Description:

Interesting MDS Re: Scottish Emigration to Southern Colonies

A 3pp manuscript document signed relating to the settling of the estate of Alexander Fyffe (1730-1766), originally from Dron, Scotland, who had emigrated to Savannah, Georgia and died in Charleston, South Carolina in mid-May 1766. Signed and sealed on September 8, 1776 by a five individuals or representatives, with two paper and black wax seals on page two. N.p. but almost certainly transacted in Dundee, Scotland. Secretarially inscribed on laid watermarked bifold paper. Bearing three embossed revenue stamps in the upper left corner of the first page. Docketed on the last page. Expected wear and paper flaws including toning, water stains, ink bleed through, chipped edges, folds, and isolated areas of separation. Else good to very good and very legible. 8.25" x 13.25."

The Fyffe Family papers can be found in the Manuscripts Division of the William L. Clements Library at the University of Michigan. This collection provides us with an outstanding historical context in which to place our document. Family patriarch James Fyffe (also spelled Fife) (1687-1769) lived in Dron (also Drone) in Perthshire, Scotland, ["North Brittan"] located about 25 miles southwest of Dundee. Three of his sons, Alexander, William (d. ca. 1771), and Charles (d. 1810) had emigrated to the British colonies in the 1740s. Alexander had become the name partner of a prosperous mercantile firm in Savannah, Georgia, Alexander Fyffe & Company. There, according to a June 1763 issue of the "Georgia Gazette," Fyffe sold imported items like "fresh flour, ship, water, and butter bread, rum, chocolate, soap, a few barrels of cordials, white wine vinegar, linseed oil, a few hogsheads of choice Bourdeaux claret, and a few barrels of beer and cyder…" Alexander died in 1766.

Our signed manuscript document officially transferred powers of attorney from Alexander's sisters, Elizabeth (d. 1810) and Magdalen Fyffe (d. 1804?), then residing in Scotland, to his brothers, William and Charles Fyffe, then living in Georgetown, South Carolina. The sisters had initially been appointed as Alexander's estate executrices, but they had ceded their authority to the brothers for convenience.

The legal document reads in part:

"Know all men by these presents That we Elizabeth & Magdalen Fyffes lawfull Daughters to James Fyffe of Dron presents Resideing in the Town & parish of Dundie in North Brittan and Sisters German & executors Nominale to the deceasd Alexander Fyffe Merchant of Savanna in Georgia who was youngest lawfull son of the said James Fyffe of Dron Have Made ordained constituted & Appointed As we by these presents do Make Ordain Constitute and Appoint Doctors Charles Fyffe and William Fyffe both Surgeons in Georgetown Wynyoro in South Carolina our Brothers or any of these to be our True and lawfull Attornies for us…"

Even though Charles and William Fyffe were located nearer by than faraway Scotland, it was still challenging to settle Alexander's estate, and the process dragged on for several years. William and Charles were both doctors and slave-owning rice planters; William's 500-acre plantation "The Grove" was purchased in 1754 and Charles's plantation "Ramsay Grove" was located nearby on the Black River. Charles Fyffe administered a Loyalist hospital during the Revolutionary War and later had his property confiscated.

This item comes with a Certificate from John Reznikoff, a premier authenticator for both major 3rd party authentication services, PSA and JSA (James Spence Authentications), as well as numerous auction houses.

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