John Kean to Susan Kean, March 25-27, 1788

John Kean wrote to Susan Kean, his wife, address not included. He wrote bout how he missed her and had not received any letters from her. He then mentioned having purchased land in South Carolina for her under John Rutherfurd\u27s name. He wanted to sell some land to pay his debts, the most pressing being the estate debt owed to his sister, Jane Corvaisier. He inquired about Mr. Parker and said that he would be heading to Georgia.https://digitalcommons.kean.edu/lhc_1780s/1189/thumbnail.jp

Bill of Lumber and Notes on Enslaved People

Recto: the top is labeled A Bill of Lumber, presumably in John Kean\u27s handwriting. There are products and measurements, including palmetto logs, window frames, doors, joists, rafters, shingles, and more. Verso: notes on Enslaved People, tallies of people remaining, sold, born, left, or dead. The following names and numbers are included: 1. Scipio, 2. Clarinda, 3. Flora (2 born), 4. Phillis, 5. Dinah (2 born), 6. Sam, 7. Abram, 8. Phebe, 9. Cloe (1 born), 10. Tisse, 11. Grace (4 born), 12. Ph…. (1 born), 13. Patty, 14. Cretia, 15. Will, 16. Dye. Calculations are on the recto and verso.https://digitalcommons.kean.edu/lhc_1780s/1359/thumbnail.jp

John Kean to Susan Kean, May 14-15, 1788

John Kean wrote from Charleston to Susan Kean, his wife, address not included. He wrote he was traveling north. The Constitutional Convention would meet from 9 am -4 pm. He wrote he was very concerned about the debt of South Carolina and that there were many different opinions between the states. He thanked her for sending his letter to Lewis William Otto and said he was sending jonquil and birds, similar to those he sent to Madame De La Forest.https://digitalcommons.kean.edu/lhc_1780s/1209/thumbnail.jp

John Kean to Susan Kean, April 29- May 1, 1788

John Kean wrote from Beaufort to Susan Kean, his wife, address not included. He wrote that he was sending Susan some money via Alexander Chisolm and that Wilcox would owe him more when he arrived in New York. He had sold much of his useless livestock and said what was left should be good. He decided not to sell any of his land until after the new constitution was put into place. He believed that a few years of peace under the new government would raise the value of land. There is still a drought going on and he wanted to hear news of Susan and Peter.https://digitalcommons.kean.edu/lhc_1780s/1205/thumbnail.jp

John Kean to Susan Kean, December 25, 1787

John Kean wrote to Susan Kean, his wife, address not included. The letter was written in three parts from December 25, January 3, and January 7. In the first part he wrote up the holiday and mentioned how enslaved people get three days off to celebrate. In the second part he wrote that he had written to Elizabeth Otto and Lewis William Otto, Susan\u27s sister and brother-in-law and that he hoped to hear from them. He also talked about one of his enslaved men Cesar and discussed paying bonds. In the last part he mentioned that he had not yet heard from Mr. Houston, Mary, Betsey.https://digitalcommons.kean.edu/lhc_1780s/1048/thumbnail.jp

John Kean to Susan Kean, January 27-February 7, 1788

John Kean wrote to Susan Kean, his wife, address not included. The letter has four dates January 27, January 30, February 3, and February 7. John was anxious to hear from Susan and when her letters did arrive he was relieved. He would write to Peter Van Brugh Livingston and Lewis William Otto, but he did not know what to say. His health had not been very good due to the cold. On the 7th he wrote that today should be the day Susan gives birth and expressed his hopes and fears.https://digitalcommons.kean.edu/lhc_1780s/1174/thumbnail.jp

John Kean to Susan Kean, March 30- April 1, 1788

John Kean wrote from Savannah to Susan Kean, his wife, address not included. His friend Schermerhorn was traveling up to New York and agreed to take this letter. John visited his nieces Mary and Eliza Houstoun. He is staying in Savannah with his friend John Habersham and his wife. His other friend Stephens is ill and John would have to visit him again before returning to New York. He planned on returning to Beaufort on April 5, as April 11 was when delegates to the Constitutional Convention were to be elected.https://digitalcommons.kean.edu/lhc_1780s/1191/thumbnail.jp

John Kean to Susan Kean, April 14-18, 1788

John Kean wrote from Berkshire to Susan Kean, his wife, address not included. Silk had settled on John\u27s lands in Berkshire, where John was attempting to sell his stocks. He wrote out a list of all the crops and animals Silk was raising at the plantation. He also wrote about his different fruit trees and lamented that the cold killed the orange trees. John planned to sell all of his land in Berkshire, except what Silk was settled on to pay off his English debt. He wrote that he wasted 10 years of 60 enslaved person\u27s labor in indigo that did not take. John was elected to the Constitutional Convention which would begin in May.https://digitalcommons.kean.edu/lhc_1780s/1200/thumbnail.jp

John Kean to Susan Kean, March 13-16, 1788

John Kean wrote to Susan Kean, his wife, address not included. the letter is written over two days March 13 and March 16. He had been participating in sporting events with Mr. Sol and others. When looking at old letters he found one from Lewis William Otto where he shared his excitement over being married (Lewis William Otto to John Kean, March 18, 1787). John hoped he would never have to experience losing his wife. Mrs. Gough had gotten some orange, shaddock, and citrons trees, as well as flowers for John\u27s garden. He remarked that since his arrival two of his enslaved women had given birth to baby boys.https://digitalcommons.kean.edu/lhc_1780s/1187/thumbnail.jp

John Kean to Susan Kean, April 23-26 , 1788

John Kean wrote from Beaufort to Susan Kean, his wife, address not included.He wrote that they are having unusually cold weather which will not be good for the indigo crop. In the part written on April 23, John said he was going to Hilton Head to check the orchard. He returned on April 26 and resumed the letter. He said that many of his trees had been damaged and his peach trees would suffer from the drought. Many new babies had been born recently Mrs. Cuthherb, Mrs. General Barnwell, Mrs. Stuart, and Mrs. William Elliot all recently had children.https://digitalcommons.kean.edu/lhc_1780s/1204/thumbnail.jp