Submitted for publication to the Gibson County website by June Burress Yarbrough

 

 

 

Submitted for publication to the Gibson County website by June Burress Yarbrough-Harris, a descendant of John & Eustacia Floyd Jones, through their daughter Catherine Jones Elam.

 

Copied from DESCENDANTS of JOHN AND NANCY FLOYD, by MARY FAY CAMPBELL SCHERTZ published in 1973 by J. Grant Stevenson, Provo, Utah 84601

 

These early Gibson County settlers, John & Eustacia Floyd Jones along with the 11 children who came with them, have many descendants here. Names in just the next generation include: Jones, Lipscomb, Haynes, Harris, Elam, and Ownby.

 

Hames, who had married Lemuel Hames. Nancy and Lemuel remained in Union Co., S.C.

Page 52, in part: "Eustacia "Stacey" Floyd was born in Newberry Co., S.C., reportedly on 19 May 1784. She died 15 Aug 1860 in Gibson Co., Tenn. She married, 23 Feb 1802, John Jones. He was b. 11 June 1774; d. 24 May 1853. His brother, Charles Jones, was husband of Eustacia’s sister Rebecca.

Eustacia and John Jones moved to Gibson Co., Tenn., probably from Union Co., S.C. about 1838. Apparently all their children went with them except one dau., Nancy Jones

Various members of this family wrote letters to Nancy and Lemuel Hames, a few of which have been preserved and copies of them are contained herein. ……………………………

 

We are indeed grateful to Cousin Ann M. Aycock, of Jonesville, S.C. for allowing us to copy and use the letters. She is the owner of all the Jones letters, from this family and from the Charles and Rebecca Jones family. ……"

 

Charles and Rebecca Floyd Jones settled in Lauderdale County.

Eustacia (also sometimes spelled Austacia), nicknamed Stacey, and John Jones families settled in the area that was later to become known as the Milan Army Arsenal. They, and many of their children, grandchildren and other relatives are buried in the cemeteries which yet remain within the boundaries of the Arsenal, especially Friendship Cemetery and the Elam Cemetery.

 

 

 

 

Letters beginning on Page 72 and ending on Page 90.

 

(Letter from Mary Lipscomb and Susan Haynes to their sister, Nancy Hames.)

Western District G. C.

March 31, 1839

 

Dear sister

I take this opportunity of writing to you once more to let you know I have not forgot you yet. Father received your letter and was glad to hear you all was doing well he says you must not think hard of him for not writing to you his hand trembles so he has no satisfaction in writeing mama sais you must set another time to come to see us two years is two far off I have not much news to write we are all well at this time doing well Shelton had another spell of chills and fevers he had a riseing in his head which throwd him in to fits he had two very hard ones in one day I am afraid he will never be cured although he is as smart lively a child as I most ever saw when he is well Thomas gose to school now steady He don’t learn very fast He is aspecially in three and four silabes I suppose you will come to see us if do not have any more children I gess there is no prospect by the way you write of having another shortly I mabe in a family way but if I am I don’t know it I am as fleshy as I ever was we had from Jose & Betsy they brag very much on their son we were all overjoyed to hear of her doing so well David & Sally has bin to the alabamma to visit her people I believe they found them all well they brought Julian Bandon home with them to stay till fall they went to see cousin Charles Jones Davy sais he is doing very well he has a big trck of land and is well fixt to live Davy sais he saw old Mrs. Cavermen and heard from old Billy Easterwoods family Nelly was married about last Christmas so nothing more at this time but remain your loving sister until death

Mary Lipscomb

 

