Account book and letterbook, 1757-1782.

ArchivalResource

Ancrum, William, ca. 1722-1808. Account book and letterbook, 1757-1782.

Account book and letterbook, 1757-1782.

http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/29666412

Single volume, bound in vellum, that contains both a letter book and financial accounts that reflect the financial impact of the American Revolution on this South Carolina businessman and planter. The letter book, 1776-1780 (169 letters), preserves communications with merchants in Camden, S.C., as well as plantation overseers, and others; the account book details Ancrum's personal expenses, 1776-1789. The earliest financial entries, 1757-1758, preserve mercantile accounts recorded by the original owners of the volume, the firm of Fesch & Guinard [Guignard], during the French and Indian War. As an absentee land owner, Ancrum directed much of his correspondence to overseers Marlow Pryor, Parker Quince, and Joshua Terrel. There are also letters to Joseph Kershaw (1727-1791) and John Chesnut (1743-1818), both merchants of Camden, S.C. Topics discussed include many aspects of slavery and plantation operations, including the health of slaves, shoes and clothing for slaves, runaway slaves, the purchase of slaves, the elevated prices of slaves during war time, the transport of crops and supplies between Charleston and Camden, and the economic implications of the American Revolution, including the need to plant cotton to provide homespun cloth for slave clothing. Ancrum's letters contain only occasional references to the military conflict, his comments relating chiefly to the economic implications of events. A letter of 15 July 1777 cites a problem in shipping salt which might be viewed "as a breach of the Embargo... & consequently subject a person to public Censure which few people would care to incur." Rice, salt, and indigo were under embargo during this time, and as a result William Ancrum was prohibited from selling much of his valuable indigo crop. Ancrum's correspondence refers also to events and conditions in Charleston, S.C. A letter of 28 Jan. 1778 relates details of the damage resulting from a fire on 15 Jan. 1778, which "has laid in Ruins the whole of Church street square to the [bay]...." A letter of 16 Feb. 1778 to Geo[rge] Hooper comments on the aftermath of the fire, "the consequences will be severely felt by many, it never would have happened in a worse period when the distress of many was already great, & no materials to be go to repair the losses... properly by rebuilding."

171 p.

University of South Carolina, System Library Service, University Libraries