Adam Cuningham letter to William Cuningham, 1736 March 23
Cuningham, Adam, b. ca. 1705
Cuningham, William, Sir
Letter of Adam Cuningham, Newcastle upon Tyne, to his father William, in Edinburgh, March 23, 1736. In this letter, Cuningham requested a meeting with his father and asked his father to keep secret his presence in Scotland. Cuningham sought one last meeting with his father to procure the funds necessary to leave Scotland and his family forever.
Cuningham, Adam, b. ca. 1705
Special Collections, John D. Rockefeller Jr. Library, Colonial Williamsburg Foundation
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Adam Cuningham letter to William Cuningham, 1730 May 24
Blair, John, 1687-1771
Cuningham, Adam, b. ca. 1705 -- Correspondence
Cuningham, William, Sir -- Correspondence
McKenzie, Alexander
Bristol Iron Works (King George County (Va.)
Merchants -- Virginia
Physicians -- Virginia
Scots -- Virginia -- King George County
Letter of Adam Cuningham, Bristol mines, to his father William, in Edinburgh, May 24, 1730. Cuningham wrote to his father detailing his struggles in Virginia. He ascribed his difficulties to his charitable nature, the expense of medicines and the good health of the wealthier gentlemen. Cuningham explained that physicians in Virginia attain wealth by becoming merchants not by practing medicine. In the letter, Cuningham mentioned Blair and the merchant Alexander McKenzie. His father had recommended McKenzie to him and Cuningham noted that he wrote to McKenzie to let him know of his situation.
Cuninghame, William, b. ca. 1705
Special Collections, John D. Rockefeller Jr. Library, Colonial Williamsburg Foundation
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Adam Cuningham letter to William Cuningham, 1729 August 2
Blair, John, 1687-1771.
Cuningham, Adam, b. ca. 1705 -- Correspondence
Cuningham, William, Sir -- Correspondence
Tutt, Richard
Bristol Iron Works (King George County, Va.)
Physicians -- Virginia -- Williamsburg
Scots -- Virginia -- Williamsburg
Surgeons -- Virginia -- Williamsburg
Williamsburg (Va.) -- Description and travel
Williamsburg (Va.) -- Economic conditions -- 18th century
<p>Letter of Adam Cuningham, King George County, Virginia, to his father William, in Scotland, August 2, 1729. Concerning his decision to leave Williamsburg Adam writes: "please to know that Williamsburgh is but a small Village containing not 60 families at most; and in and about this City are no less than 25 or 30 phisishians and of that number not above 2 capaple of living handsomly." Cuningham goes on to describe the expense of living in Williamsburg, his failed attempt to become a ship's surgeon and his indebtedness to Mr. John Blair. John Blair was the son of Alexander Blair who emigrated to Virginia from Scotland about 1690 and was the largest shareholder in a Williamsburg business referred to as "Dr. Blair's Store." John Blair managed the business for his father and the partners.</p>
<br /><p>Cuningham asked his father to send his letters Richard Tutt. Richard Tutt signed a deed conveying a lease for the grist mill known as Foxhall's Mill and its land to John King and his partners. The mill and land on the Rappahannock River became the site of the Bristol Iron Works.</p>
Cuninghame, William
Special Collections, John D. Rockefeller Jr. Library, Colonial Williamsburg Foundation
1729
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jpeg
eng
Text
MS 2011.8.2
Adam Cuningham journal, 1728 May 5-October 28
Cuningham, Adam, b. ca. 1705
Hurricanes
Ocean travel
Scurvy
<p>The journal of Adam Cuningham records his voyage to Virginia from Scotland, April 4-October 21, 1728. Cuningham recounts the many adventures of the ship and its crew who were fired upon by a French vessel, lost a man overboard who was killed by sharks, ran out of provisions and liquor (the latter due to theft by the transports), endured a hurricane, suffered from scurvy and were at the mercy of a drunken captain who often failed to leave his cabin for days at a time.</p>
<br /><p>The first two pages of the journal are long since lost.</p>
<br /><p>The journal is published in Whitfield Bell. <em>The colonial physician & other essays</em>. New York : Science History Publications, 1975.</p>
Cuningham, Adam, b. ca. 1705
Special Collections, John D. Rockefeller Jr. Library, Colonial Williamsburg Foundation
1728
This material is protected by copyright law (Title 17, U.S. Code). For reproduction queries: <a href="http://research.history.org/JDRLibrary/Visual_Resources/VisualResourcePermission.cfm">Rights and reproductions</a>
jpeg
eng
Text
MS 2011.8.4