Other (Myddelton/Lawson)

[NOTE: The quotes below were transcribed as seen, including spelling and punctuation errors.]

On May 29, 1791, a letter from Charles S. Myddelton was recorded in Liberty County Superior Court. The letter was addressed from “Green Field” on March 30, 1791, and began, “Dear Sir: Your favour of the Twelfth Instant was handed by Mr. Peacock. I am extremely sory I could not comply with the contents, since I had the pleasure of seeing you in Charleston, I have had all my property both Land and Negroes seized and sold, except fifty negroes which is under mortgage to Mr. Benjamin Andrews, all the property I hold at present is at the will of my Friends, who purchased it, and may deprive me at at any moment they please, but as I have the use of it to make what advantage I can this year a good crop will nearly extricate me. Be assured Sir from the indulgence I have received from you, that my first care as soon as I am able will be to think of you and I do pledge myself that you shall not loose one Farthing by me, more than what a delay of payment which is out of my power to prevent, may [word], as you have been so good to wait so long let me request you to extend your patience a little further and you shall be paid every farthing I am indebted to you.”

The writer also noted that he had expected the recipient of the letter early in the winter and had several horses ready for him, but because he did not come, he declined to purchase them. He added, “I have a good deal of money owing to me by difrent people that would gladly let me have horses in payment if I had time to go and get them at present I have very much engaged in geting my crop set.” He also said that he had “business of consequence” to conduct in Georgia that he would like to settle that summer. He said he had put it off for several years “which I am afraid will occation [occasion] considerable loss I also want to get a place to settle as I am determined to return to Georgia as soon as possible” but that “as the fashion of suing is so prevalent and I have been so much distressed already I do not wish to encounter new difficulties.” He added, “I owe but few people in Georgia, I have wrote to a friend of mine to get from under their hands a promise they will take no advantage of me while in that State upon the business above mentioned I hope you as one of my principal creditors will have no objections of granting a similar promise I want to be in Georgia by the last of May, if no opportunity offers immediately here a line by the way of Charleston directed to the care of Mr. Hugh Swinton factor in Charleston will be forwarded to me.”

He also said, “The statement you delivered Mr. Peacock I thing [think] is right enough my only objection is to the interest as I have to pay the money in this State the interest of this State ought to be the interest demanded. The wench and child was called very low I could have got more money in cash for her here, but as I suppose the gentlemen called her to what they judged right I am satisfied. 

The name “John Lawson Esquire” was written under Myddelton’s signature, so it is likely the letter was addressed to him.