Notes:

Virginia, Prominent Families, Vol. 1-4 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2001. Original data: Louise Pecquet du Bellet. Some Prominent Virginia Families. Lynchburgh, VA, USA: J.P. Bell Company, 1907.

Chapter XXIII the Fisher History The following extracts are taken from an old ancestor's journal, commencing with a voyage from London, May, 1750, for Yorktown in Virginia, and ending in August, 1755, on his return from Philadelphia on horseback for Williamsburg, Virginia: Should this chance to come to your hands, it will, I presume, afford neither you nor good Mrs. Mosley any extraordinary satisfaction. I long ballanced with myself whether I should ever write a journal at all. It not being in my power if I wrote truely, to entertain you with any other than doleful instances of Anxiety, Disappointments, Misery, and Repentance. But being no stranger to your Equinim and good sense, inflicting at the same time; That the consideration of the short duration of the accutist misions in this Life, must be some consolation to reasonable People, I determined on presenting you with a sketch of some of our sufferings. Not that I have any great claim or Title to compassion: or reason to expect uneasy sensations in any of my English Friends for any injury I have endured; for I obstinately persisted in acting against all their sentiments and kind expostulations, and whatever Ills have happened are mainly the result of my own Vain conduct; and as to myself especcially, I must entirely acquiess that Providence is Just. As I have the utmost reason to believe-may shed a tender Tear for my poor Wife and Family (who though involved in my Calamities, are innocent of the occasion) I ought perhaps to desist; for what right have I to create concern or uneasiness in him, or indeed, in the Beast [Breast] of any Friend: Yet fortified in my idea of her and your generous and extensive consideration, I will proceed in Confidence, that she as well as you can pardon Errors, you are incapable of committing. I shall I believe trouble you with much scribbling, and without method, yet upon the whole I hope to express myself so, as to make our melancholy adventure Intelligible; endeavouring to maintain a sincere attachment to Truth by expressing upon all occasions by own wrong headedness with the same vivacity and freedom as I shall remark or point out the mistakes or meannesses of those People. When Persons in very needy or depressed circumstances are guilty of falsehood, Fraud, Injustice, or other meanesses, One may in some measure, account for, and in part excuse them; But when People of Affluence or large Fortunes, (superior one would think to all temptation), stoops to base and unworthy actions, the most generous and candid minds can hardly forbear writing their inward disdain in severe censures. If I have not heretofore fully informed you of the Chief motives of this my undertaking you will now I trust indulge my writing it. Being by the secret contrivance of two pretended "though false friends stript of my employ, It conduced greatly to augment my opinion of the World's Treachery, and as I had been brought up to no particular trade or occupation, I considered the savings of our united Industry and Frugality, for more than Twenty years, might be soon wasted in a Land abounding in luxurious Temptations. I moreover reflected that Trade in general was less intricate (not requiring so much Art or Skill) in Virginia than in England; commodities being usually rated according to the Invoices at so much per cent. Besides, as I fancy you will recollect, contrary to your and the opinion of all my Friends, I possessed with the fond Idea That People here were more Innocent, Just, and Good, than on your side of the water: Unhappily the most vehemently infected with those strange Notions, I incessantly teazed my poor reluctant wife to comply with my desires: and after several years struggling and controverting about this unhappy affair, I at length succeeded; what I believe did not a little contribute to vanquish my wife's prejudices (as I called them) was my assurance that her children would be removed from the infinite temptations, false Pleasures, Snares and Delusions, which every where abounded in Brittain, to a Land of Sober temporate regular Enjoyments, where Industry, Probity, and the Moral Virtues were only encouraged, cherished or regarded. Alas! what shame and confusion must arise, in being compelled to own the falacy and absurdity of all these charming Dreams. But however what determined the dispute in my favour, was an old acquaintance of mine, who had just married much as he thought beneath himself, joining with me in support of my argument. His pride could not bear the thoughts of the world reproaching him with this marriage, concluding he could no way so well conceal his indiscretion as by going with me to America, on which he was so very intent;-That being down at Gloucester some time before our setting out, and hearing that I was about to depart without him, he wrote me a most beseeching letter that I would wait the conclusion of his affairs. This ardour in Him for the Voyage, with the consideration of having a Female companion on Board, quite subdued my wife's Seruples, inducing her also to submit to the Voyage. Believing now I had no more to do than to obtain some worthy recommendation, I applyed myself to Mr. Dowdswell and you. Mr. Dowdswell gained me several Interviews with Mr. Alderman Bethel, and I had all the reason in the world to conclude they were both sincere in their intentions of serving me. Mr. Bethel at my first seeing him informed me he had already mentioned my Case to one Mr. Hanbury, an Eminent Virginia Merchant of his acquaintance who was he said to do me all the service in His power, and desired I would call upon him; but as to either of the Mr. Nelsons whom I, so anxiously desired to be recommended to, He (Mr. Hanbury) had no kind of dealings with them: however, I was told his acquaintance in the Country was otherwise very large and extensive, and with People of the First Rank and Fashion there. But so unfortunately infatuated was I, That I excused myself from waiting on Mr. Hanbury, acquainting Mr. Bethel that no other recommendation would content me, than the two Mr. Nelsons. My reason for this unhappy prejudice was, That I had in early Days lived in York, and had been acquainted with Old Mr. Nelson the Father of these Gentlemen. Mr. Bethel to do all that I could reasonably expect from him assured me he would endeavor to gratify my desire in finding out a Person who had some influence or acquaintance with the Mr. Nelsons, and accordingly in a few days he let me know he had met with such an One. He gave me also to understand, that my confining him thus to particular Persons had obliged him to make use of One with whom he was not at all acquainted, Yet he did not doubt of his procuring for me with those Gentlemen, Favour, continance and Practition, which was all I craved, and indeed all I was ambitious of. The Person's name who thus undertook to recommend me was Hunt, a Virginia merchant also, tho' not so considerable as Mr. Hanbury. My Friend (Mr. Kiddle) procured me another kind Letter from Mr. Sydenham, another merchant, to his Father in law in Virginia (Mr. Jordan) which Letter given to me unsealed would I believe have been very serviceable to me, had I not on our arrival in Virginia taken it out to seal and laid it upon a shelf in the State Room where mice got at it and unhappily utterly defaced it. The latter end of March, hearing that the Ship Berry, Capn. Belcher Master, was fitting out for Virginia, I went and viewed its conveniences, and then apply'd to the Captain for a Passage for my Family, and