I do not think it advisable to buy any negroes now until this war question assumes some tangible shape

Recipient

Date Written

June 25, 1859

Member of Series

John Marion Hooker was 32 years old when this was written.
John Marion Hooker died 23 years, 5 months, 3 days after writing it.
It was written 164 years, 3 months, 10 days ago.
It was a Saturday.

Brook Haven
June 25, 1859

Dear Rainy,

I arrived home yesterday, found all well. Our woman that has been sick so long is getting well. Mr. Towns sold on his trip, woman and child (Silvia) for & $1550 & Rose for 1300 & swapped Watt for a 14 year old boy, got $250 to boot. I understand John says he made a good trade. I have not seen the boy as John took him & four others with him from here last Sunday. John also took the drafts and the money. The reason I have and did not permit you before the remittance from N. Orleans was that John had written me to place monies in bank to protect bills that he had drawn, and hope you will see how I was situated.

The boy Randal has Gonorhea and says [he] has had it ever since he left Richmond. He is not put down on the invoice. I now hold the boy Wm. I sold to Whitworth for $1500 for the boy I swapped for at Monticello. I had to sell the Warren Grillman & Co. paper to meet John’s drafts. I will make all the remittances to you I can & as fast as I get them. Do you want me to come on this summer & at what time? I am to know in a few days whether you can [?] the house I wanted in New Orleans.

I do not think it advisable to buy any negroes now until this war question assumes some tangible shape. If it becomes general we may expect hard times . Write your [?] etc. Your friend.

Jno M. Hooker

I have the following negroes:
Randel
William
Eveline & child
Minerva
Nancy
Sally
Amanda
Dolly (sick woman)
I sent John today for Mr. Towns
Margaret
Eliza

Scans of Letter