Old Letters of the Seventeenth Century Transcribed by Kathy Merrill for the USGenWeb Archives Special Collections Project ************************************************************************ USGENWEB ARCHIVES NOTICE: These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by any other organization or persons. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material, must obtain the written consent of the contributor, or the legal representative of the submitter, and contact the listed USGenWeb archivist with proof of this consent. The submitter has given permission to the USGenWeb Archives to store the file permanently for free access. http://www.usgwarchives.net *********************************************************************** Old Letters of the Seventeenth Century; Wm. and Mary Qrtly., Vol. 8, No. 4 William and Mary College Historical Magazine, Vol. 8, No. 4. (Apr., 1900), pp. 237-245. OLD LETTERS OF THE SEVENTEENTH CENTURY. In an old record book of Charles City county are found recorded some letters of the seventeenth century which are interesting for the light they throw upon those times. There were two important causes which for many years brought emigrants to Virginia -- the tobacco trade and the civil wars in England. Merchants, as a rule, are averse to war, and many prominent merchants of London, Bristol, Plymouth and other English cities sought the El Dorado that lay beyond the seas. "I would wish I could heare in wt condicon yu live in, for I fear if these times hold long amongst us, we must be all faine to come to Virginia". So wrote William Hallam, a salter of Burnham in Essex county, England, to Daniel Llwellin, one of the justices and a captain of militia in the county of Charles City. In 1636, Robert Hallam obtained a grant of 1,000 acres in Henrico county, Va., on the James river, opposite to Page 238. Falling Creek, for importing twenty persons into the colony. In 1637 he obtained a patent for 1,000 acres - probably a confirmation of the former grant. He was dead before May 6, 1638, since at that time "Ann Hallam, widow, and the heirs of Robert Hallam", obtained a grant for 1,000 acred due them by virture of a deed of bargain and sale from "Arthur Bayley, merchant". Anne Hallam appears to have married, secondly, Daniel Llewellin. This latter in 1642 patented 856 acres near Shirley Hundred on James river, which grant in 1666 was confirmed by another patent to Daniel Llewellin, "son and heir of the afore- said Capt. Daniel Llewellin". The son, according to the records of Henrico county, was born in 1647, and calls himself in 1677 "son-in-law (step-son) of Capt. John Stith", which seems to show that Capt. Stith married Capt. Daniel Llewellin's widow, and doubtless second wife, "the sister unknown", in 1648, mentioned by William Mason, and the probable mother of Daniel Llewellin, the second. The second Daniel left no sons, but a sister appears to have married Col. Littleberry Epes*, of Charles City, since Llewellin Epes was his son. Mr. Arthur Bayley had a lot in Jamestown, besides other plantations in Virginia, and Mr. Roger Preston, who is also mentioned in these letters, was also a resident of Virginia. In 1752 Lewis Hallam, who was the principal tragedian in America before the Revolution, made his debut in the theatre in Williamsburg. WILLIAM HALLAM TO CAPT. DANIEL LLEWELLIN. Brother Llewellin, . . . to hear of . . . yt the Lord if it be his pleasure . . . I praise God I and my wife . . . . health with ye rest of or friends duely . . . are like to continue, . . . but or kingdom is in a sad condicon (war) waiging still amongst us so yt tradeing . . . and his family that hath lived well (has been) brought low to want. Concerning the tobacco ye intend to send me ye next year, I have taken order . . . Arthur Bayley to take it in and do desire to take bills of lading from him in my name. I am satisfied yt whatever yu will and bring 15 | freight and caske . . . I desire yu good brother that it may be good tobacco and that I may not fail of it this retorne of Mr. . . . . according as yu have written yu will do and I heartily thank yu for yr pains in it. I hope when it shall please ye Lord to send it to my hands I shalbe in some capacity to send yu and my sister something unto whom I desire yu that both mine and my wife's love may be remembered and to ye rest of your ________________________________________________________ *The emigrant Epes was Lieut. Col. Francis Epes, who was father of Lieut. Col. Francis Epes (1628-1678), who married Elizabeth (Littleberry?), and was father of Col. Little- berry Epes, of Charles City county. Page 238. children. I have spoken to Roger Preston about his tobo and wt he intends to do in it I know not, but howevr for my pt I accept of yor pffer and shall be ready to give yu what discharge yu shall require, if Mr. Bayly doth not. I hope yu have and will do what yu can for me in it and I desire yu to be