Report on St. Inigos 1833-7 By McSherry

Dublin Core

Title

Report on St. Inigos 1833-7 By McSherry

Subject

Slavery; Financial Statements; Economic Conditions; Jesuit Missions

Description

Report by Father McSherry on the operations and income generated by the Jesuit plantation St. Inigo's in 1833.

Creator

Maryland Province Archives

Publisher

Georgetown Slavery Archive

Date

1833

Contributor

Adam Rothman, Tom Foley, Elsa Barraza Mendoza

Rights

Georgetown University

Format

PDF

Language

English

Type

Manuscript

Identifier

GSA15

Text Item Type Metadata

Text

St Inigoes

The farm of St. Inigoes contains two thousand acres on the main land, and St. Georges Island which contains 1000 acres making in all 3000 acres. The quality of the land is good but has never been cultivated in a manner to improve it, nor to keep it in its original condition. It is very level, which is prejudicial to it, being in the winter time and frequently in the spring covered with water. 200 acres or at the most 300 would be abundantly sufficient to support a priest or two, and the rest might be sold. St George’s island ought to be sold, as it is at a distance of about 5 miles from the other property by water, and consequently inconvenient. The rents received from it are very light about $200 a year; while at the largest estimate the land is worth $30,000.

About 300 acres of the tract of 2,000 acres on the main land are rented out for which the third of the produce of the land is paid annually, which amounts on an average to about $200 making in all for rented land $400. The tax on the farm for the General fund is $1000, requiring from the portion managed by the Procurator of the farm $600. In order to make these $600 besides his support, he has 1700. 1200 of which are under cultivation. On this portion of the land there are 90 slaves 43 of whom are capable of work, 24 men and 19 women. The remainder are too old or too young to work, but all must be supported, clothed, there doctors fees paid (etc.) The average produce of the 1200 acres worked by 43 hands, has not been at any time since I have been in office more than 1500 (1300) bushels of wheat. 12 hogsheads of tobacco. No horses, cattle, sheep or hogs have been sold. Nor any corn worth naming, not even of that received from the tenants, all being required for the support of the servants, the average price of wheat has not been more than
1 dollars -$1500}
Tobacco 400}
$1900} A large portion of this sum is required to buy

[ p. 2]
implements of agriculture, such as ploughs, harrows, hoes, axes, carts, to purchase clothing for the servants, repairs of the buildings and maintenance of the house. The amount in fact in so large used out of the above $1900 for the purposes just mentioned that there are frequently not $600 clear after the above expenses, and the Procurator of the Province is frequently embarrassed for on account of the delay of the payment.

[p. 3 – in different handwriting]
Report on St. Inigoes, 1833-7
By M Sherry

Original Format

Manuscript

Files

Citation

Maryland Province Archives, “Report on St. Inigos 1833-7 By McSherry,” Georgetown Slavery Archive, accessed September 20, 2024, http://slaveryarchive.georgetown.edu/items/show/20.

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