Volume II Part 56 (2/2)

1. To the rent of house and ground on Castle Kelly plantation, for eight weeks, at 6s. 8d. per week. 3l. 13 4 2. Richard Kelly and Wife. Same.

3. Elenor Mercer. Same.

4. John Ried and Wife. Same.

5. Mary Ann Christie. Same.

6. Venus Owen (or such like name). Same.

FROM THE REV. J. HUTCHINS.

_Savanna-la-Mar, Sept. 17, 1838._

I now, according to promise in my last, send you a few out of the many cases I am almost hourly troubled with. Some of our would-be great men are, I am sorry to say, hara.s.sing the poor free labourers shamefully; and should it prove, as I think in some cases it must, of serious injury to the absentee proprietors, I shall publish the cases of grievance brought me, together with the names of the estates, owners, attorneys, overseers, &c., and leave all parties to form their own opinion on the subject.

Amelia Martin, to Retrieve Estate, Dr.

1838: August 29.

To house and ground, rent at 5s. per week, from 1st August to date 4_l._ 0 0 [A]Alliac Davis, ground rent at 10d. per week 3 0 [A]William Davis; ditto ditto 0 3 4 ------------- 4_l._ 6 4 -------------

Thos. Tats, Esq. is Attorney, and Mr. Comry Overseer,

[Footnote A: Boys from 9 to 11, her sons.]

Louisa Patter, to Retrieve Estate, Dr.

1838: Aug. 28.

To house and ground from 1st Aug. to date 1_l._ 0 0

She states she has been sickly so long, that she has no ground in cultivation, and cannot help herself, and has only what yams her friends give her.

Susan James, to Albany Estate, Dr.

1838: Aug. 28.

To house and ground rent at 5s. per week, from 1st August, to date 1l. 0 0 Thos. Hewett, ground rent 0 13 4 Elizabeth James, ditto 0 13 4 Mary Dunn, ditto 0 10 0 Let.i.tia, ditto[A] 0 6 8 ------------- 3l. 3 4 -------------

[Footnote A: These are a mother and four children in one house, and with but one ground, they tell me.]

Richard Warren, to Albany Estate, Dr.

1838: Aug. 28.

To house and ground rent to date 1l. 0 0 Wife 0 15 4 Child[B] 0 10 0 ------------- 2l. 5 4 -------------

[Footnote B: The child is quite young, and in daily attendance at one of my schools.]

On this property, under the same managers as Retrieve, the people state that they are going on shamefully. ”The last Sabbath but one, when we were at service, Stephen Campbell, the book-keeper, and Edward Pulsey, old-time constable, come round and mark all for we house, and charge for ebery one of we family. We don't know what kind of fee dis we hab at all; for we attorney, Mr. Tate, neber come on we property, leave all to Mr. Comeoy. We peak to him for make bargain, him say him can't make law, and him no make bargain till him heare what law come out in packet. Him say dem who make bargain are fools; beside him no call up a parcel of n.i.g.g.e.rs to hold service wid me; should only get laughed at. So we know not what for do. You are for we minister, and for we only friend; and if you did not advise we to go on work till things settle down, we no lift another hoe. We would left the property.” Unless an arrangement is soon entered into, I shall advise them to do so.

James Greenheld, to New Galloway Estate, Dr.

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