James Claypoole's 1682 Letter on Pennsylvania Land Acquisition & Enslaved Laborers

Three years prior to the arrival of the first known 150 Africans on the Isabella to be enslaved in the city of Philadelphia, James Claypoole wrote to his brother Edward, in Barbados, to request his advice on sending two enslaved people to labor on his newly acquired land in Philadelphia. To view the three-page letter, click on the document images below to see large full-size images on the letter re-written in Claypoole’s letter book. Scroll down to see a transcription of the whole letter.

James Claypoole Letter Book, 1681-1683, pp. 193-195. Collection of the Historical Society of Pennsylvania, Am.045.

Title: James Claypoole's 1682 Letter on Pennsylvania Land Acquisition & Enslaved Labor
Date: 1682
Location: Gravesend in London, England
Object Information: Letter book, paper document
Repository: Collection of the Historical Society of Pennsylvania

Description:
In the second month of the Quaker calendar, April 20, 1682, James Claypoole, a merchant from London, wrote to his brother, Edward Claypoole in Barbados to inform him of his land purchase from William Penn’s new land acquisition in Lënapehòkink (Pennsylvania) and requested his advice on acquiring enslaved labor. James, as a friend of William Penn and supporter of his plan of Pennsylvania, wanted to prepare the land and build a house since he intended to move his family from England to settle in Philadelphia in the next year. He requested advice from his brother Edward, the owner of a large sugar “plantation” on the island of Barbados, to send two enslaved people “that might be fit for cutting down trees, building, plowing, and any sort of labour that is required in the 1^st planting of a country.” This was the first of several letters in which James requested Edward to send enslaved labor from the island of Barbodos, as it appears Edward was slow to respond or send James’ requested laborers. These letters were written before the arrival of the first known group of Angolans kidnapped and trafficked on the ship Isabella in 1685 to Philadelphia to be sold and enslaved by Quaker settlers in the new city of Philadelphia.

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Pages of the 1682 Letter

Click on the images below to see full-size versions. Courtesy of the Collection of the Historical Society of Pennsylvania.

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TRANSCRIPT
[Page 1]
London, the 20^th, 2^nd mo., 1682

Dear Brother
Edward Claypoole

My last to thee was the 16^th, 10^th month. Since then have thine of the 23^rd ditto, with the 14^th, 12^th month, and 4^th, 1st month, wherein thou mentions nothing of Lewger. But I hope thou does not forget that business, for it is a matter of great Consequence to me. I take notice Charles Sawyer will pay thee, which is well.I forgot that case with the 2 pair of spectacles but intend to send them if I can now, we rec[eive]d the shote last week, and it is to be killed this day. It is a brave hog but far bigger than I expected, and we do kindly receive thy love. I paid thy bill for 230 pounds to Wallis long hence, as this inclosed acct by balance whereof is due to thee…(bill details).

[Page 2 (beginning on 3^rd line)]
Since the above written, I have been at Gravesend with my Son Jno (John), who is gone in the Amity, Richard Dymond, mr (master [/captain]) for Pennsilvania, to be Assisting to the General Surveyor, whose name is Tho[mas] Holme, a very honest, ingenious, worthy man, have fitted Jno out with all things necessary, and his employment is very creditable and if he be diligent and sober may come in a few years’ time to be profitable, however, it will be a pres[en]t maintenance and keep him from ill Company.[I] have bought 5000 Acres of land of Wm Pen and we are endeavoring to settle a society for trade, according to this inclosed book of Articles. There has been subscriptions already for near 10,000 pounds but we laid that aside, not having agreed on all particulars and now the next week we shall begin to subscribe according to this book. Divers persons have desired that if the stock be considerable, so as that we shall proceed, that I might be one of the Principal Officers, as Deputy, for there are 2 Chosen for President & Treasurer, which am inclined to accept of if they choose me…[paragraph reassuring this brother he will continue to take care of his account until he decides to leave and will continue to write him monthly to let him know his thoughts on leaving].I send thee inclosed 2 pair of Spectacles in a case, cost 5 s[hillings]. Advise in thy next what I might have 2 Negroes for, that might be fit for cutting down trees, building, plowing, and any sort of labour that is required in the 1^st planting of a country. I hope to carry 10 or 12 servants from hence, many people that love us well are inclined to goe when we go. Wm Pen himself & family goes this summer, & p[ro]bably ab[ou]t 1,000 people & he is so much my friend that I can have anything in reason I desire of him, so that I have as much encouragement as any man whatever but I look not at all that but at the hand of the Lord, who I believe

[Page 3]
will bless us this way.I had a letter from Brother Norton this week dated the 16^th, 10^th month, from new Deal in Delaware Bay, where he is settled in a Plantation, he writes of his wife & child was come & he was going to fetch them home. Brother Wingfield is like to goe with us to Pennsilvania & has promised to subscribe 50 [pounds] in the Company’s stock, & I hear my Brother John is much inclined to it.Pray, Brother, in thy next, give me what advice thou canst about carrying things necessary for our first settling and planting, and consider if they may not probably be a trade between Berbados and Pennsilvania. We hope to have Corn and wine and Cattle, if the Lord blesses us, in a few years. So with mine and my wife’s dear love to thyself and my sister and Children, I rest, thy loving Brother…(information about items he has sold and him not hearing from Joseph Grove, who he fears is dead).