Beschreibung:

Small archive of autograph letters signed from Issac Norris to Jonathan Dickinson, John Askew or Mordecai Maddock.
Philadelphia: v.d. [September 1697 to January 1699/1700]. Together, 9 letters, lengths vary (330 x 210 mm and smaller). Most with address panel and docketing on verso. Condition : some browning, occasional small holes at old folds, a few letters somewhat carelessly opened. fabulous archive of letters between the most successful merchants in 17th century philadelphia detailing their triangular trade. All by one of these letters was written by Norris in Philadelphia to Dickinson in Jamaica (the remaining written to Askew or Maddock prior to Dickinson’s 1699 arrival). All refer to business relationship, with much information on lading, exchange, cargoes, prices of commodities and general matters of commerce. The triangular trade, developed in Philadelphia in the first two decades of the city's existence, consisted of the shipment of commodities to the West Indies, principally grain, flour, barrel staves, shingles, etc., where those products were exchanged for sugar and rum. The Quaker ships would proceed to London, where their cargo would be sold for manufactured goods. The triangle would be completed upon the ship's return to Philadelphia, where the Quaker merchants would sell those needed goods for significant profits, which would then be reinvested in their ships and the purchase of commodities to send to the West Indies. Quaker Isaac Norris emigrated with his family from London to Port Royal, Jamaica in 1678. While he was visiting Philadelphia in 1692, his father, brother and sister were killed in Jamaica following an earthquake which largely destroyed Port Royal. Norris settled permanently in Philadelphia the following year. Within ten years of his settlement in Philadelphia, Norris "had become one of the most prosperous merchants in Pennsylvania" (American National Biography). Dickinson would publish his shipwreck and captivity narrative God’s Protecting Providence in Philadelphia just prior to the 1699 voyage back to Jamaica referred to in these letters. "Dickinson had come to the Quaker colony from Jamaica at the end of the seventeenth century, but he maintained property in the West Indies and frequently returned to the island on trading voyages of particular importance" (Nash, Quakers and Politics, p. 324). The archive is comprised of: 1) 9 September 1697: To Dickinson, brief note, sending papers. 2) 29 March 1699: To John Askew or Mordecai Maddock, discusses the sale of a "tunn of flour" for the account of Jeffery Pinnell, a merchant in Bristol, with instructions to "dispose of the same to most advantage" and "to remit the n[et]t produce thereof to the said Jeffery Pinnell by the first opportunity to Bristol in such commodity as thou canst understand will best answer." 3) 15 April 1699: To Dickinson, sending lading bills for flour and bread shipped on the Sloop Hopewell, asking him to sell those commodities on behalf of Jeffrey Pinnell and Thomas Lloyd “in Sugar or any thing that may Seem most Advantageous.” Also asks for a ton of flour to be sold on his own behalf “either in money such as is most advantage which I need not Direct, or any Other, the produce of thee Island if Cheap, as Rum and Sugar, or English goods if Cheap” and requesting him to send sole leather. 4) 9 May 1699: To Dickinson, asks him to recover £100 he inherited and to remit half to him in money or goods and use the other half “if thou See any propect of advantage to England Ship it any Such Commodity as thou think will be most advantageous.” 5) 11 June 1699: To Dickinson, “…Rum & Sugar are Like to bear a very good Price here this Year being very dear in Barbados Viz. Rum 2s molasses 14d & Sugar 25s…” Postscript mentioning a Meeting with Thomas Storey and Roger Gill, “they are brave Sound men…” 6) 7 August 1699: To Dickinson, a lengthy letter, has received letters from Dickinson (apparently the first) and is relieved of his safety, relating that Dickinson’s wife and children are well, discusses a bill on M. Maddock of Virginia, more on the prices of