Letter to George Moore [manuscript], 1697.
Items
Details
Title
Letter to George Moore [manuscript], 1697.
Description
1 letter
Associated name
Crabb, Lawrence, sender.
Moore, George (Merchant), addressee.
Moore, George (Merchant), addressee.
Note
This is a PRELIMINARY RECORD. It may contain incorrect information. Please email catalog@folger.edu for assistance.
Item Details
Call number
FAST ACC 271889 (flat)
Folger-specific note
From dealer's description: "An early letter from the British West Indies. Financed by George Moore, the author sets out for Barbados in order to make his fortune. Despite a bright start, the letter soon reads like a sorry catalogue of misfortune. The purchase of a shipment of twenty hogsheads of sugar and 20 bags of cotton were thwarted by the captain of the vessel taking it back to England. Moreover, he was encouraged by one "Judg Coats" to invest in a joint venture in the Bahamas (with an assurance of 200% profit). Crabb writes, "This guilded pill deceived me and I became engaged." It took some time and many further dealings, including being robbed by privateers, and even Coats's death(!) before Crabb realised how unreliable he was. Circumstances improve once Crabb moves to Antigua and the latter part of the letter documents his efforts to build an estate there. Joined by his wife and her slaves, they stayed with friends whilst Crabb built them a single room dwelling and stayed in that for over a year as he set about contructing a larger house. With the proceeds of an arbitration award, a mill and still house were erected and, despite a hurricane, the estate produced 50,000 lbs of sugar in its first year. Much of the money earned from this was used to cover outlays on slaves, draught cattle and horses and so Crabb assures Moore that "I have by assistance of my wifes relations... soe setled it that every crop will encrease..." and promises that "all that ever I make of the plantation when tis thoroughly settled shall certaynley pass through your hands." Ordered from: Maggs Bros. Ltd., D9145, 2017-11-03, email quote. Purchase made possible by The Kenneth C. Hogate Acquisitions Fund.
Folger accession
271889