careful of my sister Mason that she may be satisfied for her debt. I would wish I could heare in wt condicon yu live in, for I fear if these times hold long amongst us, we must all faine to come to Virginia. Thus wth my desires of all yor good healths and love to all or friends rememberd, for prsent I committ yu to God resting. Yor Lo: Brother, WILLIAM HALLAM. Superscr. To his very loveing Brother Mr. Daniell Llewellin at Shirley Hundred, I pray deliv. in Virginia. Rec. Sept. 24, 1656. WILLIAM MASON TO CAPT. LLEWELLIN. Loueing Brother, It is fallen unto me by reason I marryed wth yor sister-in-law Mrs Margaret Mason to write yu in answr of a Lre yt yu writt unto her bearing date ffebr ye + 1647, and whereas yu delvd to her exceptions, as it doth appr by yor Lre, of a Lre yt was writt unto yu by my wife's son, she gave no such ordr as to write anyting yt might justly discourage but yt I shall entreat yu to pass by as proceeding from a very young man, but these are to give yu to understand that wthin this month or 6 weekes at farthest I have recd for this 3 hds. of tobbo of Mr Llewellin is . . . what I could get of them wch was but of small value and I do understand was bad . . . that these were the first three send P agreement, one year being neglected since yu sent our the first 3 hhds, and therefore yor sister doth entreat yu and I shall also entreat yu likewise that yu will send our so much as will make up the number due by agreemt for time passed. I will assure yu that we have had sevrall great losses that have befallen us and or charge is greater by reason of ye dif- ferences that are in or kingdom, tradeing is dead yt we must of necessity labor to com- pass what is abroad . . . if possible. Mr. Bayley can certify yu wt . . . and Mr. Lewellin for yt tobb. pary yu be pleased to take yu contents thereof unto yor brotherly consideracon and let us heare from yu as soon Page 240. conveniently ye may if possible by ye first retorne. So not doubting, with my kind love and best respects unto yu and my sister unknown as also my wifes I committ yu and all yors to ye ptecon of ye Almighty, and will eur rest. Yor Loveing Brother, W. MASON. London ye 19th of 7ber 1648. I thought good to acquaint yu and my sister that my little cousin yor son-in-law is very well and prettie scholler I hope yu will have comfort of him. Supscr. To his Loveing Brother Mr. Daniell Llewellin liveing in Virginia in Shirley Hundred these prsent. Pray Mr Bayley delivr this wth yor owne hands. Rec. April 14th, 1657. Loving Brother, yor Lre P Mr Bayley I have recd dated ye 4th of Mch 1649 . . . unto me yt you will pay Mr Bayley ffreight at ye rate yu sell it in Virginia . . . 50 | of tobo and caske and yor bushell and the rest. You say you will pay in tobbo and caske according to agreement wch I freely yeild to any reasonable motion, but as for . . . I shall be a great loser considering ye great charge that will evry way arise upon ye same. I would rather that yu would Pforme ye agreemt that was made wth Mr. Bayly wch I hope yu may Pforme Brother yu write of yor hindrances that yu had, the truth is both my wife and myselffe are very sorry to hear of it but yu know that we must look for troubles in this world. Man is borne to sorrow as the sparkes fly upwards. Our Saviour saith yt in the world ye shall have troubles in another ye shall have peace. God gives us a lively faith to get with Jesus Christ in whom is peace yt passeth all understanding, though we may meet with troubles here yet to learne that lesson that ye apostles hath taught us in all condicons to be content and willingly to beare yu punishment of or iniquitys laboring to keepe faith and a good conscience in all things. Brother it is not my desirt to presse yu beyond yor ablitie wch is best knowne to yorselfe only keepe a good conscience wch I hope is yor endeavor the business yt is in difference betweene us cannot be denyed, but it is a due debt from yu to me and my wife and truly there is so many of little children yt claime also a portion in Page 241. it and I must informe you yt or trading since or troubles began in England is much decayed and since I was married to yor sister there hath been much of ye estate lost that both my- selfe and she thought would have been very good and therefore I would desire you to take this into yor consideration. For my pt I will reffer this businesse to Mr Bayly and hope yt yu p'forme yor first agreement, wch I do confirme by this my Lre, and if of necessity I must come to a new agreement I must and do by this my Lre refer the businesse to Mr Bayly and wt he and you shall agree on I will stand to and do confirme by this my Lre only I desire that conscience I mean a good conscience may have a share in this agreement that what shalbe agreed on may be with a good conscience and also p'formed and yor little son- in-law Ro: Hallam is in good health and doth remember his duty to you and my sister his