Article

Letter from Charles Jones & Co. to Andrew Robeson and William Frampton – September 28, 1685

black ink handwriting on paper attached to a page of a book
Andrew Robeson and William Frampton, merchants in Philadelphia, were directed to contact William Haig, the largest debtor with a balance due from the purchase of six Black people he enslaved, as well as 686 acres of land. To view the whole four-page letter, click on the document images below to see large full-size images on the letter. Scroll down to see a transcription of the whole letter.

Charles Jones Papers, 1671-1689, Item 24. Collection of the Historical Society of Pennsylvania, Am.2532.

Title: Letter from Charles Jones & Co. to Andrew Robeson and William Frampton – September 28, 1685
Date: 1685
Location: Bristol, England
Object Information: paper document
Repository: Collection of the Historical Society of Pennsylvania

Description:
On September 28, 1685, Charles Jones Jr. and several of his associates in Bristol, England penned and signed a letter to Andrew Robeson and William Frampton, merchants in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Charles Jones Jr. & Company, along with Thomas Taylor, captain of the Isabella, were attempting to collect debts on the November/December 1684 voyage of the Isabella from Bristol to West Africa, then possibly the West Indies and on to Philadelphia. Isabella is known as the first ship to bring 150 Angolans from West Africa to the shores of the city in 1684. The Africans were purchased by Philadelphia’s Quaker residents and put to work assisting in the clearing of land and building of the city. William Haig was one debtor mentioned that owed for the purchase of 6 African people.

Pages of the 1685 Letter

Click on the images below to see full-size versions. Courtesy of the Collection of the Historical Society of Pennsylvania.
black ink handwriting on paper attached to a page of a book
Page 2

Jones Jr., Wallis, Corsley, Taylor, and Guillim wrote they hoped Robeson and Frampton would close the account on the voyage of the Isabella.

black ink handwriting on paper attached to a page of a book
Page 3

The debts owed by William Haig were for the “sale of six negroes and by bonds and deer for six hundred eighty six acres of Land."

black ink handwriting on paper attached to a page of a book
Page 4

Before closing the letter, Jones mentioned he was particularly concerned about his land in the new province of Pennsylvania.


TRANSCRIPT

Bristol 28th, September 1685

Andrew Robeson
William Frampton

Loving freinds on the other side is acc[oun]tt of sundry debts left with William Frampton by Thomas Taylor m[aster] of the Isabella allsoe of 3 protested bills of Excha[nge] now returned the value of the whole arrives too 624 [pounds] 13 [shillings] 05 [pence] Pennsilvania money. Wee hope before this comes to hand Wm Frampton will have rec[eive]d all or most of the debt left under his charge. What remains after receipt of this as allsoe the protested bills returned that wee request you both use your utmost endeavor to recover for us. Inclosed wee send you an ample letter of Attorney impowering you thereto – the principal debtor wee find is Wm Haig who by his letter promised a punctual paym[en]t if comply not hope you have security enough. Wee expect hee will be serviceable to you in endeavor for recovery of the other debts[;] they were by him mostly contracted for w[hi]ch and other good considerations presume will not be remise in his assistance w[i]th required Charles Jones Jr. have particularly wrot to him on this occasion – Wee are fearfull must return you some more bills. These wee could not avoid nor offer for delay in paym[en]t w[hi]ch wee have given to several other bills prevailing w[hi]ch the portion drawn upon by these bills particularly wee have great cause to complain of the shuffling uncivil treatm[en]t of Lawrence, father of Joseph Growdon. One of us 6 mo[nths] since advised him of the bill drawn and since sent down the bill and wrot to his neighbor as well as him to try to get acceptance or a few lines from him by reason noe notary [illegible] thereabouts – At length w[i]th great difficulty wee obtained one to make affidavit of his refusal after w[hi]ch another letter was wrot him and a proffer made of 3 or 4 mo[nths] stay if he would yet accept the bill our friend who delivered the letter was answered still w[i]th a denial and promise of writing but in that to this houre hee hath failed. Inclosed [illegible] our friend’s letter a portion as allsoe his handwriting well known to Jos. Growdon. Upon the whole spare him not nor his reputation since hath soe little regard to it.
In comp[illegible] of this wee write to J[oh]n White of New York directing him in[illegible] of our offer of w[hi]ch doubt not his complyance if living but should hee not be living as Mortality attends us all in such as you being impowered our gon[illegible] attorney desire you looke after our concern there and follow the order given him. What our offer may arise too by the produce of these debts and bills protested that wee desire you invest in good tobacco and raw deare skins for tobacco got the weighted [illegible] allsoe the weight[illegible] deere skins and save my well by Water and Ashes. Let both tobacco and skins be shipt for London or Bristol to us consigned and at the cheapest freight cann be got note we desire noe farm where you are forced to take my debt not otherwise to be recovered if you cannot get tobacco and skins enough to make us full return then pray procure us as many good bills of each as will balance our acc[oun]t. We have great reason