altho' besides paying for our Passage I offered him Twenty Guineas for the sole use of The Cabin, he hesitated about the matter pretending he had not conveniences for a Family, and that his Cabin was partly engaged. My Friend Mr. Sydenham observing the oddity of the Captain's behaviour, advised me to go directly to Alderman Whittaker who he said had chartered the Ship. I did so; and Whittaker at once assured me, the Cabin was wholly unengaged and that if he liked my proposal, he would treat with me for it. But when I intimated my inclination to agree with him for our passage only, and that tho' I would gladly engage the Cabin of him, Yet I should like to treat with the Captain about the Price, as I was desirous of pleasing a man I should be so long with, imagining it also to be a perquisite of his own. Herein the Alderman assured me I was mistaken, That the Captain was a mere Cypher, and could engage for nothing without his orders, and he himself was the only Person I could talk with to any purpose: where upon I made him the same offer for the Cabin I had done to the Captain,-viz-Twenty Guineas. He paused a little and then told me my offer was not amiss, and if I would call the next Day he would give me a positive answer. When I came at the time appointed, he assured me the affair was concluded: That I should have the Cabin entire and as I paid so well for it, he would take care my family should have the best of Treatment on Board. In paying Mr. Whitaker for our Passage (April 12th:) I freely opened to him that a week's time beyond the 27th: (the utmost time he had prescribed for the ship's sailing) would be very valuable to me, as it would afford me an opportunity of selling off my goods etc. to greater advantage. But I soon perceived distress was a wrong argument to use with him, for he immediately called his Clerk to witness, that if I was not on Board by the time he had set, the money I had paid should be forfeited: May - he said I ought to pay the expense of the ship from the 23rd, for if I was on board that Day, the Ship would infallibly said the Day after. This could admit of no reply; I concluded myself highly favoured, not supposing it possible that a Gentleman of so oppulent a Fortune and an Alderman of London could be guilty of a calm and deliberate untruth. Therefore I did not fail bringing my Family and Goods on Board on the morning of the 27th. But what was my disappointment and Vexation when on entering the Ship we found not the least preparation of a Vessel for the sea. Every kind of thing in litter and disorder. The Cabin in the utmost filth and nastiness. No cradels or Hammocks for our Beds, or other conveniency for Lying down to Rest: My poor wife in the utmost agony, bitterly exclaiming that here was a true specimen of the misery she must expect to endure in this wretched undertaking. When I mentioned to the Mate the assurance Alderman Whitaker had given of the Ship's sailing, the day after I came on board, he with a peculiar sneer only said when you have known the Alderman longer, you will know him better. He is now seeking after Freight, and you will be well off if you sail this month. I had disposed of my House, and had now no other remedy but Patience. One day upon chance talking with our Captain a Person came up to Him with these words: Pray Captain Belcher, do you know any thing of the character of One Fisher, who goes Passenger with you to Virginia! Belcher knew I heard the question-replyed-this is the man. This person proved to be Mr. Hunt, whom as yet I had never seen; but He and I seemed confounded, at I presume the absurdity of his behaviour, in applying to such a Fellow as Belcher, an utter stranger to me for a character, after having received one from such a man as Mr. Bethel. However, recovering himself, he accosted me civilly enough, but could find nothing more to say, than that his name was Hunt and the Person, who at Mr. Bethel's request had favored me with two Recommendatory letters to the Mess. Nelsons, nor had I any other reply for him than that I was his most humble Servant, and had both his Letters in my Pocket. After standing some time silent, we separated with, "Your humble servant," and "Your humble servant," as silly as our meeting. This incident, foolish as it is, a little mortified me, and if I do not mistake, I mentioned the same to you, when I took my leave, but never uttered the least syllable to Mr. Bethel; it being I thought too late: besides-I fancied it carried the appearance of meaness to betray any jealousy or suspicion. The letter you offered in my favor from Mr. Waller, and another in effect from Mr. John Walthoe, tho' subscribed by his nephews to their Brother Mr. Nath. Walthoe Clerk of the Council for this Colony, you will perceive the importance of hereafter. It was the 15th of May 1750 in the afternoon, before we as the sailors term it broke ground, hove out, and with the Tide drove down the Blackwall where we came to an Anchor, and loitered away the next day. On the 17th, we moved again, but did not reach Gravesend till the Day after, when we came again to Anchor about nine in the morning. About Ten, the Captain and one Pincell a young Student in Physic of Ireland tho' he had been in France came on Board. On Saturday May 19th, about Eleven o'clock in the morning, just as we were getting under said a Gentleman came on Board and rushing a little hasty into the Cabin demanded to speak with one Mr. Sweeney, who he said was a Passenger in this Ship. We assured him, as we could very truly, that we had never seen or heard of any such Person and that, we were pretty certain no such was then in our Ship. The Gentleman not believing us affirmed he was sure Mr. Sweeney had taken his passage in that Vessel, and that the Canary Birds in the Cabin, pointing to some Cages of them which hung up there, did belong to the said Mr. Sweeney. This the Captain, who was also questioned, steadfastly denyed; adding moreover that Mr. Sweeney was no passenger of his; was not on board his ship, nor did he know of any intention he had of going with Him. All this, in the Captain especially, was I doubt a mistake; For after we had got under Sail, and the Gentleman, reluctantly, had quitted the Ship [Here, unfortunately, a part of two leaves of the old Journal have been torn from the book-and the next leaf commences with]
68 Pounds, which he told us from the Captain was all our allowance of that kind for the voyage husband it how we would. As we were nine Persons, this was not quite Eight pounds each. We had seen yet no Flesh save Beef, which neither I nor any of my Family could taste; worse can hardly be conceived. One of the men said, to his knowledge, Whitaker had victualled the Ship with damaged Provisions from a Man-of-War, which had been in the West Indies a long time. This account was generally credited by the whole Ship's company, and when the men came to be served with Pork, that also appeared so bad that the crew to a man unanimously refused taking any other Provisions besides Bread and Flour and that too, bad enough. It was moreover observed by them, that the Pieces of Flesh for four men weighed no more than 2 1/4 pounds, which as they said ought to have weighed 4 pounds, that had not the men proved uncommonly sober and orderly: (a strange wrong headed fellow of a mate ready at hand) a meeting must have ensued. However, the Captain affecting to concur in their Invectives against Whitaker, and the mate (honest Stephen) swearing horridly that on his return to England he would go immediately upon the Exchange with one of the Pieces of Meat in his hand, beat the same about Whitaker's Ears with these words-Here you R-ge, this is the Provision and allowance you laid in for your honest Seamen for a day.
