1840 Arkansas Planter's Letter

(ARKANSAS PLANTATION.). PARK, JOHN W. A.L.S., 3 full 4to pages, written in ink, very legible, from John W. Park, of Spring Hill, Arkansas, to Edward B. Hicks, Lawrenceville, Brunswick County, Virginia, with stamped oval postal mark Nov. 14, ("25" hand written), Washington, Ark. 1840 (November 13). . Strengthened in a few places, but fine. $425.00

Park, possibly the plantation manager, but more likely the operating investor and possibly related to Hicks, describes his trip to New Orleans to see about insurance for cotton that was "sunk", and offers detail of what was shipped and how it was lost. Although rebuffed, he met Judge Bullard of the Supreme Court of Louisiana who described a similar case and Park expresses optimism about winning a legal test.

The letter, in the main, discusses the economy of the cotton plantation and the effect of recent drought upon the crop (expects 350 bales of cotton). Of the slaves he writes, "...since I wrote you last we have lost two more Negroes, a little child of Lucy's and a young Negro woman of mine. We are truly unfortunate in losing Negroes. I fear the location of the cabins is a bad one, and have concluded to have new ones built upon a better plan that will make them much more comfortable. This will be done before the sickly season of next year." A letter of excellent detail and content.