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At the Institute’s core is the Gilder Lehrman Collection, one of the great archives in American history. More than 85,000 items cover five hundred years of American history, from Columbus’s 1493 letter describing the New World through the end of the twentieth century.

Easson, John (1715-1790) to David Easson

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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC00191 Author/Creator: Easson, John (1715-1790) Place Written: Boston, Massachusetts Type: Autograph letter signed Date: 18 December 1773 Pagination: 2 p. : address : docket ; 30 x 19 cm. Order a Copy

Discusses various business matters and give instructions to his son in Annapolis Royal, Nova Scotia. Provides a brief account of the Boston Tea Party and advises David to take good care of any remaining tea he has, since there will be no more forthcoming. Written from the commonsense perspective of a man in commerce worried about losses from rowdy Bostonians. Easson was a Boston merchant.

My Dear David Boston, Dec.r 18th 1773

there is 32 pair of Shoos and 2 pair of pumps the Shoos and pumps Cost a Dollar a paier the tow paier of Womans Shoos Cost three pistrens a paier the Other Small ons Cost a pistren a pair the Gun Cost 6 Dollars a piece the powder Cost 10 pence a pound the Shott 3 pense half penny the half Axes Cost half a Dollar a piece the Mens Shoos You May Sell for Six Shillings the pumps for Seven Shillings and be Shure whom you trust that there pay is Shewne if you Gett the Money for the rum You will pay Capt Attwood for the fright I Could Not Send You any More at present for want of Money I Can have Six Shillings for Muss Skinss and Six and Sixpence Starling for Bover ton Dollars for a Good Lussarvee three Dollars for Good Oatters Good Marlins one Shilling Good Minks in Seson three Shillings the Squirl Skins is Good for Nothing the bags of Mogesons 20 paier at on Shilling they Cost hear You may Sell them for a Small profit for whate You Can Gett if they will answer I Can Gett Some New ones farr better then these for they have been Made Some Years if You have any of your tea Left You Must tak Good Care of it for there will be Non to be Gott hear about a fortnight ago there Arived heare from England 450 Chests of tea Last night the Sons of Liberty went and forced the Ships broek all the Chests and Empted all the tea into the Sea this I belive will be as bad as the Stamp Actt.
[2] My Complements to Betty and all the Children and to all the [struck: Chil] family and
I am Your Loving father
John Easson

[address leaf]
Mr
David Easson Toall
Annapolis Royall
[docket]
John Easson
Boston
to
David Easson
Annapolis
18 Dec 1773

Easson, John, 1715-1790
Easson, David, 1748-1789

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