Nancy I will try to write you a few lines to let you know I am yet alive and living out here in the barrens with the rest of the _________ we moved home the first of January you wrote in your letter if we knew mutch about living a way from our near connection as you did we would be _______ with the Mississippi and Texas I know it is a great satisfaction to live where we can see our mammas and daddys and would be glad if it could be with all our brothers and sisters but that is impossible I think we ought all to live where we can do the best for ourselves I expect we are settled here to stay some length of time no telling how long Nancy if you could see me now you could not help but call me ______ You wrote you had reduced verry much in flesh I expect the next we hear you will have the bad old complaint I don’t think I weigh more than one hundred but I still keep good Newman says tell your old man if he dont bring you to see us in two years from now he will have something worth showing him when he comes Catherine says you all think she is not worth writing to her but if you only knew it she is the largest girl Mamma has got remember me to all the connection I feel very unwell and I must quit so remain

Susan Haynes

(Addressed to)

South Carolina Shady Grove

Union Dist April 1

Jonesville P.O.

Mr. Lemuel Hames

 

 

 

(Letter from J. W. Jones to Wm. Meng)

March 17, 1840

I believe that you repeated the following Rule 3rd, Flint’s survey page 41

When the three sides of a triangle are known, the area may be found arithmetically as follows: Add together the three sides; from half their sum subtract each side, noting down the remainders; multiply the half sum by one of these remainders, and that product by another remainder, and that product by the other remainder; the square root of the last product will be the area. Note. Better expressed thus. From half the sum of the sides subtract each side separately. Multiply the half sum and the several remainders together, and the square root of the product will be the area. Example—suppose a triangle whose three sides are 24, 20, and 18 chains. Demanded the area.

24 + 20 + 18 = 62, the sum of the three sides—the half of which is 31. From 31 Subtract 24, 20, and 18; the three remainders will be 7, 11, and 13.

31 x 7 = 217; 217 x 11= 2387; 2387 x 13 – 31031. The square root of which is 176.1 or divided by 10 and reduced decimally equals 17 acres, 2 ______ and 17 rods.

 

If you measure with an rod pole—divide by 160 etc. To find the area of a Rhomboid obtuse angled triangle or any irregular figure—you must measure one of the longest sides and multiply said side by a perpendicular let fall from the highest point or vertical angle of a four sided figure—the area comes of a triangle half the product. J. W. Jones

Whites answer of Fowler’s New Ground is incorrect. J. W. J.

 

Mr. Wm. Meng

 

(Letters from John and Austacia Jones to Lemuel and Nancy Hames)

 

Tennessee Gibson Ct November 8th 1840

Dear Children I received your letter by McCollar we are all well this time except your mother she is very bad of with her leg you know she had a very bad boil when you left here I am afraid it is something of the nature of a Cancer you wished to no a lot ________my eye it is still feeling me I cant see near as well as I could when you wear hear from the best information I can get the planters very ______from Spartanburgh to Huntingdon almost like a plague but from Huntingdon to the key corner ____ tolerable heal ______ with the exception of some _____ except chills and fevers you wished to no whether I had any account of my money I sent to Orleans I have and have received my croceryes I have got my house framed & covered and if I have good luck will soon have it finished Joseph Harris has bought Burrows land that lies Joining me he gave twelve hundred dollars for two hundred and 25 acres corn crops are very good here but cotton crops is not so good corn is worth from 75 cents to a dollar per barrel wheat from 37 ½ to 50 cents per bushel pork from 2 to 3 dollars a hundred I want you to write me often I want to hear from your father I never expect to read another letter _____ it some We received the socks & cap and was very proud of them because they came from you the western district is supposed to _____ five to one for Haison so nothing more ate present but remain your affectionate father & Mother untill death.

