Items

• Benjamin Chew, Jr. to George Ford discussing provisions for enslaved people during Harvest, June 13, 1795
  Very detailed directions from Chew, Jr. to Ford regarding provisions for the Whitehall Harvest. He first discusses bacon sent and then writes, "I send you two Barrels of Fish one of them for yourself @ 52/6. The Bacon with the Fish I hope will be enough for the People if dealt out with Economy & Frugality if Waste is permitted there is no Saying what might be necessary". On the back of the letter he writes, "Mr Ford upon examining the Spirits sent in the Keg I find it to be higher priced that was intended (?) and is very strong. I wd therefore have you mix a good deal of water with it for the People's Drink both on their and out account & on account of the Cost of it"
• Benjamin Chew, Jr. to George Ford, June 23, 1796
  List of spices and food sent to Whitehall for the Harvest, in addition to directions from Chew, Jr., such as not overworking the horses. Benjamin states "I would have you let the People have a little Rum- let them be cautious in using too much Spirits during Harvest", and "it will be well to mix some molasses with water to drink- it is very wholesome & much reccomended."
• Benjamin Chew to George Ford mentioning death of Negro Boy Jacob, January 30, 1790
  Note thanking Ford for informing Chew of the death of "poor Sol Basket (sp?) and Negro Boy Jacob". He continues by expressing hope that the person Ford hires to replace them "to do the remainder of the work to my barn is a good workman & will do the business faithfully otherwise I shall be much displeased with him." Chew notes that the crop of corn produced will be more than enough to support his "Negro's & stock the coming year".
• Note to George Ford from Benjamin Chew regarding linen and means for spinning for the enslaved people, June 6, 1792
  Via Raymond's boat, Chew is sending a spinning wheel, an iron pot, and sixty yards of linen for the enslaved people of Whitehall. He also states that the cart will not be ready until after the Harvest.
• Letter to George Ford from Benjamin Chew, Jr., September 19, 1794
  Chew, Jr. advises he is waiting for the arrival of a boat to send axes, spades, shovels, and linen for the enslaved men's trousers. Chew criticizes Ford for poor communication regarding the goings-on of the plantation, including the repair of a chimney. He ends directing Ford to "take care to have the stockings for the people in time and...that their cloth is attended in time."
• Note to George Ford from Benjamin Chew on shipment of clothing for enslaved people, May 20, 1790
  Detailed list of clothing for enslaved people of Whitehall, including Aaron, Yarm, David, Sukey, Peg, Beck, Ruth, and unnamed children. Chew lists shirts for seven men, one pair of "trowsers [sic] cut out for a pattern", 15 yards of linen, "trowsers" for six negro men, seven women's shifts, and seven petticoats. He states that either he or his son will be arriving in Kent soon.
• Note to George Ford from Benjamin Chew on shipment of clothing linen and shoes for enslaved people, November 26, 1792
  Sent to Whitehall by Sterling's shallop- 120 yards of linen for the "men, women, and big Boys shirts and shifts" and another smaller bundle containing 30 yards of "narrower linnen" for the children. Also included were 17 pairs of shoes "made by the measures you sent".
• Note to George Ford from Benjamin Chew on food provisions for enslaved people, June 17, 1790
  Note to George Ford on food provisions for enslaved people at Whitehall. Includes rice, sugar, rum, molasses, and bacon. He states that either he or his son will be at Whitehall for the harvest. Also includes a PS stating that he found the bacon unsuitable for consumption and that it will be replaced.
• Benjamin Chew to George Ford, November 22, 1795
  Note to George Ford from Benjamin Chew who has sent a pair of "very good cart wheels" and detailed instructions for the bag of 19 shoes for his enslaved workers at Whitehall. Any shoes that do not fit are to be sent back with correct measurements, or exchaged with a local good shoemaker.
• Benjamin Chew to George Ford, July 03, 1789
  Letter and list of sundries accompanying planting tools provided by Sterling's shallop (a small boat). Chew advises that in addition to his Negroes, Ford can hire hands for the home if needed. Food and alcohol for the harvest workers are listed, including pork (which Chew specifies that he wants his workers fed vs. bacon), rum, and instructions to kill the oldest sheep for mutton if needed.
• Bill of sale for negro woman Hannah and her three children, July 03, 1739
  Bill of sale for Hannah and her children Ezekiel, Tamar and Rhody, from William Whittington, Jr of Virginia to Alexander Draper of Sussex Country, Delaware for 55 pounds.
