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.

and if any thing should remain, please to remitt it in your best horn handle [knives?] & Co. a 2/3. Hope you will take particular care that the invoice I now send you be not over charged & that you would ship them via the first ship bound to this place, & that you would insure whatever you send me. Capt. Shepardson is not arrived as yet (tho' long expected), via whom understand you have ship't my goods, but hope it will not be long before he is here. Am much oblidged to you for your civilities, & doubt not but there will be a considerable correspondence between us & am

Sirs {your} Very {Humble} {Servant}

Messrs. Sedgewick & Co. via Capt. Barrow Inches

Boston 16th July 1744

Sir

This acknowledges the receipt of yours of the 19th of last month & note the contents. Am sorry to hear you could not get a passage to Boston to your mind this summer as you intended. Sh[ould] have been glad to have seen you as also all your friends.

I observe you want Freight for five hundred {barrels} of tarr, & would be glad if we could procure a vessell upon charter so as to be with you about the middle of September next at w'ch time you say you shall be in such readiness, that she may be loaded immediately. Only would have the charter run for 25 days with usual demurrage which I believe shall be able to accomplish. Freight has risen considerably since the warr. Have made enquiry of severall who have charter'd vessells to No. Carolina & find that I can't obtain freight under 18/ per {barrel}. Thought proper to acquaint you of this, that if you should choose rather to have a vessell hir'd {per} the month, I might have reasonable notice. Am doubtfull whether I shall be able to get freight for just five hundred {barrels} the generality of our vessells being ab't 650 {barrels} but you may act your pleasure as to that. Only desire you would give me reasonable notice. Shall send the sloop to you from here the last of Aug't or beginning of September. Beg you would not detain the vessell beyond the time. Am inclined to think tarr will answer very well in the Fall, at present shipp'g is dull & there is not that vent

for it as formerly. As to what you write respecting a trade from here to you, have thought on it myself but am not able to judge what advantage would accrue unless I knew what invoices you would order. As to molasses & rum we are obliged to advance the cash w'ch makes it much more difficult than some other things. Would be glad you would write me particularly concerning that. As to the gentl'n you mention as concern'd with you in this affair, bear a very good character & should covet a trade with them as soon as any men whatever. Should be glad to serve you in any commands this way & am with respect

Sir y. Very Humb Ser't

Doc'r Wally Chauncy {Via} Capt. Mason Morton

P.S. Father is now gone a journey for his health & so cant write you himself, but presume I shall be able to effect your business as well as if he was here. Expect him home every minute. My mother & sister join with me in giving our service to you & wife. The children likewise desire to remember their love to you.

H. Serv't

Boston 2d Septem'r 1744

Sir

This confirms the copy of the above since which have seen one from you, but find you had not heard that there was a French warr. But hope that will make no difficulty, there being so many English privateers out at present. Cant think there is any great hazard, However I have charter'd a sloop for you for five hundred {barrels} w'ch will sail to day, for 25 working days to comence from her anchoring & entring with usual demurrage w'ch is five work days at eight pounds per diem for so many days as she shall be detain'd on demurrage. The sloop would carry six hund'd {barrels} but as the master wanted freight for one hundred & you wrote but for five hund'd I thought best to conform to orders. Must desire you not to detain her above the time but give her the utmost dispatch. Should be glad if so be we have any further transactions in a way of trade you would mutually write. I hope I shall always manage your business to content, shall endeavour to sell your tarr at the best advantage. It is at present @ 45 p per {barrel} full bound & cant but think it will be higher

but will do my best. Capt. Morton who is master of the sloop & part owner desired me to write you to give her the utmost dispatch & I would desire you do so on your own account as well as the owners. The family are all well & desire to be remember'd to you. Father has wrote you himself. Hope you will keep me constantly advised of affairs with you & am with offers of service

Sir, y Very humb. serv't] Via Cap't Morton

Boston 2d November 1744

Sir

This acknowledges the receipt of yours via Capt. Clift of the 2d September & via Capt. Mason of the 22d & note the contents. Am glad to hear that Capt. Morton arrived at the time, as also that the tarr was in such readiness for him, as that he may have such quick dispatch & be here in season & to a good market. Tarr at present is in great demand & believe will continue so for some time. It goes briskly at 45/. {per} {barrel} full bound but am in hopes shall obtain more. Shall endeavour to get the most I possibly can & remitt the effectts via the first opportunity after the sale.