The men made a Virtue of necessity, and shifted the best they could. We for our Parts never eat any of their meat in all the Voyage, unless my son did sometimes put in with Mr. Saunder and his wife, who having been accustomed to gross feeding could not so easily govern their appetites. But myself and the most of my family subsisted almost entirely on Coffee, Tea and Chocolate, wherewith we were well provided; and now and then a starved Fowl boiled to pieces in a Sauce Pan. The latter part of our Voyage, My Wife and Children being almost at Death's door, were prevailed on by my Son to taste their nasty Pease Soup, which with a deal of dryed mint rubbed in, that we also happened to be stocked with, they were soon reconciled to, and it is to their sipping a little of this greasy stuff hot, every other day, that I sincerely attribute the preservation of their Lives. As the Captain found he could distress us in nothing so much as water, he would not suffer a cask, as is usual it seems, in other ships not distressed, to be brought upon Deck imagining we could none of us go down into the hold and fetch it; and the Cabin Boy said he had strict orders to do nothing for us; but necessity pressing, my Son soon found the way, which the Captain no sooner perceived than he put himself in a great Passion, swearing he would Clap a Lock up on the Pump; the mate Stephen also never failed to insult him whenever he catched him with a Tea Kettle of Water, having no other convenient utensil to fetch it in. However, so long as our strong beer, wine and brandy lasted we did pretty well, for a bottle of beer, a glass or two of wine, or a Dram, would commonly engage the Carpenter, or one or other of the Sailors, by stealth to slip a Tea Kettle full now and then into the Cabin. At length our Liquor save a Bottle or two of Brandy being all gone, my son continually abused and insulted, I determined on throwing off taminess. Accordingly about a week before we reached the Land, I came upon Deck and in the Presence of all the Gentlemen and many of the ship's crew demanded an allowance of water: six quarts or rather than fail, Pints a day; that is a Pint for each Person I informed him should make us easy. The Captain tho' in awe of none save Mr. Randolph, was a good deal confounded at this public and unexpected attack; hardly knew what to say, but at length answered-He could not justify putting one part of the Ship's Company to an allowance, unless all; he said too he did not deny me water, but I offering to prove the contrary by many witnesses, he did not choose to put me to the trouble, but calling the Boy, ordered him in future to supply us with water whenever we required, and we did not want afterwards. But I must now return back to:
Tuesday May 29th. Mr. Sweeney's illness favoured the Small Pox in my and my Wife's opinion. A kindly sort; and altho' in the eruptions they appeared very thick, yet in general they were distinct, the Fever arising and the Postules filling very orderly, from whence we presumd to pronounce, there was no apparent danger. However-the Doctor and every other person who pretended to the least skill affirmed the Pock to be of a very bad sort, the confluent kind, and that the Gentleman was in a very dangerous Condition, and proposed bleeding and blistering as the only means of saving his Life. As the Doctor was regularly bid, I no further presumed to interfere, than by professing my ignorance in not perceiving more than ordinary danger; My wife too had happily conducted her four children (without any Doctor) thro' the same disorder, and was no more apprehensive than myself. Yet bleeding and blistering was attempted but thro' the unrulyness of the Patient, or the badness of the Flies which even supplied by the mate, the operation in either case was not very successful. Whether it is that People in general are pleased with what flatters their wishes; or that Mr. Sweeney might imagine his putting himself under the Doctor's care would considerably affect his purse; or whatever other motive he might have, I cannot say; but he (most unfortunately for us) earnestly requested that I and my Family would take him entirely under our care. Mr. Sweeney was a young married man. His wife whom he left at Hampton in Virginia about seven or eight months past was said to be there sick, and now supposed to be impatiently expecting his return. These moving considerations induced my family cheerfully to comply with his request, doing that which they never did for any other Person, myself and children only excepted; and that he might be the better accommodated and attended, we proposed removing him into the Cabin to us; but to this Mr. Saunder objected, his child never having had the distemper. Nevertheless, notwithstanding the difficulty and their own indisposition, this did not hinder my wife and Daughter from visiting and attending him daily, so long as there was the least appearance of danger. My son also at Mr. Sweeney's earnest importunity, tho' a thing very disagreeable to me, constantly sat up with him every other night. And as we were luckily stored with Sago, Pearl Barley, Wine, Saflron, all kinds of Spices, Hartshorn, etc., with every kind of Drug or Herbs as could be wanted in his disorder, we broke open our Boxes containing the several requisites, and became both his cooks and nurses.
The weather was fine, moderately warm-we treated him with a cool regime, not too low. No salt meat, but now and then a chicken boiled to broth or soup. His water gruel, sago, or barley water, was generally encouraged with a glass of Wine and a little Saffron; he happening to say Rhinish was his most favorite wine; and there being none on board save what I had, and which was exceeding good, we sometimes refreshed him with a glass of that and a little sugar. And so by such sort of treatment as we gave him, notwithstanding the discouragement of his Companions, and his own too nervous and dreadful apprehension of his being always dying, and that he should never live to see his dear wife any more; he got thro' the distemper without so much as one unfavorable symptom. But to my Journal.
Saturday, June 2nd. The Blister Plaster was put on Mr. Sweeney by the Doctor, but tore off again by the Patient before it had taken any effect, greatly to the displeasure of the Doctor and Mr. Swaddle, who thereupon abandoned him to our treatment.
We caught two Bonettas (Fish) to Day, on which we all (Mr. Sweeney excepted) agreeably dined the next day, vizt.
Sunday June 3rd, upon the quarter Deck under the awning, we had also a quarter of fresh roast Pork. We all esteemed Bonetta a good fish, as its name indeed seems to imply, and thus we spent Whitsunday.
Monday the 4th. Weather still fine, we took six Turtles or Tortioses. Whether the fault may be in the cooking (an office which the mate undertook) I cannot tell, but nobody liked the fashionable viand, it being strong and Oily, tho' these were of the Hacoks bill and Loggerhead, and it seems it is the Green Turtle only which forms the modern Elegant Entertainment, not but I have heard it insisted on a good Cook will make a good dish of either of the other, and at sea especially.
Tuesday, June 5th. At Two this afternoon we saw the Island of St. Morris (one of the Azores) braving W. by S., distant about 8 Leagues. As we did not keep to the Northward at the Azores or Western Islands, the Carpenter and Boatswain affirmed we ought to have run to the Southward for a trade wind.
The Winds in these Latitudes, Vizt, from 30° to near 40° between those Islands and the Coast of America, are generally westerly and subject to storms and calms, hinting often their suspicion of the Captain's design of prolonging the Voyage upon account of the ship being chartered. But no man seen could be so wicked. Yet certain they said it was, that Whitaker had chartered the Ship at so much a month of Belcher Bro: in law and the mate's own brother, Swaddle.
From the 10th to the 15th. Little winds, contrary or calm, and from thence to the end of the month. Contrary winds blowing hard with a great Western sea, Shipping much water, the men often pumping.
Saturday June 30-was 39°, 29", Long. 41, 15. I had been ill a few days, afflicted as was supposed at our frequent visits to Mr. Sweeney. On hearing that I was not well, the Dr. asked Mr. Saunder (it seems in scorn) why I being a Quack did I not cure myself; this spoke upon the Quarter Deck, being heard by my Daughter who was sitting by my bed side near the Cabin door. She acquainted her Mother, and that Mr. Saunder far from resenting the Doctor's indecent behaviour seemed to concur in the Fun of the Company. My wife in a day or two after instanced this to Mr. Saunder as a piece of unkindness, or breach of Friendship in him; upon which hot words arose. I however entirely concurred with Mr. Saunder that he was under no obligation to enter into any dispute with Dr. Purcell upon the subject, or to disclose to us the subject of their conversation, till Mr. Saunder on being accused of joining in the ridicule began to use very foul expressions; as it is a "Lie Madam," and let me tell you once more it is a "Lye."
