1843 ORIGINAL MANUSCRIPT LETTER HANDWRITTEN BY A COTTON PLANTATION OWNER TO HIS FRIEND AND ACCOUNTANT DETAILING HIS PERSONAL AND FINANCIAL PROBLEMS, DESPITE A BOUNTIFUL COTTON CROP THAT YEAR

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On offer is an interesting article of the antebellum Deep South. Sent by a Mr. David Moore in 1843, the letter concerns both personal and business matters of a Cotton plantation ow ner in some trouble. He is writing to his friend, a Mr. Firth, who seems like he is Mr. Moore’s accountant or money manager of sorts and lives in Mississippi. The letter begins with pleasantries towards his friend. “I expected to come bye your place, but the Sickness of my son prevented my leaving home until the last hours. He has recovered and I left him with his Grandmother bringing my wife and two children only - We are all well.” It seems Mr. Firth has recently been made manager, possibly at a bank or firm and Mr. Moore writes, “I hope you will be satisfied and distinguish yourself as a manager.” He then gets down to his problem. “I have the largest crop of cotton I ever have made if I could get it out - but the worst Fall to pick I have ever seen and I have more cotton in the field than I have gathered - Ragsdale says we shall never get our cotton out - Therefor to send more hands before getting it out will be important...” Because the work has been tough he writes, “My duties have been such to prevent my attending to money business of my own - you must ____ me feebly and freely shall on all ___ connected with your business...As my expenses are great and no likelihood of getting anything for the next 12 months from your places but I hope I shall make something the next year but as a matter of course nothing in comparison of the Amount of hands and Capital vested you must to be this matter under your consideration and make the best arrangements you can to produce the best results.” He finishes addressing his money matters in the letter by reaffirming his faith in Mr. Firth as a competent manager of his funds. “You know my desire is do the best and if small additional expenditures are necessary I must provide for that purpose if necessary. You will judge of that and write me.” Finally, the letter ends with Mr. Moore writing of “having been put at the head of the Bank Committee which has everything to do in regards to currency and Winding up. Our currency is only 6 pc. Below parr and daily getting better. It left alone it will soon come to parr.” The letter itself is 2 full length pages one one piece of paper as well as a quarter length portion of paper in which the letter continues. The rest of the page has been ripped off at some unknown time. The pages are in fair to good condition. There are a number of rips and tears along the creases and edges making the pages fragile. There is also a bit of discoloration at points around the letter. None of it affects the legibility of the writing. The handwriting itself is in black ink, slightly faded at points but in good condition. The script is easy to read throughout. This would be a very interesting addition to a collection of antebellum Tuscaloosa or cotton plantation history. It’s a little slice of life in the Deep South before the tumult and destruction of the Civil War.; Manuscript; 4to - over 9¾" - 12" tall; KEYWORDS: HISTORY OF, DAVID MOORE, TUSCALOOSA, ALABAMA, COTTON PLANTATION OWNER, PRE CIVIL WAR PLANTATION, ANTEBELLUM, DEEP SOUTH, COTTON HARVESTING, AMERICANA, HANDWRITTEN, MANUSCRIPT, DIARY, DIARIES, JOURNAL, PERSONAL HISTORY, FIRST HAND ACCOUNT, FIRST PERSON ACCOUNT, DOCUMENT, LETTER, AUTOGRAPH, WRITER, HAND WRITTEN, DOCUMENTS, SIGNED, LETTERS, MANUSCRIPTS, HISTORICAL, HOLOGRAPH, WRITERS, AUTOGRAPHS, PERSONAL, MEMOIR, MEMORIAL, ANTIQUITÉ, CONTRAT, VÉLIN, DOCUMENT, MANUSCRIT, PAPIER ANTIKE, BRIEF, PERGAMENT, DOKUMENT, MANUSKRIPT, PAPIER OGGETTO D'ANTIQUARIATO, ATTO, VELINA, DOCUMENTO, MANUSCRITTO, CARTA ANTIGÜEDAD, HECHO, VITELA, DOCUMENTO, MANUSCRITO, PAPEL Show more