Name/Title
LetterEntry/Object ID
M2019.003.001Description
Letter from Nathaniel Russell to Samuel and William VernonContext
*Language in original un-cited statement below includes terminology no longer in use*
RUSSELL, NATHANIEL. Autograph Letter Signed ("Nathl Russell").
1 p, 4 to, Charleston, May 1, 1768, to Samuel and William Vernon enclosing a letter to Samuel (not present), with integral autograph address leaf, some creasing and toning.
Letter from a transplanted Yankee slave merchant in South Carolina offering assistance to the captain of a slave ship owned by the most infamous pair of New England slave traders who had established Newport, Rhode Island, as the capital of the American triangular trade.
This one page stamp-less folded letter was sent from one of the wealthiest slave merchants in South Carolina to the most infamous of the Rhode Island slave traders.
Russell worked closely with Samuel and William Vernon. The Vernon brothers were orchestrators of the colonial era "triangle trade." The Newport slave triangle involved buying slaves from Africa with rum from New England, selling the slaves in the West Indies for molasses, then delivering the molasses back to New England to be turned into rum, which then went back to Africa to buy slaves. They also were the first Newport merchants to sell slaves directly to the southern colonies.Collection
Nathaniel Russell HouseMade/Created
Date made
May 1, 1768Place
City
CharlestonState/Province
South CarolinaCountry
United States of AmericaInscription/Signature/Marks
Transcription
Messrs Sam & Wm Vernon Charleston 1st May 1768
Gentlemen,
I recd your fav of the 21st March Enclosing a letter to Capt Saml Vernon who is not yet arrived here, you may depend upon my serving him should he put in here & you may assure your selves I shall take a great deal of pleasure in assisting him in any thing in my power, shall at all times very cheerfully Execute any commands you have this way & am with Respect Gentlemen
Your most
Honorable Servant
Nathl Russell
Price list.
Nav'l Rum 11/6 to 12/Gal
W l. Do - 15/
Jam'a Do - 18/
Molassas? Sugar £8 to £10
Loaf Do -4/6
? Candles . . 12/6w
Rice --- 55/ in Great Dem'd
Pork -- £10 ?
Corn - 10/ Bushel
Indico from 7/6 to 22/6
Bee Wax - 6/3 w
Hemp -- £7 ?Lexicon
Nomenclature 4.0
Nomenclature Secondary Object Term
LetterNomenclature Primary Object Term
CorrespondenceNomenclature Sub-Class
Other DocumentsNomenclature Class
Documentary ObjectsNomenclature Category
Category 08: Communication ObjectsLocation
Location
Shelf
Archives F-1Room
Margaretta P. Childs ArchivesBuilding
Missroon HouseDate
February 7, 2023Location
Building
Nathaniel Russell HouseCategory
PermanentProvenance
Notes
Purchased from Eric C. Caren Collection through Bonham.Created By
admin@catalogit.appCreate Date
May 22, 2019Updated By
sferguson@historiccharleston.orgUpdate Date
April 5, 2023