This behaviour quite silenced me, and I said, not one word more on either side. A great reservedness ensued, in so much that we ceased to eat or drink together. Yet still this was private and among ourselves, till Sunday July the 8th, when one of the men who used to procure us water informed us that he overheard Mr. Saunders relating the cause of our difference to the Doctor and the rest of the Company in the Steerage, adding more over his Mr. Saunder's opinion that our intelligence could come from no other Person than my son, for which reason he advised them to forbid his approach to the Steerage. The Captain and honest Stephen it seems readily closed in this advice, but the Gentlemen would not agree to it. Not only the unjust charge upon my Boy, but the malicious manner of betraying our hitherto private conversation, exasperated me to that degree that I could not forbear going immediately upon the Deck, and in the presence of all the Gentlemen and sailors too reproach him with the unworthiness of his behaviour; the consequence of which was an irreconcilable difference.
Doctor Purcell on this discovery came up to me, made a very civil and handsome apology for the words he had used, which I readily accepted, so he and I became and continued quite Friends. A melancholy accident happened on Board Sunday July the 1st, about Six in the Evening, wind at S. by E. a brisk Gale. Two men being sent up to hand the Fore Top Gallant Sail, the mast being rotten broke, and the two men who were aloft fell with it. One of them, Abram Bosdet, into the sea and was never seen more; the other Wm. Waterfield a Virginian born, was saved by a man (James Delridge, The Tailor) catching him in his fall on the Gunwall of the Ship. He was much bruised, but soon came to himself, and appeared in his business the next day. Poor Abram was a native of the Island Jersey, esteemed an honest, useful, sober, inoffensive man. He left a wife and family behind him at London. The Ship at this time went more than six miles an hour, Yet honest Stephen like one frantic ran backwards and forwards in the Ship and upon the Poop, calling out Abram! Abram! using some obscure expressions that as there was a man lost some enquiry should be made or somebody called to account:
But nobody heeded him. There were no mutinous spirits in the Ship, unless one Passenger was such, and he was a Person of no greater Consequence than Stephen. The Carpenter indeed who was a sober thinking man said he had frequently even while the Ship lay in the River complained of the rottenness of the masts, but was never regarded, and that (in anything of a Gale) if he had been ordered aloft, he would not have gone, and would have given the obvious reason of his refusal.
On Monday July the 2nd we set now about those kind of repairs, which considerably retarded our Sailing for some Days.
The 9th we had 24 hours a fair Gale at N. and N. E. but then came about again to the old quarter S. W. Took a small Dolphin. Lat. 37° 57" Long. 51°, 22". All our ginger bread is now gone, and no white biscuit left but what is seen extremely mouldy and full of Maggots.
July 20th had a fine Easterly wind for about 30 hours, when it returned to the old point till the 24th. Lat. 39°, 29"; Long. 63°, 31". Caught a small shark, about 7 foot long. Small breeze at W. E. till the 28th, when we caught Three fine Dolphins. We all dined together again upon the Quarter Deck, except my wife and children who excused themselves; Yet Mr. Randolph sent his servant with some Fish to them into the Cabin. This Fish was generally liked by all the Company, tho' some said they preferred Bonetta, of which number, I was one. Our Biscuit is now entirely expended, but we procure some of the Seamen's bread by the same means we used to get a supply of water. Mr. Saunder, his wife and Child, Since they left us, are acquainted with more of our distresses, they being upon very cordial terms with the Captain and Stephen. If this was the poor man's view in breaking with us, I could almost excuse him.
July 29th we spoke with a scow of White Haven, who left Virginia 5 Days ago. They told us Cape Henry was distant about 77 Leagues.
Wednesday August 1st: at 12 last night, we found ourselves in Soundings-Twenty Fathom water, and about Two o'clock this afternoon, saw the Land about Twelve Leagues distant, and as was judged about 70 or 80 miles to the Southward of Cape Henry. Dark weather, wind Easterly, blowing hard with much rain. We ran along the shore at the distance of ten or twelve leagues, hoping to make Cape Henry before night, but failing therein we stood off as well as we could all night, having enough to do to claw off the shore, the wind blowing very hard and setting right in.
Thursday, August 2nd, having weathered the Coast last night, we at Daylight found ourselves about the same distance from the Land: Rains still very hard but wind abated; discovered Cape Henry 15 or 20 miles to the Northward. About dawn this morning we entered the Bay of Chesapeake, soon after which a Pilot came along side to offer himself; but our Captain, declined taking in or so much as speaking to him, but taking the advantage of a fine, fresh gale, and all our sails set and full, rushed by and soon left the Pilot a good way astern. The Pilot however still attended us as near as he was able, till we were terribly alarmed with the apprehension of our destruction, finding ourselves in less than Three Fathoms water. Mr. Sweeney assured the Captain all along that he was running up on a shoal called Willoughby's Point; but the Captain superior to all caution, was as confident we were passed it. However, now in the utmost terror and confusion, backed all sails and looked out Astern emploring the Pilot's assistance, who still followed us and seeing our danger good naturedly kept waving his hat (being out of hearing) to bear off to the Northward. We did so and he soon came up with us, himself came on board and put all things to rights. Thus through the avarice of the Captain in aiming to save about Forty Shillings (tho' nobody doubts but he would have charged it to the voyage) the Ship, a large cargo and all or most of our lives were upon the brink of being cast away, even in sight of our Port. Mr. Whitaker assured me when I engaged with him that the Ship was bound directly to York River. But as it appears, he afterwards Contracted to take the goods for Norfolk, a town upon Elizabeth river, which empties itself into James River. So having no remedy, we passed by Hampton when Mr. Randolph, Mr. Sweeney, Mr. Saunder, Doctor Purcell and John Thorpe went ashore with the Captain in the Pilot Boat, and about two in the afternoon came to an anchor off Sewill's or Sowles Point, at the mouth of Elizabeth River, where we continued nine days.
Friday, August 3rd-The boat going this morning with the Captain to Norfolk, I and my Daughter Molly took the opportunity of going also to procure some provisions and refreshments. We were very civilly entertained at dinner at one Captain Trigs, to whom I brought a letter from a Person at home, who fancied himself related to him, but it did not prove so. In the Evening we returned on board with Bread, Poultry, Fruits, Wine, etc. We now live very well with our Fresh Stores; and our worthy Captain wears a softer Countenance, condescending to mess with us very cordially, as does also poor Mr. Saunders. A boat came off the next day from Hampton, for Mr. Sweeney's things, and he intending an entertainment on the Sunday. Mrs. Saunder was ordered by her Husband in a letter to come on shore by that opportunity. Mrs. Saunder who cannot write herself, or will read writing, shews me the letter (for we were grown quite friendly) in the postscript; there was added, you may tell Fisher if he had a mind to come on shore, he may come in Mr. Sweeney's Boat; but not a word to me of any entertainment or any mention of my being civilly invited to it.
