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DOCUMENTS AND LETTERS 1765-1788

POWER OF ATTORNEY DUNCAN CAMPBELL TO JOHN CAMPBELL

Copy of Factory & Certificate sent to Jamaica, dated 22 May 1765.

Know all men me Duncan Campbell of Kilduskland Esquire only brother german now in life of James Campbell of Kames1  and late of Jamaica, Planter [Salem2] to have named and appointed...John Campbell of Saltspring Esq. of the Island of Jamaica my factor and attorney...granting to him full power to recover, receive and discharge all and sundry goods, chattels, debts and effects of all kinds that did belong or were resting to the said James Campbell at the time of his death...28 March 1758...allowance of his recovery of all expenses with a reasonable allowance for his trouble.

Witnesed by: Archibald Campbell, minister of the Gospel at North Knapdale; Lachlan McTavish writer in Edinburgh at Dunans in Argyll.
 
Attached: a certificate dated 28 September 1765 confirming the death of James Campbell at Rothsay -
We John Duncanson Esq. Provost, Messrs. John McNeill and John Colquhoun, Baillies of Inverary.

Witnessed by: Peter Lindsay, Deputy Sheriff of Argyll; James Wright, schoolmaster at Inverary.

             National Archives of Scotland, GD64/1/279/4

______________________________________________

 1Kames, the Isle of Bute, Argyllshire, Scotland
 2Salem plantation, Hanover [between Green Island & Orange Bay]
 



EXTRACTS FROM DUNCAN CAMPBELL'S LETTERBOOKS 1766 TO 1771

Extracts from
The private letterbooks 1766-1795
of Duncan Campbell

See more letters from these Letter Books


26 October 1766     to Dugald Malcolm [Pell River, Hanover]

Though you would not do me the honour to answer my last, I take this opportunity by my nephew of laying the weight of another letter on your shoulders, the purport of which is to Request your countenance to this young Man at setting out, & when your other connections does not interfere, to give him some assistance in his dispatch.  I flattered myself you would have been an owner in this little ship, but the reasons my Brother gave me from you were certainly satisfactory. I hope however it may still prove convenient to take a small share. I have enough of her on my hands to spare & indeed it would a please me to keep up our old acquaintance by some little connection of this sort, which seems now to be drooping merely for want of some such thing, but this I will by no means press. My family join in best wishes for your health.


15 October 1767      to John Campbell, Saltspring, Hanover

--your cotton per [Capt] Ratcliffe is landed but not in best order, 6 bags as well as the two by [Capt.] Somervell are of good quality but very ill cleaned which makes the difference of 1d. per pound at least. Cotton has seldom been Lower than now and for some time past I have not yet sold them. Your letter of 27 June covering bill of Loading for 5 terces Sugar I received and you can depend upon my care in the sale.
I am pleased to find you entertain thoughts of spending next summer with us, for god's sake leave no stone unturned to accomplish it. As Mr. Campbell is now with you, you have an opportunity which I hope you will not lose of settling every matter with him. As I was full in my last on that head I refer to it. I long, nay I want, much to see you here for many reasons.

In my last I told you I was indifferent how few were concerned in the Orange Bay besides ourselves. As Mr. Crooks has not remitted you further I shall only concern him 1/24 and this you will be pleased to acquaint him. But if you think it may be more agreeable to him to have 1/6 he shall have it but do not let him take it if not perfectly convenient. I should think Mr. Tharp1 protests interest by his not remitting, on that account I would not have you urge it too much: with whom is he connected here? Could not you make some interest there in my behalf, I am told he wants little or no advance? I wish you would try him & why not Mr. Crooks, I find his consignments are well worthwhile & any little helps.

Upon the whole I request that before you leave the island you will take some pains in informing me yourself how matters stand with such of your neighbours as you think might be reliable correspondent because less matters stand as they will_________I for myself should wish for my boy Dug.'s sake to have some connection with Jamaica, it may be some introduction to him if I have, which he perhaps may extend.

