Robert Treat Paine Papers, Volume 1
On Jan. 27,1752, RTP sailed for North Carolina as a passenger on the brigantine Primrose, Stephen Brown, master, with a consignment of mixed merchandise to be sold for the account of Boston merchants Henry Darrall, Samuel Downe (which RTP spells Downes), and William Fisher. The passage took 28 days, due in large part to the severe weather that New England was experiencing and the counter currents and foggy weather off North Carolina. RTP says in his diary: "On the 14 day I was taken exceeding sick of a Fever which confin'd me to my Cabin for 12 days, during which Time I suffered exceedingly for want of Conveniencys, having nothing on board any way fit for one to eat, the Fever was of the Intermitting sort and return'd with great violence every other day, and the only relief I had was sweating with Baum and Sage Tea with which I was but poorly attended by Reason of the Badness of Weather." Shortly after landing RTP went to Henry Snoad's house at Maidstone Point where he either copied or composed this poem.
Since My Departure from Boston, I have wrote you twice one bearing Date Feby. 8th. from Holmes Hole; the other Ocacock Barr Feby. 25th.2 I arrived at Bath the 3d. Instant exceeding Weak and low in Health. I immediately apply'd my self to Capt. Coutanch3 about Mr. Fishers Tarr, & found that he had Notes of Hand in Favr. of Mr. Fisher for 165 Blls. Tarr, wch. I believe I shall get without Difficulty. I then rid up to Mr. Snoad's, found him just Recovering from the Pleurisy Fever (wch. has been very Mortal here), who told me that by Reason of a Journey he had taken to Virginia & his long Sickness since, he had been able to do Nothing concerning the obligation of Abra. Sheppard but the Man is Substantial & as I am in the Country, I make no doubt of getting of it. With Regard to his own obligation he will Answer it with all Speed, but tells me (as I have by This Time every where learnt) that the Markett Price of Tarr full Gauge is 50/. This act has made a most prodiguous Overture among the Tar burners, they having been obliged to Start a great deal of Tar into larger Barrells, others again have burnt it into Pitch which makes Tar exceeding Scarce, & it is generally thought it has got a price from which it will not fall. Pitch is tolerably Plenty & holds its old price at 4£ but I fear it will be a Drugg in Boston & yet 'twill not do to151come without a good Jagg of it. I hope very soon to be able to write for a Vessell, but not so soon as if I had brought My Complement of Goods with me. With Regard to a Vessell, it may not be Amiss to have An Eye to some one. Let her be Exceeding Floaty for the Lightning a Vessell is a pernicious Article, & hinders Time. I'm determin'd if possible her tarry in the Country shall be counted by Days. With Regard to the price of Tar I know certainly that some Vessells last Year lay in the Country 4 Months & gave 50/ for Tar, & in Nuce River that was the Current price. It is Contrary to my Expectations, but I hope to make up for it by Dispatch. Pray Gentm. write me yr. Mind by Any Opportunity you may have. You may depend upon it I shall consult the Interest of the Voyage in every Perticular. I believe that it would be practicable to contract for a Load for London, but on Exactly what Terms I dont yet know, let me know yr. Mind thereon. I have nothing More at present to inform you of, but Remain, Gentlemen yr. Much Obliged humble Servant,
Henry Darrall (d. 1752) and Samuel Downe (d. 1784) were in partnership as Boston merchants. After Darrall's death, Downe remained in business in Boston, served as one of the town's assessors, and was styled captain at the time of his death (Thwing Index).
Letters not found. Ocracoke Island is a barrier island which extends from Hatteras Island at Hatteras Inlet to Ocracoke Inlet at Portsmouth Island (Payne, Place Names of the Outer Ranks, 140).
Michael Coutanche (ca. 1720–ca. 1762), a native of the island of Jersey, was called of "Boston, in New England, mariner," when he first bought land in Bath, N.C., in 1739. Soon became prominent there, was made a justice of Beaufort Co. in 1745 and elected to the colonial assembly the same year. In 1753 he was appointed as one of the commissioners to lay out a town on Core Banks near Ocracoke Inlet and to erect a fort, to be called Fort Granville, at the same place (William S. Powell, ed., Dictionary of North Carolina Biography [Chapel Hill, 1979- ], 1:443–444).