mother he is pleased and set prntice to ye trade of a tailor to my son-in-law Wood that married with my wife's daughter Ann Hallam who is in a fine way of trade and liveth well and is a very honest man Make yor accot the boy is provided for and shall not want anything to ye best of my endeavor I believe other of his ffreinds believe he is a very pretty witty boy and well approved of by his Mr and also other of his freinds. I have beene somewhat tedious but I hope yu will excuse me onely wth my kinde love and my wife's remembrces unto yu and my sister and committing yu and yors and all that yu have unto ye blessing and pteccon of the Almight Will evr rest. Yor Lo: brother WILLIAM MASON. Lond: ye 21st of Aug. 1650. Superscr. To his Loveing brother, Mr. Daniell Llewellin this in Virginia I pray you. Mr. Bayle I pray deliver this Lre with yor owne hands. Rec. Aprl 14, 1657. Loving Brother and Sister Lewellin my hearty love and cordial respects presented to you and all or cousins how many I know not. I have not recd any Lre from you for a long time not t his 3 eyars I am certain, and I therefore know not whether yu are all liveing or how it hath plased ye Lord to dispose of yu. I praise ye Lord yt I am at prsent in good health wth Robert Hallam your sonne who doth remembr his duty to you love to all his Page 242. sisters and brothers if any, but it hath plased ye Lord to take away from me my wife twoe yeares since and in my formr Lre I gave yu an accot of, which I hope yu have or will receive so that I am as yet a single man and unmarried till it shall pelase the Lord to ordr it otherwise. Now brother and sister ye bearer hereof my kinsman Thomas Hallam eldest son of my late brother Thomas Hallam haveing a desire to go beyond the sea in regard of a troublesome land that we have and do live in, or trade growing very very bad and haveing great losses at sea whereby that ption whch was left him by his late father is much decayed I thought best with ye advice of his friends to comend him to you desiring of yu brother and sister that as I have beene and am careful to pvide for ours in such a way that he takes good courses may another day this . . . helpe and comfort to yu and ye rest of his friends so that . . . as much as in yu lyeth so long as he shall continue with yo be careful our him and advise him ye best way yu can whenever . . . his goods. I am ye more bold wth yu not that I doubt of yor brotherly affeccons and love to me wch I and my wife found whilst we continued in yr lande with wch I do thankfully acknowledge, to ahve a care our this young man in regard yt he is now far from his friends and perhaps the voyage may be somewhat tedious to him not being used to ye sea, therefore I pray let him not want anything that lyeth in yor power to help him and I would desire that ye portion of tobacco wch is due to me from you to pay it our to him so that he may have somewhat to send our into England this returne. I shall ex- pect and be very glad to heare from yu by ye first in ye meantinem. And my deisres to God shalbe for yr health and prservacons committing you and yors to ye ptecon of God I shall remain evr Yor affectionate Loveing Brother, WILLIAM HALLAM. Burnham in Essex, 30th of 7ber, 1655. ffor his loveing Brother Mr. Daniel Lewelling at Shirley Hundred these I pray Delvr in Virginia. Recd April 14, 1657. Loveing Brother, These are to give yu to understand that I rec'd yor Lre dated ye 11th of Aprill, 1655, wherein you do express yor desire to heare from me and yt in regard yu grow auncient that yu are willing to Page 243. satisfie yt tobacco that is due unto me I give yu thanks for the same and do not doubt but yu will pforme what yu so freely offer but I shall not send our for ye same, it so falling out yt my sonn in law Thomas Hallam is not entering upon a voyage for Virginia and I hope shall delivr this Lre himselfe into yor hands if ye Lord be pleased to send him a safe passage with it please God so to do I beseech yu and my sister to give him kind entertainment as the sonn of my pr dear bro: Mr. Tho. Hallam; truth it is he had had crosses by by sea and land and by all that means is put besides any calling here and upon sevrall debates between his uncle Wm. Hallam myselfe and my wife and himselfe all did agree the best way was that he should goe for Virginia, himselfe being fully resolved, having some good encouragement that he should come to a loveing uncle and aunt who would well advise him and assist him that so he might be settled in some way for his future good as I have said before so beseech yu again to do him all ye good yu can and myself and my wife shall evr rest obliged unto you and my sister, who I p'sume will not forgette ye courtesie of prdecessor. as for the tobbo yt is due unto me I do freely give this same to my sonne Tho. Hallam be it more or less for my pt I have so little minded the same of late that I do not know how the acco. doth