American Historical Ephemera & Photography, including African Americana

HAMILTON, E. W. ALS ("E. W. H.") to John H. Dawson Esq. of New Orleans. "Warreak," [Arkansas?], 1 January 1850.

1 1/4 pages, on bifolium, 7 7/8 x 12 3/8 in., creased along folds, some separations and clipped losses, occasional spotting/staining. Address panel on terminal leaf with postmark at New Orleans.

"...I have ascertained that my crop of cotton will fall far short of what I anticipated. Instead of reaching twenty bales as I at one time confidently expected, it will scarcely amount to seven - which will leave me completely in the mire. Therefore wife and ourselves have concluded it would be best to dispose of Pompey, one of the three negroes which Lawrence will bring on for us...When Lawrence reaches N. Orleans with my negroes will you have the goodness to retain Pompey, and sell him for me? If you think he will bring some six or seven hundred dollars, as I do not wish to make a sacrifice, altho I am in difficulty - he is quite a prince fellow, and about thirty five years of age, & you can in truth say he is sold merely to raise money as I fully intended to have him brought here with the others..."

HAMILTON, E. W. ALS ("E. W. Hamilton") to John H. Dawson Esq. of New Orleans. "Warreak," [Arkansas?], 19 February 1850.

2 3/4 pages, on bifolium, 7 7/8 x 10 1/4 in., creased along folds with significant separation along creases, some extending nearly the entire width of the page, toning.

Hamilton continues with his financial woes, noting that he had tried to raise funds by mortgaging Pompey rather than selling him, writing, "...I cannot think of selling him now, just after having brought him amongst his children (it would be too bad) and he seems so cheerful, and thankful to us for having done so..." He continues on about other ways to make ends meet and satisfy his creditors, including asking his recipient to provide some assistance. He writes, "I will promise that you shall be paid from my next cotton crop - and as a farther [sic] security, that such will be done, will give you a mortgage of the before mentioned negro fellow."

John H. Dawson was born to a prominent Charleston, SC family that relocated to Dallas County, AL in 1842. John's brother Lawrence later moved to Ouachita County, AR, while John moved to New Orleans. John became the senior partner of Dawson & Pipkin, a cotton factory and merchandising firm. that operated in New Orleans and Ouachita County, with each partner running operations in his respective city. The firm bought and sold enslaved persons among other "goods" used in operations.