Neil & Francis [Somervell] sailed on the 1 Aug. from the Downs for Philadelphia, I did not send him to Newcastle for fear of making him so late. I hope by this time he is in Delaware River & will be with you by the latter end of November at farthest. I flatter myself he will have a speedy & beneficial sale.
Mr. Kerr2 has been on terms for a vessel to go the same voyage but has not fixed one as yet--Mr. & Mrs. Kerr & Capt. Johns Embark in the Thames [Capt.] Laird Beginning of next month. If Kerr goes into business here a partner may be courted--make your own use of this hint.

Inclosed you have account of sales of 20 puncheons Rum--2 Bags cotton--10 hogsheads Sugar.  I wish I may be happy enough to give you satisfaction in this first consignment. I believe I may venture to say they were sold at the best prices our markets then afforded. As I am a novice in this business I request you will be full and plain with me in pointing out wrong charges or errors in these sales.

Frank Somerville--I was much rather he was settled with or near you. I think he is a young fellow you may confide in, he is steady & sensible but you must know his Qualifications much better than I do & therefore I shall only require you can keep him with yourself with convenience & afford him encouragement such as you think he merits & that you will do it because I think he may one time or another be a very useful man to you and of course serve himself. But if your other engagements interfere with his remaining at Saltspring I need not fear you will introduce him properly when opportunity offers. Mr. Kerr has promised he will not fail to secure him if he should want employment & thinks he will have an opportunity soon after his arrival on Mr. Hall's estates which are all to be put under his management.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 1John Tharp, Trelawny, son of Joseph Tharp of Bachelors Hall, Lucea.
 2James Kerr


20 September 1767      to John Dickson, Hanover

I received your favour of 25 July receiving your bill on Currie & Shakespear1 for £25 which is accepted. This makes nearly about the amount of 1/6 of the Orange Bay which share you shall have Credit for--I beg you will present my best respects to Mrs. Dickson and Mr. Crooks in which Mrs. Campbell joins me.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 1Currie & Shakespeare were Jamaica merchants in London. Colin Currie was the son of David Currie and Ann Campbell, daughter of Hon. John Campbell of Black River [d. 1740] and buried at Hodges Pen St. Elizabeth. Colin Currie's sister Elizabeth had married John Shakespeare, an Alderman of London.


FOOTNOTES HAVE BEEN ADDED TO THIS LETTER.

London 15 July 1768
To John Campbell
Orange Bay,
Hanover

Your favour of 17 March by Capt. Somerville gave me much pleasure as it conveyed to me agreeable accounts of you and Mrs Campbell enjoying a perfect state of health.  I am extreamly obliged for the kind assistance you have given my Nephew as well in the discharge of his lumber as in assisting him in reloading his ship. The expences at Philadelphia & the addition of wages & provisions in making a round about voyage will eat up most of the profits of the lumber. But as I have not yet received the Account Sales from my Brother1 I cannot say with any precision how it will turn out.
I am extreamly sorry to see by your letter that I have given you some offence by Insuring your share amongst the other Jamaica owners of the Orange Bay2, it was done by Directions of my brother, but I had omitted advising you in my last letter though I believe I had written to all or most of the owners to that purpose. I took it for granted that my Brother knew your intentions when he gave me general orders per Insur. & in answer to his letter I wrote him on 26 October 1766 that I had Insured the shares of the ship & I should continue to do so  until I had directions to the contrary--I own I thought you had confidence enough in me to trust I would not have done you so much injustice as Charge you a premium without meaning to indemnify you in case of loss--
I have not had the honour of late of being so often at Billiter Square--the cause is not worth our while to learn, I will not say whose fault it was, but so it is. I should not have mentioned this circumstance had not your desiring me to settle your Account with Mr Currie3 led me to it. I am sensible you have enough of business credit on your hands but I hope both my accounts with you will need little settling, I shall pay the balance that may be due to you from time to time in their or any other Person's hands you think proper but as to any other further settlements or consultation with him on the head of this ship I hope you will not require it of me. I am perfectly satisfied of your good will towards me in many instances as well as on the concern you have taken on this ship but if you find any inconvenience in my conducting this little adventure with yourself I shall be certainly sorry--I request you present my best respects to your lady, aunt & l____.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