One of the sailors who used to help us to Bread and Water one day informed us that Mr. Saunder since our difference had acquainted the Gentlemen by way of reproach to me, that it was entirely owing to my persuasions that he ever engaged in the Voyage, and that I owed him a large sum of money, for which he had no security. Mr. Sweeney too, I might have observed, when the danger of the small Pox was over, and he quite recovered, in a transport of Joy told us all at Sea how gloriously he would entertain us when he arrived at Hampton. Tho' the acceptance of his favor was one of the remotest things in my thought, yet I was much more offended at Mr. Sweeney's rudeness, than Mr. Saunder, and I determined upon letting him know it. I must further take notice that when Mr. Sweeney quitted the Ship, he took no kind of leave of any of us; not so much as calling at the Cabin door to bid one of my family farewell. Now besides the utmost kindness and care, my wife son and Daughter constantly manifested in his distress, even while his most intimate companions when the Pock was turning used to damn his stinking carcass, and wish it was thrown overboard, and his receiving nothing but the greatest Civility from all of us, ever since my Daughter Molly all the time we were at Sea had the sole care and trouble of feeding and nursing his Five Canary Birds, which otherwise must have perished, they being utterly abandoned by every other Person; nor did he after his recovering name the least care of them.
Now what excuse or pretense Mr. Sweeney could have for affronting me, I could not conceive. If it was the concisest, it was not I am sure the handsomest way of dropping an acquaintance with one who showed not the least ambition or inclination of keeping any up. So I wrote to him, that if (as it was probable) Mr. Saunder (whose difference with me he was no stranger to) was authorized by him to give me that rude intimation that I might come a shore in his Boat, if I thought fit, his behaviour therein was so offensive and ungenteel, as his quitting the ship without so much as saying farewell to me or any of my family. Yet if he could recollect a single instance tho' ever so slender that we had any of us failed in point of civility to him, I should esteem him entirely justified. As to what was reported of Mr. Saunder's saying he thro' my persuasion engaged in this undertaking, I would, with Mr. Saunder have proved the contrary under his own hand.
On Wednesday August 8th Mr. Sweeney and Mr. Saunder came on board full of resentment; Mr. Sweeney denyed his giving Mr. Saunder any authority for saying I might come on shore in his boat, and made very sensiless apologies for his manner of quitting the Ship, which, however, I accepted, to avoid further disputes with him, and matters between us were easily and seemingly very well accommodated, for we shook hands and he paid great thanks to me and my family for what we had done for him, saying he should be glad to see any of us at his House if we ever came to Hampton. These extraited compliments I received as he delivered them with great Civility; resolving inwardly at the same time never to give him any trouble. Mr. Saunder (poor man) could hardly speak for rage. He demanded £120 which he said I owed him, and he insisted should he paid him in a month at farthest; denyed his being under any agreement with me as to sharing any part of my goods, or anything else; and that nothing but money should content him. He further urged, that by my own Rule, it would be unjust in me to expose a private litterary correspondence which had been carried on in Friendship. In this last, I concurred entirely, assuring him I would produce no Letter nor part of a Letter without His leave, tho' I insisted in the presence of Mr. Sweeney, and two other Gentlemen who were with him (strangers to me) that he should acquit me of being the cause of his coming to America, any farther than (as I said willing to suppose) the Company of one with whom he had been so long acquainted might be an inducement. To this he readily assented. The paragraph which I proposed to have produced, was no more than this, taken from the last letter I ever received from him, dated Gloucester, March 20th, 1749, "I cannot give you the least Idea how discontented I am least I should be prevented going with you, but I should hope, you will not go without me; tho' I should not have it in my power to come up time enough in April." (I having acquainted him that April was the farthest time limited by Whitaker for the Ship sailing.) I also referred to my own letter to which this was an answer, for my having vehemently therein urged him to acquit his mother and sister (with whom he was then) with his circumstances and motives to this undertaking, and to take their opinion and advice therein; but this, as he afterwards confessed to me, he never did.
To obviate this money affair between us, I must observe that on our determination upon this Voyage he actually did put the sum he mentions (£120) into my hands, desiring I would lay it out in Goods most proper for Virginia. I here upon showed him my Bills of Banks of all the goods I had already purchased, signifying likewise that I should gladly take over a large quantity of Tea which I had bought; also, of any part of which Goods, if he pleased, he should be a sharer so far as his money would extend, or indeed of the whole, allowing me Common interest only for so much money as I should employ more than him. This he gladly accepted, calling it an instance of Friendship and great kindness. But to all this we had no articles drawn, no witnesses, our friendship, as we both then vainly imagined, being superior to all forms.
Shocked and surprised as I was at this demand of Mr. Saunder's, and as sensible as he or any of his advisers could be of the distresses I must inevitably be exposed to, I promised to exert my uttermost endeavors to satisfy his ungenerous, unreasonable demands. But previous to this we came to an immediate settlement before Mr. Sweeney and his friends wherein we quickly concurred there was a balance of £117 due Mr. Saunder, for which I gave my note payable in a month.
Some of Mr. Saunder's best things, as his wife's best clothes, Linen, Plate, etc., being either for convenience or safety at his request put into some of our best Packages, he immediately demanded them, tho' York was the Port we and our Goods were shipped for. I submitted to his unreasonable demand, had the Ship's hold rummaged, and the required packages brought upon the Deck, uncased and opened before all the Ship's Crew. In thus tumbling them about, my Two best Chests of Drawing (of mahogany) in particular, tho' well matted, even grievously broke and injured by a Villanous and careless mate. And all this I endured because Mr. Saunder should not have the shadow of a pretence to reproach me. This affair over;
On Saturday August 11th at six in the morning we weighed Anchor and again passed by Hampton: (Solis Point, the place where we lay, I should have noted, was just in the mid way between Hampton and Norfolk, twelve miles from each, The Ferry Boats constantly passing by our Ship all the time we lay there) with a southerly wind, we again turned into the Bay of Chesapeake, and lay that night off a shoal called the Horse Shoe.
Next Morning Sunday the 12th, by the assistance of the Tide and a Small breeze at East, we got into York River. A little after noon the Captain and I went off into the boat leaving the Ship under sail about a League below York, where (it being little wind) we arrived before her.
I called first at the Eldest of the Mr. Nelsons, who was not in town, nor expected home till the middle of the ensuing week. From hence I went to Captain Reynolds, whose wife I was formerly acquainted with, being the daughter of a Mr. Wm. Rogers, a particular Friend and intimate Companion of mine about Thirty years ago. She knew me at first sight. Here I dined. After dinner I waited on the Secretary the Honourable Thomas Nelson Esq., and delivered Mr. Hunt's letter of recommendation. He spoke civilly, but said he must confer with his Brother before he could talk particularly to me. This was the first and indeed the last time of my having the honor of a Conference with this Gentleman. In the Evening I returned on Board.
