Colonial Williamsburg Digital Library

MS43.4: Francis Nicholson Papers,
Nicholson to Major Dent, 18 July 1701

I lately received yo^rs of June the 4^th w^ch the inclosed petition of Jn^o Newsum, and if you really
think him an object of Charity, & that there is any hopes of his mending you may give him
20 or 30 Shillings upon my Acco^tts.

According to my promise to you w^ch. I hope in God I shall always performe,
I have written to S^r Tho: Lawrence, and I hope that both he & you will have Success in
that affair; but I am also in hopes that you have fully wrote to him on that subject, & got his
Ex^cy Governor Blakiston to do ye same. I am heartily sorry that I can't meet his
Ex^cy at Coll. Fitzhughs, but I have just now written him the reason that I cannot
as also what I proposed about his Excell^cy's coming hither, and if he gives you leave
to come with him, and you do not do [rubbing] You must expect to be swinged when I see you
and have a care that I don't burn all yo^r Law bookes

I hope you are not unmindfull of Major Burwells affair with M^r Lyones, if you
fail me in this affair, you must expect death or further punishment; for sure you
know how near a Relation that Gentleman is to acertain young Lady, to describe
whose very ^{good &} great good Character [would] take up as many folio's as Cook upon Littleton.
and [rubbing] I have had an occasion to [rubbing] that charming & bewitching sex, pray be so
kind as to bring with you an Acco^t that Mad^m Diggs has done with my Lady Laetitia
Bawden, for I very much want to know a true & full acco^t of that affair.

This will be sent you by Cap^t Fitzhugh, and I hope you will be so kind as to let me
hear from you by the Messenger what news in yo^r Country & the Northward, and if any
lately from England. His Matys ship the Southampton is not yet arrived, nor no late
News from England. pray be so kind as to let me know, what Laws you past last
Assembly, if you have any Rangers, what number, and if any Orders are come about
yo^r Church Laws. When yo^r Assembly is to meet, ours being designed, God willing, to
meet upon the 6^th of the next moneth, and either at that time or before I hope to see
you here In the interim remain

MS43.4: Francis Nicholson Papers Nicholson to Major Dent, 27 August 1701

His Excell^cy being ill hath ordered me to write to you and let you know that he did not
receive yo^r lett^r of July 23^d till the other day; so desires you in yo^r next to let him
know whom you sent it over to Also y^r affair with S^r Thomas, his Ex^cy hopes it will
succeed according to yo^r mind; and he hopes that both his Excell^cy yo^r Govern^r and yo^r
self have written to him by all opportunity's. His Excell^cy our Governor desires to
know what is done on my Lady Letitia Bawdens affair. his Excell^cy likewise hopes
that you will have made an end of that affair with M^r Lynes: but it must be either
in money that goes here, or in bills of Exchange, for land will not do, the Major having
enough of that, and may be more than any one man in this Countrey. His Excell^cy
sends this by way of Annapolis, having sent to his Excell^cy yo^r Governor what
News he hath, as also a bag of lett^rs from M^r Perry. His Excell^cy hopes this will
find you at Annapolis, and that his Excell^cy and yo^r Govern^r will do him the favor
to come with hither, & that you will come with him. His Excell^cy also hopes
you'll be so kind as to let him hear from you by all oppurtunitys, and let him
have yo^r News in y^r parts and from y^e Northward &c for he expects to hear from—
England by that way. He hopes [to] God you & y^r family are in good health &
will continue so. he desires you [rubbing] his humble service to the Gentlemen of yo^r
Councill & the rest of his acquaintance