John R. Thompson promises to build a "snug little chapel" for the enslaved community sold by the Maryland Jesuits, 1852

Dublin Core

Title

John R. Thompson promises to build a "snug little chapel" for the enslaved community sold by the Maryland Jesuits, 1852

Subject

Slavery--Catholic Church; Slaves-Louisiana; Slave trade

Description

In this letter from April, 1852, John R. Thompson -the new owner of 140 enslaved persons sold by Jesuits of Maryland in 1838- thanks Rev. Charles Stonestreet, the Jesuit provincial in Maryland, for allowing him to delay the payment of his debts. Thompson also mentions his intention "to fulfil [sic] the promises of Gov. Johnson by erecting a snug little chapel for the negroes."

A year before this letter, Thompson purchased 140 enslaved persons and Chatham plantation from Gov. Henry Johnson, the original buyer of the Jesuits' enslaved community in Maryland. In purchasing Johnson's property, Thompson assumed Johnson's outstanding debts to the Maryland Jesuits.

Creator

Maryland Province Archives

Publisher

Georgetown Slavery Archive

Date

1852-04-09

Contributor

Elsa Barraza Mendoza, Tom Foley

Rights

Maryland Province, Society of Jesus

Relation

GSA3: Letter from James Van de Velde, S.J. to Thomas Mulledy, S.J., March 28, 1848

GSA82: Letter from James Van de Velde, S.J. to Ignatius Brocard, S.J., November 27, 1848

Format

PDF

Language

English

Type

Manuscript

Identifier

GSA389

Text Item Type Metadata

Text

New River P.C. 

Claiborne Place April 9 1852 

Revd Mr. Stonestreet
Dear Sir

I succeeded on the 3rd in making arrangements for the payment of Governor Johnsons two notes due on that day, and paid them accordingly.  I need not repeat to you the reasons for inducing me to ask of you the extension of time; suffice it to say, they will still exist for a couple of years, and I now early renew my solicitations to defer the payments of the two following years for one year on each payment and hope you will think favorably of the request and at an early time give me the information, as I now stand my payments are one year in advance of my crops, and by granting the indulgence I ask of you, I shall be in advance of my payments, besides I wish now, that I have the whole property, to fulfil [sic] the promises of Gov. Johnson by erecting a snug little chapel for the negroes.  Hoping to hear favorably from you in due season.

I remain Yr very obt servt,
John R. Thompson 

Page 2

J.R. Thompson's letter
Answered Ap 24
To be answered in the 
Fall 

Files

Citation

Maryland Province Archives, “John R. Thompson promises to build a "snug little chapel" for the enslaved community sold by the Maryland Jesuits, 1852,” Georgetown Slavery Archive, accessed January 22, 2025, https://slaveryarchive.georgetown.edu/items/show/433.

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