Monday the 13th I again went on shore, delivered the certificate for my Tea to the Custom house Officer, Richard Ambler Esq. who remembered me perfectly, as I did him. He staid me to dinner, and at his Lady's request promised to accommodate me with a Home, tho' he could not conveniently spare it; the favour was the greater as there was none other to be had. [This Richard Ambler married Elizabeth Jaquelin.]
Returned again on Board. The two next days, I likewise came on shore and visited several male old acquaintances, all of the other six, Mr. Ambler excepted, being dead.
Thursday 16th, employed in getting my family and goods on shore; but through the mate's drunkenness and laziness, it was far into the afternoon before we could get quit of the Ship; however it happened several of our packages were broke open, one large chest all to pieces and many things lost, and a large Box containing sheets and Table Linen never came to hand at all; yet all things considered we were glad of our escape, and thankful to Providence that we came off even so well. In a day or Two after we had landed, I called again at the Honourable Wm. Nelson Esquires now returned, and delivered my other letter from Mr. Hunt. This Gentleman I thought received me with a conscious Dignity and great reserve blamed my enterprise, admitting that any one could be so weak as to prefer living in Virginia to Brittain, insinuating at the same time that without peculiar circumstances or reasons few Persons of sense would ever make the exchange, and the best advice he could give me was to repair my oversight by returning again to London, which if I was inclined to do, there was he said a ship of Mr. Hunt's in the River that would sail in a few days (a fortnight's time). This (greatly mortified as I was) I could not yet bear to think of, but said in case of receiving no encouragement here, I should rather Choose to try my Fortune in some other Colony upon the Continent; mentioning Pennsylvania.
To this he replied pretty eagerly if I would go thither he would give me a letter of recommendation to one Mr. Allin, a considerable Person of his acquaintance in Philadelphia. But even this I desired to suspend. I then mentioned my having two recommendatory letters to Mr. Walthoe, to which he replied very coldly, "Perhaps now Mr. Walthoe may have it in his power to serve you."
"(By the emphasis he placed upon the word now! I should imagine he meant to insinuate there was a time when Mr. Walthoe had it not so much in his power to serve me, but surely the observation was no more just or generous than for another to have remarked; That a time was when this great man's Father thought to bring a Boatswain to a Merchant Ship, no mean Preferment."). You will easily conceive with what a heavy heart, I departed from this great Person to meet the reproaches of my poor wife, tho' in truth my affliction was unutterable. My wife perceiving my grief and dejection, determined upon trying her success in obtaining at least his Honor's advice or opinion in this anxious state of our affairs.
She was received with very great complaisance, both by his Honor and his Lady, but no council or advice, save that of returning again to Brittain, my wrong headedness in coming hither being the general topic of their discourse. On his saying he heartily wished himself and Family in England, my wife presumed to inquire whether he was sincere in that assertion. He assured her upon his word that if he could get out of business here, and had his substance in his own hands, he would remove to England with the utmost expedition.
When I brought my family on shore, there stood upon the wharf an ancient grey headed Gentleman who called me by my name, took me by the hand, welcomed me into the country again. Told me he remembered me perfectly when I was Clerk in the office of Mr. Lightfoot; tho' I could not so well recollect him, I acknowledged his civility. This Person wears the name of Captain Gooding. (G.)
As I wanted some silver to distribute among the sailors who brought my family ashore he obliged me in Changing a Guinea. In about a fortnight after this, as I was attending Mr. Nelson's store till he was at liesure to be spoke to, this same Captain G. happening to be there assumed a quite different behaviour to what he had manifested by the water side, for with a malicious sneer he began thus: I remember you Mr. Fisher ever since Coln. S. paid you the Ten Pounds that you recovered against him for his striking you. The widow and sons of the Coln, Smith (S.) being now living attached to and intimate with, if not allied to the Nelsons Family, I was extremely confounded to be thus accosted, and a difference revived which had been cemented Thirty years ago; and what augmented my confusion (if capable of being augmented) was a Pragmatical store keeper of Mr. Nelsons catching the opportunity with the highest Glee of demanding a relation of the story by Cox Comically saying, "Aye do Mr. Fisher, tell us how that affair was." I had hardly Spirits to bring out, that Col. (S.) and I were very good Friends long before I left the Colony, and that in the suit I brought against him no more than sixpence damage was given, and not one farthing of either Costs or damage was ever levied or taken of the Col. Captain G. in a most insolent overbearing tone replyed: "Nay, but you must not tell me! I remember the payment of the money myself as well as if it was but yesterday, and that it was absolutely Ten Pounds." This so astonished me, that I could not utter a word for some time; at length recollecting myself a little, I beseeched the Captain would reflect this matter might easily be decided; for as I humbly presumed the Record of the Court were still in being, it would thereby appear whether he or I was in the right, without any further contest about the matter. Upon my mentioning the Record, the change in these two persons countenances was very extraordinary, and whether they ever looked into the Record or not, I cannot tell-but neither the storekeeper nor the honest Captain, tho' I have frequently met them since in various places, would never know or speak to me any more, yet this is all that I ever did to offend them.
If the honest Captain did not conceive by this extraordinary piece of evidence he might some how recommend himself to some body or other, I am unable to account for the difference of his behaviour at the Wharf, and in Mr. Nelson's Store; for the rest, I am at no difficulty. Nothing is more common than for the injured to forgive; but that is not so frequently the case with him, who does or but attempts to do the injury.
Indulge me with Patience, and I'll give the foundation of this Story concerning Col. Smith.
"When I was in the country before (about the year 1722) Deputy Clerk of the Court to Mr. Lightfoot, Col. Smith was a Justice of the Peace and a Representative in the House of Burgesses, for the said County of York. This gentleman who was drinking at a Public house just by my office on Saturday evening sent for me and required I would forthwith issue a writ against some Person he then named, and made it returnable to the next Court, which was the ensuing Monday. This I told him very civily could not be, as the Law required Three Days between the issuing of a Writ and the return thereof. He said I might date the writ the day before, for he would have it done, alleging that such things had been done by my Betters. This last I said I would not presume to dispute, but that the dating of a writ backwards never had yet, nor never would be done by me; whereupon he struck me with his cane, but I then being a younger man than he took hold of his collar with one hand and his cane with the other, laid him on the floor and his cane by him, and departed. And tho' it was said he broke Two of his ribbs in falling on the Hilt of his sword, I was for several reasons prevailed upon to bring an action: One was that as it was more scandalous in a Magistrate than an indifferent person to break the Peace, it was but just to expose him in his own Court. The action was brought and Six pence damage given, which, nor the Costs were never levyed. My Master Mr. Lightfoot said I was quite right in all I did."
