The following stampless letter was written in 1802 by Samuel Dubose (1758-1811) from Pimlico plantation in Pendleton District outside of Charleston, South Carolina. It was written to John Ewing Colhoun (1749-Oct. 26, 1802), a planter, lawyer, South Carolina legislator, and United States senator. Born in Staunton, Virginia, he attended Princeton College, and graduated in 1774. After studying law and being admitted to the bar in 1783, he set up practice in Charleston, South Carolina, working mostly in estate settlements and personal injury suits. John C. Calhoun, his son, was also a Senator and former Vice President, famous for the political idea of nullification and the famous Compromise of 1850 that delayed the Civil War for ten years.

The author of this letter was Samuel DuBose, Sr. (1758-1811). He was the son of Isaac DuBose and Catherine Boisseau.

Pimlico was one of three plantations that John E. Colhoun inherited from his father-in-law Samuel Bonneau. The other plantations were “Bonneau’s Ferry” and “Santee” in the South Carolina Lowcountry. Court records indicate that relations between the Colhoun family and their 100+ slaves were not always harmonious. In the late summer of 1798—four years prior to this letter—five of John Ewing Colhoun’s slaves plotted to poison their owners and flee the state. The plan was hatched by Hazard (mentioned in the following letter) and was carried out but failed to result in the death of any of the Colhouns. The five slaves were soon captured and tried in court. One slave (“Will”) was hanged for his part in obtaining the poison. The remaining four were all whipped, branded on the forehead, and had their ears cropped as punishment. In the Colhoun records, all four appear at the Ferry rice plantation near Charleston in 1804. [Source: Black History and the Enslaved of the Calhouns, by Dr. Mandi Barnard]

The slaves of John Ewing Colhoun among his various plantations, compiled in 1802, are enumerated in his will. See Slaves of John Ewing Colhoun.

T RA N S C R I P T I O N

Pimlico [Plantation]
12 September 1802

Sir,

With pleasure I can inform you that your rice here has come forward beyond my expectation. The greatest part I think very good. As to say what number of barrels it will turn out, I cannot at this time as there is a great deal depending in the harvest. I much fear of it falling. The rice at the Ferry is much better than last year. The corn here and at the Ferry some part is very good. The other but indifferent. Root potatoes & turnips [?] but ordinary from the outward appearance as we have made no trial of them as yet.

I have removed as many hands to the ferry as I could spare from minding birds for the purpose of stopping the [ ] and other repairs necessary to be done for the next year’s crop. I do not expect to have any great deal of this business done as harvest is drawing nigh.

The corn I wish to have brought in soon as the Negroes make rather too free with it. The sawyers will be done [with] the mending this week. Hazzard [Hazard] I have hired to Mr. Peter Boughton the 30th of last month at 3/10 per month—the most I could get the payments as directed.

Mrs. Dubose is very unwell with the fever at this time. Your Negroes in general are well except Stepney’s wife at the ferry that has been laid up some time with a swelling on one of her thighs. I some fear [it] will prove dangerous.

Yours &c. — Sam Dubose

N. B. Your carriage has been sent to the Ferry for some time.