Fr. Carbery to Fr. Fenwick on the conditions of slaves at St. Inigoes, March 16, 1831.

Fr. Carbery to Fr. Fenwick on the conditions of slaves at St. Inigoes, March 16, 1831.

Slave labor; Slaves--United States--Social conditions; Marriage-Slaves; Catholic Church-Clergy-Correspondence

In this letter from 1831, Father Joseph Carbery writes about the marriage Liddy, an enslaved woman from St. Inigoes, and the relocation of Lewis, a blacksmith "who never liked to live in the country."

Maryland Province Archives

Georgetown Slavery Archive

1831-03-16

Adam Rothman, Elsa Barraza Mendoza

Georgetown University Library

PDF

English

Manuscript

GSA135

Rev^d Dear Father, 

            Your favor of Feby last came in due time. I am sorry that my avocation prevented me from answering before. And I must accuse myself of a little neglect too – which has kept me from thanking you for its contents before this. – I had no objections to Lewis leaving this place, as he never liked to live in the country – Whilst he was with me he always behaved himself well & I had no fault to find of him- It would be well if you could employ him at his trade as he is a tolerable blacksmith now & he may forget what he has learnt. If he left here moneyless (which I hardly think was the case) it was his own fault. – Sam got married to one of our women Liddy on the 12^th of Feby last he had a wish to pay his Parents a visit first, but the weather would not permit his doing so, he & Hilary are both well & behave themselves well.- I have no news worth relating to you from this quarter except the severe winter has made bad colds very prevalent this way & myself am now labouring under the severity of one, but I hope soon to conquer it. I do suppose that you have heard that our Judges & Lawyers at Leonard Town set our Court house on fire a telling of lies last week & it was consumed to ashes together with all the records and land papers of St. Mary’s. This may concern you as you may hold land in this county if your papers be lost to have them renewed as soon as possible this will make a fine harvest for lawyers.-

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Please tell the Rev^d. Rector I recd his letters & have complied with his request. I am always sorry to hear of our number diminishing- but I trust Good Fr. Peters has made a happy exchange- I should like to now how your consumption comes on as St. Inigoes is a famous place to cure that disorder. I anticipate the pleasure of seeing you here before long. Please present my cordial respects to the Superior if he is with you, the Rector & all the Rev^d. Fathers &c &c. And accept for your self my warmest wishes for your health etc.-

Yours Joseph Carbery

 

Rev^d. George Fenwick
March 16^th 1831

 

 

 

[Envelope]

St Inigoes
March 23^rd.

 

Rev^d George Fenwick
George Town College
D.C.

Manuscript