And if I have any remembrance of this said Capt. Gooding (G) it seems to me to be by his being one of the Jury for conversation once on Shipboard in our passage and John Randolph in speaking of the disposition of the Virginian, very freely cautioned as against disobliging or offending any person of note in the Colony we were going to; for says he, either by blood or marriage, we are almost all related, or so connected in our interests, that whoever of a Stranger presumes to offend any one of us will infallibly find an enemy of the whole nor right nor wrong, do we ever forsake him, till by one means or other, his ruin is accomplished. I refused then to acquire use in these sentiments, and I wish I could truly say I had no reason to do it now; yet I never offered the least injury to any of them, nor can I hitherto have offended either of the Mr. Nelsons, unless my unfortunately obtaining a recommendation to them from Mr. Hunt can justly be termed an offense. In the midst of these discouragements and heaviness at heart, I determined however on seeing Mr. Walthoe, and accordingly went over to Williamsburg, (about 12 miles) delivered my two letters from his Brother Mr. Walthoe and his nephew Mr. Hart. He received me very civilly, but used very few words. I found him at breakfast or Tea and at his invitation drank two dishes with him. He said if I inclined to settle in Williamsburg or elsewhere, I might expect any friendly offices in his power. Seeing me afterwards in the Town, he called to me and recommended me as his Friend to some of his acquaintance who were there with him. They all welcomed me to Virginia, and I dined with them at a Tavern where he treated me. In the evening I returned home more easy than I had been any time since my arrival. I don't know how it was; but I was too much dejected and dismayed by my reception at York to say anything to Mr. Walthoe concerning my difficulties with Mr. Saunder: a great unhappiness that I omitted it.
Three weeks of Mr. Saunder's month were now gone, and what to do I could not tell. At last, I resolved to set forth my case clearly by letter to the great man. This I did by informing him of our agreement, and our differences, with all the circumstances, together with Mr. Saunder's demand, earnestly imploring his aid in the most supplient abject terms that I had ever used to any Mortal in my life. Assuring him he should have my Tea or any other of my goods made over to him to double or treble the value of what would be necessary to enable me to get quit of Mr. Saunder. That I should request the loan of the Money for six months only, for which with greatest thanks and gratitude, I would pay any interest. Having sent this letter, I waited Three Days with the utmost anxiety for an answer, which not then coming I assumed the resolution of going myself to his house, to learn if possible his pleasure; but what was my anguish on enquiring for him when I was told by a servant his Master had set out yesterday (the day before this) on a journey to an Estate a great way up the Country, and would not return in less than three weeks, and that he had left no kind of word or message concerning me. The humanity of an answer tho' a peremptory refusal, I thought, I might reasonably have expected. Mr. Saunder who remained at Hampton 25 miles below York came up with a deal of Fury demanding his money with great threats. I had sent him an account of the steps I had taken and now showed him a copy of the beseeching letter I had wrote to Mr. Nelson; but this availed nothing. If I did not make over my goods, he said, directly to him, enabling him to sell them immediately for what they would fetch, he would without further ceremony throw me into jail.
Exasperated with such various distresses, and these additional insults, I calmly bid him do his worse, for I would endure any kind of misery sooner than persist any longer in craving his compassion, or even so much as changing another word with him. This, how strange so ever, had a better effect on him than all my submissions and entreaties. He became cool at once, declared his distressing of me would afford him no pleasure, and that he would readily acquiess in my proposal of receiving my supplication to Mr. Nelson on his return and would wait the event.
He staid with me two days, grew friendly, open and communicative: said he had an inveterate dislike to the People;-the best of those whom he had met with being malicious, subtil, treacherous, Said he was determined on returning to England; advised me to sell off all, and do so too; for that in the end he was sure I would find Mr. Nelson advising my immediate return would be the best I should ever receive from him. However, if we must part, let it be amicably, and that the least mention of our unhappy animosities might not be made hereafter to any of our English Friends.
I declined all engagements save this, that he might rely upon my never aiming to do him the least prejudice either at home or abroad. As to himself, he was at his own liberty to relate as little or as much of our adventures as he pleased. He moreover assured me Mr. Sweeney entertained a deal of secret malice to me, on the account of what I had insinuated of his ingratitude in my letter to him, having sworn that he would do me all the mischief he could: that he had already began to prosecute those aims in exposing my letter (as a very insolent one) among all his relations and friends, particularly in Coln. Cary's family, whom he had endeavoured to prejudice and inflame with the most rancorous representations.
To put what he said beyond all doubt, he drew out of his pocket book, the very letter I had wrote to Mr. Sweeney avowing that having done me all the injury with it, he was capable of, he Mr. Sweeney had delivered it to him for the declared purpose of doing me what mischief he possibly could in England. But Mr. Saunder said, disdaining the Villany, he took the letter with no other view than to return it to me again, in case I would restore two or three letters which he Mr. Saunders had wrote to me before we left England. But in this I begged to be excused, repeating my assurance, that I did not detain them with any view of doing him the least injury. And as to that letter of Sweeney's, I believed he was very sensible; so far as it concerned me, it might be very freely communicated to the whole world.
After two days stay with me, Mr. Saunder set out for Hampton. He shed tears at parting, assuring me now that his threatenings were assumed with great difficulty, that sooner than he would so distress me any more; if I could raise a sufficiency to pay his expenses back to Brittain he would have the rest to be remitted at a convenient opportunity. As soon as ever I heard of the great man's return, I received my supplication, and if possible in more prostrate, abject terms that I had done before, exagerating the obligation above life or any other enjoyment the preservation of my poor family only expected. This letter went early in the morning, but I had no answer all the day.
The next morning between Ten and Eleven, his Lady came on a Seeming visit to my wife. She was no sooner seated than with a very distant air she informed me, if I had any thing to say to Mr. Nelson, he was now at leisure. I went instantly and acquainted him with Mr. Saunder's threats and demands of instantly selling my goods for what they would bring. He coolly replied, he did not see anything amiss in what Mr. Saunder required, but rather wondered I should refuse to comply with his demand-and as to what I urged about the cruelty of taking advantages of the distressed, or how much I should be a gainer could I but obtain a little time to dispose of my Things myself, it made no impression on him. But I still continued to beseech his assistance, assuring him he should not run the least risque as I would actually make over and put into his possession much more than the Value of what he should advance for me.
