Robert Carter to Wythe, 2 June 1776
Robert Carter writes to George Wythe in Philadelphia to inform him that Lord Dunmore's troops had landed on Gwynn's island after having to flee Norfolk due to unrest caused by the ongoing Revolutionary War.[1] In the latter half of the letter, Carter explains to Wythe that Mrs. Wythe is obliged to send 4,000 stocking loom needles of the same size in order to create course stockings for enslaved people and mentions that he has already bought stocking loom needles from Pennsylvania and already has a stocking loom gauge No. 18 completed.[2]
Letter text
Page 1
June 02. 1776
Sir — Yesterday my Daughters were out on a fishing party who heard then that Ld Dunmore & his specified troops were landed on Guins Island, near the confluence of Piankatank River — that the militia & minute Companies of the Counties of which & Lancaster were ordered to march to oppose the enemy mentioned Above but that that part of the order, respecting the militia, was contradicted — The Sloop called the Congress and one other armed vessel
which
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which were built at Alexandria, are completed, they are cruising below this place — —
Pray present my respectful compliments to Mrs Wythe, who is desired to procure & send here 4000 stocking loom needles gage No. 14 & 1? of wire of the Same Size — These needles are intended to make corse stockings, for labouring negroes & if No. 14 be not course enough for that purpose Send needles of a lower number.
Needle makers in England, buy wire, who sell needles for about 8d sterling of 100 — Mr Worster, market Street between 3d & 4th Streets, in Philadelphia, sells 60 stocking loom needles — I have paid for needles 18 Pennsylvania currency & 100 — We have a Stocking loom gage No. 18, now Completed, & Shall finish one other Shortly, for very corse work — I am
Dear Sir To Your very humb. Sert. George Wythe, Esqr. Robert Carter Philadelphia
See also
References
- ↑ "A History of Gwynn's Island," Gwynn's Island Museum, Millpoint Digital Marketing Group LLC, https://www.gwynnsislandmuseum.org/gwynn-s-island accessed July 1, 2024.
- ↑ Robert Carter to George Wythe, June 2, 1776. Robert Carter Letter Books and Day Books, David M. Rubenstein Rare Book & Manuscript Library, Duke University.
