Document 3.10 James Habersham, Letter to Benjamin Martyn, June 13, 1751

James Habersham | Letter to Benjamin Martyn, June 13, 1751

In 1738 James Habersham accompanied the Reverend George Whitefield to Georgia, agreeing to help establish an orphanage at Bethesda. He soon became a leading merchant and by the 1750s was active in Georgia’s colonial government. He was also instrumental in establishing slavery in the colony. The following selection is from a letter Habersham wrote to Benjamin Martyn, secretary to the Trustees of Georgia, in which he discusses his hopes for the production of indigo by Georgia planters.

Before the Conclusion of the late War, when Rice [was] a very low Price, the Planters in the neighbouring Province were very Sanquine in raising of Indicoe [indigo], and several made very good, which answered their Expectations in England, but most rather endeavouring to make a large Quantity, than a good Quality brought it into Disrepute, some being sold so low in England as Eight Pence per Pound, and a great deal from one to two Shillings per Pound, which struck almost a universal Damp on it; and [after] riseing in Price after the Conclusion of the Peace, most People dropt planting Indicoe, and employed their Strength in raising Rice, which is indeed a most usefull Commodity to the Planter, as their greatest Staple, as well as Fodder are produced by one Expence; and its said Indicoe very much impoverishes Land, and its certain affords nothing for the Subsistance of any living Creature about a Plantation; however I now hear several are renewing their former Industry in producing this Article, having had extraordinary Accounts of the Sale of the last in England—I don’t hear of but only one of our Planters . . . who have attempted to make any this Year, and He purposes employing his few Hands (except planting Provisions for his Family) in this Produce and Silk, for which he has got a fine Quantity of young Mulberry Trees. It seems highly necessary that People should turn their Thoughts on different Cultures, and what their Genius’s leads them to, and I could wish more would go upon Indicoe (as it will prevent our depending so much on the French for it) but there is no forcing them to do, what they don’t see to be their Interest, however I hope the Production of this Article will in Time appear so, as well as that of Silk which now seems to engage the Attention of our Planters.

Source: The Colonial Records of the State of Georgia, 1750–1752 (Atlanta, 1916), 26:235–36.