stand at prsent, but shall reffer the same to yor owne conscience and upon yr accot shall wholly discharge you, delivr over ye sd tobbo to my sonne Thomas Hallam unto whom I do wholly consigne the same, but let him have that yt is good and well cured and upon the receipt of a lre from yu and my sonn that you have concluded the same, by ye next I will if God p'mitt send you a full and suffict discharge, my sonn doth come on in the ship called the Adventurr, Mr. Young being Capt. and hath pd for his passage six pounds and he hath laded on board one long deale chist with beneficiall things in ye same to pass off in virginia wch I pray good Brother let him have yor best advise in and that he may hav good goods for the same he hath also one boxe wth some other necessaries and one bed and 2 blanketts wch I hope wth himselfe will all have a safe arrivall at his intended haven; and further these are to give you to understand that if att any time yt think goode to send here our any hhds of good tobbo, I shall be very willing and industrious to putt them off for you and to returne yu goods according to yor ordr and shall as faithfully pforme evry thing for yor good and upon Page 244. as easie tearms as any you shall imploy, so comitting the contents hereof unto yor consideracon, intreating yor favr and love towards my sonn Thomas Hallam in evry pt'cular that you are able to do him good in, I take leave wth mine and my wife's kind love and best respects to you and my sister remembered and should be glad to see you both here in England in ye meantime I rest Yor Loveing brother, WILLIAM MASON. October ye 5th, 1655. Supersc. To his much respected brother Mr Daniel Lewellin. Rec. June 28, 1656 P'sent. THOMAS HALLAM'S RECEIPT. Be it known unto all men by these p'sents that I Thomas Hallam salter of London by order from Mr William Mason and his wife my mother both of London afores'd and also by virtue of a Lre of Attorney from William Hallam have remissed, released and quitt claime and always for them myself their or my heires or ass's do by these 'rsents remise release and quit claim unto Daniel Lewellin of Essex in Virginia of and from all and all manner of assons as well reale as psonall debts accompts reckonings bills bonds dues or demands as also of and from one bill of eight thousand seaven hundred fivetie pounds of tobbo and cask due to the estate of my late father Mr. Thomas Hallam dec'd and any other matter or thing whatsoever wch they the said Wm Mason and mother or the said Wm Hallam or myselfe or their or my heires exors admnrs or asss evr had now have or will shall or may hereafter have against the sd Daniel Lewellin, his heires or asss for touching any matter cause or thing wtsoever from the be- ginning of ye world to this p'sent day. In witness whereof I have hereunto sett my hand and seale this 14th day of Aprill, 1656. Recognit in Cur. June 25, 1656 P Thos. Hallam Teste Hoel Pryse, Cl. Teste James Crewes, John Artes. Rec. June 28 seq. POWER OF ATTORNEY. Know all men by these p'sents that I Wm. Hallam of Burnham in ye com of Essex Salter have constituted ordained and in my Page 245. stead and place by these psnts do depute and put my welbeloved cozen Thomas Hallam of ye same towne and com. Salter to be my true and Lawfull Attorney in this behalfe for me and in my name to ask demand and receive all and all manner of such sums and quatities of tobacco as Daniel Llewelling of Shirley Hundred or elsewhere in Virginia as is due unto the sd Wm. Hallam aforesaid. Giveing unto my sd Attorney full power and authority to execute accomplish and pforme all and singular such other lawfull acts and things as shall be expedient and necessarie in and about reconning of ye somes and quantities of tobacco in as large and ample maner as if I myself were there prsent and also upon the receipt of ye sd tobacco to give unto ye sd Danile Llewelling full discharge of all reckonings and accotts between us whatsoever in witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seale the 20th day of September in ye yeare of or Lord 1655. WILLIAM HALLAM, ye seale. Sealed and delred in ye pr'sence of Edmund Clover, ye mk of H S Hugh Sherborn. Recd April 13th 57. RECEIPT OF THOMAS HALLAM. September 23rd 1656. Recd of Daniell Llewellin ye day and yeare above written two thousand two hundred eighty and four pounds of tobacco and cask whereof four hundred and twenty pounds in upon ye accot of my uncle Wm Hallam in full of all accotts betweene him and ye sd Llewellin and thirteene hundred eighty and four pounds of tobbo upon a debt of 8750 lbs of tobbo and cakse due from ye sd Llewellin to my mother Mrs. Margarett Hallam I say recd. Rec. Apr. 13th 1657 pr. me THO. HALLAM. RECEIPT OF EDWARD DUMMINGER. 1st Febr. 1650. Recd of Daniel Llewelling upon accot of Wm Hallam of London Salter 1 hd tobbo weighting grosse 4808 I say recd P me by order of Mr. Arthur Baley. EDWARD DUMMINGER. Rec. April 13, 1657.