James Hamilton papers

Descriptive Summary
Title: James Hamilton papers
Creator: Hamilton, James, 1763-1829
Inclusive Dates: 1785-1868
Language(s): English
Extent: 1.5 Linear Feet 2 boxes
Collection Number: ms1611
Repository: Hargrett Library

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Collection Description

Historical Note

James Hamilton (d. 1829), merchant, plantation owner, lived in Charleston (S.C.) and Philadelphia (Pa.) and had land holdings, including Hamilton Plantation, on St. Simons Island, Georgia.

Scope and Content

The collection consists of papers of James Hamilton from 1785-1868. Papers concern mostly business matters relating to the Hamilton's merchant/factory businesses of McCredie and Hamilton, and Hamilton and Couper of Charleston, South Carolina. Records include receipts, shipping records, accounts for sales, and invoices. The collection also includes correspondence from Paris, Liverpool, Rotterdam, Stockholm, Savannah, Baltimore, Embden, St. Simons, Tybee, Palmetto Grove, Wilmington, N.C., Georgetown, and various inlets. Several letters report on conditions of Hamilton's plantation, including crops and people who are enslaved

Organization and Arrangement

Arranged roughly in chronological order.

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Administrative Information

Preferred Citation

James Hamilton papers, ms 1611, Hargrett Rare Book and Manuscript Library, The University of Georgia Libraries.

Finding Aid Publication

Finding aid prepared on: 2020.

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Related Materials and Subjects

Subject Terms

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Series Descriptions and Folder Listing

 

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1

1

Account for rice sales, 1785

 

1

2

Letter regarding payment for shipments including indigo, 1786 March 6

 

1

3

John S. Cripps bill from the owners of the ship Caroline for sail twine and barrels of tar, 1796

 

1

4

Account for sales, 1789

 

1

5

Letter to McCredie & Hamilton from Francis Morais, London regarding balance due, 1787

 

1

6

Warrant for Richard Jenkins, 1793

 

1	7	Bill of sale from George Mason to James Hamilton , 1798 May 26
		names enslaved man Lewie

 

1

8

Promissory note , 1790

 

1	9	Bill of sale to James Hamilton from Stephen Simmons, 1799 April 1
		names enslaved person, Jack (boatman)

 

1	10	Articles and Role D'Equipage and signed affidavits of seamen, 1801 December 27
		Includes the names of the master, mate, and mariners, place of birth, residence, citizenship, age, height, description, and wages. Leaving from the Port of Charleston, South Carolina for Naples and other ports of the Mediterranean. Names an enslaved mariner John Bowers (28)

 

1

11

Promissory note for William Fiddy, 1797

 

1	12	Accounts of cash received; bills of sales; freight accounts, 1803
		Includes rope and sail makers; beef, butter, veal and tongue; freight on board the Isabella captained by Daniel Greene, includes illustration of freight marks

 

1	13	Shipping records and manifest (cotton, coffee, rice, and deer skin) of the Ship Isabella; letter to J. Hamilton; agreement with John Couper to purchase enslaved people, 1802
				Letter from John Couper to Alexander Hogg, 1802 February 25
			mentions 7 enslaved people for purchase, "I agree to take - your Seven Negroes and plantation utensils - at the rate you offer-viz 3660"

 

1

14

Account with sales; Isabella Shipwrights bill; Articles and Role D'Equipage & signed affidavits of seamen leaving from the Port of Charleston, South Carolina for Liverpool and then to the coast of Africa, 1804

 

1

15

Legal documents; receipts; shipping records; letters; accounts for sales; promissory notes, 1805

Includes letters from the St. Simons Hamilton plantation

Letter from John Parland to James Hamilton, 1805 August 10

Regarding the Hamilton plantation on St. Simons including that an enslaved woman named Quabe has died

Letter from John Parland to James Hamilton, 1805 April 1

About the plantation on St. Simons including that many of the enslaved people are sick.

Mentions births by enslaved women, Elsey and Sarah

Letter from Peter Massie to James Hamilton, 1805 April 7

Regarding the plantation at Palmetto Grove including the work of enslaved people.

Mentions enslaved persons, George, Clyde, and Abram

Letter from Peter Massie to James Hamilton, 1805 December 12

Regarding the plantation at Palmetto Grove - mentions enslaved people being healthy, except "there is two of the young Children Dead"

 

1

16

Accounts for sales; circular; letters; shipping records; receipts, 1806

Includes receipts for medical attention and clothes for enslaved population at Hamilton and Palmetto Grove plantations

Receipt for medicine and attendance to enslaved people on James Hamilton's plantation, 1806

Letter from Robert Muter [Martin?] to James Hamilton, 1806 June 7

Regards St. Simons plantation and the sale of an enslaved woman named Folora.

Letter from L. Kingsley (Tybee) to William Allen, 1806 April 21

"We anchored this day for orders with 240 Negroes"

Bill from Spencer Johnman to James Hamilton for 6 enslaved men and 2 enslaved women, 1806

Letter from Peter Massie (Palmetto Grove) to James Hamilton, 1806 June 5

Regards the plantation crops and needs for blankets, shoes, caps for the enslaved population.

Possibly names White Oak plantation in South Carolina

Letter from Peter Massie (Palmetto Grove) to James Hamilton, 1806 May 11

Regards the plantation crops and needing summer clothes for the enslaved population

 

1

17

Shipping records; receipts, 1807

 

1

18

Letter to James Hamilton from Samuel Mathis, Camden, 1808 May 28

 

1

19

Account received for tea, sugar, decanters, glasses, and jugs, 1809

 

1

20

Receipt of payment for porting ship Isabella, 1810 April 4

 

1

21

Letters, 1811

 

1

22

Description of the remaining lots of the Wharton estate , 1812

 

1

23

Shipping records, 1815

 

1

24

Balance sheets; account for sales, 1817

 

1

25

Letters, 1818

 

1

26

Receipts of payment for renting house of Jeremiah Emblen and subscription to Athenaeum of Philadelphia, 1823

 

1

27

Court document, Court of Philadelphia, annual sum for Isabella, Elizabeth, and Richard Corbin, 1837

 

1

28

Receipts of payment, 1845

Includes indenture receipt of Riley Haimons "free negroe"; receipt for an enslaved woman named Fany; sale of enslaved person

Receipt of bond payment by James H. Duncan for indenture of Riley Haimons (free person), 1845

Bill of sale for an enslaved woman named Fany (Fanney), 1845

From James K. Duncan to Thomas Hargis

Receipt for fee to sell enslaved person unnamed, 1845

person described as "belonging to your wards Rachel, Susan, and Almira"

 

1

29

Receipt of payment for executions, 1843

 

1

30

Receipt, The Tredegar Company, Richmond, 1868 September 22

 

1

31

Shipping paper; letter, undated

 

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2

Indentures, 1852, 1858