...Was informed this day that Capt. Morton got in to Newport 30th {last}. In 7 days had very bad weather, otherwise would have arrived here a week ago, but expect him now every minute. Am glad to find the master is an active man which believe is not displeasing to you. Observe what you write me respecting a trade from hence to you, as also the invoice you sent me of what things would answer with you to compose a proper cargo which believe I shall comply with. I had determined before the reception of your letter, to have shipt you sundry merchandize for that purpose, which shall endeavour to do, together with your effectts, but if you should have an opportunity between this & then of shipping any tarr for this place upon freight believe it would turn to your advantage, for as I observed tarr is much demand at present & doubt not but will continue so for some time. As to other things have not had an opportunity of enquiring their particular prizes being just come of any journey, but shall {via} the first opportunity write you particularly concerning them. If you should think proper to order another vessell to be sent you should be glad to serve you. Goods of all sorts

have risen very considerably in the French warr with us as well as with you. However whatever goods I send you you may depend upon having as reasonably as any are sold. Father and mother are well and join in presenting their love to you. And wife hopes you are well with whom I also would join in proper respect to you and all friends and am with due esteem & offers of further service

Sir y Very hum. serv't

P.S. I should be glad of a line from you {via} first opport.

Docr. W. Chauncy {via} Capt. Mason

Boston 2d Novemb'r 1744

Gentl'n

This acknowledges the receipt of yours {via} Capt. Adams (via Piscatagua) as also yours {via} Capt. Jeffers & Wood. Was much surpriz'd to find {via} Capt. Adams that the bill I sent you drawn {via} James Monk on Mr. John Thomkinson was noted for nonpayment after being recommended by so many gentlemen of note among us, who have lately been considerable sufferers by him. It gave the more uneasiness inasmuch as Bodman & Shipton's bill which I had sent you was protested & you had sent me the goods notwithstanding which I esteem a great favour. Two or three days after which was agreeably disapointed of having my bill protested {via} yours which I rec'd via Capt. Jeffers which gave account of its being paid a few days after which rec'd the invoice & bill laden of the goods via Capt. Wood. An account of their being shipt you gave me together with the nonpayment of the bill. Have not as yet seen them but doubt not of their being well bought. Have seen the box edgings you shipt via Capt. Jeffers which prove to content. Am sorry to find insurance so high, but hope you will get the five guineas [per cent?] return'd as Capt. Wood came under convoy with the other ships bound for this port. Have inclosed you invoice for £50-- sterling. Have not sent you a bill with it as I expect'd. However it will not be long before I send you a bill or make you some other remittances for it, which doubt not but will be agreable to you. I don't chuse to be in debt but without I could have these things early in the spring it would not answer. Hope my not sending the cash now will not make any difference in the price of the things I wrote for, otherwise would not have them shipt, your complyance with which will add to the favour rec'd from

Gentl'n y Very Humb. Serv't

Messrs. Sedgwick & Co via Capt. Shepherdson Adams

Boston 6th Novem'r 1744

Sir

This acknowledges the receipt of yours & bill lading (of the 5th Instant {via} Capt Morton) for two hundred & eighteen {barrels} tarr & thirty one {barrels} turpentine. It is not as yet out of the vessell tho' hope it will be out to day. However have sold your tarr @ 50/. {per} {barrel} & turp. for 55/ {per} {barrel} full bound, which hope will prove to content, it being the most that has been given for tarr since the war. But the turpentine is not so brisk, but have disposed of both for you for the most I could get, & can't but think but that tarr will continue brisk for some time. & if you should have an opportunity of sending tarr on freight believe would turn to your advantage or if you should see cause to order a sloop to be chartered to you, should be glad to serve you. Shall always endeavour your advantage in whatever you may consign me & likewise remitt your effects in what you shall order with the greatest dispatch. Have rec'd your orders for paying Mr Scolly seventy five pounds (old tenor) which have offer'd him. Have likewise your invoice for the rest, which shall send you together with the acct. sales {via} the first vessell to your river. Should have remitted you {via} Capt. Mason but as he sails tomorrow & the tarr is not as yet deliver'd, have not time. But shall always endeavour not to be accused of tardiness in that respect. The price of what of your commoditys will answer at our marketts you have below. Have nothing further to add, but my offers of service to you & friend & am with utmost respect

Sir y Very humbl servt

Tarr @ 50/. Pitch 55/. Turp. 55/. Tallow 2/6 {per} {barrel} [mister?] Michael Coutanch {via} Capt. Mason Stone

Boston 6th Nov 1744

Sir

Rec'd yours {via} Capt Morton of {the} 13th Octob'r as also bill lading for fifty nine {barrels} tarr. The vessell is not as yet unloaded, tho' have disposed of the Tarr for your acctt @ 50/. {per} {barrel} full bound, which is the most that has been given since the warr or any time before. Shall observe your orders to pay the net proceeds to Messrs. Tho's Rufus & Benj'n Green & send you the sales {via} the first vessell bound to your river. Should be glad to serve you in any commands this way & am with due esteem & offers of service

Sir y Very humb Servt

{Mr} Charles Simpson {Via} Capt Mason [None?]