Robert Treat Paine Papers, Volume 3
The Bearer Mr. Henry Stevenson is upon a Journey to Maryland in order to purchase a quantity of Pigg Iron for the Use of the State of Massa. Bay, as it uncertain what Monies he may want on this Occasion we have thought it best that he should take with him a Letter of Credit from us, he being impowered by the Assembly of Massa. Bay to draw on us for the amount of two hundred Tons of Pigg Iron. We therefore request of you to give him what assistance he may want in purchasing & shipping any quantity of Pigg Iron he may incline to purchase to the above amount & his Draughts on us Shall be paid on Sight,
Samuel Purviance, Jr. (d. 1788) and Robert Purviance (ca. 1732–1806) were Irish-born brothers who first settled in Philadelphia but transferred their activities to Baltimore after building the first rum distillery there in 1765. By 1774 they were leaders in the mercantile community, trading nationally and internationally. During the Revolution they supplied the American army with clothing, bread, and iron, equipped ships for the navy, and engaged in privateering. Samuel served on the Baltimore County Committee of Correspondence in 1774 and chaired the county’s Committee of Observation from 1774 through 1776. The brothers fell into financial insolvency and began speculating in western lands. During a trip regarding these lands, Samuel was captured by Indians on the Ohio River and never seen again. Later, Robert served as customs collector of the Port of Baltimore, 1795–1806 (Edward C. Papenfuse et al., A Biographical Dictionary of the Maryland Legislature, 1635–1789 [Baltimore, 1979–1985], 667–669).