16 Nov 1821

Antigua Nov^r 16^th 1821

Sir.

  Inclosed I have the pleasure to send you M^r Joshua Kentish‘s Bill on John Blackburn Esq^r London for £156:13:3 Sterling being the amount of salvagers of three vessels wrecked on Barbuda as per account which you will receive together with the Island Accounts and the triannial returns of the Negroes which I have sent off this morning by the Brig Adelphi to the care of M^r Trattle, I have also sent by the same Brig the ten Puncheons of Rum the salvage of the Rum saved from the ship Hound two I have left for the use of the Island and it required nearly another to fill the ten up. I fear it will not sell for much but it could not be disposed of here as it would be subject to that colonial duty of 2/6 per Gallon full one third more than it would sell for the Bill of lading I have sent to M^r Trattle. It is with much regret I am not able to send you a Bill for the balance of Robertsons money it has been daily promised me for the last week but on the arrival of the mail Boat this morning I find myself again disappointed, the ship Martha will leave this some time the beginning of next week I shall do all in my power to send it by her there are no Courts open at this time of the year or I could not have been put off so often, since 11^th September we have had a continuance of Rain say sometimes more than I could have wished for, it having laid the low lands completely underwater, & it is some time before we can get rid of it, in these grounds it has done some injury to the young Corn but I hope not very materially so, the Yam Crop will be very small as the greater part of the seed tried on the ground for want of rain, in fact before the rains in September not a blade of grass was to be picked on the Island which obliged me to use a good deal of last years Hay. I trust we shall have a good crop the season as pieces were shut up immediately the rains began.

 The last wrecks have given me a good deal of trouble particularly the Hound, she was so far to Leeward of the Island as to oblige us frequently to sleep in the Boats, we never could get home in less than five Hours, in one instance we were very near losing some of our people, I was in the largest of our boats about 30 feet long & 19 feet 6inches Beam and had myself than steering her the greater part of the morning, & had not given the helm out of my hand half a minute when a gust of wind struck her she filled instantly and went down in sixteen feet water, I had ten men with me for of which could not swim & we were a mile & half from the shore after taking care of those that could not swim by securing them to the Oars we succeeded in getting the torn ballast net off (?)(Letter damaged) the Boat she then rose to the edge of the wreck(?)(Letter damaged) Lee shore under us in about an hour and half we all landed safe, having in the first instance thrown of my Coat, shoes & stockings I had about seven miles to walk without any, in the Brig with the Accounts I have sent a list of a few things required for the use of the Island, Clothing for the Negroes is the only thing of consequence they have not had any since 1818. I am

                                                                Sir

Your Most Obedient

Servant

 (signed) John James

Reference: JJ273 Robson Lowe collection on microfilm 24995, University of Texas at Austin, Nettie Lee Benson Latin American Collection.

12 Aug 1821

Antigua August 12^th 1821

Sir.

    At the time of writing you last I was about to proceed to the wreck of the Spanish schooner in search of the money said to be on board of her, but after every exertion nothing of the kind could be found, the Cotton &c was brought to this Island & sold; the Cotton sold very low being much damaged the amount if sales about six hundred pounds, one third of which has been awarded for salvage; but before I could finally arrange it I was obliged to return to Barbuda in consequence of another vessel running on shore on the west side of the Island, she was the ship Hound from St Vincent for London laden with sugar, Rum & Cotton she struck about one o:clock of the first of this month but soon got off and were proceeding on their voyage, but found she made so much water were obliged again to stand for the land, & fortunate for them they had not proceeded far, for in less than half an hour she went down in about twenty five feet of water consequently her Decks are covered and all the sugar lost, the Rum is saved, and so I hope will be the Cotton, the latter is but a small quantity.  I have brought to this Island one of your Schooners (the Bethel) laden with different articles & shall return for more as soon as she can be discharged which I hope will be tomorrow; this has been a troublesome wreck as she is about seven miles from the land & to leeward of the Island consequently we have been obliged for the last week to sleep on board that Boats, I rather think we shall be obliged to ship that Rum to England to prevent paying that Colonial duty, but that I have not been yet able to ascertain as I am but just landed and the mail boat sails immediately after the Packet, we are much in want of rain not been able as yet to plant much Corn. By The Percy Hale Captⁿ Head who sailed the latter end of last month I shipped for you four Turtle a barrel of Arrow Root, a barrel of Cashew seeds, and a box of turtle shell which I hope will arrive safe as I was then engaged with the Spanish wreck & therefore fear no bill of lading has been forwarded

                                                                       I am

                                                                                Sir

                     Your Most Obedient

                      Humble Servant

               (signed) John James

Reference: JJ271 Robson Lowe collection on microfilm 24995, University of Texas at Austin, Nettie Lee Benson Latin American Collection.

21 May 1819

St Kitts May 21^st 1819

Sir.

  I came to this Island for the purpose of ascertaining what had been done in Rawlin’s business, and find that Mr Woodley the attorney general to whom(unreadable) had obtained a judgement against Stedman Rawlins the drawer of the Bill; that who I am sorry to find had left this place some time since, and has taken refuge in one of the Dutch Islands, he has also taken off the whole of the property he possessed, and I hear his debts are such as to preclude his return at least for some time; William Rawlins who was the purchaser of the Cattle is also off the Island.  Mr Woodley having spoken to Henry Rawlins the father to whom I understood that Cattle were intended, on the subject, who says, he knows nothing more of the transaction than having purchased the Cattle from his son, and for which he paid him; I shall however go to Nevis where he lives and see him.