1 John Saltspring
2 Other Jamaica partners in the ship included: John Campbell Saltspring, Peter Campbell Fish River, Colin Campbell Campbelton, John Dickson Salem, James Crooks Cousins Cove. [Crooks & John Saltspring were cousins, Dickson was Crook's brother-in-law.] John Campbell New Hope had declined to take a share
3 Colin Currie, a grandson of Colonel John Campbell Blackriver. A notice in the London Gazette, 10 December 1776, lists Currie as a bankrupt.



15 July 1768       to John Campbell, Cambleton, Hanover

I had the pleasure of receiving your letter of 19 March & was glad to find you was still in the land of the living.


4 October 1769      to Peter Campbell, Fish River, Hanover

Though I cannot draw any letter from you yet I please myself with the hopes you will not refuse me the satisfaction of addressing you once at least in the year just to inquire how you and Mrs. Campbell do. Send me a verbal message by Neil as you will not write that you and yours are well & that I shall be satisfied with. Capt. Neil informs me you have forbid my making further insurance on your concern in the Orange Bay in which I think you are right.
My Brothers not having sent me the account sales of last years lumber prevents my making up the account for 3 voyage of Orange Bay which shall be down as soon as that is received. The dividend for your share will then be carried to your credit underneath. I request you will present my best to your lady in which all my family joins.

By balance of current account sent you                  £15. 4. 3    
Dividend on 2 voyages Orange Bay    £25. 5.11   
Deduct insurance on 2 voyages          £ 5.18. 2      £19. 7. 9
                                                                             £34.12.0


21 November 1769      to John Campbell, Saltspring, Hanover

My last letter to you was by Capt. Somervell who I hope by this time is approaching near to your coast. As I was pretty full then I beg leave to refer you to it. A few days after Somervell's departure I received yours from St. Marys. I hope you soon get the better of your fatigue & I am now in daily expectation of hearing from you at Kingston. Mr Dickson wrote me he expected you there in a few days when all the matters between him and Hunter was to be settled. It will give me much pleasure to hear they are to his satisfaction.

Mr. Tharp's sudden & unexpected departure prevented me from having the pleasure of his company at Hawley, or indeed any conversation on business - when you see him please to tell him I regret things have so happened. I shall write him and send him a state of his account for Orange Bay as soon as I receive our invoices of the sales of lumber, which I beg you will send me as soon as you can. You can mark the Debts outstanding in the sales but that should not hinder you from transmitting an account of the proceeds--

By Capt. Ratcliffe I have sent a box with sundries for Miss. McKenzie amounting to £1.19.1--I have charged to your debt. I left your sister & my little folks at Hawley this morning all well. They were then busy preparing for coming to Town tomorrow for the Winter season which is the cause they have not written to you by this conveyance. But you may expect soon to hear from them & me. Ratcliffe goes a day sooner than expected & occasions my writing this in a very great hurry--


18 November 1770      to John Campbell Saltspring, Hanover

[continued. . .]

In my last I mentioned the warlike preparations that were going on here and that they had given a briskness to our markets, but the first alarm being got over by the Sugar buyers our prices drop again 1.6d per Cwt. However as the King's speech, which you have inclosed, has not been so explicit & none of the buyers expected an event of these preparations. I am in hopes our markets will quicken again. Your Sugars by Mr. Cordle are not ill coloured but very heavy and by no means like what you and I remember when Old Daniel used to tell us so. I ask 36/6 for them and will try to get 37/- if I can.

My nephew Frank [Somervell] I suppose has written to you repeatedly, he has some thoughts of going to North America in partnership with Mr. Noble to establish a little store at Philadelphia. I cannot say that I am very fond of it, for if he must live in a hot country, and that is very much so in Summer, why not go to Jamaica? However the matter is not fixed, he is desirous of my approbation which I cannot give with all my heart.

