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Title: Letter from James Patterson to John Haywood, August 18, 1795: Electronic Edition.
Author: Patterson, James
Funding from the University Library, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill supported the electronic publication of this title.
Text scanned (OCR) by Brian Dietz
Images scanned by Bari Helms
Text encoded by Brian Dietz
First Edition, 2005
Size of electronic edition: ca. 12K
Publisher: The University Library, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Chapel Hill, North Carolina
2005

No Copyright in US

The electronic edition is a part of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill digital library, Documenting the American South.
Languages used in the text: English
Revision history:
2005-11-23, Brian Dietz finished TEI/XML encoding.
Source(s):
Title of collection: University of North Carolina Papers (#40005), University Archives, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Title of document: Letter from James Patterson to John Haywood, August 18, 1795
Author: J Paterson
Description: 2 pages, 3 page images
Note: Call number 40005 (University Archives, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill)
Editorial practices
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Originals are in the Southern Historical Collection, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
Original grammar, punctuation, and spelling have been preserved.
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Letter from James Patterson to John Haywood , August 18, 1795
Patterson, James



Page 1
Mont Pelier 18th Augt 1795

Mr John Haywood

Sir,

I take the Liberty once More being Needcessiated to Apply To you about this trifling Setlement for work & Labour Done a Specified in the Acounts Sent you by the bearer Mr John McAuly—when I undertook this building I thought I Had to Do with a Set gentlemen that would Not Quible about triffles; and I should be Sorry to Say I have Reason to think so Now. in the first Place, I Have been Severly Handled by ill Grounded suspitions that I would Not finish the building Undertaken—in the Second Place I was Kept and Delayed for want of bricks upwards of two Months and all Hands idle when the Dayes were Long and the weather Good which was a Loss Not to be Conseived but by those that Felt it—in the third Place I was Keept out of the Second Payment Nearly three Months after it was Due by the Express words of the Contract—and Now when finished for several months No payment Can be had—when I Proposed Painting the Roof befor the scafolds were Struck when it Could have been Done at Much Less Expence and at No Risk, that I was forbid to Do. but when all the Scafolds were Struck I was ordered to Paint the Roof and Had to Make two Ladders 44 feet Long to Reach the Roof & too Hanging Do 28 feet Long to Reach the Length of the Rafters find Paint and oile, Pay a Man 3 Dollars p Day to Superintend the Painting and Risk My own Slaves to Such Jeoperdy as they were inn Every Moment for So Long a time. the Least Slip of Hand or foot would have Cost them their Lives and Me a Valuable Servant—was it to Do again I Do Not Know that I would Undertake it for the whole sum I have Charged for Painting the whole of the building outside & inside—as to the outer stair Cases considering the Manner they are finished the Lumber Picked out of Several thousands of feet to Get broad Plank & as Clear of Sap as Could be got (I am Confidant that No other Person besides myself would have taken the Same Pains and waisted as much Plank to Make Such floors throwghout the buildings) the whole of the building at Least 50 pr Sent Lower than the Real Value, this I Do Not Complain off; But to be Keept out of this Last Payment so Long and have so much trouble & Expence in Looking after it—At a time when I am in such imediat want of it it Not only Hurts My Credit but my feelings. More then tongue Can tell; at the same time A write Served upon for the Lot I bought in the Vilage and Judgment & Execution obtaind against Me for a ballance Due for a Saw Mill, I was oblidged to purchase to Carry on the building—Should you think the Charge in the Acount too High for the outside Stairs—enclosed is a Discription of them which you will Please shew to Mr Atkins and take his opinion on it he is Also a Good Judge of the Value of Painting as Also of brick work which I am of opinion he will Give it freely by your taking the trouble of Sending for him; pressing Needsessity oblidges Me to Make this application to you, as None of the other Comissioners will Do Any thing without you—if you Have Seen Colol. Glasgow you Know whether you are appointed to Settle with me; if you are Not your writting a Letter by the bearer to the other Comissioners Giving your opinion of the busines which I will on his Return Carry to Mr Alves and indeavour to Prevail upon him to Go with Me to Hillsboro and Make an Effort to Get him and Major tatom to Go with Me to Colol Moors and Get the matter finaly, or in Part Sittled, and me Prevented from Ruin the Most of what I want May be Discounted with Peopel indeted to the trustees—Could I Colect My own private Dets I Should Not think of Asking this favour of you at this time, or if I Could Even Sell Lands or other Property

Page 2
or other Property for Ready Money at two thirds of the Real Value I Should Not So Much as think of Asking for this trifling ballance Untill a General Meeting of the Comissioners; I Hope you will Excuse this Liberty I Have taken as it appears to Me you are the only Acting Comissioner that endeavours to forward the bussines. your Complyance

Will Lay Under Very Great obligations

J Paterson

John Haywood Esq r


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