[1] John Campbell, master mariner, died at Orange Bay, 29 July 1766. He was the surviving brother of James Campbell of Orange Bay [d.1744, in Jamaica] and of Peter Campbell 1 of Fish River [d.1739, in Jamaica]

[2] John Somerville, a nephew of Duncan Campbell

[3] Deborah Campbell’s  ailments continued; she died within a few years, in London

[4] Neil Somerville, Campbell’s nephew and master of the ship Orange Bay

[5] Douglass Campbell, the youngest of the sisters, born after her father’s death in 1744, did not return to Jamaica. In 1776, she married Dr. John Sherwen of Enfield and died in England in 1804

[6] John Campbell of Black River, son of Colin Campbell [d.1752, in Jamaica] and a grandson of  Hon. John Campbell [d.1740, in Jamaica]. He had left Jamaica for Virginia in 1756 but returned in the Spring of 1767 to sell his Jamaican properties in order to clear his debts.

[7] John Stewart, Campbell’s partner in ‘Stewart & Campbell’ of London, merchants. Stewart suffered badly from the gout

[8] Stewart did not wish to get involved in Jamaica trade and accounts between himself and Campbell needed to be clarified

[9] Colin Currie, London merchant, a cousin, and a grandson of John Campbell of Black River. Campbell and Currie did not see eye to eye

[10] Campbell’s niece Elizabeth Betham married William Bligh who later commanded Campbell’s ‘Britannia’ on the Jamaica run

[11] James Crooks of Crooks Cove plantation, Hanover, a 1^st cousin to John Salt Spring

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To John Campbell, Salt Spring, Hanover                                                            15 September 1767

[Following the death in February of John Campbell’s sister, ‘Peachy, Campbell is back to business as usual. Despite claiming ‘little new matter’, the letter is not short. ‘Account sales’ of cotton, sugars and rum are discussed but are omitted in this transcription as much of the letter continues on the subject of family health, and prospects for his son Dugald and his nephew Francis Somerville. The debts of John Campbell of Black River, now in Jamaica after 11 years in Virginia are mentioned again, and hopes of future business with James Kerr and John Tharp are also raised. There is no clue about the identity of Captain John’s son except that his ‘honoured father’, was perhaps a late relation.]

I wrote you the 19 June a very long letter by Doctor Murray which I hope ere this time reached to your hand. As I was very full therein I have but little new matter for the subject of this letter. Since my last I was favoured with yours without a date by the Green Island covering account sales of the sundries per ‘Orange Bay’ which I am perfectly satisfied and much obliged to you for the trouble you have taken…

            I am extreamly sorry you still complain of that same head ache in most of your letter. I am in some degree however pleased to find you entertain thoughts of spending next summer with us which will I think be the means of recovering all these complaints. For God’s sake leave no stone unturned to accomplish it. As Mr. Campbell[1] 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….

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 let matters stand as they will between J[ohn] S[tewart][2] & myself I should wish for my boy Dug[ald]’s[3] sake to have some connections with Jamaica, it may be some introduction to him if I have, which he perhaps may extend. Mr Stewart remains in Stater Quo  much afflicted with the gout so that nothing yet has been done between us.

Neil & Francis [Somerville] 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 Kerr has been on terms for a vessel to go the same voyage but has not fixed one as yet from wherein I hope you will have no ship to interfere & may therefore hold up the price. Mr & Mrs Kerr [4] & Capt. John’s son embark in the ‘Thames’ [Capt.] Laird beginning of next month. If Kerr goes into business here a partner may be wanted. I think he will not upon his return be ____. Make your own use of this hint. I have not seen Capt. John’s son a long while he seldom comes near me, his turn and mien seem very different. I wish he may turn out equal to the expectations his hon[oured] father formed of him. If you can manage matters I think the ‘Orange Bay would be a very proper conveyance for you home as you would have there all things at your own command, a very agreeable circumstance on a voyage. As I shall have bills drawn upon me from Philadelphia as soon as the cargo of the ‘Orange Bay’ is shipt I must entreat you will endeavour to remitt me something on that account as soon as it can be collected from the sale. I wrote you on this head in my last to which I refer…

You will see I have not done this business in the name of the house as it arises chiefly from my private concern in the ‘Orange Bay’. Your account which shall be sent you as usual is charged with £42.1.4 paid Frank Somerville for which according to your desire I have taken his order on you. I could have got him a berth in Grenadoes but kept him in ignorance of it as I would 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 request 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 Salt Spring 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 [5] estates which are all to be put under his management.

[Campbell returns to the subject of the health with news of John Campbell’s remaining  sisters in England. They had spent some time at the Kent seaside town of Margate. The disappointment in not receiving something from Jamaica by Captain Ratcliffe’s ship is perhaps a reference to the habit of relatives exchanging gifts in time for Christmas. Other letters refer to yams, sugar, tamarinds and cigars being received in Britain; relations with Currie cousins have clearly soured.]

            Your sisters and three of my little folks spent six weeks at Margate. Mrs Campbell and Douglass I thought received great benefit from the bathing but notwithstanding all that Mrs Campbell had the misfortune to miscarry a few days since after she was six months gone though thank god she is in a good way now & I hope will not feel any of the consequences that often attends such accidents. Poor Debbie was too tender to bathe and I am & I have been always persuading her to take more air and exercise but she is so very apt to take cold that she is almost afraid to come out of her chamber. This conduct I opose as far as I can without fretting her for her bad state of health occasions a small matter to give her uneasiness which obliges me to let her have more of her will in these respects. She has within this day or two gone out & I shall endeavour all in my power to encourage her to continue so to do for if she does not gather some show of strength & health before the cold weather comes on I own I shall be afraid of the consequences. Your sister has expected a [_____] by Ratcliffe[6] but was here fully disappointed. She has not [______] of it this year though frequently in our neighbourhood but as there is now no connection between Colin Currie & myself I suppose the girls are excluded. Of course it is no matter, they have never had more than bare civility from that quarter & though they have not themselves I have often taken notice of it.

            Since writing the above I recd yours of 25 July. I am much obliged to you for the concern you express about the short remittances. I beg you will not in any degree incomode yourself on that account it would give me great uneasiness if I thought you did. I refer to what I have said already about Mr. Tharp in answer to yours on that head. You will oblige me much by the particular sums of Richmond[7] & John Campbell’s[8] debts which I am to charge to you. I cannot make that charge till I have the amount from you. all my family join in love to you & I am