Townsend, William Blair, 1723-1778. William Blair Townsend letter and receipt books, 1743-1805, bulk 1744-1777. Mss:766 1743-1805 T752, Volume 1, Baker Library Historical Collections, Harvard Business School.

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Biographical Note

William Blair Townsend was born July 6, 1723, son of James Townsend and Elizabeth (Phillips) Townsend. He died June 16, 1778, in Weston, Massachusetts. He graduated from Harvard College, class of 1741. He started business in Boston with Edward Wigglesworth as an importer of English and West Indies goods; by 1758 their partnership had dissolved but Townsend continued in business on his own account until his death.

Scope and Contents

Volume one is a letter book containing Townsend's business correspondence from November 23, 1743 to December 12, 1774. Most of the letters were written to American (many in North Carolina) and British (predominately in London) merchants. His earliest letters document his efforts to establish himself as a trader. Over time his letters turn to illustrate the common problems faced by many merchants: damaged goods, overpriced goods, embargos, and high freight costs. Particularly enlightening are his comments on the challenges of doing business throughout the French and Indian War and the years leading up to the American Revolution. He most frequently corresponded with London merchants Champion & Hayley, Lane & Booth, Lane Son & Fraser, Harrison & Ansley, and Leeds merchant Samuel Elam. In addition he frequently corresponded with Eliakim Palmer, colonial agent and merchant in London, as well as Dr. Walley Chauncy of North Carolina. He dealt in a wide variety of goods including molasses, rum, tar, medicines, pitch, saddles, tallow, hides, skins, pickled beef and pork, and wine. The letters also document Townsend's involvement in the slave trade through his occasional purchases of slaves.

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William Blair Townsend Domine 1744

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Boston 22d Novo 1743

Sirs

You have herein inclosed you a small Bill of Exchange drawn {per} {Messers} Bodman & Shipton Merchs in Boston on NV. Nath'l Fletcher Merch't in London for £30 sterling & doubt not but will be duely honoured, w'ch would desire you to lay out according to invoice, to my best advantage. You may at first sight be somewhat surprised at receiving a letter from one, who is intirely a stranger to you (but my Rev'd Father Doc'r Chas. Chauncy recommended me to you, not doubting but I should be as well used by you as any Merch't in London. I have sent severall bills before but finding I was not so well used as I expected, I take the freedom to direct this to you upon my Father's recommendation by doubt not of being well used. I am just now a coming into business & may have occasion to write you for considerable in a year. I have wrote in the inclosed invoice for a black silk hood for my mother, who begs the favour of Mrs. Bernard to choose it for her. Must desire the favour of you not to fail sending them in the first spring vessell bound to this port having great dependance on them. Must also desire you to get them insured, & if there should any money be left over plus, would desire you to lay it out, in your maple case [kns & Co a1/6 ?]. Shall expect the favour of a line from you & am, w'th due respect

Gentl'n {your} Very{ humble} {Servant}

Messrs. Sedgewick Kilby & Bernard {per} Capt. Rinselagg Craige

Boston 2d. May 1744

Gentl'n

I rec'd yours via Cap't Adams & am very sorry to hear that the Bill of Exchange I sent you drawn to Messrs. Bodman & Shipton has not met with that acceptance I expected.

However am much obliged to you, that you have so consider'd the disappointment I have met with, as to ship the goods notwithstanding. In return of your favours I now inclose you another (& hope more Honourable) Bill drawn of Mr. James Monk merch't in Boston on John Thomlinson Esq. Merch't in London for £50 sterling, which am well assured will be duely honour'd, from which please to pay yourselves in the first place, & then ship me £20 sterling according to invoice inclosed you.

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