Correspondence from brothers Solomon and Robert Townsend, merchants of New York, N.Y. and Oyster Bay, N.Y., to merchants Lushington & Kirk, at Charleston, South Carolina, New York, N.Y., January 17-March 22, 1787. Letter from Townsend brothers, of both New York, N.Y., and Oyster Bay, N.Y., to Charleston, South Carolina merchants Lushington & Kirk (buyers of Solomon Townsend's iron anchors), requesting assistance in repurchasing their family slave, Elizabeth, who escaped from their Oyster Bay home (Rayhnam Hall) with The Queen's Rangers during their occupation of the Townsend home during the Revolutionary War. Elizabeth was then sold to a British man in New York, and in 1783, re-sold through Robert to a New York widow named Mrs. Ann Sharwin. Though Robert was opposed to slavery, he arranged for this sale at Elizabeth’s request, as she had a baby and did not want to evacuate with the British. On February 2, 1785, the owner’s new husband, Alexander Robertson, sold her to Captain Richard Palmes, of Charleston, South Carolina, without her child. Original copy sent by Captain Elliot, this copy made by Capt. Myer (?). After Mr. Kirk, of firm Lushington & Kirk, refused to execute deal, based on his principles against selling slaves, the Townsend brothers requested assistance from Charleston merchant Adam Gilchrist. No further documentation, i.e. whether slave Elizabeth was ever brought back north. [additional clarification provided by Claire Bellerjeau of Rayhnam Hall, Oyster Bay, N.Y., 9/17/2012].