Henry Laurens account book
Collection Overview
Pages are missing or damaged. Business and personal accounts (1766 Sept.-1767 Dec., 1768 Feb.-1773 May, 1773 Aug.-Sept.) kept for Henry Laurens. Accounts are with individuals and companies for goods (primarily general merchandise) and services (including commissions). Several include the sale of individual slaves. A number of entries are for New Hope, Mepkin, Broton [Broughton] Island, Wambaw, and Wright's Savannah plantations. Other accounts include expenses for improvements made to brick tenements, and an Ansonborough house and lot. One personal entry is for "my arrears & fines in full" for the Charlestown Library Society.
Dates
- Creation: 1766-1773
Creator
- Laurens, Henry, 1724-1792 (Person)
Language of Material
Materials in English.
Access Restrictions
This collection is open for research.
Copyright Notice
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The materials from our collections are made available for use in research, teaching, and private study, pursuant to U.S. copyright law. The user must assume full responsibility for any use of the materials, including but not limited to, infringement of copyright and publication rights of reproduced materials. Any materials used for academic research or otherwise should be fully credited with the source.
Biographical Note
Plantation owner and merchant. Born in Charleston, South Carolina, Henry Laurens spent three years in England as a clerk for James Crokatt, a London merchant. In 1749 he became a partner in the Charleston firm Austin & Laurens, which became became Austin, Laurens & Appleby in 1759, dissolving in 1762. Laurens, who made a fortune in the slave and rice trades and held a number of local offices, first served in the Royal Assembly in 1757. For three years beginning in 1771 Laurens was abroad seeing to the education of his three sons. He later served in the Provincial Congress and the General Assembly.; Laurens was elected president of the Continental Congress in 1777. In 1780 while on route to the Netherlands to negotiate a treaty, Laurens was captured by the British and imprisoned in the Tower of London on a charge of high treason. After his bond was paid Laurens was exchanged for Lord Cornwallis. Among his plantations were Mepkin, New Hope, Broughton Island, Mount Tacitus, tracts in Georgia, Wright's Savannah plantation, and tracts at Long Canes (S.C.).
Extent
1 volume
Alternate Form of Materials
Digital reproductions available online in the Lowcountry Digital Library.
Subject
- Title
- Inventory of the Henry Laurens Account Book, 1766-1773
- Status
- Completed
- Author
- Special Collections staff; finding aid created by: Special Collections staff
- Description rules
- Dacs
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Latin
Repository Details
Part of the Special Collections Repository
Special Collections
College of Charleston Libraries
66 George Street
Charleston South Carolina 29424
(843) 953-8016
(843) 953-6319 (Fax)