Letter from W. Fenwick to William Smith
Mr William Smith Richmond 3 Feb 1808
Dear Sir
I had the pleasure of addressing
a few lines to you under date --th ------ empowering you to
---- as far as $2½ p Barrl for a quantity of Corn ~ since
there I am favored with yours of --- --- from Petersbg &
thank you for the information in it contains in The
present is to authorize your giving $3 p Barrl for any
qty of Corn that you can engage deliverable in Stuart
& Ryan's W Houses at the mouth of Roanoke payable in
3 -- 6 Months; & --red, where a quantity worth notice
is to be had I would not pass it for the consideration
of a shilling or two now ~ for the purchase proposed
to be made for cash, I would have you advance in the
same proportion ~ if nothing is to be done down the country,
you will of course see what is to be done in your neigh
=bourhood; &, if to be delivered in Pburg at these prices,
it will answer a good purpose in relying upon your
attention to this business I remain
Your Friend & Servt
W Fenwick
On back of above Letter
D- what I Owe Co By What owed me
Col Eaton ₤100 ---- H Lyme ₤104
Mabry 120 B. Hilyard 10
Major Brown & Gallagohrs(sp?) 12 --- Downey Sen 4
Mary Smith 40 Thos Hayes 20
Nancey Smith 42 Lehte --tts 12
ABaod(sp?) (Akood?) 18 -----------
Jordon Hiri(sp?) 14 ~ 6 150
Elijah Pullard(sp?) 6 ~
-------------------- Corn 48
324 ~ 6 ---- 45
Hogs 243
Brandy 18
------------ ------------- ----------- 35
-------------
315
------- 24
-Bess(sp?) 30
-------------
375
354
--------------
21
(Note: William B. SMITH, son of Samuel SMITH Sr and Mary WEBB went to Petersburg in the late 1700s to work for FENWICK & DABNEY of Richmond, VA. I believe they also had an office in Petersburg, just south of Richmond, since many of his letters from home (Granville Co., NC) were sent by way of them in Richmond. There are letters from his family discussing his employment.)