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Single record details
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Reference | Title | Date |
NRAS771 | Macpherson-Grant family, of Ballindalloch | |
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Country Code
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GB
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Repository Code
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800001
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Repository
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Private
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Reference
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NRAS771/Bundle 250
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Title
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Miscellaneous correspondence to James Grant
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Dates
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1771-1784
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Access Status
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Restricted
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Access Conditions
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These records are held privately. All enquiries should be addressed to:
The Registrar National Register of Archives for Scotland HM General Register House Princes Street Edinburgh EH1 3YY
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Description
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Including:
14th July 1784. Declaration of new Spanish Governor of East Florida as to sale of lands by British [sent in letter of David Yeats of 19th July 1784].
Miscellaneous correspondence, 1771-84, from David Yeats, manager of General Grant's negroes and estates, including:
19th July 1784. When he wrote on 15th April had been preparing because of bandits over-running province to abandon Grant's property and take negroes to Island of New Providence. Since province has quietened down he has decided to wait till crop harvested and then take them to the Bahamas. Arrival of Spanish Governor. Nothing like value will be obtained for British houses and estates.
15th April 1784. Proposes to send the negroes to Island of New Providence. Unsettled state of the country - is reluctant to abandon crops. How other owners are disposing of negroes.
14th February 1784. Asking instructions on disposal of negroes - since any who stay would be required to profess publicly Catholic faith and trade only via Spain and Spanish ships, thinks the British must totally abandon colony.
12th January 1782. Progress of the General's estate. 'We are still in suspense respecting the Spaniards ... but we have hopes from some late accounts of a rebellion having broke out in South America, that they will find sufficient employment in keeping their own Colonies in subjection and leave us unmolested'. He has appointed by the Governor Secretary to the Province.
14th September 1781. Departure of Dr. Turnbull, who had been Secretary to the Province, and is now in practice in Charlestown. Badly affected by drought in the Province - Carolina and Georgia have also suffered from this and the enemy. Great destruction of shipping by rebel privateers. Reduction of West Florida by the Spaniards. The introduction which the Governor had made of indigo and rice-growing to the colony. Manufacture of turpentine. Attack on their plantation by Peter Brown, formerly a privateer on the British side, who had joined the rebels.
20th March 1781. Operations of Engineer in fortifying St. Augustine's against Spaniards. Is to attempt to grow rice. Orders from Mr. Oswald to Mr. Anderson, his newphew and agent there, to sell off everything there and move with his negroes into Georgia. On Tuesday 27th a House of Representatives is to meet. As to recovery of debts due Grant in Carolina. Letter being sent with Mr. Delap, a merchant there, who could give information on state of the colony. Accidental death of another Indian recently in the town 'which is particularly unfortunate in this crisis as we depend upon their assistance in case of an attack'.
3rd February 1781. With list of negroes - as to new settlement they have made - thinks money should be laid out 'in purchasing young Wenches for the plantation which suffers much by having so few, for you not only lose by your negroes not increasing, but frequently the labour of the young fellows, who are either absenting themselves after the Wenches in Town or inducing them to run away and concealing them in the woods in the neighbourhood of the plantation. I have had frequent complaints on this head, and their excuse is, what must they do for wife'. Spanish attacks on Pensacola and another on it threatened.
16th December 1780. Clearing of new land. Many planters had made money on turpentine, but no land suitable near Grant's present property and afraid 'that the expence of moving far and employing another overseer might be too great for the returns'. Possible purchase of land for indigo plantation. Sale of wench to a negro freedman - fears he will be unable to pay price. Has been unable to begin planting rice because of other work being done by the slaves and their employment in forification after appearance of Count D'Estaing's fleet. Proposed departure of Dr. [Andrew] Turnbull for Charlestown and the Secretaryship of the Province.
9th October 1780. Making of indigo. Trouble over sale of timber for troops through death of A. Skinner, the contractor.
10th August 1780. Has been unable to fix blame in poisoning case. One of the negroes who had been accused and had shot himself was now recovered. By the deaths they had no carpenter and thinks one should be sent from England for 3 years who could train a negro. Detachment of servants to bring in part of his upper holding, where it is hoped to grow rice.
