I believe the following letter to have been written by William S. Cloke (1812-1894), a native of England, who was residing in Marlboro, Monmouth county, New Jersey and working as a storekeeper prior to the Civil War. He was married to Emma Philpot (1816-1898) in 1834. There are too few clues in the letter for me to confirm the author’s identity. Readers are referred to the Port Royal Experiment for more information about the government operated plantations at Port Royal Island.

Whomever it was that wrote this letter appears to have been employed by one of the largest plantation owners on Port Royal Island, whom he referred to as the “doctor.” Though not named, the wealthy physician may have been Dr. William I. Jenkins, a Beaufort planter whose real estate value topped $40,000 and whose personal property exceeded $90,000 at the time of the 1860 Census. His Beaufort home was confiscated and turned into a hospital during the Federal occupation.

Transcription

Port Royal, South Carolina
March 9, 1865

Dear Friend Jordan

I feel it is my duty to write you as promised but have nothing very interesting to write but a few facts about the weather &c. The weather is and has been all the winter months extremely pleasant and shrubbery and flower garden is looking lovely. Most of them in blossom. The peach and plum trees—4 acres—are in blossom. We have radishes at the table all the time. I have planted about 18 thousand early cabbages from my hot bed raisings I have 5 times that number yet to plant. I have potatoes up and hoed. I planted 23 barrels of buckeyes and [ ]. I am now planting 8 barrels of Prince Alberts and also planting the Champion of England pea as my second planting. I have about two acres of radish & beet, about half acre onions, lettuce, spinach, and carrot about one acre, and all other small seeds in abundance. I shall commence planting cucumbers and melons this week. I have planted two acres sweet corn [ ] plantings this year. I intend to be open a much larger scale than last as my additional profits will be 5 percent over all. I raise independent of $50 for [ ] standing wages. Therefore, I shall raise open a trifle larger scale that the Jersey gardeners, but I have every advantage, plenty of the best manure from the entrenchments free, and all the help I need and everything as pleasant and convenient as any reasonable person can wish.

All I have to find is judgment. You may depend it is one of the pleasantest occupations of my life. All I ask is good health myself, family & friends. I feel very grateful for the many kindnesses you have bestowed upon my family, hoping yourself, lady, and family will long enjoy health and happiness. I never was better in health, being free from many trials and difficulties that formally was my lot to bear. You will please as you pass my house let my family know that I have written to you as I have not written to them this month. Also remember me to all friends as I have no enemies that I am aware of (I hope not). I suppose I must give you a little account of the contrabands as it is so very different from what the Jersey men used to anticipate by saying that freeing the Negro would overflow the North when the fact is, although after taking Savannah and Charleston, we and the planters generally would be good to get thousands more for our small island, the northern planyer cultivates three times the amount of acres that the southern planter did and plants different articles that requires more help. One thing surprises me—the negro just from bondage is indolent, independent, and very much more ignorant than I expected them to be. I have a hard task to teach them to perform their work in a proper manner.

The Dr., my employer, is a very sociable and reasonable man. I have sole control of all management with no hindrance. We have the best of living and I joined in the best society. The Dr. and myself & General Litchfield were out dingle horse riding together on Sunday. I have visited several islanders & find some uninhabited but very fine plantations not under cultivation at present. I have many offers of large wages. I had one where [ ] to superintend and raise vegetables, any amount of acres of good land and half the produce finding nothing myself and my board. Found in all probability I could raise from five to 6 or 8 thousand dollars the half of which would belong to me. It is a great temptation but I cannot leave the Dr. as he is so honorable a man and he promises to satisfy me if my percentage is not sufficient and I feel quite safe under his promises and I can stay with him as long as I think fit as he owns the plantation and the other planters leave from the government yearly and no certainty how long that will last. At the same time, I know in justice to myself and family I ought to accept an offer that would if I were at all fortunate make me in one year I raised last year four thousand dollars for the Dr. open a small scale to what I now have the opportunity of doing. I have a good early start and plenty of good cleared land to plant. I shall probably get $1,000 as I am and feel I have done my duty by the Dr.

I hope you will answer this part of this letter and give me your opinion upon the subject. Perhaps I shall read yours to the Dr. as he often reads his friends’ letters to me and I have never received one letter outside of my family since I have been here. Excuse the scribbling. Your sincere friend, — W. S. Cloke