Beaufort County, NC - Letters - James R. Latham to C.W. Lippitt, 1847 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Washington, NC March 1st 1847 Mr. C.W. Lippitt Sir I received your letter of Feby 12 1847. Would have answered it sooner but was out of town. Sometime since I owed one Rob't C. Watson (a newly imported yankee) in these districts some several hundred Dollars - one Potts about two hundred dollars and one little fellow Howard by name, the like sum; This man Watson agreed to trust me for the goods Six months but took the Notes payable one day after date and passed them off. I went to Watson paid him some money before the Notes were due, the Scamp had passed them off unknowingly to me, but told me his wife had them. I paid him and took his receips. The first thing I know the d--d Sheriff Served a writ on me, I was compelled to make an assignment like my illustrious predessors Cleveland & Mason, to Potts & Howard who by the way are right clever fellows. I have been doing just nothing at all for the last twelve months (except kidding the old woman) but have waited for the assigment to be closed which was done last Friday. I didn't have enought to pay Potts & Howard however they agreed to wait until I should be able and you must do the same. Tell Cleveland & Mason they were d--n fools for trusting Watson and I say Watson was a d--n fool for trusting me. Watson's credit and mine are about ditto, that is, it is pull Dick and pull Devil, treat me two which is the best, but I rather think mine is the best. I will pay you in eighteen months and not before. If I don't pay you by that time I wish I may be kicked to death by Grasshoppers. I haven't got anything except my old woman and one heifer about a year old, but I will see you d--d before you shall have either of them. After the expiration of 18 months if you will send your Note to J. Potts I will then pay the principal but not the interest. You have charged me 7 pr ct of this State. The Note was due to d--d Yankee, who lived in the State but not to a pair of them out of the State. In conclusion I would remark that if would be better for you to say no more about what I owe you, and if you get the money before I do let me know. Signed Your Servant James R. Latham copied by M.R.B. __________________________________________________________________ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm This file was contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by Guy Potts ___________________________________________________________________