He at length said, he should not think of assisting me until he had first spoke with Mr. Saunder. I hereupon informed his Honor that Mr. Saunder had made one journey already at considerable expense, and if he would have the goodness to remit the money to him at Hampton by an order upon some merchant there, or by any other method he thought proper, it would be an additional act of goodness in him, and I should always return it a great augmentation of his favor; adding moreover, if there was any charge accruing thereby, I would most thankfully pay it. To all which he very abruptly answered, I will do no otherwise than I have said. So I wrote forthwith to Mr. Saunder, and he accordingly came up again. He was obliged to continue at York two nights more, before we could have the happiness of being admitted to Mr. Nelson's presence, he being either at breakfast or Dinner engaged with Company, walked out or otherwise busied. But the morning after the second night informed us we might attend him at his store on our approach. He only asked Mr. Saunder whether he had any share or claim to any part of the Tea I was possessed of: who answered No-Nothing else of consequence passed between them. From whoever it seems the apprehension of his being some how overwatched or imposed on by me in the property of the Tea was the most apparent reason of giving Mr. Saunder this trouble-for immediately upon his saying No, his honor handed me a written Instrument with these words-There Sir!-Sir if you like that! Too terrified to make objection, had I discovered any cause, I just cast my eye on the writing, which I returned again with an humble cringe, signifying my assent by saying; "Yes Sir, exceedingly well." He said, he must have Two of the Chests of Tea put into his possession, for by a calculation he had made, they would not amount to much more than the money he should advance. I replyed it was far from me to desire or expect any other. The Deed expressed, that in consideration of his Honors lending me the said money amounting to £117-Sterling, if the said principal sum with lawful interest was not repaid in Four months from the date thereof, the said Tea deposited as a security for the said sum should become forfeited to the said Honourable Mr. Nelson, and liable to be sold for the payment of the said Principal and Interest. As to my urging anything concerning the six months, the time I requested of his Honor, I judged it neither prudent nor safe.
Mr. Saunder received the money, and we came to my house very joyfully, and after refreshing himself with such poor fare as we had with a glass or two of Wine, we took, a cordial leave of each other, wishing mutual health and happiness; and he then set out for Hampton. The saddle bags he brought with him being ancient broke with the weight of silver (a considerable part of the Cash being in that Specie). I lent him a stronger pair which he promised to return, and I doubt not of his delivering them for that purpose to some unfaithful hand; but I never could see or hear of them any more. He soon after departed for Bristol, where he safely arrived, Went to Gloucester, and since settled in Bristol, where it is said being seduced into a Partnership with one Baker, a Paper Maker, he was defrauded of the greatest part of a Thousand pounds upon which (as was also suggested to me) he used some indirect means (what I was not told) of putting himself out of the world.
While we lay in the river Thames, we received an account of the death of his first Wife's sister, by which he said £300 was devolved on him. He wished several times that his Goods were there on shore again and his passage not paid; upon which account I had reason to think, he then regretted the undertaking, and this I am apt to conceive might be one motive to his quick return, notwithstanding his ascribing it to the Climate and People of this Country. Mr. Saunder's motive for resolving to come to America I may since his death be allowed to declare was entirely to be attributed to his second marriage; he having in his own and his Friends opinion matched a good deal beneath himself, a circumstance which he could not bear the thought of being reproached with. And it was merely upon this account that we discouraged the visits of our friend, while we lay so long in the river on board the Ship. And Mr. Winden and another of my wife's near relations, who came upwards of a hundred miles to take their leave of us, must doubtless be surprised and justly offended at a reserve and shyness so different from what they before had ever experienced; nor can they perhaps easily concur the pain and grief it occasioned to my poor wife in particular in acting a Part so opposite to our real inclinations. In this, our condition truly deserved Commiseration.
While we were at sea, the first part of the Voyage especially, Mr. Saunder's sufferings (for aught I know), might be greater than ours; for he poor man, at some particular seasons had a voracious and most ungovernable appetite; of this his Relations are not insensible. And it (not unlikely) may be, this appetite not able to endure the abstinance and restraints we were subject to was the Chief if not the only motive to his forsaking us in the Cabin; for till those distresses, I never did perceive in him any thing that ever wore the appearance of falsehood, treachery or insincerity. And had he not been so distressed for Provisions and had we not both of us met with such an acquaintance as one especially who was on board, Virginia had been the best place Mr. Saunder could have come to-and after we had a little armed ourselves against the current Arts and subtilities of the natives, we should have lived happily in spite of them, quiet and independent.
For whatever instance of Vulgar Craft or Villany. I shall be obliged to exhibit, I shall still stubbornly insist upon it, there are even among the Natives, people of Sense, probity and honor.
Mr. Saunder's misfortunes as well as his faults have I believe been very considerable. His weakness I pitied, and had he sought it in time, would have forgiven, as I in general believed him to be a person of upright intentions. This affair of the Money being thus finished and perceiving clearly, I should have no willing aid or advice from the Mr. Nelsons, I went again to the Walthoes at Williamsburg, and by his kind aid took a house there. After I had left York, with the two first loads of Goods, my Wife wrote me word, that the Honourable Mr. Nelson had acquainted her he believed he could help me to a person who would treat with me for one of my Chests of Tea, but as I considered our retailing of it, would not only be a kind of employment, but attended with considerable more profit, I advised her to say nothing upon the subject, and I would endeavor to keep out of his way. But in less than a fortnight, my wife also being come away with the rest of our things, he chanced to see me in the street in Williamsburg. He spoke to me very Courteously and taking me a little aside acquainted me he would give five S. a pound for one of my Chests of Tea which is just 4 S. Sterling, wanting (at the least) Five per cent. I was afraid of refusing, for fear of his pressing me for the money before I could raise it,therefore told his honor, he was welcome to take which Chest he pleased. The Tea cost me 3-6 in the India House, exclusive of the charges of Brokerage, Bonding, repackage, Insurance, etc., and it was now safe arrived in good order, and the common price here by the pound was 7-6 or six Shillings Sterling. So that for want of my retailing of it (upwards of three hundred weight) I lost not much less than Forty Pounds this currency. It was indeed a considerable consolation that I had diminished my Debt a good deal more than one half, and I indulged in the hope of having obliged a person. capable of being a powerful friend. During our stay at York, (about 5 weeks) we had neither encouragement or spirit to open any of our Goods; so that the little Cash we brought with us being consumed, we had broke in upon the Queen Ann Crowns, half crowns etc, etc, which my Daughter Molly had been many years collecting, when very luckily, Mrs. Reynolds having tasted so

Notes:

Refugee from France.

In 1749 Extentes Abraham Baudet in St Helier. (H G Coutanche - Letter- 7 April 1985)

Abraham married Marie Le Capelain 16 Jan 1712/13, St Lawrence, Jersey, Channel Islands. Marie died Nov 1763, St Lawrence, Jersey, Channel Islands; was buried 22 Nov 1763, St Lawrence, Jersey, Channel Islands. [Group Sheet]

Other Events:

• Name: Bausdet

— Jeanne. Jeanne was born Normandy, France; died Dec 1727, St John, Jersey. Channel Islands; was buried 22 Dec 1727, St John, Jersey. Channel Islands. [Group Sheet]

Notes:

Refugee of Normandy according to St John burial register.