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Collection

Charles Cameron letterbook, 1805-1807

1 volume

This volume contains copies of letters sent from Charles Cameron, British officer and governor of the Bahamas. The letters concern dealings with prisoners, interacting with officers, courts martial, colonial law and the state of the colony, crops on the islands, small pox and other sicknesses, and preparing ships for service.

The Charles Cameron letterbook (359 pages) contains copies of letters sent from his governorship in the Bahamas spanning from 1805 to 1807. The volume has an index of recipients, organized alphabetically by last name. Most letters are written by Cameron (signed C.C.) though some are from R. Roberts, possibly Cameron's assistant. Topics include descriptions of dealing with prisoners, interactions with officers, courts martial, orders from governors, colonial law and the state of the colony, crops on the islands, small pox and other illnesses, and the preparation of ships for service. The volume also contains many examples of Cameron's written orders to various naval officers. Several letters are to Major Charles Henry Darling, lieutenant-governor of Tobago, who married his eldest daughter Isabella. Many items are copies of "cover letters," created to accompany documents not present in the letterbook. Of note is mention of a mulatto prisoner named Tannis (September 23, 1805), and discussion of legal issues concerning transporting a group of slaves from Turks Island (August 2, 1806).

Locations mentioned include Jamaica, Crooked Island, Turks Island, Harbor Island, Eleuthera, Santo Domingo, Nassau, Ragged Island, New Providence Island, Andros Island, Cuba, Liverpool, New York, Philadelphia, Spain, and France. Ships mentioned include:

  • Nassau, Felucca John Bull, Packet (page 260)
  • Cartel (page 274)
  • Havana (275)
  • Vesuvius, Viper (page 284)
  • Mars (page 304)
  • Pitt (page 308)
  • RedBridge (page 310)
  • Patent (page 311)
  • Favorite (324)
  • Pike (page 326)
  • Jamaica Mail (page 333)
  • Atlanta (page 341)
  • Swedish Schooner Ulrica (page 353)

Many letters note, in light purple writing, the date they were sent from the Bahamas and the name of the ship.

Collection

Green-Mitchell family papers, 1780-1883 (majority within 1785-1812, 1831-1862)

3.75 linear feet

The Green-Mitchell family papers are made up of correspondence, legal documents, receipts, and other financial records pertaining to the business and personal affairs of New York attorneys Timothy Green and John W. Mitchell (Timothy Green's son-in-law). Much of the collection pertains to mercantile affairs and land speculation in the South, Northeast and Western United States. A large portion of the collection pertains to South Carolina (Charleston), New York, and Massachusetts (Worcester). The Manuscripts Division has also created an inventory of the letter-writers in the collection: Green-Mitchell Family Papers Correspondent Inventory.

The Green-Mitchell family papers are made up of correspondence, legal documents, receipts, and other financial records pertaining to the business and personal affairs of New York attorneys Timothy Green and John W. Mitchell (Timothy Green's son-in-law). Much of the collection pertains to mercantile affairs and land speculation in the South, Northeast and Western United States. A large portion of the collection pertains to South Carolina (Charleston), New York, and Massachusetts (Worcester).

The Correspondence series contains 1,470 letters to and from members of the Green and Mitchell families between June 26, 1780 and October 1, 1880. Four hundred and sixteen incoming letters to Timothy Green date between 1780, and 1812. He received the bulk of them from family members, business partners, and clients in South Carolina, New York, and Worcester, Massachusetts. Timothy's brother, Samuel Green, a prominent merchant in Columbia, South Carolina, was among his most frequent correspondents. The collection includes 160 letters by Timothy Green, primarily sent from New York. Timothy Green's correspondence comprises the bulk of the collection's materials related to land speculation.

John W. Mitchell received 540 letters, approximately a third of the series, between 1806 and 1880. His primary correspondents wrote from Charleston, South Carolina; Fort Wayne, Indiana; and New York. The subject matter represented in these letters is diverse, pertaining to business and personal affairs, and the Episcopal Church. Other frequent writers include Timothy Ruggles Green, Clarence G. Mitchell, Samuel Green, and Judge Peter P. Bailey, founder of Trinity Episcopal Church in Fort Wayne, Indiana.

The Legal Documents series relates to estates administration and 48 legal suits in which the Green and Mitchell families were involved, either as attorneys or as parties to a suit. Materials for some of these cases are extensive and others include only a few pages. The cases comprising much of the series are Conklin v. Mitchell and Davis v. Duffie. Conklin v. Mitchell (New York, 1852-57) pertains to a land dispute between George Conklin and defendant John W. Mitchell. Davis v. Duffie (New York, 1825-1861) concerns charges brought against Smith Davis for fraud and a related mortgage taken out by Cornelius R. Duffie. John W. Mitchell and Clarence G. Mitchell defended Duffie.

Five certificates document commissions held by John W. Mitchell and Clarence G. Mitchell. Additional legal papers include insurance policies, powers of attorney, deeds, civil actions, summonses, depositions, agreements, and other items compiled by Timothy Green and John W. Mitchell in carrying out their work as attorneys.

The Financial Documents series contains 143 receipts, checks, bank notes, accounts, and other financial records dating from 1785-1874. Timothy Green compiled 11 summaries of accounts, representing a portion of his business transactions between 1787 and 1809.

Printed materials include a quarterly chronicle for the Mission to the Working Men of Paris (1877), two monthly bulletins for the Charity Organization Society in New York (1884), a notice of sale, and a cover page from the book One Day With Whistler.

Miscellaneous materials include two items: a partially-printed report card for Clarence G. Mitchell at the Episcopal Institute at Troy, New York, in 1837, and a genealogical document concerning the Boudinot family of Philadelphia.

The Manuscripts Division has also created an inventory of the letter-writers in the collection: Green-Mitchell Family Papers Correspondent Inventory.