John & Austatia Jones

To: L & N Hames

(Letter from Mary Lipscomb to her sister Nancy Hames)

Dear Sister November 8th 1840

You want to hear how Susan was she had her baby the 24th of July She had like to a died one half hour longer without relief would of finished her she was taken a Munday morning had her baby a Saturday she had to send for a doctor which was the means of saveing her life and a few days after _____ she took what is called the child leg a form that to chills & fever she has never seen a well day since she had her baby I don’t think her baby ever has been well in its life she is at dadys at this time and will stay there til she & her child gets better Thomas had a spell of the fever this fall but has got perty well over it we have give out the idea of going on a Georgia trip this fall but we intend to go whenever we can Z. Brion has not gone after Adaline yet nor never intends to he sais georg is on the mend he can pick out his 20 weight of cotton a day Davids family is all well betsy and franklin both had a tuch of chills & fevers several of dadys family had

I have not done but very since you left tried you

of Nancy you recollect that the panne of the fence made as large corn as you surely ever saw Mr. Lipscomb made a hundred barrels of the _______ of corn but he cut his foot with his ax which has _____ him back about finishing his house & gathering his crop. So nothing more at present but remain your affectionate sister

Mary Lipscomb

Susan calls baby George Robert

Nancy Hames

 

 

 

 

(Letter from Charles K. Jones to W. Eison)

Dry Hill Ten

Feb. 17

To Mr. W. Eison

Jonesville P. O.

Union Dist. So. Car.

Feb. the 14th 1846 Dryhill Lauderdale W. Tenn.

Dear Friend,

I have taken a Seated position, to write you a complete letter before I get up. I can say that we are all well and getting along very well. The tenth of this month I received your letter was glad to hear that you all were well and marching through hard times with high Spirits. The news of this part of the world are at this time very Slack. No sport to be seen, but there will be plenty after a while, that is fighting war with the mosquitoes and rattle snakes, catching fish weighing from ten to two hundred pounds apiece, and when the big river ranges over its bottoms which of course will drive all of the game out to the hills then we can finds Sport waisting powder and lead. There are three fisheries in operation not very far catching at each place from one to five wagon loads daily. The kind that we have are the buffalo, blue cat, Shovel head cat, trout, gizzard shad and a great many others.

I haven’t had the pleasure of firing at a deer since I wrote to you before. About the next letter that you will get from me you will see deer news a plenty. John E. has been sick by spells for the last two weeks, with a rising in the head. It has broak now running out of the mouth. He is now better. The rest are well excepting Eliza. She is sick at times. J. Long arrived safe; he and family are well and settled four miles from us, rented a place. Pa and John are cutting down their new ground and building Corn is selling from one dollar to two in this Section. Pork from three to three and a half. Times are dull at this time. We have plenty to eat and drink. Fish is no rarity.

I have taken a trip to the upper edge of Mississippi and saw the sign of great cotton crops there, which made from one to two thousand weight per acre, the lands will not do for corn. We Tennesseans find them in corn and pork. I come through Memphis. I was pleased at the sight. It is nearly as large as Charleston, will be larger. There are three to five hundred hused erected annually. I found Dock well and brought his children with me. He has hired out his hands this year in order to get his mind Settled. He got for henry 105 dollars clear and to be well treated. For Chan and Han 65 apiece. He is going to come here to spend the summer and in Gibson county. You must be certain to pay us a visit in the spring or fall. You be certain to prepare yourself when you come out. There are a plenty of robbers. Our post office is Six miles from us. Sometimes we do not know that we have letters there. Write to me as soon as you get this.

I am Truly yours

Charles K. Jones

Give Caroline my best love also the children.

Tell Poly, John says that me must come and get that deer skin. If you must ride Sig to see me. Or get on a goose and fly here, and I will give you a bear’s skin to ride on and deer skins a plenty.

Tell S. M. S. and F. Josy and Lury says that they write to them before long

 

 

 

(Letters from B. F. Jones and Elizabeth Harris to Lemuel and Susan Hames)