• Joseph Porter letter of recommendation, 1797
  A copy of two recommendations for Joseph Porter. The document opens with the statement, “As Joseph Porter Expects to leave one(sp?) he wants a few lines of Recomendations of some of his Neighbors as they are Acquainted with the caracter he leaves(sp?) in this place”. The first recommendation, dated October 9th, 1797 and signed by "MDuke Medford", reads: "Joseph Porter Lives with me this preasent year and his particular Atention to the crop Indures me to Speak in the highest turmes (terms?) of his Industry and Carefulness and Strict Atention to Every thing on the farm he has lived in the famoly before and I allways hird them Spak of his Industry and Carefulness" The second, dated October 12th, 1797 and signed by Rasen Gale & John Newell, reads: "Being called apon by Joseph Porter to acert to his caracter I have herd my Deep frend Marmaduke Medford say that Joseph Porter is a honest and Industris Sober man and a handy man with tools, I have Seen Gates of his make postes hughn Square and Gates appeard Will made and well hung."
• Accounts for work of enslaved people, shoes and clothing at Whitehall, 1798-1799
  Beginning in March 1798, likely written by Benjamin Chew, Jr. The first line advises that 112 yards of linen and a barrel of tar, as well as 22 yards of linen specifically for bagging, was sent to Joseph Porter in March. The list continues with farm labor: April 28 – I was at Whall April 29 – Sent from x roads 10 yds Linnen for Black Children May 13 – sent by Denny to WHall a Boar from Cliveden, also 2 Chissels – 1 Handsaw 1 Auger 2 Gimblets 1 Cooper Adze – 25 ½ coarse Linnen for People May 15 -JP states this day 18 Head of Cattle & 20 yearl & 12 Calves, Merit cut Ditch by himself 59 rod, Merit [Merrit] & Abby together 221 do – Merits share £8.9.6 Next to this list is a list titled “Wilkinsons acct mending shoes for Winter 98/9”, and lists Aaron, James Jr, Enos, Abby, Cato, Dick, Little Sal, Lucey, Old James, Old Sal, Sharper, and Yarm. On November 23rd, Enos was sent to Chester County for the People's shoes, and on returned on the 24th with 15 pairs. Additional work under 1799 includes Prince plowing, Enos involved with a bushel of seed corn, Cato and Aaron plowing for J Crippen, Prince mentioned again regarding a pig, and Young Jem two bushels of corn.
• Notes of farm work by enslaved people at Whitehall, 1797
  Notes of farm work by enslaved people including Lemon, James, Sharper, Absolom, Cato, Enos, Dick, Aaron and Bill, potentially in George Ford's hand. The list of tasks accompanied by various unspecifed numbers reads: “Lemon to feed the hogs in the year 1797 James to feed Sheep 24 Sharper days Jenuary 1 tel 166 Absolem Jan 16 tel 20 Cato 51 Enis dick to feed the Cattle 2 Aron to feed the horsses James & bill to feed yearlens 222”
• Whitehall memorandum accounting the enslaved women's clothing and the distribution of wheat, 1801-1802
  Multiple memos on the same document, spanning 1801-1802. This first page, dated 1801, primarily focuses on farm work and livestock. The second page, dated January 1802, begins with clothing measurements for petticoats and jackets for Sylvia, Sal, Tish & Lucey, Little Sal & Judy, and Sukey & Phin. The fabric is described as “21 yds blue cloth” from Crossroads. In the section next to it is an account of the crop of wheat from 1800, taken from Porter on June 12, 1801: ▪ Used for his share – 2 ▪ Let Merit [Merrit] have of Mr Chews – 2 ▪ Gave yr black People of do [Mr. Chew's]– 4 ½ ▪ Used of his share – 1 ▪ Sold Comerford of [ditto] – 30 ▪ Used on acct of his Share – 7 ▪ Used at Mill on [ditto] – 1 ½ ▪ Lent Vanwinkle on [ditto] – 2 ▪ Lent Abby on [ditto] – 3 ▪ Sent to Philade[lphia] – 900 ▪ Sent to Mill for Harvest – 14 -[total] 1102 ▪ Sold Tailings weight 55 ½ @ 15 for 60 to any to £13.3.72 – 19 The next page includes amounts of linen for clothing for the enslaved people. First are shirts for Abby, Sharper, Enos, Cato, Dick, Aaron, Jas Senior, Jas Jr, Yarm and Ben. Next are measurements for shifts for Silvia & Lucey [Lucy], Sarah, Sal Jr, Sukey, and Phin. Also listed are measurements for trowsers for the same men, and petticoats for the same women, plus Judith. The last page mentions the hiring out of Sarah: “…write to Mr Raymond about Calhouns Negro Jacob for the hire of Sarah & 2d who went to live with him in Dec 1795 at £3 p ann She has continued with him ever since – he effects to say that although free of late he was not absolutely liberated when he made his contract”.
