Special Collections, John D. Rockefeller Jr. Library, Colonial Williamsburg Foundation

George D. Baylor letter to John N. Baylor, 1835 May 23

Item

Dublin Core

Title

George D. Baylor letter to John N. Baylor, 1835 May 23

Date

Identifier

Text Item Type Metadata

Text

[Page 1]

My dear son

Since receiving your last by Bob I have
been reflecting on your case and fear you may
be induced from the tenor of this letter to
charge me with some inconsistency as regards
my advice = Without entering therefore into
any explanations at present = the object of this
is to advise that if Mr. Pollard will give
you $75.. and your board in addition for the rest
of this year take his offer. Listen to me for a
few words more; for this is the most eventful period
of your life, and if this communication has, or
has not a good effect on your future prospects; it
is both due to you as a proof of my candor and regard;
to say that you are now of an age to have made
a considerable progress in your experiences of the world;
and as much more advice on my part; cannot be
of service to you; will you permit me to say this is,
or may be; my farewell admonition =

In Europe where they are far advanced
before us in a knowledge of maturing young persons

[Page 2]

for buisiness it is common to endure a long
apprenticeship (and without wages) for seven years
in acquiring a competent knowledge of most arts
and trades. There it the reverse takes place
and hence the United States are filled with pretenders;
or persons who have only a badly learned profession

You now have now an opportunity
of getting seventy five dollars and board for 7 months
only; with the advantage of learning more in the time
to come, than you have done altogether before the prospect of
getting $150 or more the next year or [illegible] yourself
for a valuable clerkship in a new state = Besides my son
where you have been accustomed to bad company there
shew them you can nobly withdraw yourself from the
influence of improper habits; Mr. Pollard will
expect you to serve him, and what is equally true
be assured he is interested in your prosperity and will
be pleased to see you lay up a stock of repectability
as well on account of his own feelings as in regard to yours
and mine = Indeed I wish you would favor
me by shewing Mr. Pollard this letter. Provided you
intend to accept his offer which I most strenuously
advise = and recollect I advise you only on condition
that you hereafter be perfectly steady.

If you agree with him let me know
and shew him this letter with my complts, and if he
can share you a few days let me know and I will

[Page 3]

send for you -

Write me by Mr. Woolfolk,
and bargain if you can before he comes up that
I may know by him -

Yours most truly
G D Baylor
May 23d. 1835 -

P:S:
Your cousin Lafony desires her love to you. Both herself
and your mama entreat you to accept Mr. Ps. offer.

[Page 4]

Mr. John N: Baylor
King William
Court House

To the
Polite attention
of P. Woolfolk Esqr.

Original Format

Ink on paper

Citation

“George D. Baylor letter to John N. Baylor, 1835 May 23,” Special Collections, John D. Rockefeller Jr. Library, Colonial Williamsburg Foundation, accessed March 28, 2024, https://cwfjdrlsc.omeka.net/items/show/277.
MS1959-01-F2-05231835-001.jpg
MS1959-01-F2-05231835-002.jpg
MS1959-01-F2-05231835-003.jpg
MS1959-01-F2-05231835-004.jpg