This the 2 of Dec 1847

Dear Brother and Sister I take the opportunity to informe you that we are all well at this time so fair as I know and in hopes when theas few lines comes to hand will find you all injoying the same blessing we received yor letter Dated Aug and was glad to hear that you was all well Nancy I played that yanky trick at last it happened on the last day of Sept No my girle is a member of the Methodist church and more then that she ways only 150 lb my weigh 142 Nan what do you think Lis is Quit Dancen and has joined the church and was babtised undr the missionary cloke. The old man and old woman has been down to See Charles and Rhebecer they brought them a load of fish Aunt Becy has the chills and feavers and the histericks Charles is as lively as ever he was in his life the Old man is enjoying good helth his eye is sunk he is blinder then he ever was. Nancy he sets in the chimney corner and picks cotton as patienc as if they was not eny thing the mater he cant be Idle he mus be employed at sumthing he wood like to com and hear you all once more he is getting old and blind don’t expet he will ever get that fair from home eny more while he lives the old lady injoys good helth She ses she is feling to hevy She complanes of the rhumatick first in one place then in the other.

She can Scold as loud as ever she coud I recon. Nancy I believe they are all getting along tolerable well I don’t heare no complain I want you to write us soon as you can I will come to a close give my respects to all Tell Rame she must write to me B. F. Jones

Dear Sister I will add a few lines in Franklins letter to let you know I have not forgot you yet. We are all well at this time accept Mr. Harris has a bite on his wrist he is a complaining with and I have sore eyes that I cant see to wright good. Nancy it has been so long since I received a letter from you that I dont hardly know how to begin to wright. There has been the least sickness in this Settlement this Season that ever I knew. I reccon you herd old Mrs. Haynes is dead. Numan and Suse is a living at the old place at this time. The land and negroes is to Sold at Christmas. Catharine and her children was here Sunday. Both looks well and hearthy and her Chilren grown and I expect I get to be as larg as Mamma. I weigh 162 pounds. Nancy you had better move to this Country if you want to get fat. Lucinda will soon be grown. Martha and Nathan grows very fast. Francis Marion is a little runt. He will be a year old the third day of January and is just a beginning to crawl. My eyes hurts. I must quit. You must wright to me. Elizabeth Harris.

Dear Cousin Ramath, I would be glad to see you if you will come and see me I will go home with you. You must write to me And will answer you.

 

Lucinda A. Harris to Ramath Hames.

 

A few lines to Brother Lem I heard from yore old country yestida and poark is worth 5$ grose and cotton 7 cents per pound cotton crops aire cut sorte heare cotton is worth 6 – 7 cents pork woth 3 cts. & corn 1.00$ per bbl. Wheat 60 cts per bush. I am going to live with the old man this year. I may come to Plase I bleave I am out – cante writ eny more at the presen. You mus look over written it is don badly. You must write to me. B. F. Jones

 

 

(Letter from John and Eustacia Jones to Lemuel and Nancy Hames)

Tennessee Gibson County 19 Oct 1850

Dear Children

It is through the kindness of Providence that I again am permited to write to you it has been some time we had the pleasure of reading a letter from you.

The conexion are all in tolerable health your father is confined to bed with a pain in his leg that has Disable him so that he cannot walk.. Sally Davids wife had had very bad health for the last seven or eight months She went to the Mineral Springs together with myself & your father in this state near Tenessee River the water proved beneficial to Sally & Sarry Marie oldest girl but since they have come home the old Disease has taken as gas hold on Sary as ever we went to Old Robert McQuarters they were all well except the old lady she is a pitiful object to the beholder Joshuas wife has been sick for some time with Billious Diseas She went to the Springs & mended very fast for a week but from _________ Death of a Brother she has relapsed as bad as ever. What fine increase in the family conexcion there will be shortly Elizabeth Harris Catharine Josephs wife and franks wives are all in the of all women that love there lord.

Crops are Tolerable good in this part of the Country Corn crops cotton was very good but the 6th of this month the frost came and ruined it all most intirely it is very Ready sale at $1.50 cts per Barrel.

