Our Collection

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.

Aideby, R.J. (fl. 1784) [Legal document concerning the confiscation of James Wright's property with an opinion]

High-resolution images are available to schools and libraries via subscription to American History, 1493-1943. Check to see if your school or library already has a subscription. Or click here for more information. You may also order a pdf of the image from us here.

Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC08734.02 Author/Creator: Aideby, R.J. (fl. 1784) Place Written: England Type: Manuscript document signed Date: 12 December 1784 Pagination: 8 p. : address ; 32 x 20 cm. Order a Copy

Provides a detailed chronology of the confiscation case of James Wright, the loyalist governor of Georgia, whose estate was seized during the American Revolution. Spans from June 1774-June 1782 and includes a discussion of the confiscation of many of Wright's slaves in 1778 who escaped from their new owners and returned to Wright after the British recaptured Georgia in 1779. Contains a very detailed description of the laws that facilitated the confiscation. Requests advice on how to obtain relief from and the protection of England "against so unjust an action." Followed by an autograph signed note by "R.J. Aideby" (spelling possibly incorrect because illegibility) who concedes that "Wrights case is one of the hardest that can be conceived" but contends that "it is of such a nature that no Court of Law or Equity can give him relief." Aideby subsequently explains why this is so, concentrating on how debts relate to international relations with America. Creator of the document's main body unknown.

Aideby, R.J., fl. 1784
Wright, James, Sir, 1716-1785

Citation Guidelines for Online Resources