George Washington Papers
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To George Washington from Joseph Valentine, 17 May 1768

From Joseph Valentine

may 17th 1768

Sir

I have sent the Boy with Mrs Washingtons things from mrs deavenports and have paid her Charge which is 27/6d.1

I like wise Saw mr Starke yesterday and he promist me to give his Bond this day for me to Bring to you But when I Came to his house he was gon to Sussex Cort and left a letter which I Send to you with severall other Letters[.]2 the tobaco in New Kent & King William is inspected and gon on Bord of Ship the weight is very good Excepting dite Howls two hogsheds which are two Light—ass soon ass I Can get the Rest inspected and Caried on Bord of Ship I will Send you an Exact List of the weights and Quantity and the ships it is gon on Bord3 and Ever will do my Best indeavers for your benefit and Remain Sir your most humble Servent

Joseph Valentine

ALS, ViHi: Custis Papers. The letter was addressed to GW “at the Eltham.”

1On 3 July 1773 James Hill wrote GW: “on receivg your Letter I went to Mrs Molley Davenport who informs me the Mourning will be ready by Satterday next & not sooner.”

2Richard Starke’s letter has not been found. Starke rented the Custis house in Williamsburg for his mother, Mary Bolling Starke. See GW to Starke, 14 Dec. 1767. Sussex County is south of the James River.

3See GW to Cary, 5 May, source note. GW’s tobacco account in Ledger A, 272, shows that the eight hogsheads marked JC, weighing between 971 and 1,040 pounds, had a total weight of 8,071 pounds; the seven DPC hogsheads weighed between 1,055 and 1,159 and had a total weight of 7,788 pounds. These fifteen hogsheads of tobacco belonging to GW and the twenty-five belonging to John Parke Custis were shipped in William Outram’s ship Liberty (insurance receipt from Cary, 10 June 1768, ViHi: Custis Papers). GW also sent nine hogsheads of Custis’s tobacco to the Hanburys by Captain Esten (see GW to Hanbury, 5 May 1768, n.2, and Valentine to GW, 25 June 1768). Epaphroditus Howle was overseer of one of the Custis plantations.

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