I want you to write to us as soon as you get this letter write to me if you have heard from Nanny and how she is etc your father request you to write him often as he cannot write himself he wants you to keep a correspondence between us we heard from your Unkle Charles he had been poorly. But is now on the mend. The Longs fairly are all well. No more but Remain your affectionate Parents

Austatia & John Jones

Thos. Ownsby have bought the Baker Springs he bought 100 Acres of land for one thousand dollars there are seven or eight springs & a sawmill on the land the Spring possess a different ________ Quality is thought By a great many that he has a great Bargain

 

Mr Lemuel Hames Peridge Shady Grove

PO Union Dist South Carolina Oct 19 Tenn

 

 

 

(1st page missing – this letter dated about 1850

 

she died he got his house burnt up and everything they had in it hardly left them shifting clothes when you write to me write all that you can hear about Mother if I could write myself I would write you a great deal more of my mind than is wrote Betsy has a Daughter Catherine has another son and Myma has another daughter Susanah long has a daughter yours respectfully John & Austacia Jones

Nancey Hames

Since writing I have ascertained that the South Carolina Doctrine is increasing verry fast in this part I want you to write me all the information you can get on that subject no more at the present

Give our respects to Sally Ming & Caroline Eison and their familys also to old Mr Haymes and to all inquireing friends

 

Dear Sister

I write you a few lines to let you all now I am yet a living and in hope theas lines find you all well Mr. Haymes my cotton is promising corn is small Nancy I must brag on my little children Molley is the peartest little girle my boy his name John Henry Yancy I am going to write you a letter before verry long I must quit for the pres

 

B. F. JONES

mothers and Fathers heir

 

Shady Grove, Tn May 27

Mr Lemuel Hames

Packolett Mills

Union Co., S. C.

 

 

(Letter from J. W. Jones to Lemuel and Nancy Hames)

Tenn Gibson Co Oct the 21 1852

Dear sister I recd your leter the other day and was glad to hear you was all well Us are all wel at this time except Gemima has a afelone on her thumb she suffers aufle I want be surprised if she loozes her thumb little Nancy has had a hard spell of the fever we thought she would die I had two Doctors to ten on her she is now running about. Father and mother have just got back from Memphis the old man went to have his eyes operated on he had taken the notion to go, and go he would in spite of all we could do the old lady was unwell & thought she could not stand the trip & did not intend going until the morning tha started when mother and father was about to part mother could not stand it thinking and noing if the old man would have this eye operated on he wold certainly die So she went with him and Stood the trip fine the doctor examend his eye and told him he wold be plian with him that he was to old and inferm to under go a surgical operation but told him he thought he could bring his eyes too so he could see his was he has bin takeing the mrfidin & putting it in his eye about aweak & his eye is opend_____ & see the cataract is moving of the site if it be so theree is a chance for the old man to see agane Nancy I cant hardely reframe Shouting to think that thare is achance for the old man to see agane Thomas went with the old folks to Memphis Tom is a good boy I think he has a notion marrying but I don’t know hoo to he has a sweetheart hear & I think one in your conty the one hear is a fine girl.

I saw mother is morning she sais if ane bekey comes to that contry her & Father will come with her that is if Father gets so he can see his way if not she sais the cant cme Lucy is mending a little she can get in the bed and out without help mother & Malinda has taken her baby to wean Josh has a hard time but not so bad as he has had he has bot one of the best old negro woman you ever saw She is a mother to his children so he is getting along farely well. David and Tabetha & the children are getting along finely Tabitha has weaned her cub Dave is some for children you no Daves Joseph and Mary Ragsdale have joined the Baptist tha both was babtised last Sunday tha have set agood example for some of the rest of us to follow for we ar all nedy creatures. You rote you wanted to no whether I got the Unionvill Journal or not it comes but comes very unregular I take it out of the office and read it & send it to the old man he delights in hearing of it Read. I noticed in the Journal that a grate overflow you had in that contry & destroyed your fine crops tis hishartneing to you Carolineans. We have made fine crops hear I have getherd 100 barrels of corne & have between 50 to 75 more to gether cotton crops is a good as I ever saw. You wanted to no how my tobacco turned out I did not get all my ground planted for the want of rain in the spring but I have made a fine crop and have it al out and cured if I can sel like I did last year it will bring between 400 or 500 dollars.

