdam and cargo
Concerns the tuition and board for Blow's sons, Robert Richard
Robert and Richard Blow by Aiken & Brooks, and Books for Robert
Three letters and one resolution document
Re: Financial affairs of Farmer's Bank, scale of loans, debts allowed, etc.
Refers to branches at Petersburg, Lynchburg, etc.
Petty bills of Richard Blow, four letters, and accounts with Neilson & Neale.
80 items
Re: state of exchange, etc.
Banking business
Re: Accounts
Re: Alleged default in bank, etc.
Cost of kitchen, stable, dailty building and garden $ 428.18
Renewing Charter of Farmer's Bank which will expire 1827; urges renewal and to confer with stockholders as to their opinion.
General conditions of banking.
Legislature wishes detailed statement of expenses of Branches of this bank; asks Mother Bank (Norfolk) to send earliest mail; also list of salaries.
80 items.
4 letters
Re: Branches of Farmer's Bank
Election of Lee as cashier
Re: Cashier
Detailed letter describing Christmas as Tower Hill : Weather very bad, hunting, ice house full of ice, new school at Coman's [?] Well, Sussex; wants daugher, Mary Frances put there. Death of Capt. John R. Mason. Edwin Gray sold off all his estate yesterday. Thomas Gray to manage the Ruffin plantation. Imagine Thomas will buy Edwins land; there will be Grays all around us. Just heard that Captain Wm. Briggs bought Edwin's place, $ 1800.
Repairing the man building and slating kitchen
Paint, lead, etc. $ 84.36
Describing post Civil War life conditions: Reconstruction, "thievery" of African-Americans; Fanny (his wife) is teaching 10 pupils; Mary is chief assistant in a large female school here; Aleck has been here. Orange and Alexander R.R. has joined up to the Manasses R.R.
George Blow, Micajah Felts, Adminsitrators; Inventory of App.
$ 6235.20; Divison of Estate to 3 grandchildren: Mary E. Turner, Martha Jordan and Georgia Ann Hines.
Leaves Mary E. Hines his plantation on East side of Austin's branch; leaves Martha Hines his plantation on Wesst side of Austin's branch; [Mary Elizabeth Hines husband was George Hines] George Blow and James Rochelle, executors, Rochelle did not act.; John D. Turner who married Mary, act.
George Blow administrator
Dozens of petty accounts between Richard Blow and merchants, trades, etc.
Field book of line between George Blow, Jr., John Clanton Saldsberry and Nancy Clanton and adjoining [unclear?]
Barham's Tract…183+ acres sold at $ 5 per acre. Plat of Barham Wren's land and north side of Racoon Swamp by Wm. Darbie of which this is an exact copy - total acres 345.
Number of packages consigend to [names from Williamsburg, Petersburg, Yorktown, Burwell's Ferry, Hanover]
Original field notes of a Road from Bla[?]'s Mill to Sussex Coutr House chained by Joseph Clanton
£ 1409.9.10 1/2 : long listing
Re: Suit Blow & Oldham trading as merchants at South Quay, Nansemond County. Each to put up £ 400 V.Cur. and going under firm name of Baker, Oldham & Blow and to continue throgh the War. In 3 months Oldham died. Firm continued as Baker & Blow. Store began at Pitch Landing, North Carolina. Other stores were established at Petersburg under firm name of Blow & Barksdale in 1782.
Answer of Blow refers to the year 1793
Tobacco imanifests for various ships; invoices of tobacco to Wm. Blow at Dunkirk; Invoices to Petersburg Store.
[torn at date] Re: Blow & Barksdale accounts and ship Flying Jennie 's Cargo
Ships Portsmouth, Grand Duke , [unclear?], Mt. Vernon
[7 items]
Re: Settlement of father's estate
A personal letter about her son, John, who was employed by Freeland & Gillis in Petersburg. Sent down to Williamsburg on business stayed at the Eagle Tavern. [Mrs. Taylor was a sister of Robert H. Walker]
Re: Goods shipped to him from Lamb & Younger, London. Requests Blow to attend the Customs and have goods sent up to him as soon as he can. Goods came in the America.
