Author notes:
Left Top: Envelope postmarked Jul 11 '07 sent from UM Archives & Manuscripts, Hornbake Library,
to Wayne Hepburn.
Left Bottom: Outside of letter addressed to John Hepburn, Esqr, Upper Marlbro, Maryland.
At the right edge is visible a tear where the original seal was removed.
Right Top & Bottom: handwritten letter to John Hepburn, Es., from William Molleson.
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Author notes:
In July 2007 I requested and received photocopies of several letters written to John Hepburn, Esq.,
and/or Samuel Hepburn, at Upper Marlboro, Maryland, from London, England. These copies are
overprinted in red with the legend "University of Maryland" and ARCHIVES AND MANUSCRIPTS DEPARTMENT
UM LIBRARIES, COLLEGE PARK, MD 20742" and "The material reproduced in this copy may be protected
by copyright. This copy if (sic) for personal use only; do not reproduce."
In the spirit of conformity, I have displayed for you some small four inch scans at very
low resolution so the images have no reproductive value and are not actually readable.
My purpose is to show you what the letters look like. You can purchase copies from UM or
visit my home and view them.
The notion, in my opinion, that personal correspondence to my great grandparents, who have been
dead for more than a century, could somehow be protected by a copyright held by some unknown
entity, is absurd. You can read details of copyright law at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_copyright_law
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The Letters
4 Jany 1766 - Wm Molleson to John Hepburn Esqr
He opens with the usual greeting then "I wrote you last by Captain Gray when I
answered yours particularly, with regard to you Son Sammy, who has been most
unjustly blamed about that affair." Apparently Samuel was involved in something
or other that went awry. The content of his letter concerns getting tobacco loaded
onto one ship or another.
London 15 Jany 1766 - Wm Molleson to John Hepburn Esqr
Molleson send this letter via Captain Maynard. In it he requests that one of John's sons
arrange delivery of tobacco for return shipment to Molleson.
London 12 Sept 1775 - Wm & Robt to John Hepburn Esqr
This letter opens, "Dear Sir - Your very {sensible?} and friendly favour
of 2d of July we have received, and esteem ourselves
peculiarly happy in having your approbation of our conduct,
as well in Publick as in Private life, it has been and ever shall be our
diligent study to merit the good opinions of the people of Maryland and
of You sir in particular .." etc. Goes on to talk about tobacco they received and
closes with "Your most obliging faithful servants Wm Molleson.
London Febry 13, 1784 - Benjamin Contee & Co to Samuel Hepburn Esqr upper Marlbrough Patuxent River Maryland(sic)
This letter is to introduce the Contee company to Samuel in hopes of doing business
in Maryland. Contee was born in MAryland but has returned to London to go into
business trading with the Americans. Contee makes much of the fact, due to success in
the recent war, the United States of America is free to trade with any nation.
London February 20th 1793 - Thomas Clagget & Co to Mr SamlHepburn Patuxent
Tells Samuel of the death of a Clagget Company partner and expresses hope for
continuing their dealings with Hepburn in the future.
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[The letters universally deal with trade in tobacco with
occasional mention of personal matters. They shed light on the activities of
John Sr Hepburn and son Samuel Chew Hepburn as tobacco farmers and merchants.
They are especially interesting in terms of how they employ the English language. WH]
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