I have bought Mr. James out since you was here I gave him $7.00 cash per acre for his land. I can say now that I have got as good a track of land to the size of it as there is in the country it containes 400 acres you want to know something about the old womin Mima has weaned Nancy Sarah and is as big as atobacco hogshead Mema is a _______. Betssy and Catharine hante weaned tharr Babes yet it wont be long before they will have it to do according to custom. Land is rizing hear its its selling from 6 to 15 dollar per acre. Corn is seling for 75 cts per barrel on a twelve month creadit & 50 cts cash I bought 50 barrels the other day at 50 cts per barrel the man is going to move & that was the best he cold do wheat ant worth any thing pork will be hie on the account of the scarcety of hogs it well 3 or 4 dolars per hundread negroes is hie tha sel from 10 to 12 dollars per pound, people are all turned fools hear about polix Scott and Pierces name is in every man womans & childs mouth hare is agrate confusin in tha whig ranks hear aabout Scot but non among the democrats tha all apoar to pleased with Pierce. Nancy thar is that old gun tel the boys Charles and John I want them to grease it every now & then for me & if tha wont Mr. Hames must for I will be ______ to come after it but don’t know when now. Yes Nancy I have ______my ______ since you was hear & our place looks a little better I must quit it getting late in the nite gave my respects to any enqurreng friend. Jos. W. Jones

To L & N Hames

 

Molder Ragsdale and Mary is living to tham selvs about one mile from Davids he told me this morning he had bargand for apiece of land I told him I thought it to be a bad traid and not close the trade. I expect he will live with me most year he is almost to soft to _____ yet

Thomas Ownby bout atrack of land today about one mile south of whare I live I think he got a fine bargane It is wel improved and has a good spring the track contines 200 acrs he gott three pay ments on it one third more Christmas & the balance one & _______ years he gave five dollars per acre Shore is no more Room.

J. W. Jones

 

 

(Letter from J. F. Jones to Lemuel and Nancy Hames)

Tenn Gibson Co Dec—the 14th 1852

Dear Brother & sister:

I once more take the opportunity to drop you a few lines to let you know that we have not forgotten you entirely we recvd your letter dated Nov 15th and are sorry to here that you have so much sickness in your country ours is bad enough but yours are worse we are all tolerable well Father & Mother are in tolerable health this time Mama has had a spell of rheumatism but has got better of it they both took a trip to Memphis last Sept. for the benefit of Fathers eyes but he recvd none the Physician that he visited would not risk an operation on his eye on the account of his age I think but give him some medicine to take and some to put in his eye but never done any good at all he is not entirely out of heart yet he wants you to ascertain whether Tolan has got back to Columbia or not and to let him know we learn from the Unionville Journal that Uncle Andries Floyd has advertised to sell you must write to us where he is going to I shall look for his son here Chrismas we have fine crops of every kind in this country we had another dry season equally as dry as last year wheat is worth 40 cts per bu. And very little sold at that corn 20 cts per bu pork is worth from 4 to 5 cts we have had very favourble fall on cotton the crop is heavier than it has been in several year. Nancy I think if was to see Lucy now you would not know her at all she has been mending slowly ever since you left here she has got able to walk about over the house and attend to her little affairs a great deal better than I ever expected. Tell Ramath that she mus not get impatient nurseing the sick for I have been at upwards of two years and never got tired yet I have no doubt but you all think that you have bad luck and great besemints but think of my misfortunes I only stayed away from home twenty two months on the account of sickness and then got back in wors situation then was when left we got back home in the last of June with no person to cook us a meal of victuals but got along with the aid of my connection until I Bought an old negro woman Lucy is still takeing medicine from the same little Dr. Harris and a Dr _______ my little children are all fat as pigs my boy cant be beat in the county he is beginning to walk and talk Lucy has got in a mighty notion to go to see you and if I was able she should try it for I think it improve her health but it is out of the question for I shall fall behind not less than 300 dollars and if pushed it will brake me up. I am fearfull that I will be involved in a lawsuit shortly for contending for my joust rights with my neighbour Lip and if I do I shall need backers I shall not tell the circumstance now for it is an ugly one but have felt the sting of a knife Keep this to yourself and I will tell you more about after a while you have been grumbling in kkyour letter about us not writeing and I have been doing the same there has been four letters started to you from here besides this two from me and one from frank and one from Jo he recvd your letter and answered it they have been miscarried he got the Journal we get some news from your country I must come to a close the old man never got his trumpet he sent to Louisville but there was no such thing their you must be sure to write as soon as you get these lines and I will write oftener tell John & Charles they must write to me so nothing more Lucy sends her best love to you and Caroline give my resp. to Eison and family I could write a great deal more but I must quit something more but Remain ours etc. J. F. Jones

