Colonial Williamsburg Digital Library

Letter from Walter Jones to Robert Carter, III of Nomony Hall concerning the estate of William Flood (Jones' father-in-law), the public accounts incurred by the troops in Northumberland, and rumors of a smallpox outbreak amongst Carter's slaves. Jones writes that the Flood estate is being administered by John S. Woodcock, deputy clerk of Northumberland, and James Knott.

Walter Jones was a student at William and Mary with Thomas Jefferson. He graduated from the University of Edinburgh with an M.D. in 1769. Upon his return to Virginia, he practiced medicine and served in the House of Delegates during the Revolution. He was a delegate to the convention at Annapolis and served in the U.S. Congress from 1797 to 1799.

Your man calls on me after dark for an answer
to the letter he delivered to me this Day. I am entirely unacquainted
with Templemans claim, being not possessed of the Books or Papers
of the Estate. They are at present in the Hands of M^r. J.S. Woodcock,
Deputy Clerk of North.^d , who with M^r. James Knott are employed
in executing the Business of M^r. Floods [Est^ate]. I shall take the first
opportunity of enquiring into the matter, & shall think myself
happy in serving your Interest in the mean Time by applying
to either of those persons, you may be sooner satisfied of the state
of Templemans claim.

You were kind enough to say, that you had destined
Part of the money, due from the state, to the discharge of my Ballance.
I shall be much in want of it very shortly, and as it will save you
trouble, to give me an order on Col^o. [Kenney] (who I am told has the
Public accounts incurred by the Troops in Northumberland) I shall
take leave to send to you for that Purpose this week, if I should
be prevented, myself, from being at Nomony Hall, which is a Satis
-faction I have for some Time promised myself in vain.

I have been concerned at a report that the small Pox had
broken out amongst some of your negroes, but as you mention it not,
I willingly hope that y^e report is groundless.

To
The Honorable Robert Carter Esquire
Nomony Hall

Doct^r W. Jones
9^th Nov^r 1776