By this conveyance you will receive your shoes, but Gordon the seedsman tells me it is too earlie by a month fro to send you the seeds you ordered, they shall be sent you by Capt. Ratcliffe. This goes by Capt. Daniel [Campbell] who has been lately with me frequently. In my last I inclosed you a letter to Capt. Neil [Somervell] which was chiefly calculated to put him on his guard in the sale of his cargo at this Critical juncture of Publick affairs which must undoubtedly enhance the value of lumber greatly. The folks here have raised the freights of goods outwards one half more and indeed the expenses now on all manner of naval stores require it--I suppose if matters cannot soon be accommodated between Spain & us Convoys will soon be appointed. My family & I thank God are well, they are still in the country but as the weather is now set on very bad we come to Town beginning of next week for the winter. They all join in love to you.


24 August 1771      to Mr. [James] Millar at Saltspring

Though I have not had the Honour of being known to you yet the connexion between you and my Brother together with his being absent will I hope be a apology for my thus troubling you.  The loss of the Orange Bay & the providing & fitting out a new ship for Capt. Somervell threw him a few days later than his usual time of departure from hence for Philadelphia. This delay added to that he has met with by eight days contrary winds in the Downs from which place he sailed only yesterday (but with a fair wind) may make his arrivall with you eight or ten days later than usual; & if I drop you these few lines to acquaint you of this Circumstance which you will oblige me by Communicating to your neighbours lest they should be uneasy at his being so late and through fear of a Disappointment of their Supplys of lumber from him provide themselves elsewhere; I request the favour of you to guard against that Event which would have the worse Effect this year as the new Orange Bay will bring a considerable quantity of lumber more than the old ship could; & therefore you will do me a Great Service by endeavouring to procure what Purchases you can for her Cargo. Capt. Somervell will stand the more need of your assistance & good advice as I am afraid my Brother will be absent at his arrivall. Any Services you do him will always be Gratefully remembered by.
NB Somervell did not leave the Downs last year till the 14th August & though he had between 7 & 8 weeks passage to Philadelphia was down to Jamaica I think 22nd Nov. I hope he will not far exceed that time this voyage.


26 August 1771      to Colin Campbell, Jamaica

The friendship you have always shown me by your Notice and Assistance to my nephew Capt. Somervell in his Dispatch and the disposall of his lumber in which I am so greatly intrusted requires my grateful thanks for the same. It gave Mrs. Campbell & me great pleasure to find by a letter your Mother received from you in short time since while she was spending a few days with us in the country that you and Mrs. Campbell were in perfect health and thriving in every way. If you go on so fast Colin you will soon come up with me though I find I am led to understand lately that I am not done yet. It gave me much satisfaction to hear property in the Orange Bay was so well covered that your loss was but small by the accident which happened to that ship. I wish all your neighbours had been as cautious & that I myself been so prudent. Capt. Neil saild from hence about 10 days since in a very fine new ship under the old name which I bought him--& I hope will be with you in all November--Your favours on this occasion will always be gratefully remembered by me. My Brother gave me some hopes that you would take a small share in a New Ship with me. If that should prove convenient it will give me great pleasure to have you an owner in the New Orange Bay 1/6 of which will amount to about £108. All my family join in Compliments to you & Yours.


26 August 1771      to John Somervell, Cornwall Jamaica

Though I have not the Honour of being known to you yet finding by the account of my Nephew Capt. Somervell has given me that I am under great obligations to you for your civilities to him--in which I am so much interested.
[There follows similar request for future help with cargoes]


4 September 1771      [note of letter to Capt.Neil Somervell]

Wrote Capt. Neil Somervell by the 'Hand in Hand', Capt. Brown. Inclosed him his steward's afidavid & account sales of his 18 puncheons rum per Orange Bay, advised him I had made £400 Insurance on his adventure in that ship all round her voyage. Begged of him to fill his ship full and make all dispatch in his power down to Jamaica. That I had a Great Concern in this adventure & that the success of it would have a considerable effect on my finances one way or another.