 

To L & N HAMES Shady Grove Tenn Mr. Lem Hames Dec 18 Union Des Pearidge P.O.

South Carolina

 

 

 

(Letter from J. F. Jones to Lemuel and Nancy Hames)

Tenn Gibson Co…July the 24th 1853

Dear relatives )

I once more take the opportunity to try to write you a few lines I Recvd your letter dated 17th of May and also one dated 24th of June we are all in tolerable health that is the connection generally except Davids wife she is confined down with a complaint that will follow her to her grave Prolapsus uteri Lucys health is still improveing slowly she went to church last Saturday & Sunday for the first time in three years we met her father their which we have not seen before in 13 months he came up and gave me his hand and invited to his house I will try him again and be aware of third time Mama is as well as common getting along finely she underwent some hard trials but bore them with fortitude she has company a plenty but she says it don’t imploy her mind like the one that is gone you wrote for her to come to see you with Aunt Becca but she says she cant go until the estate is wound up she has a young man boarding with her teaching school she has the same woman and her daughter living with her that she had when you was here and reckon Frank will still continue with her dada left his matters somewhat tangled he left a will but of no benefit wrote in the same maner of Uncle Charles Jones precisely and neither witness nor dated and mama says that he has often told her if he was taken sick and she thought he was going to die to get that will and burn it for he knew it would not stand I was talking with him about two months before he died about this land that I live on and he told me to make myself easy for he had things fixed so that nobody could cut me out of my home bukt I find it is a mistake entirely I suppose that he has got me charged with the tract of land that is all and now it is left to the heirs to make a wright and Im afraid that will be hard to do fairly there is none of them that is willing to let me have it at what is charged to me at it is chaged at cost 2.$25 cts per acre but I care not for that if they will let me have it at what it was worth when I got it. His charges are very irregular there is some things that gave off that is not charged at all so I cannot tell you how we manage the business yet we have been talking of all getting together and agreeing on some plan to wind it up with as little expense as possible and as equinomical as we can but I don’t know whether all will be willing or not mama wants to keep the best portion of the property if all is willing and I hope there is not one will object for we all know that she will waste nothing and it belongs to her anyhow I cannot tell you what is charged to you for I have not seen the bill I hope it will be settled without difficulty, and equally mama wants to keep all the negroes but three so that is all that I can think of on that subject we have a fine prospect for a crop both corn and cotton the best that I ever saw we had a very dry spring and about the first of this month and people thought the crops was entirely cut off but it set in seasonable and we have had seasons ever since and the drouth was an advantage dada’s funeral will be preached next Sunday by parson Taylor & parson Bradford the two ables Baptist in our county also Sally & Thomas’s funerals will be preached too at the old ladys.