• Whitehall list of plantation tasks including the enslaved women's clothing measurements, undated
  The beginning of the list includes farm tasks such as inspecting the smoke house and decide if any more cattle are to be sold. The last item in ink is a direction to decide the amount of linen needed for new clothing for the enslaved people, including the children. The second page lists the amount of fabric needed for jackets and petticoats for the enslaved women. Those listed are Sylvia, Lucey [Lucy], Sarah, Nan, Jen, Tish, and the children Peg, Molly, Phin, Hannah, Sukey, Rachel(?), Grace, Dol, Stephen, and “3 little ones”.
• Notes from James Raymond on enslaved people of Whitehall, January 07, 1804
  List of notes from James Raymond mentioning Letitia, Merrit, Molly, Judith, Rachel regarding labor, hiring out, and Prince and Sam Calhoun's payments for their wives:  Front: In May 1802 Porter sold to Sam Calhoun the time of Latitia his Wife for ($70 written above) £33.15. of wch $30 was to be pd in hand 30 Dols in May 1803 & $30 in May 1804 -----------£30.15.10 of which Porter recd & aced for in hir acct settled 11 Jany 1803 --£9.7.6 in May 1803 Porter recd of Sam --- 1.07.6 Porter is to be charged with $12 the amt of a Note he took in his name from Thos Lee at Dover & dealt out a part of it In settling with Meritt [Merrit] for Ditching &c remember to charge him with $14 for a cow & calf sold him & Noke - and also with 2 bsh Wheat deld him before June 1801 @ 15/bsh Charge John Raymond with the hire of Molly from 1 Jany 1799 to 1801 – 2 years @£3 per an & from 1801 to 1 Jany 1803 – 2 years @ £4.10.0- Geo Graves was to pay £30 for his with Judith Black Prince was to pay £35 for his wife Rachel Memo Charge Negro Merit with 37/6 I let him have when he was in Philade[lphia] George Graves gave an Assessment of Judgmt as Acctt wh was settled in favor of Negro Merit for £5.15.3 – he also worked at WHall one Harvest 5 days @ 7/6 .17/6 NB both Negro Lucey [not sure who/which Negro Lucy] are now to go w the hire of his Wife Judith as he has now given her up Back: Mr Kennard took away Beck the Daughter of Priscilla from Mr. Gibbs at Dover to whom she had been hired by the year at $8 p ann on the 9 Mar 1803 – her time wd have been up the 4th May following – Gibbs pd Porter 50/ and deducted yr ending 10/
• Ages of enslaved people of Whitehall in 1787
  This list includes the current age in 1787, as well as what is presumably an estimate of their age in 1769:  Dick is by List of 1769 was ab 4 now 22 Davy….. 8 ….26 Enos….. 1 ½ …..20 Sharper …..16…38 Ben…..18 ….36 Abby….10….28 Cato………27 ​​​​​​​Nan in 1769….5….23 Sarah…..13….31 Rachel….16)….34 Young Rachel…..9….27 Priscilla … at most..7…25 Lucey [Lucy]….9….27 Peg….11…29
• Note from Joseph Porter about hire of Becca, 1803
  Small note from Joseph Porter reading:  “Mr Kennards Girl Becca whom I hired of Mr Chew left my Service Wednesday 9 March 1803 the said Girls time wold have been up on the 4th May is She had Continued” Signed by Porter.
• List of enslaved people at Whitehall with measurements for clothing, undated
  Written in Benjamin Chew's hand, the names included are: ​​​​​​​ -Men - Lemon, James, Sharper, Cato, Abby, Enos, Dick -Boys – Aaron, Yarm, David -Women – Silva, Sarah, Lucy, Nan, Judith -Girls - Jane, Priscilla, Young Lucey [Lucy], Sukey, Peg, Beck, Ruth The last line is for 2 1/2 yards of fabric for the unnamed young children.
