"Deaths in our Family": Fr. Neale describes the dire conditions at St. Thomas Manor, January 9, 1827

"Deaths in our Family": Fr. Neale describes the dire conditions at St. Thomas Manor, January 9, 1827

Diseases--Outbreaks; Slaves; Catholic Church-Clergy-Correspondence

Father Francis Neale reports on the condition of Thomas Manor, where three slaves had died. Neale hired three more slaves to supply the plantation and build slave quarters.

Maryland Province Archives

Georgetown Slavery Archive

1827-01

Adam Rothman, Elsa Barraza Mendoza

Georgetown University Library

PDF

English

Manuscript

GSA133

9^th January 1827

Rev^d. th D^rF^r

            Your kind letter by Brother Moore arrived at St. Thomas Manor while I was attending Cob-Neck during the feasts of Xmass. On my return, I found that a our family here had meet with severe chastisements. - a young married women had died, five men were confined with sickness as also six women, and five children. To two of these women I give the holy oils last night, their exit from this world is daily expected. Our quarters are condemned & must be destroyed by fire in the beginning of spring. - our prospects are dreadful and I am obliged to have recourse to the ordinary means to carry on business in the family. That is the hireing of slaves. I have hired three, nor will these supply our loses.-

I am forced to employ all I can to obtain timber for the building of Negroe quarters. - I remain Rev^d. Father

Affectionately yours in XT

Francis Neale

P.S. There have been three deaths in our family + two more are expected-

Physicians have condemned our Negroe habitations-

 

[Envelope]
Port Tob Md
Jan 10

 

Rev.^d F. Dzierozynsky
Dist. Columbia
Georgetown College

Manuscript