The Irish Bomfords

Transcript of a letter written by Trevor Bomford
to Mr John Porteous in New York,
advising of the death of his brother Thomas

Original held by the Buffalo and Erie County Historical Society in its Howland collection in a scrap book of papers used in writing the article A British Privateer in the American Revolution by Henry R Howland in The American Historical Review Vol 7 No 2 Jan 1902 pp 286-303.  Copies of the manuscript are available from the Society for a fee.

Reproduced with permission of the Buffalo and Erie County Historical Society.  Click on image to see enlargement.

Sir

This letter will bring you the melancholy intelligence
of your Friend and my Brother (Captn Thomas Bomford)
death on Saturday 29th of March last, it was occasioned
by a Cold he got, by throwing off an under waistcoat, and
turned to a putrid fever, he was only a few days confined
before he Expired, this Climate did not agree with him
very well after living for so long in America, we had ever
since his Return unfortunately the worst weather
that has been Remembered for some years past, his amiable
kind and Disposition will I am sure make him be
Lamented by all his acquaintance.  From your
professions of friendship to my Brother I request you
will inform that unfortunate woman (Miss Decostor)* of it
to prevent her writing any more letters here & that she

* See also a Bill of Exchange signed by her.

Reproduced with permission of the Buffalo and Erie County Historical Society

may endeavour to find some other means of supporting herself
than by relying on the bounty of this family as all
his friends in this Kingdom attribute his misfortune
entirely to her.  Shortly before his death he shewed me
a letter he wrote you, to the same purport, as you
were so obliging from your friendship for him to advance
money to her which he paid.  As you were his
constant correspondt in America I presume you were
acquainted with his affairs in that part of the world
if any remain unsettled which I imagine is the case
as I have reason to suppose that there is money due to
him, I will esteem it a particular service if you will
acquaint me, particularly about the Snow Vengeance [the subject of Mr Howland's article]
& if she has been heard of as he purchased his share
from you Mr Terence King.  I rejoice with you on the Restoration
of Peace and hope it may be a lasting one, your

Reproduced with permission of the Buffalo and Erie County Historical Society

Country will now be the seat of Commerce [?numbers]
both men of  Property and otherwise will be leaving this
Kingdom to settle there, it will in time be the
Paradise of the World.  I believe I should be induced
to visit it myself if I thought my profession
(an Attorney) would meet encouragement.  I suppose
in a very few years you will have Society's in every branch
of Literature established among yourselves.

I am Sir your much
obliged & obednt servant
Trevor Bomford
Rahinstown  April
9th 1783

Since I wrote the above I have found a promisory note
of yours, of which I enclose a copy, which I beg you
will inform me about as I do not find it has been
accounted for.

Reproduced with permission of the Buffalo and Erie County Historical Society

Copy of Promissory Note:

New York 26th Oct 1778
When advice of the Payment of James Lamb [?Junr.] his
Bills on [?Jms.] Lamb [                              ] for two hundred
pounds Sterg at four months sight is Received I promise
to pay Capt Tho. Bomford or order a balance which will
then become due on [       ] of one hundred & twenty nine pounds
fourteen shillings & nine pence sterling
£129..14..9                John Porteous
(a Copy)

Reproduced with permission of the Buffalo and Erie County Historical Society

344
Mr John Porteous Mercht
New York
North America

Letter Trevor Bomford
Rahinstown 9 Apl 1783
recd. 2 June 1783