recorded in Rappahannock in the same year from Epiphany Hill of Barbadoes, to Mr. Gates Hussey of that county, to collect all indebtedness to Hill, not only in the form of pork and beef, but also of tobacco and money sterling, as evidenced by note, bond, and judgment.[1] Many ships from year to year arrived in Virginia with cargoes of West Indian commodities, the owners of which depended on casual purchasers for the disposal of their stock, these purchasers being sought by passing from landing to landing in the principal rivers, the lower rates at which these articles were often sold under these circumstances inducing many planters who were engaged in trade not to send their orders to merchants in the West Indies.[2] The operations of these persons covered all parts of the Colony, from the country adjacent to the Potomac on the north to the valley of the James on the south. The rum, sugar, and molasses were conveyed in casks and barrels. The former not infrequently held only twenty-
- ↑ Records of Rappahannock County, vol. 1663-1668, p. 85, Va. State Library. The following entries in the county records will farther show the intimacy of the connection between Virginia and Barbadoes in this age. John Thomas, of the sloop Content, belonging to the Isle of Barbadoes, appoints as his attorney in Virginia, Thomas Ward. Records of Norfolk County, original vol. 1695-1703, f. p. 125. Benjamin Dwight, of Barbadoes, sues Christopher Wormeley for debt. See orders, Oct. 7, 1689, Records of Middlesex County, original vol. 1680-1694. It is stated in the inventory of John Godsill of Lancaster County that a parcel of rum belonging to his estate is expected from Barbadoes. Records of Lancaster County, original vol. 1674-1687, f. p. 22. The will of John Morrah of Rappahannock County contains the following: “I give to my godson, Thomas Warden of Barbados, 1000 lbs. of muscovado sugar, now in the hands of Joseph Warden of Barbados, his father.” Vol. 1677-1682, p. 17, Va. State Library. Nicholas Ware of Rappahannock County “acknowledges himself bound to John Vasssall of Barbados in 17,234 lbs. tobacco.” Original vol. 1656-1661, p. 374. See also, William and Mary College Quarterly for April, 1892, p. 145.
- ↑ Letters of William Bird, May 29, 1689.