1st June 1780. Innoculation of his negroes. 2 of his negroes had been poisoned. 3 of his negroes (two fellows and a wench) accused. One of these had shot himself through the arm, but was out of danger.
6th May 1780. Shipping of indigo. Appearance of smallpox. Attempt to prevent it spreading unsuccessful, so innoculation was now being allowed to go on rapidly.
13th March 1780. Dispatch of indigo. Appearance of Count D'Estaing on their coast. Expects his crop in lower plantation to be poor as land worn out. Believes men should be sent to a settlement on the head of the Guana river, where some of his land was said to be very good.
7th August 1776. 'We have been pestered here by the Rebels from Georgia driving away our Cattle and stealing our negroes'. Attack on Sullivan's Island, near Charles Town by the rebels. Relationships with the Cherokees. Has little but bad news.
23rd October 1775. Negotiations between the Governor and Mr. [John] Stuart and the Lower Creek and Cherokee Indians, who are annoyed at the rebels for seizing powder and presents which were intended for them. Captain Lofthouse's ship boarded there while at anchor after leaving harbour and gunpowder taken - rebels left some of their instructions including some signed by Henry Laurens, styling himself President of the Council of Safety who, together with William Henry Drayton was one of the active heads of rebel faction in Carolina.
6th January 1775. Peace made by Governor Sir James Wright at Savannah and the Indians - discovered that Jonathan Bryan had persuaded 15 of the headmen of the Indian nation to give lease for 99 years of 4 million acres of best land in East Florida. Thought some leading persons in East Florida involved. Will not 'read well at home, considering the present state of America, and their enjoying Office under Government'.
23rd October 1772. Estate and local business. Indigo crop. Building of new Town House.
2nd July 1772. Indigo crop. 'Your improvements in the Building way in the North of Scotland will amuse you during the Summer, but I imagine it will cost you more money than you say, for when once a Gentleman dips his hands fairly into the Mortar Tub he does not always know when or where he is to stop'. The £5,000 Grant has obtained for public buildings, roads etc. in East Florida.
10th April 1772. Mainly estate business. Mr. Oswald's vessel expected soon from Guinea - 'tis to be hoped she will dispose of her cargoe here as negroes are much wanted at present'.
9th January 1772. Charles Town. Has gone there temporarily for sake of his health. Sending indigo samples.
7th September 1771. St. Augustine's. Sending indigo samples. Resignation of the Chief Justice and Dr. [Andrew] Turnbull (who was going to England) from the Council.
25th November 1771. Bills drawn to pay work and building court-house and goal.
7th September 1771. Desire of Dr. Turnbull to resign as Clerk and Secretary of the Council in Yeats's favour.
31st August 1771. Drought, which has harmed indigo crop. Death of some slaves and robbery committed by others.
26th November 1771. Proposal of Dr. Turnbull as to resigning his Secretaryship. Yeats to pay £100 pension to Mr. Roberts and £50 pension to Turnbull unless Turnbull obtained place under Government with greater emoluments.
2nd July 1771. As to petition to Moultrie by malcontents. Conditions as to Dr. Turnbull's resigning Secretaryship. No emolument from it until Mr. Roberts or Turnbull died or Turnbull got better post.
27th August and 7th October 1783. William Grant, barrister, to General James Grant - as to conducting negotiations as attorney for Mr. Yeats.
1st June 1784. General James Grant - copy letter to Mr. Yeats - is to send the negroes to Carolina to be disposed of by Mr. Edward Penman.
1st March 1779. Copy last will and testament of Alexander Skinner.
26th April 1783. Ann, widow of said Alexander Skinner, as to her husband's executry and her anxiety about what will happen when province handed over to Spain.
18th June 1783. Ann, now Ann Westphal, complaining as to conduct of her husband's executors.
Lists of lands in East Florida belonging to Lieutenant-General James Grant and to David Yeats.
21st January 1783. Sir George Yonge, Secretary at War, to Lieutenant-General James Grant, 55th (or Westmorland) Regiment - as to alteration in the establishment of the regiment.
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