• Note with instructions for multiple enslaved people at Whitehall, undated
  Undated note possibly in Benjamin Chew, Jr's hand, addressing the fates of numerous enslaved women and their children: "When at Dover enquire for Priscilla and her Children with whom they live & c – her Daughter Lucey [Lucy] is between 18 & 19 years old and may be hired out – Enquire the ages of George her Son and of Beck her Daughter and any other Children she may have and write to me” “The Daughter of little Rachel named Het may be hired out – or I would sell her & her Mother for a Term of years”  “I would also sell Judith & her Daughter Abithah” “Jacob who lives near McCalhouns owes £3 – p year for his Wife ever since Dec 1795 – so that three years were in arrear Dec 1798 See if the Money can be got of him” The second half of the note discusses hams and other meat.
• Notes on three enslaved women belonging to Whitehall, July 30, 1799
  Multiple sections of notes, some taken from Porter's accounts. A particularly notable section can be found on its own page under July 30, 1799:  ​​​​​​​ "Het the Daughter of Rachel Jr was engaged to Wm Ruth at the Landing who wd have given £3 a yr for her but her Father Prince having the Liberty to procure a Place of his Choice put her to Mr Raymond’s who had determined to purchase her Time she could there 3 mo when Prince took her home again where she now remains” John Raymond was to settle wh Porter for Molly who has been with him & was to enter into a new agreem from last Jany upon Porter’s seeing him he said he wd purchase her Time & was to give £20 for her – Qu however the grounds of His fixing this Price the Girl is now 13 yr old & does a great deal of work & is reasonable at £3 for this year” Altho' Tish was gone to live with her Husbd Sam Calhoun before the People’s shoes arrived yet as She had gone thro the Summers Work &c J Porter gave her a Pair of the Shoes &c same being marked for her in Augt he also gave her a Pair of Stockings – Memo Her Husbd therefore is to return her equally fitted in this respect The last line notes that Porter informed him "there were but 16 pair of shoes sent up from Chester To[wnship?]."
• Benjamin Chew, Jr. minutes of sundry matters at Whitehall, June 1790
  The first line of the first page, dated June 20th, 1790, in Benjamin Chew, Jr's hand:  BC gave an order to M Weeks on W Calhoun for £10 in pd Hire of Sarah dated May 18 1789 being Bal due for 3 yrs Hire on which Weeks recd £3.18 The second line refers to sundry issues, including damaged wheat sold in Philadelphia, and the third references the hire of Tish: "He has recd by his own acc of Numbers hire of Tish £6 of Tho Jouer (sp?) __? of Sal - 4-" The other side focuses on the harvest, including the hire of three additional hands.
• Whitehall memo of hiring out and management of enslaved people, January 09, 1803
  First line states 55 yards of Ticklenburg, 13 blankets, one hogshead of molasses, and 23 yards of cloth for the children were sent to Whitehall, followed by 45 fleeces of wool taken to the weavers for men's and women's clothing. The fourth note on the list is regarding the hiring out Lucey, daughter of Priscilla: In the Sum[mer] of 1801 Tho Lee at Dover took Lucey [Lucy] Daughter of Priscilla @ $16 p an but in couret(?) of havg a child deducted $4 & took a note payable to himself for $12 & in 1802 from the date of the note Lee engaged her @15 pmo Porter to find her Cloaths, Lee to fund her Victuals & c". Following that, another daughter of Priscilla, Beck, was also hired out: Beck y__? daugh of Priscilla in May 1802 left Meredith & was hired to Jack Gibs yr Silversmith @$8 pan he finds Cloaths & c – this last in acct settled with Porter Jany 1804" Two lines down it is stated that Latitia has been sold to her husband, Sam Calhoun, for $90, to be paid in three payments by May 1804. The last line on this page describes new clothing for Sharper, Aaron, Little Jem, Abby, Dick, and Ben. The following page states that men's clothes are to be made from 46 yards of cloth and some additional linen, and Jacob Hill is making 18 pairs of shoes for men, women, and boys.
• Memos at Whitehall, including Extracts from Porter's Book, April 08, 1802
  First page written by Benjamin Chew, Jr. lists material his father has sent to and received from Whitehall, much of it focusing on fabric for clothing for the enslaved people. They include:  2 Dec 1801 say 4th My Father send to WHall 52 yrds Ticklenburg & 18 yds of Plains for the Children Qu? Ab(?) Priscilla & her Son at Wilmington 18th June 1801 I sent to WHall 53 yds tow Cloth for Trowsers Petitcoats & bags – also 50 yds Ticklenburg for Shirts & Shifts NB Some were left from preceeding fall/ also 12 yrds Linnen of 5 quarters for yr Children The rest of the document includes counts, lists, and sales of livestock, distribution of wheat, and some finances.