Transcription
CATALOG NUMBER V 1727 J - IMAGE CROOKED, some illiegible
OBJECT NAME Letter
DATE May 12, 1789
AUTHOR Pierre Van Cortlandt (I)
RECIPIENT Philip Van Cortlandt (son)
MEDIUM Paper, ink
PEOPLE John Grist, Pierre Van Cortlandt (son), Captain Platt, Stephen Van
Cortlandt, John Van Cortlandt, aunt Beekman, Abraham Pelts,
Van Dyke,
PLACES Anthony’s Nose, new York City
This historical detail of the mine does not know of the Van Cortlandt connection since 1789.
http://www.johnbetts-fineminerals.com/jhbnyc/articles/anthys3.htm
KEYWORDS possible unscrupulous Refiner?, mine at Anthony’s Nose,
Petiager, effort to “try” the sample, is it iron or silver?,
Dear Son Philip
I have had John Grist the Refiner Who has in my / presents Refined some of the Oar to my Surprise and Satisfaction / It is Exceeding Rich and Verry Valuable and great Plenty of it It has / been tried by Several who Can make Nothing of it and Say it is Iron / set that be as it will I am Convinced. I have wrote for Pierre for / his advice and afsifstance, Cap:’tn Platt was here and has seen the / silver that I had had Refined should you see him speak to him the Refiner is Suspected of putting silver in xxx the Oar.
I have here with sent you a piece of the Oar speak / to Stephen and John Cortlandt as they are proprietors of all the / mines in aunt Beekman’s Right and try and git them to Let you / have their part with [given] them 1/6th of the profits [^ of one half] Clear of Charge / that is one twelfth of the Whole [page folded, do it?] at all [counts?] or If they will / Join in working the mine In partner ship so that also. However / you Can use your prudence in acting, You know how fare / I have Consented that Pelts and Van dyke and their afsociates / have my permifsion to work and open mines on my Right on / the nose lot, that perhaps may operate against me therefore / wee must Join with owr Couz’n: Cortlandt apprise them so far / or ot as not at any Rate to Consent that Any person whatever / shall have their permission to work in any mine that they have / a Claim on, I must In some measure fulfill my promise for the / Discovery of the mine but Can do no more than my part of the [image crooked, illegiblei] / which is only ¼ thereof. The Oar I am told is stolen away by night / I shall want to Petiager to attend me at the mine for first [image crooked, illegible] / our Couz’ns: part Can be secured so that no stranger git their Right /
[END OF PAGE 1]
You must be Verry Causious how you act but above all / that they do not put it their [^ part] out of the family without previous / Consulting me I have sent a Sample Couz’n: Stephen and John / with yourself Can have it tryed in New York if they please / The persons who have difcovered the mine are to have / a share, which I am In duty bound to perform if no other= / =wise than it must Come out of my part which would / be most unjust and unreasonable. I hope there may be / no dispute about it and they the family may be pro= /=fitted by it the sooner you Can Come up the better / as it now Is spread abroad that the mine, In some / peoples opinion Is as Rich as pofsible am with / Respect your Loving father,
Pierre Van Cortlandt
PS
I shall want
40 boards for the
Above use to
Cover a house
At the mine
As a Guard house
May 12 - 1789
I Expect there will be / Immediately Repeated / applycations to [Mafs’r:] Cortlant / as soon as it is Known that / I Cannot give a Lease for / the Whole
[END OF PAGE 2]Transcriber
Kathryn AlexanderLanguage
English
