SLAVERY Original Letter JAMES FRASER Slave Estate GOLDEN FLEECE Berbice ca. 1805 for Sale

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SLAVERY Original Letter JAMES FRASER Slave Estate GOLDEN FLEECE Berbice ca. 1805 For Sale

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SLAVERY Original Letter JAMES FRASER Slave Estate GOLDEN FLEECE Berbice ca. 1805:
$159.06

Original Letter to James Fraser
at his Slave Estate ‘GOLDEN FLEECE’ at Berbice, Guyana
ca 1800-1805 apparently from his wife (Mary Fraser) staying at Thomas Cumming’s estate ‘The Kitty’James Fraser Younger (8th) of Belladrum (1766 - 1834) was son of Colonel James Fraser (1732-1808) 7th of BelladrumHis two brothers Simon Fraser and Evan Fraser (d. 1813) were also owners of local slave plantations: Plantation Union and Plantation Brighton
By 1799 the Belladrum Frasers already held three plantations on the west sea-coast of BerbiceThe Golden Fleece Estate held 386 slaves in 1818One folded sheet, slightly brownedThis letter is difficult to date - appears to be ca 1800-1805 - and requires further research
According to available info (online) James Fraser only acquired The Golden Fleece estate in 1818However estates changed name, were often bought and sold, etc
There were two ships called Lady Cathcart at this time but only the latter (launched 1828 & sinking 1831) is recorded as visiting the Carribbean
But many of the individuals apparently mentioned here were dead by that time - Thomas Cumming died in 1813 & Evan Fraser in 1812
- In 1798 Thomas Cuming married James Fraser’s sister Isobel - she died in 1800 and he died in Scotland in 1813 The letter begins and is signed with nicknames (H-g and M…z or W.…z):
The Kitty (Thomas Cuming’s estate)
Monday afternoon
I received my dearest H.g’s letter just before dinner. I expected it last night and when it did not arrive began to hope you were on the way yourself. I trust you will not be absent longer than till Wednesday at farthest - for tho’ every body intends to be kind, yet you may believe I am not over comfortable.
Mr Cuming (Presumably Thomas Cuming - married to James’s sister Isabella, or his nephew also called Thomas) was taken ill with a severe attack of fever & ague, the day you went. He has been confined to his room from Thursday evening, till today he is better, but appears still laid & languid and he has his squealing brat in the room with him all night. Which I am sure must be very bad - as I am frequently wakened by her crying in the night.
Mrs Cuming (possibly Isabella Fraser) & Mrs Wegdenborg(?) are with Mrs Tinné (Wife of Phillip Frederick Tinné)), who is much the same, not worse. Mrs Greve has got her little boy here, he is a fine lively child, but she spoils him. On Thursday Evan (presumably Evan Fraser, James’ brother - he died in 1813) and Mr Badgot (George Bagot) arrived, and the former is waiting for you, he hopes you will be here by Thursday but he cannot stay longer but I hope you will be sooner.
There is a Grand Piano for sale in the town, it came out in the Lady Cathcart (ship). I got Evan just to ask the price. They have the moderation to demand only 100 joes!!
We were obliged of course to send an apology to the Macrae’s (Alexander Macrae) on Thursday. I hope Chateau Mango is now out of the question, indeed the Lady has never expressed any wish to see me there.
I am most happy to think we have no neighbours near the Union (i.e. Simon Fraser’s estate Plantation Union). Mr Cuming is laying a most excellent plan for our living at Weldaad (James Fraser’s Weldaad Estate) - as “it will only be putting up with the Governess & Children for a month or two, till they go to England”! how comfortable we should be!
I trust you will arrange every thing so that we may get home in a few days. I do not think Gordon well & everything here is uncomfortable in the extreme.
Mrs Wilson called here the other day & asked me if I had brought any white servants out? Mrs Meertens (wife of Jacob Meertens?) too was here & today Mr Ogle (James Ogle of the Ogle Plantation?) called. Mr McLeod (possibly John Mcleod, owner of Plantation Geanies) has sent me a basket of fine looking fruit - I would gladly change it for a plate of strawberries & cream.
In point of health I continue much the same as you left me. I hope you will receive this on your way. God bless you dearest H-g! Make haste back to your own poor W….z.(or M….z?)
This was a very “satisfactory” letter, to do you justice.Other notes:The Belladrum business ventures in Guyana all ended in premature death and financial ruin
James and Mary Fraser were married in 1799
\'James has changed – silent – utter aversion to being at home. Hates Mrs Fraser.\' 1805 Reeling archive
James\'s brother Simon Fraser of Belladrum married the daughter of Governor van Battenburg
“I never knew of any man, with the immense advantages he had, who so completely missed making a very great Fortune”. His wife (universally disliked) later left him for Thomas Brittlebank
Weldaad was 7 miles from Plantation Union where Simon Fraser built his house (1803) costing at least £5,000Advert for sale of one of James Fraser’s other estates 1804 in the Guyana Chronicle:
For Sale: Belladrum: Plantation Roxborough Hall, situated on the East Coast Canal Berbice, (adjoining Plantation Belladrum, the Property of Jas. Fraser Esq.) containing 250 acres land, the whole empolder’d and has the advantage of a navigable canal at each end, leading into Canje and the River, Berbice, of which 70 acres are in full bearing plantains, 10,000 coffee trees two years old, 15,000 young coffee plants, and 100 acres cotton, with the buildings &c &c. –
This Property will be sold very reasonable, and with or without forty seasoned Negroes to suit the purchaser. For Terms of Sale, apply to Robert Merchant in Berbice, or to the Subscriber.
(Demerary, 30th June 1804. Wm. Dodgson)
(from Guyana Chronicle website)