William Blathwayt papers

This collection contains correspondence and documents primarily accumulated by English civil servant William Blathwayt (1649-1717) in his capacity as a British government official in such roles as Surveyor and Auditor General of Plantation Revenues and Secretary and member of the Lords of Trade. The bulk of the papers date from 1660 to 1709 and chiefly relate to the British colonies in North America and the West Indies.

Papers having to do with the British West Indies primarily concern relations with the Crown (including administration, taxation, and defenses) and local conditions (including orders of governor, council, and assembly; management of blacks; piracy; and trade and shipping). Geographically, the documents concern: Antigua (7 pieces), Bahamas (4), Barbados (48), Bermudas (5), Jamaica (35), Montserrat (1), Nevis (4), St. Christopher's (2), and Tobago (1).

Papers having to do with North America pertain to relations with the Crown (including the administration of governments, charter and proprietary; taxation; and defense) and local conditions (including orders of governor, council, and assembly; political corruption; trade, shipping, etc.; Indian affairs; French encroachments; and piracy). Geographically, the documents concern: Canada (14), Newfoundland (4), Rhode Island (3), Massachusetts (43), New Hampshire (19), Connecticut (1), New York (77), Pennsylvania (4), Maryland (26), Virginia (51), Carolinas (2), Florida (3).

Within the collection there are also 27 unofficial letters, dating from 1664 to 1668, addressed to Richard Nicolls, the first English governor of the colony of New York, from Sir William Berkeley, Charles Calvert and Philip Calvert, Thomas Ludwell, Nathaniel Utie, and Jerome White. The correspondence deals with trade and shipping, runaway slaves, and tobacco.

Correspondents represented by five or more pieces in the collection are: Sir William Beeston (5), Sir William Berkeley (14), William Blathwayt (32), Philip Calvert (7), George Clarke (8), Edward D'Oyley (6), Edward Hyde, Lord Cornbury (7), William Lowndes (9), John Nanfan (16), Samuel Penhallow (6), John Povey (8), and Edward Randolph (10).

Within the collection, originals predominate slightly. Copies are all contemporary, and most of them are attested and bear Blathwayt's endorsement.