JUDGEMENTS IN CHANCERY

[as reported in the Cornwall Chronicle]

Campbell per Attorney  
v  
Campbell

In pursuance of the Final Decree, made in this Cause, bearing date the 20th April, 1787, and in default of payments before the 20th day of October of £11, 717 11s. 10d. Sterling Money of Great Britain, with interest at 6% from the 31st March 1786, being the sum then due to the Complainant, Duncan Campbell, from the estate of John Campbell, late of the parish of Hanover, Esq., deceased, I do hereby give Notice
That I will, on 25th day of November next, between the hours of nine and twelve of the clock in the forenoon, at the Coffee House in Kingston, put up for sale to the best and highest Bidder, all that Plantation or Sugar Work known by the name of Saltspring in the parish of Hanover comprised in the Indentures of Mortgage dated 17th and 18th days of October, 1776.
                             Given under my hand this 30th day of June, 1787
                                         George Murray, M.C.C.


Miles, per Attorney
v
Brissett, Admor. et al.

In pursuance of the Final Decree, made in the above Cause, bearing date the 27th of July 1787,
I do hereby give Notice
to the defendants George Brissett, Elizabeth Chambers, widow, Edward Chambers, John Tharp Chambers, Ann Chambers, Elizabeth Chambers, Rebecca Chambers, Mary Ann Chambers, Catherine Chambers, and Henrietta Chambers that they do pay to the Complainant, William Miles or to his lawful Attorney in this island the sum of £73,338 11s. 10d. current Money of Jamaica with lawful interest thereon from 31st December 1786 and the usual costs of increase on the recovery here of Money payable in Great Britain. And, in default thereof, I shall, on Wednesday 12th March next, set up to Sale, at Public Outcry, at Haden's Tavern, Spanish Town, between the hours of nine and twelve of the clock in the forenoon all those Plantations and Penns comprised in the Indentures of Mortgage called Richmond, Prospect, Bachelors Hall in the parish of Hanover together with the Penn called Chambers' New Penn and sell the same to the highest and best Bidder.
                             Given under my hand this 26th day of January, 1788
                                         Thomas Cullum, M.C.C.


Webster, James & al.
v
Brown & ux. & al. Assignees

In pursuance of the Final Decree, made in this Cause, bearing date the 25th of July 1788,
I do hereby give Notice
to the defendants William Brown and Mary, his wife, George Robertson, and Nathaniel Gray, the Assignees of  William Brown, that they do pay unto James Webster, or unto his lawful Attornies in this island, the sum of £26,385 14s. 7d. current Money of Jamaica being the current sum stated to be due by him. And it was further decreed that the said defendants pay the further sum of £2,664 11s. 11d. being the sum of money due to James Webster the surviving Mortgagee in possession of Richmond Vale Estate, for the advances of John Wedderburn Esq., as his attorney, on account of the said mortgaged premises. And that the said defendants do likewise pay unto James Webster the further sum of £402 17s. 10d. being the sum of money due to him on the 31st December 1787 by virtue of the Assignment of the Indenture of Mortgage of the 11th July, 1777 together with the complainant' full cost out of purse.
In default of such payment, I shall on Monday 26th January 1789, between the hours of nine and twelve of the clock in the forenoon, set up to sale at public outcry, at Lyon's Tavern at Lucea, all that Plantation or Sugar-Work known by the name of Richmond Vale comprised in the Indentures of Mortgage on the 19th August 1778 and 31st December 1785.
                             Given under my hand this 12th day of December, 1788.
                                         Thomas Cullum, M.C.C.

______________________________________________

Note:
After these cases, an Act of Assembly was passed on 20th December, 1788:
'An Act for the further raising and establishing the Credit of this Island; and for preventing vexatious Suits at Law, in consequence of the Destruction of Vouchers by the late Hurricanes and Fires'.
The act was intended to help smaller creditors who often lost out to the larger creditors who had secured their loans by way of a mortgage.


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