Page 2
to injoyn your care to get good security for w[hi]ch bills you take pray gott 2 and 3 bills and by several conveyances write us and send away both bills of Exch[ange] and bills of Lading that being very satisfactory. Wee have not w[hi]ch some incouragem[en]t in this beginning of trade for Pennsilvania Hope wee shall not have further in the recovery of these debts but that you will be able to bring our voyage & account to a close. Should you in absence of the Governor fail of Justice in collecting these debts in such case wee desire you approval for England and doe hereby ingage to indemnify y[ou]r bonds by prosecuting the trife(?) here. Wee hope there will bee noe need of this trouble further offer not but our kind lovee w[hi]ch concludes this from
Yo[ur] Loving freinds
James Wallis
Charles Jones Jr.
Richard Corsley
Tho[mas] Taylor
Daniell Guillim?

[Handwritten address on center fold of Page 2]
28th 9 1685
Charles Jones & Company
Letter to
W[illia]m Frampton &
Andr[ew] Robeson
est – a full acct of y[ou]r affair
in Pennsilvania

Page 3
1685 Bristol the 28th SeptemberAccount of sundry debts outstanding left by Thomas Taylor m[aste]r of [the] Isabella & acct; the Owners of s[ai]d ship and committed to the care of William Frampton merchant in Philadelphia by him to be recovered & imposed of for [the] use & by [the] ord[e]r of s[ai]d Owners.
  1. Dew from William Haig on balance of acct: adjusted w[i]th him & for w[hi]ch security is given by sale of six Negros and by bonds and deer for six hundred eighty six acres of Land the debt dew & thus secured in } 233 [pounds] 06 [shillings] 04 [pence]…
[other account details for Hannah Lallter, Thomas Codrington, Grammoll Jenkinson, John Cann and William Ghuest, Peter Aldridge, Edmund Cantwell, Joseph Growdon on behalf of Lawrence Growdon, Robert Dove, and John Butler.]

Above is the acc[oun]t of sundry debts left w[i]th thee by Thomas Taylor & acc[oun]t of us he Owner of Isabella the amo[unt] thereof is 442 [pounds] 03 [shillings] 05 [pence] out of w[hi]ch Thomas Taylor tells us is to be deducted for providing thee [illegible] of Ed Cantwell as p[ai]d his bill to thee for the same allsoe 3[pounds] 13 [shillings] 10 [pence] dew to thyself as p[ai]d Taylor account w[i]th thee. Wee hope thou have rec[eive]d all or the Major parte of said debts if any be yet outstanding wee intreat they utmost care for recovery thereof and noe less in the recovery of the protested bills now returned together with the utmost damages the law in thou can allowe for mortality sake wee have joined Andre Robeson in communion with thee and have signed letter of Attorney to you both w[hi]ch wee inclose in our general letter to you whereto refer

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Further offers not at present but kind love soe taken leave & rest.Inclosed com thy bond w[hi]ch Dan[?] for his bills is accepted. Pray be careful to manage my particular concern about my Land & I shall be greatly obliged by it & remain
Thy assured freind
Charles Jones Jr.

Yo[ur] Loving Freinds
James Wallis
Charles Jones Jr.
Richard Corsley
Tho[mas]Taylor
Daniell Guillim(?)

Independence National Historical Park

Last updated: October 17, 2024