Letter to a Servant Daughter in Virginia

1649

First published in William and Mary College Quarterly, Vol. V, no. 1, July, 1896


          Loveing Daughter,      My kinde love remembred unto yo^u hopeing of yo^r good health as I am att y^e wrightinge hereof (blessed be god) yo^r Lre I recd dated y^e 24^th of March 1645 whereby I und^rstand of yo^r health; I have yo^r both Ltrs and toakens w^ch I wonder you have not recd any And I am much grieved yo^r mayst^r hath dealt so dishonestly by yo^u in makeinge such a slave of yo^u (w^ch was contrary to his promise) yet daught^r bee of good comfort for I will do what lyes in my pow^r for yo^u As a fath^r ought for his child. And I would have yo^u to demand that ffive pounds of M^r Drew wh^ch if he doe not deliv^r yo^u yo^r money god willing I wil be w^th yo^u next yeare w^ch if he doe not paye you (if there bee any Lawe in England or in Virginia) I will make ye Rogue smart for it: Alsoe I have sent yo^u a small toaken by the bearer hereof; M^r Dodsworth remembers himself unto yo^u and hee wil be a witness ag^t him And as for y^r Cloathes w^ch he tooke awaye I will make him restore them againe And I put this man in trust about y^e bussinesse. All y^e rest of yo^r Neighbo^rs shall iustifye what money and cloathes he had w^th yo^u: Soe I rest desireinge yo^u to please God whatev^r yo^u doe And wheresoev^r you match w^th an honest man

	Soe I rest
		Yor Loveing ffather
			John Corbett

Recordat^r 12 die mense octob^r Ano 1649
     Per me Edm: Mathewe clic. Cur.