  We had I am happy to say some good rains at Barbuda about a fortnight since, of which we were much in want, and I doubt not by this time the Island is looking well, before these rains, the enclosures were so very dry and I was obliged to turn all the cattle into the woods, on my return I shall endeavour to collect them again. The ship Cato arrived in Antigua yesterday week, by her I received a bill of lading for the Cotton Bagging etc.   By the Killingberk which has sailed on this 9 sent to Mr Trattle eight bales of Cotton, and box of tortoise shell, also four Turtle for you, the Turtle are smaller than I had been in the habit of, or wish to send, but are that best I could get notwithstanding the boats have been constantly out, but I hope to be more fortunate by some of the other vessels. I have not yet seen the New Schooner since she has been at Antigua, but understand she is capable of carrying forty Hh^ds of Sugar, with this you will receive Thomas Hardman’s bill on Bayer Otto Bayer Esq^r for £129:2: Sterling

Nevis May 22^nd

  The packet is now here but will sail almost immediately, and as Mr Rawlins lives some miles from the town I am under the necessity of inclosing this letter without seeing him.  I remain

Sir

              Your Most Obedient Humble

Servant

(signed) John James

Reference: Gloucestershire Records Office, Microfilm no.351, Section no.6, D1610 C24

Accessed through Simon Fraser University library

05 Sep 1818

Barbuda Sept^r 5^th 1818

Sir.

    In a letter of 9^th July of last year, I informed you of the necessity there was of building a vessel for the use of this Island, and your Antigua Estates; I am now happy to say that it is in a great state of forwardness, and could be launched in a very short time, and as it will not be much wanted till about the commencement of the next sugar Crop, it is not my intention to get her into the water till about Xtmas; she is built of the very best materials, and I trust will be a fine vessel, of about sixty tons and will carry thirty two Hh^ds of Sugar.  I have, from Bolts obtained from Wrecks, then enable entirely to Copper fasten her; the Deck as well as Bottom, & Bands.  I therefore trust you will have no objection to have her bottom Coppered as far as her light watermark. It will cost some money at first, but ultimately will be a saving; without it a vessel in this Country ought to be hove down at least every six weeks; when carrying Sugars it is a great loss of time: as well as expense; we cannot do it in this Island, I am therefore obliged to have it done in Antigua; in consequence of which, it is seldom done in less than a week.  In a list of things required for the use of the Island I have included that Copper sheathing, but should you disapprove of the vessel being coppered you will of course strike it out. The Cable, Chain, & Canvas are principally for her use. The vessel now in use is very old, and must soon be condemned; I have been patching her ever since I have been on the Island.

The list of the things for the Island is absolutely necessary the Negroes having had no clothing since 1815 the date of the last Invoice; as I shall have to make the vessels sails after the arrival of the Canvas, I shall be glad to have the articles out by one of the first ships to Antigua, that she may be ready early in the Crop to carry Sugars.

I am sorry to say that I have heard nothing from Lord Combermere since I wrote you in November last; he was to have sent for the Cattle, and had promised to let me hear from him some days before his vessel would be here; he also talked of visiting this Island in his next tour.

We have an extremely dry, having had no rains of consequence for the last three months till yesterday, when we had some good showers, which enabled me to plant the whole of my Corn for next Crop. Last night and this morning it has been blowing hard, but nothing in the shape of a Hurricane, tho I think it possible it has blown harder at no great distance.  I trust my boat will be able to cross the Channel, with this, tomorrow, I do not think it safe for her to do so this day.  Enclosed are the second of the two Bills forwarded in my last of the 14^th (instant?), one for £200 the other for £168:8 Sterling. I have forwarded the papers respecting Rawlins Bill to St Kitts. I am

Sir

              Your Most Obedient Humble

Servant

(signed) John James

Reference: Gloucestershire Records Office, Microfilm no.351, Section no.6, D1610 C24

Accessed through Simon Fraser University library

09 July 1817

Barbuda July 9^th 1817

Sir.

    On the fourth Ins^t I wrote you inclosing a Bill of lading for six Bales of Wool which is on board the ship Bristol Volunteer, she was to be ready to sail tomorrow.  I now find the Packet has been at Antigua, I therefore inclose you the seconds of the six Bills of Exchange, the first of which was sent to you in my Letter of 14^th June; and as it is probable that Packet may arrive in England before the Volunteer I have also inclosed a duplicate of the Bill of Lading for the Wool.  I have also sent by the Volunteer to Turtle and a Barrel of Cashew Seeds.

  Altho I wrote you about the Wool on the 14^th June, I think it necessary to mention again that the Bale N^o.6 is the last shorn, and that there is another Bale, the Number of which I do not know, which was shorn in October last, the Wool in the other for I fear is not very good as it has been laying here some time, and was so full of dirt is to be obliged to be washed, but it may probably answer to have worked up for your own Negro Clothing.  The remainder of the Cotton will go in the Ship Francis which will sail some time this month.

  I have not yet received the first of Rawlins’s Bill but trust it will arrive before the Courts next year, when every step shall be taken to recover the money any; I understand Stedman Rawlins the drawer of the Bill is now in England.

  In consequence of the loss of the two Island vessels when I was in England, and the remaining one being very old, (in fact she was condemned when I first came on the Island is not seaworthy, but by repairing her on the Island I have kept her till this time) I am under the necessity of building a new one for the next Crop, which I shall undertake immediately.  A ship builder from Antigua offered to superintend it, but his terms were so very high (one hundred Ioes(?) about £165 Sterling) merely to look on occasionally, that I have not engaged him, I have offered him 100 Currency to lay the frame and hope he will accede to it, if not a shall undertake it my self.

  We are still without any quantity of rain, nor do I wish for any till the end of this month, by which time I shall have a good proportion of Land ready for Corn &c.  I am

Sir

              Your Most Obed^t Humble

Servant

(signed) John James

Reference: Gloucestershire Records Office, Microfilm no.351, Section no.6, D1610 C24
Accessed through Simon Fraser University library