Cheeke, Russell Tipping families: Archer of Tanworth

Description

Please note: this record includes an archaic, offensive term for Black people. It also details their enslavement, as does this catalogue entry.

Thomas Garth to [the executors of Col. Francis Russell]. Letter, duplicate copy sent in case of miscarriage.

He encloses a more complete account of how they have applied that part of his Excellency's estate which has come into their possession. The vast debts which they have been forced to pay will cause surprise: he himself had not imagined them above £1,000, which is in fact not a third of the whole. They have refused to pay three doctors whose claim is near £300, and have been sued. Since Mr.Langley's and Mr. Moseley's running off the Island, things have been sold by Mrs. Moseley which she said were left for her to dispose of by Mr. Langley. `I Could hardly have believed Mr Langlys Conscience, had been so very large', for things of a considerable value were found to have been left out of his inventory, and he took a second oath that he had nothing in his possession which was as true as the first; and Mr. Moseley is little better, for they all lived together at Fontabell after a confused manner, and Col. Clealand who was in the house at the Governor's death says that Mr. Moseley was the greatest promoter of the closet door being broken open, where the greatest embezzlement was made. He has not yet got in the six [enslaved people] who ran away; they are seen at Col. Bishop's, of which the Col. denies any knowledge, and until another power of attorney is sent they cannot be recovered.

Further information is given about debts, money to come in, sale of [enslaved people] and of the Governor's wardrobe, claims which may be made by Mr. Moseley, and the Secretary's office. Mention is also made of Admiral Mees, Mr. Bridges, Major Crisp, Mr. Roiffee, Mr. Onelly, Capt. Payne, Mr. Moreley.