Re: Blow's subscription to the Virginia Gazette for 1800 and 1801
Has sent down 4 hhds. tobacco to Blow.
Re: wine for his father. Asks it to be sent to Alexandria c/o Jenny & Graham or some person who does business for his father.
Also, letter of March 1 1803 from Cropper, P[unclear?] & Co., Liverpool
Ship Thomas Wilso n, freight bill: 1 case containing a Piano Forte "for Hon. Samuel Tyler, Judge of Court of Chancery in Williamsburg"
Re: A Disagreement between Arthur Hope and Blow. Hope had deposited funds with Blow for purpose of Blow investing for him in Bank Stock. Wirt advises Blow to agree to a committee of 3 men to settle rather than go into court.
Acknowledges tobacco sent over by Mrs. Lucy Paradise per The Sheffield . According to Mrs. Paradise's desire we are sending 2 [ch___s?] marked "LLP1.2" Bills of Lading sent to Blow at her request. "She is miserably in debt"
Has established a printing office in Norfolk with Daniel Baxter. Solicits Blow's goodwill and business.
Re: tobacco she had shipped to Reynolds in Liverpool (see letter of July 12, 1806).
Wishes to employ a tutor to live in his house. Enclose advertisement for same to be put in The Herald . Wishes a mentor in Latin, French but must have one good on Arithmetic and English. Say £ 50 or £ 60 for English teacher and £ 70 or so for language teacher.
His opinion of western lands, 1st rate land sells at $ 20 to $ 30 and 2nd rate at $ 10. Does not wish to settle out here.
Regulations as to conduct: Divine Services, Reveille, etc.
Will not come to Norfolk until yellow fever is over or is prudent to come. Keep him informed.
Bills rendered for postage
Bill for books (listed) $28
Bill
Bill for books (listed)
Appeals to Blow to assist him. He is a British subject and "confined in jail and then to be sold as a slave for the benefit of the state of Virginia." Gives his life history and tells how he a came to America at 3 years old.
Inscription to be put on gravestone of Marie Semple, daughter of James Semple and Joanna his wife, daughter of Doctor William McKenzie, dec'd. Born August 16, 1809 and died November 12th 1810. Note from Semple to Blow with directions for sending stone to Cobham or to the Bay warehouse in Surry or upper end Isle of Wight County.
January 16, 1801, Lee Hall, Portsmouth, to Richard Blow, Norfolk. Asks for Blow's assistance so he can obtain a job as a clerk in the Navy Yard at Gosport. January 26, 1801, Congressman Sam W. Dana, Washington DC, to Lee Hall. Discussing a possible job position for Hall. 1804 and 1805, Sam Lord, New York, to Dr. Lee Hall, Portsmouth.
6 pieces
Requests Blow's influences in procuring his appointment as cleark in Public Navy Yard in Gosport
Recommending Dr. Hall to be Clerk of Gosport Navy Yard
Re: Medicine ordered by Hall
A teacher, will return to Portsmouth if conditions seem good
Measures taken to prevent interruption of the commerce of tobacco have had full success.
Suit between Vaughan and Baker & Blow; he will represent Baker & Blow.
Re: Inquiring about books sent to Mr. Thomas Jefferson.
Inquires about M. Davis [Augustine] establishing a printing press in the city.
Goods delivered at Capital Landing
Bill of Lading for his tobacco
Encloses letter to London
Petitions re: governorship. Refers to "Cousin Sam Briggs" being in Richmond
Fragment of drawing of houses and streets in Petersburg [in handwriting of Richard Blow]: Appomattox River, Tabbs Branch, Brick House [Run?] (all near Blandford)
Memo for [watchwork?]
Ballast Office, London; John Longman & others, London
(8 items)
(2 items)
Re: shingles
[Drugs?]
Business Correspondence regarding ship Monmouth from Bordeaux and problems encountered; also references to ship America (10 pieces)
Gives news that daughter Patsy will marry Dr. Gray on 26th
Letter from Capt. Blow to his daughter Lizzie (1864); and letter from a nephew, Norfolk, to Capt. Blow (1880) regarding sale of part of the "Old Place" in Southampton County.