I must come to a close O if I could see you I could tell lyou ten times as much as I could write you must write and tell Ramath she must write too I want to see you all Lucy sends her love to lyou Caroline Sally and families tell Eison if he gets out of provisions he knows where to come for provisions are no object here so I add nothing now but remain yours etc. J. G. Jones

To L & N Hames(

 

 

 

(Letter from J. F. Jones to Lemuel and Nancy Hames)

Tenn Gibson Co October the 21-53

Dear Brother & Sister)

Once more attemp to write you a few lines to inform you of some of our troubles I cant say that we are all well I have had another siege all of my family except my two youngest children well all have been down my old negro was first taken down about two months ago and is yet not able to do anything I had a spell four weeks ago and was confined several days with chills about the time I was getting up Lucy was taken with chills and had two light chills then fell into the conjestive and had a very hard conjestive chill which come very near taking her off her chill came on about twelve oclock and continued until three I had no person with me but a little girl and as soon as I discovered that it was conjestive I sent her to mothers for help and then I was without any person to assist me I have been caught in several close places but nothing to compare with this time I cannot tell my feeling in a few moments after the spasm took her. She was senseless and never came to herself in forty eight hours but as it happened Dr. C. K. Jones was at Mothers and come in and give medicine and prevented the return of another chill but she has not been off of her bed since only as I lift her off and I am fearful that she will not be able to get up this fall O kindred you no nothing of my trials I have nobody to cook my victuals nor to wait on my sick companion only our connexion as they visit us and it frequent all falls on my hands to do I took my old negro to his house to nurse She is mending a little I think she will get well after a while I have had but little rest for the last four weeks but has stood it finely I am looking for an old girl to come to stay with us a while I recvd your letter dated Aug the 29th and have not had the chance of answering of it until now I hope you will excuse me.. We have had more sickness this season then we have had since the year 1845 principally chills and fever and have been good many deaths but none with chill and fever Old Mr. Blankinship died a few weeks ago and several more old people in the neighbourhood that you would not know if I was to name them I went to see a man today that I don’t think can live 2 days longer he is in the last stage of consumption a brother in law of mine Thos. Jackson Mama has been right unwell several days so she has imployed Thomas Ownsby to live with her next year she has got Davids daughter Ann with her her health is very bad Davids family are all well except his wife and she is up and able to tend to her business and some that is not hers Dave has to scratch his head sometimes where it don’t itch.. Nearly all the family connection have been sick but all up now.. Mama did talk of going to see you this fall if Aunt Becca went but she has declined going so Knelan told us when he was here he sayed they were all well in Lauderdale he brung his family up with him and stayed with us two weeks Susanna’s family were well the last account.. We have had a sale and sold the surplus corn ranged from 75 to 84 cents per bbl wheat from 56 to 58 cts per bu stock went low the whole amount of the sale was 483 dollars the cotton crop we will send to market there is right smart of grumbling about the way the business is winding up some of them are very sorry they agreed to let the old lady keep what they did but I hope they may grumble if out there is rather a contention whether there shal be a division of a sale of the Negro property or not but I hope when they find out the cost of a sale they will be willing to a division as for my part I have nothing to say for I have plenty of other thing to pester my m;ind without it is true I want every thing fixed up right and for us all to have Justice so there notions must alter else I shall be compelled to throw it Chancery but I hope they will get there eyes opened before that takes place..Nancy to make a trade with you and Mr. Hames you will have something comeing to you from here and as I have been favoured by all my kindred in this country I shall call on you that is to loan me your portion the estate as you have plenty and don’t need it for a few year I want one of the negros I am in a helpless condition and without help it looks like that I will be oblige to brake let me use as much energy as I will study this over and think of my condition and you can do it to write to me what percent you can afford to take and all about it I must come to a close you must as soon as you get the lines tell Ramath she must write to me and write all about that pretty little babe of hers and joust come over to her uncles if she wants to see some pretty children I often think of her tell John if he wants to be a carpenter come over and stay with me awhile tell Charles the foxes are all gone from this country after my nonsense I must close nothing more but remain your unfortune Brother until death and if I never shall meet with you again in this world I hope we shal meet in a better & farewell J. F. Jones

 

L & N Hames)